I began writing at around age 12, purely for my own enjoyment. I've continued over the following 20+ years without trying to get published. I recently entered a writing competition and although I didn't win, I was short-listed. To me that was a huge event, and it's given me a little more confidence in bringing some of the things I've written out into the light. I'm taking baby steps into the literary world, but I'm excited where these steps will take me.