I learned to write my alphabet with a fountain pen.
Perhaps that is what infused me with the love of writing. I spent days of kindergarten perfecting how to simply hold my pen before I even started crafting my letters. I learned how to take care of my writing utensil, how to avoid ink smears or blots, and the proper technique of crossing out a mistake.
I understood the beauty of writing before understanding the practicality behind it.
Photo by Linda Cronin
What type of school did I go to? Was it a boarding school somewhere in Europe? No. A fancy calligraphy school? No. Just a small Christian school somewhere in southern California run by a man who understood the uniqueness to be found behind learning.
Coincidentally, today is the first day of school for many students out there. Some might be learning their alphabet with pencils, ball point pens, or even crayons. But there are six students in the small valley where I live who will be writing it with fountain pens today.
The tiny church I attend just started the only Christian school in the valley . This is its first year. It has six students (K-4th). As I post this, those little students are holding their very first fountain pens for the very first time…learning to write as I did 20 years ago. I can’t help but wonder how that will shape their thinking regarding words. There might be a future author or two in there.
How about you? Do you remember what sparked your love for words? Writing? Your current passions?
See the other posts in my “Perks to Being an Author” series:
- Perk 2: Reading
- Perk 3: Decorating
- Perk 4: Comfort
- Perk 5: Delicious Snacks & Drinks
Great post. For me, I don’t think it was as much about a love of words as it was a love of story. However, I know exactly where it came from.
When I was growing up, my dad and I always got along well, though we didn’t really have many shared interests. However, we both loved movies. We loved going to the movies. We loved renting movies. We loved talking about movies. It was perhaps our greatest common interest, and a bonding agent in our father-son relationship.
My love of movies naturally led to a love of story. Writing novels is my preferred medium, but it’s telling a great story that really inspires me.
That’s great, Clint. I especially love how your dad instigated your love of story through that bonding. Very neat! I think it’s good that ‘story’ is the focus of your writing. That will certainly serve your readers and your writing well!