The Beginning

My Mom and Dad are the reason I have an overactive imagination.  I grew up reading magazines with my father: National Geographic on lazy Saturdays or Sundays.  At night, my mom would lie next to me in my bed and read prayers while I read books (I miss that bed, it had the best lighting for reading).  Before continuing I want to clarify, my family was by no means discussing high level calculus or literature at the dinner table.  More often than not, our conversations were focused on food, family, and the world around us.  It was usually a competition for food - even though we had an abundant amount - so if you see me eat in public watch your fingers or turn away (it slightly resembles Jurassic Park when they feed the Velociraptor).  Nonetheless, after our meal we would usually clean, relax, digest, and just talk.  I cannot tell you what we discussed because it wasn’t important.  It was the communal experience that I grew up with that sticks in my memory.  My family has been wonderful at teaching my how people interact.  And without my Dad and Mom, I never would have achieved gained the best weapon in my arsenal for writing: my imagination.

Daily Writing

This was when I met the most influential person in my writing career.  Now, this person was Dr. Greene and he never taught me to write fiction.  In fact, when I turned in my final paper he had a few choice words to say to me.  At this point, I was fully engrained in getting my degree in Philosophy, and he told me to leave the program because my writing was not sufficient.  Instead of being mad at him, I asked my teacher what I could do to improve my writing.  He told me to write everyday and read, if I did that, by the time I had him for my next class, I should be at the appropriate writing level.  I took that too heart, and began keeping journals.  A year later, Dr. Greene commended me on the improvements in my writing.  This showed me that anyone can improve, but it took time.  Here is when I learned patience in my life.  Those journals eventually converted me to writing fiction, but that will be discussed later. 

While I give Dr. Greene a lot of credit for making me a writer, he wasn't the only professor that made me successful.  Dr. Kelley worked with me and help me learn logic.  Logic is fundamental in the layout of a philosophy paper (or any paper), a structure I still use in my fiction writing.  Even though I am no longer his student, Dr. Kelley is always willing to meet and discuss everything and anything!

Then there is Dr. Niculescu, Dr. Niculescu has broadened my horizons by introducing me to wonderful writers and helping me build fundamental reading lists.  These reading lists take me through multiple countries and their traditions in literature.  From Balzac to Faulkner, his constant guidance is wonderful.  Our infrequent lunch meetings are a great time to get new books for me to read.  Recently, Dr. Niculescu read one of my pieces Another Day and commended me on the strives I have made.  At the time, he stated that he thought my goal of being a writer was near impossible, he recounted that belief. 

All three of these professors are still in my life.  Dr. Greene doesn't remember tell me to leave the program, but remembers how I improved my writing in a short period of time.  Without these three, I would not have my own website, short stories, and two books (one is still being worked on, Journey to God)