I started writing soon after I learned to read. I loved having something that was my own. In a farm family, we didn’t talk much about emotions, but writing gave me an outlet for my inner world.
I loved teaching writing to my medical college students in China. After I returned home, I taught college age (and older) students from around the world. 🌍. My favorite class was writing. I loved hearing the stories and thoughts of these amazing people I had the joy of teaching.
I have blogged previously and used to write trainings for organizations. I wrote a workbook/book on grief associated with health issues the year I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I am currently writing a book about transformation, healing and growth. I am a retired counselor and still do some coaching.
I have many close friends who are Asian and I am proud of all of you who write here. Your voices and lives matter. It’s an honor to get to know you.
My Substack is Transformed by His Love and I will have to get a link for you.
Thank you for sharing Susan! Your love for writing sounds so solid, and I also love writing class environments. They’re so passionate and open, they kickstart your creativity even if you were in a slump.
It’s a joy to hear about what writing means to you and others. Teaching always inspired me, too. It’s great when a writing class can be a springboard. I took a Memoir Masterclass last year for six months and found it very helpful.
I started writing essays as a child and later teenager (mostly for school) and my teachers encouraged me, which motivated me to continue. I then moved on to poetry and fiction when I was at university.
At first, I wrote because I wanted others to understand me. When I became a journalist, I found a different way and purpose: to help others feel seen, heard and understood. This is why I write what I write today (poetry and fiction). I started my Substack as a new platform for my fellow Asian poets. You can read it at: https://poeticjourneyswithsharmila.substack.com/
Also wanted to give a shoutout to all the writers here who commented here, you're all doing awesome work and it's truly a joy to be here :)
This sounds great! I was also encouraged and nudged by my teachers towards writing after I had submitted essays. Teachers are a blessing in that regard. So glad to have you here, and so cool to hear you’ve been a journalist!
Many years ago, I wrote a paragraph straight from the heart in my Blue Notebook. That day I knew I wanted to share it with the world but wasn't sure how. Writing is the only way I know to make sense of the world when it gets too much-- too overwhelming, too sad, too happy, too fast, too slow, too boring, especially too boring.
Most of the times, my writing is done when I was looking for answers to some of my own curiosities- in between chores, during commute, after work hours, on bad mental health days.
I began writing on Substack about 3 years ago, when I switched to writing more intentionally, and have been a regular since. You can read more it at https://toat.substack.com/
This sounds lovely! Something about stumbling into writing, like you have going on here, seems almost like you were always meant to reconcile with it. Thank you for sharing with us!
I do this too! Thought experiments fully expounded, introspection laid bare, all of it helps me to process my logic and answer my own curiosity. Your comment is super relatable!
I started writing at 8 years old. I liked doing those essay questions at the end of our Language/Reading/Christian Living exams...and I was good at them. Projects that involved writing a story? Yes please! And since I already liked reading and had a love for visual art (which I sadly outgrew), it seemed quite natural that my next chapter would be putting pen to paper and thoughts to words. I also became a staffer for our school newsletter - my first time to "write under pressure".
Upon leaving elementary school and moving to a science high school, I found that I still gravitated towards reading, writing, and people who loved doing these, too. Today, I'm an advertising copywriter, so I get to earn from doing what I love. What a blessing!
Sounds wonderful! I love how there’s an intrinsic pull within writers urging them to write through life. Such a common thread tying us all together. Thank you for sharing with us, Regina!
I grew up under a patriarch, in a household that was run under an iron first, strict scheduled and firm rules. Writing allowed me to retreat into a world that was mine, where I could say what I wanted without the fear of persecution or punishment. As I grew older, writing gave me the space to make sense of uncomfortable truths and feelings. I dabbled in poetry and fantasy - letting the words guide me. Writing has always been my safe space - from my diaries to now long form essays - it is both cathartic and necessary to live and thrive.
Thank you for sharing samira! 💚 I understand this feeling, since it’s also part of why I write. Do you think sometimes that the association of unwinding these experiences can make writing a loaded place at times?
Yes absolutely! It's taken me over a year to unpack the experience and consequences of living under a patriarch and I don't think I've sorted it all out yet. The writing was very tough and often left me feeling sad or heavy. I would sometimes have headaches for days after finishing an essay. But after I've written it, there is a sense of letting it go. That's what has helped me immensely.
I started "writing" when I was a kid because I liked to read. "Writing", because I just mimicked what I read to try and stimulate the same feeling. I never actually wrote anything, but instead became hypersensitive of my enjoyment, how I read, and why some writing made more sense than others to me. Text became the medium where I could best understand myself and my feelings, so when I think, I'm often also "writing", if that makes sense.
When I started to actually write, I became more aware of this and leaned into it. By writing out my thoughts in the form of stories and snippets, I could dissect them in the same way I dissected the stories I liked and understand myself better. Rather, I became more willing to understand myself the more I wrote, instead of just being what I thought others wanted me to be. I don't have a strong memory, and I used to destroy or discard my art whenever I finished them, so I don't know exactly when I started writing. But, this is my why.
I started writing probably when I was 10, scribbling in my secret diary. Then I wrote a short story by hand; it was about a pair of non-biological siblings falling in love (sadly, the manuscript has long since disappeared). I also wrote poems during my teens, and my favourite exercise in school was to write fictional essays in English. Later, I discovered I could write for an audience via MySpace during my university days, and from there, I moved on to blogging (hello, Blogspot!) and eventually to my own websites. I also have multiple drafts of fictional stories in my private repository—maybe someday they’ll see the light of day. And now, I’m on Substack.
I think back then, the reason I started writing was because I loved reading. Reading was my escape into another world, far beyond my little home, since I was 7. At some point, I felt I had to write, too. Perhaps it’s my love for the written word, for how it can connect people across time and space, and how it can transport or transform the reader too.
I scrawled my very first poem at the age of 9 for fun. Then I started writing regularly after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 because the tragedy highlighted our nation’s need for Christ. I discovered Substack last November.
I began writing poetry when I was 11 in order to express feelings I had to suppress in my home. I wrote on and off (mostly off) until my late 20s. I rediscovered poetry and studied it in grad school. Years later, I started writing fiction and have just finished the first draft of my novel.
When I was a kid, I didn't really care for writing. But in high school, in the early 2000s, I discovered blogging. I started a blog in 2002 or so, and just started to write whenever I could. It was mostly really stupid stuff, but once I got more of a following, I started to realize that maybe I did like writing. Even though I didn't consider myself a writer until around 2017, I will always credit my love of writing from blogging. I still consider my Substack (https://rafiakhader.substack.com/) a blog. I mostly write about the writing life, with all its struggles, but also write about my life. It's all connected.
As you leave your comment, don't forget to respond to others. :)
I started writing soon after I learned to read. I loved having something that was my own. In a farm family, we didn’t talk much about emotions, but writing gave me an outlet for my inner world.
I loved teaching writing to my medical college students in China. After I returned home, I taught college age (and older) students from around the world. 🌍. My favorite class was writing. I loved hearing the stories and thoughts of these amazing people I had the joy of teaching.
I have blogged previously and used to write trainings for organizations. I wrote a workbook/book on grief associated with health issues the year I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I am currently writing a book about transformation, healing and growth. I am a retired counselor and still do some coaching.
I have many close friends who are Asian and I am proud of all of you who write here. Your voices and lives matter. It’s an honor to get to know you.
My Substack is Transformed by His Love and I will have to get a link for you.
Thank you for sharing Susan! Your love for writing sounds so solid, and I also love writing class environments. They’re so passionate and open, they kickstart your creativity even if you were in a slump.
It’s a joy to hear about what writing means to you and others. Teaching always inspired me, too. It’s great when a writing class can be a springboard. I took a Memoir Masterclass last year for six months and found it very helpful.
https://open.substack.com/pub/susankuenzi/p/life-lessons-from-the-laundry-room?r=22wfou&utm_medium=ios
I started writing essays as a child and later teenager (mostly for school) and my teachers encouraged me, which motivated me to continue. I then moved on to poetry and fiction when I was at university.
At first, I wrote because I wanted others to understand me. When I became a journalist, I found a different way and purpose: to help others feel seen, heard and understood. This is why I write what I write today (poetry and fiction). I started my Substack as a new platform for my fellow Asian poets. You can read it at: https://poeticjourneyswithsharmila.substack.com/
Also wanted to give a shoutout to all the writers here who commented here, you're all doing awesome work and it's truly a joy to be here :)
This sounds great! I was also encouraged and nudged by my teachers towards writing after I had submitted essays. Teachers are a blessing in that regard. So glad to have you here, and so cool to hear you’ve been a journalist!
Aww thank you, good to know re your teachers. It’s lovely to be here!
Many years ago, I wrote a paragraph straight from the heart in my Blue Notebook. That day I knew I wanted to share it with the world but wasn't sure how. Writing is the only way I know to make sense of the world when it gets too much-- too overwhelming, too sad, too happy, too fast, too slow, too boring, especially too boring.
Most of the times, my writing is done when I was looking for answers to some of my own curiosities- in between chores, during commute, after work hours, on bad mental health days.
I began writing on Substack about 3 years ago, when I switched to writing more intentionally, and have been a regular since. You can read more it at https://toat.substack.com/
This sounds lovely! Something about stumbling into writing, like you have going on here, seems almost like you were always meant to reconcile with it. Thank you for sharing with us!
I do this too! Thought experiments fully expounded, introspection laid bare, all of it helps me to process my logic and answer my own curiosity. Your comment is super relatable!
I started writing to listen to the whisper of my heart.
Lovely outlook! Is there something specific you want to achieve through listening to what your heart has to offer?
I love your reason. Same here. Writing has always been a wonderful outlet and so healing. We understand ourselves through writing.
I wonder what are some other ways we can better understand ourselves? It seems like any artistic pursuit will do the trick.
I find photography or art also help. Any form of expression. But swimming or gardening also give me time for prayer and reflection.
What a beautiful way to begin. I'm glad that you're listening to your heart, and also grateful to witness your whispers in real time.
That is the most beautiful way to begin
Hi everyone!
I started writing at 8 years old. I liked doing those essay questions at the end of our Language/Reading/Christian Living exams...and I was good at them. Projects that involved writing a story? Yes please! And since I already liked reading and had a love for visual art (which I sadly outgrew), it seemed quite natural that my next chapter would be putting pen to paper and thoughts to words. I also became a staffer for our school newsletter - my first time to "write under pressure".
Upon leaving elementary school and moving to a science high school, I found that I still gravitated towards reading, writing, and people who loved doing these, too. Today, I'm an advertising copywriter, so I get to earn from doing what I love. What a blessing!
Here's an essay I wrote about this topic: https://buhaycopywriter.substack.com/p/should-you-make-your-hobby-your-main
Sounds wonderful! I love how there’s an intrinsic pull within writers urging them to write through life. Such a common thread tying us all together. Thank you for sharing with us, Regina!
I grew up under a patriarch, in a household that was run under an iron first, strict scheduled and firm rules. Writing allowed me to retreat into a world that was mine, where I could say what I wanted without the fear of persecution or punishment. As I grew older, writing gave me the space to make sense of uncomfortable truths and feelings. I dabbled in poetry and fantasy - letting the words guide me. Writing has always been my safe space - from my diaries to now long form essays - it is both cathartic and necessary to live and thrive.
My substack: https://samiragupta.substack.com/
Thank you for sharing samira! 💚 I understand this feeling, since it’s also part of why I write. Do you think sometimes that the association of unwinding these experiences can make writing a loaded place at times?
Yes absolutely! It's taken me over a year to unpack the experience and consequences of living under a patriarch and I don't think I've sorted it all out yet. The writing was very tough and often left me feeling sad or heavy. I would sometimes have headaches for days after finishing an essay. But after I've written it, there is a sense of letting it go. That's what has helped me immensely.
I can see why you like fantasy. You write for the same reasons I did.
I started "writing" when I was a kid because I liked to read. "Writing", because I just mimicked what I read to try and stimulate the same feeling. I never actually wrote anything, but instead became hypersensitive of my enjoyment, how I read, and why some writing made more sense than others to me. Text became the medium where I could best understand myself and my feelings, so when I think, I'm often also "writing", if that makes sense.
When I started to actually write, I became more aware of this and leaned into it. By writing out my thoughts in the form of stories and snippets, I could dissect them in the same way I dissected the stories I liked and understand myself better. Rather, I became more willing to understand myself the more I wrote, instead of just being what I thought others wanted me to be. I don't have a strong memory, and I used to destroy or discard my art whenever I finished them, so I don't know exactly when I started writing. But, this is my why.
That's how I learned to write, too. Thanks for sharing, Cheshir! We absorb so much from reading the work of others.
I started writing probably when I was 10, scribbling in my secret diary. Then I wrote a short story by hand; it was about a pair of non-biological siblings falling in love (sadly, the manuscript has long since disappeared). I also wrote poems during my teens, and my favourite exercise in school was to write fictional essays in English. Later, I discovered I could write for an audience via MySpace during my university days, and from there, I moved on to blogging (hello, Blogspot!) and eventually to my own websites. I also have multiple drafts of fictional stories in my private repository—maybe someday they’ll see the light of day. And now, I’m on Substack.
I think back then, the reason I started writing was because I loved reading. Reading was my escape into another world, far beyond my little home, since I was 7. At some point, I felt I had to write, too. Perhaps it’s my love for the written word, for how it can connect people across time and space, and how it can transport or transform the reader too.
https://rachelooi.substack.com/
Your short story reminds me of that popular Korean drama from back in the day, Autumn something? Haha.
Oh really? The muse went on to find another worthy writer haha
Reading is a great escape !
Indeed the best! :)
I scrawled my very first poem at the age of 9 for fun. Then I started writing regularly after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 because the tragedy highlighted our nation’s need for Christ. I discovered Substack last November.
https://substack.com/@theplayfulpoet
Writing is such a powerful way to shape the world. Thanks for sharing!
I began writing poetry when I was 11 in order to express feelings I had to suppress in my home. I wrote on and off (mostly off) until my late 20s. I rediscovered poetry and studied it in grad school. Years later, I started writing fiction and have just finished the first draft of my novel.
Find me at: https://barbnatividad.substack.com
Congratulations on completing your novel Barb and all the very best! Would love to read it when it's published
Thanks, Samira!
Congratulations on your novel!! What are your plans for it?
Thank you! After (many) revisions, I plan to query agents to go the traditional publishing route.
That is so exciting, Barb. I'm wishing you all the best luck!!
That’s so fun you studied poetry in grad school! I’ve never taken a poetry class in my life
I don’t think it’s necessary to take classes but yes, it was fun!
Thanks so much, Tiffany!
When I was a kid, I didn't really care for writing. But in high school, in the early 2000s, I discovered blogging. I started a blog in 2002 or so, and just started to write whenever I could. It was mostly really stupid stuff, but once I got more of a following, I started to realize that maybe I did like writing. Even though I didn't consider myself a writer until around 2017, I will always credit my love of writing from blogging. I still consider my Substack (https://rafiakhader.substack.com/) a blog. I mostly write about the writing life, with all its struggles, but also write about my life. It's all connected.
It's fun how many of us ended up on Substack after blogging elsewhere for ages!
I consider my Substack a blog too!