Day 1: Let's Get Nostalgic

The 'I Love Writing' 7-Day Project gets started today...

Some FAQs:

Welcome to the first day of the ‘I Love Writing’ 7-Day Project. I’m so glad you’re here!

How will this project work? Each day, I will post musings and inspiration on different aspects of writing that will—I hope!—make you remember why you love to write in the first place and then encourage you to write daily (and more after the project is finished). Each day will have a specific writing challenge for you related to that day’s theme; you are invited to write daily based on the challenges, and (if you’re a paid subscriber) you can go a step further and share your writing in comments and by email to me. You’ll receive my thoughts by email each morning around 9 a.m. CT and here in “The Ready Writer” Substack site and app.

Who am I? I’m Cheryl Wray, the coordinator of the Southern Christian Writers Conference and someone who LOVES writing and LOVES encouraging writers.

How can I participate? Read the daily thoughts and challenge. Write everyday. Share your writings when you’re invited to.

Let’s get started!

Day One: Let’s get nostalgic!

Do you remember your first love?

I distinctly remember a boy named Bobby Foster in my circa 1974 first grade glass. He was suave and cute and friendly—or as much as a 6-year-old could be. I got a little tongue-tied whenever he was nearby, and I desperately wanted to be friends (although I knew even at that age that he was a little out of my league). Bobby was my first crush, and was followed by others (Jon, David, Joey, Steve) who made me equally weak-kneed and tongue-tied. My youthful mind loved them.

Do you remember your first infatuated encounters with writing?

I likewise remember the encounters that made me first fall in love with writing.

Several moments stand out in my memory…

…making a neighborhood newspaper (filled with interviews, gossip and upcoming activities) for my childhood cul-de-sac

…readings books under the huge shady tree in my front yard, and wondering if I could write stories like them too

…writing stories under the encouragement of my fourth grade teacher

…creating a world of teenage romance and writing it with my co-author best friend.

CONSIDER THIS: When did you first fall in love with writing?

As a young child and then a young teenager, I was infatuated with words. They had both an air of mystery and a tangible power about them; I knew that the stories they created brought me much joy. I also had an understanding of the power of published words—whether in the newspapers my own journalism father wrote for and edited or in the “Highlights for Children” I received in the mail.

And at some point I said in my mind, and ultimately with my words: “I want to be a writer.”

CONSIDER THIS: When did you first say, “I want to be a writer”?

I love hearing how successful writers first fell in love with writing. Their stories are varied and interesting (some knew at a very young age; others didn’t catch the writing bug until later in life). Here are some quotes from prolific current novelists about what made them first attracted to writing at a young age…

“I was very young. Around 8 or 9 years old. Because reading and writing had always been connected to me and I knew that I couldn’t do one without doing the other. Even at that age I told people I wanted to be a writer when I grew up.” (John Boyne)

“As kids, my cousin and I were at a sleepover at our grandparents' house. She showed me a story she'd written and I was completely smitten with it. I wanted to try my hand at writing too, and haven't stopped since.” (Mary Kubica)

“When I was five years old, reading Little House in the Big Woods for the first time.” (Beatriz Williams)

On this first day of our 7-day project, let’s consider when we first fell in love with writing and when writing became an actual reality for us. When did you know it was something you had to do? that it made you happy? that you couldn’t imagine it not being in your life?

Every day of our 7-day project, I’m going to challenge you to write. Find time to write each day in the next week—even if it’s for just 30 minutes a day. Make it a priority! (Just like you have to make it a priority to spend time with your spouse, significant other, best friend or beloved family member. If you don’t spend time with the person or thing you love, how much do you love them?)

Your Day One Challenges:

1) When did you first fall in love with writing? Write a short passage describing it.

2) When did you first say in words, “I want to be a writer”? Reimagine that moment and write about it.

Answer those questions in a special notebook designated for this 7-day project, or do it on your computer. Really think about the answers—think about why you’re writing, why you love it, where that love came from and where you want it to go.

And for paid subscribers…

(Note that paid subscribers get access to extra challenges and can also submit to a thread on today’s topic.)