Posts
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Satima Flavell
What is the earliest you remember Reading?
A book about a bear translated from German into French and English for me by my eldest sister's then BF, who was half French, half German: bad news just after WWII! I read it in all three languages. I was three at the time. Still dig languages but not bears so much:-)
When is the earliest you remember Writing?
A spin-off from a Dickens novel - must've been Martin Chuzzlewit because my MC was called Sarey Gump. I was five and I just liked the name. Hadn't a clue what I was writing about. Things haven't changed much.
When did you know you wanted to be a Writer?
About the same time. I had just discovered Enid Blyton and said I wanted to be a "children's authoress", just like her. I'm afraid I do still have to name her as an influence, which is not good in the early C21!
When and what is the first thing you wrote or did that you are proud of?
Got a poem in the kids section of the Manchester Guardian when I was seven. Used to win prizes for poetry and prose right through school. Cringe material now!:-)
Joanna Fay
What is the earliest you remember Reading?
Reading? Hmm, Dick and Dora in Grade 1? "See Nip Run etc"..although I remember the pictures better than the text.
The first book that left a strong impression on me was at 8...the play of The Bluebird..creeped me out badly...i was sleeping in an attic and had to walk through a cloakroom with no light to get there..very scary!
When is the earliest you remember Writing?
Oh, grade 1 writing book...I loved making letters, curly writing. I remember writing poems around 8.
When did you know you wanted to be a Writer?
Not till much later. Year 12, I thought I'd go on to do either journalism/creative writing or art... art was my first choice though and got into that.
When and what is the first thing you wrote or did that you are proud of?
Probably the first poem I got published, in the school mag when i was 15...not very proud. More seriously, I guess, with a win in the first comp i entered (the Banjo Paterson 2 yrs ago)..what a fluke...and then the second...a minor short story comp, but together they whetted my appetite for competitions.
Sarah Parker
What is the earliest you remember Reading?
I remember doing the ERA cards in English very clearly, I loved them so much. I've always been surrounded by books, so I don't have a lot of specific memories.
When is the earliest you remember Writing?
We had to make a book from one of our favourite books, I think I was in grade 4 or 5, and I did the Hobbit. I copied some of the poetry out and decorated it with scrolly drawlings and things. Not original stuff, but I do have short stories from around that time. I always wrote, and I always wrote things.
When did you know you wanted to be a Writer?
I think I was in denial... but I wrote novels in year 10. My first novel was co-written with a friend who I have lost contact with. A lot of the ideas were hers, but she wasn't good at English. I always expected to write novels, and when I finished highschool I expected to be a teacher.
When and what is the first thing you wrote or did that you are proud of?
I was very proud of that Hobbit book. I wrote a poem which my teacher entered in a competition once, and I'm still pretty proud of my work in Consensual a Trois.
Carol Ryles
What is the earliest you remember Reading?
Grade one (age 5). I wasn't allowed to read before that age, because my mum was told it would confuse me. I remember the stuff they gave me to read was super easy. I saw what the grade twos and threes were reading and theirs looked much more interesting, but I had to wait a year for that.
When is the earliest you remember Writing?
About the same age. I remember being really eager to write. Once I started being taught, I used to write all over the place. It was such a neat feeling
When did you know you wanted to be a Writer?
I remember writing stories at school for composition in grade three, but we usually had less than an hour to get it done, so my stories were awful. Then I'd go home and try again, but my writing was still awful. Nevertheless, I still wanted to be a writer, but it took me 40 years to believe I could do it.
When and what is the first thing you wrote or did that you are proud of?
In grade six, I won a prize for writing a report about a school excursion, judged by the manager of a Hunter Valley Winery. At the time, I suspected I was the only one that entered :) but I won $10. Back then that was about a years worth of pocket money
Helen Venn
What is the earliest you remember Reading?
I was five as far as I can remember. My mother was told she mustn't teach me to read although I was desperate to learn. So I taught myself. I couldn't wait to go to school. I had visions of all those lovely books and was delighted when I was finally given my first reading book. I took it home and read it that night. I was shocked to discover the next day that it was supposed to last the whole year.
When is the earliest you remember Writing?
I wasn't really interested in writing before I went to school although I could manage my name, numbers and a few words. Just as well really because we spent most of the first half of the year learning pencil skills which at least provided a challenge given I could already read. I didn't do much in the way of Writing as in story telling until later. I just made up stories to tell my brothers. They seemed to like them.
When did you know you wanted to be a Writer?
Around twelve I started to really enjoy writing compositions. I was fascinated by dictionaries from age eight - I still am - and so I had a lot of fun using words I had picked up. It went on from there. I even enjoyed writing complicated reports when I was a public servant when everyone else was trying to avoid it. It took me quite a while to really begin fiction writing though. The urge was there but I let myself get distracted for a long time. I finally enrolled in a one year creative writing course and then there was no stopping me.
When and what is the first thing you wrote or did that you are proud of?
'Wheels' my first ever story written in 1994 when I was doing creative writing classes with Pam Steenbergen. It won the Alexandra Hasluck Award in 1996. Talk about a thrill!
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I hope you enjoyed the Four Questions Friday! I enjoyed asking them. It's been a real pleasure to find out more about my friends, and to think back on my own history. We'd also love to hear about YOU! I've added the questions here so you can fill them out, and tell us more about yourself. We're looking forward to your replies!
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You What is the earliest you remember Reading?
When is the earliest you remember Writing?
When did you know you wanted to be a Writer?
When and what is the first thing you wrote or did that you are proud of?
