The Beginning

During the fall semester of 2016, I did not realize when signing up for a Creative Writing class that I would leave the second week of December with new friends. The class, although I didn't feel like I academically learned much, introduced me to others at my school who also has a passion and love for creative writing. I had the privilege to listen to, and read dozens of short stories and poems from my classmates that evolved from this sixteen week semester. It was an amazing opportunity to grow in my confidence with the other students. Before this semester, I did not like to share my work with others, but it was through this class that I not only learned to let others read my work, I learned to learn from them.

During this semester, I also learned how to write contemporary style fiction. This was a new genre for me that I had read before, but never attempted to write. So one night in mid-November, I sat down at my computer and started working on a story about two very hopeless people who learned to not only look beyond the pain of their past, but to look for hope in the most least obvious places. This story was short; only around eight thousand words, but through it I grew in my writing. For the first time since I have started writing, I formed a relationship with these characters in a way I never had before. I wanted to not only know more about them, but I wanted them to share their lives with me. I almost forgot by the end of the semester that these characters were my own creation, not my fellow classmates.

Through this story, which I ended up titling "For All We Know," came several other short stories involving the same characters through their best and worst times both before, and after they met each other. I don't like to share my work with others, but I am stepping out of my comfort zone to share a series of short stories as I write them with you. This is a huge step for me, and I appreciate any support shown in any way.

Thank you,
   
        Samantha