Greetings, friends, and welcome to Ella’s Tea Table. I am so very excited to finally start this blog after nearly a year of planning, writing, and dreaming. I am extremely thankful to all the friends who advised me about software, helped me brainstorm ideas, or just encouraged me like crazy. Y’all are amazing!
So that sounded a lot like the acknowledgements page from the end of a book. Thankfully, this isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning of an exciting journey as I share my life and writing with you. Speaking of beginnings, that’s the goal of this post: to tell you about how I began writing.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved books. I’ve been told that one book occupied me for a three hour car trip at the age of six months. There are pictures of me looking at books upside down in my book basket and I remember creating “libraries” of books, spreading them out across my bedroom floor.
It took me longer to learn to read, but once I learned the world was mine. I read like crazy. My little sister Ava used to hide my books so I’d play with her. At night, I would lie in bed and tell myself stories until I fell asleep. And in third grade, I discovered Anne of Green Gables. I fell in love and now if a book has the words Lucy Maud Montgomery on the cover, I’ll probably buy it. (More on that in future posts.)
I don’t actually remember when it was that I first began recording my stories. I recall a certain small book made of notecards about a flower who was lonely, and another story, “Lizzy and the Princess” I worked on for creative writing in second grade. And then of course “Lucy and her Bunny” which formed a trilogy of small, homey stories. By sixth grade, every journal I owned had an unfinished story hidden inside.
But then school picked up, and for a few years I didn’t have a lot of time for writing. Or reading, actually.
And then, one summer my grandparents took us to the beach. They owned a camper at the time, and the campgrown was right on the ocean. I loved wading in the ocean and my sister adored swimming in the pool. Except, I couldn’t do either of those things. The night before we were supposed to leave, I woke up with a terrible ear ache. A few hours before we hit the road, I was diagnosed with a minor ear infection at the Minute Clinic. No swimming for me.
So while my grandfather and sister spent long hours swimming at the pool, I stayed with Nana at the campground and read. First, Pride and Prejudice. And then Emma. In a week. I was only a few chapters into Emma when I started feeling a strange desire to write. There was a story inside of me and I wanted to get it out.
The day after we got home I started writing. Not in a notebook, like before, but on Google Docs like a real writer. 😆 My mom bought me a bluetooth keyboard which I connected to my iPod touch, and there the magic began. I worked on my book, Augusta’s Secret, all summer. The story reached roughly 17,000 words before I abandoned it for another story that October, then another a month or two later. This third story, Moving Fire, reached its final draft in summer of the following year. And I had written a book. My identity as a writer was solidified.
After Moving Fire, I puttered around with several stories before my friend started sending me character art, trying to encourage a story she liked. (Thanks a lot for that, by the way.) Much to my chagrin and delight, The Dying Rose poured out in less than 13 weeks. It was the most amazing situation I’d encountered with writing at that point. I’d never been so inspired as I was while writing those 22,000 words. The story had bubbled up inside of me and burst forth like water from a pipe. I loved that story, and I still do, but I didn’t do much editing. While the plot was riveting (I learned a lot about storytelling during that draft), the writing was poor and I somehow don’t think I’ll ever want to rewrite it.
That December, I started collecting thoughts and character art for several different ideas. Then one day in January, my writer friend (she would later become my “Writing Ninja”) invited me to her house to talk about stories. It was that day she introduced me to the unbelievable writing blog Helping Writers Become Authors. Weiland’s explanations about story structure and character arc have become an indelible part of my writing process. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. But back to the story. We discussed my friend’s current idea, then dove into mine. I had seven characters I wanted to use. And I’d decided to put them all together into one story.
With my Writing Ninja (and K. M. Weiland’s) help, we worked through the plot of the book. I toiled away at that stinker from January till late October, discussing it with my Writing Ninja pretty much whenever we saw each other (which was often, as we had summer jobs at the same place). When I finished And Our Walls Shall Crumble, I was so tired I stopped writing until the following January. (Getting up at 6 AM to write is certainly not easy when you’re just starting.) Instead of writing, I took the time to read. It’s a different story for a different post, but the books I read during those months were the final piece to the idea which had been churning in the back of my head for years.
I feel that The Stars of Lumbulae Series, my current WIP, would not exist without all the past experiences of my life with regard to reading and writing. Each major plot point of my life has contributed to a bigger story. But in a smaller way, it’s also led to this series. I think it’s something very special, and I can’t wait to finish it and one day share it with the world.
I know this comment is super late 😔 (I just started reading your blog, and I’m the one who commented on ‘A Time to Find’) But I wanted to check out your first-ever post. Nice job by the way. Most people’s first posts have lots of mistakes but yours was good. You’re truly a very talented writer. (Grammarly says I shouldn’t put both truly and very but I have a love/hate relationship with Grammarly anyway. And you deserve both!) I wish my writing was as good as yours, but most of it is cheesy awkward dialouge. Prayers for you and your writing!
No worries! I love to hear feedback, whatever the post! Thank you so much, friend! That is super encouraging for me. Keep practicing your craft and your words will change from awkward to meaningful. It takes time! I’m rooting for you. 🙂
My ANNE! WONDERFUL first post dear friend! I never knew you had been such an avid reader for so long but boy am I aware of your skill with the pen (or keyboard:) Beautiful blog! I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Thank you so much, Jo!! This means a lot to me. 🤗
What an amazing story of how you were led to become a writer! I am so so proud of you for taking this step towards your goal! Love you so much🤍
Aw, thank you!!! Love you too!
This blog is so exciting, Ella!!! Congrats!🥳🤩 I can’t wait to see how God uses your writing talent! Love ya! 💕😍
❤️Abbie
Thank you so much, Abbie! Love you back! 🤗
YAYYYYY ELLA EM! This is so wonderful!
Thank you, Stellaaaaa!!! 💗
Yesss Ella! You finally started your blog! I’m so excited for you!
Thank you, Cosette!!
I love this!! I’m so excited to read more of your posts, Ella Em!
Thank you!! 😄 I am too, honestly, 😂
I love this, Ella Em! I am so happy about your blog and can’t wait to see where you take it. You certainly have me as a reader!!💖
Yay!! Thank you so much, Abby! I’m super excited! 💗
Hey Ella! I really enjoyed reading this and it was very inspiring to read your journey to an amazing writer.
Love, Juliana
Thank you so much, Juliana!! 💗