Wednesday, April 21, 2010

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I asked my four-year-old kidlet this today. She replied:

I want to be a scientist...
...what is a scientist?


After some discussion, she decided she wants to be an orinthologist and a writer (like you, Mommy!)

I always knew I wanted to be a writer, from that first Kindergarten poem (too distasteful to repeat!) But it took me awhile to get here. There were many things I channeled my creative energy into (stone masonry, crochet, on and on) until the day I finally got the guts to sit down and put fingers to keyboard. Even then, my first novel was pretty much a mess.

But today I am happy to have reached this place, and grateful for the years I've invested in reaching my dream.

What about you, dear readers - has writing always been your ultimate destination?

I'd like to shout out a huge thank you to Elizabeth Mueller. Was I ever surprised to find this beautiful sketch of me on her blog as part of a fun guess-who game. I get to see Elizabeth at a conference on Friday and she's going to give me this sketch. It'll hang where I write for inspiration.

~Suzette~

34 comments:

Candyland said...

That's cute. I first wanted to be a veterinarian, then rock star, then mooch, but always a writer.

Stephanie McGee said...

That's funny.

As for what I want to be when I grow up. Well, I'm still working on that one.

But I think I may have found something to make me happy. More on that come Friday. (So much for having more writing time, that's all I'll say for now.)

But writing has been there for a long time as far as something I want to continue to pursue.

Tracy Loewer said...

I always wanted to be a mom. Now that that's well under way, I'm going for the whole writer thing. :)

Vicki Tremper said...

I started out wanting to be a flight attendant or cocktail waitress, which made my 4th grade female classmates chuckle. I definitely didn't end up with the assets for the latter.

I always loved writing (and singing and acting) but was steered toward more practical occupations - nothing specific, just the idea that creative pursuits would make a better hobby than career. So it took being a stay at home mom to an infant, with the time again to think about what else I wanted out of life, to bring me to the idea that writing can be a career.

And I haven't looked back since!

Aimee said...

Cute story!!

For my preschool graduation we had to say a poem in front of everyone about what we wanted to be when we grew up. They basically gave police/firemen to all the boys and nurse to all the girls. I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. Well, they ended up making me say the nurse poem because I couldn't remember the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader poem. *sigh* So that was my first idea. I got the bug for writing in second grade when I won a little contest they had at school, and I have had the "bug" ever since.

JournoMich said...

Hmmm...First I wanted to be a mannequin, then a jockey, then an actress, then a broadcast journalist, then a writer...so I guess I am there, sort of.

What a sweet drawing!

Michele
SouthernCityMysteries

Ina said...

At the age of 4, I wanted to become a writer and a magician. I spent the next few years figuring out which to choose. While I have yet to grow up, I have discovered that my two goals were essentially the same.

Janet Johnson said...

Wow, my son wants to be a Scientist, too! :)

Writing was something I always did, but never, never planned to become a writer. My husband gave me the nudge and now I'm sure he regrets it as I'm addicted! ;)

Jemi Fraser said...

LOVE the sketch!! :)

When I was little I wanted to be so many things: horse rancher, marine biologist, zoo keeper, artist, teacher, singer, researcher, librarian, pilot, director, ... and writer. Still not sure I want to grow up though!

Lynnette Labelle said...

Most definitely. I can't remember a time when I didn't want to write. Of course, I didn't realize that was a career option until much later. Funny how parents seem to forget to mention that one. LOL

Ladies, if you know of any romance writers looking for a critique group, could you send them to my blog? I'm having a contest (starting Friday) to find a new writer to add to our little critique group. Please spread the word. Thanks.

Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

Diana Paz said...

Such a sweet drawing!

I always wanted to be a writer too :)

Unknown said...

I loved to write all throughout my kid years however I didn't realize I wanted to be a writer until a few years ago.

I've had so many goals and aspirations and this was the one that finally fit me.

DL Hammons said...

I've wanted to write since I was a junior in high school.

I've wanted to be a writer since two years ago.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I LOOOOVE the Elizabeth drawing! It will be so fun to have that near your computer. :-)

Unknown said...

I love that sketch of you! Early on, I wanted to either be a priest or NFL quarterback. When I was informed I couldn't do either because I was a girl, I wanted to be a lawyer (probably because I thought I could change things). However, since about 9th grade, I wanted to be a clinical psychologist - which I am currently. I'll always write though - whether in a professional capacity or otherwise - it's so much fun!

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

There was a long time when I thought, "I'd love to be a writer if I could, you know, actually write." It took me a long time to realize that if I manned-up, sat down, and actually started writing, I could be a writer.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

When I was eight, I wanted to be a Nun. When I was 15, I wanted to be a girlfriend. When I was 17, I wanted to be a reporter. When I was 20, I was practical and decided to become a teacher...Now at 44 I want to be a writer, one who travels the world to do her research.

Stina said...

Right now, I'm wishing I could draw like that. I draw an amazing stick figure. Not.

Since I was eight, I knew I wanted to be a writer, but abandoned that dream when I decided I sucked at writing. During my teens years, I figured I could possibly be a clown, and not because I was funny. I wasn't. Low esteem issues and big feet were the reason for that choice. Oh, then there was the plan to be a nun or a madam. Mom wasn't too thrilled with the second choice and pointed out we weren't Catholic, which was apparently important for the first one. :)

Bish Denham said...

Yep, writing has always been at the core of my being though I've been thrown off center a few times.

Sarah Ahiers said...

i wanted to be a vet. And a singer.
Assuming of course that being an X-man was out of the equation...

feywriter said...

I've wanted to be a writer ever since first grade. Me and my best friend were the top readers, and instead of reading Dick and Jane type books, we were learning new words in the dictionary and writing our own stories. I am so grateful to that teacher who praised and encouraged me.

Though my other interests changed each year - dancer, scientist, artist - I always wanted to be that new career AND a writer.

Tess said...

ah, no. I didn't have a clue about my desire to write until I was in my 30s. I was going to be a Broadway Star!!!! (yes, I'm laughing over here, too)

Slamdunk said...

I have wanted to be so many things that I could not keep track (neither could mom or dad). At least I only changed majors in undergrad once.

Brenda St John Brown said...

I wanted to be a ballerina for ages, even after I realized I was too tall and too clumsy. I think it was a yearning to be graceful.

As for writing...I wrote my first story in 2nd grade and still have it, with Miss Post's comments in her green cursive, "I know you'll be a writer one day."

CMOM Productions said...

Great sketch! :) I always wanted to be a singer and a writer. I love hearing kids discuss "when I grow up I want to..."

JEM said...

I wanted to be, in no particular order: a doctor, a journalist, a musician, an actor, an acting musician, a singing actor, a book publisher, a farmer, and a nurse. I am: none of those things. I've decided to stop trying to be things and just do things instead.

Angie said...

I love that picture of you. I'm glad you finally came around to your writing journey! You are going to be a huge success.

Anonymous said...

I'm trying my best not to grow up. If I ever grow up, I'll probably be about a week from the long dirtnap. Till then, I'm going to try to be a writer. :)

G. B. Miller said...

I a bit of an anomaly in that I never really wanted to be a writer when I grew up.

Matter of fact, didn't really have an idea on what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I sort of fell into writing about four years ago and I've been having fun ever since.

Emily said...

Loved the post and especially the comments! I featured your post on my blog today.

http://emilysreadingroom.blogspot.com/2010/04/friday-faves-1.html

Rachael said...

Not even close, though thinking back to my earlier stories, I think it was fate that I would eventually become a writer.

I wanted to be a veterinarian, scientist, and then horse trainer. I wasn't until sophomore year in high school that I started to write seriously.

Unknown said...

Love the picture! I wish I could draw that well...

I wanted to be a writer at five. It was my goal from the start, and I focused on it alone until middle school, when I branched out into making jewelry and studying cryptology, and finally graphic design. I just remember my mommy saying, "That's good! You can always make money as a writer!"


Right now I'm just hoping it'll help out with scholarships. ;D

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Awww, Suzette! Thank you for posting the drawing here! *Blushing* I'm so glad you loved it!

It was soooo nice seeing you and EVEN talking with you at the Conference. You and your sister are so lovely together. I love your companionship and spirit! :)

When I was little--lol--I wanted to be a horse! I had quite the imagination! Then I wanted to be an elf. And a mermaid. OH the things I wanted to be.

I guess all along I really didn't know that I COULD be all those things until I started long-hand writing stories along with drawings to go with them (when I was a bit older).

LOL...
Thanks for the lovely post!!

:)

Anonymous said...

I've always wanted to be a writer too but I've never really doubted it until now. So weird...especially after this weekend.

Isn't Lizzie awesome? You look awesome, Suzette!