Before I get started on today’s RTW, here comes a little blog announcement…
I am thinking of organizing a blog fest the first week of May, where we could all share a typical day from our time in High School and include a little memory, a quote or a song which reminds us of those years. Would you be interested in signing up for something like this? Once I know there is a bit of interest, I’ll make a post with the details and even a button (wow!) Let me know in the comments 😀 It could be fun and inspiring!
Today is Road Trip Wednesday 🙂 RTW is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
This week’s topic: Who has helped you on your reading/writing/publishing journey?
“Writing, at its best, is a lonely life.” At least, that is what Ernest Hemingway said. The act of writing is usually lonely. We write at our desks or elsewhere. I write in a train but I’m still alone with my thoughts and my muse. However, the process of committing oneself to writing, to aim at becoming a better writer doesn’t have to be lonely. When looking at this prompt, so many names came to my mind, I had to smile.
To all of you reading this: Merci!
To my parents: For reading to me at night before going to sleep, for indulging my love of books by taking me to the bookstore and the library at all ages, for giving me books as gifts, for letting me roam their own books…for understanding my love of the written word. For encouraging my writing without maybe even knowing it and for now letting me know that they believe in me.
To my sisters and brother-in-law: For letting me borrow their books and for reading my first attempts at writing which was not school-related without laughing at me.
To my 4th grade teacher and his wife: For letting me read ahead and for encouraging me to continue turning the pages.
To my French junior high teacher: Especially for my writing, for encouraging me to take risks with school assignments and making me feel like I could do anything.
To my German high school teacher: for opening my reading world to a different language early on, for challenging my critical thinking, for encouraging me…
To my high school friends: For listening to my dreams of becoming a writer and for reading one of my first real attempt at writing a novel. Little did I know it was YA 😀
To my friends (especially you Tonya): the ones who know about my writing and have been encouraging me, not treating me like my dream/goal is insane. Tonya: thanks for being my cheerleader from across the ocean and for pushing me at the beginning to send you more of my WiP 😀
To the authors (from Ancient Greece to now): Thank you for your creativity, your words, your passion, your drive…thank you for giving me the chance to go through so many books and knowing there are so many more out there. Thank you for inspiring me in my writing and for showing me that it can indeed be done.
To the writing community: I receive so much from you ladies and gentlemen from reading your blogs, your forum posts, your tweets and from SCBWI. On reading, hopping from blogs to blogs mean that my TBR explodes with joy on a regular basis and a special shout-out to Jaime and Katy for pointing out books which became favorites of mine. For writing, I get thrilled when others receive great news, I relish in reading about the experience with the craft and I am so grateful to Tarah for reading some of my writing and giving me feedback and to Heather for letting me do it for her.
To my hubby: I probably shouldn’t use any of the nicknames we have for each other on this blog but you know which ones I want to use right now 😀 (no, not that one, NO definitely not that one!…yes that one :D). Thank you for pushing me, for challenging me, for hugging me, for being there, for being my rock! Thank you for listening to my rants, for listening to me swooning other characters and plots. Thank you for letting me dwelve into social media and be patient towards me as I tell you about my tweeps and blogfriends…Thank you for being you. And thanks for agreeing to “listen” to my MS once I’m done polishing it…I love you.
Who helped you along your writing/reading path?
Elodie Nowodazkij 
Hooray for having such a lot of people to thank!
Yay! 😀 It is always such a wonderful feeling to realize how many wonderful people surround us!
Love this post! And I had the hardest time narrowing down who to thank, so I didn’t. Just listed them all!
Also, your idea for a blogfest sounds great! I’m already doing another one in May (we’re announcing in a few weeks) but maybe I can tie this in.
I know, it was too difficult for me to narrow down as well 😀 I loved writing this post! Oh and thanks for the comment on the blogfest, I am thinking of doing it in June instead of May…More details to come soon 😀 Hope you will be in!
Love this list! And also the idea for a blogfest is excellent.
Thanks Bess 😀 I loved writing the list! And thanks for your comment on the blogfest…I am thinking of organizing it in June, hope you will be able to join in!
I’m trying to translate “High School” to my school experience and see if I can think of a “typical day.” I can certainly think of music that brings back memories of that period in my life. Might be an interesting challenge. 🙂
On behalf of the writers and bloggers who follow your blog and tweets, you’re welcome, Eloide. I for one wish you every success. 🙂
Thank you so very much, Colin 😀 I really appreciate the encouraging words! (right back at you :D)) I hope you’ll join in on the blogfest…I am thinking of organizing it in June 😀
Eek! Sorry, Elodie… my fingers got confused as they typed your name. 🙂
That is great you have so many wonderful people to help you through out. Always great to have support, those who help or just listen.
Thanks Eve 😀 It is indeed quite wonderful to see how many people are there for us 😀
Thank you, Elodie, for the shout out, but also for being an encouragement to me as well. It means a lot! 🙂 This community is a big part of what keeps me going and pushing on in this whole writing thing. It’s wonderful that you have so many supportive friends and family too.
I like your high school ‘day in the life’ idea. I’d love to participate, but I’ll have to see when it falls because I’ll be in the UK for much of May. Sounds like so much fun! 🙂
Aww! Thanks, Jaime 😀 I’m glad the interwebs enabled us to “meet” each other! The YA writing community is really amazing and the support is priceless 😀 Thanks also for your comment on the blogfest idea – I am probably going to do in June instead of May, hope you’ll be able to join in!
Yaaaaaaay this is a great list 🙂 I love remembering the teacher along the way that made a difference! It would be great to be able to thank everyone that made our lives possible, wouldn’t it? You obviously have a fantastic support system—with all that, how can you fail?? 🙂
I love your thank you to your husband and the mind reading going on. 🙂 I completely love your blogfest idea. I’m already doing one in May (to be announced soon) but if you repeated it in June or something I’d totally do it.
❤ ❤
Thanks Tracey 😀 Hubby and I have funny ways to talk to one another 😀 When it comes to the blogfest, I am now thinking of doing it in June. Hope you’ll be able to join in! 😀
Awe, such a cool idea to thank people. I have my 4th grad teacher to thank too.
Thanks, Jenny! Teachers have such a strong impact and I know I’m very grateful to them 😀
I’d take part 🙂
And I love the list you made. It’s nice to see so many people in your life who’ve helped you and encouraged you.
Thanks Robin 😀
I’m glad that you’d take part in the blogfest! I’m thinking about June now instead of May, seems to be easier (and would leave me a tad more time to organize it :D)
In regards to the list of people, it amazes me to see how many people have a positive impact on us, it’s great to take a step back and realize it 😀
Yay for amazing books! 🙂
What a fantastic list of supportive people, Elodie. You’re lucky to have so many in your life. 🙂
I’m grateful to my parents, husband and daughter, real-life friends, agent, CPs and writing friends from all over the web (and world!) who’ve rooted me on over the last few years. Without all of their (your!) support, I might have given up long ago.
Thanks Katy 😀 I loved loved loved writing this post, made me smile the entire time! It’s really amazing to see how many people have a positive impact on our life! And like you, I am so grateful for all the wonderful people around the world who cheer me on 😀
That sounds like a great idea for a blog fest. 🙂 I have so many stories from high school, mainly because I teach in the institution!
Thanks C.B 😀 I am thinking about organizing the blogfest in June 😀 More details to come soon on the blog!