I used to write fictional stories
It all started from a fad that was popular among the students in my school back when I was a junior high school (middle school) student. The Internet was not a thing. No mobile phones. So, in our spare time, we love to read magazines, rent comics or novels, listen to music on the radio and write down the lyrics. That's also how I learned English.
My friends and I enjoy reading manga aka Japanese comics. Some of it was translated to Indonesian and some others were translated to English. A few of us even know how to draw cartoons or comics characters. Not me though. I tried to draw. I just don't have a talent for it. What I do like is writing stories.
So, my friends and I started to write short stories in a notebook, and when we're done we swap it around so we can read stories for free. Renting comics were pretty expensive (thank God nowadays we can read comics for free using the power of internet). I had to save my pocket money so I could rent or buy magazines or comic books. We only had 2 places back then where we can rent comics...and those places are pretty far. Our parents didn't have time to take us to comics renting places. In fact, my parents hated it when I read comics. They said I read too much. Not only comics but also books. They were afraid I would go crazy because I often stayed in my room for hours. I was the geek of the house lol...
We had fun writing and swapping our storybooks. Sadly, we didn't continue this when we were in senior high school. We got busy not only with our studies but also with the school clubs and other extracurricular. As for me, while I enjoy writing stories and I even had a thought to send my stories to magazines, I was not confident enough to do so.
When my friends stop writing stories, I stopped it too. But, maybe it was also because our interest changed back then. We were just teenagers who tried to learn about the world and ourselves. Life was easy when we were young. There're no responsibilities like what we have now as adults. My friends and I are all girls who are somewhat geeks (we didn't belong to the popular students' list lol), manga (anime) lovers, soccer enthusiasts. Soccer? Yes, soccer. In Indonesia, we call it football though. I used to watched Italian Leagues, FIFA League, and World Cups. The girls and I loved to see the matches and the soccer players of course. (wink wink). We woke up at 2 am to watch soccer at home till 3.30 am on the weekend (why so early? It's due to the time zone for watching Live matches say in Italy or England).
Oh, how fun it is to reminisce the old times. Now, I can go back to write again thanks to Wealthy Affiliate. :) I hope to launch a personal website in the future. Right now, I am quite busy with my niche site.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. I should have posted my 5-month progress with Wealthy Affiliate last week but I got mandatory training that I have to get done with my teaching online job. I hope I can post it before July ends.
Have a great week everyone.
Stay safe, happy, and healthy!
Recent Comments
55
Hey Ferra,
Thanks for sharing - especially the part about anime. Back in college, me and my friends would order pizza and spend Friday afternoons watching Anime cartoons in the Math Lab after everyone went home.
Hoping you reconsider your childhood dreams in writing fictional stories, if that's your passion. 👍
Thanks for the post!
Isaiah 😊
Hey Isaiah,
That sounds so cool! I would love watching anime with my friends. In college, their interest changed to Korean drama. I was hooked for a bit, but I just couldn't keep up. I mean, I know anime like One Piece is still going till now (since 1999) but Korean drama is pretty addicting. Once you started to watch some episodes, you can't stop and you don't realize until it's 2 or 3 am lol... At least with Anime, I am okay to wait for the next episodes.
We'll see about that... Thank you for the support. I would love to. Life is different now that I have a toddler who requires my attention all the time :)
Have a great week.
Ferra
Wow Ferra😍 nice!
You’ve just reminded me of how I used to write poems. Had quite a collection in my notebook until I gave it an English teacher who used to be my landlady. I wanted her thoughts...She never returned my notebook and I stopped writing 😭.
Anyway, nice walk down the memory lane 😀.
Hi Jane,
Wow, poems. You just reminded me that I did start my poem book when I was in senior high school. Thanks, Jane. Back then I wrote poems about love and friendship. :) It was fun. A secret poem book that I didn't even let my closest friends know about. Sadly, I didn't keep the book. It was too long ago.
Your English teacher must have loved your poems so much that she forgot to return it to you. :)
Maybe we can start to write poems again now and share it on our personal website he he... :)
Thank you for sharing your story, Jane. It is nice to reminisce good memories.
Ferra
How sweet Ferra🥰. My goodness, those were the best days 🤩.
I agree we should get writing again. I’m pretty sure I still have it somewhere deep inside.
Sweeet!
Have a beautiful day.
Jane
Hi Ferra. When I read your post I was immediately transported back to my own childhood. I consumed cartoons, comics and books at a huge rate. I was like you in my room for long hours listening to music and reading everything I could get my hands on.
Thank you so much for sharing this great story from your own background. It triggers good memories of my own.
-Roy-
Hi Roy,
I am happy that my story could bring you back to your memories. :) I think it is nice to remember the old times once in a while. It helps us to appreciate our family and friends, and even ourselves, in our journey to shape our good self today.
Ferra
I used to be a bookworm too and, apparently, it’s not easy to get rid of such a habit
My parents showed no enthusiasm at all for my interest in reading and writing a lot but they hâd to accept me the way I was.
Can't wait to read about your 5 month progress
Thank you for the inspiring post, Ferra.
Anyii
Hi Anyii,
Thank you for sharing your story, Anyii. My parents had to hide my books from me one day, I was so mad at them but I understand they wanted me to also build up my social skill and also help out in the house.
I will work on the 5-month progress this week. :)
Ferra
Right! Parents are so fond of social and pragmatic activities :-)
I'm impressed with your progress already.
Best wishes!
See more comments
Some of my interests are changed over the years and others have not. I started both drawing and writing, however, I had to give up on them including my personal life just to keep my job. Yet I managed to write down ideas over years to this point. At least, the ideas were placed on paper.
Drawing was a challenge for me in the beginning...crappy circles with eyes, nose and a mouth on them. The more I did it, the better I became. I never took a writing or an art class until 2006, I believe many years after I started.
The only reason why I started in the first place was to created my own characters and stories! My own creative journal detailing my own universe!!
I joined Institute of Children's Literature in 2006 and Udemy in 2018 just to polish up some rough spots. I love the Udemy videos showing and explaining step-by-step. If you change my mind about drawing, give it a look!
Wow, you have an amazing story. Thank you for sharing. It inspires me. I took some courses with Udemy before. I will find some drawing courses there. :)