Author, I Never is a new segment in which I interview fellow authors about the writing process, breaking into the industry, and breaking rules. I try to mix it up a little and ask some hopefully novel questions along with some of the old standards, and finish it up with a round of I Never (kid friendly version) to find out what cardinal writing rules we've broken.
 

Question the first: Derek, when did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I was writing since I was in the 2nd grade.  I wrote these UFO stories, in serial form, and all my classmates were totally into it. I realized I liked telling stories, and I had a certain amount of power by creating them, especially when I could kill all the characters off and traumatize an entire class of children. That was wonderful.

Author, I Never is a new segment in which I interview fellow authors about the writing process, breaking into the industry, and breaking rules. I try to mix it up a little and ask some hopefully novel questions along with some of the old standards, and finish it up with a round of I Never (kid friendly version) to find out what cardinal writing rules we've broken.

Question the first: Erin, when did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I got into the writer-game later than most people. I enjoyed writing as a kid but never thought, “Oh, maybe someday I’ll be a writer.” I didn’t have any serious interest in writing until I was in my late-twenties, perusing the YA section at Borders with a friend. He said, “We could do this.” And I said, “Hmm. Maybe.”

Author, I Never is a segment in which I interview fellow authors about the writing process, breaking into the industry, and breaking rules. I ask some hopefully novel questions along with some of the old standards, and finish it up with a round of I Never to find out what cardinal writing rules we've broken.

Question the first: Amy, when did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was about five or six I was obsessed with the Disney record/read-along books. I would spend hours listening to them and then making up my own stories for what happened after the stories ended (the evil stepmother in Cinderella went to the dungeon. The seven dwarves lived at the palace with Snow White, etc.) I think I knew then I wanted to be a writer in some capacity.

Author, I Never is a segment in which I interview fellow authors about the writing process, breaking into the industry, and breaking rules. I ask some hopefully novel questions along with some of the old standards, and finish it up with a round of I Never to find out what cardinal writing rules we've broken.

Question the first: Julia, when did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I remember in first grade, we were given these blank, white, bound books and told to write and illustrate our own stories. It was probably the most fun, thrilling assignment I’d ever been given. I still have that book. I think it all started around then. I just kept going from there, writing books, poems, stories, and anything and everything. I never stopped.

Author, I Never is a new segment in which I interview fellow authors about the writing process, breaking into the industry, and breaking rules. I ask some hopefully novel questions along with some of the old standards, and finish it up with a round of I Never to find out what cardinal writing rules we've broken.

Question the first: Sarah, when did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always known, in some way. I can’t think of a time when I didn’t want to be a writer—although, the type of writing has definitely evolved. It began with songwriting, which morphed into poetry, which then became short stories, and finally turned into novel writing. But the idea of actually publishing… that came really late for me, considering.