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WRITERS' VILLAGE IS PROUD TO INTRODUCE
YOU TO:
Mysti Hackney
USA
mysti@wvu.org
I wish I could say that I'm one of those people who has written
great stories since my teenage years, but I can't. Perhaps I was meant to do
just that, but life handed me a lemon from the get go. I used to keep a notebook
where I'd write stories about far away places and such, but I was constantly
reminded that doing such nonsense was a waste of time. Eventually it came to the
point where I would fill pages with words and then erase them quickly out of
complete and utter fear that I would disappoint somebody. What I wouldn't give
to read those words now! :o)
In time of course, I stopped writing completely. I went on to more productive
things like marriage and having a family. It was easier to push my dream of
writing to the back of my mind with a toddler having free reign over my time. I
can't say that I ever truly forgot about my dreams because they were always
whispering in the back of my mind. I continued to read any book I could get my
hands on, gobbling up each precious word.
Eventually my daughter started school and there I was with free time once again.
One of my best friends continued to encourage me to think more about writing
seriously. It was only then that I opened myself to write once more. I was
searching the internet to find sites on writing and stumbled upon F2K by sheer
accident. Fear set in as I registered for the course and continued to grow as
others in my class posted introductions. After all, I was only a girl who hadn't
really written anything productive in my life! Finally, I found the courage to
post my first lesson in the Hemingway room and with each lesson my fears grew
smaller. I still thank Janet for the extra push that I so desperately needed.
At the end of F2K, I joined WVU immediately. There was no way I was going to let
fear stop me! The thing that helped me the most then was that I had a few
friends from F2K who joined as well. They decided to start a new study group
upon arrival and Middle Earth was born. I'm still there today almost a year
later. The group is nothing short of a blessing for me. I've developed
close-knit relationships there and they have never complained when I need the
extra push to keep going forward.
I enjoy my time at WVU very much and consider it fate that I stumbled along the
path that led me here. It's always refreshing to meet people who share my love
for writing. I have many wonderful friends here and have had the added bonus of
watching many great stories unfold.
I was shocked when Judy came to me asking that I facilitate the Orientation
class. There was that same nagging fear again as I took on the challenge. Today
the fear is gone and I really enjoy meeting all the new members at WVU. Each one
offers encouragement that we should never let our dreams fade away! I'm also a
member of the chat team, which is a lot of fun because I love to ramble. Don't
get me started! :o)
These days I write freely without too much fear. I'm definitely not the girl who
strives to be published, as I've never sent anything out. I'm the one who tells
a tale for the sheer joy of it. If I were to offer one piece of advice it would
be to live life the way you see fit and never let another person steal your
dreams!
Have faith and keep writing!
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