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My first forays into creative writing were through Harry Potter fanfiction. (And even though I know I will be eternally teased about this, you can read my fanfic here. I was in high school, okay?) It wasn't until I took a creative writing course my junior year of college, though, that I was first introduced to writing as a true craft.
I only took the course because I needed an “easy” elective. That, and my positive experiences in fanfiction had piqued a curiosity to learn more about creative writing. Little did I know that the course would act as a quiet but powerful current that would carry me toward a life-long passion for writing.
Years later, when I found myself successful yet unhappy with my professional life, I remembered how much joy that course had brought me. I decided to take an evening creative writing class at my local community college to see if I was still any good. I wasn't sure what, if anything, would come of it, but considering how much I had liked writing in the past, I figured it was worth a shot.
It was initially nerve wracking to share my work with others. After all, any creative work is a baring of one’s soul to the world, friends and foes alike, for their pleasure and criticism. But despite my fears and doubts, I discovered that I was, indeed, still a decent writer. More importantly, I began to pay serious attention to how much I loved to write. I felt like a fish that had, at last, made it out into the sparkling sea.
I forget why I missed the deadline for the San Diego Community Colleges' District-Wide Student Literary Competition held at the end of that semester. I think something in the guidelines had made me think that I wasn’t qualified for the contest. But at the urging of my professor, who saw potential in me, I went ahead and submitted my short story, “Memory,” completely late. And lo and behold, my story ended up winning first place for the category of fiction.
It was the confirmation that I had needed. The confirmation that I was a writer, someone who had what it took to write something worth reading. And ever since then, I’ve been pursuing writing as what I like to call my “nighttime career” as I work long and hard at my craft even after finishing my nine-to-five day job.
My core values when writing are to:
1. Entertain
2. Comfort
3. Teach
Some of my greatest mentors and friends are people I've met in works of fiction and nonfiction alike. Usually, superficial aspects of the work, such as blood-splattering action or a fast-paced plot, capture my attention and suck me into the story. It's hard to stay focused on anything that's sterile and bone-dry, which is why my first core value is to entertain.
Once I'm deep into the work, I'm able to cry with the characters, struggle alongside them, despair with them, hope with them. I find comfort with them despite any hardships that may be oppressing me in reality. The character of Gaara in the manga, "Naruto," for example, stayed my hand when I wanted to commit suicide as a teenager. And thus my second core value: to comfort.
Works of art continually teach me right from wrong as well. Fictional stories, in particular, have instilled within me some of my most valuable morals and strengths. From fiction, I learned the importance of exercising self discipline, helping those in need, learning from both friends and enemies, giving second chances to others as well as myself, and never settling for anything less than my very best in whatever I do. I hope the stories I write will also help you, my dear reader, to learn and understand more about yourself and others.
I’m working hard on getting my novel, Eyes of Awakening, published. I poured so much of my traumas, my sorrows, my wishes, and my dreams into this book. Through it, I have shaped my heart into words which will, hopefully, entertain, comfort, and teach. I hope you'll give it a chance once it's out.
In the meantime, feel free to read some of my short stories to see how my writing skills have evolved over the years. I consider my blog posts to be part of my writing portfolio as well, and you can subscribe to receive my latest posts using the subscription box at the bottom of this page. And, of course, Albert and I have a small but mighty podcast in which we embark on interesting analyses of some of our favorite books.
I hope you check out any or all of the above, but more than anything, my greatest desire is that my work will add to your life just as many greater works from greater artists have added to mine.
Thank you, dear reader, for giving me and my writing your time.
Ann Yihyang Kim