Click on each syllable to learn how to pronounce my middle name/Korean name: Yi (이) hyang (향)
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 dabbling in fanfiction had cultivated an interest in creative writing. Little did I know that I'd love the class and that the experience would build into a quiet but powerful current which would carry me into a life-long passion for writing.
Years later, when I found myself unhappy with my professional life, I remembered how much I'd enjoyed that class. I decided to take an evening creative writing course 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'd 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, I discovered that I was still a decent writer. More importantly, I began to pay serious attention to how much I loved to write.
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 final confirmation that I had needed. The confirmation that I was a writer. 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 have been characters I've encountered in works of fiction. But I would have overlooked all such characters had the works in which they'd lived been boring. The fact of the matter is that it's hard to enjoy (and consequently, derive significance from) works that are bone-dry, which is why my first core value is to entertain.
Once the juicy, entertaining aspects, like blood-splattering action or a fast-paced plot, immerse me within a 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.
Such works also instilled invaluable morals and strengths in me. I learned the importance of exercising self discipline, helping those in need, learning from both allies and enemies, giving second chances to others as well as myself, and never settling for anything less than my best in whatever I do. I hope all that I write, from my blog posts to my novels, will help you, my dear reader, to learn more about yourself and others. I hope you'll be inspired to take what you learn and add something to this world.
I worked with all my might to publish my first novels, Eye in the Blue Box and Tree of Eyes. I poured so much of my traumas, my sorrows, and my dreams into these books. Through them, I have fashioned my heart into words which will, hopefully, entertain, comfort, teach, and inspire. I hope you'll give them a read.
You can also read my short stories, which show how my writing has evolved over the years. I consider my blog to be part of my writing portfolio as well. And, of course, Albert (my husband) and I have a small but mighty podcast in which we analyze our favorite books and movies.
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
김이향
金 梨香
"In peace I will lie down and sleep for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." - Psalm 4:8
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