The Budding Writer in Me

By Frankie Forrester, Wilson High School student

Writers in the Schools came at just the right time in my life: I had just started high school, a wide-eyed, open-brained freshman, and was at a point where I enjoyed writing but I didn’t really think much of my work. It all just seemed like words on paper. Mostly I was writing humorous shorts for my family and friends; little one-shots that only really made sense to us. I knew I could write when the time called for it, but I didn’t take so much pleasure out of it as I do now.

Turiya Autry was our writer. She was introduced to our fourth period English class a little bit into the year. Turiya was lively, funny, and made writing in class a privilege as opposed to work. There in that English-strewn room I heard many of my classmates’ voices for the first time. I was surprised, shocked even. Some of my fellow classmates were amazing, witty, and interesting writers! I would have never known that if Turiya hadn’t given us different tools for writing.

I wrote “Power Outage” in that class, one of my pieces that was eventually published in the anthology. When I was writing it I wasn’t expecting anything out of it except a few laughs. I love to make people laugh and most of my stories are written with a humorous undertone. “Power Outage” captured my inner struggle as an internet junkie faced with a crisis when the neighborhood fix was temporarily disarmed. When I read it to my class there were certainly laughs and even a few could relate.

I read “Power Outage” a short while later for a WITS reading held in Annie Bloom’s Books, just minutes from my school. It was great to hear kids from all over Portland and beyond share their own works of writing as well as to read my own. I felt comfortable and relaxed reading aloud and I got laughs (which always makes me ecstatic). If I thought this was as great as it was going to get, I had another two things coming.

The school year came to an end before my most memorable occurrence took place. I did more writing and was enjoying my final results, sharing them with my relatives, friends, teachers, and blog-buddies on the internet. I received a letter from WITS and expected another reading. instead, I got a surprise. Chelsea Cain, a published author, had so enjoyed “Power Outage” that she was going to read it at the anthology release party! If I was happy before, I was delirious now.

Meeting Chelsea later, I found out she had chosen to read my piece for its unique voice and tone. It was written in second person and was only about a page and a half or more. Once again, I had no idea such a small and humorous idea could get me so far! Chelsea read it just the way I envisioned: emphasis on all the right words, an engaging and humorous voice, pauses that added the right emphasis. All the things I had done in my head when I put the letters to the page. It was like an out-of-body experience! Hearing my writing come out of her mouth and into audience ears, making them laugh—she was like a puppet almost. I loved it. I was delirious and I don’t just say that to sugar-coat the whole thing.

When I Once Was Young and Strong debuted, filled with our writings and thoughts, I remember feeling like a real author. To be honest, it felt good to be there among the work of my friends. They were all so unique and voiced so well; I was proud to be squashed between them in the pages.

I did one more WITS reading, again at Annie Bloom’s, which was still as thrilling as the first time. By this time, I had become so familiar with “Power Outage” that I could almost recite it without looking at the page. I felt even more confident and strong as I read, remembering the way Chelsea had done it. Seeing another person read it helped me hone in on my own skills when it came to speaking.

I envision all of my writing getting the same results! Currently, I am attending a teen workshop at Marylhurst University that is really carving my skills into different statues. I’ve written some pieces that I can’t believe have come from my pencil tip! I thank Turiya and WITS for helping me find the writer in me.

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