When I had just finished eating breakfast, it occurred to me that I need to write an article this morning that is to be sent to the Gazette. Up until now, I have not been able to think of anything to write. Is this when I should stop? Has this past eight years of writing covered everything? When did this “writing” begin anyway? If I put my brain in reverse order, maybe I can find a place to call the beginning.
I think it all started when I was in the 10th grade, in Mrs. Hearn’s class, when she announced that any student who wanted to come to a class on writing should show up in her classroom after school on Thursdays. And that she would teach about writing short stories. Sounded great to me, so I was one of the first to get there that next week. The best part was getting to hear what all the other students had written about.
The next period of time when I did some writing was when a friend and I decided to each write a short story and get together at each other’s home and read them. We chose to discuss them on every Wednesday morning. That lasted about a year.
Next is when I started keeping a journal. That has gone from using just a decent-sized calendar, to filling a whole page in an 8-by-10 spiral notebook. Now I am filling one whole notebook each year. So far, I have filled 17 whole spiral notebooks. I wish I had started keeping a journal when I was about 10 years old. I would love to sit down now and read about my years of growing up in the same house with all six of my siblings.
My first article to be published was in the “First Person” section of the Columbus Dispatch on April 9, 2016. That was my story of when George lost his billfold at the Orlando International Airport on our way home.
Next is when a friend encouraged me to send my writings to the Delaware Gazette. And they have published my articles every other week since. I now have a total of over 170 published articles.
But it doesn’t stop there. Now, I have been encouraged to have the articles put into a book. And where would I get some help for that? My thought was to go back to Ohio Wesleyan University, and maybe I could find someone to help me do that. When George and I got there, the first place we went was to Phillips Hall, because that’s where I had worked for 12 years. After looking at all the changes there, we walked out on campus to Gray Chapel. While there, we were approached by a student worker who asked what I needed. I told her my story and immediately she said, “Stay right here,” and she took off running. It didn’t take her long, and she was back and gave me a card with the name of the head of the Journalism Department of OWU, John McGory. When I looked at the card, the address was at Phillips Hall. (That was where we just came from.)
When we went back to Phillips Hall, we found his office, but he wasn’t there then, but we found out when he would be back. And that’s when we met with him, and with his continuous advice, we have started the process of putting my articles into the form of a book.
I didn’t know when I got up this morning that I would finally find something to write about. I thought I would just send in about 15 quotes that I could find in one of my seven quote books. But, I decided to write this story instead. Thanks for reading it, especially about keeping a journal. I always encourage everyone to keep a journal. Whether you are 10 or nearing 80, you will be glad you did.
Kay E. Conklin is a retired Delaware County recorder who served four terms. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in sociology and anthropology.
