From Fan Fiction Fangirl to Aspiring Author

Hey there!

My name is Mary, and I am excited (nervous) to be starting a blog. I was encouraged to start one now that I am trying to build an author/writer platform on social media. Reading blogs is easy and fun, but writing one is challenging. How do I keep people interested? If you're a pro blogger, feel free to give tips!

While wide awake at 3:45am (my baby decided it was time to have a dance party in my belly), my thoughts swirled around what to write first. Besides a basic introduction, I wanted people to know why I became a writer.

By day, I am a kindergarten teacher. I love what I do, but I have a passion for writing that I hope to make my profession one day. During my teen years, I was obsessed with Harry Potter fan fiction. I love the world Ms. Rowling created, and being the same age as the actors in the film adaptations, grew up during the HP phenomenon. I've had a love for writing since I was a kid though.

After writing some pieces of fan fiction of my own, I became conflicted. While I loved creating different scenarios for some of the world's most beloved characters, I longed for my own. The book I'm seeking representation for now actually started out as an idea from a dream I had in 2007. Since then, and many drafts later, I've never been able to let this idea go. Now these characters feel as intimate to me as my fan fiction ones did and I'm ready to share them. Hopefully, by gathering followers who are interested, I can improve my chances of being represented. I'm also dabbling with the idea of self-publishing. Any thoughts?