Inspiration Station is back, but in a new way!
As you know, guest bloggers appear on my site twice a month. For the months of August, September, and October, my guests will be discussing the same topic:
When and why did you begin writing?
This week we’ll learn a little bit more about Charles Yallowitz. Thanks, Charles!
First, thank you to Rachel for asking me to be a part of this guest post series. I was asked about the when and why behind me being an author. This is always a fun question to answer and it requires me going back enough years that I feel old.
The when actually goes back to 2nd grade, which might sound like me pulling a fast one on people. We had learning stations and I loved the writing one because I got to make my own books. Usually about animals or jokes, but I tried to tell a few stories. I would do anything I could to stay at that station, which included hiding under it one day to keep working while the math lesson started. I got in trouble, mistook it for me needing to stop writing, and only told stories when project guidelines allowed it. Never thought of it as more than a hobby that kept me occupied.
Things changed in 10th grade when I read ‘Book of Lost Swords’ by Fred Saberhagen. I’d already read some Narnia and all of the big Tolkien books. I was getting into Dungeons & Dragons too, but this book series triggered a desire to be an author. You would think I went right to fantasy, but I was big into comics at the time. So, I designed a story about four young immortals with magic weapons and super powers that protected the universe from a group of evil immortals. I developed alien species, uniforms, various stories, supporting characters, and created a big world and history for this. Then, I started college and found that I was more interested in fantasy. Windemere was created and things kept rolling along after that. Seems like a sudden jump at the end, but it really did click after I played in a D&D game that was more than hacking and slashing.
As for why I became an author, it’s because I love telling stories. The creation of characters and worlds that didn’t exist before is exciting. Not just putting these things on paper, but being able to transform the stories in my head into the minds of readers. It’s a special world that I love to share with others, especially if it makes them happy or at least less stressed than when they started reading. I see storytelling and reading as a form of escapism for both the reader and the author. We get to step out of our skin and into the role of someone else or, at the very least, witness great events beyond the real world’s limits. For me, this can be rejuvenating for my energy and help me get through a rough period, which is something I’d like my stories to do for others.
This part stems from me using books to relax when I was younger, especially if I had trouble sleeping. I’d read until I passed out, which is probably why I can only read for 15-30 minutes before I doze off. It isn’t that I’m bored, but I’ve trained myself to relate reading to sleeping. My mind kind of wanders off into the story too, so it’s more of a trance at times. Anyway, this is a big reason why I write. Not the putting people to sleep thing, but as a way for people to relax and let their real world problems go for even a moment.
About Charles:
Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you, and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.
Connect with Charles:
Legends of Windemere Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Website
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Page
