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My
name is Breanne Crawford. I am 12 years old. Ever since I could, I have
loved to write. I always gotten great grades in writing and was always
encouraged to write. When I was in third grade, I had a teacher who
knew that I had the ability to write and encouraged me 100 percent.
She helped me send my writing in to magazines, and although my work never got published, she still encouraged me. She told me the following words, "You can do it." Even though that may not sound like much, to an eight-year-old, it was everything. That was when I decided that I was going to be a writer.
I started seriously sending things to publications last year, and since then have had many successes. I feel that the internet is the main reason. Over the internet, I have found many places that look for young people who will write for them.
"Cheerleading is one of Breanne's (top) school-related activities."
It started ou
t small, just having my poem published on a web-site, but then it kept on growing; more poems published on other web sites.
Then, my dream came true: The dream of being a published writer. Over the internet, I found a lady who runs an off-line magazine, and I submitted a poem that I had just written, and it got published. I have to say that was the happiest day of my life! Even though it was a small magazine, I had finally been published.
After that, I had written many advice
columns over the internet, including one at freezone
and a writer's advice column at KidsWriting After
I had my work published, I decided to move on to a bigger goal: starting
a magazine.
"Breanne (at bottom, in blue jacket) with schoolmates"
I advertised at Inkspot tha
t I wanted to start a magazine written by young people, and that I would like to find a publisher. Amazingly, I got two responses. I decided to become part of two magazines.
One is a literary and arts journal that I am helping put together with a 29 year old woman publisher called "It's Happening!" The other is a magazine that I am starting all by myself, working with a different publisher.
Both of these activities will be hard, but I believe because of what my third-grade teacher said -- that I can do it. I am also in the midst of writing a novel about two people who fall in love.
Through the internet, I found a publisher who will help me market and publish this romance story in the same place that I advertised for the magazine.
That's about it for the writing. Now I'll tell you a little about me. I enjoy many things besides writing. My pastimes and hobbies include reading, cheerleading, gymnastics, the internet, and just hanging out with friends.
I believe that I should tell you this
because I base all my writing on personal experiences. So for example,
if a friend did something really mean to me, I would write a poem about
it in order to express my feelings.
 Pictured here with her siblings, Breanne (bottom right) is the only family member who has been published so far
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I have two older brothers – Jarret, age 17 and Ryan, age 14 -- and two younger sisters, Erin who is
10, and Marissa who is 9. My brother Jarret and sister Erin are both interested in writing, but no one
else in my family has been published yet. The internet is such a great invention for everyone. Because of it, my dreams have become a reality and my goal, of being a published writer, have been accomplished. |