I’ve noticed writers often like to dip back into their past to see if they have always been drawn to writing, or perhaps a certain genre, from a young age. I know this for two reasons. First, I often see posts on Facebook about it, usually accompanied by a picture of yellowed notebook paper covered in oft-practiced cursive. And second, even though I know I’ve always loved horror and Halloween, I’m constantly searching through my old school papers as well, looking for evidence.
Today I found a secret stash of old awards and certificates. I have little interest in reliving science fair projects gone awry, but among these less-interesting papers were two issues of The Cardinal Chronicle, a junior high school “newspaper” that was lovingly photocopied and distributed among the mostly apathetic teens of Pocono Mountain. Jackpot!
The two issues I found (quite possibly the only two I was involved with) were the Special Halloween Edition and a Christmas Edition. Flipping through the Halloween issue, I was not at all surprised to find my contributions outweighed the rest of the staff ten fold. Seriously. Over half of this thing is made up of my awful drawings and GOD-awful stories.
Oh yeah, that’s the other thing about dipping into the past. You get to see just how BAD you were at your craft. And holy crap, I was bad. If you don’t already believe me based on the previous proof, have a look at some of the truly inspired work found inside. (If you really want to be horrified, click the images for full resolution).
I bet you didn’t believe me when I said over half of the issue was made up of my own crap-tastic imaginings. Okay, but is this really proof of anything? I mean, it’s a Halloween issue, right? Anyone would draw and write creepy stuff for the Halloween issue!
But would they for a Christmas issue?
Here is the true proof that I’m obsessed and deranged. That I truly have horror in my blood. I wrote a story entitled “Nightmares” for the Christmas issue!
I drew this for the Christmas issue!
And this!
This proves I’m a lost cause. I will write horror until my body becomes its own horror story, and maybe–if I’m very lucky–I’ll continue to create long after. Somehow.
Because if there’s a way, I’ll find it.
Oh how I love this post. Now I know why you are the way you are! 🙂
It reminded me of a poem I found a few years ago that I had written in Grade 3 (see pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/myrrhtoronto/9494061983/). It may seem innocent enough – except for the fact that I have never called my Mom “Mother” ever. Maybe I was channeling my inner Norman Bates at the time, I don’t know.
Ohhh, that IS creepy! 🙂 I’m still hoping to find older stories from elementary school too. Somewhere in the eaves I suspect.
I ~did~ find one from elementary school where all the aliens were competing in a Battle of the Bands. Who knew, I was a closeted sci-fi writer! 😛