Hello!

Welcome to my web site! Thank you so much for stopping by.

W hen I first began to write stories it was for my own two children. I wanted them to get as excited about reading as I have always been. One day my husband came home from work with an electric typewriter and put it on the table. (That was before everyone had computers!) He said, “I think your stories are great and you should type them up and send them somewhere. Try to get them published.”

I laughed. Who me? Published? It never occurred to me that I could get my stories published. I had loved writing classes in high school and college. I'd kept a journal and written stories and poetry for as long as I could remember, but that was different. Actually getting published seemed impossible!

Since my husband had challenged me, I felt I had to at least try. So I wrote a story about my children and sent it to a children's magazine. Then I waited for my letter of rejection. A few months later, a letter came, but it was one of acceptance! They were going to publish my story! The excitement and elation of that moment was something I will never forget. It started a train rolling down the track… one that continues to gain steam today. My love of writing has grown with each story I've written.

Yes, I did get letters of rejection after that, for other stories. But I kept that letter of acceptance pinned on the bulletin board above my desk to remind me to never give up. I hope, if you want to be a writer, that you never give up.

Read lots of books. Reading teaches you how to write. Learn to write second drafts, and third and fourth and….

Rewriting, editing and polishing are all part of the process of making your story the best it can be. And believe in yourself. That's where it all begins, in your heart. Like a seed, your idea can grow. Nurture it, baby it, let it evolve, and your idea may become a full-blown story, one that will be published one day!

I believe in you!

Hugs and B est W ishes,

Lois Szymanski