Childhood Memories

Tonight I was jeered by a group of kids hanging around in Craven Arms, they called me a ‘spastic’ and made comments about the way I walk. Their comments really upset me. I haven’t been called that in years not since the taunts of the kids when I was at school. In those days it was deemed as not a nice thing to say but they did it anyway. Nowadays things are different, I have the right to make a formal complaint but that doesn’t mend the upset that was caused.

Driving home, the memories of my childhood came flooding back but I ended up laughing. When I was in primary school I had to wear orthopaedic boots and one kid really had it in for me. He called me all the names under sun until finally, aged about six, I totally snapped and kicked hell out of him. I can remember standing there before the headmistress as she said to me ‘Susan dear, I know what ******* said to you was not nice but really dear, you shouldn’t have kicked him.’ The gentle reprimand was not a problem but the satisfaction of getting my own back was immense.

The point of this, it takes real guts to be a writer. At times you have to kick out against everything you’d rather not do. It’s easy to write something and then hide it away rather that subject it to another person’s eyes, especially an editor for their comments, criticisms etc but that’s what a writer does – they throw self reservations to the wind and go for it and like I felt when I was six, the satisfaction of posting that envelope or pressing send, is immense.

Wrekin Writers go for it and I’ll look forward to the successes at the next meeting and remember our successes aren’t only the work that is accepted but you get points towards the Wrekin Writer of the Year Award for all submissions you make.

Good luck and keep writing but more importantly – enjoy it.