For years I have been a fan and avid reader of fanfiction, stories written by fans of different shows, to continue and add on to shows and characters that they like. My favorite anime is Cowboy Bebop, and I have read some fabulous stories from very talented writers on ffnet.

One early Sunday morning in October 2006, just as the sun was rising, when all was quiet, I turned on some classic Elton John music and settled myself with a fresh cup of coffee and a book that I’d been wanting to read. As I listened to the album, the strange lilting sounds of Come Down in Time began, with its melancholy and longing strings, and I started hearing the words to my story in my head.

As I listened to those lyrics, that was when I decided to make my own small contribution to the Cowboy Bebop fandom. I posted the story on fan fiction. To my surprise and delight, I received several favorable reviews from authors whose works I had been following, and I was awed by their praise.

And I discovered how much I like writing.

I first learned about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). To write a novel of 50,000 in just 30 days seemed like a daunting task, but I wanted to do it, to challenge myself. It was the most fun I’d had in years, and by November 30th, I had the beginning of a novel (or novelette).

Well, I’m continuing my writing. I’m learning to improve my structure, and even if I never get published, it has been a wonderful journey.