Writing Life
Every year, I remind myself of the time that I started writing as a hobby. This year marked the 20th year of me writing my thoughts. It might be the 21st but the year that I remember is 2006. It was summer. School was out. I started 1st year high school that school year. I remember spending my summer writing outside our house. I remember staring at the sea and the horizon for inspiration. I grew up living by the sea. My nighttime hobbies were stargazing and sea watching. 😅
I started writing in the summer of 2006 at age 12. I began writing one-shot short story scripts in Filipino. I had no idea what kind of writing it was until I was in high school. They call it scriptwriting. I usually wrote love stories back then, as well as a few fantasy ones. The reason I started writing was my childhood crushes. They were the main characters in my stories under pseudonyms. One of my favorite hobbies was daydreaming about them. I was too young to be involved in a romantic relationship and besides, I was too ugly to have one (I was NBSB *No Boyfriend Since Birth*). I can still remember where I wrote them. I had some drawing books and used bond paper from school (the ones I used for activities). I wrote them on the back because they were usually empty. I remember that I enjoyed writing and spent most of my time at home.
In the same year, I started writing a diary as well. Mainly because it was one of my first-year high school English teacher’s homework. Diary writing was one of his assignments. I enjoyed writing diaries. I could be so talkative there and I didn’t really like sharing things with my friends. I can say that my writing and significantly my English, improved. I am very grateful to that teacher for introducing me to diary writing.
I wrote many short stories and diaries in 2006. I was active in writing. I remember I was the one who wrote the script for our drama play in first year high school and I was so glad because my Filipino teacher liked it. She asked me who wrote it because it was well-written. It was about a family story. I felt more motivated to write more.
I was active in writing for three more years but in my final year of high school, I decided to burn all my writings, including the diaries. It was the biggest regret I’ve had all these years. I still regret that foolish thing I did to my writings. I think the main reason I did that cos I was afraid people might try to read them, especially my diaries. Little did I know that it would help me in the future. Now I have nothing to look back on as a young writer. I have no proof of being a young writer because of my stupidity. I wish I had saved just one piece of writing. I wish!!! I regret it!
I started writing again in 2012. This time, I wrote poetry and prose essays. I write sad and and dark ones. I decided to write in English to improve it and my writing. Still, no one was interested in my writing and that was okay. I didn’t write to impress people. I wrote to express my feelings that I didn’t learn to share while growing up. I am an introvert and not used to sharing my thoughts and feelings with others. I get to express my thoughts through writing. I have often felt unheard and unnoticed. Sometimes, I think maybe I won’t be unheard and unnoticed once I’m dead.
Starting writing at a young age is truly a transformative experience, and like many, I found my early works were intertwined deeply with my surroundings and emotions. Growing up by the sea, I often sought inspiration from the horizon and the natural world, which helped mold my creative voice. It’s fascinating how childhood crushes can fuel heartfelt stories, even if back then, writing was just a way to daydream and explore feelings I wasn’t yet able to share openly. One of the most impactful parts of beginning to write as a hobby is the improvement it brings, not only in language skills—especially when switching from native languages to English—but also in self-awareness. The diary assignment given by the author’s first-year high school teacher is a perfect example of how external encouragement can nurture a writer’s confidence and skill. Regret over destroying early writings is common among writers, especially when privacy and vulnerability clash. It’s a powerful reminder of how much those early pieces represent our personal history and artistic development. Holding onto even a single piece could offer invaluable insight into the growth of one’s style and themes. Returning to writing years later, especially focusing on poetry and darker prose, often reflects a deeper need for emotional catharsis and communication, particularly for introverted individuals. Writing becomes a silent conversation with oneself, a bridge to emotions that might otherwise remain locked away. If you are someone considering starting or rekindling a writing hobby, remember that every word you write contributes to your voice and sense of self. Even if readers are few or none, the impact on your inner world is substantial and lasting. Writing can be a companion during solitude and a tool for self-expression that grows with you across the years.
