Whenever I have an idea for a book, even if it's in the middle of the night or waking up from a dream, I instantly get up and scribble it on a Post-it note or in my notebook; sometimes even on my phone. I've had blurbs of book ideas that just make me smile ear to ear but as I begin to write the story, the words don't seem to come to my fingers as I begin to type. I've learned to slow down with my writing and take my time with it.

I've written a couple of finished stories for an anthology for the YA audience, a prologue and some chapters of a book idea I had a couple of years ago, and even some snippets of poetry here and there. While I truly enjoy writing, perhaps I've always forced myself to write rather than taking my time, step by step if you will. These unfinished books and stories are all ones I am proud of, to be honest. Though they may not be finished, and I tend to go back and revise what seems to be a thousand times, I am happy to have the ability to write.

Now I may be a professional or published writer and that's all right. What matters to me is that I do what makes me happy: writing. I'm currently taking my last two classes for my bachelor's degree and one of these classes is an Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop. I am to take the last story I wrote for the Intermediate Fiction Workshop class and add on to that by writing another short story.

I chose to write an anthology of short stories about falling in love for the first time, whether it be in high school or college. I've realized while in the class I am being forced to finish or continue this anthology. And to tell you the truth, I am quite happy with that. Before the class, I've had the idea of these stories for a few months now but never had the urgency to write any of them down or even begin one. This class is allowing me to write the stories I want to write and, even though the class is eight-weeks long, I take my time to make them the best I can.

Perhaps once the class is concluded and I finish college I may never look at them again. Or maybe I will continue working on this anthology and feel even more proud of it than ever. As Ross said on the T.V. show "Friends," "I have been given the gift of time!" I most certainly have been given the gift of time. I have written two short stories that I am very pleased with. And I'm currently on my third that has taken a turn I did not expect to take. I won't stop writing until all 13 stories are complete!