Just Because.

So! I finally did it! I created a website, and you’re on it. Welcome to my little corner of the Internet.

This is half an author website, half a whatever-I-want-it-to-be-at-any-given-moment site. Creating a website was something I had been thinking about for a while. I played with the idea, enjoying the taste. Like a jawbreaker you toss around your mouth, savoring the sweetness but avoiding the bite.

Well, I’m finally doing it. I’m biting. And it tastes good.

But… now what?

I guess there’s only one place to start—The Beginning.

My name is Paige and I’m a writer. I’ve been a writer my whole life, even if I didn’t always consider myself one. It started off with short stories about SmileyWorld, where cartoon smiley faces would embark on fun adventures together. Then, once I understood what novels were, I became obsessed with writing 100 page novels. I threw any plot into it, not worrying if it made sense—only worried about hitting the 100 page mark.

Middle school and high school brought more novels. Thankfully, this time I was more focused on plot than length. In 9th grade I wrote a 400+ page novel, only stopping when I reached the climax because I suddenly realized I had no idea how I wanted to end it. I still don’t know.

In college I dabbled with one novel, finishing it the summer I went into sophomore year and then promptly forgetting about it. I quickly became consumed with textbooks and assignments and making friends, and my writing self took a hiatus. She straight up packed her bags, flipped her hair over her shoulder and said, See ya when you’re ready to appreciate me.

I wasn’t ready to appreciate her for a long time. A few years after college, I felt the urge to write creep back into my mind, my heart, my hands. I began reading for fun again (something that I also seemed to forget about during college). I would drive to the library during my lunch break and read the short story printed in the New Yorker that week. I would jot down sentences and characters in the margins of my work notebook, or go for walks and record story ideas in the voice memos of my phone.

I’m back, my writing self said, unpacking her bags, dusting away the cobwebs in my mind. You ready to appreciate me now?

And I was! I joined a local writing group, and I wrote. And wrote. And wrote. Short stories and flash fiction and novels, learning and stretching and growing. And finally, after 3 years, I decided to take the plunge and create this website.

But why did I feel like I needed to make this website?

Because I love to write. I love to connect with others. I love to share art, and read art, and talk about art. I like to share the fun stories I make up and the quirky thoughts that occupy my mind (this is my way of making them pay rent). I like to entertain and be entertained.

I think what I’m saying is, I created this website just because.

And that’s enough, my writing self adds, setting up shop, ready to tackle this new challenge.