I was in eighth grade, and 14 years old, when I first dreamed of being a “WRITER.“I think it was all the R.L. Stine, Fearstreet books that I became obsessed with, that inspired me to aspire to be a writer.

I am totally posing for this picture above. I don’t even remember who took this picture of me. But this is what I looked like when I first began dreaming of becoming a writer.

Before this age I did love to mostly read. I did write stories, but I never thought about becoming a writer then.

I have always enjoyed journaling and I have always kept dozens of journal’s and spirals for writing. I actually have some journals I wrote in my childhood saved somewhere.

And just in general I’m a school supplies hoarder.😂😂😂 I always have an assortment of pretty pens, paper, journal’s, and spirals stocked away. ALWAYS!

My poor parents though!

They hated all the very things that made me Deanna. The things that made me me!

For example, me reading books all day, that was a no-no! My mother would yell at me to do chores, instead of having a book in my hands all day.

I did do chores, but I suspect my parents grew irritated with seeing me glued to my books a large portion of the day. Strangely enough, now I’m glued to my Samsung Android phone, blogging my average little life away. And I love it!

The thing my parents probably hated the most, was all the mess I made with papers, scissors, and scrapbooking photographs. They loathed it! They said I was damaging and ruining good pictures. You know because I had to use those crafty scissors that create pretty designs of jagged and zigzag edges.

I think it’s because we were dirt poor, and well it was an efficiency that we grew up in. I’m sure my mami didn’t appreciate me making my “creative” messes in such a limited space.

Photo: Deanna G. Montalvo (My childhood home, an efficiency)

My parents always gave me a guilt trip over it. But that was just me tapping into my creative mind at a young age. Just think if they had supported me in those endeavors, I might have become a famous artist like Frida Kahlo. 🎨🖼

I am thankful for my blogging platform that has helped me begin to practice my writing craft again. I never thought I would have time to do this. Starting, was the hard part. Now I love it!

The goal now, is to finish some of my projects and start collecting some royalties. Because this is hard work and I need to narrow in on accomplishing more specific goals. Mama needs remuneration!

As an adult blogger, I have developed a love of collecting quote books filled with quotes/sayings and also various dictionaries. I own so many, and I just love them! They are currently my favorite writing tools.

At what age, or when did you know you wanted to be a writer? Or…any other career? Did you realize your dream? Let me know at Candid Chicana . Send me pictures of you enjoying the fruits of your dream job. I can’t wait to see all the exciting careers you all have.😁

Contact me at:

candidchicana@gmail