Writer’s Digest contest; what was the pivotal point in your writing

 I’m a writer by avocation.  As such, it’s an extension of my life long love of reading.  My foray into writing began in earnest when I started a blog in 2006,  dabbling in all forms of poetry writing, short stories, and responding to prompts.  I started a novel early on for National Novel Writing Month which currently languishes unfinished at 50,000 words on my book shelf.  Later I delved into writing a memoir/historical fiction work to compare my great grandfather’s Civil War experience with my time in the Viet Nam War.  With only numerous note pads of research, that too is in the unfinished category.

On Christmas this year I received “Storyworth” from my oldest granddaughter and that has been the pivotal moment in my writing endeavors.  Her purpose in giving that gift was an attempt to overcome that age old dilemma of wishing after a grandparent died that they would have asked so many questions about their growing up years.  Every week one of my grandchildren or my children pose a question to me.  I have faithfully replied to each question, mining my memory banks ruthlessly.  I now see a memoir coming to completion.