Writer Friends of Mine on How They Became Writers- Craig R. Bayer

I know Craig because he is another person who has been homeless and gone on to make the best he could of his life.

A compassionate person whose heroes include Martin Luther King, Craig is one of the friendliest and most approachable people I know.

Well, here is what he has to say:

Walls and Bridges-- by Craig R. Bayer

My earliest memories of writing go back to the fifth or sixth grade, when I wrote satirical stories ( probably autobiographical) that delighted my English teacher, Ms. Zaghi. She was so amused by my scribblings that she requested that I keep in touch with her after graduation--but stupid, self-centered me never got around to corresponding with her.

Nevertheless, the thrill of hearing my teacher and even some of my classmates, laugh, permanently sealed my fate as a man of letters.

In my teenage years, I commenced writing bad poetry: lots of rhyming, most of which was forced. I alternated by writing sappy love poems for girls who did not love me ( although, one or two muses appeciated the gesture) and angry socially critical poems, condemning just about everyone and everything around me.
At that point, teachers still saw intelligence in my writing, but none of them recommended me for the Nobel Peace Prize. Still, with mild encouragement, I kept on writing.

In college, I became a political activist and wrote political satire, political rants, many of which demonstrated skill and intelligence.I even wrote a few decent academic papers, but still I wasn't receiving rave reviews.

Still, I believed that some day I would reach great heights, and more importantly, I adopted the egalitarian principle that writing is good for the soul and mind and therefore everybody, regardless of his or her talent, should be writing. Furthermore, I believed that everyone has something valuable to say or share, even if they aren't James Joyce or William Shakespeare.

Throughout my adult years, even as I lost some confidence in my own work, I still clung to my egalitarian principles , and it kept me going, regardless of how people reacted to my writing.

In any case, I now have a collection of intriguing writings, which I think show some talent.  Therefore, I intend to shop them to publishers. But even if I am completely rejected, I will never stop writing.
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I believe as I have said before how much I believe in persistence in following one's goals and dreams, and am heartened by Craig's quiet courage in facing the future and working on what he really wants.  -L.K.