![matt-botsford-566660-unsplash.jpg](https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1521555189/c3fxzznhmw0iqwo13mw7.jpg)

How did I pick up writing as a hobby? It's quite an interesting journey that began with my reading habit. I used to be an avid reader by the time I was in my seventh grade and it was a lovely fairy world to escape to,  for me, even it was a horror novel that was I reading:)

Reading habit made me curious and made me want to write. I had so many ideas as to how a story should turn out to be and how I can make the characters dream of the sweetest dream that they can have, make them weep, make then laugh, make them feel fear or make them celebrate their success.

I still remember the first story that I wrote. It was a teen mystery story, where the main character was in search of missing gold from a museum. Now, when I think about writing it, I still remember it being such a fun thing to do.

I love reading and hence writing being related to it, is something that I feel so passionate about. It is a means for me to express my thoughts and the different story lines running through my mind. These stories, these poems, these characters they speak to me and they want to be written out for the world to see. As I always say I really don't care about how much money my poems/stories posted here on Steemit makes(though nothing wrong in seen upvotes worth $100 :P), but I need to write them. I have this craving inside me that don't let me be in peace until it is all typed out. For someone who does not write, think of this craving that you have for the chicken burger or pizza or BBQ'ed ribs. This is just like that.

So writing as a hobby found it's way to me through my reading and at the root, my books. These 100+ books on my bookshelf are responsible for who am I as a writer today or for all these poems/stories that you see on my blog today.

So it's been about 10 years that I have been writing. Some of the middle years were not so active from a writing perspective but I was on and off on this. I still do not think of myself to be a good writer. Sometimes I write well but most often they don't turn out so good. But I must write.

*I must write.*

*I must write.*

Haha it's more like a possessed person from a horror movie. Sometimes people enjoy what I write and specially when I read comments to my posts on how people might have enjoyed it, I feel immensely happy and gratified about it.

Writing to me is a great way to take out my stress and anger. You might see me, popping on a headset and tap away furiously on my keyboard when I am angry and the content that might be coming at that moment might be a sweet love story.

I write as often as I can and whenever I do get time. I hope to get published one day and my dream if you ask me is to write that perfect horror novel that is going to rip the hearts of my reader and hold it out in front of them. A novel that will never let you sleep peacefully ever again and I intend to be on any "Top 10 Horror novel" list right next to Mr. King

Most days I am able to write something daily but sometimes I might not if in case I am caught up with something. 

Quite often what people also want to know is about the process of writing itself. So I have theme, maybe a short idea or background on the story but from there on it's always a blind trip. I start typing out with the idea that I have in mind and let my story take me to where it wants to go. I am more like a driver of the cab and I just take it to the place where the cab hailer wants to go. The possibilities are endless. The story could take any direction. The characters might behave in any way or fashion that they want. They might be telling the sweetest tale in my ears only to betray me in the end and turn out to be a villain.

Like they say writing is the most inexpensive hobby that you can ever pick up. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen if not a laptop. It really can't get any cheaper than that :)

Unfortunately I have not been lucky enough to have my hobby as my job. I would love it if that was the case but then it's not. Not that I mind it a lot as I anyhow get to write here on Steemit and if people like it, I do get some upvotes. More than anything it is a delight. It is a source of joy and happiness to me. 

The minute I have an idea for a story, I sit down and start typing it out. What can trigger this idea could be as simple as a picture, which if you have not seen my 365 days of writing challenge is the basis for. The whole idea of starting this challenge was due to how some photos trigger an idea for story in me and  how I thought it might be helpful for others as well, specially for people who struggle to find ideas for.

Sometimes it could be a conversation that you are having with someone and things that they tell could spark an idea for a story in you. Some of my biggest challenges are when I have a story in mind but it does not play out the way out in the words that i pour out and when this happens to me, I am deeply grieved.

If I had to explain my hobby to an Alien, it would be quite simple as I would have only have to explain saying that it's an imaginary place that we create with words.

I hope you enjoyed reading through this and if there more writer in here and reading this please feel free to leave a comment


[Photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/oEth91n2dhQ)