As a writer, I firmly believe in the value of fiction. Though this belief stems from not only the fact that fiction is my life, but from the way that fiction shaped me into who I am. As much as I love to create fiction, fiction has done a great deal to create me.

I've always been a reader and I think that it shows. The older and more comfortable with myself that I become, the more I realize that a lot of my favorite things about myself are the result of the books that I've read. For example, I feel like a good portion of me is made up of Violet and Klaus Baudelaire from Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” Not even so much their personalities, but in how they handled their terribly unfortunate lives with such hope and cleverness. I always wanted to be like them and now, when I enjoy my sense of optimism and hope, I realize where it came from, if only partially.

In my childhood, the books that I read made me. The books I read were like my family, passing down traits. I got optimism from the Baudelaires. I got my tact and calm in the face of absurdity from Philip Ardagh’s Eddie Dickens. I got my bravery from Kate DiCamillo’s little mouse, Despereaux. From all the books I loved to read, I got me.

Even now, I feel the books that I read changing me. I feel less fear when I think of Katniss Everdeen and Harry Potter; they keep me from feeling alone. They never fail to remind me that if the Dark Lord and President Snow can be defeated, so can my term paper. Books make me brave and hopeful, but they've also given me my sense of humor and most importantly, they've given me a voice as a writer.

I learned to write by emulating the style of the authors that I loved, resulting in the development of my own voice. I am put together by the stories that I've read and luckily, that is an ever-changing and ever-growing experience. I am made of fiction to produce fiction. I hope that one day, my words can help someone become who they are. Until then, I'll continue to learn and be formed by the authors of my fictional family.

Books referenced in order of character appearance:

“A Series of Unfortunate Events” by Lemony Snicket

“The Eddie Dickens Trilogy” by Philip Ardagh

“The Tale of Despereaux” by Kate DiCamillo

“The Hunger Games Trilogy” by Susan Collins