I started writing because of my best friend. When we were in sixth grade, so very long ago, we would spend hours and hours on the phone with each other. But we weren't talking about boys or makeup, we were telling each other Beast Wars stories. I was her fanfiction hotline, not that either of us knew what fanfiction was back then. Her parents cut us off from the phone conversations, and she begged me to write with her so that we could always be entertained.
I really did not like the idea at first. I completely hated it, because I really sucked at spelling and had convinced myself at that I was never going to get any better so why learn. This was in no small part to do with various moves across the country, and a few really bad teachers who told me that I would never amount to anything.
But I did it because she was my best friend. Hell... in sixth grade she was my only friend. And I did get better. I found that I loved writing. I loved making stories, and I loved it when people liked my stories. I didn't really understand or start appreciating it until I started college, but writing for fun helped me with so many things. Confidence and academics being two of the biggest.
I love what I do.