[Helín Anyára]

Hmmm... One may indeed very well wonder, Luthien. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] As I am relatively new to this forum, I had not yet noticed such a trend. But- as I fit into this category, I can relate somewhat to your question.

I have loved books before I could even speak (literally). My mom tells stories of me sitting before I could walk in enraptured contentment as she read Mickey Mouse and Dr. Suess. I enjoyed and excelled in every subject in my first few years of school, but writing, now that I look back, was my favorite; an assigned 1-2 page story would be 9 or 10 for me.

Years later I became involved and aborbed in other activities, and did very little writing outside of the reports, etc. of school. A couple years ago the urge finally overcame me once again; it has grown from the first tentative words of *Chapter 1* to my own consuming, fulfilling, (and at times seemingly odd) passion. At about the same time, I began read Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings for the first time.

So, reading them did not kindle my love for writing, but it has indeed added, and continues to add, fuel to the fire. Every time I read even a part of the books or see one of the movies, I realize more and more the vastness of Tolkein's gift and his works; and the potential fruit of a passion called writing. Though I doubt I shall ever measure up to his amazing accomplishments, reading his works makes me realize just how far I might aspire, while believing, somehow, that it is possible to attain, or at least unquestionably worth attempting.

"Someone who aims for the stars, and only reaches the moon, as at least gone further than one who has never tried..."