Journey to Becoming a Writer

The speaker reflects on their early interest in writing, sparked by a childhood autograph book and inspired by their grandfather's poetry. Despite a working-class family background, they pursued writing, questioning their motivations and realizing it was more about identity than substance. The speaker contrasts their path with their family's conventional careers, highlighting a unique personal journey.

What did the narrator write as their future aspiration in their sixth-grade autograph book?

• Engineer

• Doctor

• Journalist

• Teacher

Who in the narrator's family was a source of inspiration for their writing?

• Their grandfather

• Their father

• Their mother

• Their brother

What did the narrator's grandfather do besides working in a factory?

• He was a painter

• He wrote poetry

• He was a chef

• He was a musician

At what age did the narrator start to seriously consider why they wanted to be a writer?

• In their 40s

• In their 30s

• In their 20s

• In their teens

What did the narrator realize about their writing skills in their 20s?

• They wanted to be a journalist

• They preferred another career

• They had nothing substantial to say

• They had a natural talent

What role did the narrator identify with during their teenage years?

• The musician

• The writer

• The artist

• The athlete

What did the narrator consider as their 'ace in the hole' during their teenage years?

• Their intelligence

• Their writing ability

• Their athletic skills

• Their musical talent

What was the profession of the narrator's brother?

• Poet

• Vice president at KH Edison

• Bank teller

• Cab driver

What was the profession of the narrator's father?

• Bank teller

• Teacher

• Cab driver

• Factory worker

How does the narrator describe their family's interest in humor or writing?

• They were all poets

• They were all writers

• They had no particular interest

• They were comedians