The Writer's Pen

g up in school, I showed some talent in writing essay questions, or even small story answers, but really never considered myself a writer. Poetry was much more significant as I literally hated the poetry we had to read in high school. The chances of me becoming a poet were an absolute zero in my mind.

That all changed after we bought our first house in the country outside of Groton, S.D., while I still worked in Aberdeen. I was working full time for the railroad and was starting grad school at Northern State, while also coaching the local Little League team. I was also active in our church and was a youth leader and on the church council. I did not have much time off, but when I did, I began writing poetry. A year before I started reading the poetry of Helen Stiener Rice, and felt this was poetry that I could relate to. When I had time at home, I sat underneath a tree and started writing. From the time I started to when I finally graduated from Northern and chose a new job, I must have written hundreds of poems, all with a positive theme to them. I certainly was not Helen Steiner Rice, but my poetry was good and it gave me a positive outlook on life while I was extremely busy. I also had become a lay preacher during this time and would often include a poem or two in my sermons.

When I became a counselor for LSS I would continue to use my poetry in sermons, but also at times would use certain poems to help me with therapy. I was becoming positive that my poetry could have a positive effect on others. After I became a school social worker, I started using my poetry while working with kids with learning disabilities and helped them learn to write themselves. I found a website called Poetry.Com where the students could get a framed copy of their poems that they could show others.

As I continued to use my poems in sermons, several members of my churches started to encourage me to try to publish my poetry. At first, I figured that would not happen, and then my son-in-law published a book on Publish America. I contacted them, and they agreed to publish a book of my poetry that was followed by two more poetry books and my book about my work as a school social worker. After these four books, Publish America said they could no longer publish any more of my books. I’m guessing it was because I was not purchasing enough books to make it worth their while.

Publish America did not charge me for publishing and actually paid me a dollar for each book. The only money they received from me was my purchasing the books from them. These books were under contract and not just self-publishing.

I still had more books to publish, and I found Westbow Publishing. Unlike Publish America, they charged for each book and sold me expensive advertising as well. Big mistake, but one I have learned from. One more book of poetry, “Bits and Pieces,” and my first novel, “Special Days of Summer,” as well as a reprinting of “All the Kids on My Block” have come from this arrangement.

I never thought I would ever publish, and now I have seven published books. My wife would like me to write children’s stories and I have the beginning of one started, and that could become a series. We will see. Writing has become a real joy to me and is a good stress reliever. I would encourage anyone who likes writing to keep a record or journal of all your poems or stories. If you’re not sure of your abilities I would encourage you to join both a writer’s group and a poetry group near you, where not only can you build your confidence but also receive support from other writers. A good place to begin your publishing would be through your local newspaper or any other source that publishes short stories or poetry. Aside from my books I have published many stories in the Hartley Sentinel. If you truly enjoy writing, you too could become an author.

David Hoye lives in Everly with his wife, Cheri. He is a published writer with several different titles for sale on Amazon and WestBow Press.