Comment from Cindy Warren

Excellent

I guess by definition, you were a professional writer at the age of seven. Too bad you didn't get the job writing for the soap opera. It might still be on the air. Love the picture.

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 12-Jan-2018

Hi, Cindy;
Thank you so much for the R&R of my true story from my past. Yes, I was a 'Professional' writer at the tender age of seven, and I have been honing my craft ever since. Glad you enjoyed this piece,

~patty~

Comment from dracofelsinensis

Excellent

Your title, together with the quote marks and the short description, was something of a tease: I was thinking about various professions such as dancing, singing, begging, thieving ... or worse.

Your father's charming answer, about being a professional little girl, was intended to put you at your ease: you needn't worry about being anything more than what you were then. But instead it spurred you to be creative at an early age. I can only admire your audacious marketing work with Mrs M, way beyond what I could do even today! How nice to have friendly neighbours who could provide encouragement and a change from the close family.

Do you consider that you started writing to compensate for something that was lacking at home? Congratulations on this piece in any case.

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 12-Jan-2018

Hi there;
Your question is an interesting one. I've written about my childhood, and if you are interested - it is in a book called, "Grammy's Memoires,' in my portfolio.

It was indeed the things lacking at my house that gave me the impetus to write. Thank you so much for reading my story and giving me food for thought,

~patty~

Comment from Dan Diego

Excellent

I'm wondering, MP1029, if you intended this for the True Story contest? I think it is a worthy share and could get some attention.

I like it. It show personality. It gives the reader a glimpse into PattyWorld and helps us see what makes you tick. You are driven. I think your stories are just inches away from a broader audience outside of FS. You're probably tired of hearing that, but write on. Have fun. Think big.

I looked for errors but spotted none. Everything seems to be in the right place. Keep going.

 Comment Written 10-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 10-Jan-2018

Hi, Dan;
Thank you so much for the R&R. I'm glad you liked this piece. It WAS supposed to be in the True Story competition, and so I've asked Tom to put it there.

I truly appreciate your comments and cheerleading for my writing. I'm glad you find them entertaining and close to being seen by a bigger audience,

~patty~

Comment from c_lucas

Excellent

One would have to be careful in the way she described herself at an early age. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a very interesting read.

 Comment Written 09-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 10-Jan-2018

Hi, Charlie;
Thank you so much for the R&R,

~patty~

reply by c_lucas on 11-Jan-2018

You're Patty.

Comment from emptypage

Excellent

Funny story.

I had no idea who Erica Kane was until maybe twenty-five years ago. But, then again, I never watched her show.

So, when do you start the gig? Head writer for All My Children? I can't wait to see what you do with it.

 Comment Written 09-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 10-Jan-2018

Hi, Marla;

Thank you so much for the R&R. Erica Kane was without a doubt my mother's favorite character. Too bad the only soap opera left is General Hospital --- seriously doubt if I could get a job there.

~patty~

Comment from dovemarie

Excellent

Dear patty, I didn't know you started writing so young!, and it certainly turned out the way you wanted! I'm glad your neighbor gave you a dollar for your hard work, instead of the 25 cents you had originally asked for. And writing that young can bring dreams to fulfillment. I'd been writing poetry since I was 17, and I had to wait until I was 57 before I was published by a Catholic Publishing House in Minnesota. Dove

 Comment Written 09-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 12-Jan-2018

Hi, dove;
Thank you so much for reading this little true story. I've been writing for a very long time. However, it is only this year that I've been writing every day, and continuing to study and hone my craft.

~patty~

Comment from Rasmine

Excellent

Patty,
This is so cute!! You were a professional writer at the tender age of seven! Awesome.
I hadn't been born when you posed for that cute Halloween photo. I hope you had a great time. :)

 Comment Written 09-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 12-Jan-2018

Hi, Nome;

Way to rub it in that you are so much younger than me. I always had a good time on Halloween; it was just two days after my birthday, and it was the time of year my mother gave me a lot of attention. She loved to make Halloween costumes.

Thanks for reading,

~patty~

Comment from rtobaygo

Excellent

Good morning, Patty

Enjoyed the post. Out of sixes. Enjoyed how 'young Patty' tries to make sense out of what the term 'professional' means. Her sense of what she needs to sell to become a professional is heartwarming.

All My Children -- Blast from the past.

Take care and stay safe,

Ray

 Comment Written 09-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 09-Jan-2018

Hi, Ray;

Thank you so much for the R&R. Hard to believe that after all those years, 'All My Children' no longer comes on at noon. This show was one of my mother's favorites, and since we only had one television, I learned about Erika Cane and all of her husbands at an early age,

~patty~

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Lol! That's just adorable! You were a truly precocious seven-year-old! How clever! And how wonderful that you had such a good relationship with the neighbor! Few people have that these days. Thanks so much for sharing. You're not just good at writing, you're also good at marketing!

 Comment Written 09-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 09-Jan-2018

Hi there;
Thank you for reading. Yes, it was so different in those days. For one thing, your neighbors were actually home during the day. I somehow lost the knack for marketing. I failed as an Avon Lady, though I did a pretty good print campaign for my tax business during the eighties and the nineties.

Your readership means a great deal to me,

~patty~

Comment from Marvin Calloway

Excellent

Thank you for sharing your wonderful gift and the origin of your writing career. You were off to good start. Don't ever lose that confidence you had.
Seems that you had stories flowing long before you knew what it meant.
Marv

 Comment Written 08-Jan-2018

---

reply by the author on 09-Jan-2018

Hi, Marv;
Thank you so much for the lovely R&R. I wish my early writing talent had been nurtured by my mother. She didn't exactly discourage me, but she told me my writing wouldn't mean much if I didn't live and then write about the things I knew.

So, in my mind, I had to live a life so I could write about the world and the things in it,

~patty~