How a ‘Fart’ Led to Five Books and a Passion for Writing
Every writer’s journey begins somewhere, and mine started with a laugh—a 1,000-word story called The Book of Farts.
Before I met my wife, I was dating a writer who was a single mom with a six-year-old daughter. She knew I had always dreamed of writing but also understood I lacked the support to make that dream feel possible. My ex and my family weren’t the encouraging types, but she was determined to change that.
One day, she challenged me to write a 1,000-word short story as a creative exercise. I decided to make it for her daughter, weaving together a whimsical fantasy about a girl who didn’t know she had magical powers. Strange things happened around her, but she couldn’t explain why—until a druid came into her life. He carried with him a mysterious book covered in glowing runes. When she saw the runes for the first time, she squinted and laughed, saying they looked like the word “Fart.” From that moment on, the book became known as The Book of Farts, and the title practically wrote itself.
It was meant to be lighthearted, but the story grew into something more. The little girl loved it, and so did her mom. She saw something in my writing that I hadn’t let myself believe in yet. She encouraged me to expand it further, and then, to my surprise, she sent it to an award-winning fantasy editor.
The editor saw potential in the story and, even more importantly, in me. That 1,000-word writing exercise became the seed for a project I never expected. I went all in, working with the editor to refine and expand the story. What started as a simple exercise for a six-year-old girl has blossomed into five books and over 300,000 words.
Looking back, it’s clear that none of this would have happened without someone believing in me and giving me that gentle nudge to take the first step. Writing is often seen as a solitary pursuit, but the truth is, it’s the support and encouragement we receive that can light the spark.
So, if someone like me can turn a 1,000-word joke into five books, imagine what you could do. The words you write today just might inspire someone tomorrow.
