Through Their Words

Don't judge a book by its cover, we've all heard, but what about judging an author by the words they write?
These last two weeks have been filled with the first 30 pages of my 12 classmate's manuscripts. I just realized this morning that although I haven't met any of these aspiring authors, I already have a mental picture of what they're going to look like, their intellectual level, and if I'm going to really mesh with them.

So, that brings the question-If I've spent 4 hours pouring over and critiqueing the start of someone's work am I really getting to know them or is it all in my head?
I know with reknowned author Cassandra Clare I had my image of who she would be-thinking that she would be much like her red-headed, demon destroying heroine (who just happens to have a similar name)Clary Fray. I had read three of her books-I just can't get enough of them (and have now read all that are available)-even if Stan won't stop making fun of me for reading a book with this cover.

When I watched this B&N interview and realized she had not based Clary on herself.
I laughed for a long time at my silliness in thinking she must be just like Clary.

So, back to my classmates, I keep wondering, am I doing the same thing again?
And what might they be thinking after reading my manuscript? What have they decided about me before even seeing me for the first time? It will be interesting to see how knowing each other first for our work will affect our classroom structure and the way we will interact with each other.

WIFYR-five days and counting-I'll have an answer to this question soon:)

Stan's Example

Every writer seems to struggle with confidence at one time or another. For me, it was the fear of even starting-I didn't want to be a failure. I didn't want to begin until I knew that I could actually accomplish my goal that I could not only write a complete novel, but that I could also get it published.
Five years ago my husband Stan and I were having a discussion. He insisted that anyone could write a book. I didn't agree. So, to prove me wrong he spent the next three years working and reworking a book.
The werid thing is that I forgot my dream to write for a while. I was in supportive wife role and busy young mom role. I kept up my insane reading habits, but didn't try to write again until Stan showed me his finished novel. "I wrote this," he said, "to prove to you that you can write one to. And make a ton of money and start supporting us." He said the last part jokingly and we laughed together.
Still it renewed my longtime desire. I would start writing again. If my husband could write a book during his master's program, then I could write a book too. I would.
Now finally I've taken the plunge. I'm calling myself a writer and I'm writing. Before I was pregnant I was writing every day. That first trimester messed up my record a bit. Even so, I've begun telling people what I am doing and it feels good. I know I'm at the start of a long, frustrating road, but I'm grateful to be on it. And what's more, I'm sticking with it.