I've know that I wanted to be a writer since fifth grade, when my school's literary magazine published a poem I wrote. The moment of this powerful discovery still plays back vividly in my mind today. As I stared intently at the stark white page of laminated paper, I was overwhelmed by a wave of emotion. Exhilarating pride at my accomplishment mixed with paralyzing fear of judgment. I sat next to the rattling radiator in my classroom, drinking in the...