My hometown newspaper used to have a weekly section for kids that included fun facts and puzzles called “The Mini Page.” They also encouraged kids to submit stories, poems, and drawings, and would publish a few of these each week. I would turn to that section in my mom’s newspaper every Sunday and think about sending something in myself. I finally did, and I was so excited when my poem, “The Terrible Monster,” was published. That encouraged me to keep writing, and I will always be grateful to the Courier for publishing my poem.