From Bullied Kid To A Prolific Writer

By Ron Alexander

As a child, I craved recognition and acceptance. I stuttered so badly that I could not speak coherent sentences. In grade school, my classmates bullied me, laughed at me, and ostracized me. I was frequently suspended from school because I physically attacked my adversaries in the schoolyard and lunch room.

However—ironically--I found my voice out of being publicly embarrassed. I discovered that I could write my thoughts and feelings, communicate in a way that allowed me to express myself, and avoid the ridicule I was experiencing in school.

I also realized I had a passion for reading. I read Fyodar Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and Robert Ardrey’s African Genesis at age fifteen.

Remarkably, when I read Eudora Welty’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Optimist’s Daughter, I told myself I could do this, too.

And I did, not winning a Pulitzer Prize but writing short stories, plays, and essays. This is a testament to the transformation I underwent, from a bullied child to a prolific writer, despite never attending junior high or high school.

Over the years, I have written about my addiction to drugs, my traumatized childhood, and my dysfunctional upbringing. I have published two books and written articles for Philadelphia Magazine, The Philadelphia Tribune, and other publications. I was a beat reporter, entertainment writer, and restaurant critic.

Today, I infuse my writings with the passion and courage I discovered as a teenager, with one exception: I no longer write for myself. I have a far broader audience of people struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.

I enjoy writing because I occasionally find closure, help people overcome fractured lives, inspire someone to tell their story, and sometimes, someone will thank me for having the courage to tell my story honestly. This impact on others is what motivates me to continue sharing my experiences.

I advise parents raising shy, socially detached kids to help them find venues for self-expression, whether art, sports, writing, acting, or reading.

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