Conversation so far:
Where was John Updike born?
John Updike was born in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Did John Updike stay in Reading, Pennsylvania his entire life?
John Updike's family later moved to the unincorporated village of Plowville, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Where did John Updike go to college?
John Updike graduated from Shillington High School as co-valedictorian and class president in 1950 and received a full scholarship to Harvard College.
Did Updike do any activities at Harvard College?
John Updike was a talented and prolific contributor to The Harvard Lampoon, of which he served as president.
Did John Updike's upbringings affect his novels?
These early years in Berks County, Pennsylvania, would influence the environment of the John Updike's Rabbit series as well as many of his early novels and short stories.
What was John Updike's first job as cartoonist?
John Updike became a regular contributor to The New Yorker. This was the beginning of his professional writing career.
What did John Updike's parents do?
John Updike's mother attempted to become an establish writer.

Question: How did Updike start writing?
Self-contained rewrite: How did John Updike start writing?