Do I love to write? Of course I love to write! I especially love writing in weird places- like the top of a tree. Actually, I’ve only done it once but I’m sure it helps. It’s official now. The tree is the best writing spot. Period. Then writing really gets fun when it falls into two broad but specific (when together) categories: fantasy and comedy. I know a very weird combination. It’s really a developing genre- Er, at least a genre I’m developing. In fact, I’ve been developing it since I was 5 with my very first novel: Vincent and Friends go to Monsterland written and illustrated by yours truly! It was great. What made it funny was the pure cheesiness of the plot and the smiling stick figure monsters chasing smiling stick heroes. But enough about that!
What are my inspirations you ask? Wait, you didn’t ask that? Well, I’m going to tell you anyway! A good amount of my inspiration come from stories my friends and I make together and their alter ego characters Artemis and Renmus. (Sorry, no royalties for you two Greg and Sumner!) Anyway, Arty, Renmus and I are all buddies in a way- and I really want to share their story with other people someday. It’s a really good story, incredibly quirky with memorable personalities, action, drama, a punch line on every page, and tons of weird things never before attempted to put on paper. (Back to that whole comedy/fantasy genre) I just get distracted from writing it by stuff like school, swimming, life in general, and oh ya, my crazy maker, the fear of failing miserably… So yes, I decided to wait to write it until I had the right tools for writing it. That’s why I’m taking this class- so I can learn how to properly convey my thoughts on paper. What I really need is some criticism. I need to know what I’m doing wrong and how to correct it. I wish I could turn to family but my parents seem completely unable to say anything bad about my writings! And my 12 year old brother’s writings… They still enjoy Vincent and Friends go to Monsterland! My friends are almost as bad. They can insult me – wait, I mean criticize me a bit better but I’m really hoping some random classmate or Mrs. Morrison will be able to give some proper feedback. Oh, and that includes encouragement as well as criticism. But only if I’m sure it’s heartfelt.
I remember receiving encouragement from one of my favorite authors back in 6th grade. I wrote a letter to a guy named R.A. Salvatore (one of my favorite fiction authors) and he responded! And it was personal! I’m still geeking out about it! Ok, fan boy moment over… Anyways, over the years I’ve meshed together the styles of my favorite authors to create a unique and strange voice for myself. Dialogue from Eddings. Description from Lovecraft. Action from Salvatore. Hilarity from Dougless. And I just love all of them to death! I only wish to join such prestigious names in the future.
What a lofty goal! I really do have some good ideas! I’m not sure where they come from- I just need to write them when they do. And I’ve learned not to force them. The head sized dent in my desk reminds me every day not to force ideas. Anyways, I’ve already made short stories concerning the two knuckleheaded stars of my future novels. I sure hope to take Artemis and Renmus as far as possible. I just need to work on finding a consistent voice as my short stories Barnabus and Cephaelis are worlds apart. But I love both of them! Oh the indecision! It’s hard to be an author!