New Project

Once again (and directly after the designated month) I am attempting a novel. I'm not sure if it will reach 50,000 words, but I consider it worth a try. It's sort of a dark fantasy story; I'm rather fond of those. It's also a combination of a short story I came up with in Creative Writing this past spring, one which was much improved but never quite mastered. The characters are from the past novel attempt; the concept is from both, more on the story's side.

I've written several novel attempts in the past - finished first drafts, that is - but they always come up quite literally short. The longest one was written within a matter of days in summer 2009, but it was basically a ripoff of a ripoff (and, according to Ezra, there would be another "of a ripoff" there). Still, we must all learn the hard way in writing, eh? There's no sense in shaming amateurs, unless they're published somehow. Like Stephenie Meyer.

I think I might be able to do novels at some point, but for me it might be a matter of practice. I don't think I'll give up.

School tomorrow, and after that I'll be meeting with Printz members at Quail Ridge Books & Music, where just last night I attended the teen writers' workshop there, and have been for over two years (crazy, what?). I'm most likely going to meet an author I've not read yet: Cassandra Clare. In the past here I've met Mary Pope Osborne and seen Orson Scott Card and Lois Lowry. Wish me luck!

May the stars watch over you.

Lewis

Book Review: Eragon by Christopher Paolini

I read this book when I was eleven, so my memory may not be entirely clear. I greatly enjoyed it at the time, and I still remember it fondly. That's what they call a guilty pleasure. I won't go into the plot because while it was good, it was not original - it strongly resembled the story-line of Star Wars with some names stolen from Lord of the Rings and Beowulf. If you know Star Wars, picture it as epic fantasy and you've got this.

The magic system was pretty nice, and I like how the villain has not been shown (I'm waiting to read Book IV, the finale) - adds a nice sense of shadow and mystery, I think. I like the creatures too, both dragons and otherwise. I really do like this, but I also like cupcakes. That doesn't prevent me from eating veggies as well.

And as a self-appointed critic, I'm afraid I'd only give this three stars of five.

Final grade: C