Journal Report #11

It has been another week, and not much has happened.  Because of this I will keep things short.

Reading:  I Read Variant by Robinson Wells.  It is a story about a kid who goes to a new school and learns that it is more like a prison.  On Saturday, I met Robinson Wells during the Teen Book Fest at the Provo Library and it was fun hearing him speak.

I started reading The Limit by Kristen Landon.  I also met her at the Teen Book Fest and she thought I was still in High School.  I'm going to take it as a compliment.  It is good so far, but I just started.

Writing:

Writing, like always, has been both difficult and rewarding.  Something I learned at the Teen Book Fest is the importance of persistence.  Elana Johnson talked about how she tries to write 3000-6000 words a day when she is writing, which is about 5 months a year, and that she has written like ten practice novels that she knows will never go anywhere.  She also talked about trying lots of different styles of writing until you find what works for you.  Once you find what works stick with it.

Robinson Wells never wanted to be a writer, and he didn't even consider himself a reader until college.  He talked about writing the story you want to read, and not worrying about what other people want.

Kristen Landon said she would continue writing until the day she died regardless of wether or not she got paid because she loves it so much.  I liked that.  Write until the day you die regardless of getting published.

For my individual project I am going to write three chapters from a novel.  What I really want to work on is setting, characterization, and pacing.  I feel like I underwrite on this things, and that I need to try and strengthen this part of my writing.

Here is a short sample of something:

By the time he sat down at the table his family had already started eating.  Charlotte, his small, black haired sister, talked to herself as her plate sat surrounded with barbies, a unicorn, and teacups.  “No, Buttercup.  It’s Mikey the unicorns time to eat the potatoes.”  She says, and proceeds to dip the unicorns head into her mash potatoes.

“Charlotte, eat your dinner already.”  My mom smiles as she says this.  

“But it’s not my turn.  Mikey goes first, and then Buttercup and Mayflower, and, finally, me.”  That settles things.  It’s not her turn. Duh! Mom laughs and goes back to cutting her roast beef into small, bitable portions.

To Walkie’s right Carter sits and eats while reading a book.  His eyes never leave the pages, and somehow he manages to find his food and bring it up to his mouth without spilling.  That kid wouldn’t stop reading if the house caught on fire.  He even brings his books to church and reads right through the sermon and everything.  On Walkie’s left his other brother James is playing on his gameboy.  His food sits half-eaten and reminds Walkie of a ghost town.  Empty. Dead.  Lonely.

“Whatcha playing?”  He shakes his head, and continues tapping away at buttons.  Alright then?  On the end of the table Dad’s watching the game.  He barely even looks at the rest of us except when something spectacular happens.

“Did you guys see that?”  When no one answers he shakes his head. “Losers!  God gave me three sons and they are all a bunch of nerds.”  When no one responds to that he shakes his head again and turns back to the TV.  

Walkie piles food onto his plate and starts eating.  His eyes stare out into empty space like he’s been hypnotized as he thinks more about Melissa.

My Crazy Life:

I left the football game at half-time because I was freezing and we were up by 24.  On Thursday night I am going to watch Breaking Dawn at midnight.  It was fun seeing how excited kids in high school and middle school can be when they get together.  Time to revise my short story.  That is all.