Longlisted for BBC Radio 4 Opening Lines

Only yesterday did I mention that I didn't think I was going to get anywhere with the BBC Radio 4 writing competition, Opening Lines. Then, a couple of hours later I got this email:

Thank you for sending your story to us which we enjoyed reading very much. 

We’re getting in touch now to let you know that your story is one of 65 which have made it through to the Opening Lines longlist. We received 760 stories in total.

We’d like to keep hold of your submission for another six weeks in order to give it a second read. We’ll then be in a position to draw up a shortlist of stories from which three will be selected for broadcast.

We’ll contact you again towards the end of April with further news.

OH MY GOSH! I was so excited. I still am!

I was complaining the other day how I never win  anything. I said to my boyfriend in a depressed tone, 'This is my life now, entering competitions...' I added a new page to my blog, Achievements, and thought 'I have no good writing ones.' 

And ta-da! That's all changed!

But now I'm nervous for April! 

Dissertation Handed In

Just a short post to say: I handed my dissertation in. Hurrah! 9 months and 120 pages later and it's done!

Dissertation - Second Draft

I have another meeting with my ECP supervisor tomorrow. This time we will be discussing my Second Draft. I can't tell whether I am more nervous than last time or not. I feel proud but there's this sicky feeling in my stomach; I just know that I've made silly typos or written something completely wrong or edited it badly. Especially towards the end of this draft I start to lose focus and it goes a bit...well the only word I can use is: wibbly. Oh well. What's done is done and I'll find out what she thinks tomorrow. Eep!

It's 3,000 words longer than my First Draft, that means that I'm over halfway through my dissertation already and it's not due until the 11th of March next year. Boom! But it will still require tonnes of editing. Fun.

You'll probably want to read the draft before seeing what my supervisor has to say, so here it is (bearing in mind it is around 6,000 words long, but a good read!):

***

Perry could see the man again.

The man with no eyes, deadly sharp teeth, and red raw skin. The man that only he could see. Perry spotted him stood at the end of his road, as if he were a friend waiting to walk to school together. Perry hesitated before hurrying back to his house. As he closed the front door sharply behind him his mum called out from the kitchen.

   'Back already? Did you forget something?'

   'Yeah, my maths book,' he yelled back as he ran up to his room.

Perry didn't even bother telling her the truth.

He'd tried telling her before. But neither his mum nor dad believed him. They thought it was some imaginary friend, and his therapists thought it was a manifestation of a repressed childhood memory. Perry knew they were all wrong. One, fourteen was way too old for imaginary friends. Two, he’d had a perfectly happy childhood, what could he have repressed? This was definitely not something his mind had made up. He wasn't crazy.

He couldn't stay at home for too long, his mum would get suspicious. Leaning out his bedroom window he couldn't see anything down the street. With his insides knotting themselves, he made his way downstairs and out of the house. He opened the front door slowly, praying to anyone that the red-faced man would be gone. His mum heard him leaving and called out after him. ‘Bye dear, have fun at school.’

Perry left the door on the latch as he snuck to the edge of the garden and peered down the street. It was empty. The red-faced man was gone. He let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. He could still make it to school on time if he ran. Though he didn't know why he was in such a hurry to go to school. The red-faced man would probably be waiting for him there too.

*

Lenore sat in the headmaster's office. But for once she wasn't in trouble. She was the new kid. The secretary had said that Principle Brocklehurst would be with her shortly. She'd already been sat there for ten minutes. It was a typical headmaster's office, lots of books, even more certificates, and comfy chairs to make it 'inviting'. The most interesting thing in the office was an aerial photo of the school and the surrounding area. Manor House College was the smallest school Lenore had ever been to, and she’d been to a fair few. She got out of her comfy armchair and walked over to the wall to have a closer look. She spotted where she lived quickly. It had only been a couple of weeks since she'd moved to the village but she already hated it. It was such a dead end, nothing ever happened. She looked over the photograph once more. There was the Ebony Woods on the left and the Moors stretching across the top. And there, right on the edge of town, up a winding path and surrounded by trees was a large house. Lenore leant in to inspect it closer.

The door slammed open and Lenore leapt back from the photo. Principal Brocklehurst was a large man, whose shirt barely contained his bulging belly. His podgy face was flushed red and he stared down at Lenore with an annoyed look.

   'Why are you in my office?'

   'I'm the new girl, Lenore Scribe.'

Mr Brocklehurst's expression changed from annoyance to pleasure instantly, just like everyone's did once they heard her last name.

   'Miss Scribe, what a delight. You must excuse my tardiness, there was a problem with maintenance,' he said. But Lenore saw the large cookie and doughnut that he had hastily put in the top drawer of his desk. He settled down into his oversized chair and motioned for her to sit in one too. She took one last look at the photograph. The large house on the edge of town was no longer there. She let out a gasp.

   'Like it, do you?' Principal Brocklehurst asked. 'Taken a couple of years ago, got some coupons out of the paper.'

   'There was a house right there, but now it's gone.' Lenore jabbed at the photograph making it wobble. Principal Brocklehurst flinched.

   'Please refrain from knocking it, Miss Scribe. I would hate to have to charge your father for a new frame.' Even as he spoke Lenore saw the look of greed spread across his face. Lenore settled back into her chair, sure that the house had been there.

   'Now, Miss Scribe, the rules are simple here: Don't break them,' he said making himself laugh. Lenore gave a feeble smile. 'Being serious, don't make trouble and you won't get into trouble. Am I clear?' he asked giving her a stern look.

Lenore had seen that look on many headmasters’ faces. She didn't make trouble, the trouble found her. She nodded anyway.

   'Good. I don't think we'll be having any problems with you, Miss Scribe.' He smiled pleasantly. 'Off to class now. I have a lot of work to do,' he said but Lenore saw his eyes flicker towards his desk drawer filled with treats.

Lenore left the office and asked the secretary how to get to class. It was going to be a long day.

*

Perry was lucky for the rest of the morning and didn't see the man once. He started to feel relaxed; he was even able to work out the hardest math equation for once. It was during fourth period English class that everything went wrong.

He loved English class, even if his teacher, Ms Allen, was one of the strictest teachers he'd ever had at Manor House College. She sat at the front of the class seemingly engrossed in marking their Shakespeare essays from last week, but Perry knew she was paying attention to everything that was happening in the room. No one messed around in Ms Allen's classes. Though sitting next to Perry was Gregory, who wasn't doing his work at all. He was doodling what looked like lots of eyeballs in his text book. He would be in trouble if Ms Allen saw that. Perry fiddled with his pen before writing vigorously about the conventions of autobiography. He had written nearly two pages when the back of his neck started to prickle and his palms went clammy.

As if he was being forced, his head turned to the classroom window. Outside, stood in the middle of the rugby pitch, was the red-faced man. His skinless lips peeled apart, forming a sinister grin. He lifted his arm and pointed his red, scabbed hand at Perry as if he could see straight into the classroom to where he was sat.

Perry couldn't help it. He yelped, jumped out of his chair, ran across the room and yanked down the blind. Ms Allen's head snapped up from her desk. Her eyes narrowed behind her thick glasses. Perry had sagged against the wall in relief but his body tensed again as he faced the class. Every eye was on him. One of the boys at the back of the class sniggered under his breath.

   'Typical paranoid Perry behaviour.’ He nudged his friend who fought to contain his silent laughter. Perry could feel the whole class whispering about him, calling him names behind his back. ‘Paranoid Perry! Paranoid Perry!’ they would yell at him at lunchtime. Someone let out the smallest of giggles.

   'That is enough!' Ms Allen screeched. The class came to attention immediately but Perry noticed that some of the kids had tears in their eyes from holding in their laughter. Perry faced Ms Allen, not sure who was more terrifying; her or the red-faced man.

   'What is the meaning of this, Mr Prince?'

There was a long pause before Perry blurted out. 'The sun was in my eyes.'

Ms Allen surveyed him over the top of her glasses. The sun was clearly not in his eyes as he was on the far side of the classroom. His hands twitched nervously so he shoved them in his trouser pockets.

   'Very well. I understand,' she said at last and Perry's hopes rose. 'But everyone will stay behind for ten minutes to make up for all the time you wasted with your elaborate display.' The whole class groaned as one and glared at Perry as he made his way back to his chair. The only person who didn't seem to mind was Gregory, who was still drawing eyes even though his pen had run out of ink.

*

Lenore had struggled through the morning with the curse of being a new kid. She could tell that people were constantly talking about her. The students were judging her by her looks and the teachers were judging her by her name. She could hear their tone of voice change from bored to impressed as soon as they read out her name on the register. When the bell rang for lunch all Lenore wanted to do was go home.  She had thought about simply eating her lunch in the toilets, where she wouldn’t be disturbed, but she knew she had to be strong at school.

She entered the dining hall and was bombarded by the sound of hundreds of students talking.  She quickly scanned the room. The whole of the school’s population was crowded under one roof, including the staff. She had no idea where to sit. Each table was already packed with big groups of students. There were big, beefy boys in sports gear jostling each other. There were groups of kids with their text books out doing extra science and maths equations. And a group of girls crowded together but all on their phones, totally ignoring each other.  Lenore didn’t think she would fit in with any of them. In the far corner she spotted a single empty table. A safe haven. She was about to hurry over when a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Lenore looked at the dainty hand that clung to her with a death grip, the painted nails digging into her skin. She switched her gaze to the owner of the hand. Blond hair, perfect make-up, and a smile that was more predatory than it was friendly. 

   ‘Hey, I’m Cathy and you’re the new girl right, Eleanor, is it?’ The girl’s smile gleamed brightly.

   ‘Lenore actually.’

   ‘Right, right. So, my girls and I were thinking you could sit with us. You look pretty lonely.’ Cathy widened her highly mascaraed eyes sympathetically.

Lenore looked to the two other girls. They both smiled and nodded. Cathy’s grasp on her wrist tightened.

   ‘Thanks, that would be great,’

Cathy’s grip loosened and Lenore pulled herself free. Little half-moon shapes were etched into her wrist. She set her bag down on the floor and pulled out her lunch, very aware that all three girls were watching her intently.

   ‘Sorry, what were your names again?’ Lenore asked.

   ‘She’s Jay,’ Cathy said pointing to the girl with long curly black hair. ‘And she’s Liz,’ she said as the girl with dead straight mousey brown hair wiggled her fingers in greeting.

   ‘Can’t they talk or something?’

   ‘Of course they can, silly,’ Cathy said, once again speaking for them. ‘So Eleanor-’

   ‘Lenore.’

   ‘Right, right. Lenore, whatever. What’s your story?’

   ‘My story?’

Lenore’s tummy twisted. How could they know about that?

   ‘Yeah, you know, where’d you live? What do your parents do? Any hot older siblings?’ At this all three girls burst into giggles. Lenore sagged in relief, they didn’t know after all.

   ‘I live up near the woods, Fay Grove.’

Cathy let out a gasp.

   ‘Fay Grove? Wow, you must be minted.’

   ‘I guess.’

   ‘If you’re so rich, why are you wearing that?’ Jay finally spoke.

Lenore looked down at her old torn at the knee jeans and the Stones t-shirt that used to belong to her mum. She was about to ask what was wrong with her outfit when she saw something that made her heart plummet.

A man stood by the dining hall doors. Not a student or a teacher. He was something from a nightmare. Lenore’s stomach convulsed and she thought she was going to vomit. The man’s lips were torn back to reveal deadly sharp teeth. The flesh on his face had peeled away leaving only twisted holes instead of nostrils and raw slices of bloody muscle. And even though his sockets were empty black pits Lenore knew he was looking straight in her direction. The worst was the colour of his skin. It was a red, like freshly spilt blood.

Lenore turned from the man desperate to forget what she’d seen. Cathy, Jay, and Liz were all watching her, waiting for her to defend her choice of clothing. She wasn’t surprised that they couldn’t see this horrific man, no one ever could.

   ‘Hey, are you all right, you’ve gone super pale?’ Cathy asked.

Lenore couldn’t help it; she took a deep breath and looked back to the dining hall doors. The man was gone.

   ‘Sorry, I gotta go.’ She leapt from the table, ignoring the three girls’ cries of surprise.

*

By the time Perry and his classmates were let out of class most of the other students were already in the dining hall. The rest of his class hurried off eager to meet their friends. Perry headed in the opposite direction. He never ate in the dining hall; he had no one to sit with. Instead he found an empty classroom and hoped that any teachers that found him would have enough mercy to let him stay. Today he chose a classroom that was as far away from the rugby field as possible. He ended up in the Geography department and found comfort in the maps that covered the walls. The world was so big that surely he couldn't be the only person that could see scary things for no reason. Right?

He settled into a chair and pulled out his lunch. Tuna sandwiches on brown bread as usual. He had only taken one bite when he heard footsteps echoing down the corridor. Busted already. He waited for a teacher to burst in and tell him to get out and 'play with his friends'. The footsteps got louder and louder, faster and faster, then flew right past the classroom. Surprised, Perry put down his sandwich and crept towards the door. He opened it carefully and winced at its loud creaking. He left it a few seconds before he dared to look down the corridor. His stomach flipped at what he saw.

At the end of the corridor, closer than Perry had ever seen him before, was the red-faced man. The bite of tuna sandwich that Perry had eaten threatened to come back up again. His mouth was still stretched into the lipless grin with more sharp teeth than any normal human should possess. His black sockets were directed at a girl Perry had never seen before.

She was unlike any of the other girls at school. She was wearing a pair of scruffy jeans, an old band t-shirt, and her dark hair was tied into a messy ponytail. She stood only a couple of feet away from Perry, staring hard at the red-faced man. Perry's heart stopped.

Someone else could see him.

Perry jumped as the girl spoke.

   ‘What are you?' Her voice was loud and strong. If Perry had ever spoken to the red-faced man it would have come out in a squeak.

The red-faced man didn't reply, which only seemed to make the strange girl angrier.

   'I said what are you?'

To Perry’s shock, the red-faced man glanced at him, his empty sockets boring into him. His grin lengthened further across his face, revealing even more sharpened teeth. He turned back towards the girl and Perry instantly knew something was wrong. He took no chances. He raced down the corridor and barrelled into the girl. They both went crashing into an empty classroom just as the red-faced man thundered past. Before he could turn around, Perry slammed the door and began pushing tables and chairs in front of it. He was just about to add another chair to the pile when the girl yelled at him.

   'What the hell, man!' she exploded.

Perry took a couple of steps back, afraid she was going to hit him.

   'Sorry,' he muttered. 'It's just that, well, you were in danger.' Even he knew that sounded lame. He resisted the urge to hang his head. He wanted at least one person in this school to take him seriously. To his surprise the girl didn't laugh.

   'Wait, danger. You saw that man too?'

Perry's brain did a double take. Millions of thoughts flooded his mind and he tried to say them all at once resulting in a single word that sounded like 'blerugha'.

   'Calm down,' the girl said. 'I'm Lenore.'

   ‘A new girl?'

   ‘Yeah, and you are?'

   'Perry. Perry Prince.' He held out his hand then smoothed back his curly hair instead. Luckily, she didn’t seem to notice.

   'Perry, cool.' Lenore was silent for a while, like she was trying to work out what was going on. Perry was finding everything just as weird.

   'So you can see that red-faced man, too.'

   'Yeah, every day for the past month.'

   'A month? And he follows you around like this?'

Perry shuffled uncomfortably, unsure whether this girl Lenore was making fun of him or not.

   'Well, I used to just seem him standing around; I’ve never seen him move like that before.’

Now he really expected Lenore to burst out laughing. Call him Paranoid Perry, just like everyone else. Instead she simply nodded.

   'And that's why you rugby tackled me in here because you thought he was coming for me?'

Perry nodded and smiled sheepishly, still expecting her to be mad. Instead she was moved the table and chairs away from the door, which was much worse.

   'Hey, what are you doing? He could still be out there!'

   'We have to go out some time,' she said simply as she reached for the door handle.

   'And what are you going to do once you're out there? Just stare him away?' Perry asked in a sudden burst of confidence.

   'I guess we'll find out.'

The door swung open and Lenore stepped out into the corridor. Perry held his breath. Nothing happened. He stepped out next to her. The corridor was completely empty. Just then the bell rang and hundreds of students flooded the corridors. The red-faced man was nowhere to be seen.

*

Lenore couldn’t believe it. It had followed her here, of all places. She should have realised something was strange about this place as soon as that house disappeared from the photograph. She walked side by side with Perry. He had offered to walk her home as her Dad was too busy to pick her up and she still didn’t know her way around yet.

   ‘So, Perry, lived here long –’

   ‘I don't know why I see him,’ he cried out suddenly. Lenore jumped at how loud his voice was. He realised this continued on quietly. ‘One therapist said it was a manifestation of a repressed memory, but I haven't had any bad experiences. My life's been pretty normal up until now.’

   'If it was repressed you wouldn't remember it,' Lenore said, in an attempt to be helpful. A worried frown creased his face instead. Lenore wanted to slap herself. 'What I mean is it's not a manifestation of a repressed memory, I can see it too, remember?'

   'Oh yeah, obviously.'

Lenore laughed at Perry's relieved expression.

   'I guess you've seen plenty of therapists then.'

   'Yeah and Doctors, and councillors, and hypnotherapists and exorcists. My parents want to help but they're not very good. I think they've given up now.'

   'At least your parents want to help,' Lenore said darkly. She noticed Perry's questioning expression and quickly changed the subject.

   'So what table do you sit at?'

   'Excuse me?'

   ‘At lunch, where do you sit? I don't see you sitting with the rugby players.'

   'God no,' Perry laughed. 'I don't really sit anywhere; I find an empty class room instead.'

His cheeks flushed. Lenore didn't blame him; she'd been close to running off and eating lunch on her own, too.

   'Well, hey, we can eat lunch together now. I saw an empty table at lunch time. We can form our own group.'

   'You'll be a social pariah if you hang out with me. It will be Paranoid Perry and Loony Lenore before you know it.'

Lenore thought back to Cathy and her two cronies. 'That's fine with me.'

He held out his hand and she looked at it oddly. His face flushed again.

   'Shake on it.'

Lenore took his hand in hers and gave it a firm shake. At least if she got into trouble this time she wouldn’t be on her own.

*

Greg Sullivan had never liked his granddad. Although he would never admit it to anyone. Every time his mum told him that his granddad would be visiting he felt the dread settle in his stomach. His granddad wasn't like ordinary granddads. He never told funny stories, or gave him money, or even commented on how big he was getting. He would simply arrive, sit down in the red armchair, and order Greg's mum around. Even when she tried to talk to him all he would do was grunt. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was his eye. He had been blind in one eye ever since Greg could remember. No one had ever explained why he was blind and Greg never dared to ask. It was a taboo subject in their house.

So when Greg's mum said that his granddad would be staying for an entire week Greg seriously considered running away. Same as usual his granddad collapsed into the red armchair and ordered Greg's mum to get him a tea: no milk, no sugar. Greg sat on the sofa on the other side of the room watching his granddad and thinking of the blank eye; how did he get it? And why did nobody want to talk about it? His granddad sharply looked at him, as if he knew exactly what he was thinking. Greg immediately stared back at the TV.

   ‘What you looking at, boy?’

   ‘Nothing, Sir,’ Greg mumbled.

His granddad grunted in reply. Greg didn’t stick around long after that, he ran upstairs to his room and shut the door with a snap. If only he had a lock too.

The eye plagued his mind more than usual. That night while he slept on the sofa - his granddad always got his room, another reason to hate his visits - his thoughts kept returning to the eye. So white and milky, like a full moon in a cloudless sky, or a greedy vulture stalking it’s pray. When he closed his eyes he could still see the eyeball. It watched him in his dreams.

Even at school he could see it. It was the circle equation during maths, the petri dish during science, and the football during lunchtime. His mind would wander during class and when he finally snapped back to reality he found eyeballs staring at him from his notebooks. He had covered every page in drawings of eyeballs. His chemistry teacher Mr Waldman had written a note in his dangerous red pen saying ‘See me after class. We need to talk about this’. Greg had legged it from class as soon as the bell rang. He even ignored Mr Waldman calling after him. He knew he’d be in big trouble the next day.

When he arrived home he was relieved to think that in twenty-four hours his granddad would be gone. No more staring vulture eye. Then he walked into the living room and saw his granddad sat in the same red armchair, the relief vanished and anger seared through his veins instead. Surprised at his rage, Greg ran upstairs to his room. At dinner he avoided looking at his granddad but he could still feel the eye upon him and the throbbing rage in his head grew.

Greg hid in his room until it was time for bed, then he slunk down the stairs without a glimpse at his granddad. He tossed and turned on the sofa for hours but the feeling that he was being watched never left him. The eye, it was there. Through ceilings and walls it could see him. Greg didn't know what came over him; all he knew was that he had to stop the eye from staring. He crept to the kitchen and picked the largest knife from his mum’s knife rack. It would be quick, and then it would be gone.

He took the stairs two at a time, careful of the creaky one. The door was ajar and Greg was sure that the eye knew he was just outside. With the knife thrust out in front of him, Greg pushed the door aside slowly and entered the room. His granddad was asleep and yet the eye was still open, Greg could see it gleaming in the darkness. He was pulled towards it. He raised the knife up high above his head, the sharp tip pointing directly at the offensive eyeball. Greg plunged the knife downwards into the socket just as his granddad's other eye popped open.

*

Lenore met Perry at the end of Haworth Road to walk with him to school. Her dad had already gone to work before she’d even woken up. He didn’t get back from work until she had gone to bed. She hadn’t got a chance to tell him how her first day of school went. Somehow she knew that he wouldn’t care anyway; just as long as she wasn’t kicked out again.

They arrived at school and went their separate ways. Perry’s first lesson was History on the other side of school while Lenore had Geography. Walking down the corridor, Lenore couldn’t help looking over shoulder. This was the place she had seen the red-faced man last, could he still be here?

Lenore hurried to her classroom and chose a chair right in the middle of the room. The rest of the students were all busy talking excitedly amongst themselves. With no one to talk to, Lenore settled into her chair and eavesdropped on the other student’s conversations.

   ‘Yeah, in the eye.’

   ‘With a knife?’

   ‘I heard an axe.’

   ‘No way.’

   ‘Yeah way.’

 Miss Scatcherd entered and told them to quieten down yet the gossiping continued.

   ‘Excuse me,’ she bellowed. ‘I said be quiet. Now, Geography books out please and no more talking.’

Lenore shook herself, whatever they were talking about sounded ridiculous. How could you hit someone in the eye with an axe? However similar conversations took place throughout the day. Every time Lenore tried to join in the group of kids would give her a strange look and walk away. The curse of being a new kid still clung to her.

At lunchtime, on their newly claimed table, Lenore asked Perry what everyone was talking about.

   ‘It’s pretty grim,’ he said nervously, picking at his tuna sandwiches. ‘A kid, Greg, killed his granddad last night. And to think, I sat next to him in English class.’

   ‘A fourteen year old kid killed his own granddad, why?’ Lenore’s stomach turned; the axe? Surely not. ‘How did he do it? Was it with an axe?’

   ‘I heard some of the teachers talking about it earlier. Apparently he stabbed him repeatedly in the face and gouged out his eye.’ Perry put his hands over his eyes as if to protect them. ‘And I think it’s bad when I get soap in my eyes.’

Lenore smiled and instantly felt bad. A kid had killed someone, this wasn’t a laughing matter.

   ‘Did you know Greg; did he seem like the murdering type?’

   ‘Not really, but what fourteen year old seems like the murdering type?’

   ‘Yeah, I guess. It just seems like a weird thing to happen.’ Lenore looked around the noisy dining hall. ‘Do you suppose it has anything to do with the red-faced man?’

Perry visibly paled.

   ‘Oh, I really hope not.’

They continued to eat their lunch but Lenore didn’t feel hungry anymore. She stuffed her sandwiches in her bag and gazed across the room. Cathy and her cronies laughed over a copy of Hello as if a kid hadn’t gone crazy and killed his granddad. She scowled at them although she was secretly glad they hadn’t tried talking to her again. They must have seen her with Perry and thought she was ‘Loony Lenore’. It was while she was staring across the hall that she suddenly noticed a man sat at the table with the rugby guys. Not the red-faced man. He still stuck out like a sore thumb though. He was pale and skinny with dark brooding features. His outfit looked like something straight from the Victorian era, complete with cravat. And he was staring straight at her. She let out a gasp and grabbed Perry’s arm.

   ‘Do you see that?’

   ‘See what?’ he asked through a mouthful of sandwich.

   ‘That man sat on the rugby table. Next to…what’s his name?’

   ‘Wayne?’

   ‘Yeah!’

   ‘There’s no one there, Lenore,’ he said. Then noticing her terrified expression added, ‘Sorry.’

Lenore knew that Perry really was sorry. He understood what it felt like to see something that no one else could see. Yet Lenore was sure she wasn’t being loony. She looked back at the table but the man was gone, with the rugby team pushing each other around, totally oblivious.

*

Perry thought Lenore was being particularly quiet on their way back from school. They walked together until the crossroads then he would start his trek up the hill to his house. Perry was slightly jealous of Lenore’s house on Fay Grove. Everyone knew that’s where the rich families lived. Though Lenore didn’t act stuck up like the rest of the rich kids did, and Perry liked that.

That day, though, Lenore barely said a word. Perry tried to keep talking but he quickly ran out of things to say. He understood that Lenore was still worried about the strange man she had seen, not to mention Greg the Granddad Gouger, which was what kids were already calling him. He wanted to tell her not to worry even though he knew that was very hypocritical. He was just glad he hadn’t seen the red-faced man today.

Perry felt that if he left Lenore long enough she would eventually talk. And he was right. He was about to say good bye and start his trudge up the steep incline of Northanger Road when she turned to him.

   ‘That man, do you suppose he had anything to do with Greg?’

   ‘The red-faced man?’

   ‘No, the new one. The one that only I can see.’

   ‘What do you mean? Like he could see him too?’

   ‘Maybe, it’s just freaky you know.’ Lenore shrugged her shoulders helplessly.

Perry attempted a reassuring smile. He was sure that it came off as more pained.

   ‘It will be fine?’ he offered uselessly. Lenore managed a tiny smile before waving goodbye and slopping off down the street. Perry watched after her until she turned the corner and was gone.

*

Wayne Egaeus had a niggling feeling. It had been growing in him for the past week. A cross between thinking he had forgotten something and being mad at someone. Wayne knew what it felt like to be mad at someone. The doctors his step-dad had sent him to had told him that he had ‘anger issues’ and that he should channel his ‘unhealthy rage’ into sports. Now he was the best full-back on the school’s rugby team. He’d been okay since then. No outbursts, no fights, nothing. He’d even got himself a girlfriend. One of the hottest girls in Manor House College. He could tell the rest of the team were jealous. She had gorgeous green eyes, a deep glowing tan, and a fantastic figure. Wayne knew he wasn’t the best looking guy, one of the reasons for his rage, but with Berenice on his arm he felt like a god. Yet this niggling feeling kept reminding him something was wrong. It was two days since that kid had freaked out and killed his granddad and Wayne was getting sick of everyone talking about it. He found he was getting sick of everything, even rugby. He had argued with his teammates, snapped at the coach, and even aimed a kick at a black cat that had crossed his path that morning. He knew seeing Berenice would make it better.

That Thursday evening he met up with Berenice in their usual spot, on the edge of Ebony Woods. Her parents didn’t like Wayne much; they thought he was a thug, so they always met up in secret. Most people found the woods eerie. Wayne thought it was dirty; place for kids to smoke and drink but Berenice insisted it was romantic.

She was already sat there on a fallen tree waiting for him when he arrived. She smiled up at him. Wayne loved that smile. She had the whitest teeth he had ever seen. And they were perfectly straight, too. They were like tiny pearls nestled in a luscious mouth. Wayne bent down to kiss that mouth. If he really did have anger issues then Berenice was his balm. Well, she usually was. Even after kissing her the niggling feeling didn’t go. He collapsed onto the tree next to her.

   ‘What’s up, hun?’ she asked giving his bicep a squeeze.

Wayne grunted in reply and snatched his arm away. Instantly Berenice’s eyes filled with tears. Even in his mood he couldn’t ignore her tears.

   ‘I’m sorry, babe. Just got a lot on my mind.’

   ‘You’re not the only one,’ she snapped.

Wayne sunk to the ground in front of her not minding that he’s jeans would be covered in mud. He took her hands in his.

   ‘What’s wrong?’

   ‘My parents. They’ve just told me we’re moving.’

Wayne felt like he’d been tackled by the biggest rugby player in the world.

   ‘Nah, Babe. You can’t leave me. You wouldn’t.’

   ‘I’m sorry but we’re leaving next weekend. At least we have until then.’ She looked up at him with her large green eyes, tears sparkling in her lashes.

   ‘And then what will I do without you? Without your smile?’

Berenice gave him a teary smile.

   ‘I’ll leave you a photo. And I’ll call you every night.’

Wayne felt something in his head snap. The niggling feeling had finally come to something. She couldn’t leave. She couldn’t take her beautiful smile away from him. He wouldn’t let her. What would he do about his anger issues? Berenice seemed to sense something was wrong. She started to get off the fallen tree and back away but not fast enough. Wayne leapt to his feet. He used all his weight as he slammed into her, forcing her to the ground. She kicked and struggled beneath him.

   ‘You can go, Berenice,’ he said through gritted teeth. ‘As long as you leave your smile.’

Berenice didn’t even have the chance to scream.

*

Perry didn’t know what he was going to do. He heard the teachers talking again while he’d been hiding from a group of kids screaming ‘Paranoid Perry’ at him. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop but their sombre tones had attracted his attention.

   ‘Two accidents in one week.’

   ‘And they’re sure it was the Wayne boy?’

   ‘He confessed. He was completely devastated though, out of his mind just like the other boy.’

   ‘Probably drugs then.’

All the teachers agreed but Perry suspected it was something much worse than drugs.

He’d been cautious around Lenore, he knew she was still worried about the man she had seen but in the past couple of days she seemed to be getting over it. He knew he had to tell her though. She was bound to find out anyway, the way gossip flew around the school.

When Lenore sat down at their table Perry looked away. He couldn’t do it. He knew he had to but he didn’t want to upset her.

   ‘Lenore,’ he started in a shaky voice.

   ‘Yeah, I already know. I heard one of the rugby players, Joe, crying earlier about it. Said he’d break by nose if I told anyone, didn’t care if I was a girl. Great person.’

Lenore sounded better than he thought she would. The tension seeped from his body.

   ‘You know what this means though?’ she added in such a serious tone that all the tension flooded back.

   ‘Rugby players have no morals?’ He laughed pathetically. Lenore carried on as if he hadn’t said anything.

   ‘I was right, that man has got something to do with it. And we have to find out what.’

Perry’s stomach dropped. How did he know that she was going to say something like that?

What did you think? Leave a comment.

ECP First Draft Feedback

I had a meeting with my supervisor on Monday about my Extended Creative Piece - First Draft. I was dreading it, because while my supervisor is a nice person, she can be a bit iffy. She says one thing to your face but when it comes to marking it her views are very different. I was also pleased with the work I had done and didn't want her to hate it, meaning I'd have to rewrite it entirely. So it was with some trepidation that I made my way to her office.

And yet, all this fear was unfounded.

She was happy to see me and friendly from the beginning. She even offered me tea and/or coffee, which I declined; I was way too nervous to drink. Her mugs looked questionable anyway. The first thing she said about my ECP was that she really enjoyed the beginning. She said it included a good sense of place, she knew who the character was, and it had a great opening line. Obviously this left me beaming. Of course, there were a few tiny mistakes, like clunky sentences, awkward wording, that sort of thing. Common things that can be easily sorted. What she really loved was this part, it had two ticks!

'Very well. I understand,' she said at last and Perry's hopes rose. 'But everyone will stay behind for ten minutes to make up for all the time you wasted with your elaborate display.' The whole class groaned as one and glared at Perry as he made his way back to his chair. The only person who didn't seem to mind was Gregory, who was still drawing eyes even though his pen had run out of ink.' 

She also liked the idea of the red-faced man and was impressed with the drawing I had done. She said that I should try to include it in my piece, like maybe at the beginning of each chapter.

However, she found the character change half-way through jarring. She said that the story was just getting into the action when it suddenly goes back in time to Lenore. I explained that I wanted to see everything from Lenore's point of view as she is really the main character. I had only put Perry's part first as I knew boys would be put off reading a female protagonist, while girls just wouldn't care. My supervisor agreed but I said I would rework it so that the two points of view run side by side, or something similar.

Overall, while I'm writing some good parts, I still need to work on developing the setting and being inside my characters head - seeing everything from their point of view and reacting in a way that they would. I have to have written another 3,000 words for two weeks time, as well as editing the first 3,000. That's on top of two essays and many creative pieces.

And people said third year would be hard...

Writing Motivation with Kittens and Gods

So it's now September and I never did post a Character Profile Sheet in August like I said I would. Woops. Don't be too mad. I did attempt to do one but my heart wasn't in it. However, I have written the beginnings of two drafts - one is 4000 words long, that's half my ECP already!

Part of this massive amount of writing was due to this cute writing site called Written? Kitten! It gives you a photo of a kitten every time you write 100 words. It is so great, it even saves your work. I think simply not writing on a Word document is so freeing. I would definitely give it a try. But if you're not fond of cats, just Google 'written (insert anything you like)', they literally do anything. I was using Written? Chihuahua! earlier.

Another reason for this amount of writing was a huge burst of motivation, which may have had something to do with reading the Percy Jackson series. I feel like I've been going on about this series for a while now but I had forgotten my love for it. I'm not saying it beats Harry Potter or anything, but it's definitely up there! I just love the writing style and it has obviously influenced my own. It's so natural and easy to read. I fear that reading any other books, especially grown up books, will interfere with my writing and it'll be naff again.

I did start getting some weird withdrawal-esque symptoms once I had finished reading the Percy Jackson series. In the end I resorted to buying Rick Riordan's new series, Heroes of Olympus, which has satisfied my need somewhat. It's not as good as the original but is still fun. While it includes some of the same characters, the writing style is different. For starters it's is the complete opposite of Percy Jackson, with multiple viewpoints (like I'm planning on doing) and the third person (also something I'm going to do). This works out perfectly as it is a best seller and current, something that I will be required to mention in my rationale. This series is also a textual intervention on the Greek myths, so even better as mine is a textual intervention on Gothic authors and their novels.

It has also given me new found confidence in my story as I was worried that having a female viewpoint would put the boy readers off, and I want mine to include both genders. Piper, the main female protagonist in The Lost Hero, is not a super girlie girl, and my character Lenore won't be either, so I don't think the boys would mind reading her sections (fingers crossed). I was worried that boys wouldn't want to hear about bitchy girls and love issues, but Riordan deals with this well, and it's not OTT or too cliché.

Sometimes I do feel that you lose intimacy with having too many viewpoints but it works well in both this series and the Gone series, which I am also obsessed with at the moment. I suppose it can go either way, but I hope I can pull it off.

I will probably post the two beginnings soon to see what you guys think, comments would be really helpful. Then, once I'm back at university I will be having meetings with my supervisor to see what she thinks. It is a complete change to what I started off with, but I have a good feeling about it.  

Creative Writing Dissertation Reading

Now that my supervisor replied to my email I should be writing, but I find that I can't stop reading. I'd forgotten how easy and fun it is to read young adult fiction, much better than serious books, or worst Wuthering Heights. 

I bought quite a few books at the beginning of the summer but haven't read most of them yet. I started reading Gone by Michael Grant and became addicted, meaning the other books would have to wait. At first I didn't think it was that great but I really got sucked in. I was drawn in because Grant didn't explain everything or answer any questions, he only made more, so I just had to read on to find out what was going on. I've now read three other books in the series with the fifth one on the way, but am still excited to see how it's going to end. The last book doesn't come out until April and I'm becoming impatient. I haven't had to wait for a book to come out since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 

After I read those books I looked into what other teen books were popular and decided to read some Darren Shan. I picked Cirque du Freak as it seemed to be the most popular with the kids, and my friend Lauren highly recommended it. I particularly wanted to read some Shan as he is a great horror writer, and I admit it was pretty scary and plenty gory at some points. Although vampires aren't my favourite supernatural monster, and Twilight has made them so much worse, I wasn't put off and found the way he was turned into a vampire very interesting. I haven't read the rest of the series yet as there are quite a few books, and I can't afford all of them. I might get around to it eventually because my friend Lauren says it has a great ending, and I do love a good ending.

At the moment I am reading the Percy Jackson series, and I just love them! I read them ages ago when they first came out but they are still amazing years later. I suggested that my boyfriend read them and then I decided that really wanted to read them again, too. It just so happened that it is also research for my ECP - genius. I have always liked Greek myths and these books really satisfy my need for gods and goddesses, while having a fascinating and gripping plot. I have seen that Rick Riordan has also written another Greek inspired series, The Heroes of Olympus and The Kane Chronicles, which is based on Egyptian mythology. After I have finished rereading Percy Jackson I may look into these other series.

Today I went shopping and bought some more books, though I realise that I should be reading the books I already have, but I can't help it! I think buying books is better retail therapy than clothes shopping is. So, I bought The Recruit which is the first book in the CHERUB series. From the questionnaires I did I found that this series was quite popular and it is a best seller so I thought I'd give it a read. It's about child agents which reminds me of the Alex Rider series, and I liked that as a teen so I'll probably like this one too.

The other book I bought was a surprise. It's called Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley. The reason why it's a surprise is because it seems to be a twist on Edgar Allan Poe's stories. Does that sound familiar to you? Yeah, that's right, that's what my ECP is about, aaah! I am going to read it after Percy Jackson and pray that it isn't too much like my idea, I would be devastated if it was.

Here's the blurb:

'Edgar can't resist the terrifyingly twisted tales his Uncle Montague tells when he visits him at his house beyond the woods.
But what is his Uncle's connection with the dark stories? Prepare to be chilled to the bone as you discover that Uncle Montague is the subject of perhaps the most terrifying tale of all.
This is a seriously scary book...Are you brave enough to read on?'

Frankly, I think my idea sounds better. At least I hope it does!

The best thing about book shopping today was that I got a free book, and not a crap one either. It was actually a book I had been looking at earlier. I first heard about it my Fiction for Children module and thought it sounded interesting, mainly because it was about time travel, and who doesn't love a bit of time travel? It's Time Riders by Alex Scarrow. It was supposed to be free when you pre-ordered the new Artemis Fowl book but the Waterstones lady gave it to me anyway. Score! Waterstones workers are so nice.

As you can see I have a lot of reading to do, not to mention the reading I have to do for my modules, which seem so boring. If you have any other book suggestions for me to read, go ahead a comment below!

New Plot Synopsis Feedback

Hurrah! My ECP supervisor has finally emailed me back, and with good feedback. If you haven't already you should probably read the synopsis first.

So, here's what she said:

'Hi Holly - some of your ideas here are really interesting - I love the aspect of re-writing endings and this strange mix of characters from books and contemporary characters being in it together. The plot feels a little muddied but that's OK at this stage- I'm sure it will start to feel clearer once you start writing. I think you have something a bit different here and it could work really well.

Well done for going and talking to some 'real' readers and having the strength to change your ideas to suit a real market - lots of students find this really hard to do as they get too set in their first thoughts so you are working professionally already. Excellent! 

I suggest you write the first three chapters in draft form, revisit your synopsis and think about what might need to change, then let me have a look at it.

Keep in mind the popular books you've been researching with - notice how they use dialogue, action, setting, description and pace, and try and incorporate these styles into your own - you don't want to lose your 'voice' but you do want to capture that contemporary edge.

If you find this hard, sometimes it works to literally copy out a page of one of the books that most impressed you, word for word, then carry on with the second page yourself in the same style and tone. When you've done this, begin yours - you should find you are in 'the zone' by doing this exercise, and that the style comes through fairly naturally.

Happy writing!'

I'm glad that she likes the mix of characters. If I carry on this series after University I have big plans for many more characters, like the Bronte sisters and Austen fighting over who has the best romantic male character. But that won't be for ages yet. I mean, I have to write three chapters first. I know I like writing but I'd rather read right now. And I have been doing lots of reading for this project, all I've been reading lately are young adult books. I should really start reading books from my reading list soon. but the seems so boring! I do like the advice about writing out a page of a book I like, I never thought about doing that before. 
So now that I have her feedback better get started on the serious stuff. Oh, and I said I would do another character profile sheet soon, I should do that too!

New Plot Synopsis

Well, I emailed my new ECP plot synopsis to my supervisor days ago and she still hasn't replied. I know she's having her holiday and she's not obligated to email me back during the summer but I really want her to! I just want to know her feedback. I did say I'd post the synopsis here after I received her feedback but seeing as she's taking so long I'm just going to post it now.

I said a little bit about it in a post a while ago but here's the full version.

Lenore moves to a new town with her Dad who commutes to the city, so is rarely there.

On her first day at her new school she doesn’t know who to hang out with. So instead of going to the lunchroom she wanders the corridors. While wandering she sees a terrifying man with a disfigured red face. She tries to run away but is pulled into an empty classroom by a boy, Perry. He is shocked that Lenore can see the man; no one else can see him and say it’s all in his head, and lately every time he sees the man, he’s closer.

Perry invites her to sit with him and they become friends. On their way home they see a man being arrested for murdering his landlord and burying him in the floorboards. He’s screaming about a blind eye. Worried, they hurry home and Perry explains that these sorts of things have been happening all over the town recently.

Lenore starts seeing a strange man and she’s determined to find out who he is. She decides to follow him and he leads her back to a large house on the edge of town. She sneaks in and sees piles of papers everywhere and takes some. She overhears the man talking while writing. He talks of a man pulling out his wife’s teeth. But before Lenore can confront the man, a strange boy comes in after her and pulls her away. It’s Raven Boy, a scruffy looking boy who can only say ‘Nevermore’. He wants to express that it’s dangerous but can’t.

The next day the people are talking about Mr Egaeus, a man who pulled out his wife’s teeth. Lenore, Perry and Raven Boy realise that what the mysterious man writes comes true.

They decide to Google ‘stories coming true’ but nothing comes up. Raven Boy pushes them aside and Googles ‘nevermore’. It comes up with the Raven and Edgar Allan Poe, a famous writer. Lenore recognises the picture instantly as the mysterious man.

Lenore remembers the papers she took. One’s a story about a boy who was followed by many ravens. The story ends with the boy being cursed so he can only say ‘Nevermore’. It is a story about Raven Boy. Perry decides that if this man can write people’s fates so can he. He rewrites the end of Raven Boy’s story so he can talk again. It doesn’t work though. Perry suggests Lenore try, but she hates writing ever since she wrote a story when she was a child that resulted in her mother’s death. Yet she realises that this could save people’s lives so gives it a go. Soon Raven Boy is talking again. He explains that he found out what the man was doing and went to the house but the man caught him and cursed him. Since then no one has taken him seriously.

Happily, they try to change Perry’s story so that the red faced man won’t get him. Unfortunately it doesn’t work and the next day the red man is there again, this time only metres away. They wonder why it didn’t work and Raven Boy suggests that they can’t just write an ending, they need the rest of the story, too. They have to go back to the mysterious man’s house.

They sneak back at night and grab all the papers and books they can but they can’t find Perry’s story. While there the mysterious man finds them he chases them off by writing of the red masked man. The red masked man finally catches Perry and drags him away. Raven Boy is also taken away by a flock of ravens.

Lenore is alone.

Perry and Raven Boy are stuck between a pit full of rats and a scythe-like pendulum as torture. The red masked man and ravens guard them, while many black cats patrol the area. Lenore sneaks back to the house and down to the basement wary of the guards. She whips out the papers they took earlier and writes that the cats kill all the ravens and she stops the mechanism before the pendulum slices them. During the pandemonium Perry overcomes his fear and pushes the red masked man into the pit to be eaten by rats. Lenore leaves them to take down the mysterious man.

In the study he waits for her. He says that Lenore doesn’t understand how much power she possesses but before she can ask anymore Perry and Raven Boy rush in with the pendulum and push the man into the large fireplace. Lenore is devastated that she didn’t find out what he meant.

When they visit the house the next day it’s completely empty and a ‘for sale’ sign is outside.

This will be part of a series with other gothic writers appearing in the town, like Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, and Robert Louis Stevenson. 

Please if you have any feedback I would really appreciate some comments. I want to know what everyone thinks of it. 

Popular Children's Authors

When I went up to my old school to do my questionnaire (which everyone should do!) I also asked the librarian what was popular with young readers. Here are a few of the authors she suggested.

Suzanne Collins. Obviously I have read her books, The Hunger Games, who hasn't? And I can see why she is so popular. I liked the first two books but the third got a little odd and too political. I just liked the actual games and all the fighting. 

Jeff Kinney. He's the writer of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, which must be very popular as they keep making movies. In the questionnaire a lot of the boys wrote that it was their favourite book. His style isn't really something I'm looking to get involved in though.

Liz Pichon. Not heard of her but by the looks of Google she is a kid's book illustrator/writer. Something that isn't really relevant to my ECP at all.

Darren Shan. I just finished reading his book Cirque du Freak for research into children's horror. I enjoyed it and realised why he is a great horror writer but it still felt a little too young. Also, things like Twilight and True Blood have ruined the genuine horror of vampires, now all I can think is that they're very sexual beings. It's so annoying, I prefer them scary. Lots of the kids said that Cirque du Freak was one of their favourite series of books. 

Michael Morpurgo. I've read a few of his books, like Private Peaceful and I've seen War Horse but other than that I'm not a big reader of his. His stuff seems a bit real life drama, which I find a bit boring sometimes. But that doesn't mean they weren't good, they were very emotional and really tugged at your heartstrings. 

Robert Muchamore. This is an author I have never heard of, but one of his most popular books is CHERUB  and has now been made into a graphic novel, so maybe I'll check it out.

Rick Riordan. I really loved The Percy Jackson Series, they were one of my favourite book series as a teen. I even read them secretly during classes. I always had an interest in Greek mythology and these books really brought them to life. I haven't read any of his recent stuff but I'm sure it's just as good. 

Cathy Cassidy. I've only read one of her books and that was years ago. My friend leant me Dizzy (she liked it because it rhymed with her name, Izzy). I remember thinking the book was a little odd even though it's relatively normal. It's not a really a style I'd like to write in.

Chris Higgins. She's not a writer I've ever heard of but it looks like she writes similar things to Cathy Cassidy and Jacqueline Wilson, maybe?

Meg Cabot. She is my favourite author of all time and I've read and own nearly all her books. She even follows me on twitter - how awesome is that? My original ECP idea was inspired by her books but I'm going down the more actiony, mixed gender route now, rather than the chick lit way. Her adult books are just as good as her teen ones, so try reading some, they're bound to make you smile. 

Jacqueline Wilson. She is another author that I loved and at one point I owned nearly all her books too. But I grew out of them and now she has written millions, she seems to churn them out. A lot of the girls said that Wilson was their favourite author and I'm not really surprised. I also loved Nick Sharratt who illustrated her books, because of him I used to want to be an illustrator. I still do a little but writing is my priority. 

Andy Stanton. Another author I haven't heard of but apparently he writes the popular Mr Gum Series. I'll be honest, it's not something that I'm bothered about looking into. 

Sophie McKenzie. She's not a writer I have heard of but I saw the cover of one of her books in the library and it did look quite interesting, though I know not to judge a book by it's cover. But if that was true then they wouldn't make the covers so interesting. She is the author of Blood Ties and I may go and see how much it is on Kindle.

If you have any more suggestions on popular young adult fiction or any books that would relate to my ECP please feel free to comment!

New ECP Plot Idea?

I have become pretty bad at updating my blog lately, mainly because it's the summer holidays. I did say to myself before the holidays that I was going to keep on top of it and update regularly. Yeah, that didn't happen. So I'm saying now that I will do at least four posts this month, including another character profile sheet. You can tell me off if I don't.

Anyway, this post is about my new plot synopsis. That's right, I've changed my idea for my dissertation. I haven't told my ECP supervisor yet and I'll email it to her before I post it here. I changed my idea for two reasons. One, the questionnaire results showed that my previous idea wouldn't do too well in the market, the kids wouldn't want to read it. And secondly, I was bored of it. The whole thing seemed boring and I wouldn't want to read it either, frankly I didn't want to write it. I'm already excited to write my new idea though.

The changes I've made are because of the results. I haven't changed everything though. Edgar Allan Poe is still involved, the main character is still Lenore, and weird Gothicy things are still happening around town.

It was clear from the results that readers between 12-15 years old liked ambiguous endings (although many of them had to ask what ambiguous meant...) so I have now made my idea part of a series, that way I don't have to answer all the questions at once or wrap it up neatly, and there can be a cheeky cliffhanger or two. Series are way more popular too, if you think of any young adult books they are probably part of a series, and usually a best selling one.

I've also changed the genre. It is more of a horror/fantasy/mystery with some actiony elements thrown in. Fantasy was a big favourite and I'm not surprised, I'm now glad I'm taking the Sci-fi and Fantasy module this year. Romance, on the other hand, wasn't a particular favourite, in fact all the boys hated it. But I will have a hint of romance, as it seems all the popular young adults have a little love triangle going on, think The Hunger Games Series and (though I hate to say it) The Twilight Series.

While Lenore is still the main character she's now not the only one. I am planning to write it from multiple viewpoints as the results showed that while young readers may have preferred male protagonists they didn't mind either gender, really, so I thought I'd do a little bit of both too. Also, I have been reading the Gone Series, which has many viewpoints which works pretty well, it really keeps you interested and moves the story along at a nice pace. Though some character's stories are a lot more exciting than the others. These books also made me realise that some weird things happen in books but kids just go along with it. (It also has a thing called a 'gaiaphage'. Seriously, since doing the Writing and the Environment module I've heard about Gaia everywhere. She won't leave me alone!)

I have tried writing in the present tense as well as the past tense and I haven't decided which one I like more. I always have issues with tense; I skip between them all the time meaning I lose marks quite a bit. I'm thinking that if I do it in present tense maybe I won't skip so much, and the results showed that the readers do prefer the present tense. It's a decision I will make at a later date, after my supervisor has okayed the plot.

It will probably be in third person just so the point of views don't get all muddled. Also because I always do the first person so it might be nice to try something new. Third person allows you to explore more and not just be stuck in the character's head.

So there were some hints about my new idea. I'll post it later this month along with a character profile sheet about the new Lenore and maybe the other characters too.

Reading Questionnaire for Teenagers - The Results

I took my teen reading questionnaire (which everyone should do!) to my local community college and had some of the kids in the library fill it out. Now I've turned the results into some funky graphs. I'm going to get more questionnaires filled out at a later date, as the school has now closed for the summer holidays.
On another note, but not totally unrelated, I am having second thoughts about my ECP idea, it turns out that a lot of teens like fantasy and mine isn't very fantastical. In fact, the more I think about it, the more boring it becomes. Anyway, enjoy these results first and I will be posting some other ECP plot synopses soon.

Reading Questionnaire for Teenagers

Here is a questionnaire I've come up with as part of some research for my dissertation. It's to see what teenagers are interested in reading. I am planning on going to my old school and handing it out to a couple of students but in the meantime I thought I would post it here and see what you guys are interested in. I would prefer teenagers/young adults to fill this out but if you're older and still want to fill it out try and do so with a teenagers mindset.

So here we go!

Gender: Female     Male

Age:

I am a keen reader (choose one)…

Strongly Agree        Agree         Neither Agree or Disagree       Disagree      Strongly Disagree     

Favourite book/book series:

Favourite author:

Favourite genre (choose one):

Action/Adventure     Comedy     Horror     Romance     Mystery     Sci-fi     Supernatural/Paranormal Graphic Novel      Fantasy      Drama     Other (please state)

Least favourite genre (choose one):

Action/Adventure     Comedy     Horror     Romance     Mystery     Sci-fi     Supernatural/Paranormal Graphic Novel      Fantasy      Drama     Other (please state)

How do you decide on what to read?
Book cover     Blurb    Author     Recommended by a friend    Book reputation     Part of series    Saw the film adaptation     Other (please state)

Do you prefer reading books (choose one)…

In First Person (I)    or     Third Person (He/She/They)

In Past Tense     or    Present Tense

With Happy Endings     or    Sad Endings      or      Ambiguous Endings

With Male Protagonist      or     Female Protagonist  

Further Comments…

Character Profile Sheet - Lenore

Another character profile sheet, this time for my ECP character, Lenore. I find these sheets are great for developing characters and after filling this out I can't wait to write her story. My lecturer has suggested that Mr Usher is too 2D so I was thinking about doing a sheet for him as well to expand upon his character. I want to give him some background and make him more relatable, or at least make the readers understand what he did and why. 

Anyway, less about Mr Usher and more about Lenore. 

Character Profile Sheet

Basic
Name: Lenore Corvus

Gender: Female

Date of Birth: 19th of January 1995

Age: 17

Birthplace: Stoke Newington

Nationality: British

Social Class: My mum would probably want us to be middle or even upper but we’re just like most other people, simply working class.

Family

Parents & Siblings Names: My mum’s name is Madeline and my dad’s called Roderick. No siblings.

Family Background: Like I said, I’m a single child. My parents aren’t really into the whole children scene. Sure they love me but they kind of have to. They’re more interested in their jobs. Just because I’m a single child doesn’t make me spoilt or anything. I probably had to work harder to get their attention; I swear sometimes as a kid they even forgot about me while they went off to work. My parents met through their jobs. My mum is a stage actress, well was. She’s not a massive star but she’s perfectly happy where she is. She says she never wants to go into TV or film because she considers them ‘fake and require no talent’.  Whatever.

My dad’s a writer, he writes a column in Curtain Up magazine. He does theatre reviews; see how this is working out? So one day he goes to review one of mum’s shows and it’s love at first sight. Well, according to my parents it is. But you know what parents are like; just make up anything to shut kids up. Anyway, my mum doesn’t do any acting anymore. She’s really ill. She suffers from catalepsy. It’s pretty obscure. It basically means that your muscles go really stiff and you barely breathe. It makes you appear dead. When mum collapsed on stage that’s what everyone thought she was. Dead, I mean. That was the first of her cataleptic attacks. Now all she does is sleep or rest. She’s lost loads of weight and everything. Dad cares for her around the clock. He barely writes any more. I’ve notice that his hair is starting to go grey, a clear sign of stress.

Marital Status: Not married.

Children & Ages: No children.

Pets: Sadly, no. I always wanted a pet. But if I thought my parents didn’t have time for children they certainly don’t have time for animals.

Physical Appearance

Height: Average 5 ft 6in.

Weight: Well, haven’t weighed myself lately but last time I checked it was like 9 stone something. That’s average, right?

Hair Colour: Black like my mum’s. I usually have the fringe clipped back because it always gets in the way no matter how I have it cut or styled. People always think I colour my hair black, that my natural hair colour must be blonde like my dad’s. Not true.

Eye Colour: Light blue like my dad’s. Sometimes I think it makes me look spooky. Dark haired people usually have dark eyes too, not bright blue ones.

Tattoos or Piercings: Nope. Even though my parents don’t pay much attention to me I think they’d flip if I ever got a piercing or tattoo. Maybe not if it was just my ears pierced. But anything else, definitely not.

What do they sound like: What do I sound like? I guess I must have an accent though I’ve never noticed it. But now I’ve moved to the countryside maybe it will become more obvious. You know, a Stoke Newington accent compared to a farmer’s, must sound pretty strange.

Typical Outfit: I’ve never really been into fashion. My mum always says I’m a pain when it comes to clothes shopping. But she’s a complete fashionista. Clothes are practically everything to her, which is a shame because nowadays all she wears is a cotton nighty and dressing gown. If she was more aware of what was happening I’m sure she would be embarrassed to be seen. Anyway, what I wear? Let’s just say I’m your average Topshop or H&M teen – jeans and t-shirts.

What would you find in their pocket/handbag: Well, I only ever use one bag, one I got from Topshop years ago. I probably should get a new one but it’s been so good to me. When I go out I have my purse in there, along with my keys, and phone. I always keep some plasters, paracetamol, lip balm, tissues, and a pen in there, though. Because you never know what could happen while you’re out. That’s quite a mumsy thing to say, isn’t it?

Any Other Info:

Accommodation

Where do they live (City, Countryside): I used to live in the Stoke Newington but we have recently moved to a town called Ravensborough on the edge of Nevermoor, down in the South West. So, basically, the middle of nowhere.

Living Arrangements (House, Shared, Rented): The house we’re living in is rented, and dead cheap, as my dad keeps going on about. It’s a massive creepy manor, The House of Usher. It use to belong to the wealthiest family in Ravensborough but now the only living member lives on the other side of town in a more modern place. Can’t blame him really.

Do they share it with anyone: Just my parents, though it has rooms for like another eight people.

What is their home like: I wouldn’t consider it home just yet. It’s falling apart and totally old. Like I said, can’t blame the Ushers for wanting to get away from it, I would too if I could.

How do they get around: Ravensborough isn’t exactly big, only like two miles across so everything is in walking distance. This is good because I don’t think my dad would give me a lift anywhere any time soon. I don’t think there is any good public transport either; I’ve only seen one bus stop. So I won’t be leaving Ravensborough at all.

  

Personal Information
Hobbies or Pastimes: I like doing a good crossword or word puzzle. When I’m bored I go to the local newsagents and buy one of those cheap puzzle books. I haven’t been to the newsagents here yet, I hope it’s a good one. I also like the normal stuff, too, like hanging out with friends, going to the cinema, the internet. Though we don’t have an internet connection here yet so I better find a newsagents quickly.

Favourite Films: Tricky, you know? I don’t have a particular favourite right now. I guess, genre wise, I like thrillers and horrors. You know what; my guilty pleasure is actually Paranormal Activity, pretty bad, right? My mum is always annoyed at me for liking films more than her plays. It’s nothing to do with her acting; I just find theatres really dull. I don’t dare tell her that.

Favourite Books: I really like Dan Brown books, particularly Angels & Demons. Films are bit naff though; I don’t see Tom Hanks getting hot babes in real life.

Favourite Album: Music? Girls Aloud, are they still popular? That’s the last album I bought anyway.

Favourite TV Programme: Again, mum doesn’t like TV so we rarely watch it. Though, I did catch that new Sherlock Holmes programme; that was good.

Favourite Sport and Team: Sports? Geez. Don’t get me wrong I know about sports but I’ve never been interested in it. So I’m gonna pass on this one.

Favourite Food: M&Ms, easy. They do count as food, right?

Favourite Drink: Pepsi, not Coke. Controversial.

Favourite Colour: Blue.

Perfect Weekend: I would love to go to the cinema and have a meal out with my parents. But good luck getting my mum to watch a film. It’s not been made any easier now that she’s sick.

Ideal Holiday Destination: Not the countryside that’s for sure. Maybe some European country, I’ve always wanted to go to Prague, don’t know why, it just appeals to me.

Personality

Best Point: How can you really say your best point without sounding totally big headed? I’m going to say my forgiving personality…Ha, no. Okay, my patience with my family. That will do.

Worst Point: Dad says I’m too much of a daydreamer. I’m not daydreaming though, just thinking.

Mannerisms: I don’t notice them at all, really. Who does? I bite my nails though, my mum hates it and always makes me wear that nail biting stuff, it tastes gross but I’ve kind of got used to it now.  

Morals: Don’t harm animals, don’t sleep around, and don’t do drugs, the usual junk.

Fears: My mum dying.

What is the thing that worries them most: At the moment, I worry that mum will never get better. Her doctor prescribed fresh air and rest but how can that really help, honestly?

What do they look forward to: Equally, I look forward to when she’s better, for two reasons. Firstly, because I want her to be healthy again. Secondly, so we can move back to the city.

Temperament: I would say that I’m pretty patient, I rarely yell or anything. I can be stroppy at times, but then again, what teenager isn’t?

Have they lost anything important to them: I once lost my favourite teddy bear, Rumple Ted, at a holiday camp, does that count? I’ve been relatively lucky and not lost anything too important. But things can change.

What do they hate most: Right now, this bloody house. I don’t usually get scared but I really can’t stand this house at night. I hear some really weird noises coming from the attic, but when I go up there during the day I can’t see a thing. Not to mention the bizarre mark on my ceiling, I swear it looks just like the shape of a body. It gives me major creeps.

What is most important to them: Naffly, I’m going to say family. It’s all I have. I have no friends or anything in Ravensborough. It’s pretty lonely.

What are their obsessions: Obsessions are for weird people. But I suppose the closest thing I have to an obsession is my love for M&Ms. Mmmm.

Do they have an ambition: I’ve never told anyone about this before but I one day hope to be a critic like my dad. Not a theatre one, I just don’t know what for yet. I would never tell dad though, it’s too gushy. It would be really embarrassing. He’d probably hug me and be proud. Please.

What do they dream about: Lately I don’t dream. I only have nightmares. I blame the house. It’s too spooky. A dream analyser would probably say it’s my inner me worrying about my mum, but I know it’s the house and all the weird noises.

What are their secrets: Apart from the ambition thing, not much. There is nothing that I know that needs to be kept a secret. Well, one time I did steal a packet of sweets, I never told anyone about that. But I was only five or something. That’s understandable.

Do they believe in religion or life after death: I’m leaning more towards ghosts these days. I mean, in this house how can you not? I’m sure there are loads of skeletons in the closet, figuratively and literally.

Do they get on with other people or avoid them: I try to get on with other people. At my old school I had a nice group of friends and I was happy with that. But now it’s going to be awkward. I guess we’ll see if people avoid me or not on Monday, my first day at a new school.

Who do they love: No one, sadly.

Has their heart ever been broken: Nope, is that sad or not?

Do they have a best friend or someone they can confide in: I used to, Annabel Lee, she was best friend at Stoke Newington. But not anymore. Not because we fell out but because I had to move. I still like her but let’s face it, long distance relationships never work out. 

Did they have a happy childhood: Relatively, I think a sibling may have made it better. Overall, I can’t complain. 

What were they like in their childhood: A good, quiet little child. I haven’t really changed much actually.

When were they happiest: I will be happiest when we move away from this Godforsaken place.

Education

Schools attended: I was at Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form. On Monday I will be starting my first day at Manor House College, sounds great. I hope there are no bitchy girls, yet I get the feeling that there probably is. They’re everywhere. It’s a relatively small school, much smaller than my old one, at least. Less than one thousand students probably.

Current year/grade: Just started A-Levels a couple of months ago. I’m studying Biology, English Literature, Psychology, and at my parent’s insistence, Drama.

How well are they doing: Well, I did great at GCSE’s and doing well at Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form, so hopefully that will continue through to my A-Levels at Manor House College, too.

Favourite Subject: English, it has reading, what more could you want?

Most Hated Subject: It used to be physics; I just didn’t get all the formulas and sciency bits. It was mind boggling. Luckily, I don’t have to do it anymore.