This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
I was sorting out old boxes of paper and schoolbooks the other day when I found a notepad full of stories I had written around the ages of eleven and twelve. The back pages were filled with potential character names (Evan, Logan, Crystal and Lila were the favourites) and the front pages with stories and illustrations of the characters. I wrote these stories for myself in between library trips when I had read most everything in the house – I was a commerical fiction nut back then too (Sweet Valley High, Judy Blume, Point Horror) and my older sister's classics (Black Beauty, The Secret Garden, Oliver Twist) didn't cut it.
Here are two book ideas I found on a page called Ideas for Stories
The Painting
A girl moves house and finds a painting and hangs it up. The painting is creepy and things move.
The Doll's House
A girl gets a doll's house for birthday mum/dad buy it from weird shop. Everything that happens in doll's house happens in girl's house too.
Clearly, I had been reading some Goosebumps at the time.
I found another couple of stories – one was called The Girl Who Always Got Her Own Way. Check out the beginning, you will see I have always been a fan of the first paragraph bombshell.
"It was a sunny day in April and Emma Milson was very happy. Her mum had just shouted her to tell her she was going to foster a girl of Emma's age called Gillian Benson. She had just received a letter saying,
'Dear Mrs Milson it has been confirmed that my daughter Gillian is to be fostered as I am due to go on a business trip to America. I am to arrive tomorrow so Gillian is to arrive this afternoon at approximately 3 o' clock.
Thankyou
Mrs Stella Benson."
Gillian turns out to be posh and evil and bullies Emma when no-one is looking. Here is a picture I drew of Gillian and Emma (including a list of accessories such as 'bobble' and 'earrings' beside each girl).
The next story I found is a good example of writing out of frustration. I remember my mother had told me to tidy my room and I rebelled by not tidying my room but instead writing a story about a girl tidying her room. I was reading a lot of Judy Blume at the time so there is a nice American spin on the whole thing. I'll leave you with it.
If you are thinking of getting my book, I feel I must assure you that I have improved considerably since 'A Bedroom Accident'.
I'd love to know what your first ever book/story was about. Please tell me in the comments -I can't be the only dweeb around here!
P.S The protag in YOURS TRULY is also called Natalie and the protag of the book I was writing before that was called Emma. I need to find some new names. I'm thinking Crystal would be good for the next book…
A Bedroom Accident by Kirsty Greenwood aged 11
"Natalie, your room is a total mess, get it tidied."
"O.K Mom, I'll do it tomorrow"
"No you won't! You'll do it now"
Natalie sighed. She hated tidying her bedroom. She was the one sleeping in it. It looked more homely and more like Natalie herself the way it was. She slumped her shoulders and slowly walked up the stairs. She pushed open the door to her bedroom and looked around. There were clothes scattered everywhere. Her once neat and tidy desk was covered with paper, pens and books. The books on her bookshelf were no longer beautifully set out in size order with the titles faceing forward but now just a pile of books scattered around in any old way.
"Maybe it is a bit untidy" Natalie thought and started on her desk.
She put her waste papers in the bin and her pens in the desk tidy. She carried her books over to her bookshelf and kneeled knelt down in front of it. She started sorting the books out when suddenly the bookshelf came crashing down on top of her head with a bang. Natalie's head hit the floor and there was no sign of life in her body.
***
"Will she be okay?" Natalie's mom asked the doctor. "It's not too bad is it?"
"There's no way of telling yet. We'll do some tests. All we now is that it was a bad bang that knocked Natalie unconscious. Tomorrow you'll be able to see her."
The next day came and Natalie's parent's were in the hospital room.
A look of pain was struck across Natalie's pretty face. She was a popular girl 12 years of age She had shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes.
"She's such a lovely child" sobbed Mrs Henson "Nothing could ever happen to her!"
Mr Henson comforted her and looked down at the floor.
"Mom, Dad…" Said a voice.
"Natalie?" Mr Henson cried. "Natalie, can you hear me?"
There was no answer.
"Natalie, Sweetheart it's me…Mom." Mrs Henson said hopefully.
Natalie groaned.
"My head hurts. What happened?"
"You've hurt your head, dear. It's a nasty bang but you'll be alright. I never should have told you to tidy your room."
Natalie's eyes gently fluttered open and then a look of utter despair came over her face.
"Mom, Dad, I can't see, what's happened I can't see"
"Oh no" said cried Mrs Hensonand rushed for the doctor. Mr Henson followed after her,
The Doctor soon came in.
"Natalie" he said. "I'm afraid you have had a severe loss of sight. I'm afraid there is nothing we can do here but there is an operation in America but it is also very expensive and it will be quite a long time until funds can be raised for you to go there. You will be let out tomorrow. I'm very sorry."
With that the doctor walked out.
The End.