Because most philosophies that frown on reproduction don't survive.

Friday, August 09, 2013

Dragons, Spies, Changers, and Spy-Dogs

As I assemble papers from various corners of the house to put in files for our homeschool assessment tomorrow, I'm running across all kinds of forgotten gems. Here, the prologue of Eleanor's book (spelling slightly retouched):
Prologue 
At the ages of 9 and 10 I wrote a few books (two or three to be exact) but this book is different. This book is special. It is the first complete book I've written about things like dragons, spies, changers, and spy-dogs. It is the favorite book I've written so far. It is not one of those books that says "How once upon a time I met my uncle." and is finished. Nor is it one of those "call me 'Bill' or so-and-so" books that tells you to call the author some silly short or long name. It is a book that tells the story from everyone's point of view so no one is left out. I nearly had a complaint from one of the dogs the other day. He said that he was almost completely left alone in the story. So I said I'd change that. I nearly had to change half the book to make him happy. But I hope you like it. 
Chapter 1 
The Bun Gang 
The most annoying thing about moving into any neighborhood is that there is almost always a gang of some sort. Dog gangs are usually all right.
Alas, that's all she wrote, and now we'll never know about how the story was changed to satisfy the dog.

9 comments:

entropy said...

Love.

bearing said...

As I said on FB, the prologue reminds me of E. Nesbit.

Catholic Bibliophagist said...

Save the juvenilia -- so you can sell it on eBay after she becomes a famous author!

Enbrethiliel said...

+JMJ+

Just like one of those Orphaned Openings posts Darwin used to do.

Jenny said...

Here is the beginning of a story that Grace wrote. I found it cleaning last weekend. Original spelling:

One day Hayley and I were haveing a sleepover one Ester Eve. And I said did you hear that and she said yes and we shoud find what it is. So we were off.

And that's the end of the story.

So when does the spelling kick in when writing? Grace does very well on spelling tests, but in her independent writing, she misspells words that she can spell on tests.

Paul Zummo said...

So Grace was writing Finnegan's Wake? Cool.

The Opinionated Homeschooler said...

Eleanor has inspired Maeve. I think there may be a story in the mail before long. If she ever finishes her assigned composition, excitingly titled "On Dogs."

The Opinionated Homeschooler said...

By the way, how did she become prejudiced against Melville at such a tender age?

Josiah Neeley said...

This is a work of genius.