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They say everyone has one really good story inside them, and I think I've just written mine.


I don't know what prompted me to write this story, as I've never even attempted to write fiction before. I think it's because I've been very nostalgic lately (us old farts sometimes do that), and ever since then, a story has been kicking around in my head. Finally, I just said "fuck it" and poured it all out onto paper.

It's a young-adult, coming-of-age love story about a seventh grader (named Patrick... I know, I know) who has been bullied for years. He meets, becomes acquainted with, and eventually falls for, a girl in his class, a popular girl named Eve. The two end up not only changing each other's lives, but the entire complexion of the school they attend. It's told in the first person, from the main character's point of view.

A lot of it is based on events from my own childhood, though I did have to embellish and augment a lot of it for the sake of drama. All of the characters are based on people from my youth (with two exceptions, Eve being one of them).

I consider most of you guys friends, and though none of you would be the target audience for this story, I would value the opinion of anyone who wants to read it. Given the age of the characters, I tried to make the love story as sweet and innocent as possible. (The word "sex" appears nowhere in the text, and the romance never goes beyond basic kissing.) The story is a little derivative, melodramatic in places, and predictable as hell, but I"m very proud of it.

I would value any opinions you might have, including any possible titles that I could give it. I haven't yet decided what I want to do with the story, if anything, so I would value your opinions on that too.

I have it on a Word document. It's 72 pages, about 40,000 words. Can't believe I cranked this out in a week. If you are interested, let me know, and I will e-mail it to you.

Congrats, shryke, it's a huge accomplishment! I don't have any time to read it in the near future but maybe sometime later.

Damn, that's novel length (and you must have used some small font).

I'm actually writing a novel myself. It was originally intended to be a series bible but ended up becoming a novel. Right now, I too am at 40,000 words (but it's 159 pages) but it won't be finished for a while.

Actually, I used a fairly big font (Arial 11), single-spaced.

Would you like to read it, Boosh?

I'll make sure to read it when I have some spare time. Message me the PDF.

And the single space would explain why it's only 72 pages. My novel is double-spaced (and with 12-point Times New Roman).

Buscemi wrote: Message me the PDF.

Can't I just e-mail you the Word document? That would be easier...

Yeah, I guess so.

Email me too, I'd love to read it.

DAMN 40,000 words in a week? That's IMPRESSIVE.

Banks, Boosh, I e-mailed you a copy.

Look forward to your input.

I finished reading the story and messaged my comments.

That's amazing, Shryke. Send it on to me, but give me some time as I'm holidays and will have a lot to catch up on at work.

I wanted to publicly thank Boosh for his input. It's been invaluable.

I am going to look into what steps I need to take to possibly get this novel published.


Since most of the characters in my story are based on actual people, I am unsure whether I should change them (or not), as I used the ACTUAL names of the people from my childhood. I am also considering whether or not I should adopt a pseudonym if by some miracle I do get it published.

If you can get the actual permission or if they don't care, go ahead. Otherwise, play the safe route and go with pseudonyms to protect the innocent.

Across the board?

You read it, Boosh. The only two main characters (that were kids) that I gave last names to (Eve and Kelsey) were completely fictitious. Everyone else I identified only by their first name.

I actually did have a science teacher named Mr. Tayerle, but he passed on many years ago. Every other grown up that I gave a name to, I made up.