The Silver Quill

Claps

I was a mess when I wrote it originally. There are all sorts of personal issues tied up in this one.

The workshop I wrote it for had a strong reaction. At the suggestion of my professor, and writing mentor, I declined to answer the "abortion or miscarriage" question for the group. But that professor will forever be dear to me for letting me talk out the motivations behind this piece while we polished it from the more raw initial draft into this.

OMG. This made me tear up.

I need to see if I can find the others. I liked writing that bartender.

Supernatural.

More good writing, Theresa. I might have to start saving this stuff.

Nifty.

They like the familiarity of Molly Weasley;s antics.

Possibly. But they also like consistancey and for things to make a certain amount of sense. When the first book came out, Shannara was in the targeted age bracket and she wanted to know what was up with that. Years later when I finally got Josh to read them, he and Shannara were talking about it later and even he thought it "Smelled like a set-up." Of course, he may watch too much James Bond.

Harry's childhood and home life are meant to be evocative rather than rational.

It's scary, is what it is. Harry is an abused child. What we see in the first book is bad enough. How they continue to treat him as the series progresses is horrid and frightening for the children these books were supposed to be aimed towards. The books would not have been offered on the shelves of La Petite.

I think some of the things you address in this post are for the benefit of the readers. They like the familiarity of Molly Weasley;s antics. Harry's childhood and home life are meant to be evocative rather than rational.

As far as the number of friends, just to take one of your many excellent points--that's to keep it simple for the readers. Too many primary characters can make a novel difficult, especially for young readers. And so Harry just has two friends in the end, although that circle has slowly widened over the books.

I have given my own thoughts
on my own blog.

http://www.skyseastone.net/jvstin/unjvst/006442.html