BY ERIC WHITE
I was a writer and illustrator long before I knew I wanted to be those things. The first story I put pen to page on was revealed to the rather small world of my grade school in Sesser, Illinois. I cannot remember which teacher read the five-to-six- page story in the library–showing my illustrations with each turn of the page to the circle of childhood critics sitting in front of her–but I do remember her being somewhat proud of my creativity.
The story was called “The Boobaloops”. These were my first imaginings. They were thumb-shaped creatures with wide noses and long eyes, antennae on top of their rounded heads, and feet shaped like the rounded-edge Legos® they have nowadays. They lived in underground tunnels beneath a magical oak known as “The Wisdom Tree”.
I do not have the story anymore, and I cannot recall the entire gist of the tale. It was mostly about whom they were and where they lived. A triangular critter with bulbous eyes, feathered wings, and a halo named “Ace Angle” helped them in some way that is now lost to me. (I would like to say that the name was misspelled on purpose–triangles having angles and all–but it was just a happy coincidence.)
What are not lost to me even to this day are those initial creations, my first characters. Often when I am brainstorming, I end up doodling their unique forms along the edges of whatever paper is in front of me. They were–are–special to me not only for this, but because they were my first playmates. Back then, I had more imaginary friends than real ones. Some may say this is still the case. I’ll let you, dear Reader, decide that one for yourself.
I remember those creations. I also remember being upset that my story was being read. I ran off to the restroom and cried. This fact was brought back to my attention at my twentieth high school reunion by a classmate. He told me this was what he remembered about me the most in grade school. Every writer is pleased when he makes a lasting impression on a reader, even if it was due to a total meltdown.
Why was I so upset? Part of the answer was that I was painfully too-shy-shy, (hush-hush), and all that. Opening up myself like that was torture to me back then.
The other–and perhaps more truthful part of the answer–was that I didn’t want to lose my make- believe friends. These were my creations. I shaped their world with pure out-of-the-blue-sky imagination. I knew them, and they knew me. And once I let them out to go play in other minds, I feared they may never come back to me.
I think all authors hold onto that first draft in some way. The first draft, the one that comes straight from your head and onto the page, feels so true and right. You want to hold onto it, to spare it from the red pen and the two- or (gasp! Say it isn’t so!) one- star reviews. The first draft is the story as you found it, and like all treasures, you don’t want to wake up one day and find it has been stolen away.
In the childhood naiveté that has helped more than hurt me, I have submitted my first drafts here and there, and have been blessed to have some of them published, including a short story “Birth Pains” that is included in Xchyler Publishing’s dragon anthology ‘Forged in Flame”. Through this I have learned the joy of letting my stories out into the world.
If you are a new author like myself, I do not think you could do any better than placing your darlings and that first draft masterpiece into the capable hands of the editing staff at Xchyler Publishing. They take the time to learn your voice. They wrap themselves in your story. They are tough, and when you get that initial edit back in red you might cringe. But when you and they are finished with the journey, you will find your story intact, the themes of the tale clear and telling, the content polished and proven. My story came out a thousand times better thanks to the editors at Xchyler.
Let your darlings out. They do come back, sometimes with new stories to tell.
Eric White’s “Birth Pains” can be found in Forged in Flames: a Dragon Anthology by Xchyler Publishing. Follow Eric White’s Land of Make Believe on Facebook and Twitter.
Eric’s world of make-believe finds expression in his children’s books, poetry, songs, and growing collection of fantasy/paranormal short stories. He currently oversees construction as his first novel, One Running, the initial installment of his paranormal fantasy series Walking the Quay, wrestles its way out of his imagination and onto the printed page.