My son... the book writer II

Last time, I mentioned how I found Bryce's writing a book lenghth adventure as something I can be proud about. Well... consider this an update. No... the book is by no means done yet - I'd be surprised if it was, after all, this is basically happening in-between school time and other family activities (not to mention this week being their exam week - so that project should be on a temporary hiatus, at least, until exams are done).

But let me share something else that is happening with Bryce and his on-line friends. Apparently, he's not the only one writing... some of his friends are too... and they review each other's works - giving suggestions on how to improve certain things.

It seems that Bryce is likewise gifted in giving these type of comments to the point that some of his friends see him as a critic (in a positive sense) and someone who can give improvement points to their stories - it has even come to a point that some of his colleagues call him "Sir Bryce"; bestowing on him (knowingly or not) the seeming position - and experience of an editor, at least, with respect to content and story flow.

how about that? Wait'll I tell his Tita Bing about this one too.

My son... a book writer?

One particular Sunday night - actually, last Sunday evening, as I was about to lie down to sleep, my wife; Barbie, comes close to me, and in a conspiratorial manner, whispers that she noticed our son typing out in the PC... which would not be a real concern for her, after all, she knows he spends most of his free time in front of the PC - usually, with gaming intent.

She, however spotted something different... displayed at the wide, flat-screen of the PC, she spied pages and pages of MS Word created paragraphs... but what caught her fancy, and surprise was the fact that some of these pages had 'chapter titles' - the ones that we normally see in books.

Now this was new to her... after all, games may have something like this... but it would not be displayed or seen in that regaard. In fact, she saw him typing into these pages... he was writing something and this particular something was several chapters long. What was this?

Quite simple. My thirteen year old son was writing a book-like lengthy adventure that he had been imagining for some time now. His inspiration? The online game he was playing. His story? One made by his imagination. His characters? His avatar - and I would harbor to guess, the avatars of some of his game companions.

See... what was a surprise to her was basically something I knew was happening for some time now. Maybe Bryce was inspired by what he was playing, maybe he saw samples of such adventures written by others in the game forum he would frequent... but to write? Where did this impetus come from?

I may be to blame. After all, I had, at one time or another, showed Bryce some fan-fic that I had done for Avengers Forever. He naturally thought that if I could do it, why not him too? Ah... but consider - I'm 47... and started my first real Fan-fic a year ago. He's 13! Can you imagine... if he continues this interest, his skills will grow and maybe he'll have a published book before his 18th birthday - who knows?

So this was what Barbie was whispering to me... she could not believe, and had to ask me if what she saw Bryce doing was just exactly that - seemingly writing a book. And yet, the concept of her son writing anything was new... a book length story, was even more surprising. She was evidently curious, and asked him what he was writing about... but I guess Bryce was a bit too busy, or uninterested to answer. Maybe he felt (and this is pure speculation on my part) that she might not think too high of his work. Bryce, after all, is rather reserved and private. I can reach out to him - and maybe he sees me as able to understand - and possibly appreciate what he's doing... he may not be too sure about his mom.

I'll see what I can do to bridge this seemign gap, and hope Barbie gets a chance to let Bryce explain his work... and when he does... show appreciation for it. After all, how many 13 year olds do you see writing a book like adventure? Maybe he hasn't been the first - but he surely is the youngest in our family to do just that. I mean, my sister - Bing bing has the capacity to write, I know she came up with a children's story at one time; but aside from her... no one in the family has exhibited such an interest to write - then write... and to do so at an early age? Unheard of... at least, with my family.

This interest is obviously something Bryce has taken time to do... and to think that he just naturally came up with the thought and started writing (or in this case, typing his story).I hope he can sustain the interest. I'd be real curious to see the refined version of his current work.

Meanwhile, I'll just let him type away... and by the way, I've been given permission to read his work, and he's even asked me to edit it. I confess I've yet to do so. Guess when I find more free time, that is what I will do. Maybe it won't get published in a physical sense - but who cares? I'd just as soon see it placed in a blog of his own.

To think... at an early age, Bryce has started to surpass me... at least, in writing. Hot damn! It may not make him rich (not yet anyway), but I can't help but feel a sense of pride in this accomplishment that he's done - and hopefully, continue to do so. As he continues with his work, I shall keep a keen eye - and when he finally gets to post it, I'll make sure to place a link of his work to this article.