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SquirrelMaster0282
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SquirrelMaster0282
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Nomad

Hop you like it I will be writing it in chapters.

I Was Left Behind

Author Jacob A.K.A SquirrelMaster0282

Ch. 1 The Journey

My name is Jacob I'm thirteen about six feet tall and thin. I have brown hair and eyes to match. I woke up it was Friday and my three brothers were going snowboarding. Cody was eighteen Mikey was seventeen and Brandon was twelve. We said are goodbyes and they left.
I decided to watch some TV when the most scary thing that could have possibly happened did, there was a news warning that popped up on the screen, it said. "APOCALYPSE, THE CHRISTIANS PREDICTED IT AND NOW THEY ARE GONE LISTS OF CASUALTIES WILL APPEAR AT TEN THIRTY A.M."
They didn't need to tell me my brother was a full on Christian and was at the wheel. I new that if he was gone they would have fallen of of the side of the pass. I was alone.

I decided to call someone I hadn't talked to for almost a year. Someone I had been friends with for years before I moved. Her name was Sarah. I new that she liked me from the moment we met I just didn't show it. I called and the phone rang three times before someone answered. Her little brother picked up the phone crying "Who is this." "Its me," I said. "Mom's gone," he replied still sobbing. "calm down is Sarah there," right when I said that I heard the phone moving and heard her voice. "Jacob?" "Yeah." "You're not gone?" "No I guess we were both left behind.... Look I'm coming over." "What! you live like two hundred miles away and you don't know how to drive. Even if you did there's still to much traffic." "I'll ride my bike, see you in two weeks goodbye." I hung up.

I wasn't sure what I was thinking it just felt right so I packed. I went into Cody's room and grabbed his hiking back pack and sleeping bag. I grabbed twenty granola bars, a gallon of water, A small tent a pot, a small burner, a map, some cloths, and two weeks worth of oat meal. By one O'clock I was off.

I biked and navigated about fifteen miles over the rest of that day and set up camp in some trees on the side of the road. I figured that if I kept a steady pace of twenty miles a day I would be there in about thirteen more days. I looked at my food supplies I had only eaten one granola bar and about one fourth of my water. I made some oat meal ate it and went to bed.

Chapter two coming soon in case anyone reads this.

  • 11 Replies
Cenere
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Jester

Question:
Do you want constructive criticism, or are you just sharing?
It's always good to make that clear before any further comments occur.

SquirrelMaster0282
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SquirrelMaster0282
454 posts
Nomad

Oh yeah thanks Cenere I welcome criticism

Dewi1066
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Dewi1066
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Nomad

Oh yeah thanks Cenere I welcome criticism


And do you want criticism on the spelling, the grammar or the content of the story?
Cenere
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Cenere
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Jester

Good enough, I will start lightly on topics that the grammar and spelling people won't jump at, then.
(Mainly because I don't want to criticise you on something I could do worse myself.)

My name is Jacob I'm thirteen about six feet tall and thin. I have brown hair and eyes to match. I woke up it was Friday and my three brothers were going snowboarding. Cody was eighteen Mikey was seventeen and Brandon was twelve. We said are goodbyes and they left.

While this does act like a good introduction, I think you ought to part it up a bit more. First the introduction to the narrator, the part about his looks, preferably more on that to add to people's imaginations (if you have to do it, you need to do it right, eh).
Might also be more vague on the height, when the other descriptions are vague: I am thirteen years old, and tall for my age.
After that, you can start a new paragraph on what happened that morning. Him waking up, the brothers. Remember, what you mention either needs to lend itself to description or the story. It has to be somewhat important.
In this case, why would the brothers' ages be important, while they are given no further description?

APOCALYPSE, THE CHRISTIANS PREDICTED IT AND NOW THEY ARE GONE LISTS OF CASUALTIES WILL APPEAR AT TEN THIRTY A.M

It is bad practice to use all caps in a text like this. It disrupts the flow of the text and doesn't look particularly well.
Perhaps instead, you might be looking for:
A news warning popped up, stating in big, capital letters 'Apocalypse: The Christians predicted it[and so on]'
or
The scrolling banner with news caught my eye with its bold, larger than normal lettering: '[stuff]'.

Last thing for now will be that you probably ought to split up the dialogue into different lines. That way it is easier to read, understand who is talking, and you might be able to add on description and further dialogue:
Her little brother picked up the phone crying "Who is this." "Its me," I said. "Mom's gone," he replied still sobbing. "calm down is Sarah there,"

It was her little brother that picked up the phone. "Who is this?" He asked. I could hear he was crying.
"It's me." I said.
"Mom's gone." He said, still sobbing.
I hesitated, but had no real reply to this information. "Try and calm down." I paused for a moment more, before adding: "Everything will be alright. Is Sarah there?"

And so on, blahblahblah, all that.

It's an interesting concept, though, though I am unsure where you are coming from on this. Also good luck with that first person narrator. I have never had any real luck with it, but it usually works well for the people that are able to use it.
Dewi1066
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Dewi1066
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Nomad

If you ignore the spelling and the grammatical errors, the problem really lies in how believable it is as a story.

The problem is you've begun by describing 3 characters by age that will no longer feature in your story. You presume your eldest brother has had a car crash despite missing an explanation to why you would think that. And why would him being a Christian really have anything to do with it?

Second hole in the story is the news flash. When would you see a news flash like that unless it was on a local TV channel? And if that is the case, it should be mentioned because it puts the news story into some sort of perspective.

I'm assuming you have a crush in real life on Sarah which is why she features in your story, but the dialogue doesn't really make sense.

Listing the items that you are going to take with you isn't really necessary. It doesn't really add anything to the story.

Then the final paragraph. You've traveled an uneventful 15 miles, managed to pitch a tent and had something to eat but, considering the situation, why does it sound like you've just gone camping for fun? There is no impending doom, nothing to lead to the next chapter.

Sorry if this all sounds negative. You did ask.

Cenere
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Jester

You presume your eldest brother has had a car crash despite missing an explanation to why you would think that

Basically he is stating that the Doom's Day is real, and all Christians have ascended to Heaven, which leaves his younger brother alone in a car still in movement, as his older brother has ascended. And it seems doubtful Jesus is taking the wheel.
Which is also why this is flashing on a news channel. Assuming there are non-Christian journalists out there.

Listing the items that you are going to take with you isn't really necessary. It doesn't really add anything to the story.

Might be plot points or Chechov's guns.

There is no impending doom

Technically, the doom-part kinda already happened. Though I am unsure of the particular details about the Apocalypse, and from what I have heard, all the horror is either missing, or the above chapter is a silence before storm-thing.

I do however agree that the storytelling is lacking, but one can only take baby steps in pointing out what can be improved.
Dewi1066
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Dewi1066
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Nomad

Exactly, and if nobody points out the obvious, there can't be any progression.

My story telling isn't brilliant, just looking now to see if I can find something I wrote a few years ago.

Cenere
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Then again, you have to admit that it is a good concept for a story, especially if the Horsemen appear later on.
But, well, everyone has to start somewhere, and at least he had the mindfulness to allow CC of this, which means he desires to improve.
I have seen worse from people claiming they don't need to improve, and this isn't half bad.
It is just - lacking in certain aspects, that either come from a natural talent or a lot of practice. Or both.
And reading. Reading tend to help.

But, well, this isn't the place to discuss writing techniques and skills and what not, at least not without helping out the fellow. And, well, two much critique might blank out his mind for well-intended help and he will end up like those people cursing out someone for pointing out a little flaw, and we can't have that.
so, to end it off on a positive note again:

You do well, Squirrel. You need practice, but you have a good conceptual starting point for an interesting story. The rest will come later on.

Dewi1066
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Dewi1066
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Nomad

I agree, it is a good starting point. All it really needs is a more logical thought process to why things are happening and which characters need more descriptive explanations.

Constructive criticism works one of two ways, you either take it on the chin and learn from it, or you abandon your dreams because someone has an opinion on the internet that you've never met and probably never will.

Hopefully Squirrel you're reading this all as helpful and taking it on the chin. Agree with Cenere, it's a good concept and could turn out to be a good read.

SquirrelMaster0282
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SquirrelMaster0282
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Nomad

Thank you for the advice My real brothers think it's stupid that I'm trying to write so I have to wait till I'm alone.

I Was Left Behind

Author Jacob A.K.A SquirrelMaster0282

Ch. 1 The Journey

"Wake up!"
That was my brother, Cody.
"Come on you need to get up and feed the cat before we leave!"
"Fine I'll get up geese."
That was me, my name is Jacob Andrews. I'm tall, thin, have long arms, brown hair, and brown eyes. I live in a small town in Washington called Elkwood.
It was morning in the middle of winter, yet there was no snow, unless you went to the mountains which is what my brother was doing. Mom and Dad were gone so I decided to stay home and be king of the house for the day instead.
My brother eventually left and I was home alone so I started watching some TV. Suddenly the screen went blank and a warning sign came up with words coming across the screen. "Warning! The Christians were right and the rapture is here. Every Christian simply disappeared creating many car wrecks and eight plane crashed. a list of casualties will be shown at 10:30 AM and a speech from the president at 11:00 AM." I staid seated for about five minutes in shock from what I had just seen. What should I do? Should I call someone? Is any of my family still here. but the question that bugged me most of all was. Why was I left behind?
At about 10:30 I went to see the list of casualties in my area. They were in alphabetical order and I held my Breath when It came to Cs and there it was Cody Andrews. I sat there crying for a while Because my Mom and Dad were Christians. I never had a chance to really meet anyone over here, being home-schooled and being the only person in my neighborhood, besides Cody, that was under the age of thirty. So I forced myself to stop crying and called an old friend. Her name was Sarah. She was my best friend back in Grand Coulee.
"Hello," her little brother answered sobbing.
"Hi is your Mom home," I replied in the most calmed voice I could manage.
"She's dissapeared!" he said with his crying starting to get louder.
"Is Sarah still there."
As soon as I mentioned her name I heard the phone moving and about ten seconds later Sarah came on.
"Hello" She had been crying too but stopped when she answered.
"Hi . . . How's it going?."
"Honestly I don't know.I can't believe were actually orphans i mean so suddenly. I wish we didn't live so far apart, you're the closest thing to family I have left, besides Chris of course. I wish we didn't live so far apart."
"Well we don't have to"
"What do you mean?"
"Well I can bike the two hundred miles in about two weeks."
"What! why would you do that."
"Well my family's gone and your family's gone we might as well stick together."
"Okay, fine see you in two weeks I guess."
We hung up and I packed supplies I would need, grabbed my bike and left.
After about a half hour of biking I came across a car on the side of the road. It had two pairs of cloths in it but no people. I searched the car and ended up finding a wallet in the passenger seats pocket. there was about $80 in it so I took the money and rode off again. This must not have been a very popular rode because I didn't see anymore cars. Eventually it was sunset and I decided to set up my tent on the side of the road. I ate some food and went to bed.

SquirrelMaster0282
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SquirrelMaster0282
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Nomad

Dang it I saw an error right off the bat. oh well her's chapter two.

I Was Left Behind

Author Jacob A.K.A SquirrelMaster0282

Ch. 2 Rosetown and Robbers

I woke up with a pistol on my head. It's about the most uncomfortable way to wake up. "Stand up turn around and put your hands on your head," the man said. I did as I was told and saw who was robbing me. He was tall, wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and an intense look on his face.
"Okay. I don't want to shoot you but if you try to run then I will."
"Okay, you can have my wallet just please don't hurt me." I replied more scared than I've ever been in my life.
I took my right hand off of my head grabbed my wallet and tossed it to him purposely aiming for his face. When he fumbled to catch it I ran behind the closest tree I could find. It worked I wasn't dead he didn't even shoot. I peaked around the tree and saw him running awaywith my wallet. I guess he really didn't want to kill me.
I went over to my camp and packed my stuff up. Looking at my map I noticed that there was a small town about ten miles up ahead which was good because I only brought two days of food with me. I rode off and after a couple of hours eventually found myself at the town. The town was called Rosetown. The map was right it was small. It had one store one church and about twenty houses. I was surprised that it was even on the map in the first place.
I went into the store. There was nobody there. I looked around for food that would last me a while and eventually settled on a half a dozen mountain bars. I was about to leave when I noticed a shelf with knives. I smiled and grabbed one along with a flashlight and a lighter from the checkout. Before I left I also grabbed ten twenties out of the cash register.
I hopped back on my bike and rode over to the houses. they were conveniently all placed on the same street. I didn't find anything of use the houses. They looked like someone had already searched them. On the fifth house I was starting to get mad when I walked in because someone hod already searched hat one too. I decided to leave this town but before I made it to the end of the town I noticed a van with people loading things from the house into it. I realized that they were the ones robbing the houses but decided to leave them alone and left.
After riding for a couple more hours I stopped and set up camp in a clearing on the side of the rode. I laid down and said a little prayer before I went to sleep.

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