During the fall semester this year, I took an online class about fantasy writing and some of J.R.R. Tolkien's lesser-known works. The assignment at the end of the class was for each student to write their own Faerie story. Now that I've finished mine up, I'd like to share it on here. I have the file in two formats, as a .pdf and as a .docx document. You should be able to open either file on any computer, but if you are unable to open the file or would like it in another format, please tell me in the comments.
My tale is set in the usual realm of the Faerie-tale, a place mostly like England in the medieval period, with a few anachronisms added in for interest and because they flowed nicely into my narrative. There are the standard evil wights in the forest, and the hero is, as so often, unlikely. I make no claims to originality, but I will say for myself that I love words and writing, and very much enjoy the creative process. I think I did a decent job on this story, and can recommend it to you. Wait—that's a lot of talking about my writing. Show, don't tell, is a piece of advice given to aspiring authors much more often than they forget it, so I might as well follow that injunction. Instead of just telling, let me show to you the hero of this story as he is described in the opening paragraph.
His very prosaic name was Thomas Greene, and his very prosaic self was a farmhand, and—I cannot for the life of me understand how he was chosen to be mixed up in such things. But mine is but the post of chronicler, to record faithfully what is done and question not. Still, even with all that is was against him, for his hands were large and his bearing undistinguished and his boots deep in the farmyard mud, he loved tales of adventure; and had the choosing been his he would have been the bonniest knight in shining armor that ever drew sword from sheath. Also he had an “e” at the end of his name, and knew to be proud of it, and his dog was named Galahad. These things, perhaps, cover a multitude of offenses.
To find out what happens to the farmhand named Thomas Greene when he becomes lost in the woods at night, finds himself trapped in the aforesaid gloomy forestland by a magical hedge, and begins an adventure such as he has only dreamed of (in day-dreams, as Narnia readers know to be very different from night-dreams), read the story!
You can download the .pdf file here.
And you can download the .docx file here.
Great story, Emma!
The plot was well sequenced with well designed suspense. I was really caught up in the trip to retrieve the girl. Your faerie tale was true to form!
😊😊😘