Creative Writing: What are Writers Reading?

WHAT ARE WRITERS READING?

"I annotate a lot now because if I reread the book later on in my life, then I can see, ‘Oh I pointed that out and that's what I thought about it,’ to see if my perspective has changed." Aislynn Gilmore, 11

“I'm a very nature oriented person, and when that's merged with creativity and a passion the unknown I get drawn in.” Aster Watson, 11

"Reading the monster's writing, I felt really connected to him. I thought it was really beautiful: the way that he wrote things down and all the emotion in it.” Jaelynn Johnson, 11

“Don’t just act on impulse before doing something. Think about the actions and consequences." Samantha Draper, 11

Johnson and Draper's ratings out of five stars

Lonely scientist, Victor Frankenstin, desires to exceed scientific expectations. He forms a living creature but is soon appalled by it’s looks that he leaves the creature in hopes for it to disappear. Still lingering around Victor, the scientist must take responsibility for the acts his creation makes. “I like very vividly detailed books where you can really imagine it, so I try my best to do that,” Johnson said.

Jaelynn Johnson (left) and Samantha Draper (right), Members

Frankenstein

Watson's rating out of five stars

Set in the late 1800s of Texas, twelve year old Calpurnia Tate is drawn towards the wonders of nature; and prefers the world of science over becoming a debutante. Through her discoveries, young Calpurnia notices green grasshoppers are easy to spot against the yellow grass, making them easily accessible to predators.“I continued reading fantasy books that were very nature oriented, and that's basically what got me started writing a lot of my characters. All of my characters live in a forest and appreciation of the little things really is one of my favorite things,” Watson said.

Aster Watson, President

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Gilmore's rating out of five stars

After taking one too many hits from his father, high school senior, Jason, knows how to take a punch. Once he turns eighteen, his plan is to take him and his sister away from their father. Jason then meets Micheal, a boy who pays Jason to hang out with him. With this money saved, Jason’s escape plan has a chance. The more the two boys hang out, the money grows and the stakes increase. “I often walk down the aisles in the library, then I read the title, and then if the title intrigues me, I read the back.”

Aislynn Gilmore, Vice President

Still Waters

Whether it be scrolling on a Kindle, or flipping the pages of a book, the Creative Writing club shares their must- read favorites. Thanks to juniors, president Aster Watson, vice president Aislynn Gilmore, and members Jaelynn Johnson, and Samantha Draper, they have shared their top books with Crimson readers with their additional comments and ratings. They discuss novels with genres varying from historical fiction to thrillers.

(From left to right) Aster Watson, Jaelynn Johnson, and Aislynn Gilmore