The Classics

So, I'm taking this writing class from 'The Novelry' on the classics, and I must say, I'm impressed. It's a 45 lesson class, and I'm 75% of the way through. I have learned so much and am so appreciative of this class.

I'm was not a 'classics' kind of girl in my early reading years. I never really got into Peter Pan, Narnia, The Hobbit, The Little Princess, The Princess and The Goblins, or Alice In Wonderland. However, I did see the Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland movies. That was about it. I remember thinking Alice In Wonderland was one of the freakiest movies I had ever seen and was not watching it over and over again like some of my childhood friends did, believe me. I'd also seen The Hobbit play when I was young and was so bored that I thought it wise to spit on the people below me as we were in the balcony. Yes, a crappy thing to do, but I was insane with boredom—though I wish I could apologize to the people I did this to. Plus, my dyslexia and ADHD got in the way of reading, as I have mentioned before. Some of the classics are written in old English, and that just did not compute in my brain at all. I mean, I was barely hanging on to regular English as it was.

I had to read 'The Odyssey and thought I would lose my mind trying to get through this book in school. There were probably many more books we had to read for school, but I only remember this one in particular because it is considered a classic.

To say I never appreciated the classics is an understatement until now. This class has taught me how to write magical fantasy, much like the classics have been written—especially children's classics—it has also taught me how appreciating the classics is incredibly necessary to help you become a better writer. 

I have now read The Little Princess, The Secret Garden, The Princess and The Goblins, The Princess and Curdie, and I plan to read the Narnia series when I can find the time. There are a ton more classics, and although I may never get around to reading all of them, I have a new appreciation for our classic writers. 

This class has been the catalyst for an idea I have on a young adult fantasy book, which is way out of the way of my usual style. Now, if I can just find the time to sit down and start writing it, that would be something.