So I’ve been writing a short novel recently and I thought I would share the first chapter. I feel like saying IT GETS BETTER, because I’m writing Chapter 12 now and so much has happened, so please give me feedback so I know if any of you guys would like to read the other chapters. I don’t know what category I would put this novella into, I guess it’s similar to books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Catcher in the Rye, The Curious Incident Of the Dog In The Nighttime, so if you like those sort of novels you may enjoy this. Just please give it a read and tell me what you think, I care about this story a whole lot.
Noodle Panda
By Alexandra Harrison
Chapter 1
“Idiot.”
Silence.
“How in God’s name did you manage it Lenny?”
“I don’t know,” I said through gritted teeth. My words were muffled by my large hands, which obscured most of face, covering hard worn cardboard skin, scarred by acne that troubled me many moons ago.
The room was mostly dark. Crepuscular light spilled in through the kitchen window and Kate’s reading lamp gave off a thin splatter of light that illuminated four lifestyle magazines and half a ham sandwich. The dust particles in the air were glowing like fireflies and a thin trail of smoke danced in the air from Dan’s cigarette.
“Do you care about anything Lenny? Do you even give a damn?” said Dan, his cigarette wobbled between his dry lips as he spoke.
“No I don’t care about one damn thing,” I said, looking up at Dan with a sick humour in my voice.
“How are we going to tell Kate? Did you even think about her when you did it Len? Do you ever think about her?”
“I always think about her,” I replied quietly.
Dan gave one note of breathless laughter, he smirked and continued.
“You’re funny Len.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t give a damn about that girl, if you did you wouldn’t have lost us our whole situation.”
I lit my cigarette and looked at my best friend with vague interest.
“We can’t survive on her wage, so you better enjoy that cigarette because it will be the last one in a long time”
“Where is she?”
“Who?” asked Dan, caught off guard from the sudden change in conversation.
“Kate, where is Kate?”
“Where she always is”
“She never goes this early”
“They called her in”
“They called her in? What! Was there some sort of emergency. Those poor men, how will they survive for a whole day without my lovely Kate? Bless their souls,” I said, my tone saturated in sarcasm. My cigarette tasted strange, but I carried on smoking.
“She wouldn’t have to do it if it weren’t for you, Len,”
“I hate it.”
“I know you do.”
“I hate it.”
Silence once more.
My cigarette tasted bad.
I flipped the table.
Smashed glass, sticky magazines, cigarette stubs and nail clippings all lay scattered across the wooden floor.
My arms were shaking with a ferocious excitement.
“Put a light on!” I shouted at Dan, as he pushed himself across the room and flicked the switch.
I crouched down on my knees and started to pick everything up. The glass scraped my skin and peeled off a few layers. Hot blood bloomed out of the cuts and I licked them with my tobacco stained tongue. I think I was crying, I know this because I had a migraine afterwards.
Dan made me a cup of tea and I sat down on the sofa. He sat in his usual chair.
“Len what are we going to do?” he said after a long period of silence, only disrupted by noisy slurps of tea.
“I have no clue. I mean I could get another job, but who is going to employ me? The last one was just a coincidence.”
“Nah mate, you earned it.”
“And now I’ve destroyed everything.”
“Yeah.”
I started to cry again.
This is GREAT. PLEASE POST MORE ALEX! I love the punchy, kinda stilted rhythm of it. x
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Thank you so much! xxx
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YAAAS your beginning is sooo intriguing!! I can’t wait for part 2!!!!! x
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Ahhh thank you and I might post it soon, I’m not sure :p
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You must!!! I’m soo interested to see what’s going to happen next! x
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Aw I will try too, I have written quite a lot of it already. I’m glad you are enjoying my stupid little book so far! x
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Hey well you liked my stupid little book too! But seriously, your writing style is so interesting. I love it! x
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You’re making me blush 😉 I definitely feel that I am developing a style as I’ve grown older x
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Well I’m loving your style 🙂 x
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That’s amazing, post more!!! Xx
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Aw thank you so much, I am glad you enjoyed it! xx
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WHAT WHAT HWAT- I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!! I HAVVE TO KNOW!!! Write more PLEASE <3!
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AHHHH AWW THANK YOU SO MUCH! X
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Wow!!! This is so good and I’m not just saying that!!! More please Alex!!
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Aw thank you so much, I’ll try!
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i would honestly love to read more chapters of your book if you don’t mind posting . it’s good , really good . reminds me of looking for alaska type of vibe with the cigarette and your style of writing . I like it a lot 😀
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I love Looking for Alaska, my writing is often influenced by those sort of books. And thank you so much for the support 🙂
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you’re very welcome 😀
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Well I am already intrigued to know what is going on. Keep writing.
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Thank you and I will! x
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this was so amazing! go to swoon reads when you finish writing and send them a manuscript and try and get this published because it is great! and if it is, I would like a signed copy sent to me please and thank you(:
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Most definitely a signed copy, this comment has literally made my day, the fact that like you literally think I could get this published is crazy and it makes me very happy?!
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I’m surprised that you DONT think it can be published! it’s great!
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Aw thank you so much *screams*
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Wow! Amazing!
I can’t wait to read more!
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Thank you! x
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Welcome!
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I LOVE THIS
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Ohmygod
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Like this is amazing I can’t wait to read more
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Ahhh thank you so much for your lovely comments, it gives me so much more confidience in this, I will probably post chapters 2 + 3 tomorrow xx
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I cannot wait! Xx
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! This is really good! I love it!!! You did an amazing job! xx
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Ahhh thank you so so much, I’m glad you enjoyed reading it?! xxxx
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That’s okay! It was really good! xx
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All I want to do is keep reading!!! I NEED MORE!!!!!
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It makes me SO happy to hear that, thank you so much for taking the time to have a read 🙂 !!!
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my pleasure 😀
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SO GOOD!!! If you don’t mind posting more I’d LOVE to read it!! 😀
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AHHHH thanks so much and hopefully!! 😀
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I love it! I want the next chapter now! You’re such an amazing writer! 🙂
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Thank you so much Jerrod, what you have just written means the world to me 🙂
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I suggest you write it on Tablo! tablo.io
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Thanks I’ll take a look 🙂
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Oooh I like it 🙂
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Hehe I’m glad!
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WOW…I have no words…I’m so glad your sharing this because it is AMAZING! You have such a great talent for writing!😄
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AHHH THANK YOU SO MUCH IT MEANS EVERYTHING YOU’RE AMAZING JUST FOR SAYING THAT
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I’m not saying anything that isn’t already true so there’s no need to thank me! And thank you!😊
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Aw you’re so lovely xx
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You are such a talented writer! Please keep writing maybe one day this will be more than just a hobby! Also, I mentioned you in my most recent posts where I thank some bloggers for their support, if you want to check it out! Congrats on the writing skills!
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Ah thank you so much, I can’t like thank you enough ❤ And I will most definitely check that out!
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I would TOTALLY read this. It sounds so intriguing!! If this ever becomes a book I promise I’m reading it right away 😀 KEEP GOING!!
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AHHH THANK YOU SO MUCH, this means the world! I’d love it to become a book, but I don’t think that will ever happen!
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Well, at least publish it online! We’ll support you and maybe even make riots and protests to make your book published just because we can.
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Yes, I’ll try my best to get some more chapters published tonight. And I would totally support a peaceful protest 😉 I’m looking into approaching a few smaller YA publishers if I get it edited properly, there’s a few things I would like to change, but I’ll keep them as they are for this blog.
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it’s absolutely my DREAM to get a book published, I hope you’ll make it happen!! Well I have come across the advice that you should not seek publishers before the book is completely and totally edited to perfection, you should also get an agent and some beta readers who are more experienced than you. I’m just letting you know to help, since of course I’ve never come close to even writing a book (I’m too… afraid, I guess). GOOD LUCK!
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Thank you for the and tips, I think I will give the manuscript to my Dad first, he has a degree in English and always supported me. Then hopefully he can like help be with the business side. That is if I think it’s good enough to be published after so much editing. You’re basically reading the draft. And go for it, if you want to write a book, do it, even if it’s just for yourself 🙂
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Ohh! I guess having someone who can offer help, constructive criticism and support is a huge push 😀 that’s awesome. And I hope I’ll do it one day!
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PART TWO PLEASE?
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It’s already written, hopefully I’ll have the time to post it 🙂
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It only takes a couple of minutes, you can do it!! GOOOOOOO
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hehehe
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A suspenceful start, makes you want to know who’s this Kate and what everyone’s on about! Keep writing x
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Thank you, I’ve written other chapters that you can check out if you like. Thanks for the feedback! x
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Don’t mention it! And that’s what I’ve been doing for the past half an hour! ;]
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