Narrator's Writing Journey and Influences

The speaker reflects on their writing journey, starting with a childhood story about a dragon named Herman. Encouraged by family, they continued writing through high school and college, where they encountered minimalist styles like Ray Carver's. Post-college, they explored more linguistically rich writing, influenced by authors like TC Boyle, and wrote several novels, though not all were well-received.

What was the name of the dragon in the narrator's first story?

• Arthur

• Lancelot

• George

• Herman

How did the narrator's grandmother react to their first story?

• She cried

• She was angry

• She laughed

• She was confused

What genre did the narrator explore in high school?

• Science Fiction

• Mystery

• Romance

• Fantasy

Which writing style was popular during the narrator's college years?

• Gothic

• Minimalist

• Surrealist

• Realist

Which writer did the narrator mention as an influence during college?

• Ray Carver

• J.K. Rowling

• Ernest Hemingway

• Stephen King

What did the narrator struggle with in their college writing?

• Dialogue

• Minimalist style

• Plot structure

• Character development

Which writer did the narrator discover during grad school?

• Virginia Woolf

• George Orwell

• T.C. Boyle

• J.R.R. Tolkien

How did the narrator feel about their first book of stories?

• Very satisfied

• Confused

• Disappointed

• Indifferent

What was the narrator's reaction to their first novel?

• Loved it

• Indifferent

• Confused

• Hated it

How many novels did the narrator write before feeling satisfied?

• Four

• Three

• One

• Two