My daughter and I are fans of Cressida Cowell, the author and illustrator of the fantastic HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON series. We are currently reading the 12th and final book. (Oh, how it hurts to write final!)
Quoting from HOW TO FIGHT A DRAGON’S FURY:
“THE STORY SO FAR.
‘There were dragons when I was a boy.” Those were the first words of the beginning of this story. Once there was a boy named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, who lived on the little isle of Berk with a hunting-dragon called Toothless, and a riding-dragon called the Windwalker, wild and happy, in a world full of dragons.”
Chapter 1. However Bad Things Seem to Be, They Can Always Get Worse
Chapter 2. You See, it Just Got Worse Again Less Than Five Minutes into the Story”
Those are the titles of chapters 1 & 2 and I can’t think of better story advice: raise the stakes!
And one more bit of wisdom from Cowell: “THE WORLD NEEDS A HERO”
What could be more true?
Thank you Cressida for making us laugh and cry for 12 books and almost as many years!
Happy writing things getting worse, worser, worst!
PS This dragon illustration is used with my daughter’s permission
Thanks for the reminder!