How does this exert from my novel sound?

I’m a little stuck in this part of my story. The main character (Ellie) just got dropped off at boarding school and is meeting her new roomies. How can I make this more exciting? Just better in general? And after this what do i need to add about them meeting each other? Like I said before, i’m stuck!

I braced myself as I opened the door to my dorm. No matter how much I didn’t want to be here, I didn’t want to be here with no friends even more. From here on out I would be nothing but fake smiles.
“You must be Eleanor!” A girl said as soon as I opened the door and walked into my dorm room. She skipped towards me from across the room to help me with my bags. She was wearing a white shirt and light pink skirt with brown flip flops. Her wavy blond hair was just below her shoulders, and I could still see the tanned glow of her skin from summer.
“Ellie” I corrected her. The room had dark wooden floors and plain white walls; there were four beds spread out across the room, and a dresser for each girl. Since every other bed was taken, I set my duffle bag down on the bed beside the window.
“I’m Norah Finley. The other two girls are saying goodbye to their parents downstairs. They should be up here soon.” she said as she jumped up on her bed, which she had already made up with a pink duvet cover and white pillows with a pink embroidered N in the center.
I smiled with fake enthusiasm and reached into my duffle bag; I pulled out zebra print duvet cover my mom had bought me and started making my bed. I figured I might as well start setting up my side of the room.
Norah was flipping through a Seventeen magazine and I was still making my bed when the door burst open. “We’re back!” a girl shoulder length auburn hair said as she ran and jumped on her bed. She was wearing navy gym shorts and a lime green t-shirt. I laughed and watched as another girl with a dark brown bob with bangs ran into the room. This girl had olive colored skin and was wearing jeans and a “don’t be trashy, recycle” shirt.
“One day here, and I’m already chasing you through the school!” She laughed. They then noticed that I was there.
“I’m Brynn Adams,” the auburn haired girl told me.
“Myers, Avery Myers” the other girl said then laughed at her own corny James Bond joke.
“Eleanor Roberts, but from here on out, call me Ellie.” I looked over at Brynn’s side of the room and saw her simple navy blue quilt. She had already stuck a poster of Marie Sharapova. I was guessing she was into tennis.
Colbie’s side of the room was already a complete mess. Her suitcases were open; her clothes were on her peace sign quilt and on the floor.
Avery and Colbie is supposed to be the same person. I changed her name and then forgot to change it both times, sorry

I think it’s about as exciting as a scene about introductions can be (those are always hard to get through.) It’s good. I think after this, you should have the girls reminisce about their summers, gossip about teachers and people that Ellie doesn’t know, and make her feel very out of the loop. Possibly during this she could reflect on a few hints of how she wound up here.

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Tell us what do you think.

  1. mrs Smith says: May 27, 2010

    excerpt
    noun |ˈekˌsərpt|
    a short extract from a film, broadcast, or piece of music or writing.

    exert |igˈzərt|
    verb [ trans. ]
    1 apply or bring to bear (a force, influence, or quality) : the moon exerts a force on the Earth | exerting influence over the next generation.
    2 ( exert oneself) make a physical or mental effort : he needs to exert himself to try to find an answer.
    References :

  2. roxythesnark says: May 27, 2010

    I think it’s about as exciting as a scene about introductions can be (those are always hard to get through.) It’s good. I think after this, you should have the girls reminisce about their summers, gossip about teachers and people that Ellie doesn’t know, and make her feel very out of the loop. Possibly during this she could reflect on a few hints of how she wound up here.
    References :

  3. Deleting my account (is 16 ½) says: May 27, 2010

    You could tell us why she’s there, why she doesn’t think she’ll make friends, and why she has to be all ‘fake’ smiles. What your characters are wearing doesn’t matter.
    References :

  4. Cap'n Blueballs says: May 27, 2010

    Is it really necessary to describe each characters physical attributes on the opening page? The first sentence is confusing, perhaps "friendless" would work better. Do people really have names like these? They sound like they came from Y/A. Last sentence-who the hell is Colbie?
    Oh well, good luck.
    References :

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