We thought readers might enjoy this melodrama that Christopher wrote after the publication of Eldest in response to a question about his writing process.
The Bipolar Nature of Writing
(A one-act melodramatic play about two books in a trilogy)
By Christopher Paolini
Act I, Scene I
(First draft, Book I)
Author: Wheee! This is fun! I have no idea what I’m doing, but I love it! Mom, look, look; read this! Isn’t it wonderful?(Second & third drafts, Book I)
Author: Argh! This book is horrible! I hate it, and I never want to look at it again! . . . (anguished howl) When will it end?(First draft, Book II)
Author: Must . . . do . . . good . . . job. It means too much to me and my readers to mess up this book. I may be writing slower than a narcoleptic sloth trapped in tar, but I . . . will . . . do . . . a . . . good . . . job.(Second draft, Book II)
Author: DEADLINE!!! Ahhhh! Where’s the coffee? No, no food. I ate last week. Help! DEADLINE!!!
