Dragonology, my beginning in reading

Dragons. A type of mythical creature that was feared throughout folklore and legends alike. I saw them differently. Graceful, cat-like, flying lizards that can breath fire sounded like something that should be seen with awe and respect. A creature that can be so large as to outweigh hundreds of men. Dragons demanded my attention and I willingly gave it to them, looking through lore and stories at the end of elementary school. That is when I found a not new, but not old, book called, “The Dragonology Handbook”.

This book was my letter to Hogwarts so to say, an “invitation” to a secret world of understanding the breathtaking creatures of the dragon species. To me this was an opportunity, one to see dragons and study them for knowledge. Today as an adult I see that dragons are not real, and that that book was just a work of fiction and for fun. Yet, my appreciation for that book has not faded over the years. Thanks to this book, reading was fun for me. I read that book cover to cover with some pages folded and stained with use, I scribbled down notes onto a notebook, and I even did some dragon searching with the help of my dad (to no avail). This book also lead my experience with books to one of curiosity, having such a good first impression I wanted to read more as a kid. I looked into fantasy stories, finding books like Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit as I grew older.

While going through my schooling, these books also activated my inner desire to write. With all these fantastic stories of beasts, kings, and heroes, it drove my mind to creativity. That’s when I started writing for fun, and not just for a grade. My first story, one that I still haven’t finished and continue adjusting, was about a simple man in a fantasy kingdom. From there I let the stories I’ve read take inspiration, whether it be from corrupt kings, or fearsome creatures, to the horrors of man. Then I had to settle on an ending I liked. See, I never liked the heroes ending, too cliche, too predictable, too boring. So after being fed up with victory from the books I’ve read, I journeyed to dark realm of tragedy. That, is where I found my ending to a book still in production.

All in all, I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t start my reading journey with “The Dragonology Handbook”. It sparked creativity in me and guided me towards the awe inspiring world that the fantasy genre encapsulates so well. Without that start and overflow of heroes and their victories, I may have never gone to tragedy in time to prepare an ending for my story. Without dragons, I would have never looked to reading and writing as the magical and fun thing that I see them as now, and for that I am grateful for the experience given by a book I will always see as great.