Preview

Don't take it personal.  It's not you.  You are writing with the intent to show a -child's- point of view,  not someone who's grown up, gone to college, watched the news and become cynical that all the worst things that CAN happen WILL happen.

   I was going to say it's human nature to expect the worst,  but no,  it's not.  Write for -you-.  Don't write for anyone else.  People will relate, they'll come along for the ride or they won't.  If they choose to head down a darker path,  don't let them pull you with them.   Go your own way and tell the story as you wish it to be told.


P.S.  On a personal note I still empathize with Molly.  I have to wonder how many people actually were the lonely only children,  just weird enough to not really fit in with family, friends or church but not weird enough to fit in with the other misfits (or not rebellious enough, or drug doing enough, or willing to cave to peer pressure enough). 

Shame on you for expecting the worst.  Leave a child alone to such an extent and they develop a huge imagination because everyone else is too busy trying to tell them what they are failing at and really all they want is to belong.  Somewhere.  Anywhere,  even if it ends up only being a storybook world with elves and goblins.

   Not everyone channels that longing into shooting up schools or growing up into bitter and cynical people-hating jerks, trust me.