Good to Know

Judging by the blogs I follow, I decided it's good to know I'm not the only slacker blogger in the world.

Writer's Block: Fear of Failure

Today, since I have done nothing but write essays, I present to you an essay about Writer's Block So, behold. Enjoy. Ignore documentation. It's necessary.

(Also ignore bit CITATION things. That's me being too lazy right now to figure out how to document websites with no author and no page number.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I banged my head on my desk and groaned. It was midnight on a school night, and here I was, sitting alone, my workspace illuminated only by a silver desk lamp hovering over my laptop. A blank document blared white light on my face on my laptop screen, where I had just left an sentenced unfinished. A verb dangled like a rock climber without equipment, threatening to fall into the blank emptiness below if I didn’t block its exit with a period. What on earth did I think I was doing?  Did I actually think I could finish this novel before my eighteenth birthday? Sure, I was seven years into it, but I had over four hundred pages typed and I was far from finishing.

I’ve had writer’s block for nearly a year…and I’m not talking about the writer’s block some authors (including myself) have claimed when they’re really just lazy. I’m talking about full-on, physically painful writer’s block that begins to make you wonder if you’re really a writer at all. Writer’s block is defined as “a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece” (Merriam-Webster). All who have done any sort of writing—essays, emails, letters, stories, poems—have suffered from it. Some, like best-selling author Tom Clancy, claim writer’s block is “pure laziness,” because he can finish a novel in a year and a half and only get writer’s block for “11 minutes” (qtd. in Hiaasen 3E). For some, this may be true. For others, though, writer’s block is a much more real threat.

Writer’s block can be caused by an array of different things. Loss of interest in a piece is one of the main problems, in which there is only one solution: Write something else. When you are interested and excited about writing something, however, and freeze up whenever you sit down to actually write it, something besides laziness or disinterest is at work. Art correspondent for the South Florida Sun, Rob Hiassan, diagnoses writer’s block as such:

“Fear — that’s the rub. Writers often fear their writing isn’t any good. Writers are fearful that others won’t like their work. They fear their best work is behind them, waving at them in the rearview mirror and laughing. Behind the scenes of great literature have been writers battling great periods of creative dormancy. William Shakespeare suffered ‘the utter pain of blank . . .’” (3E).

Seems legitimate, right? I came to realize this painful truth while writing the end of my first novel. I poured my heart into four hundred pages of prose, and when it came time to tie it all together into one heart-rending conclusion, I was terrified that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, or that if I didn’t write the absolute perfect ending, my entire novel would dwindle off into mediocrity.

Other fears are sure to cause writer’s block as well. Award-winning thriller writer William Deverell talks about his own experience with fear and writer’s block, explaining, “My fear was, my Can-Litish father would disapprove if I wrote in the genre which I eventually did” (qtd. in Ross C.7). J.K. Rowling, world-renown best-selling author of the hugely popular Harry Potter series, even suffered paralyzing writer’s block, explaining, “I’ve only suffered writer’s block badly once, and that was during the writing of Chamber of Secrets. I had my first burst of publicity about the first book and it paralyzed me. I was scared the second book wouldn’t measure up . . .” (CITATION)

This fear of failure paralyzes writers perhaps worst of all. Dancers can save a flawed performance with just a few perfectly executed moves. In art, nearly anything goes. In writing, a bad work can’t be saved by a few good lines. In writing, everything must be constructed perfectly to represent reasonable thought. Stories must have a sense of believability to them, and characters must be as realistic as possible (and people wonder why writer’s have issues).

Could there possibly be a cure for writer’s block, then? Is there a cure for a crippling fear of failure? Sure there is: Just write. Deverell mentioned his fear of his father disapproving of his writing; he continues the story by saying, “What finally happened was, I got a page out and the dam burst” (qtd. in Ross C.7). Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, famous french novelist and screenwriter during the late 1800s and early 1900s, claims, “Writing only leads to more writing” (CITATION). In my experience, it’s true; the more you write, the more you want to write. And when you push past the barriers of your fear and throw yourself recklessly into your writing, you are throwing kindling on the spark of your ardor. Passion drives good writing more than anything in the world. Rob Hiaasen writes, “Think harder about a singular passion. This story, too, must be about a passion for one simple thing. The passion for a story.”

AH!!! COLLEGE!!!

AH!

COLLEGE!!!

Yup, I finally started. Thus, in the past 3+ weeks, I have done zero writing. Yup! ZIPPO! Unless you count writing essays writing. Because I have to write like four a week. But I have learned some stuff from writing those essays. Actually, I thought I wrote a pretty nifty piece today in a summary/connection paper for English class. Behold...

---------

So, I began to look. I hunted for treasures, tiny snapshots of moments that held some beauty to me. Searching was hard at first, but as I continued this lifestyle, I saw more and more beauty in everyday things. It was from this time I learned that the sky is the deepest blue at four o’clock pm, and that clouds look like paintings right before it rains; that the two little male ducks, the ones I call “the brothers,” swim around my pond from nine to eleven every morning. I found when you sit on the porch on a quiet summer evening, you can feel the music of a thousand creatures enjoying life as much as you, and if you listen closely, you can hear the pure thrill of living shifting the trees.

----------

...Yeah, I thought it was nifty.

So forgive me for any lack of posting...it's REALLY busy and I've broken down completely about three times...that's once a week...

I wasn't very cut out for college okay.

This is my phone background for reason.

And this accurately represents my college days.

and this is my motivational poster.

THE ORION Cover Project: Look What I Did!!!!! :D :D :D

So I was bored one day and was like, playing with my PixlrExpress+ app and having a good old time when I decided

"Hey, me, why don't you try and make covers for the Orion series, since you already know what you want them to look like more or less?"

So I did.

And here they are, for all the world to see.

(Note: I do not own any of the photos overlaid in the covers.)

This cover is for The Orion: The Deadlands, the first installment in the first series trilogy. See that girl in the background? Know who she's supposed to be? Lemme give you a hint. JAYD.

Yup. THE UPRISING. DUN DUN DUUUUUN.... This is the second book's cover, which we are currently halfway through with.

This one is scary. No more.

SERIES TWOOOOOOO!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITING I WANT TO WRITE IT NOOOOOW. BUT I CANNOT. BUT SOON KILI....SOOON.........

No words.

Only pain.

*majestically turns, hair swishing in the wind, as tears stream down face*

*ed sheeran i see fire plays in background*

OH MISTY EEEEYE OF THE MOUNTAIN BELOOOOW.............

KEEP CAREFUL WATCH OF MY BROTHER'S SOOOULLL..........

AND IF THE SKKKIIES FILL WITH FIRE AND SMOOOOOKE.................

KEEP WATCHING OVER THE STAUNTON FOOOLLLKKK.............

Inside the Character: Jay Skyy

Today's ItC is from Blue Skyys, a book I am co-authoring with my sister about two galaxies in a bitter war. Basically, Jay's entire story is summed up by this:

You may not be interested in war,

but war is interested in you.

...Yeah. He never meant to be involved in war. He's actually pretty gentle in real life.

1.  Who would play Jay in a movie?

This is the best picture of Jay I've ever seen. It's totally perfect, except Jay's hair is an orangey color. Redhead. But I mean, this is so perfect even the hairstyle is perfect. The chiseled features, the intense look, the skinniness, the adam's apple...it's all so perf. SO. PERF. The more I look at it....anyways, it's Wynston Shannon, but he doesn't look like Jay straight-on. Just profile.

2. What color is his hair?

A lighter red than pure redhead, with some brown in it. I'm not really sure how to explain it. Like, light golden brown with lots of golden red highlights. He typically doesn't really comb his hair, and doesn't get it cut very often since he's in the army. It's got a V like above. In fact, his hairstyle is as above.

3. What color are his eyes?

Jay has golden-brown eyes, like light-brown eyes. They're really studious and amazing.

4. What is his body type?

Jay is extremely thin and tall, with long arms and legs and wiry muscles. He stands at about 6' 4". His long, thin frame makes him look even taller.

5. Does he have any peircings/tattoos?

No sir.

6. What is the most attractive thing about him?

As you can see above, his profile is very attractive, also his height. But his chiseled features are just dreamy. And his intense expression. Which he wears literally all the time. *swoons*

7. What is the ugliest thing about him?

His thinness. I mean, he's pretty darn skinny. Past all that intense chiseled face, he's a scarecrow.

Emotions

8. When he smiles, what does it look like?

Yep, I've got a picture for that.

That's pretty much his average smile. When he really lets loose, it's amazing, because he hardly ever smiles. He had PTSD through a good bit of the novel, so he's pretty troubled...poor dear...

9. What does his laugh sound like?

Rare is the day when Jay laughs, just because it's not really in his nature. But I imagine it's deeper than his voice actually is, more of a chuckle, and quite a pleasant, comforting sort of sound.

10. What is his normal speech pattern?

He gets to the point, and asks a lot of questions. It's because of this that he's very intelligent, and logical. He thinks before he speaks, and he is the best listener ever. He hangs onto every word and makes sure to pause to process them before replying, very carefully and very thought-out.

11. How does he express/handle anger?

With a very, very stony and violent glare. Also, he can get quite loud when he's VERY worked up.

12. Does he cry?

He does, but he's never too flamboyant with it. He more just sheds tears in complete silence, face hard, and wipes them hurriedly.

13. What would make him cry?

Death is a big one, because he sees a lot of it in war and takes each one to heart. He cares deeply for all he comes in contact with, and this can be a weakness and a strength.

14. How easy is it for people to read his emotions?

For people who know him well, it can be quite easy. Since he doesn't express anything much, every movement of his face becomes recognizable. A twitch of the jaw means he's angry, a raising of the eyebrows could mean surprise, etc. For those who don't know him well, it can be difficult, but he has such an unmovingly expressive face...somehow you can tell every thought he's thinking and every emotion that passes just from his face and body language. It's the subtle things that count.

Character Beliefs

15. Is he religious?

Yes. Jay is highly religious and relies heavily on his Christian beliefs.

16. How does he view those of other faith?

He respects them. He knows everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, but he will probably try to convert you first chance.

17. What are his core values?

Jay is very family-based, and his loves ones are an important part of his upbringing and emotional makeup. He is a strong believer in chivalry and is very, very kind and caring. Even though he can seem kinda severe at times, you know he means well.

18. How willing is he to fight for those beliefs?

He knew when he was drafted that death was a very real possibility, and is fully prepared to die for his galaxy.

Likes and Dislikes

19. Favorite food?

Chocolate. Jay loves chocolate. Especially Nutella. Especially especially Nutella and peanut butter cookies. They're his favorite.

20. Favorite color?

Probably orange, more or less like his hair. He never really had that many options because, according to him, 'not many colors go with this color hair'.

21. What is his sleeping preferences?

He isn't much of a sleeper, since his PTSD makes him a bit of an insomniac. However, he prefers beds. Any kind of bed. It can be a hard cot or a comfy king bed, it doesn't matter to him. But the floor...nuh uh. For some reason, it's impossible for him to sleep on the floor.

22. What type of music does he like?

I don't guess he was ever much of a music person. What he did listen to was all probably inspirational type-stuff, and Christian.

Character History

23. What is his birthday?

November 2

24. What family structure did he have as a child?

This is where it gets complicated. Jay's dad, James Skyy, was the oldest of eleven kids, and so Jay's family is extended and quite large. He has two younger siblings, Willa and (OMW I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LITTLE KID'S NAME). But the people he is really closest too are his cousins. James's younger brother, Ace Skyy, has eight kids. Jay and Ty, the oldest of Ace's kids, were born within months of each other and are closer than brothers. Jay and Ty literally probably couldn't function properly without each other. So, that being said, he is also very attached to Ty's younger brother, Scott. And I think that's about it with family. They were all really close, Jay's family and his cousins, and practically lives at each other's house, romping around and having dinner and going to school together and all that.

25. What is the worst thing he has ever done?

In his opinion, been so against people being drafted into the war, even though his galaxy was losing sorely and they needed soldiers. He really didn't want to get involved in war, even if Ty and Scott both enlisted on their own.

26. What is the most significant romantic encounter of his past?

He has never really been interested in finding love. The one girl he had the slightest interest in was a school girl named May, and it didn't even last a month. He's just very busy-minded, and says he's not ready for a relationship. He says he'll wait until after the war.

27. Has he ever been in love?

He meets a Syestar slave who sort of takes him in when he's injured, and he loves her from the very beginning. She, however, is confused about the entire idea, because she has been a slave her whole life, and sort of sees Jay as her master, which breaks Jay's heart.

28. What is his biggest goal in life?

Currently, to save his galaxy, Rialis. In the long run, probably something like doing everything he can for people he loves. I mean, he's like the Alfred Pennyworth of the Skyy family. He's always doing something for someone else, and does nothing for himself. He likes it that way, and he gets uncomfortable when someone tries to do something for him. So that's sort of his goal; to help others in any way he can.

29. What does he believe is his greatest virtue?

Hrm...I don't know. Jay doesn't think too much about himself. I guess he hopes he's a good leader, though wether he believes he is (much less wether he thinks it's his greatest virtue) is another story.

30. What does he believe is his greatest failure/vice/weakness?

He has a temper, as do all redheads (apparently...<_<) and when he gets angry he gets very terse and short with everyone, not just one person. He kinda takes his anger out of everyone. As for weakness, his health. He suffers from debilitating headaches that come on at random, and he hates that they practically cripple him, keeping him from being at all useful.

31. What motivates him most?

His patriotism and his drive to get things done.

32. Is he objective-oriented?

I don't know where Jay would be in life without his goals. He sets goals for himself, and then sets them for other people who don't know he's setting goals for them, and when they don't reach his goals he has a little panic attack. Jay is VERY objective-oriented.

33. Would he rather be a good person or a great person?

Jay wants to be a great person. He wants to succeed more than anything, and wants to help others succeed. Unfortunately, he sees himself as somewhat living in the shadow of his much handsomer, much more talented, outgoing, friendly pilot cousin Ty, who attracts attention wherever he goes. He's sort of torn between two feelings for this; half of him is okay with it, the other half wants to be more like his uncle (and general), Liam, who is very commanding, sure of himself, and on top of things.

34. Would he rather be hated for who he is or loved for being someone he's not?

Much rather be hated for who he is, though it would bug him a good deal. He hates fakers.

35. Is Jay an ambivert, extrovert, or introvert?

Definitely an introvert. He's very quiet, very thoughtful, and very serious. He takes your best interests to heart and is THE BEST LISTENER EVER. Like, he will keep eye contact as you talk, nod when appropriate, look very interested, then sit and process what you say before constructing a reply. It's the consideration of your words that getS MEEEEE.

36. Is he creatively expressive?

Being an introvert, no, not really. He's not a music person, doesn't write, doesn't draw or anything like that...though he is extremely talented at strategy and organization, and will often sit and plan out battles or organize stuff compulsively when thinking hard or bored.

37. What is his disorder?

Jay suffers from a head injury he got from being slammed in the head with the butt of a gun. He was in a coma for nine months, and now has very bad migraine-like headaches from the healed wound. An average headache is very painful, causes him to be distracted, weak, tired, nauseated, dizzy, and irritable, but every so often he will get terrible ones, where they nearly cripple him. His eyes get sensitive to light, he throws up, gets dizzy so badly that he can barely stand, and usually just has to lie in a dark room until it passes a few hours later. No medicine helps, and doctors can't diagnose and condition. It's all very mysterious.

38. Is he materialistic?

Being in the army has kicked any materialism he has had in the past into submission.

39. What is his learning style?

He is a visual learner. He learns best by watching, reading, and studying.

40. I am a ________. How would Jay finish the sentence?

...I don't know. This post is making me realize that Jay is quite unsure of his identity.

41. Life is an act of _______.

Life is an act of serving and fighting.

Writing Boys and Girls: Conclusion

To conclude my discussion on writing the difference between boys and girls, I came across this infopic on Pinterest. It was EXTREMELY helpful to me, and summed up men's brains extremely well, it seems to me. Read it and be enlightened.

Featured: Sunshine Award Nomination

THANKS TO MY BIG BBBBBBFF ANGELINA ZOE OVER AT THE RANDOMNESS OF A TEENAGER WRITER FOR NOMINATING MEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

BIG KISSES AT YOU!!!!!! ( `3`) <yes that's a kissy face

Ahem. Anyways.

This award is given to blogs that uplift creatively, and inspire others positively. I'm so glad I have done that with my blog!

I was told the rules for this award are:

• Display the award graphic in your post
• Link back to whoever nominated you
• List ten facts about yourself
• Nominate ten fellow bloggers "who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogsphere"
• Leave a comment on the nominees' blogs to tell them of the award

now....more facts. Be prepared for randomness.

1. I just started Tai Kwon Do. I think I'm a natural. Also I defeated like fifty ninjas soooo...yup. Another day saved.

2. I'm really obsessed with Pinterest but I can't keep up with my blog. It's really sad. I would love to blog more but I run out of stuff to blog about. So, if you have any requests on topics to bog on, I'd be happy to oblige. (email acrossbooks@gmail.com or comment!)

3. I'm obsessed with Batman. I don't read the comics, no, but I've read every wiki article on every character, have scoured Pinterest for comic scans and fan art, and I have successfully figured out the entire Batfam. Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain, and Damian Wayne. DAMIAN BEING MY LITTLE DEMONIC FAVORITE OF COOOOOUUUURSE.

4. I'm finally a teenager at 18 years old. I was still a middle schooler for like my entire teenage years and have just now become a true teenager. I fangirl more than my fifteen year old sister, wear my hair in a bun way too much, and like yoga pants and baggy tee shirts best. But really. I think my fifteen year old sister is more mature than me. And my sixteen year old best friend. They'll deny it but it's true, in the long run. No one else I know can fangirl until a blood vessel in their head explodes.

5. I wanna dress up like characters and run around all day acting like them. I know that really means "go to a comic con", but I just can't do that. I'm not that free and lovely. So I wait every year for Holloween. To dress up like weird people and hand out candy in character. THIS YEAR WILL BE LOKI.

6. Speaking of which, I'm tempted to join twitter to tweet as some random character. Like the Bucky Barnes tweets. I just...that's awesome. I clap for you, person who does that.

7. Literally every time I meet someone new, I have to hold back my personality because if I didn't, I'd intimidate them.

8. My sister is bothering me on Skype right now. I'm going to go virtually choke her.

9. I just virtually choked my little sister.

10. I have to go to bed in like 15 minutes.

Now for my ten blogs...probably the SAME blogs I just nominated for the Leibster Award.

Chloe at Snobby Writing Blog (again)

Jake at Teenage Writer (again...)

Nairam at Nairam of Sherwood (I'm a creepy awarding stalker)

Watzzit Tooyah at The Procrastination Station

That's all...

I have no more.

Shame on me.

OKAY BYYYYYEE. (anna)

Writing Boys and Girls: What's the Difference?

So this is something I've been thinking about for a week or so, since watching a YouTube video about teenage girls writing guys. I've come to the conclusion that boys and girls are very different. (I know right? Who knew!)

Boys and girls are different. More different than, I think, most young writers (and even some older) realize. And they aren't just different in looks; our entire makeup is almost opposite.

(Disclaimer: This is just my thoughts on the difference between boys and girl's minds. I am no professional, nor do I claim to be. Actually I'm mostly coming up with this as I go along. But I have four brothers so I consider myself kinda knowledgeable on boy brain make-up...but boys, please, correct me if I'm wrong because goodness know we writers who mostly write in boy POV want to know what boys think!)





Boys and Girls: What's the difference?


Minds
Boys and girls's minds are quite different. Boys tend to have one-track minds; in other words, they tend to focus on one thing at a time. Instead of having one hundred tabs open in their brains at once, boys tend to strive to complete one goal after another. For example, I doubt a guy would be thinking about how beautiful his girlfriend is while escaping a burning building.

Girls, on the other hand, often over think things terribly. We could be writing an essay but thinking about whether or not your friend really likes you, and if you made your boyfriend mad by forgetting to text him. We also dramatize situations in our minds; things become much more dire when a girl explains it.

Boy: "Well, you know. This house blew up but we got out of it. No one got hurt."
Girl: "This house just exploded! Oh my word, is anyone hurt? I hope Jack made it out alright! Does anyone see him?"


Conversations
Boys talk differently than girls too. While girls blabber and talk about their feelings and otherwise just talk a lot, guys tend to be more quiet (with, of course, exceptions). But one thing can clearly be stated: guys hate to talk about their feelings. Instead, they like to trade stories about their lives, like how they battled the lion at the zoo, or something along those lines. They also tend to focus on the action instead of the emotions, which should be obvious but easy to forget (for girl writers).

Girls, on the other hand, are emotional creatures. We try to read between the lines and figure out what people are feeling through their tone and their choice of words. Oftentimes, we read far too closely in common conversation and end up confusing ourselves. Girls are also multi-tasking thinkers, while (as I stated before) boys' minds are one-track. So, girls usually tend to branch off into a ton of different little conversations, which we bounce between as we converse.


Emotions
In my experience, boys tend to push their emotions down until they want to deal with them (except maybe anger). It's a societal problem that boys that cry/feel tenderly are "sissy", so boys often do the whole conceal-don't-feel deal. When they do feel, they can beat themselves up about it, or just explode into a fit of feelings, depending on their personality.

Girls are feelers, and cry more easily than boys. They also tend to be more prone to mood swings. I know I can go from happy to overwhelmed in a mere seconds. It's pretty incredible. Oh, that's another thing to note: girls feel overwhelmed easily since their brains have branches on their branches.



Of course, there are exceptions to to all of these traits, in both boys and girls, but generally they all seem to be true. So, I know I have missed about forty thousand things, so please, enlighten me! I've been diddly-daddling with this blog post for weeks trying to get it together...it was tough. So please, help me out! :)



P.S.

And please, people, don't make a boy giggle. For pete's sake, just say chuckle.

Please.

Featured: Liebster Award Nomination

I am very grateful to Sofia Marie for nominating me for the Liebster Blogger Award! I didn't even

know this award existed until just recently. Apparently, it is a chain reward given to bloggers with less than 200 followers. It's point is to get new and noteworthy bloggers noticed!


The Rules:

• Thank and link back to the person who nominated you
• List 11 facts about yourself
• Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you
• Nominate 9 bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers
• Ask them 11 questions
• Let them know about the nomination

11 Facts About Me:

1. I love the country but hate being away from the city. I am blessed to have lived in a weird between-the-lines sort of area for 10+ years now and I LOVE it!

2. I'm obsessed with the Christian band Anthem Lights, as of about two weeks ago. I saw them in concert on Saturday, and I was stalking them with my iPhone camera by zooming way in and following them as they walked around behind the stage. Then I met them and got a poster signed, and I SHOOK ALAN POWELL, CALEB GRIMM, AND CHAD GRAHAM'S HAND!! AND I PUT MY ARM AROUND JOEY! So yeah, I pretty much am good with life right now.

3. I faint. A lot. Randomly. Like, I don't even know why. I'm such a baby that it's pathetic. And it's really weird because in reality, I myself am all like, "Pain? What's pain? I can take pain all day. Gimme anything, I can take it. No big deal." Like literally. But my body just can't handle it, I don't know. Don't ask.

4. I have discovered the secret to short story writing. It's to just write a short story.

5. I really like Reese's cups. And smoothies. Smoothies especially. Oh, and fish tacos, and mashed potatoes, and french fries, and this afternoon I literally stuffed a loaf of bread half up my nose while smelling it because it smelled like HEAVEN.

6. I can't wait to get my debit card so I can buy stuff online. It should come any day now. I'm kinda excited.

7. Sometimes I dress really pretty and girly, and other times I dress half like a punk rocker. Then sometimes I'm so lazy that I put on a dress just because I'm too lazy to put on pants. I wear buns a lot too even though I've got like 30 inches of long shiny brunette tresses. I like neon nail polish and pink lipstick and sometimes I wish I had short hair. Just sometimes.

8. I have been a Christian since I was about 5 or 6, maybe younger. I love the Lord!

9. I'm pretty pale, and I don't tan very well. I tan, but it takes a while for me to color. Like, my sister tans twice as fast as me. I don't know why. But in winter I look like snow white. But, despite what you may be thinking, I DO NOT HAVE FRECKLES! What's with that?!

10. I'd like to have freckles. Just a sprinkling across my cheekbones and nose would be nice.

11. I am not good at coming up with facts about myself because most of my facts are so random and uninteresting that I'm not even interested in them. So that's that I guess...

My Answers to Sofia's Questions:

1. What time of day do you look forward to most?

Nighttime, because that's basically my free time. The little siblings are in bed, so there's no interruptions. :)

2. What's your favorite genre in fiction?

Either fantasy or post-apocalypse. It used to be fantasy, but now I think I like post-apocalypse/dystopian better, because that's what I'm writing most now.

3. What sport do you like most, if any?

I love to swim, but don't do it often since we moved away from our pool. I preform in dance, though: tap, ballet, and pointe. Does that count as a sport?

4. What's the funniest thing you heard (or did) today?

Me: Hey, sis, guess what?

Sis: *going into bathroom* What?

Me: I'm getting a debit card soon so I can buy stuff online.

Sis: *silence*

Me: ...

Sis: *shuffles out of bathroom with evil little smile on face*

5. Do you/did you like being a teenager?

My teen years were/are some of my best! I loved being a teenager. But being a kid was nice too.

6. Who is your favorite author?

Bryan Davis, hands down.

7. Do you play any musical instruments?

I've been playing piano for about 7 years now. I also sing a little.

8. How many hours a week do you spend in front of the computer? (approx.)

Ten? I dunno. About ten. Maybe less.

9. Do you believe music relieves stress? Does books do a better job?

Music definitely relieves my stress. I love music! Books, on the other hand, can make me cry and throw stuff, so I'm gonna say no...

10. What's your favorite color?

Lime green!

11. You've been given three work-free, child-free, chore-free, study-free hours. What are you going to do with them?

Write!

Nine Bloggers I Nominate:

(Problem is...I don't even know nine bloggers...)

Chloe at Snobby Writing Blog

Angelina Zoe at The Randomess of a Teenage Writer

R.G. Nairam at Nairam of Sherwood

Ginger Zimmerman at Writers Who Need to Talk to Other Writers

Watzzit Tooya at The Procrastination Station

Jake at Teenage Writer

THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE I KNOW!!!!!!!! I'M SORRY!!!!!! D:

Questions for my Nominees:

1. Who's your three favorite fictional characters?

2. Who's your favorite non-fictional famous/historical person?

3. Why do you blog?

4. What electronic device do you use/like most: phone, computer, mp3 player, or tablet?

5. What's the weirdest thing you've ever done?

6. Have you ever met someone famous?

7. What is your current favorite song? TV show? Book?

8. What's your favorite animal?

9. Do you like lamps?

10. Mac or PC?

11. What kind of candy do you like best? (Sour? Sweet? Chocolate?)

Thanks again for the award, Sofia! Now to notify the nominees!

Featured: Character Interview on Red Lettering (Also, Character Chat w/Luke Vetti)

Picture by Athelas Hale

Hi everyone! Last week, I was graciously invited by fellow writer and blogger Athelas Hale of the lovely blog Red Lettering to do a character interview on her blog. She featured a well-known favorite of the followers, Lukas Vetti, and asked him some pretty intense questions. Go to her blog and check it out to see the full post!

Thanks again, Athelas, for interviewing Luke! I'm sure he enjoyed it. I think...probably yes. :)

Also, as promised in the title, I am hosting a character chat with the famed Luke Vetti in the comments! Just ask a question or whatever in the comments, and he will answer back right to ya. Go crazy, and have fun everyone!

Love ya, my peoples!

Wrandom Writing Tip #9: Emotional Resonance–How to make your book matter

When you've lost interest in writing your novel, there are a few things that could be wrong. You could just have writer's block. Maybe your book needs to be planned out. But most of the time, we writers get bored and uninterested in our writing because it lacks the emotional punch that keeps us interested.

When was the last time you read a book, watched a movie, or finished a TV show? Do you remember the scene that really got you interested? The puncher that made you physically ill because of the complete horribleness of it? Do you remember what you felt?

Felt. That is the key word. I bet the scene you liked best wasn't the one where Prince Charming was handling a machine gun and mowing down flying monkeys. *SPOILERS OUAT* I bet it was the one where Rumpelstiltskin was put in Pandora's box, after trying so hard to be good and get his family back together. For me, it was the scene where Henry was in Peter Pan's body. With my deluded view of Peter Pan, where he was still just a boy who missed his parents like in the real world, it hurt totes bad to see him hugging everyone like he belonged somewhere. *END SPOILERS* I'm sorry I didn't mean for this to turn into a psychotic discussion on what Peter Pan could have been in Once Upon a Time.

The point is, the scenes that matter the most to us are the ones where emotions are raging, tension is high, and the loss is huge. They make us cry, think, love, and scream in rage, and that's what readers (secretly) want out of books, movies, and TV shows.

Now that doesn't mean go and kill off the people everyone loves (though that does cause pain to readers). Unless you have a good reason to, killing people isn't the only answer. There are plenty of other ways to create emotion in your novel, but loss is one of the biggest and most important.

Feelings of loss can be created in many, many ways. Take something away from the hero, kill off a friend, *SPOILERS OUAT* curse Storybrooke to be cast back to the enchanted forest without Emma and Henry...the list goes on. *END SPOILERS* Loss and loneliness are two of the most powerful emotional tools; everyone–and I mean everyone–has felt these emotions, so readers can relate.

Don't underestimate the power of emotional resonance. Sure, the Evil Queen ripping hearts out is interesting and all, but it only really matters if she's ripping the heart of her loving father out. Get what I mean? Creating emotion in each scene is a great way to start bringing the magic back to your novel.

Now go destroy some orphans and kill someones parents. ;)

Write from the Soul

Too many writers in today's market write for just that—the market. When wizards and magic were the hype back in the Harry Potter days, everyone wrote fantasy books. In the dark days of Twilight, it was all werewolves and vampires (I can still go to the YA section of my library and find nothing but werewolf and vampire books. That was a BIG fad.). Now, the new thing is post-apocalypse and dystopian genres, and I can't even count how many movies and books are following suit. (Think Hunger Games, Divergent, Walking Dead, Falling Skies, Godzilla...). And the rumors are true—if you write for the market, your work has a huge chance of getting published.

BUT, your work will be the forced product of something you may have no interest in.

While it's tempting to write for the market to have a better chance at getting published, writing for the market is just not the answer. The market changes; by the time you finish your vampire novel, pop culture could change to pirates. There's no point in it.

Don't write for the market. Write for you. Write what you want to read, and you'll enjoy it so much more than writing for other people. Sure, keep in mind your audience and readers, but you're the writer, not them. You make the ultimate decision. You're writing the book.

If you're not interested in vampires and werewolves, don't try to write a vampire book. If you're not interested in post-apocalyptic or dystopian genres, don't worry. The market will change, so there's no point in freaking out about publishing your book. Just keep trying.

Don't get caught up in the "write for the market, you'll get published" fad. Write from the soul, write what you want, write until you bleed words, write until you find what you want to say. Then, say it.

A Big Milestone: ADULTHOOD

About...like...two months ago, I turned a very important age.

18.

Yup. The biggest age I've ever turned. The big adult year. College life ahead, high school behind. No more unicorns for me.

Well, the surprising thing is, I don't feel much different. When I turned 16, I felt SO much older for some reason. I felt more responsible, more mature, all around...just...older. 17 was similar. I had college worries and senior year stress and all that. But 18 just isn't so bad to me. As I told my dear friend from ballet, "I don't feel much different. Now I can just go to jail."

Haha. I'm so funny aren't I.

Anyways, the only thing in my 18th year so far that makes me think, "MAN. I AM REALLY OLD." is the impending thought of attending college this fall. Freshman in college is just so....wow.

Even through the confusion of registration, the newness of college, the fear of "fitting in", I know God's got me in His hands. The point is, Hakuna Matata! No worries for me. God's working it out one day at a time, and I'm putting my trust eternally in Him.

Inside the Character: Alex Staunton

"I'm sowwy, fewwas, but I can't wait any wonger!" –Elmer Fudd

IT'S FINALLY TIME FOR ALEX STAUNTON'S ItC!!!!

I've been waiting TOO LONG for this!!! AAAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!

Sorry I am really obsessed with Alex. Dangerously.

So...we're still cool.

Be cool.

Alex is part of the Orion series 2, like Luke Vetti. He is the son of Nicholas Calhoun, who is in the FIRST Orion series. Just so you know. :-)

1. What actor would play Alex?

The closest person I've found to play Alex is Logan Lerman.

He is PRETTY close, but not PERFECT. You see, I didn't base Alex off any one actor (like I partially did with Luke Vetti), he just sorta popped into my head. But my sister claimed that Logan Lerman was the perfect Alex, and I've used him as his actor for a long time, and now he's sorta stuck in my head. Even is Alex's face isn't as round and babyish as Logan Lerman's. Here are some other pictures, for you to get a good grasp...or for my personal enjoyment, either way...

This is more how I imagine Alex (minus the piercings). This will always be one of the closest faces.

This is scarily close to Alex, but unfortunately his face is turned away so we will never experience true power.

Physical/Aesthetic Characteristics

1. What color is his hair?

Alex's hair is black, and straight with maybe the slightest wave to it. It's not like stick-straight, basically. He usually wears it longish over his forehead, but recently he's taken to swishing it up in a spiked sort of hairdo, and frankly no one can decide which they like better.

2. What color are his eyes?

Alex (along with the rest of the Staunton clan) has these amazing ice-blue eyes. Example: Alexandra Daddario's eyes.

3. What color is his skin?

He is fair-skinned, with a creamy complexion, and (embarrassment to him) he sunburns very easily. While everyone else is scorched, it is Alex who peels so much he scabs.

4. What is his body type?

Alex is not tall, about 5' 10"ish, but he is quite muscular for his age. He's involved in several sports, including baseball, football, and martial arts, in which he is reaching a third Dan black belt. In fact, he's a bit of a fitness/health nut when it comes down to it. Protein shakes and all. So think muscly. But not...TOO muscly. ;)

5. Does he have peircings? Tattoos?

Nope. Alex is tattoo/peircing free.

6. What is the most attractive thing about him?

His eyes are usually what gets you first, followed probably by his fit figure. Honestly he strikes quite an attractive image...to be totally frank.

7. What is the ugliest thing about him?

His slightly pokey-out ears. Which he keeps carefully in check via his haircut.

BONUS: What special aesthetic characteristics does he have?

A snub nose and a crooked grin.

8. What does he wear?

Alex isn't picky about his wardrobe, but he is partial to mismatched converse. So if he's wearing a red color scheme, he'll wear like neon yellow converse just for fun.

BONUS: Why does he wear this outfit?

It's just one of his quirks. Or maybe he likes to drive his twin sister a little nuts with his fashion sense...

Emotions

9. When he smiles, what does it look like?

Lopsided, in a nice way. Almost cocky. If it's at a girl it's probably one part awkward, one part trying to impress, if it's at a dude it's probably mostly cocky.

10. What does his laugh sound like?

He has a sort of cackle laugh, almost childish in sound.

11. What is his normal speech pattern?

He says what he means; in other words, he doesn't mask his meaning. Comes across as kinda funny at first, but can be very serious and focused.

BONUS: What are some memorable quotes?


12. How does he express/handle anger?
He broods and pouts. If he's angry at you, you'll know. He is the sort to resent you if you hurt him or make him angry.

13. Does he cry?
Everyone cries, and Alex is no exception. When he cries, though, he cries weird...like he doesn't sob hardly ever. Someone has to have died for him to sob. His face just gets really red, and the tears just stream out.

BONUS: What would make him cry?
Death of loved ones, extreme physical/mental torment, feelings of inadequacy, and extreme frustration are all things he has cried over before.

14. How easy is it for people to read his emotions?
Alex knows when to show emotions, so if he's readable, he's meaning to be. On the other hand, he knows exactly how to hide his feelings, as well.

Character Beliefs

15. Is he religious?

Alex is a strong Christian, and focuses mainly on the way Jesus led others and how he treated his followers. Jesus is definitely one of Alex's role models!

16. How does he view those of other faith?

With patience and respect. He does probably see himself as superior for knowing the one true God, though...

17. What are his core values?

Determination, strength, bravery, and intelligence.

18. How willing is he to fight for those values?

He would readily die for them.

Likes and Dislikes

19. Favorite food?

Muffins! Banana muffins, chocolate chip muffins, lemon poppy seed muffins, all the muffins! Alex just really likes food in general but muffins are his absolute favorite (especially when Willow makes them).

20. Favorite color?

Blue, like his, his sister, his brother, and his dad's eyes.

21. What is his sleeping preferences?

Alex sleeps on his side with one hand under his pillow, curled up in a sort of ball. He is a rough sleeper, though. He prefers a bed, of course, and doesn't sleep on the couch ever. He actually has been known to lie in the grass in the sun and snooze on a nice day.

22. What type of music does he like?

He likes acoustics, just raw unedited music, best. He listens to Capital Kings, Toby Mac, and Audio Adrenaline besides.

Character History

23. What is his birthday?

November 4th. I would give a year, but the Orion takes place in the future, sooo...

24. What family structure did you character have as a child?

Alex lives in a very tight-knit family, consisting of his immediate family and two (unrelated) aunts and uncles and their families. As of today, they all live in the big house Mr. Calhoun used to live in.

25. How well did your character get along with their family members?

Alex and his twin sister are very, very close, naturally. He is almost equally as close to his younger brother and tries to be a role model for him. Growing up, Alex went through a bit of a moody pre-teen stage around the ages of 10-13. He had some anger management issues (like real ones), since he believed that he was being compared to his twin all the time. Also, Will's eldest son, Darren, and Alex do not get along very well for some reason and have actually fought (under very pressuring circumstances). 

26. What is the worst thing your character has ever done?

Sent another boy to the hospital with bad injuries after fighting him in the street.

27. What is the best thing your character has ever done?

Best?! Ummmm...!!! So many!!!

28. What is the most significant romantic encounter of his past?

He never had a romantic interest other than Willow.

29. Has your character ever been in love?

Yes, with Luke's sister, Willow. It was a gradual thing, during the year Luke was missing.

30. What is his most embarrassing moment?

The one that comes to mind is when Willow beat him up with an electric rod. She beat him pretty bad, too.

Character Introspection

31. What is your character's biggest goal in life?

To achieve all he has dreamed (being an engineer, starting a family, defeating the Orion). His very biggest goal is probably to "Be the good [man] he always HAS to be!" (catch that Frozen reference?). He just wants to do what right, no matter what.

32. What does your character believe is his greatest vice?

His anger. He still has a bit of remnants of his anger problems; now, he controls it by training hard and working out.

33. What does your character believe is his greatest virtue?

His strength. He won't ever break under pressure.

34. What motivates him most?

His drive to do what's right, no matter the cost.

35. Is your character objective-oriented?

Sort of, I guess you could say that. They're long-term goals, though.

36. Would your character rather be a good person or a great person?

A great person. Alex strives for greatness in everything he does. It's a competitive thing; he is very competitive.

37. Would your character rather be hated for being who they are, or loved for pretending to be someone else?

Alex would rather be hated for being who he is.

38. Is your character an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert?

Alex is either an extrovert or an ambivert. Probably leaning more towards the extrovert side.

39. Is your character creatively expressive?

Yes! Alex is musically gifted. He plays piano, violin, a little cello, and guitar, and he also sings like an angel out of heaven. His voice is something in between Colton Dixon and the medium-range Anthem Lights member (not the deep guy, not the raspy guy, not the super high guy, the OTHER guy ;] ). He's not a horrible artist either; he draws a bit by sketching his ideas for inventions out. He also keeps a journal on the walls of his closet (which is very off-limits).

40. What's your character's disorder?

He has a past of anger issues. He'll hold grudges until an apology is given.

41. What is your character's standard emotional state?

Confident and free.

42. Is your character materialistic?

No.

43. What is your character's major learning style?

He is a visual learner. He likes reading over getting a lecture, or watching a video. He watches EVERYTHING....

44. I am a _____. How would he finish that sentence?

I am a warrior.

45. Life is an act of ________ing.

Life is an act of believing.

The Evolution of Written Stories

I guess it's time to make a new blogpost, Ana thought to herself as she sat down at her computer. But what about? She scrolled through her blogpost ideas, uninterested at the array of mostly randumb ideas in her brain. Then, she came across this one.

Comparing my first draft and my final draft? She scratched her head. I dunno...that leaves me up to exposing my terribly written work all over the internet. But the longer she thought this through, the more appealing it seemed.

Standing up and walking away from her desk, she moved towards her bedroom, and from her bedroom into her closet. She stepped into the slightly cluttered space and reached to the top shelf, bringing down her archives. She unzipped it, reached inside...

And brought out her first draft.

247 notebook pages of penciled, 9-year-old writing, all bound together with a tawny string. Mystified, she blew the imaginary dust off the top page, titled in ornate letters "HIDDEN HEROES: JOURNEY TO TAEBENGORDONJIN". She laughed deeply to herself, feeling like Gandalf with the ten-year-old papers in her hands. Brushing his beard from the page, Gandalf moved slowly, with an old-man like gait, to her large, wooden, ink-stained desk and sat down with a slight grunt, moving large, leather-bound books aside for this new and amazing discovery.

Then, Gandalf opened his computer, and began to read...

***********************

Chapter 1

Harvest

        "Dead." Irmese laughed as she swung her silver sword and stopped mid-air, centimeters from Custis's bare neck. She imitated the sound of a head being chopped off. She leaned on the hilt of her sword.

        "You're head is rolling in the dirt," she said matter-of-factly.

        Custis grinned, flashing white teeth showing under his lips. "I guess it is," he said, pretending to sulk. He threw his hands in the air and fell to the ground, clutching his chest, and screeched.

        Irmese strode over to where he lay, looking lifeless, and our her foot on his chest. "I, Irmese Migani Lestor, have defeated the great Custis!' She let out a loud, spine chilling, howling cackle.

        Custis's heart leapt as a voice said, "Not yet, Fowl Beast!"and he heard swords clang a few times, then Irmese screamed, a cross between a howl and a screech, unearthly and hair-lifting. A thump met Irmese's falling body. Then two hands lifted Custis's shoulders off the ground. "You are free, Young Hero. The Fowl Beast is dead."

*************************

Gandalf chuckled to himself, yet still he was slightly disturbed by the lack of grammar in his old writing. Turning to his final draft, he compared....

*************************

CHAPTER 1

SHROUDED

        Alli stood, transfixed, as she listened to Dirco’s low, captivating voice. His storytelling gift hypnotized people on a daily basis; a crowd had gathered around the seventeen-year-old boy, enraptured by the tale he told.

        Alli often wondered how Dirco did it; she had known him for a very long time—practically her whole life—and his voice never changed so dramatically as it did when he told a story. People stood and listened for hours as Dirco skillfully wove his tales of woe and of hope.

        In half an hour, Dirco finished his tale of the beginnings of Janiza bowed as the crowd applauded and threw small copper coins at him. Alli collected the coppers in her ragged skirt, smiling and thanking those who paid for his story.

        As the audience dispersed, Dirco approached Alli. “How much did we get?” he asked, his voice no longer low and smooth but boyish and somewhat hoarse. He grinned his twisted, cryptic, and creepily-charming grin.

        Alli counted silently. “I’d guess around six or seven coppers.”

        Dirco pushed his pale blonde hair back from his face, his strange whitish eyes wide. “With that crowd?” A frightening scowl replaced his grin. “I oughtta start making them pay to stand there like doltheads and wander off into la-la land!”

        Alli sighed as she tucked the money into her pocket. She would probably hear about this for the rest of the night. “At least we have something.”

        “Might as well have left squat!”

**********************

Not even the same characters. Interesting development. Gandalf stroked his beard, turning the pages of his first draft to the scene where his favorite character, Eadën, first appeared.

**********************

        Unexpectedly, Irmese whipped her head around, hair flying in all directions.

        "What's wrong?" Custis whispered, not doubting her superior elf hearing.

        (Ah, yes, Gandalf remembered. The girl was randomly transformed into an elf while they were randomly attacked by Jzän in the woods, which they were randomly playing in.)

        She didn't answer. She didn't have time to, really.

        A huge, groping Já'nän, walking on two legs, came hurrying towards them.

        Custis didn't have time to draw his sword, for when he looked again, it had transformed into a nimble black cat.

        The only thing that made Custis doubtful is that both of them had sparkling, sky-blue eyes.

        Irmese went into a panic and climbed a tree to the highest branch.

        The....Thing...transformed again into an agile sparrow, flying to Irmese and landing on her thin shoulder. She batted it away with a quick blow and it fell to the ground a cat once more.

        What is it? Custis asked himself.

        The moment he thought that, the Thing transformed into an elf.

CHAPTER 6

EADËN

        "What the..." Custis stammered, staring at the Thing, now a handsome young elf boy.

        Irmese spoke first, jumping out of the tree. "What kinda sick joke is this?!" She yelled, marching up to the tall elf. "What and who are you?! Some kind of freak, if you will, a weirdo, sicko, moron, maniac, WHAT?!" She poked a slender finger in his sharp-featured face. "Some demented, evil-spirit obsessed creature, right?!?!?!?! I say," she paused dramatically, then practically yelled, "YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO ALL NATURE ITSELF!!! You creepy, shape-shifting, stinkin'—"

        "Okay, Irmese, let him speak for himself!" Custis interrupted, ruining her meaningful speech.

        "Well for one," the Thing-elf said. His voice surprised Custis. It was cool and clear and crisp, yet filled with an exotic and beautiful accent that was like music in his ears. "I applaud for the well thought of speech that was made up on the spot. That was incredible. And for two, I'm an elf. Whom or what other creature, I ask, is so attached to nature that is can literally change, inside and out, into nature itself?"

*******************

At this point Gandalf was forced to stop reading because his gag reflex had been acting up so badly. He choked away for another five minutes before finally getting a hold of himself, with the greatest of difficulty. "Did I really write that?!" he asked, reading ahead a bit, but reluctant to share how Eadën was born under a tree in a pit in the middle of nowhere, but he did not explain in the book why his queen mother was IN a pit in the middle of nowhere, thousands of miles away from her castle.

Gandalf cleared the bile from his throat with a swig of water and turned to his final draft. Hopefully, this one would be better...

*******************

        Dan didn’t answer. He had approached the door. He straightened his blood-soaked cloak, seemed to mentally prepare himself for...what? Then he knocked.

        For several minutes there was no sound, only the wind. Alli thought that maybe no one was home, until the door opened abruptly and there stood a young woman with long brown hair and large hazel eyes. She shrunk as she stared up at Dan, obviously frightened. Dan’s chest rose rapidly, as if he took a sharp breath upon seeing the woman.

        Alli and Firell glanced at Dan. The woman glanced at Alli and Firell.

        “Can I help you?” she said.

        Dan lifted an arm as if to reach out to her, then hesitated. He slowly touched her cheek with his fingertips, then caressed her face. When he spoke, his voice was no longer dark, whispery, or hoarse. Contrarily, his voice now sounded smooth, like velvet, with an unrecognizable lilt. He said, “Linnea.”

        Linnea, the woman’s, face paled. She swallowed, shook her head, and squinted closer at Dan. Reaching up slowly, as if Dan would attack her at any moment, she pushed his hood away from his face. Dan flinched as his face was revealed.

        Alli gasped the same moment Linnea did. Linnea fell back, crashing into the door. Then her face twisted, and she wrenched around, flung herself upon him, and twined her arms around his neck, shouting, “Eadën, Eadën! Oh, how—you—Eadën!”

*******************

Gandalf finally turned away from his first draft, unable to go on. Oh, how his story had evolved from such trash, to such acceptability! He was shocked at how much his entire PLOT had changed, now that he was flipping through the novel. He could not even believe how so many random scenes could make sense just three drafts later.

Re-arranging his original manuscript papers back into place and tying the string once again, Gandalf reflected how glad he was that he was done with that piece of trashy writing, and that he was now working with his final draft.

That first draft was fun to write, with all the freedom, Gandalf concluded, placing the archives back on Ana's closet shelf, But the final draft sure is worth all the work!

With this thought happy in her mind, along with the freeing thoughts of how bad her first draft was (that left her with all the freedom to make her other first drafts that bad!), Ana returned to her computer and opened the file labeled "Superior Race" to write until 4:00 pm, when she would have to help her mother with dinner.

The End.