A Brief Scream in the Silence

First off, I sincerely apologize for leaving this blog completely in the dust. It was not my intention and hopefully I'll be able to start cranking out some posts for you guys soon.

Secondly, I would like to announce that I will be officially attempting to do Nanowrimo for the first time in three years this coming November. Pray for me. That is all I have to say. If anyone wants to add me as buddy on the main site, I think my username is Anastasia_Cross. (If it's not and I'm not showing up, just let me know.)

Thirdly, I would like to bring your attention to my Wattpad page. I have been posting poetry pretty regularly all year, and though it's pretty dark and somewhat personal stuff, I'd be super happy if any of you guys wanted to go check it out. I currently have two poetry books on Wattpad; one is called Logastellus and the other is called Tacenda. Logastellus is my "writerly" poems--basically, they have no meaning to me other than they're based off a character or story, or are directly related to writing. Tacenda is my personal poems (I like to define them as "emo poems about death and the sky").

Anyway, that's basically all for now. Before Nanowrimo starts, I hope to get up a post with some helpful resources for us writers who just love to procrastinate on fun character profile sites or plotting apps.

Until then, ttyl!

Stuff Happens More on Wattpad (aka A Comprehensive Guide to Ana's Wattpad Page)

As you may or may not know, I joined Wattpad a while back and, as you may know if you stalk me close enough, I post things pretty regularly on there. While my posting is mainly short stories and nothing really substantial, it's still pretty like, for real. It also answers some questions I'm sure you have about many of my characters (that is, if you stalk me on Pinterest close enough to know my characters).

Currently, I have 17 stories published on Wattpad, including (DUN DUN DUN) an ENTIRE FULL LENGTH NOVEL!!!! Have I ever mentioned Rhett Hawke? Well now I have. In his story the humor side of myself comes out, so its nothing serious, though I attempted it to be sometimes. Keep in mind that I wrote it when I was about 13, edited it maybe four times, and left it because I'm not really planning on publishing it or anything anytime soon, so I decided to make it a magical Wattpad series for all the magical Wattpad people of the world. Enjoy :3

Anyway, about my other works... I have 17 published works (I said that already didn't I) and about 75% of them are short stories about my various novels. To give you a peeky peek, I shall make a handy dandy list about my handy dandy titles and what characters and stories they include and/or are related to (feel free to skip, I'm just bored):

UNTITLED (Peter Pan fanfiction-retelling backstory type deal)
What it's about: I have a board on Pinterest about it...and that's literally about all I understand about it. It's a really cool story if I do say so myself, I just have to plan it out some more.
How much posted: A chapter...a short chapter...
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Nope. I don't post much to the pinterest board and haven't written any blog post about it, so it's just me and my brain.
Updated?: Not really. I need to plan it.
Worth reading?: Why not? It's like a peek into my sick mind. >:) (Then again I could say that about everything)


Blue Skyys
What it's about: Sci-fi galactic war between two rivaling galaxies. Includes major brotherly/family feels and awesome characterization (ahem I'm really proud of those charries okay). Also a cliffhanger. And really intense scenes.
How much posted: Three or four chapters, pretty good length.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Eh, if you really really stalk me you'll know a pretty okay bit about it. I've written a blog post on it, and the board on Pinterest for it is a pretty good size.
Updated?: Nope. It's coauthored, and the coauthor doesn't write hardly at all, so no regular updates.
Worth reading?: I've been told the setting is a little hard to explain, but if you like the genre, I think it's worth a skim to see if you want to invest time in actually sitting down to read it.


The Orion: The Deadlands
What it's about: If you stalk me you know. Post-apocalyptic, bad governments, all the rage going on these days in young adult fiction. Awesome characters stuck in lame writing.
How much posted: Two shortish chapters. I am capable of posting more (I have the whole thing written yet unedited), but I'm not sure I want to because I want to publish this one someday.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Yes. Absolutely. I post about this one all the time.
Updated?: Like I said, I can, but I don't, because I want to publish it and don't want to spoil it...
Worth reading?: Really only if you're curious and want to get a feel of what the book's about. Nothing really happens; the prologue gives a good explanation of what the book is about. Otherwise, just a sneak peek.


Home at Last
What it's about: Short story I wrote for school, so it's pretty complete and like, you know, understandable. Set in King Arthur time. Pretty epic.
How much posted: It's four pages long, but a complete story.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Nope. Little known secret though: I have a secret board on Pinterest with ideas for a King Arthur story. Coming soon to a Wattpad near you.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: If you're into it, sure! One of my better works, probably, because it was for school so it had to be pretty good to get a good grade. :)


Luke's Conversion
What it's about: Short story (excerpt of Orion series 2). It's about Luke Vetti converting to Christianity. Major Luke feels ahead.
How much posted: It's a short story, completed, edited but probably not perfected, four pages long.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Luke Vetti has the largest Character Board on my Pinterest account (about 652 pins, I believe, at time of writing). He's famous amongst my Pinterest followers...though not as famous as Westly Decker.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: Yes.


Luke & Kyle: The End of the Line
What it's about: Short story (related to Orion series 2). Luke and Kyle's infamous parting scene. Super painful.
How much posted: Two pages of indescribable pain.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Yes.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: Yes.


"Know What You Fear"
What it's about: Short story (related to Orion series 2). Two young assassins from "The Orion series 2" who are dealing with issues related to being pressured young assassins.
How much posted: Two pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Not really. They have a board but that is all.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: For fun, why not.


Rhett Hawke: The Secret of Blackrock Cave
What it's about: FULL LENGTH NOVEL!!! Very humorous and lighthearted tale of pirates and orphans and treasure and Rhett Hawke the Awesome.
How much posted: 31 Wattpad pages, about 100 normal pages, so a novella.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: I'll post the occasional Aiden Turner pic for Rhett Hawke on Pinterest, and I've mentioned Rhett Hawke before, so kinda.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: It's a bit of a commitment, but if you want a laugh (even if it's a slightly random plotted, slightly unedited laugh), this is the book for you. Especially if you're a Pirates of the Caribbean fan.


Me Too
What it's about: I wrote this short story in a writer's meeting one day and thought it was interesting enough to type out and post. It's not terrible, not a piece of art, but it's so short you might as well give it a go.
How much posted: 1 page.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: No.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: I put it up there for kicks.


One Song Won't Hurt
What it's about: Short story (related to Superior Race). Lane and Chloe go to the prom. Lane-ness ensues.
How much posted: 2 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me?): I haven't done anything with this story in a while, but it's pretty well known.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: It's a fluffy little piece. Nothing epic or severe.


Embers
What it's about: Short story (related to the Cycle of Time). A collection of short stories that only has one short story, but I wrote another and plan to post it.
How much posted: 4 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: YEAH MAN. I TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
Updated: Recently I've been trying to write The Sentinels, so as long as inspiration holds, I will no doubt have a few short stories waiting around to be written.
Worth reading?: If you like fantasy or are interested, sure.


The Cycle of Time: The Journey
What it's about: About three chapters of my first novel, a fantasy adventure.
How much posted: 6 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: YEAH MAN. I TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
Updated: Nope. THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GETTING, PEOPLE.
Worth reading?: If you're curious...


Westly Decker
What it's about: Short stories revolving around my newest little baby bear, Wes. If you want feels, you're in the right place.
How much posted: 5 pages, two short stories.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Pretty much. I only pin to his board every other day in massive spurts, that's all.
Updated: About once every month or so I crank out new feelings.
Worth reading?: I feel like the second story in this work is one of the most poignant, well-written works I've ever written, and my best friend Angie Zoe agrees. So yeah, read my awesomeness.



So yeah, exhaustive list of my works and how bad they are. Anyway, as you may have noticed, my blog doesn't get the attention it deserves. I am sorry for that. However, if you are lonely, head over to Wattpad or Pinterest to get some more action (Pinterest mostly). I post to there more often. :)

Yeah that was the whole point of this.

Yeah I don't care that this was incredibly long, it makes me feel better for not posting anything for months.

Yeah I know my blog posts are random, insane, have terrible grammar, and are filled with typos and inconsistencies.

Yeah I don't care.

Yeah it makes me feel like I'm writing a personal letter to people.

Yeah it makes me feel like I'm funnier than I am.

Yeah I like the personal feel it gives.

Yeah.

I know.

I'm da bomb.









(Yeah I know I'm selfish and conceited PLS DON'T HATE ME *cries*)

Wrandom Writing Tip #8: First Drafts

First drafts! YAY!!!!

Really, this is what you should be saying. First drafts should be the best part of writing a book (besides finishing it of course). Why do we have so many problems doing this simple task of writing until our eyeballs fall out?


First Draft Tremors of Fear
Sometimes, writers freeze. Let's face it. We all have. Dag-nabbit, I certainly do. About EVERY TIME I SIT DOWN TO WRITE. But starting the first draft is most definitely the hardest thing in the world to do.

So don't worry. We all feel that way, hun.

Something about sitting down to write the horrific story of three or more precious, innocent children you have birthed in your brain, to bring them pain and glory and love and loss, to kill their best friend and watch them suffer for their wrongdoings in the midst of Mordor and Hades all put together...something about that simple little task is scary, you know? Just me?

The first thing to know is that the entire world feels this way when starting a book. As far as my research goes. Which is a poll of one person. Which is me. I hate starting a book, because I feel like I have to get it right the first time.

You don't.

Of all things you should NOT strive for in a first draft, it is perfection and "rightness". The first draft is for literally letting your brain throw up on the page and watch what happens. It's like putting ideas down so you can whittle it down later. Scenes will come and go, and that's okay. I bet we'd be shocked at how many scenes were cut from Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. And that's the beauty of writing...whatever doesn't work in one book will certainly work in another. >:)

So get over those first draft tremors. In fact, don't even think of this as a first draft. Think of it as preliminary writing, to get the feel of the book, explore the characters, and explore the world. Because, um, cough, basically you will have to rewrite the whole book when the first draft is finished. <:)


Planning
I've done a million things on planning, and I can't express to you how important it is. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST A NEWBORN BABY'S GRIP ON HOW YOUR STORY IS GONNA GO. Knowing the characters is NOT ENOUGH. You have to at least know where you story is going, a few big plot points, and how it's going to end. As the bare minimum. It's best to have a sketchy outline done on paper of the entire book, or go chapter at a time and write them as you plan them. Both work, as I've tried both.


So you're in the middle of writing a first draft?
While you're in the middle of writing your book, everything seems lame. I know. It isn't. It's not a book, remember. It's just exploration of what your book could be. Of what it will be. You are exploring your options, figuring out what works and what doesn't. Don't worry about randomness, long dialogue, chunks of description...it doesn't matter. It's your writing, you're just feeling the ground so that you can dive into the story in the next draft.


Just remember...
First drafts are CAKE. All you have to do is write! How easy is that? No extensive worry on plot, structure, or anything! You have freedom to write what you want, no matter how random and boring it is. So go crazy!

Randumb NaNoWriMo Update

Me:

My Characters:

Me:

Fine, I'll write.

Characters:

Me:

Characters:

Me:

Characters:

Me:

Characters:

Me:

Characters:

Me:

Characters:

Me:

...

Inside the Character: Lane, Miles, and Chloe

October's ItC: Lane Rubio, my incredibly-favorite-main-character-I've-ever-had in my current NaNoWriMo novel, Miles Colburn, and Chloe Keaton.

Lane's appearance is a funny (for me, anyways...more like disturbing for everyone else...) story. You see, I am a recent Pinterest member, so I was on Pinterest looking up character inspiration for Lane. I didn't know what I wanted him to look like. I knew he was 16. And I think I wanted him to have, like, black hair or something. So with this vague idea in mind, I searched, waiting for something to attack me. When it did.

I didn't really expect it to happen so violently. I saw this picture, and my brain literally stopped in it's tracks and said, "Whoa, Ana...that's him. That's your guy. Just...just look."

I did. And then I wallowed on the floor in ecstasy and inspiration.

(I tried to get my sister in on the excitement but she just looked at me weird.)

It's like Lane himself said, "WHOA, THAT'S ME!!! LOOK, AUTHOR!!! I'M ME!!!!"

So, without further ado, here is Lane Rubio.

Yup. That's exactly it.

Miles would be played by Sterling Beaumon (at least I think that's who he is...?).

And Chloe would be played by this lady!

Tell us about yourselves!

Lane: Well, okay, I guess. My name's Lane Rubio, and I'm sixteen years old. I'm the illegal child of two aliens, or 'non-Aryans', and I'm also ADHD, claustrophobic, and dyslexic. So, yeah, really not an Aryan, who are, like, the perfect perfect people.

Miles: Hey. We're Aryans.

Lane: Well, you know. I'm a freak.

Chloe: Your biological abnormalities don't make you a freak, we've been through this before.

Miles: Well, I'm Miles Colburn, and I'm an Aryan, and I'm fifteen years old. I have a eidetic memory, so I can remember everything, which pretty much makes me really smart. Or so I've been told.

Chloe: And I am Chloe Keaton. I'm the student body president of die Schule.

Miles: She's also the best student in the whole campus.

Chloe: *rolls eyes*

Lane: It's true. She once judo-flipped me into a tree. I have the scars.

Chloe: Shut up!

Where do you spend most of your time?
Lane: At die Schule, a training school for Aryans. They go there when they're six, if they pass the examination.
Miles: Yeah. Me and Lane mostly hang out at our room. Or the cafeteria. Or the gym.
Chloe: Unfortunately Lane and I spend a lot of time at the gym. He's out of shape.
Lane: *pout*

What's die Schule?
Lane: Die Schule is a school for Aryans. It basically trains them to be mini soldiers. Most Aryans work for the Nazis, and die Schule basically picks out the best of the best to be actual soldiers and go on missions to Britain and stuff.
Miles: Yeah. Fun!
Chloe: Was that sarcasm?

Who's your closest friend?
Lane: Miles. No question. He was my first friend, and my roommate to boot.
Miles: Awwwww, really?! *HUGGLE*
Lane: Dude, in an interview here!
Miles: Oh...sorry. Official-looking... AWKWARD.
Chloe: You guys are so embarrassing.
Lane: Oh, and Chloe too! <:D
Chloe: -_-
Miles: I LOVE LANE TOOOOOO!!!
Chloe: *sigh*
M & L:...So?! CHLOE?!
Chloe: ...*mumbles something*
Lane: Come on, Chloe. Say it.
Chloe: *huff* My best friend is...probably...Lane.
Lane: Ha ha! *huggie*
Chloe: 0.0

If you could meet anyone, who would it be?
Lane: Percy Jackson.
Miles: Whaaa?
Lane: What? I think we have a lot in common.
Me: How dare you give away my subconscious copycat.
Lane: Sorry. No, we're not really alike. I'm not as crazy. Obviously.
Miles: I'd meet um...ooh! No...Yeah! No...TAILS THE FOX!! BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SAME NAME AND WE'RE BOTH SMART. :D
Lane: /:|
Chloe: Do I have to answer? I don't like people that much.
Me: No, you don't, because I like you.
Chloe: :P

What's your favorite thing to do?
Lane: Probably physical training.
Miles: Yeah, because you're OCD.
Lane: It's ADHD, Miles, you doorknob.
Miles: Whatever, he's loopy either way. :P
Chloe: All you do is make fun of poor Lane. Why don't you answer something for once?
Miles: Oh, right, sorry. I like reading, and computers, and technol...techknowledgy...
Me: AHK HOW DO I SPELL TECHNOLOGY?! Oh there we go.
Miles —technology. And stuff. :)
Chloe: I enjoy physical training as well. It's probably what I'm best at, anyways.
Lane: Besides, you know, everything else.
Chloe: *punches*

What's your most awkward moment?
Lane: Um...when Chloe came to my door decked out in a prom dress and stuff. Like she was actually a girl. And wearing color.
Chloe: *wanting to strangle him*
Lane: So yeah. That was weird.
Miles: I'm gonna have to go with that too. Very unexpected.
Chloe: Why?! The dance was that night, did you expect me to show up looking like THIS?
M & L:...
Lane: ...Would it hurt too badly if I said 'yeah'?
Chloe: *punches again* My most awkward moment is when Lane tried to talk to me about, like, feelings and sadness and anger and stuff, and he was bumbling like an idiot.
Lane: I didn't want anything awkward to come out. I was just trying to have a serious conversation.
Miles: Oh yeah, we had one of those once. You punched me in the face.
Lane: I was young a crazy.
Miles: -_-...That was two months ago.
Lane: Either way.
Chloe: *rolling eyes*
Lane: But it was just a conversation. About normal stuff. Like how angry Chloe was all the time.
Chloe: I'M NOT ANGRY ALL THE TIME!
Lane: Of course you're not! <:D
Chloe: >:8(
Miles: Lovebirds, aren't they?
L & C: >:8(
Miles: ...Heheh...
L & C: *pummel him*

Me: Okay, I think that's enough for now. Don't want people to get too overwhelmed here...

<:D

Sorry about that...little out of hand, wasn't it?

Well, it made up for my lack of postage last month. So ha ha!

:P


Pinterest boards:
Chloe's character board
Lane's character board
Miles's character board
Superior Race storyboard

NaNoWriMo 2013; *me actually doing it* :D :D :D :D :D :( :D :D :D

Yeah. My post titles rock. People will go through my archives and cry from the coolness contained in one web page.

Onto the subject matter.

For the last going-on-three years, I've (*SCREECHY GASP* BATTERY POWER AT 3%?!?!?! AND BROTHER TOOK MY CHARGER TO COLLEGE?!?!?!? *ANGRY PIRATE GROWL*) participated in the phenomenon that is NaNoWriMo. But, miraculously, I've been booked for the past two Novembers. Amazing coincidence, isn't it? The first year I discovered NaNoWriMo, my little sister was born via C-section, thus resulting in me and my other sister housekeeping whilst my mother recovered. The second November, we were in the middle of packing up to move out of our old house. So, this November, I am totally dedicated to finishing a novel in one month.

Yes. Yes I am.

I am stunned at how much I have planned, being one of those non-planners. I usually like to go by the whim of things, to "fly by the seat of my pants," as my daddy would say. I usually make up the characters, get a grasp of the basic storyline, then start writing and see where it takes me. I've found that I usually get extremely bored and confused by the middle of my book, so this time I decided I would fully outline and plan this year's NaNoWriMo novel.

So, I sat down with my brain. Yes, I really did. I had it in my lap. Oh, I should probably clarify that. You see, I own a binder called "my brain". I actually put stickers on it called that and everything.

<<< That, my friends, is my brain. I suggest every writer in the world get one. It can be anything you want—whatever works for you. mine is a binder, which I write whatever I want in and regularly print random pictures of random people whom I believe in my small little head to look like my characters, and then I also have a whole wall of sticky notes over there too.

<<< Yes, that's my new house. Yes, that's my shoulder. Yes, that shirt is new. Yes, it's quite awesome. My little brother is hiding somewhere in this picture too. Mysterious, isn't it?

So anyways. I sat down with my brain to plan out my book and GASP!!! I actually did it!!! I wrote out detailed character bios, planned a very quick overview of the entire book, and now I'm currently going chapter by chapter and penning down detailed synopses of each one. I'm on chapter 11! YAY!!!

So that's my NaNoWriMo story of me actually doing NaNoWriMo this year. For real. And not cheating. ;)

All for now!! Check back for a sneak peek on what I'm writing.... >:}

(It just occurred to me that none of my typey smiley faces have noses...)

So, how's your NaNoWriMo adventure looking?

MY NANOWRIMO PAGE LINK: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/user/588296