Temporary Schedule Changes // I Need My Sanity, Guys…

Hi guys! I’m so glad to be back from my mini hiatus, back in the blogosphere!

I do have an announcement though. And I hope this doesn’t cause too much of a stir. There are going to be a few (temporary!) changes here on my blog. For the duration of October and till the end of November, I’m only going to be posting every other week, instead of my usual once a week. I’ve been very worried about trying to prep for NaNo and it takes a load off my back not having to worry about getting a post up every week.

I’m working on a shiny new post as we speak and I will be back next week! I hope I haven’t let you all down, I’ve just been feeling really overwhelmed of late. This is only temporary, and I’ll be back to once a week come December. (Wow, it’s almost December already?! O_O)

And now, for your consideration:

An adorable panda gif! 😀

Thank you all for understanding and I hope you’re having a glorious fall! ^_^

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Once Upon a Time… // The Best Ways to Begin a Story

Beginnings are such an important part of any story. They’re what hook your reader, making them want to continue on, and possibly stay up past bedtime, flipping pages.

But beginnings are hard.

For my book Imprint, I totally rewrote the beginning prologue/chapter nearly five times. And to this day, I still don’t think it feels right.

In the beginning of your story, there is so much to be expected. I know I’ve put down tons of books just because the first few pages didn’t capture my attention. It’s a sad thing, but it’s true. And it hurts me even more, because I know how hard it is, coming up with a good beginning.

So, to save some of you writers the heartache of rejection by readers, here are five of the best (in my opinion) ways to start your story.

Strong emotions

It’s the beginning of everything. Absolutely anything could happen. But it needs to be something your readers are going to care about. I know for me, hitting me in the emotions is the best way to get me interested. As a reader, I like to be so emotionally vested in the characters, that they feel real.

Right in the thick of the moment

 

Starting in the middle of action scenes is a great way to begin your story, but only if you can do it well. If you drop your reader into an uber intense moment and they can’t figure out what’s happening within the first few paragraphs, then they will most likely become frustrated and drop the book.

Now, you don’t have to explain everything within the first chapter. That would be boring. It’s finding the balance of explanation and hook that will really make your action scene impactful.

Beginning at the end

This is a different, less normal way of beginning, but it can work. Using this type of beginning is kind of like beginning a movie with a flashback. And flashbacks can be really, really cheesy. But they can also be epic and set up your novel in an incredible way. (Also, this type is easier to write if your novel is in the first person. I’ve never heard of a third person book starting from the beginning, but you could be the writer to prove me wrong!)

A question

Starting with a literal question, either spoken by a character, or stated by the narrator, is a great way to begin. In my novel, the very first sentence is a question, actually spoken aloud by one of the characters. Questions are kind of like a cheat in writing. Of course if you ask a question, you’re reader is going to want an answer. That’s how people are. But if you do this, be sure to answer the question. You don’t want an angry hoard of readers coming at you because you didn’t give them the answer they were looking for, do you?

A metaphorical outlook

I haven’t read many books with a poetic beginning. In fact, if it was, I would probably put it down. I don’t have time for flowery description. (If you do, that’s great! But I don’t.) But that’s not necessarily what I mean by ‘metaphorical’. Maybe the word I mean is ‘symbolic’. Something that sets the story off, and keeps appearing throughout the whole story. It could be anything. A special event, an object, an idea, anything.

As I mentioned in a previous post, symbolism will ‘echo’ throughout your whole story, leaving an impact in its wake, thus, holding readers attention.

Well, that’s all I had to say about that subject. There’s no perfect way to beginning a story. I think the most important thing is to just…begin. What kind of beginnings do you like best?

Mini Post // Small Hiatus

Hello guys! Just a quick announcement, I won’t be posting for the rest of September. I’m trying to focus on my writing, and coming up with content for this blog is distracting me from my goal.

But fear not! I will be back in October with posts, snappiness, and general mayhem. And, of course, I will still be reading and commenting on all of your lovely blogs. 🙂

Have a wonderful rest of September, fellow bloggers!

The Goodreads Tag

Hi guys! I haven’t done a tag in a while…And since I’m fresh out of ideas (and maybe a bit of a procrastinator XD ) this is what I’m doing. 🙂

What was the last book you marked as ‘read’?

That would be The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Shannon and Dean Hale. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. *flails* But I mean, it’s Marvel. I’m not going to hate it. 🙂 I actually bought this book at a writer’s conference I went to this summer and HAD IT SIGNED by Shannon herself! So…that was pretty awesome.

What are you currently reading?

The book I’m currently reading cannot be marked on Goodreads, as it’s a beta-read of my friend Tracey’s novel, The Brightest Thread. ^_^

What was the last book you marked as ‘to-read’?

I believe it was Unblemished by Sara Ella. I saw Savannah had reviewed the second book and the series looked right up my alley! Plus, pretty cover. *drools*

What book do you plan to read next?

Hmm…I don’t really plan these things, the books just call to me and I give in to one of them. XD I would really like to start on the next book in the Michael Vey series though. I’ve read the first three books and I REALLY need to start on the fourth. 😀

Do you use the star rating system?

Yes! I can usually give a solid rating, but sometimes I have so many mixed feelings and so I include my half-star rating at the bottom of my review.

Are you doing a 2017 reading challenge?

*cringes*

*doesn’t want to talk about it*

Yes. I did set a 50 book goal for myself…but I’m exactly at the halfway point. So unless I can read 25 books by the end of this year…I will have failed my bookish self.

Me, in regards to reading

 

And I don’t even have the excuse of being busy with work! I just got a new job a month ago. 😛 Oh well. I guess I’ve just been busy writing instead. 😉

Do you have a wishlist?

Does a fish live in water? XD

What book do you plan to buy next?

I do plan on buying Renegades by Marissa Meyer as soon as it comes out. BUT NOVEMBER IS SO FAR AWAY. *cries*

Do you have any favorite quotes, would you like to share a few?

I sure do! ^_^

“Never judge a book by its movie.”
― J.W. Eagan

 

“A library is infinity under a roof.”
― Gail Carson Levine

 

“I cannot live without books.”
― Thomas Jefferson

Who are your favorite authors?

Ooh, a tough one. We could be here a while. XD I love…Marissa Meyer, Shannon Hale, Gail Carson Levine, Heather Dixon, Anne Elisabeth Stengl, and Kate DiCamillo, to name a few. 🙂

Have you joined any groups?

I’m only in two groups…and not particularly active in either of them. 😛 I am a lazy octopus.

How many shelves do you have on Goodreads?

Let’s see…It’s 43, including the preset shelves. Wowza… XD How did I end up with so many shelves?!

So that’s the tag! I hope you enjoyed! I’m not tagging any people, since this is such an old tag. But if you think it looks fun, then go for it! ^_^

Pitiful Prose // Dan and the Faeries

Hey fellow bloggers! Looks like it’s time to be pitiful… XD This was actually a dream I had, and tried to rewrite. I also started getting into the concept of using sarcasm in my writing, as I blatantly stated in the sixth line. XD

As I walked through the chilly autumn air I started to really think, is school really all that great? are my friends true?, Will the bully ever stop?

I walked up to my house on 5th street. Home.

“hi honey! I have to go to a meeting, so be good and watch your brother, Dinner is in the fridge.” then she zoomed out the door.

Well, my brother won’t be a problem because he’s at our neighbors’ house. I peek into the fridge.

Spaghetti.

“Oh boy!” I said sarcastically.

I went up to my room, not feeling very hungry. I went straight to my desk to do homework. I also opened the window to get some fresh air.

As I was trying to figure out what the average of 75 was I heard a slight tap on the window.

Huh? I thought.

Just a fly.

I kept working. I was still trying to figure out the average of 75 (math is not my best subject) I heard it again. I slight tap on the window.

Ok, either a bird or just the wind, I’m figuring out what that sound is. I took off the screen and looked around and saw….Dan?

What was he doing here? He was the one throwing sticks at my window.

I got my rope (I keep a rope in my closet) and threw it down and climbed.

I soon came to the bottom.

“I’ve tried to get your attention for 10 mins.!

Oh, sorry. I said What was so important?

I need your help!

Horrible punctuation galore! XD And how do you find the average of 75? If you can figure that out, let me know what the answer is down below! XD

Music Every Writer Should Check Out

If you didn’t already know this about me, I LOVE music. I play piano and a little violin, and I also listen to all sorts of genres. So, naturally, I would like listening to music when I write. I’ve discovered so many amazing artists because of this, on Pandora and YouTube.

And so, I thought I would share my top favorite artists I listen to while I write. I’ve thrown in a mix of all sorts of musicians, ranging from big names to smaller, but still great, artists. ^_^ Maybe you’ll find a new favorite!

Lindsey Stirling

Okay, so no surprise there. I LOVE Lindsey’s music! It’s so fast and upbeat, perfect for action and chase scenes. She’s also branched out into more vocal songs too.

If you’re new to her, listen to: Roundtable Rival, Crystallize, Shadows

Zack Hemsey

 

He writes amazing, electronic/classical/orchestral music! He has several albums out and though I haven’t listened to all of his songs, the ones I have I’ve LOVED.

If you’re new to him, listen to: Mind Heist, Redemption, Informing the Target

Hans Zimmer

A pretty big name, but for obvious reasons. His music pulls at all of your emotions. Every movie I’ve watched that he’s scored I’ve fallen in love with the soundtrack.

If you’re new to him, listen to: Time, He’s a Pirate, Dark Knight Overture

Josh Vietti

He’s a violinist much like Lindsey who writes his own songs. He mixes electric with his violin so amazingly. He also does covers of hip-hop songs too. 🙂

If you’re new to him, listen to: In a Trance, Night in Paris, Toccata

Alan Walker

A great artist who solely uses electronic instruments to make his music. He used to be a really small artist, but he’s now become a giant in the EDM world.

If you’re new to him, listen to: Spectre, Memories, New Heart

Simply Three

 

These guys do mostly instrumental covers of songs, but they do them in such creative ways, I hardly realized I’m listening to a lyrical song!

If you’re new to them, listen to: Sweet Dreams, Maverick, Heathens

Jennifer Thomas

This is an artist I found while listening on Pandora. She writes her own piano music and occasionally plays the violin. Her music is filled with lots of drama and suspense.

If you’re new to her, listen to: Illumination, Toccata and Fugue, Rainforest

David Garrett

Another violinist! I guess I really like violin…XD David is an amazing artist who does covers and also writes his own music. His songs are intense, fast, and furious.

If you’re new to him, listen to: Vivaldi vs. Vertigo, The 5th, Master of Puppets

Two Steps from Hell

Don’t let their name fool you! Their music is awesome. They do original orchestral works with lots of emotion and action. Their music has helped me through many rough patches while writing.

If you’re new to them, listen to: El Dorado, Hypnotica, SkyWorld

Vitamin String Quartet

This group does covers of popular songs and arranges them for strings. They do everything, from old 70s and 80s songs to wedding music. I love their style.

If you’re new to them, listen to: They have soooo many covers, but to recommend a few; Kryptonite, Chandelier, Merry Go Round of Life

Philip Wesley

His music is the perfect setting for sad, all-is-lost, moments in you story. He writes soulful, bittersweet ballads that really tug at your heartstrings.

If you’re new to him, listen to: The Approaching Night, Racing Against the Sunset, Tears of the East

ThePianoGuys

If you haven’t already heard of these guys (which I’m positive you have), GO LISTEN TO THEM. They mix classical with modern, mix songs, melding them into different genres, and all with the beautiful sound of the cello and piano.

If you’re new to them, listen to: Code Name Vivaldi, CeLLOOPa, Cello Wars

Taylor Davis

She does arrangements of TV show, movie, and video game songs, and she does them WELL. She also writes a bit of her own music too.

If you’re new to her, listen to: Avengers theme, Star Wars Medley, Megalovania

Helen Jane Long

Not very well-known at all, but still magnificently beautiful, Helen writes thoughtful, quiet music that still conveys a number of emotions.

If you’re new to her, listen to: Expression, Release, Doll

Wow, that was a long list…kudos to you if you made it through. I guess I just love music so much. XD Have you heard of any of these artists? What do you listen to? Let me know down below!

Character Conversations // Jason

Hello guys! And oh my goodness…this is the last character from The D trilogy I have to share with you! This was such a fun thing! I know a lot of you liked these posts, so…I may have to take characters from another story I’m working on. *sly smile* But anyway, thanks for all of you likes and comments. They make me smile. 🙂

And now, on to the final character!

Me: Welcome, Mr. Meredith.

Jason: Just call me Jason please.

M: Okay, Jason. Tell me about where you work.

J: Well, I work at the FIBS. As a banker.

M: I’m told that the FIBS is both a bank and also a museum of sorts?

J: Yes, it is. We have lots of different artifacts found from all over the world. The FIBS is the safest place for them so we keep all sorts of things in the vaults. *whispers* Though…not many people know that we keep this stuff. It’s not common knowledge to the public.

M: Really? What kinds of things are kept there?

J: *freezes* I can’t tell you that.

M: *frowns* Fine. What can you tell me then?

J: About the bank? We have over a hundred employees. It’s one of the safest banks in the entire world. That’s why villains are always trying to break in.

M: Makes sense. If there’s hidden treasures in there, they’re sure to want it. So I know your family. Lena is your daughter, right?

J: Yes, Lena is my daughter. She’s a brilliant girl. Stubborn, but very smart. And my wife, Susan, is a wonderful woman.

M: So you don’t have any other family?

J: No. Just Lena. Why?

M: Just curious. So do you find working at the bank challenging?

J: It…definitely proves challenging. I’m the head of the entire building. It’s a very stressful job. But I have help from my three other heads of the city.

M: You mean Gavin and Brett?

J: Those are the ones. We all work in together as one entity, in a way. And we all the same boss.

M: Aidan Coel.

J: Right. I think I keep in better contact with her than Gav or Brett. She’s nice. Really persistent. Strong. I admire her diligence.

M: Hmm. So your wife runs The Book Stop, right? Do you help her in that area?

J: Susan is a very good businesswoman. In fact, when I first met her, she already had the book store up and running. She doesn’t need my help. *smiles*

M: How did you meet?

J: I had just been called to become head of the Bank. I was ecstatic, so I left my apartment in North Dakota and moved right into Fallcoast. Only a few days after I’d been settled in, I was wandering the streets when I saw a quaint little book store. Well, I love to read, so I stepped in and there she was. We got to know each other, and now we’ve been married for nearly ten years.

M: How sweet. But my records say here that you used to live in New York before you moved to Fallcoast.

J: Yes, I did, when I was very young. I moved from New York, to North Dakota, to Minnesota. Inching my way closer, you could say. *laughs*

M: Do you know the Kauffmans?

J: Tony Kauffman? Yes. He’s in charge of the tech firm outside of Fallcoast. Why?

M: So you know Jake, then, right?

J: Yes, Lena’s friend. They study together sometimes. But why are you asking?

M: I’m just curious. Do you like it here in Fallcoast?

J: Yes, very much. As you said, I used to live in New York. I had a lot of bad stuff happen to me there. It was good to move away from it. Get it out of the way.

M: Right. Okay, so a few more questions before I let you go. What’s your favorite food?

J: Susan’s lasagna. It’s an old Italian family recipe.

M: Do you have any hobbies outside of your work?

J: Like I said before, I do like reading. I also enjoy helping Susan cook meals.

M: That’s nice. *hesitates* Do you have an opinion on Supers?

J: *frowns* Um…I do. I…tend to get a bit longwinded though, so I’ll…spare you.

M: *cocks head* Well, thank you for coming.

J: Sure. I’m glad I could.

He seems like a nice guy, right? Or maybe not. It’s hard for me to say because…well, I know his backstory. But what do you think? Let me know below!

P.S. Also, again, this is the last CC post for a while. Until I have more characters to share with you, these posts will have to be put on hold. Thank you again for all of your comments! ^_^

#WIPjoy // Crown of Thorns

Hi guys! I recently saw Katie (who you should check out, because, she’s awesome) do this challenge type thing and I thought it looked like a really fun way to share my WIP with you guys! It’s originally a Twitter challenge, where you answer each question a day for a month. But I thought I’d pick out some of my favorites of the questions and just answer those in one, simple blog post. I hope you enjoy! 🙂

Describe yourself and your WIP!

I’m a Christian, homeschooled, geeky, bookworm and musician who loves to write! 🙂 As for my WIP, it’s a brother story, in the fantasy genre, about a pair of twins, magic, nightmares, and darkness, and discovering what lengths you would go to for the safety of your world. (Wow, that sounds…heavy. XD It’s not all gloom and doom, I promise!)

Your 1st inspiration for this WIP.

My first inspiration came from an early morning thought. (Ever had those? Like, half-dream, half-thought?) I was picturing two guys on a journey, and they had just been resting for the night, and waking up in the morning to find that one of them had thorns protruding from their body! ‘Dream thorns’, is what I called them. And the idea just took off from there. First it was a short story, then a novella, and now…it’s a full-fledged novel. That happens to me a lot. XD

What parts of this WIP are drawn from personal experience?

This book is a lot about dreams and fear, two things I’ve dealt with often in my life so far. I’ve always had really vivid dreams, always been able to remember them really well. And that’s not always a good thing when they’re nightmares. I remember those ones only too well. And that’s where fear comes in. Fear is one of my biggest struggles. From little fears, like anxiety and stress, to bigger, more frightening fear, I feel like I’ve dealt with it all.

In this story, my MC, Jerrick, because of his special abilities, has very, very bad nightmares. Early on in the book, he has to deal with insomnia, because he’s so afraid of falling asleep. But even though fear is such a big part of this book, there’s still hope and light. Fear can be conquered! *nods determinedly*

Describe your MC’s personality with a GIF.

What’s something you’re still figuring out with this WIP?

Um…how about everything? XD Mostly I’m trying to figure out the middle part. I’ve got a pretty good beginning, and I know exactly how I want it to end, but…that darn middle part. Can’t it just write itself?

WOULD YOU RATHER: have tea with your antagonist, or be stuck in an elevator for 3 hours with your MC?

NEVER. I WOULD NEVER HAVE TEA WITH MY ANTAGONIST. *gulps* Jerrick would be a great guy to be stuck in an elevator with! I mean, he probably wouldn’t know what in the world an elevator is, but we could pass the time away, easily.

Your MC’s aesthetic in 7 phrases.

Broken. Bursting with compassion. Heart of solid gold. Persistent till the end. Braver than a lion. Afraid of the dark. So, so tired.

3 books that go nicely with yours.

Hmm…I would probably say Illusionarium by Heather Dixon, Jackaby by William Ritter, and Six of Crows by Leigh BarDugo. They all have a similar feel that I think compliment my story quite nicely. 🙂

Choose an ideal reading spot, food, drink, and music to go with your book.

Let’s see! The best spot would definitely be by a windowsill on a rainy day, light thunder, and the gentle patter of rain on the windowpane. A warm oatmeal scotchie with a glass of milk. And this playlist.

Well, there you are. I hope you’ve gotten to know my latest WIP a bit better. Are you intrigued? Bored? Let me know in the comments below!

Character Conversations // Gavin

Hello! Today, I have a bit of a shorter interview for you. Which I guess makes sense, since this is a very disgruntled, huffy character. So…I’m sorry? I guess? XD (Also, this is my second to the last post of TD characters! I’ve so enjoyed sharing them with you! ^_^)

Me: Morning, officer Mahr.

Gavin: Yes, it’s morning. Are you interviewing?

M: …Yes. Is that okay?

G: Well sure it’s okay! What do you want to know?

M: Um…let’s see, what can you tell me about being the head of the police station?

G: It’s an interesting job, for sure. Dealing with criminals, Supers, miscreants…It makes you feel important.

M: You mentioned Supers. I’ve heard that Supers are treated differently from non-Super criminals.

G: Yes, they are. Because they’re so much more dangerous than your run-of-the-mill criminal, we have to deal with them in different ways.

M: I…don’t think I wanna know what those ways are. How long have you been chief?

G: Nearly five years now. I started when I was young. I had a thirst for justice.

M: Hmm…Do you work well with your co-workers?

G: For the most part. We dispute, but it always gets sorted out. Not to drop any names, but Robert Pierre is the one I fight with most. *shakes head* Stubborn as a mule, he is.

M: Yeah, that’s…true. Do you have a family?

G: Me and my wife are having our seventh anniversary this year.

M: Aw, congratulations. I’m so happy for you.

G: We don’t have kids. We’ve decided we just don’t have the time to raise them.

M: *sad face* Oh. I suppose that’s understandable. But you like your job, right?

G: Yes. I’ve always thought that if I hadn’t become a cop, I’d have become a lawyer.

M: *murmurs* That would’ve been interesting…*shakes head, then straightens* I know you’re chief of the station, but I understand that you have a boss of your own?

G: Yes, Aidan Coel is the only person I answer too. She’s a little rough, but I like that. Straight to the point, no dithering.

M: I see. You’ve been a cop for a good amount of time. What’s it like? Wrangling Supers?

G: Why are you so fascinated with Supers? They’re dangerous and should be taken care of.

M: Who told you that?

G: Are you back-talking me?

M: Just never mind. It’s obviously a touchy subject.

G: My brother died because of a Super!

M: …

M: …Oh. I…I didn’t know. I’m-

G: Sorry? You’re sorry? That’s what every says. But it doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t bring him back.

M: *swallows* I…I think it’d be best if we wrapped this interview up. *hesitates* What’s your favorite food?

G: *sighs* I like chips and hummus. My wife makes good hummus.

M: What’s your favorite season?

G: Winter. When things are quieter.

M: *nods* Okay, last question. What was your brother’s name?

G: *glares, gets up, and leaves without another word*

Gavin has a somewhat tragic backstory…It’s so interesting, digging deeper into his story. What do you think? Do you like him, or is he too blunt? Let me know down below!

Old-Fashioned Is… {A Poem}

riding the buckboard, square dances abound,

big dresses, apple cider, and holding doors for girls.

fiddle music, peppermint sticks, singing in the rain,

gentlemen giving ladies such lovely chains of pearls.

 

letters coming in the mail, praying you son will be home soon,

kneading bread, hopscotch, running through the woods,

playing make-believe, you, a princess, him, a knight,

sitting in church, being quiet, was your childhood.

 

rocking chairs, lemonade, popcorn around the tree,

simple skirts, fine-pressed doilies, reading the morning news,

flowery wallpaper, leather furniture, Louis Armstrong on the air,

sitting ’round the fireplace, hot casserole, finding a book to peruse.

 

soda fountains jukeboxes, triple scoop cones,

Chuck Berry singing, twirling in your poodle skirt,

the smell of a candy shop, chocolate only a dime,

ponytails, white high-tops, and turtleneck sweatshirts.

 

getting your picture taken, browsing old photo albums,

playing at the park, marbles, tag, and jump rope.

a longing face turned upon the toy shop, all the goodies inside,

cooking meals, sitting together, saying grace, in hope.

 

picnics in the shade, laughter, games of croquet,

happy reunions, playing cards, telephones ringing,

climbing trees, dangling on swings, swimming in the creek,

watching the sunset, the stars come out, leaving you wondering.

 

Saturday morning cartoons, your favorite cereal,

your parent’s old Elvis records playing loud,

jeans, tie-dye shirts, platform shoes, disco music blaring,

imagining, i wonder if my ancestors would be proud.

 

What do you think of when you hear ‘old-fashioned’? Let me know down below!