Important Update // I Am Not Dead!

Hello guys! This is just a quick update to let you know

I HAVE NOT ABANDONED THIS BLOG!

Halfway through the second week, I realized, oh darnit, I never announced I was taking a hiatus ARGH. So…it’s a bit late, but…I’ll be taking a hiatus this month. XD

As far as NaNo goes, it’s been moving along fairly well for me. I’m trying to keep my word count above the required amount of words for the day, and I’ve actually been doing it, which is so shocking to me. XD

So, yeah. I’ll have my next real post out early December. (MY WORD HOW IS DECEMBER COMING SO FAST >_>) How is NaNo going for all you other writers so far? Have you died yet? Are you doing better than you thought you ever could? Let me know down below!

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Probably the Scariest Story You’ll Ever Read // Spooky Story Link-up 2018

Hi guys! I have a spooky story for Jenelle’s contest! I think it will properly send a little shiver down your spine…It will probably be the scariest story you’ll ever read, so…be prepared…*ominous music begins to play*

The trees spindly fingers snapped in the wind, an eerie tune that whispered in the back of one’s head, inescapable.

It prickled across Grace‘s skin, making her shudder. Her heart thumped viciously. She stood quietly, fearfully on the porch, nervously twiddling with her apron strings, watching as a man kneeled in the cemetery, his cloak fluttering in the gale, his pale skin illuminated by the moon’s glow.

The wind fluttered crisply through her fair hair, blowing it into her face, obscuring her vision. She felt a hand on her shoulder and whipped around to see George.

“George,” she said, quivering. George said nothing, but gripped her harder. She imagined his knuckles to be white as snow.

They both watched as the man stood abruptly and slowly ambled away. They promptly lost sight of him.

“Why did you bring us here, George?” Grace cried indignantly. “Why couldn’t we have picked a better home? Somewhere far away from any cemetery or mysterious man?”

George sighed shakily. Though it was dark, Grace saw the fear in his eyes. “You know why, dear one.”

Annie and Alice slowly crept out from their hiding place beside a potted plant that had been long dead. “Mother? Father?” Annie whispered. “What is the matter? Are we in danger?”

The wind picked up, whistling angrily, clouding the world in a dark, confusing blur. It swept through the gravestones, singing its eerie song under the moonlight.

“Get in the house immediately,” George snapped, his fingers like ice.

The ladies shivered and whimpered as they hoisted their skirts up and hustled inside.

George followed closely behind them, and then locked the door behind him when they were all safely inside. The night was growing darker and the moon seemed to focus on the graveyard, giving it a ghostly spotlight. The wind howled, begging to enter the house, rattling the half-shattered windows.

A sudden, ferocious clabber at the door pierced through the irritated wind.

Annie and Alice screamed, and Grace snatched their wrists and dragged them away from the door, holding them tightly. Her face was pale as death.

George seized his pistol from a small drawer in a rickety old nightstand, cocked it carefully, quietly, and slowly made his way to the door.

“I don’t like this place,” Alice cried, her voice shaking with sobs. Grace hugged her daughters firmly.

The door burst open, filling the house with the cold, angry wind. The man from the graveyard stood in the entrance, furiously rubbing his hands across his arms, shaking violently from the cold.

George roared and pointed his gun at the man’s heart.

The man’s head shot up, and his screech overwhelmed the drone of the wind.

The Taylors vanished without a single sound.

The wind continued to pound against the windows, filling the house with a haunting symphony.

The graveyard looked distant and watery, like a dream.

Brian unsteadily took his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed his friends’ number.

“Come and pick me up.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Now.”

“What? What’s wrong, I thought you were visiting your grandpa’s grave?”

“I saw…I saw…”

The world faded to black.

 

 

 

“…Hello? Brian? You still there…?

Quite spooky, right? O.O On a lighter note, what’s your favorite Halloween candy? Let me know down below!

Know the Novel // Part One: Introductory

Hello guys! So…I have an announcement!

I’m doing NaNoWriMo!!!

I just really love this GIF. XD

It’s going to be a little different from my previous novel writing attempts though, since I’m going to be rewriting my novel that I wrote waaaaay back in 2014, my very first month-long writing experience (I was inspired by Mirriam way back when, so I did it for JuNoWriMo, rather than NaNoWriMo).

You might know about this novel, I’ve been calling it Imprint forever, but currently, I’ve titled it Rewritten, which I think is quite fitting. XD I’ll probably keep referring to it as Imprint, because I can’t help myself, but on my NaNo page, it says Rewritten.

I’ve been slowly working on this book for nearly FIVE YEARS now, and…well, I’m putting my fist down. This will be THE FINAL REVISION. THE REVISION TO END ALL REVISIONS. Maybe not, but I am going to be done with this book after the month of November (I mean, I’ll probably still do SOME editing, but nothing huge).

I’M SO EXCITED GUYS. *does a little happy dance*

You may have seen Christine’s new linkup on her blog, or from other bloggers, and since I think it looks like the coolest thing since Liv’s linkup, I’m going to give it a shot!

Basically, it’s a three part challenge October through December, this first part being an ‘introductory’ type of deal, where one can acquaint others to their novels through a series of ten questions.

Let’s jump in!

• What first sparked the idea for this novel?

I’ve always loved fairytale retellings, they were my main source of inspiration for my stories when I was younger. I liked the idea of a girl being able to travel into books, fairytales specifically, and what would happen if she messed up the story.

That was when I was ten, and though the story has morphed incredibly since then, I’ve still kept the idea, though very loosely.

• Share a blurb!

Since a young age, Paige Turner has been able to read herself into books. She never thought it would get her into trouble. One day while she’s at the bookstore, a cloak-wearing man tries to slit her wrists. Things only grow worse after that. Soon Paige and her friend Markus are caught in the middle of deadly feud between a vengeful wizard and a mysterious man. If they want to make it out alive, they’re going to have to have to use more than their booksmarts…

• Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?

Half of the time it’s in a contemporary world, much like in real life. The other half takes place in my own little fantasy world, Nore.

I think my favorite part about Nore is that there are so many opportunities to spin things on their head it’s modeled after book genres, with realms like Contemporalis, Fanastasia, Mythologia, and such. To us, it appears to be the world of books, but to the inhabitants there, it’s just everyday life. Every realm is unique, and playing with different literary tropes found in different genres to give the realms their customs and culture is so, so fun. 😀

• Tell us about your protagonist.

Paige is a bookworm all the way. She loves reading in all genres, but fantasy and science fiction in particular. So…I mean, I kind of love her just for that? XD

She’s a tad reserved, quiet, but can be feisty if she’s really worked up. I’ve classified her as an ISFJ, if that means anything to you. She likes things just so, and she can get really anxious about things that don’t really need worrying about. She’s very empathetic and compassionate, which can (often, actually XD) get her into trouble, especially when it comes to the villains she has to deal with. She also has a major crush on the other main character Markus. They’re a cute couple, in my opinion, which doesn’t really count for anything, but… XD

• Who (or what) is the antagonist?

There are a few different villainous persons in this story, which is revealed more in the next books. The main antagonist is an evil wizard named Zedidiah.

He has crippling OCD, to the point where he’s willing to (and does) murder his own brother to be on the throne, since he thinks his brother ‘wasn’t doing a good enough job ruling the realm’. He’s a vengeful control freak who has very little feelings toward anyone (at least that’s what he tells himself. He has a… very, very sad but interesting backstory).

• What excites you the most about this novel?

I would have to say the characters honestly. I’ve fallen so deeply in love with them and their snark and sarcasm and painful pasts and I could just hug all of them (including the villains) to bits and pieces. ^_^

• Is this going to be a series? Standalone? Something else?

This will be a trilogy. Hopefully. That’s what I’m shooting for and what I’ve always imagined it would be since the very beginning. We’ll see!

• Are you plotting? Pantsing? Plansting?

I will be plotting. I have my shiny outline all finished and just waiting to be implemented. It’s actually a mess of a thing and I’m SO SCARED about what on earth is going to happen during November. But I think I’ll be okay. Kind of. For the most part. Maybe. Pray for me, guys. XDDD

• Name a few things that makes this story unique.

Ooh, I like this question! It really makes you think what will make your story stand out to editors and agents. My novel, in a way, is magical realism, since a good portion of the story takes place in our world, and that’s not something you see very often.

It bends lots of genres, especially once you get into the second and third books. Though…I’ve heard editors don’t particularly like that, unless it’s done crazy well… It makes it harder to market or something like that… O-O But it does make it unique!

• Share a fun “extra” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

Ooh!! I have a playlist on Spotify, a Pinterest board, and a collage!

That’s all, guys! This is such a great idea, Christine, thank you for coming up with it! 😀 Are you guys doing NaNo this year? What’s your novel going to be about? (And if you want to be one of my writing buddies, just look me up, Madeline J. Rose and add me! I think I’ve friended a lot of you already, but if I haven’t, send me your link, please!)

6 Sci-Fi Movies I Actually Like (Wow, Right?)

Hey guys! If you’re still here after my ridiculous schedule changes that have so far led into a pit of unmet deadlines and despair, then good for you! *thumbs-up*

My summer was really long and tiring, and only just this past September have things been slowing down. I really want to get back in the swing of things, so, like the genius that I am, I’ve come up with a schedule. A REAL SCHEDULE THIS TIME GUYS.

• Week #1 // Pitiful Prose

• Week #2 // A List of Some Sort

• Week #3 // Freebie Post (Discussion, Tips, Rant, whatever doesn’t fit into the other categories)

• Week #4 // Creative Writing (Micro-Fiction, Poems, *whispers* Character Conversation post (maybe…if I can get myself together XD ))

• Week #5 // Tag

Don’t be surprised if I completely disregard this schedule, but this is roughly what I’m planning for. Let’s hope I can pull myself together and actually start being a blogger again! 😛

Anyway, let’s get to the actual post now.

I don’t know if you guys know this about me, but I am NOT a science fiction kind of girl.

The main reasons usually fall into one or more of these categories:

a.) I’m really confused or super unimpressed with the technology

b.) it’s super cheesy, e.g. Star Wars (I’m not bashing this series, but you have to admit, it is pretty darn cheesy)

c.) aliens. Just. No. They’re usually either too creepy looking, or too ridiculous looking for me to take seriously. (Which is super hypocritical of me, because half of the movies on this list have aliens…whoops. XD )

So that being said, there are a few sci-fi movies that I actually enjoy and I think you might enjoy too. (One of these movies is arguably NOT sci-fi, but it’s the genre that I think fits it best, so I’m including it anyway. 🙂 )

Edge of Tomorrow

So I just watched this one recently and OH MY GOSH. It was crazy and amazing and I have so many things I could say about this movie, about how clever it is, how great the characters are, how amazing the premise is… The twisting, turning path this movie leads us down had me satisfyingly stunned. The end will leave you spinning, and possibly outraged, but in a good way, you know?

Basically, it’s about this guy, William Cage (Tom Cruise), gets talked into fighting these aliens who are attacking the planet. He soon dies, but instead of…staying dead, he ends up reliving the same day over and over again, every time he dies. If that doesn’t sound cool, then you should probably still watch this movie anyway.

The Martian

This is another movie I watched fairly recently (I guess I’ve been attempting to broaden my one-track fantasy mind. XD ). This would be defined as hard sci-fi, meaning it’s based on relatively believable things that could happen in the future. IT’S GOOD. REALLY GOOD. There’s a lot of good suspense and tension, the kind of tension that has you staring wide-eyed at the screen, literally sitting on the edge of your seat. Plus the characters, especially our main guy, Mark, are really well-done and relatable.

But I think my favorite part about this movie is that it was just so interesting. It was so fascinating seeing how Mark handled himself and watching all the things he had to do just to stay alive. It managed to be incredibly informative and extremely entertaining at the same time. A++, really well thought out.

The premise is a pretty simple idea. A Mars mission goes wrong, and Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead. But he’s not dead. And not only that, but he’s now stuck on Mars with no way of communicating with his space station. And so he tries his best to survive and figure out a way to phone home. (Little E.T. joke for ya.)

Inception

This totally counts as sci-fi, right? This is totally sci-fi. Fight me. Possibly my favorite movie on this list, (and no, I did not write this post for the sole purpose of fangirling about this movie, how ridiculous would that be, shut your face.)

I think my favorite part about sci-fi movies in general is they always have interesting premises. You know what to expect when you watch a superhero movie, there will usually be bad guys, and the good guys will beat them up. You know what to expect when you watch a fantasy movie. There are usually forces of evil and good, with some magic, talking animals, and epic battles thrown in.

But with sci-fi, it’s kind of a mystery. It could take place on other planets, or on Earth. There could be aliens. It could be about shady governments. It could be an apocalyptic premise, where humans are trying to survive, like Hunger Games (dystopian, I know, but it’s an off-shoot of sci-fi, okay?). Or it could be goofy space opera like Star Wars. You never know what to expect. And I love surprises and plot twists, so I don’t know why I haven’t watched/read more sci-fi. I should do that.

Anyway, you know what this movie is about. It’s epic. It’s scary. It’s astounding. It’s all the other synonyms for ‘good’. You should watch it, if you haven’t already, which you probably already have, because apparently I live under a rock and don’t watch good movies.

Arrival

Faith is actually the one who got me to watch this one. AND I’M SO GLAD SHE DID. This was an AWESOME movie. I mean, I’m kind of a Jeremy Renner fan, you know, Hawkeye and all, but all the other characters were so amazingly done! And even though this is a TOTAL alien movie, I just really loved it. Which is so strange, because I don’t like alien movies. There were so many elements of the story I loved, but if I say anything about them, I’ll spoil the movie. So you’ll just have to trust me and watch it.

It’s about a linguist, Louise (Amy Adams), who is asked by the military to talk to the aliens that have landed on Earth. That’s really all I can say about this movie without spoiling some major stuff. But it’s good. Really. Really. Good.

Divergent

This series gets a lot of hate for some reason. Granted, I haven’t seen the second or third movie, (which I probably won’t, because I don’t want them to ruin it for me), but if you step back and just look at it as just a sci-fi movie, it’s actually a really great movie. The characters are really good, with interesting motives. The setting is a really neat dystopian future, with factions, a sketchy government, prejudiced people, all that good stuff. And a pretty cute guy, which I mean, is always a plus. XD

It’s about Tris (Shailene Woodley), a girl who doesn’t fit into any factions, and so is labeled Divergent (hence the name of the movie). When she realizes there’s a plot against the Divergents, she teams up with a mysterious dude and they set out to figure just what makes Divergents so dangerous. You probably knew that already though. It’s a pretty big movie. And usually that means it’s either highly overrated, or it really bombs. This movie’s somewhere in the middle. I enjoyed it quite a lot. Try it. You might agree with me.

Treasure Planet

Okay, okay, this doesn’t really count, BUT I JUST HAD TO INCLUDE IT. It’s too wonderful not to! All of the characters are so memorable, their dialogue is so witty and fun, the setting is AGH SO PRETTY, the plot is exciting, whimsical, and adventurous, and it’s just an animated masterpiece. Also, IT’S TOTALLY UNDERRATED. Why is this movie not talked about? It’s delightful! It’s an epic adventure, with romance! Action! Great lines–!

*scrolls to Box Office gross income*

Oh. Hm. That’s why. 😦

Alright, those are my favorite sci-fi movies! Wow, I didn’t even mention Star Wars or Star Trek…oops. Although, I’m still not entirely sold on the Star Wars franchise. I should watch the newer movies at some point in my life… -_- Do you like the sci-fi genre? Please let me know of some good movies/books in the comments! I’m really trying to break out of the fantasy genre a bit and sci-fi seems like a good first step. 🙂

Pitiful Prose // The Beginning of Something Terrible

Hello guys! Guess what’s baaaaack?

You know, when I was younger, I never would’ve thought that I would have thought I would get to where I am now. I was just content to write my little stories, without a care in the world. And now here I am, posting those little stories on my blog, making fun of how ridiculous they are.

In a sense, it’s kind of cruel. Sorry little me. XD

But anyways, let’s get right into this one. I wrote this weird little thing in ‘play’ form, for some reason. So the stuff in parentheses are the actions. Why? I don’t know.

Let’s go.

“Sit.”

“Why?”

Because I told you so!” (snaps fingers and Magali sits down immediatley)*

*Wow, so spoopy. Woah.

“What’d you do?”

“I put an obedience spell on you.”

“When will it go away?”

“When I want it to.”

*

(Magali sits motionless in the dark tower)*

*Can I just say, I am so confused right now. Who’s talking? Who is this other person? Someone’s name is Magali, but who is it?

“I see you were out playing with the village kids,”*

*How old is this guy? Who says ‘village’? And if you’re old enough to say ‘village’, then wouldn’t you say ‘children’ instead of ‘kids’? -_-

“yes they’re very nice, and….”

“you are not to play with them!”

“but, why?”

“because I said so.” (Magali sadly looks out the window)*

*I feel like I need to clarify, that dialogue doesn’t go with the action next to it, it should be on a separate line, but…I wrote it like that for some, confusing reason? What even, little me?

7 years later……*

*That’s a lot of little periods. Wowza.

(Magali is hanging out with friends when suddenly)*

*Suddenly…what? Is that supposed to be like a stupid narrator cut to the action?

“Ha! yeah! Magali you’re so funny!”*

*Who says that?

(crash of lightening)*

*A lightbulb illuminates the area! XD

“What are you doing here?!”

“Zedidiah?! what do you want?!”*

*I think these are supposed to be the friends speaking, but at this point, I just really don’t know anymore.

“Magali.”

(Other kids run away screaming leaving Magali all alone)*

*

“What was that for!?”

“come.”*

*What the heck, he’s so blunt. ‘Magali.’ ‘Come.’ ‘Because I said so.’ Like, what’s your problem, dude? XD

(back in the tower)*

*Classy scene cut.

“Magali, I would like to share a secret with you, but first, meet Nells and Xab.”*

*Seriously, what kind of names are those?? Nells? Xab? Did I think I was cool?

(Magali waves nervously) “hi.”

“Xab?”

(Xab looks at Magali carefully)

“She will do.”*

*Um.

“What?”

“You will become one of us.”

“What?”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting for this day to come.”

*

“No! I’m not like you guys, I don’t want to be evil.”

(Gasp)*

*Yes, I wrote ‘gasp’. Yep.

“And I’m leaving.”

(Magali jumps out of the tower)*

*Um BAD IDEA. DO YOU KNOW HOW TALL A TOWER IS?!

“You will regret greatly for choosing this, Magali!”*

*I AGREE.

“uh, should we go get her?”

“No, I’ve got a better Idea,” (Smiles evilly)*

*Oh gosh, we’re going there? -_-

(Magali hurts her self jumping from the tower, but still runs away)*

*YEAH YOU NITWIT.

“I’ve gotta hide.”

(runs into a thicket of trees)

(stops to rest) (and think,)

Well. That was…interesting. XD Well, PP posts are back! (At least while I have embarrassing writing in stock, which I do.) Let me know if you think this could be a successful screenplay in the comments!

The Winner of the Most Epic Heroine Award

Madeline: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, both magical and otherwise, to the Most Epic Heroine Ceremony! I hope you have all been having a good time, seeing the winners of everyone else’s categories, and have been delighted at the outcomes. But I’m sure you’re all ready to see who has won in this category, so without anymore ado I introduce our presenter, Eowyn!

Immense cheers and clapping fill the room as Eowyn approaches, shocked and delighted at the ecstatic noise.

Eowyn: Thank you, Madeline, for hosting this gathering, and thank you, kind people that your are, for your enthusiasm. I appreciate every one of you. I am so honored to be here with you all and am overjoyed that you would think me such a wonderful hero to present this award.

More cheers sound and feet thump joyously on the ground, vibrating the entire room.

Eowyn: *smiles at the crowd, and then clears her throat* If I could have your quiet attention, I would like to list off the contestants who have proved themselves eligible for this wonderful award. First off, we have…Leeli Igiby!

Leeli uneasily gets to her feet, giving the most elegant bow a lady with a crippled leg can, as the crowd claps in excitement for her. Peet excitedly leaps up, clapping his socked hands furiously. Leeli gently guides him back into his seat, and smiles as he murmurs something eagerly in her ear.

Eowyn: *attempts to keep a laugh in while watching Leeli and Peet* A worthy contender, most courageous and compassionate indeed. Next on the list we have…Fern!

Fern bounces from her seat and gives a graceful bow as the crowd claps eagerly. She glances suddenly to her left with a look of apprehension in her eyes. There appears to be nothing there, but Fern smiles with a glitter in her eyes.

Eowyn: A truly lovely young girl, brave in the face of many dangers, not always seen by others. *gives Fern a kind look* Continuing down the list we have…Aravis!

Aravis swiftly gets to her feet and gives a most splendid bow, smiling at Shasta all the while. From the back of the hall, a couple of loud whinnies are heard, as well as some hoof stomping and loud shouts of approval from Hwin and Bree. A few people turn in surprise, amazed to see talking horses, but then realize that anything can happen at a fantasy awards ceremony. Of course there would be talking horses.

Eowyn: A most brave and adventurous spirit, kind to her animal friends, and loyal to her human friends. Next, we have…Cress!

Cress’s eyes dart away from examining the hall in awe, toward the center stage. She hurriedly gets to her feet as uproarious applause breaks out, giving a clumsy bow, and nearly falling on her face. Thorne quickly steadies her and silently urges her to return to her seat. She does so, her face a bit redder than it was before. Despite this, she gives a shy smile.

Eowyn: *smiles back, and continues with a laugh in her voice* A sweet, loyal friend and amazing lady, always there for her friends. Finally, we have…Jill!

Jill rises from her seat and gives a gentle curtsy, while Eustace sits in his seat, stubbornly not clapping, but smiling at Jill all the same. Puddleglum rolls his eyes and shoves Eustace in the shoulder, prompting Eustace to clap like a proper human being. Eustace finally gives in and gives a slow clap or two.

Eowyn: *lets out a small laugh, watching Eustace and Puddleglum* A fiercely loyal friend and brave explorer, most definitely deserving of this award. Of course, all of these wonderful ladies are more than deserving of the title Most Epic Heroine. I’m sure you are all most eager to here the results, so I won’t leave you to wonder any longer.

The winner of the Most Epic Heroine award is…

The crowd murmurs, suspense filling the room…The suspense fills the room, stealing everyone’s breath, leaving everyone unable to move…Contained excitement buzzes in the room, waiting to be unleashed…

…

…

Aravis!

Thunderous applause smashes throughout the room, as people jump to their feet, filling the room with an electric energy that makes the room practically glow.

Aravis rises to her feet, her whole body trembling with excitement, and makes her way to the stage to stand beside Eowyn. Her face is lit up and her heart pounds fiercely in her chest.

Eowyn: On this day, we grant you this award, for your bravery in the face of lions, your loyalty to your friends, your kindness to the Talking Horses Hwin and Bree, your resourcefulness when escaping the Tisroc’s palace, and your unwavering perseverance in the face of troubles and sorrow. Please accept this medal, Aravis, for you surely deserve it.

Eowyn reveals a beautiful gold medallion with a smooth string of pink silk, and places it over Aravis’ head.

Eowyn: Thank you all for coming to this ceremony, thank you for having me, Madeline, and thank you Aravis, for being an inspiration to people everywhere. We could all learn something from you, and I hope your story will live on to inspire many young souls in the years to come.

Madeline: There you have it! The winner of this year’s Most Epic Heroine! Let’s give one last round of applause for Aravis!

Happy cheers and claps fill the hall one last time. Leeli, Fern, Cress, and Jill come up on stage and congratulate Aravis, hugs become contagious, and a grand feast is held afterwards, with Aravis sitting at the front of the banquet table with her dear friends Shasta, Hwin, and Bree.

Send your congrats to Aravis down in the comments! And go read the stories these amazing ladies are in, so you can see them in all their epic-ness! 😀 Thanks for tuning in, and remember to check out the winners of all the other categories as well!

 

Silmaril Awards // Voting Round!

Hey guys! Okay, I just have to say it…WOW. WOW WOW WOW.

I got 236 COMMENTS on my nominations post and I am just amazed. YAY TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO NOMINATED PEOPLE! YAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO SECONDED PEOPLE!!YAY TO ALL THE EPIC HEROINES!!! 😀

And now, I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for the results, so I won’t delay any longer!

Coming up with the most nominations, we have…

Fern from The Girl Who Could See (by Kara Swanson)

Fern has a strong spirit and caring heart. Her bravery in the face of danger and her own fears – along with her relentless determination – certainly sets her apart as a very epic heroine. Also…she can see into other worlds and has an imaginary warrior friend.

Next we have…

Aravis from The Horse and His Boy (by C.S. Lewis)

Descendant of the great god Tash, Aravis is fearless, willing to kill herself rather than be married to her evil suitor. She survives lion attacks, avoids capture by sneaking out of Tashbaan and escaping to the Tombs, and treks through the blistering desert sun to reach her destination. Throughout her journey, Aravis has shown herself to be a strong and capable heroine, brave, loyal, and resourceful.

Up next we have…

Jill from The Silver Chair and The Last Battle (by C.S. Lewis)

Though bullied at school in England, Jill blossoms as a hero in Narnia. From her journeys through Underworld to save Prince Rillian, to her stand with the last king of Narnia in The Last Battle, Jill proves to be tenacious adventurer and a fierce friend.

Our next nominee is…

Leeli Igiby from The Wingfeather Saga (by Andrew Peterson)

Though she’s a young lass, Leeli Igiby carries herself with poise, and her compassion is nigh unrivaled. Her crippled leg doesn’t hinder her from joining her brothers Janner and Tink in wild escapades, and her small stature belies her fierce nature and ever-present courage. Chief among her skills is her deft touch on the whistleharp, from which she can spin songs that can quiet the most ferocious soul and penetrate the hardest heart. Her devotion to her family and her dear dog Nugget, her strength in the face of the ghastly Fangs of Dang, and her gentle attitude toward the mysterious Peet the Sock Man make her a true inspiration.

And finally we have…

Cress from The Lunar Chronicles (by Marissa Meyer)

A shell, born with no abilities and immunity to deceptive magic, Cress is the most incredible hacker in the known galaxy. Though she lived in a satellite by herself for most of her life, and is perhaps unfamiliar with some common customs and social cues, that only makes her all the more sweet and innocent. She is there for her friends when they need her, is brave when it counts, loyal, kind, and never gives up, even when it seems all hope is lost.

HERE is the link to the voting form. Let me know which of these heroines you want to win! And may the odds be ever in your favorite characters’ favor! 😀

3rd Annual Silmaril Awards Ceremony // Nomination Round! (CLOSED!)

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS! WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE TALLYING PROCESS AND VOTING WILL START ON MONDAY!

Hello friends! So, I feel really bad for being such a bad blogger and not posting as frequently as I feel I should be. But hopefully this post makes up for it!

Because…

*drum-roll please*

IT’S SILMARIL TIME! That’s right, it’s finally here! And I can’t wait to see you all go wild in the comments!! 😀

This year, I will be hosting The Most Epic Heroine Silmaril! This award should go to the heroine who is brave in the face of danger. Who isn’t afraid to risk her life for her friends. Who is smart. Resourceful. Wise. Kind. And an all-around amazing person.

Before you scurry over to the comment section, there are a few things you need to know:

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• Authors may not nominate their own characters. Sorry guys. 😦 But you are more than welcome to encourage your fans to nominate them!

• Anyone can second any character, even if it’s their own! The more seconds a character gets, the more chances they have of making it into the big-five voting round!

• Nominations are allowed for FANTASY BOOK characters only! Movie characters aren’t allowed unless the book came FIRST (e.g. The Princess Bride). We DO give a bit of leeway in the fantasy/sci-fi spectrum. If a good argument can be made as to WHY the book is technically fantasy, we will allow it (e.g. The Lunar Chronicles. Since they are actually fairy-tale retellings, and they have an element of magic, they are allowed).

• Characters who have already won a Silmaril in previous years are not permitted to win the award again. They are instead part of the “Lifetime” Hall of Fame for that specific award. (Lucy Pevensie won last year’s awards, so she will not be eligible.)

• Characters from any of Tolkien’s books (The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, etc.) are NOT allowed to be nominated, as most of them will be presenting at the awards ceremony. How awkward would it be for them to have to present themselves with the award?

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We also have a snazzy new website this year, courtesy of DJ Edwardson. Go check it out, it’s seriously amazing! We have past winners, a list of the bloggers who put this together, and much more stuff to come!

And lastly, here are the links to all the other presenters’ nomination posts! Be sure to go nominate in all of their categories too!

Least Competent Henchman

Silver Tongue

Most Nefarious Villain

Wisest Counselor

Most Mischievous Imp

Most Epic Hero

Most Magnificent Dragon

Most Loyal Friend

Strangest Character

Remember; nominations are open until September 7th, so get your favorites in quick! And don’t forget to have a blast! I can’t wait to see all the epic heroines! ^_^

Realm Makers // Tips for Newbies! (AKA, Things I Wish I Had Known)

Wow. Look at me, I’m so on top of things, aren’t I? Posting every two weeks, giving you guys quality content. Go me.

 

Okay, now that that’s out of the way, I WENT TO REALM MAKERS. AND IT WAS CRAZY. AND AWESOME. AND I WANT TO GO AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

I had such an amazing time, meeting all of you guys (and wishing some of you guys were there ;( ), taking a notebook full of notes in all the classes, book buying, dressing up for banquet night, the Nerf war that may or may not have happened. 😉

In short, it was such an amazing experience, and since I can’t accurately sum everything up, I’m going to throw some of these other bloggers posts in your face. Jenelle, Tracey, and Christine have some lovely recaps you should go read right now (you’ll find a couple pictures of me, if you look hard enough. 😉 )

So, as a writer, this was a totally worthwhile experience for me. I would go again in a heartbeat. But…there were some things that I wish I had done, and some things I wish I hadn’t done. So, if you’re planning on going some time in the future, or you just want some of my advice for next year, I’m going to list some pro tips that will help you be the best Realmie you can be. 😀

Tip 1 // Take as many pictures as humanly possible!

This is one of those things were I can see my quietness really makes itself known. I’m not the type of person to just walk up to somebody and say ‘Hey, mind if I take a picture with you?’ No, no, no, no, no, that is not me. If you come up to me and ask for a picture, I will gladly pose and smile. But it’s just not in my nature to ask.

But I wish I had. I so wish I had.

Because now I have no pictures of the event (except for the ones Christine sent me, THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤ ). It’s all mostly memories for me. And that’s totally fine. If you don’t care about the pictures, no big deal. But I know for me, pictures help keep events alive in my mind. And I do have the memory of a goldfish, so…

Also, part of the reason I didn’t take any pictures is because I didn’t have a nice camera. I had my phone with me, but any pictures I attempted to take on it were always blurry and/or grainy. So I gave up on that. I do have a little digital camera, but it’s not the easiest to use. And I also forgot it. So.

In conclusion: get yourself a good camera, and don’t be afraid to snap a ton of photos! You’ll be so glad you did.

Tip 2 // Consider if you want take notes on paper or on your laptop/device!

This kind of depends on how good at note taking you are. I know I kind of wished I have used my laptop (even though it’s big and bulky and weighs a half a ton XD ). Instead, I had a notebook with me. Which definitely worked just fine, I filled it up with a ton of great notes and it felt really great just carrying my little notebook and pencil to each class.

But I’m not the fastest note taker. There was a lot of stuff that I missed because I couldn’t write fast enough. (Most of the people giving classes were willing to send their slides out, though, so that was nice. 🙂 ) Typing is just much easier and more convenient for me.

But it’s also a pain to lug around a gargantuan laptop. In my case, I probably won’t end up carrying my computer around, but if you have a tiny, easily portable device, I would highly suggest using that, if you’re more into typing than pencil and paper.

Tip 3 // Bring business cards!

I so wish I had made some and brought them! Every time someone handed me there business card I would have to accept it and then…awkwardly not give them anything in return because I had nothing. XD

ME.

After I got home, I started designing some on Vistaprint, had them finished within a day, and then ordered a pack of a hundred. They’re super cute and I’m really excited about them. ^_^

So if you want to be professional and you have the money, it’s a great way to promote yourself and your business (editing, writing, blogging, etc).

Tip 4 // Book appointments!

I don’t know if they do this every year, but lemme tell ya, I definitely regret not meeting with an agent or editor or even a mentor.

The nice thing about it is that they have people you can talk to for each stage of writing you’re in. All polished up and looking to pitch? Go with an agent. Feeling pretty confident, but still feel like your manuscript could use a little more work before it’s ready? Try an editor. Still in the writing stage and just looking for general guidance and encouragement? Book a mentor.

I probably would’ve booked a mentor, if I hadn’t gotten around to it too late (go me. XD) I know a lot of my fellow bloggers had meetings with agents and editors and they said it was invaluable, talking with a professional.

So I am definitely booking sooner rather than later, if I go next year. It sounds like it was worth it.

Tip 5 // Don’t be afraid to take breaks when you need to!

This is probably the most important tip, in my opinion. Don’t tire yourself out, trying to do everything. It’s okay to step back and take a breather. Head to your room for a little nap. Do a little exploring on your own during break periods. Grab a snack and just sit and relax.

I came with my family, and we stayed on site most of the time. It was so nice being able to just head to my room if it was too much noise and people. I could hang with my family, watch a little TV, eat some of the food we brought. It worked out really well.

So if it’s getting to be too much, and you need to catch your breath, don’t feel bad about it. If the majority of us there are introverted, we’ll understand. (I don’t know if that was true, but nearly all the bloggers I knew who were there are introverted, so I’m just making up data. XD)

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Well, those are my tips for you future Realmies. I hope you heed my advice and come to Realm Makers next year! It was such a blast meeting you guys and for those of you who couldn’t make it I HOPE YOU CAN COME NEXT YEAR. Although, I don’t even know if I can go next year… Well, fingers crossed, I guess.

Have you ever been to Realm Makers before? If so, what are some of your favorite memories? I’d love to swap experiences with you! And if you haven’t been to Realm Makers, are you planning to go next year? ‘CAUSE YOU NEED TO. SERIOUSLY. Maybe you’ll see me there next year… 😉

The 777 Writing Challenge

Hey friends! So, I’m kind of scrambling to get stuff done for Realm Makers, so I haven’t been focusing too much on blogging.

BUT. I do have a little tag thingy for you. (Thanks for the tag, C.B. 😉 ) I’m technically not even putting any effort into this post, because, well, all I’m doing is copying and pasting into the text box, but ANYWAY. Here we go.

Rules //

1. Open your WIP to the seventh page
2. Scroll past the seventh line
3. Copy the next seven paragraphs and paste them on your blog for THE WORLD to read
4. Tag seven people

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Imprint //

“Because of your rash decision of condemning me to life as a prisoner in my own home, I sentence you to prison in the world of Rorrim.”

Drilidric licked his lips, feeling dizzy. His head felt drained of any sense and his eyes continued to water. The pain in his arm throbbed uncomfortably.

“Should you choose to renounce this act of yours, I will let you go, under the condition that you never come into my presence again. What do you choose?”

Drilidric blinked up at Zedidiah. It took a moment to find his voice, but once he did, it was hoarse and cynical. “I will not renounce my command. Not today, not ever.”

Zedidiah’s mouth turned down in a furious scowl. “So be it,” he hissed through gritted teeth. Raising his staff, he furiously smashed the mirrors to bits. Glass shards flew through the air, scattering across the floor.

And Drilidric watched with a weak smile. The destruction was almost beautiful, all of the shards glittering with their reflections.

Zedidiah stopped amid the wreckage, standing before Drilidric. “I am disappointed in you,” he said.

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I have absolutely no idea who has done this challenge and who hasn’t, so I am going to leave it open to whoever would like to do it. Drop me a comment below and tell me what you think of this snippet!