Unfortunately...

Yep... I have to do it again. This time, however, I am finally going to write a short heads-up post.

Life got overwhelming, really fast. Beyond issues at the workplace, my school load piling higher and higher, concerns about my future, minor health issues, and so on and so forth; I can't really bring myself to focus on much writing let alone blogging.

I'm hoping to get most of these issues figured out by the end of October. So, until then, I wouldn't expect to see much here.

-----

On a happier note, most of you will already know this if you're friends with me on Facebook, but... I finished the book series I've been writing!

It's the book series this blog is named for, in fact - the Flame Cycle. I've been writing this series since I was 11 years old. Nine years of writing, four novels, and an incredible journey. 

Now, I have a ton of editing to do, but the fact I've hit the finish line on all of the first drafts is pretty intense for me since this series is what got me into writing as a professional goal (I had written just as a hobby before). These characters have been with me through everything - my crappy junior high years, enduring high school, graduating with me out of high school and out of my community college...

Their stories may be "over," but I doubt I'll ever let them go. No author should ever let their stories go, even if they move onto something else. When you pour your heart into something you've written, you can't step back and just move on. You'll always leave a piece of yourself with that work.

That's why it's so wonderful to be a writer. When you write, you're giving yourself to the words, and in essence giving a part of yourself to your readers. It's one of the most magical things about writing.

-----

And with that, I'm going to end it here. I'll see you guys as soon as I can figure everything out and, if I can, I'll try to slide in a post here or there. Remember why you write and keep at it. (: Write on!

~~~I will still be posting for Danielle Shipley's FINAL BOOK of The Wilderhark Tales! Don't forget to check back in for those and go see more information on her blog!~~~

W3: Storyboards

Writing can be the most frustrating thing in the world, especially if you want minute details in a fast-paced situation. Details like the color of someone's shirt or whether the right or left hand is holding something can be a bane.

A couple days ago I reached a point in my WIP where one of my characters is in a combat scene. Back in grade school I had no difficulties whatsoever coming up with details for fights. The inspiration came, snap-snap-snap!

Long story short, I miss those days, haha. I'm not sure what's so different about how I write now that makes it hard for me to keep those details in place. Today my fights seem a lot of "he did this, she did that, he did this, she did that, okay-let's-finish-this-I'm bored." 

Normally my remedy for this kind of situation is to act it out while I'm home alone. Talking, choreographing, music optional. Since I've been juggling around work, school (even in the summer!), and Tae Kwon Do classes, my alone-time has reasonably shrunk. 

My storyboard. How did I differentiate
the fighters, you ask? Well, one
stayed on the right and one of the left.
...Genius, I know. 

I tried something new one day at work while it was slow. I grabbed a piece of paper, drew a big grid on it, and created a storyboard. Nothing fancy at all - just stick figures and arrows with sketched 'special effects.' It served its purpose, though. I now have a detailed, recorded idea of how I want this fight to go.

Point being that storyboards are the type of thing you only see for movies, cartoons, or other media. Not a lot of people apply it to writing. I suggest giving it a try the next time you're stuck on small details/events. Events are also a little easier to X out prior to the actual writing. 

It's easier to get creative with the storyboards if you have the right resources too. Something I want to try next time I do this, if I have to, is color-coding characters (since stick figures are much easier to work with). It'll allow more flexibility than I had with my board.

Just a thought for you all who might be having some writer's block!

BRT: The Sky-Child and Other Stories by Danielle E. Shipley

Title: The Sky-Child and Other Stories

Author: Danielle E. Shipley

Number of Pages: e-book

Rating: 5/5

Released: July 7, 2015

Summary

Born into a world his heart knows as beneath him, an extraordinary boy becomes a man of music, hopeful that someday he’ll find a way higher.

As the first day dawns, a world comes awake, order and disorder striking a dangerous balance.

Under the stars, a princess and tailor trade age-old lore, little dreaming of the future that could trap them in the past.

All of it in, around, and far above the timeless trees of Wilderhark, the forest whose secrets reveal themselves slowly, if ever at all.

Tales of beginnings. Tales of quests for belonging. Most of all, tales of true love.

Once upon a time, you knew something of Wilderhark’s tales. Now for the stories that fall in between.

W O R L D    B U I L D I N G.

I'm one of those people who has trouble with creating lore in a fantasy/futuristic world. So, whenever I see a world that's very much had its homework done, I take heed. The moment I knew this work's title, the world building is what I was anticipating and very much looking forward to.

Gant-o-the-Lute's background is much more heavily explored in this addition to the Wilderhark Tales. For any who might have been confused about him or wondered about his past, or just want more content with him, this is your read! As far as origin stories go, Lute's is fantastic. It explains how he came to be minstrel, his gifts from the beginning, his parents, and how he came to meet Viralei. On an off note, I thought I noticed a lack of continuity regarding that, but I'm sure it's how long it's been since I read The Seventh Spell because I know Danielle wouldn't have missed something like that.

(That should tell you something about the faith you can put in this author.)

After The Sky-Child's conclusion, the Other Stories that take place regard different characters. We see some flash fiction between Sula and Villem (Fluff! <3) and a piece with Sigmund, delving more into the characters than the world around them. But then - then comes the story of the Sun and Moon.

As far as creation tales go for a fictional world, this instantly ranks one of my top favorites. I had to read this story twice just to absorb and enjoy it all properly. Another story somewhat branches off of this later into the installment as well, regarding some of the rougher times the world has gone through due to troublesome winds and a difficult Sun (and son). 

After that, the installment Starheart includes some more world-building and fluff regarding Edgwyn and Rosalba. (For anyone who doesn't know what fluff is - I just refer to it as a rather cute scene between two characters being romantic). The differentiation between what the world thinks of the Stone Kingdom legend versus the reality of it is explored here. 

Two more stories fill the pages - Affected and A Gallivanting Soul. The former takes place during The Seventh Spell and the latter finishes Gant-o'-the-Lute's backstory.

You will cry. If you don't cry, you will at least tear up.

As usual, the writing and pacing are flawless. You never get bored reading this book and there's always more to learn about the world of the Wilderhark Tales. Danielle Shipley will always give you just enough to satisfy you, but the moment you know there's going to be more - well, you're probably pre-ordering it, or waiting to have that option. 

The characters remain as investing and lively as always, leaping out of the pages and into the reader's soul. Not many writers have the ability to connect to their characters and let their characters connect to readers the way this writer does. We may cringe at some of the attitudes the characters have or ponder on why some characters act the way they do, but in the end, we relate, and we understand.

The Sky-Child and Other Stories has, once again, proven itself a worthy successor to the series, even as an in-between book. It does read a bit like a stand-alone, not too heavily requiring the knowledge of prior books to understand it, but for the full enjoyment I would highly recommend you read the others. You never know, though. Maybe this will be the book that captures you for this series!

{This review is quite late! I unfortunately had to open at work today and then attend a Tae Kwon Do meeting this evening, so I had been stretched on time. I hadn't had time to write it last night. Either way, it's still Thursday, and the review is still true. Enjoy your night and your upcoming Friday!)

W3: Have An Ambient Day!

I just wanted to share this. (click!)

It's a website with music to set a mood. Not really music, but white noise. I know some people work much better in certain environments, and you can play at having that sort of environment with this mixer. 

You can select one you like and decide the frequency of some of the noises, how loud they are, and whether they sound at all. It's pretty neat! I don't normally like ambient stuff, but it can get me out of a slump, for sure.

Of course, this isn't only for writing. This can be used for anything! 

Have a good day, everyone!

Random Monday: Tones

I've always been intrigued by how the subtlest differences in tone can work. Sometimes they can sound similar and sometimes unearthly different. 

I won't lie - my parents bicker a lot. I tend to leave the room whenever they do. In my upstairs room, I can hear the fluctuating tones of their voices downstairs. I groan to myself every time I realize they're arguing.

Imagine my surprise one night when I ventured downstairs to get a drink, thinking they were in a fight, and instead found them snickering together. Somehow the stress in their voices matched, to a degree, some of the joking tones they used. 

On the other hand, in my workplace, I've been having a very hard time with my manager. In a sentence, I feel as though I'm inconveniencing her every time I ask a question. Even her texts to me give off the air of, "Leave me alone, I don't have time for this." 

Just the slightest shift in volume of a voice can mean the world. One night when I was speaking to her, I asked a question, and her voice dropped - almost un-noticeably - but enough that I felt as though I couldn't ask any other questions for the rest of the evening.

This is actually a great tool to utilize in writing. Simply making a character use a different word than they would usually use, or use a shorter sentence than they might normally say, can speak a lot for what the character is actually feeling.

Just a random musing I've had lately. What sort of experiences have you had when it comes to people's tone of voice?

Have a happy Monday, everyone!

Random Monday: New Year and Indie Horrors

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a great Christmas and a good and safe New Year's, and that any students who perchance on this are ready to go back to school. (Yeah, I'm not either.)

So, I came up with something to talk about!

Indie Horror RPGs. A video game, yep. Hear me out.

The Witch's House is a game made in RPG maker a few years ago and follows the story of a girl travelling through a malicious witch's house to find an escape route out of a forest. Being a horror, there are unsettling and gory elements involved. That's not what this is about though. This is about endings. I will tell you two things about the game's end:

1. You will be blissfully ignorant.
2. There are no happy endings.

A lack of a happy ending is something sometimes sought for (not by me - but maybe someday). The thing about it though is the ending is so abrupt, so unexpected, and so gut-wrenching that upon finishing you can do little more than stare speechlessly. Oh, yes, the game had foreshadowing - the smallest sprinklings of it - but not enough to guess what you could have possibly been doing.

The story told in this game is an unexpectedly powerful one and done in a very short amount of time. It's something that I think writers of all trades could learn from. I wanted to share this resource with anyone who might perchance on this blog despite there essentially being a two-year-hiatus.

A horror is something that involves a delicate balance. To truly frighten an audience, you have to grip onto their jaws and turn their head to look at one thing even though the real threat is out of the corner at their eye. Then, when the time is right, you let go and let them finally see the truth - the monster - whatever the subject of your horror may be.

There are probably a great many other examples I could have used, but I just watched a playthrough of this game not too long ago and I'm only just now beginning to recover from that sucker-punch of an ending. Anything that effects someone as much as that deserves a bit of recognition.

I wish you all a happy week, and again, Happy New Year!

----~~~~----

Hey, everyone, my Interview Saturday options are still open. Please feel free to shoot me a message if you want to have your character featured on my blog.

NaNoWriMo 2014

How goes it? Are you above the quota? Below? Straddling the quota? That's my position.


I am currently at 7k. I miss writing regularly like this! I remember when I was in high school my schedule was thus---


Wake at 7AM and write until 7:45 until I had to go to school.
At lunch at 11:30 write and eat until 12:15
Get home and slack off for the early evening
Eat dinner
and then afterward I would write until I went to bed.


College and work have definitely changed that. I'm at least trying to slip in morning writing sessions - writing for at least half an hour after I first get up. Of course, I'm starting to straddle the line between procrastinating my schoolwork and keeping on top of it as well, so it's a tough balance.


I'm also hoping NaNo will help me finish this book that's been in progress since very early 2013. (Yes, I started in the middle of a book, don't judge me! I've only counted what I've written since November 1st. (: )


What are your hopes from NaNo? Are you expecting to finish your book or just get a good headstart? Are you in it to win it or just to have fun? Share your thoughts and your word counts. Keep it up, my friends, and do your best! You're still a winner even if you don't make 50k. Like one of the pep talks I read... If you only wrote 1000 words, hey, that's 1000 words you wouldn't have wrote otherwise if you didn't participate in NaNo. So keep at it, and have fun!


Word Count: 7,036
Day 4/30

Random Monday: Only Two Posts in 2014 - How Uncool!

A year with no posting?! For shame!


Since my creator has such a terrible time keeping up, I'll contribute a post. Hi, I'm Ashley, and I'm the protagonist of the Flame Cycle Saga, which this blog is so named for. So, to keep this short, here's a Random Monday, which used to fit the schedule so well. By random I mean my author only wants me to do a general update of stuff. So, here goes.


A list of happenings in the author's life -
- School
- More school
- Lots of school
- Work
- More work
- Almost getting electrocuted/set on fire at work
- Other life matters


A list of happening in the character's life -
- Illegal cross-ocean journeys
- Heart-to-hearts
- Exploring places unseen for 2000 years
- Talking to Greek gods and goddesses
- It seems fun, but it's not.


So, with that, there's the update. If anyone still reads, lemme know in the comments what's going on for you characters and your authors! Also, another well-wishing for NaNoWriMo. My creator desires to offer an extension for writing buddies, so her profile name is:


kconine57715


Some others you might buddy up with areeee -
Mastermaid22 [everonword.wordpress.com]
ZG Writer [keytoeden.BlogSpot.com]
and Kela McClelland - she's not doing a NaNo project this year that we know of, but it'd be fun to buddy with her regardless! [teardropsonmybook.BlogSpot.com]


Have a happy Monday, friends!! Ashley Vaandere out!
[There's a formatting issue that hasn't been solved quite yet. Why does a double-space look like a triple-space? No fun.]

Book Review: Inspired by Danielle E. Shipley (& Where Have I Been!?)

Title: Inspired

Author: Danielle E. Shipley

Number of Pages: e-book

Rating: 4/5

Date to-be Published: March 17, 2014

Goodreads Link

 

SUMMARY

For a muse like Lucianíel, one story’s end is another’s beginning.

In the wake of his author’s sudden death, Luc takes ownership of her surviving creations—four fantastical characters with tales yet to be told—saving them from unwritten lives crumbling around them and giving them a second chance at a literary future.

Luc finds that chance in the unsuspecting mind of Annabelle Iole Gray, a quirky teen with her head in the clouds, nose in a book, and imagination ripe for a brilliant muse’s inspiration.

Or so he hopes.

Neither Luc nor Annabelle, however, realize all they’ve undertaken. Even with a to-write list including accounts of a shape-shifting cat creature, gentle knight-in-training, vigilante skater girl, and a mystery boy smothering in unspoken fear, the most remarkable saga created between author and muse just may turn out to be one stranger than fiction.

Their own.



REVIEW

Summer classes started when I said I started this, and I didn't have time to read... Let me tell you what, cramming five months worth of classes into two months is no walk in the park.

I finally sat down to read this yesterday, and the first few chapters were, surprisingly, a bit grueling for me. Trying to keep up with each different character's personality and Luc's rushed explanations were a bit daunting, up until we meet Annabelle. From there on, I could not put this book down. I laughed. I despaired. I wanted to hug each and every character. Each one had such a different charisma you felt a different love for each and every character, and THAT is why I love Danielle Shipley's books. Her characters are so DIVERSE! I'm sure she'll blush if/when she reads this, but I could very honestly say her characterization is on par with JK Rowling.


SPOILERS AHEAD
(view spoiler)I didn't even know Yves' backstory yet, and I already just wanted to hug the crap out of him every time he spoke. Uri's attitude, Wilbur's amity, Luc's openness, Abishan's love for Annabelle (that was adorable!!), and Annabelle's - well, everything about her was terrific. The pacing of the story was fantastic, as usual, and the twists and turns were both expected and unexpected - enough to keep the reader on their toes.

I'd be a liar if I said this book didn't have its cons, though. Some points got a bit rambly, and those mainly belonged to Annabelle's writing. I can understand why, and how, for that was just her character and she was learning. That didn't change that I had to fight not to skim a few times.

I also felt like the main premise of the story was... I don't really know how to explain it. I feel cruel to say that Luc was acting parasitic, but I don't know how else to say it. I understand, I mean, and I LOVED the premise, but I just felt like it was almost cruel. MAINLY because Luc seemed to, I don't know, kick Annabelle's old muse(?) out and he was never heard of again. Despite that, the ultimate relationship was symbiotic, so it wasn't exactly a horrible point, but it had its moments where you just wonder...

Somewhat branching off of that, Annabelle's and Luc's relationship deteriorates later, and it struck me as odd as how Annabelle was willing to ignore her characters so quickly, and how easily Luc told her she was replaceable. I never once saw my characters like that - but hey, that IS just me. I've always loved my muse and always looked forward to seeing him (for I do have a muse that often pops up in dreams!) and I don't think I could just toss him in a pit of darkness like that - though, if he spoke to me as Luc had to Annabelle... *Shrugs* I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here. Maybe just that Annabelle's sudden cruelty to Luc and vice versa was unprecedented. Luc's demand that Annabelle write his story and Jean's seemed unreasonable to me. THIS, however, is just my problem as a reader, and should not let any possible readers detract their possibility of reading it. Because if you haven't read it yet and plan to, why are you reading this? Get out of here, there are spoilers here! :P

Final nag: I felt like Yves' arc went too fast. The end of the book itself went too fast. I got...very lost. What I essentially understood was that Yves and Avelaine were one and the same, but were his three short stories one and the same as well? If Avelaine was a dancer because of his parents, when did Yves fall in love with Lucille and get Streetcar? Were they separate beings for the sake of Annabelle's lesson? (Which was AWESOME, by the way, I loved her learning the hard way that some characters have sad endings.) I also lost sense of where the mask came into it in the circus blaze. Maybe I was reading too fast? No doubt I'll reread this later, so this opinion could change.
SPOILERS END

Altogether, this book was fantastic. As I said before, the characterization was out-of-this-world, the pacing was phenomenal, as both are expected from Danielle Shipley at this point, the premise was well-thought and creative, and the story itself was just enchanting. The tale did have a few stalling points, as mentioned, but with the overall quality of the book, they could be forgiven, as seen from the four-star rating. As always, my expectations have been exceeded, and I eagerly await Danielle's next addition to her family of characters.


----~-----~----~----~----


Where Have I Been?!


School, work, scholarships, procrastination? All are valid answers. My writing is getting a little bit more into the flow now. As mentioned above I took some summer classes, and those were time-consuming. Work has been hectic as we've been undergoing massive staff changes and been shorthanded, so I've had to take several hours. I'm preparing to go to a university, so I'm doing what I can to fill out scholarships in hopes of avoiding loans I worry I won't be able to pay back. And then, yeah, laziness/procrastination. Why write blog posts when I could, I don't know, watch Orange is the New Black or play the Sims? Haha... Yeah, that happened.


I'm not going back into posting on here with high expectations. What I'm going to try to do is just make SMALL posts. And by small, I mean maybe one or two paragraphs. Maybe this will work out for the better of us. Those of us who are busy will only have a little to read, and maybe - just maybe - I can keep up. Not making any promises. We've seen where that gets us (:


I hope everyone who sees this is doing well and let me know how you are in the comments if you so desire! Let's try to keep the rest of 2014 semi-productive!

Withdrawal from the Writer's High

It’s become a vicious cycle.

I open my writing program and manage to spit a few words out. But then I start thinking: Oh, no. I have two psychology packets due Thursday. I have a biology test on Friday. I have a composition paper to edit by Wednesday. I have a speech Monday. I have to work tomorrow and I’m going to get started writing tonight and want to write tomorrow but won’t be able to because it’ll be busy.

I cannot find the time. When I do, the stress overwhelms me and I short-circuit, finding my way to YouTube and laughing at videos for the next few hours. I’m shocked I’m even forcing myself to write this.

Thing is, when I go a long time without writing, I start to experience withdrawal. When I write, I feel like I’m dreaming while I’m awake. A movie is playing out in my head for what I’m writing. It’s the greatest feeling I know. I begin to daydream simply about the feeling rather than the writing itself. I found myself doing it during my drive to school this morning.

I want to feel it again, but I can’t. It’s terrible. I don’t have the time. I miss my heart pounding as I write out an argument or a fight scene, the smile as I write a happy scene or a humorous scene.

It’s been a year since I truly felt like that. God, I miss it. Maybe for Thanksgiving break and Christmas break I can feel it again. It’s depressing me, truly. I love my classes, I love making money at work and being productive in those aspects. But making no writing progress is depressing. I would write in the little bitty frames of time I have, but that’s not really fair to the characters since the writing is shotty.

Anyway, I just wanted to spit out my depression regarding the writing, since I haven’t posted here since August. I want to get back to blogging sometime too. I meant to participate in NaNo, but I barely got 2,000 words. Man.

Lol. Enough! Okay. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, and if I don’t post again by then, have a Merry Christmas! I’ll surely post by the New Year. Until next time! Hopefully I have some words by then!

Writing World Wednesday: Why Novels Don't Have Pictures

Currently reading: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. (By the way, the name Ransom is kind of cool. Is it a pseudonym? I wouldn't be surprised.)

I am 95 pages into this book, and I am truly enjoying it. I spied quite a few reviews where people were displeased with the book due to the misleading cover and summary. Well, I raise you this question: don't all readers know better than to trust the cover? Either way, I'm enjoying it for its story, not because of what its eerie cover promises.

Now, covers mean pictures; and pictures raise another question: If we have a picture, why do we need to describe anything? Description is a crucial element for any writer to use and configure into their writing to give readers the same image that the writer has in mind. This book has photographs interlaced throughout the entire story, and instead of being enraptured by them, they're annoying.

They are wasting ink. Riggs specifically describes exactly what is on the picture before you see it. Let me give you an example:

"He loved guns so much that sometimes he even slept with them. My dad had an old snapshot to prove it: Grandpa Portman napping with a pistol in hand." (Page 27)

 Page 28 is a photograph of a man sleeping with a pistol in his hand.

...Why did we need the photograph when it was specifically explained? It takes away from the writing and distracts us from the story for a moment to examine the photograph. It's unnecessary. Novels are all about the wordsmithery, not the photography like younger books.

It could be just me. Yet I just feel as though this is the possible #1 reason novels do not have pictures woven into the text: unnecessary distraction. Your opinions and thoughts?

Random Monday: Letdowns and Vacations

*Shrugs* C'est la vie.

Vacations aren't good on inborn procrastinators. You know very well with me rambling about my tendency to push things off... I've had two vacations recently, one for my birthday and one for a trip I was supposed to have. Both were soured.

The birthday didn't go as expected, as a lot of people I know forgot (despite it being on their Facebook feeds), as well as a few other reasons. Let's just say my wallet is hurting right now. Also, I was meant to have a writing retreat on my birthday; as I did last year. It was cancelled last minute. ): The trip I was meant to take on the second vacation didn't happen either...

So, yeah. While vacations aren't good on inborn procrastinators, letdown-vacations probably aren't that great either. At the same time, forcing a work ethic on procrastinators isn't that great either. Keeping up on blog posts during the school year (seventeen days...) isn't something I'm good at, so while I promise to keep up; don't believe it.

Procrastinators also break promises when they don't want or mean to. :/

This sort of seems like a depressing post, but I'm not really depressed. The only reason I've really got to depressed is the fact I ate an entire bag of chips on my own yesterday for no reason.

I need something to make this happier... Here, have a sleeping lion.

By the way, there's going to be an INTERVIEW SATURDAY this weekend!!

3W: All Writers Are Insecure

Yeah, it's true.

Published, unpublished, untried, tried, experienced, inexperienced, pros, beginners.

WE ARE ALL INSECURE.

One of my best friends told me the other day, "I'm in that stage where I feel like no one is going to like my writing," when she's one of the best I know! Another told me, "I'm thinking about self-publishing a novella, because I want to introduce the world of my novel before I actually release it." For another, "I world-build too much; and I don't have the writing to compensate for it."

We all have our fair share of problems. The thing is, we CANNOT let this insecurity overtake us. It's for this reason Alex J. Cavanaugh started the Insecure Writers' Support Group (that I really wish I could re-join), and it's one of the most effective methods I've seen of helping insecure writers.

In my opinion, it's okay to be irrational if you're feeling insecure. Take a moment to imagine your book becoming a movie one day. Imagine the great reviews you're going to get. Get into a mindset that a majority of people are going to love your work (but don't let this become a permanent thought). Do what you need to do to get out of your rut, but don't let it go to your head. Confide in a friend. (Join the IWSG!)

Sometimes I think all writers, and other people who have similar work, need a reminder: you're not the only one feeling this way. There are others out there just like you, and you can go find them and encourage each other. Not only will it help them, but you'll feel better about yourself.

So I say this to you now: We are insecure. I'm insecure. So when you're feeling that way, seek someone out. You're sure to find someone with an open ear or a shoulder to lean on!

Random Monday: What If...?

I've been watching a LOT of Gordon Ramsay stuff lately. Here's the thing. It's Kitchen Nightmares, and he goes around to these restaurants that are currently failing. He figures out the problem and screams and curses at them helps them get back on their feet.

I had an idea pop into my head, of a beautiful, magical fantasy-land.

What if there were a restaurant, or café, for writers?

Imagine: Walking down the street when you catch a glimpse of a sign for a new café on the corner, urging you to bring your own flash drive (but it's okay if you don't!). As soon as you walk inside the doors, small square tables with some sort of elaborate color design are shuffled throughout the area.

But on each table...is a tablet (which is attached to prevent theft). These tablets only have two programs: Scrivener or Microsoft Word. As if that wasn't cool enough, there are USB ports to use to save your progress after you've had your food or drank your coffee. Forget a flash drive? That's okay, they sell them at the counter!

Did I mention, for any writers on the staff, there are a few tablets behind the counter? Working, waiting for a coffee to brew, an idea pops into your head--type it down on the tablet--voila! You don't have to worry about forgetting it.

In the back of the patron's area, the linoleum turns to carpet, and a few armchairs are settled around a bookcase that has a few classics, a few recent releases, and a few books on agents and publishers. (Barcoded to prevent theft.)

Each month, either an agent or an author comes in for questions or a book signing.

Come on, why hasn't this happened yet? Is this not a GREAT idea?! What would you call the restaurant? The only thing that pops into mind for me is to rip the name from AgentQueryConnect, Query Corner, where writers go for critiques on query letters.

Have a great Monday!

Random Monday: It Might Be the Sound of Motivation

*Listening off into the distance*

It might be the sound of all my writer buddies making me participate in 1k1hrs... Honestly, if you've never done a 1k1hr, you've never wrote like you will during one. Do it!

I hope all of you liked last week's interview Saturday. I enjoyed talking to Danielle about it and letting Ashley and Sula have at it. Their responses were so fun and, yes, Ashley and Sula still have both arms. No need to worry.

I'm actually keeping on top of the blog posts. Let's hope it stays that way. Happy Monday, everyone! Tune in this Saturday for the second-ever Interview Saturday!

Random Monday: Bruises for the Sake of Experience

Nooooo... Slippingslippingslipping

NonononononononoNONONO!!!

SLAM.

This is a description of what was running through my head when I slipped last Wednesday and slammed over a wooden table, my lower ribcage ramming into the edge of the table so hard it knocked the wind out of me.

I crumpled to the ground, groaning and cursing in pain, and trying to breathe. I was home alone at the time, so luckily there wasn't humiliation to get thrown in with the pain...

I finally recovered and thought I was good. I worried for a moment that I might have a broken rib, but after some poking and prodding, I was pretty sure I was fine.

Then later that night, upon crossing my arms and letting out a hiss of pain, my mom asked, "Uh...you okay?" I explained what happened, to which she expressed sympathy instead of laughter, thank God.

Without warning, to her or myself, I asked, "Is that what it feels like to get suckerpunched?"

A little bemused, she responded, "Probably."

I thought to myself, Cool! So I'm being accurate when I'm writing and describing how it feels for a character to get suckerpunched in the gut.

I thought this was a kind of amusing thought to run through my head, but I wonder, do you guys do the same thing? If you get hurt in a certain way, do you think, Oh, I have to remember this so I describe it properly in a book! It wouldn't surprise me, but this is Random Monday, so I need to share the random thoughts--predictable or not--that I'm having!

(By the way, I have bruises all along my lower ribs. Owwie.)

Happy Monday!

Random Monday: I Don't Feel "Graduated"

According to my class, I'm the odd one out...but did anyone else feel like nothing had really happened when they graduated? I mean, I feel about $2000 richer, but not quite...graduated.

I represented my class. I gave the valedictorian speech. I played a song for everyone. I took my diploma and shook the hands of the school board. But for some reason, I still don't feel like it's changed much. I'm sure, come August, it'll all flood in...but why not now?

Even afterward at my party, looking at my tassel. Even on Saturday, when I went to be filmed for the news... Why don't I feel like I've graduated?

Maybe others feel the same way. Maybe it's just a valedictorian thing? I don't know. But I have a diploma, and my tassel has changed, and I am now an alumna...

Well, until the feeling sinks in, I guess I'll just continue writing. And even after.

Please, share your graduation stories in the comments. (:

Writing World Wednesday: Short and Snappy

Yep, gotta keep it short. This week's gonna waylay me, guys. So, I'll just give an update on something I'm planning to do writing-wise and get your opinions on the same topic.

Horror.

I want to submit to an anthology, and I need to write a short horror story.

So, naturally, I started investigating a surefire way to make a horror horrifying. One of my friends told me, "You can't be obvious. You have to be subtle. Your enemy can't be right in your face. It's the distance and the invisibility of the enemy that makes him horrifying."

Other tips say to remain in the dark, not to overuse viscera, to make your characters very close to your heart, and other such things.

What tips do you have? Do you write horror? Have you ever tried? Will you try? Give me all the details! We can learn together!

A Break and a Rebirth

January?! That was my last post?!

Wow.

Have you missed me? Wondered where I was? Questioned if I died and fell off the face of the earth? ...Didn't care? (That's cold.) Heh. Well, anyway, hi! If you don't remember me, my name's Kendra and I run this nice little fiery blog here.

The one I abandoned for a while in January.

See, though, I've been busy. Here's a small overview of what I've done.

- Become Homecoming Queen of my school
- Prepared a valedictorian speech
- Prepared a song for my graduation on Friday
- Met one of my best friends from Ohio
- Went to prom with said friend
- Applied and was accepted to a two-year college
- Got a full ride to said college
- Won first place in two divisions of a business contest
- Went on a Senior Skip Day and almost died in a war between projectiles flying from cars
- Opened a bank account
- Went to Chicago
- Writing wise, I finally finished the initial editing process of Book 3 in my series, started the editing on Book 2 (don't ask), and wrote a novella.
- And more!
Future events?
- Wednesday: Class of 2013 Bachaloriette
- Friday: Class of 2013 Graduation
- 18 and 21: Dinners for being valedictorian.

I've been a busy bee, and I just kind of gave up blogging/tweeting/etc in favor of these activities. I didn't want to force myself to do it, or I knew the work would be shotty. Anyway, I'm going to try and get back into the groove of all this.

So, my break consists of doing LESS drafting of works, and MORE querying/blogging/tweeting. I should be able to keep up! I thank you all for your patience, and hopefully soon, I'll be back into book-reviewing and maybe some posting about writerly things!

To conclude, I want to share the great news of Danielle Shipley, A.K.A. Ever On Word:

SHE'S BEING PUBLISHED. TWICE! One in an anthology, and another for self-publishing. Please, go see her here and give her all of your support!! You won't have to wait long to grab these books and enjoy the heck outta them!

It occurs to me I didn't proofread this. ...Oh well. Please ignore errors.

The Next Big Thing! (Week 32)

Charlee Vale (click her name!) asked me last week to join up in The Next Big Thing blog hop, an event where we share some information about our current work-in-progress. I hope no one minds since it’s a sequel. Here we go! This is Week 32!

1: What is the working title of your book?

Flame Warriors.

2: Where does the idea come from for your book?

FW is the third book in a series, but honestly, it’s different from the others. The first book focuses on how far people will go for family. The second, how far they’ll go for power. My third diverges to address all that and more. Learning to forgive yourself and fighting fate are two main plotlines.

I’m not quite answering the question though. The idea came from something my mom said after she read the second book. She said, “You couldn’t really tell in book one, but Fortune has a soft spot for Ashley.” Fortune is the primary MC of Flame Warriors. Ashley is the MC of the first book, Flame Dancer. I considered the statement for a while and wondered why he would have a soft spot for her, and suddenly I had an entire book on my hands to address that simple question.

3: What genre does your book fall under?

YA Urban Fantasy.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Fortune: Callan McCauliffe – He needs to straighten/flatten his hair first though. (: No Edward Cullen hair permitted beyond this point.

 

Ashley: Joey King – She’s young, but her eyes are perfect.


Aroha: Mackenzie Foy. In myyyy opinion she looks a little like Joey, hehe.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis for your book?

Eeeek, I haven’t considered that for this WIP. I’m going to wing this (therefore it’ll be awful).

With a prophecy to determine the world's freedom over his head, Fortune Treston attempts to reconcile his past with the present to protect those he loves.

6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I hope to be agented first, and then represented by an agency.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

This question made me cringe... I started it in January of 2011, wrote steadily until August, and then stopped writing until July of 2012. I finished it in December. It shouldn't have taken so long considering in between July and December I wrote more than 100,000 words.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

There aren’t really any books IN the genre. The closest one is The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa.

9: Who or what inspired you to write the book?

I always knew what the third book would be about, but my past books haven’t really addressed deeper issues such as love or faith. I guess this book was more of a challenge to see how well I could incorporate those worldly themes into the lore of this book.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

Love, life, death, hugs of death, a manor, elements, immortality, some uncontrollable flames, purple eyes, a challenge to save the world, and a promise for redemption.

Now I’ll tag some super awesome writer buddies for them to answer these questions, so we can learn more about their works-in-progress! Make sure to check them out for Week 33, January 16th!

Danielle (and Will!)

SC!

 

Rules:
Answer these ten questions about your current WIP on your blog.
Tag (up to) five other writers/bloggers with their links so we can hop over and meet them.

 

P.S. I was tired when I wrote this. I apologize for any grammatical errors in advance. ): Have a good Wednesday!