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.]

NaNo's Write* Around the Corner!

*All intentional, my friends.


NaNoWriMo is a week away.


I've signed up this year, but given how well I've done in keeping up with all my social media and writing in general...


*Glances awkwardly at blog and brushes cobwebs away*


Well, we'll see.


I wish you all the best of luck and if you want to add a writing buddy on NaNo, I'm kconine57715. Good luck again, and may the words be ever in your favor?


[Y'see what I did there?! Mockingjay Part 1 is coming soon too, yay!]

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!

BRT: The Stone Kingdom by Danielle E. Shipley [ARC]

 

Title: The Stone Kingdom

Author: Danielle E. Shipley

Number of Pages: 179

Rating: 5/5!

Date to-be Published: September 20, 2013

 

SUMMARY

“Love and prince,
Both true, wed rose of white in realm of stone;
For blood begins,
But naught can be put right by blood alone.”

One thoughtless act is all it takes to bring the curse threatened on Rosalba’s christening day to pass. Now the princess must combine her desperate determination with the service of benevolent tailor Edgwyn Wyle to find the second half of the key to her kingdom’s restoration.

<> ~ <> ~ <>

An enchantress’s curse turns a spoiled royal into a beast; a princess’s pricked finger places her under a hundred-year spell; bales of straw are spun as golden as the singing harp whisked down a giant beanstalk – all within sight of Wilderhark, the forest that’s seen it all.

You’ve heard the stories – of young men scaling rope-like braids to assist the tower-bound damsel; of gorgeous gowns appearing just in time for a midnight ball; of frog princes, and swan princes,and princes saved from drowning by maidens of the sea. Tales of magic. Tales of adventure. Most of all, tales of true love.

Once upon a time, you knew them as fairytales. Know them now as Wilderhark’s.

 

REVIEW

Ah, Danielle has done it again. *Slow claps* I swear, she must take classes on how to twist all of these words into clever incantations and riddles! Either that, or she is the teacher. Well-rounded characters, ingenious pace and plot, and twists at all the right turns are my favorite. The author excels in all of these areas, and her descriptions are beautifully vivid.

 

Something else I want to take into account is the cover. It's so much brighter than the cover of The Swan Prince, and for good reason. The debut book of this series had a dark, mysterious tone to it while this one was an adventure of soul-searching for open-minded, heart-on-her-wrist Princess Rosalba. Danielle has an incredible artist, to say the least.

 

Let's talk about Edgwyn for a second. A lot of research was put into this, I'm certain, regarding Edgwyn Wyle's love for fabric. His character is so lovable! He has a great love for animals and a heart of gold is the best thing Rosalba could have, given her standpoint for a majority of the book. He's completely selfless, clever, and kind. I definitely hope to see more of him in later books.

 

Another skill Danielle has is voice. She wrote from several different perspectives in this installment, and each one sang of its own independent feelings and thoughts. That's something all writers struggle with, and she makes it seem effortless.

 

She also takes real life experiences and morphs them into a fairytale, something I can see many readers learning from. At the same time, she weaves true, already-existing fairytale scenarios into the writing, and I LOVE IT. Every time I would spy such a happening, I had to stop for a minute just to absorb it.

 

The Wilderhark Tales are all about learning morals. How to be honest, to respect oneself, to be brave enough to face any threat for the ones you care about. It's beautiful, really. It makes you wish the Wilderhark Forest was a real pace, despite the anarchwitches!

 

Honestly, I can't find anything to rag on here. Perhaps a little bit more explanation was needed for a few minor details of the book, but it wasn't enough to detract from the story whatsoever. Being that I don't want to spoil anything, I'll leave the review off here. Please, get your hands on The Swan Prince as well as this when it's released.

 

Another thank you to Danielle for giving lucky-ol'-me an ARC for this amazing installment!

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?