Volunteering at the Library

In my state, it's a law that we have to do a certain amount of volunteering hours before we graduate high school. So in my nerdy self, I volunteered at the library and shelved the books in the children's library. To be honest the job was quite easy, it was just that I was alone by myself and got a bit bored now and then, but then I would hear the cute sounds of children reading and sounding out words. It's lovely seeing how things started and where I am today, from that little kid at the table reading a picture book now. 

The idea of a library is quite cool, because if knowledge is power, the most powerful place is probably the internet, or the libraries. The internet, though with lots of things, the knowledge is fuzzy and has no real beginning to end with the lies and made up words people wrote ten years ago, and what they will write ten years from now. Truth is difficult to find on the internet.

New Year Resolutions

I've never made new year resolutions, despite the fact that while in elementary school they make us. It was always something that I didn't have faith that I could do. There are so many people that don't accomplish their new year resolutions. There's nothing bad about that, but I feel like I would be setting myself up for failure.

Last year was one of the best years in my short life so far. I decided that instead of making new year resolutions of specific things I want to accomplish, I want to do more than I did last year. Last year I made seven big accomplishments. I'm not going to name all of them, because some are personal, but I think that it's better to try to out do yourself, instead of having specific goals you have to finish by next year. A counselor would probably yell at me that I'm going at things the wrong way, but this works for me. This year I want to accomplish ten amazing things. I don't know what all of them are yet, but I have some goals that I want to do this year. They aren't new year resolutions, like if I didn't do them I would be a failure, but like if I didn't do them I could accomplish something else.

I heard somewhere that when you tell people you are going to do something, the encouragement you get is enough for you to feel satisfied into you not doing it. That's such a strange thing, because that happens to me sometimes. Though, I want to share with you guys all of some of the things I want to accomplish this year.

• Finish editing my rough draft from nanowrimo
• Learning Italian and Spanish(the basics)
• Completing the European Book Challenge
• Progress some how with the blog
• Finish a novel I'm co-writing with my friend
• Get involved in new activities

Those are just some of the things I want to do this year, and I hope I do more, because that is deffo not ten things. I know I will find other things to do over the course of this year, and I know I'm going to update you guys on my nanowrimo novel, and the European Book Challenge. Happy New Year!!

Love and Hugs
Clara

Losing Your Writing

Thursday was a very scary night for me. I tried to open my novel on Scrivener and it came out as nothing what so ever. My nanowrimo novel was completely gone, and I was devastated. I checked by flash drive for any copies, but they only contained my short stories. I tried to search back in history on my laptop, but I had recently done a system restore on my pc. It was incredibly distraughting, and if you are a writer, you would be too.

I did get my novel back, don't worry, I can still do this series. You ask me how I got my novel back? I found an old email I sent to myself with an attachment of my nanowrimo novel. This .rtf file was readable, and I just opened it up with Scrivener. BTW you should definitely check out scrivener if you are currently writing a large project, or want to write a novel, or nanowrimo, etc.

What I'm trying to get by is, always make copies of your novel. Make irrational copies. For instance, make an epub or Mobi file for ereaders, even though you don't have an ereader. Make .rtf, word documents, pages for macs, what ever. Make as many copies as possible through out your writing, and put them on a flash drive and email them to your friends. Print out each chapter you finish. Find away of keeping your novel by putting it out there, without completely giving away your work.

I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend, holiday break, and may your writing be better than ever.

Love and Hugs
Clara

Writing: Character Development

During reading over what and how I wanted to edit the novel I wrote over nanowrimo, I found that I barely knew my main character. Do note that I don't plan when I'm writing a first draft. I find it terribly difficult to stick to it, and things just don't work out for me. Anyways, when I found out that I wasn't super sure of my main character, I decided to look up somethings about character development, and how to go about it.

One of the things I read about was, interviewing your character in the place of them. It literally has gotten me to figure out so many things by just asking my character. That might seem weird, because some characters are in my head and I should just write them down, but like I said before, I don't plan, so I make up my characters on the spot. Georgia-my main character-was a girl I thought up on the spot. She has a difficult past, and while writing Nanowrimo a lot of wholes were left out that could have effected her one way or the other.

I plan on doing that with some of my secondary characters, but my main group of characters seem to be the ones with the least back story, or fully developed. It's frustrating, but it's so much fun interview the characters. It should be easy, and come out naturally. If the answers to the interview don't come out as so, you should rethink the importance of the character in the story.

That's all I want to say this week, and I have some websites that I think will also help with character development:

http://www.pgtelco.com/~slmiller/characterdevelopment.htm

http://lillieammann.com/2009/07/27/creating-fictional-characters%E2%80%94part-8-developing-characters-throughout-your-story/

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976908598

http://www.wikihow.com/Develop-a-Character-for-a-Story

Of course there are so many more website and books out there, and the best way to learn is to find things on your own. I hope you have a wonderful time writing. :D

Love and Hugs
Clara

Short Story Friday: Prank

I have been extremely lazy and busy at the same time this past week. I suppose, it's because of the holiday season and school work has been piling up for me to finish before break. So this is going to be an interesting short story, which I may or may not be able to edit. Hope you like it!:D

In a town the size of a pin wheel, lived a little boy named Eric. He had a sloppy grown hair that curled at the ends, and drooped on to of his head. Eric was a pudgy kid, and he loved to dance at unexpected times. Though, his friends and classmates always laughed and teased him, Eric did not let that take away what he loved to do.

Eric had an older brother. Kevin was the big brother that did football, and went through girls like a meteor shower. He didn't like the fact that his little brother was being teased at all day. When he heard a rumor  he'd stop it then and there. The power the most popular kid was lethal, and thankfully Kevin used it for good.

"What's that you have on your mind?"Eric questioned Kevin.

Kevin was easily twice the size as Eric. Both being quite the opposite of each other. Eric had a pudge that held close to his bones, and didn't slack, while Kevin was made out of carbon and muscle. When he looked down at Eric, it could be mistaken for pitying him.

"Something you don't need to know,"he quipped.

Eric's eyebrows smushed together in a frown,"And why would that be?"

In all honesty, Kevin was thinking about the game plan for the night's game after dark. Not the football game, but the senior's game. The one where you personally prank each of the freshman. One elder choose their pray on the veal. Eric, was a freshman. As far as Kevin heard, Eric was going to get it bad. His little brother was the target for three of the toughest game players in the grade, Patrick, Conner, and Joseph. All three of them together on one prank would cause a bigger explosion than Nagasaki.

"What are you doing tonight?"Kevin asked his sibling.

"I'm going down town for an audition,"he said quite sheepishly because he always thought that Kevin disapproved of him dancing. Kevin would always try to make him play sports or play video games. Eric insisted that he had to practice dancing. Since, Eric was one of the few guys in the school that was open about his dancing, he attracted a lot of the girls. He would be spotted with girls talking to him. Whether they are on the cheer team, or in a ballet studio.

"Would you like me to come with you? Moral support."Kevin added.

This struck something in Eric. Eric was not completely clueless, so he did question why Kevin wanted to come, but he was more excited that his older brother would be there to witness what might be his big break.

Neither of them knew that Patrick, Conner, and Joseph created the audition as a prank a week before the pranks would ensue.

To Be Continued

Post First Draft Depression

I want to start off with a little editing series going on on this blog. Since, I did do nanowrimo and won-yeah, I'm awesome-I want to blog about the process of how things are going. At the moment I can't give you a synopsis of the novel, because there is a lot of plot being moved around, and maybe the main problem the main character faces is only a side problem. You know?

Anyways, the first thing that happened when I finished nanowrimo about two weeks ago was that I just wanted to chuck the story out the window and feed it to the coyotes. I suppose many authors feel this way, because we have been so close to this piece of work, that it's too much. I was about to scrap the entire document at one point. Terrible of me for not believing in my own writing, but sometimes you want to kill someone, but instead of someone, many people in your mind.

The other day I got out of this 'depression' stage. Something just clicked in my mind, and I guess with me going back into the community of writers I've found, it motivates me to do something with the story. I have not started actually editing the novel, but I am in the process of reestablishing my characters, and where I want the story to go, and where it should be going. There's a difference. I'm happy with half of the characters I had made up on the spot while writing nanowrimo, but in there are the ugly ducklings. The ones that don't have a personality easy to spot out, or a background that's bland and contains no meat.

So if you are in the post first draft depression state, I beg you to not chuck out your story. You are going to hate yourself if you do, because you will look back at it and think I should not have done that. Especially, if you did nanowrimo and got far ahead. Do not change your mind and free up space on your computer. There is a reason why you started to write the story. Whether you knew what you wanted to come across in your writing or not, it will come across, and you need to edit and think about it to do so.

Great chat with yall today, have an amazing time writing this week. If you have trouble thinking of things to write-which you should be doing everyday-I'm going to start making daily writing prompts on twitter. @Clarareads

Love and hugs
Clara

Scared of Comments?

There's no denying that cyber bullying goes around on the internet. Especially in a blogging community such as the book bloggers. Even though, I have barely seen any rude comments on others blogs, and everyone on here is extremely nice, and we all want to help out each other and become friends, there's always the voice in the back of my mind that brings out all the insecurities I have, and believes that email I get sent when someone leaves a comment says something about my insecurities.

I'm not so much as scared of a comment, as if it would haunt me, but what people think of me, and how they perceive me as a blogger. There's always a chance that there will be a troll, or someone that is just mean-or they are having a bad day and trying to make themselves feel better-and I always feel that rush of what if when I read comments.

Then there are the comments that I have only heard of from people in my school. The ones where because the majority of the teenage population don't know that their are stalkers, and they want to be popular, feel the need to get thousands of followers on instagram, facebook, and twitter. I have know right to call people out and say you are doing it wrong, but I think people should know better than to post photos of themselves everywhere they go of them, and their friends. It seems idiotic to me. The result of these people that put their entire selves on social media is that they create people to stalk them. I have proof that many people in my school have been stalked, and it just seals my point that there is a privacy matter that teenagers don't understand. Being stalked at thirteen is really sad. There is a part of me that thinks those things. The side that I might have put too much information that I should have.

So where am I going with this? I think that comments should be shared lovingly, and to critique. There's a difference from sharing your opinion and antagonizing people. How much you put yourself out there on the internet is on your shoulders, and sometimes we all need a reminder of that. My brief hesitation before reading comments may seem irrational to many, and I know that there are many people that get much worse comments online, but it doesn't stop me from reading comments. Feel free to leave a comment below, and tell me if you hesitate before commenting, or reading comments. Tell me/ask me whatever. 

Short Story Friday(#2)

Last week's short story was partially true with some extra stuff throw in there, and so will this week's short story Friday. I was looking back lately on what to write this week, and I discovered that I have had many boy issues with boys I have never dated. What is up with that? Probably 97% of guys I have met caused some sort of drama or difficulty in a relationship where I have just met them.

There's no hiding that I am a student. I still go to public school, and going to public school means a couple of things. It means 1) that you are always told that anything in the school could be cut funding in a pin drop, 2) having marvelous teachers, and grass watching teachers, 3) there are the 'popular' and then the not so popular-I'm in between the populars and not so populars. Then lastly, 4) there is the ever present dating game with girls and guys and how guys will be utterly rude and insensitive.

I feel like I should just state a claim out there that there are some pretty amazing guys-whether they are guy friends or boyfriends. This is just me ranting about a guy that I have gotten over a month or so ago, and I thought that our relationship-if you can even say that-was an interesting episode.

First day of school, go to my first class and I have to sit next to the most annoying and 'stupid' guy in the class. Because I am kind of a kiss up to teachers, I've experienced this. It is not like I enjoy it, but it's just something you have to deal with.

Here are some things I've heard about this guy in the past few years: he's incredible at basketball and hand to hand combat, he is annoying from all the things my girl friends have told me, and he talks about the most discriminate things.

Hold your horses for a moment. This is public school, where almost everyone says things like 'you are so gay' 'blacks can't swim, they are stupid, etc' 'Asians are smart and all of them have mean and strict parents at home that whip them' 'whites are the norm'... The list goes on and on and truthfully I hate myself for even typing those words. I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

Moving on, I already had my perception of this guy. Let's call this guy, Eric. He is what I described to you above, from the first five minutes I sat next to him. People like him, I stay away from because I know I'll just get red in the face and he'd end up getting away with everything.

This one moment really stood out for me: we had a test this day, and I had already peaked interest that he was copying off of me for little quizzes/exit cards. Little things like that and homework don't really get to me much because I have to say I do that sometimes too. I don't do it weekly, but I would be lying if I never copied off of someone's homework. So this day was the first big test in the class. I think it was about sixty points for the entire assessment.

With the knowledge that I knew this guy was copying off of me, I decided to trick him. I've never tried to trick a copier before, so this was a first, and it came out more successful than I would have imagined. What I did was, do all of the problems in out of sequence. The thing that really shocked me was when I skipped almost more than half of the first page and gone to the next, he just waited there staring into space. I laughed internally. He probably thought I was just checking the whole packet out, but boy was he wrong. I could feel the resentment pouring out of him. That was extremely rewarding.

Then there came the day where we got it back. I was very surprised that I had gotten a perfect score. While, wait for it... He got a C! Oh the look in his face, it was priceless.

Of course those kinds of people always try to make themselves bigger so here are the next events: He insults me on my bad handwriting-which I am aware of and proud of-but that he blames my bad handwriting on him getting a C is ridiculous.

I'm not the kind of person that would waste my time on someone that doesn't deserve it. I'm quite aware of where I stand for myself, and to others. So I didn't even want to go into the conversation-more like argument. I would usually vent thing like that out later with friends, and move on with my life.

Guess what he did next. No, really, guess. You would never get this:he asked me if I could help him in the class-a tutor.

My thoughts exactly as the words left his mouth: Woah! Back track right there, cowboy. You just copied off my paper and then you insulted me!!! How dare you ask me to help you! What kind of idiotic,[many cuss words later]... You can't possibly be this stupid. I mean come on now!! Gah!! I hate cheaters.

About a week later I decided to just stop talking to him. From the day of the test he had relentlessly trying to get my attention and make me explode. There were some racists comments, that many of his friends laughed to, but of course I could not. There were times where he just could not accept my differences and this is sounding really strange now... I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are some people out there that can't seem to comprehend or play with the idea that there are people out there that have different beliefs and practices. It really makes me sad, but c'est la vie.

I did ignore him and I haven't talked to him in a month. I don't care about him, if that is what you are thinking because of last week's post. This person has no place in my heart and I intend to keep it that way. There maybe some people that said he liked me. I have heard that guys usually make fun of girls they like. I can't wrap my head around someone that goes as far as he does. It's not a teasing remark, but a deliberately trying to make me angry for laughs. I don't stand for that sort of thing.

I guess I can put this story out there for commentaries. Thanks for reading if you read all of this post. It was quite long and I'll try to write something more happy and less venting next week. Have a great weekend!

Love and Hugs
Clara

Places to Post Your Writing

I have been trying to get more feedback on my writing lately, and the best way to do so is to put it out there on the internet. I thought that it would be neat to put all the websites that I know of that you can share your story and then get feedback from other people that read it.

issuu
http://issuu.com/

readwave
http://readwave.com/

fanfiction.net
http://www.fanfiction.net/

fictionpress
http://www.fictionpress.com/

wattpad
http://www.wattpad.com/

booksie
http://www.booksie.com/

figment
http://figment.com/

fanstory
http://www.fanstory.com/

writers network
http://www.writers-network.com/

amateur writing
http://www.amateur-writing.com/

writeandshare
http://www.writeandshare.co.uk/

I personally use fiction press, just because it is easier and I am use to the website. You can find me on fictionpress by the pen name Clarareads. If you have any other writing sharing websites please leave a comment below and I will add it to the list.

Love and Hugs
Clara

Nanowrimo Update (#4)

Saturday: Had too much fun today, but got home and wrote!! Not very happy with what I wrote, but I did write more than the word count! Woohoo!!

Sunday: Wrote almost 1,000 after lunch, but stopped to blog. I also needed to clear my head  a bit, because my inner editor wanted to rip my own head off.

i wrote after dinner, a ton. I wrote +3,000 today. Omg, I still want to write, but I want to save it for tomorrow. So much I want to write, so much...

Monday: I think it's good to start writing from a sentence you didn't end from before. It gets you in the mood for writing, and you jump right in. I wrote quite a lot after dinner, and I feel very light and just whimsical at the moment. :D

Tuesday: I had a very long, but fun day today. Terribly tired for all i have, and nearly fell asleep doing homework. Though, I wrote, and I wrote more than 2,000 words. Wohoo! ;) I feel proud of myself...

Wednesday: I burst a blood vessel in my left hand's thumb. I am so happy that the blood did not go under my nail, because that would be truly unbearable and I'd probably be unable to type the space button with that hand. I'm am hoping to write a lot over the Thanksgiving period.

Started writing later than I should have, and did not get enough words written. I did write more than 1,000 words, so I'm proud of that. :)

Thursday: It was really tough to start writing today because I was stuffed with turkey and was beyond tired. I wrote 1,000 words anyways in the afternoon. Then I got a surge of inspiration and adrenaline that I wrote one of the best things I've written all month. Combined that, I wrote 3,000 words. I am now 7,000 words away from the 50k.

Friday: Wrote an amazing scene which I am so excited to edit, but  I can't. I have 5,000 words to go and the next time I will update you I will have won.

Nothing really to say, but if you are doing nanowrimo go hug that 50k because you are so close, and you better not give up. Also, if you have not done nanowrimo, please consider it next year, or during the nanowrimo camps over the summer. I swear, it will be amazing in the end. :D

NaNoWriMo Update (#3)

Saturday: Ate too much candy, and didn't even write as much as I should. :) Though, it was a progressive day.

Sunday: Writing after dinner and got things up and running. Writing enough words in an hour, but going to keep on going. Nanowrimo update status says I'll finish the novel a week and one day early. What!?!

Monday: Really did not want to write tonight, but did anyways. I think that it proves that you just have to do it, so write. I started out rewriting the last few paragraphs from before, just restating it in a different way, and then it went slow for a while. I'm sad to say that I did not make my 1667 words today, but I am still three days ahead, and I'm proud of that. So suck it!

Tuesday:

Wednesday: I didn't write yesterday. :( I feel so ashamed of myself, but so relaxed in a nervous kind of way. I wrote almost 2,000 words today. Btw, since I took the day off yesterday, I'm still not behind. I was planning on myself tiring out, so I was a few days ahead, and I still am. I definitely see the finish line coming up a mountain away, as I am so close to 30,000 words. :)

Thursday:
Someone please tell me that writing a five hundred word essay counts in nanowrimo. No? Ugh!

Omg! I just wrote 30,000 words in two weeks and one day. WTF?! Okay, okay. That was awesome. I got this. You got this. Keep writing, and don't stop. You're too far in to stop. So don't you dare. *shamelessly points finger at you*

Friday:

I didn't write anything on Tuesday or Friday!! :O I don't know what happened, but I think it was just life. Also school has really put me down lately. I'm so grateful that I write more than needed, and am still ahead. If you are falling behind, you can still do it!!! Please don't give up, because I want you to win. EVERYONE WANTS YOU TO WIN!! So don't give up.

Writing Quotes for NaNoWriMo

I couldn't find a lot of quotes that have been made in artistic works, but I found two posts about writing quotes which you can read here and here. 

NaNoWriMo Tag!

The Questions:
1. Is this your first year doing NaNoWriMo or have you participated before?
This is my first year doing NaNoWriMo and I've learned so much about myself that even if I don't win this year, I'm still going to do it next year. Notice the if, it's crucial.

2. How did you find out about NaNoWriMo?
I can't remember how I found it... actually I found out about it by a youtuber, Kaisa, from MaxieMagyx. Her videos are freaking amazing, and I watched her start it when she did daily vlogging in November last year.

3. Are you in it to win it, or are you just participating to have a bit of fun?
Just for fun. hahaha, yeah right! You're funny sarcastic me. So, yeah, I'm doing it to win.

4. Are you on track with your daily word count?
I am, I'm actually above the daily word count at the minute, and I've been ahead of the game since day 1.

5. Tell the readers a little bit about your novel (genre, title and short summary for example).
I changed what I'm writing about, so if you see my link for nanowrimo, that was a very rough idea what I was doing, and I've completely changed it. I won't tell you what the story is about at the moment, becuase I'm not sure where it is going. I'm one of those people that don't plan what to write, I plan when to write. That's all.

6. Has anything crazy happened yet? Have you been attacked by any plot bunnies?
Eh... not really. I've found that doing NaNoWriMo has been a little strange because my writing seems to work itself out like my dreams do. I mean, in the way that they always have connections that I have over looked, but my subconscious mind saw.

7. Do you have any real life friends who are participating?
My best friend's sister is doing it, and I don't really know her, but besides her, I don't have any "real life" friends who are participating.

8. What is your best tip for getting yourself to write and stop procrastinating?
I don't have a best tip, but I like to bribe myself with candy, or watch youtube videos. Also I usually find that writing right after I eat, is the best time to write. I've gotten so much writing done from the time I finish eating, to that hour and  a half later. So, maybe you should try that if you haven't already.

9. What is your favourite novelling snack?
I can't eat while I write. It's distracting, but on the weekends when I write in the mornings, I usually have tea.

10. Who do you tag?
I tag anyone that wants to do this, and since I think I stole this tag from the booktube community, I'm just letting the tag roam on its own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf1_heEL0_g&feature=g-u-u
The link above is where I found this tag. Go watch her NaNoWriMo vlogs;they are amazing. :D

Nanowrimo Update (#2)

So I kept a log of how I wrote throughout this week, and where I was in NaNoWriMo each day. I think that this week did give me a little trouble, but I got back on track, and am so happy that I'm ahead of the game


Saturday: Wrote right after lunch and it went smoothly.

Sunday: Wrote about 500 words around nine o'clock in the morning. Got into a writing block after dinner. Got it going again, but took a while. Wrote 1,763 words. On to tommorrow!

Monday: Knew that I could only write really well after dinner, so I did. Got off a good, start. Then hit a point where I just wrote anything that came to mind, and it  happened to be a very key part of the novel now. I think I love you nanowrimo. *mauh*

Tuesday: Wrote up a storm after dinner. Kind of dreaded writing in the beginning, but really enjoyed what I wrote.

Wednestday: Woke up at four in the morning, because it was the day after the election, and then wrote like a mad woman until I had to go to school. Got about 1,000 words down. Then after dinner wrote about a 1,000 more words. Really liking the way things are going, but see major plot and character wholes. Need to fill them in, pronto!

Thursday:Flushed with homework and no time. I've got to write after dinner to get today's words in, I hope I type something good in a few hours. Wrote six hundred words after dinner. I don't think I can write anymore. I'm trying to write, and have everything opened for me to just type, but I have nothing I feel passionate about, and ready to write for. Ugh! Turned off the internet and got 400 more words down. I don't think I can write anymore today.

Friday:Got home from school and got a little distracted. Then got down to writing, and got more than enough words down, but not as much as usual. Hoping to get to 20,000 words then go to bed. Wrote another chapter after dinner, and somehow wrote exactly 20,000 words. Woohoo! I like you again, NaNoWriMo.

As you see, Thursday was my bad day. I'm really glad that I started Nanowrimo. Tips that may help you that I've learned so far, is to set time for it. Don't multitask. It's very easy to get distracted when you're on the computer, so I turn off the internet, sometimes. It's a great way to just disconnect from everything, and just write. Do you know when you write best? For me it's right after I eat. I think my brain cells get all excited, and so I'm excited about my story, and then I type like a mad woman. I hope that you are having an amazing NaNoWriMo, too, and leave a comment below telling me how far you are. Good luck to everyone!!

Analytic or Fiction Writing

I love writing, and there is no hiding that. I'm very fond of reading fiction writing more than analytic writing pieces, mostly because I'm still young, and don't want to see things through analytical eyes. Though, I'm a lot better writer when I write analytic or nonfiction pieces. 

I can sit down and write probably ten writing prompts or ideas in one sit down, like I do with this blog, sometimes. I can't do that all the time with fiction. I have to have room to leave my story, and come back to it. It sounds strange to me that I can write better about things that are real, than things that aren't real. It's harder for me to write things I come up with, that  aren't real. Is that the same with you?

You always hear people telling you to write what you know. Well, I know real life, more than my imagination. Does that mean I want to write a nonfiction piece? Sometimes, I do, honestly. Though, a lot of times, I want to write about people, and stories that are make believe. I guess when I get a ton a hate or critiques on my fiction writing, I feel more adamant to write more of it, than what I'm good at.

All I'm saying is that I love writing what I'm not good at. How about you? 

Quotes: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

I forgot to write the quotes I highlighted while reading Wintergirls in my review, and I have a lot so I think I'll just tell you all of them. Some of these quotes might be spoilers, it depends on how you look at them. :)

pg. 14 "We were secret sisters with a plan for world domination, potential bubbling around is like champagne."

pg. 18 "...body found in a motel room, alone..."

pg. 21. "The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco..."

pg. 31 "The nurse who handed out meds was so fat her skin was stretched tight. If she moved too fast, it would rip open and her yellow stuffing would spill out, ruining her Disney World sweat shirt."

pg. 49 "Her voice is sticky, like lipstick bled on her tongue."

pg. 67 "It screws up the laws of physics for her to occupy the same room as the first wife."

pg. 89 "We held hands when we walked down the gingerbread path into the forest, blood dripping from out fingers. We danced with witches and kissed monsters. We turned us into wintergirls, and when she tried to leave, I pulled her back into the snow because I was afraid to be alone."

pg. 103 "I place the phone itself under the left rear tire and drive back and forth over it thirty-three times."

pg. 143 "I throw off the blanket and stand up. 'This is stupid. You're gong to lecture me and boss me around, I'm going to yell back, it'll be like always. We can't even pretend to get along. I'm out of here.'"

pg. 180 "She wipes a snowflake off my cheek. "You're not dead, but you're not alive either. You're a wintergirl, Lia-Lia, caught in between the worlds. You're a ghost with a beating heart. Soon you'll cross the border and be with me. I'm so stoked. I miss you wicked."

pg. 184 "'Anemia,' she says. 'Plus low blood sugar, low phosphates, low calcium, low T3-don't know what that means-high white blood cells, low platelets. They sewed you up with black threads, thirty-three stitches, isn't that weird? Oh, and you have ketones in your pee. Keep this up and we'll do New Year's together. Stay strong, sweetie."

pg. 194 "I am dying to know how much I weigh. There are no scales here and they wouldn't tell me at the hospital. They stuck so much goo into me, I bet I put on ten pounds. My skin itches from the new fat. It's going to split and peel off me. Melissa gives me skin cream and watches while I rub it on my arms and legs."

pg. 200 "Oh, Go. Oh, God. I am on top of the highest mountain. The icy ground is shaking, an earthquake, the world beneath me opening up with fire, steel arms ready to pull me down.

I have to move. I can't stay here anymore.

I throw myself down the mountain and open my mouth."

pg. 203 "'I believe that you've created a metaphorical universe in which you can express your darkest fears. In one aspect, yes, I believe in ghosts, but we create them. We haunt ourselves, and sometimes we do such a good job, we lose track of reality.'"

pg. 204 "One day the wind will carry them off. Nobody will notice."

Scrivener Review

Since I planned on doing Nanowrimo, I've been looking for word processor alternatives than Word. Sadly, on this laptop I'm using I don't have Word, and I don't really need it, when I have downloaded Scrivener.

Scrivener is a word processor that is used by many published authors, and writers of all kinds. I have a video I want to show you, that will be more informative than I'll be on it.

I've found that Scrivener has made me so much more organized in writing. I've also got a lot farther in my novel, and I the overall layout is very easy, and like I said organized. I used to be one of those people that would have several word documents for character development, outline, and chapters. It was all too much, and Scrivener really makes it easy for a writer to just open a document and don't have to switch between documents. 

A feature I love about Scrivener is its note cards on a cork board. It's very easy to plan my story out, and see what I have to write about, and where I am through the entire project. I usually don't plan out my stories too far ahead, but sometimes while I'm writing I get ideas for a chapter or scene, and then I add it to the cork board. It's easy to rearrange them and make them fit my best.

The compile piece of the application is truly helpful for authors when they want to send different versions of their novel. There's so many to choose from; PDF, Word Doc, ePub, Mobi, and a lot more I can't remember, I haven't finished my novel yet, so I haven't tried it, but I can just imagine now how accomplishing I'd feel when I can read it on my nook, or send PDF files to people.

Lastly, if you are doing Nanowrimo, you get a free trial through December 7th. I know it's amazing, but it get's better. If you finish your novel, you get a 50% off discount of the $40 you need to pay after December 7th. I personally am going to buy it afterwards, because I know I want to edit my story using Scrivener, and I have great ideas I want to write about, using Scrivener. 

The Thing About Series.

So, here’s the thing about series. I, personally, start out reading series whether I want to or not. It’s really rare, lately, to find a single book. I can count on one hand how many books that I've read this year, that doesn't have a sequel, or counterpart. It’s quite obsessive to me how authors want to write so much of the same characters. I could never right a nine book series about the same people, and setting. It’s just too much of the same thing for me to write about, and sometimes it’s too much for me to read.

Series can be difficult. Recently I've read a lot of debut author’s first novel in a trilogy, or series. I know that I’ll have to wait a year, or maybe two to read the second novel. That’s quite difficult, and I've learned to not think about books, so I don’t get disappointed when I do read the sequel. That, there, is what scares me. I want to read a novel, and have it in my thoughts, and what I think about when I go to bed, but when I know there’s going to be a sequel to a novel, my mind shuts that off so I wait. I think that I’m the only one that does that, but please tell me if you do too.

The plus side of series, is that you don’t have to be introduced to a completely different cast of characters, and their setting. It’s like a family reunion, you see them every year, and have an adventure. Then sometimes, I think that authors write novels just to keep a committed fan base to only read their series. I can understand that some stories need that extra four novels, but then there are series that are just published to be franchised. Can someone explain to me why publishers would do that when they know readers are pick, especially in the young adult community. I know I’m generalizing, and you may be not one of those picky readers, but most people I know are.

I just want to get this golden age of paranormal romance series out of the way soon. That sounds really arrogant, but I can’t stand anymore of those books. It’s great once in a while, but when the only young adult novels that are being published are those, it’s down right awful. Again, I have to say that this is all my opinion and you can respond or not, but please be nice to one another.

fanfiction

I've been in a reading rut like I told you so much recently, so I've been writing more. I'm not writing fanfiction, if that's what you're thinking. Trust me, I'd tell you first if I was, but this post is about my experience, if you can say that, with fanfiction, and my thoughts on it.

I'm quite a free-spirited person, and I have access to the internet, so I've read things. I've read a lot of fanfiction in my life time. The reason I got into reading really, was reading Twilight at first, and you can hate me on that, but I won't hate you if you are a Harry Potter fan. That's a whole different conversation. So, like I said, I didn't read much, until Twilight got into my eye sight. That's when I got into my fangirl mode, and started obsessing over Twilight. When I was in that geeking out mode, I started reading fanfiction. I think that's the start of when I'd read at night, a lot. I still have to read at night, something, because of those months. I'm not a insomniac or something, but that's what comforts me at night, when I'm trying to sleep. So, of course, I'm for fanfiction. I live off of it sometimes. There's so many fanfiction stories-Twilight, and others- that I adore, and I think should be published.

I know there's another side of fanfiction that some people only see. It's the side that thinks that stories that end should end, and not have these added drama, or plot lines. I can see their side of the argument, but for me I do that so often in my head, that if I see it written down it's a treat. It's kind of like, a friendship that started from something I and someone else like, and then our minds and thoughts, have brought us to a rough idea of what we think should or should've happen. Now, that there are so many series in the young adult genre, it's normal in my opinion to write down our thoughts and what we want to happen.

There are also some people that say that if these writers are good enough to write a wonderful story, why not write their own characters and setting. I think that some people like to write what they know, and what they know best happen to be their favorite books/characters. I find nothing wrong in that. Also I see it as a challenge, because when you write a character more than once for me anyways, I wish I can change how this person will react or think. Another thing is that many fanfiction have turned into published works, and many authors get their word out there through fanfiction, more than anything else.

I know that I told you about my obsession with Twilight in earlier years, and you might think towards the recently popular adult novels, that were inspired by the series, and were fanfiction. I myself, don't read those novels/fanfiction, and I don't intend to. It's just something I personally don't like, and wouldn't like to read. So that's my thoughts on that.

My views on writing is quite free, as long as you're not doing anything illegal, I see no wrong in that. Well, also if you don't personally antagonize someone in your writing, but I think that goes without saying. I hope I didn't step on anyone's feet, and please comment below on your thoughts on fanfiction. Please keep everything PG like I know you will. *looks at you like I know what you're thinking*

Writing Fluffy Love Stories.

There's something about reading a fluffy love story that makes you... fluffy
inside. I usually try not to read fluffy love stories too often, but you can't
help it. Some authors are just amazing at making you fluffy and fall in love
with a fictional guy. Now writing fluffy love stories, that's totally
different... well to me anyways.

Every English teacher, every writing mentor, everyone really, has told
you/me/us, to write what you want. That's a whole lot easier said than done,
because for me at least, when ever I write a fictional piece, I feel like there
are eyes right over my shoulder. Am I the only one that feels this way? Some
part of me thinks that it's a good thing, because you shouldn't write something
that is hurtful to others or offensive. But then again, I see that writing for

some people (me sometimes) is a therapeutic way to get all my angers, or problems out. You probably know if you've read the blog, because I usually write about something that I think is interesting or want to share. That usually is a problem, or a situation.

So I have to ask, do you write whatever you want like people say, or do you have those eyes over your shoulder that makes you not. If second, we can help each other soooo much. If one, please help me. haha... I sound really desperate, but this has been on my mind for sometime that I wanted to share you y'all.