Well, summer is almost here, and my life is officially crazy. I promised myself that when school was over I'd be able to relax and read all day and draw and listen to music and finish my novel and all the things. Ha. Ha ha. I should never believe myself when I say things like that. This week is shaping up to be quite full. Ice cream party, pool party, SAT, a dance recital(I don't dance, but several of my good friends do and I'm going to be supportive and nice and go watch it)... And then next week also has a heap of things. Not to mention next Saturday my family is leaving for a three week road trip. I'm totally excited and totally not ready.
All that to say, no, I haven't had time to plan a blog post. *cries* I do apologize. However, this is your chance to have a say in what sort of posts I write this summer! :D I'm gonna ask several questions and I'd be very pleased if you'd comment and answer.
What writing-related posts would you like to see?
What posts would you like to see related to other things?
What has been your favorite post so far?
Ok so enough about my blog. Let's hear about you. What are you most looking forward to this summer?
As I said, we're leaving next Saturday and we're going to a teen writers workshop hosted by the One Year Adventure Novel and I am very pumped.(and unprepared) In July I'll be at a service project daycamp sort of thing for a week.
A last little thought: Make goals this summer. Don't just flop around. (although relaxing is good) Remember all the things you were yearning to do during the school year and get out there and DO IT. A good idea might be to grab a friend and discuss goals and then poof you will be accountable for each other.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Double Review: 'Airman' and 'The Marvels'
--A quick announcement: My last post was published one day after the exact one year anniversary of this blog! So a big thank you to all you charming folks who actually read it and comment and all that. ^.^ It's nice to know I'm not over here typing to myself.--
I've recently discovered two very great books, so why not review/give thoughts on them?
Part 1: Airman, by Eoin Colfer.
I spent a long time trying to figure out what genre Airman was, and finally decided on 'alternate history, with an air of steampunk'. The setting is the non-fictional Saltee Islands off the coast of Great Britain(yes I looked them up and they exist, but not quite the same as the author has us imagining them) in the Victorian era.
The book centers around the idea of flight(as in, airborne travel) and freedom, and is filled with beautiful prose and lovely description. Each character has a very distinct voice and individual personality, which is one of my favorite parts of a book. The characters weren't all from the Saltees, either. There were Frenchmen, Englishmen, Irishmen, Americans, and even a dandy pirate. The main character, Conor, has definite goals, dreams, and values, and it makes us care for him from the start.
As many books will, Airman slowed down toward the middle section, and while it felt slow going with hardly any action to speak of, I never lost interest, so strong was Conor's determination, and so enjoyable(or detestable) were the characters. Unlike any other book I can think of, this one made me cry a little near the beginning, instead of at the end. It invoked emotion the whole way through.
I would absolutely recommend Airman to everyone. (although maybe those under 10 wouldn't understand it or enjoy it to its full level) It did have light swearing, but other than that, there was hardly any objectionable content. In fact, it would make an awesome read-aloud. (I mean, who doesn't want to practice their different British, French, and American accents?) I can only describe it as a wonderful and inspiring read.
Part 2: The Marvels, by Brian Selznick.
One thing you should know about Selznick: He tells parts of his stories with huge sections of illustrations, and it is fascinating and glorious. (Especially to me, as an artist) His other books are also amazing, and I believe I mentioned them in a previous post.
The Marvels is a super quick read. The illustrations weave a magnificent history, and when it got to the prose section I didn't want to stop looking at all the fabulous pictures. They're all so well thought out, one can tell Selznick didn't just like scribble them all out, they're very meticulously planned and composed.
I won't spoil it for you, but I must say the picture story and the prose story connect beautifully in the end, and there were lovely symbols and continuing ideas and everything matched and tied together. I was impressed. And it totally didn't end in the way I expected.
However, I came away unsatisfied, because there was mention and acceptance of homosexuality. -_- How dare you associate such a thing with such a great book?! In all other ways, though, The Marvels is brilliant. I'd recommend it to anyone 12 or older.
At any rate, both of these books inspired me, and they're grand. The Marvels is fairly new, and my library, for one, doesn't have it yet, and it costs a pretty penny at Barnes and Noble, but perhaps you're like me and have a fantastical best friend who decided to buy it and is willing to loan it to you. Airman should be easier to find at the library, and definitely costs less if you want to buy it. Anyhow, go find something awesome to read!
What amazing books have you been reading lately?
I've recently discovered two very great books, so why not review/give thoughts on them?
Part 1: Airman, by Eoin Colfer.
I spent a long time trying to figure out what genre Airman was, and finally decided on 'alternate history, with an air of steampunk'. The setting is the non-fictional Saltee Islands off the coast of Great Britain(yes I looked them up and they exist, but not quite the same as the author has us imagining them) in the Victorian era.
The book centers around the idea of flight(as in, airborne travel) and freedom, and is filled with beautiful prose and lovely description. Each character has a very distinct voice and individual personality, which is one of my favorite parts of a book. The characters weren't all from the Saltees, either. There were Frenchmen, Englishmen, Irishmen, Americans, and even a dandy pirate. The main character, Conor, has definite goals, dreams, and values, and it makes us care for him from the start.
As many books will, Airman slowed down toward the middle section, and while it felt slow going with hardly any action to speak of, I never lost interest, so strong was Conor's determination, and so enjoyable(or detestable) were the characters. Unlike any other book I can think of, this one made me cry a little near the beginning, instead of at the end. It invoked emotion the whole way through.
I would absolutely recommend Airman to everyone. (although maybe those under 10 wouldn't understand it or enjoy it to its full level) It did have light swearing, but other than that, there was hardly any objectionable content. In fact, it would make an awesome read-aloud. (I mean, who doesn't want to practice their different British, French, and American accents?) I can only describe it as a wonderful and inspiring read.
Part 2: The Marvels, by Brian Selznick.
One thing you should know about Selznick: He tells parts of his stories with huge sections of illustrations, and it is fascinating and glorious. (Especially to me, as an artist) His other books are also amazing, and I believe I mentioned them in a previous post.
The Marvels is a super quick read. The illustrations weave a magnificent history, and when it got to the prose section I didn't want to stop looking at all the fabulous pictures. They're all so well thought out, one can tell Selznick didn't just like scribble them all out, they're very meticulously planned and composed.
I won't spoil it for you, but I must say the picture story and the prose story connect beautifully in the end, and there were lovely symbols and continuing ideas and everything matched and tied together. I was impressed. And it totally didn't end in the way I expected.
However, I came away unsatisfied, because there was mention and acceptance of homosexuality. -_- How dare you associate such a thing with such a great book?! In all other ways, though, The Marvels is brilliant. I'd recommend it to anyone 12 or older.
At any rate, both of these books inspired me, and they're grand. The Marvels is fairly new, and my library, for one, doesn't have it yet, and it costs a pretty penny at Barnes and Noble, but perhaps you're like me and have a fantastical best friend who decided to buy it and is willing to loan it to you. Airman should be easier to find at the library, and definitely costs less if you want to buy it. Anyhow, go find something awesome to read!
What amazing books have you been reading lately?
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
The Quest for Inspiration
So I was inspired to write a blog post. Ironically enough, it was another blog post that inspired me. Just goes to show, inspiration can be found almost anywhere. Outside, in the grocery store, at the dinner table, youth group... The list goes on. Everywhere you look, there is a piece of dialogue, an object to describe, a plot point, a character. Inspiration should be easy. You only have to look for it. Searching for inspiration is a skill you develop.
Sometimes the smallest things can lead to a burst of inspiration. A little spark can throw you into a dreamy, inspired mindset for a whole day. Inspiration can't be faked. You can force yourself to write a story or draw a picture. And that's great. But it isn't the same as writing or drawing under inspiration.
Inspiration can't be faked, but it can be found. You can't decide when to be inspired, but it certainly helps to know where to look for inspiration.
I have a list of things I do when I'm searching for inspiration. So here:
-Take pictures. Zoom in, look closer than usual and everyday things.
-Go watch a play. There's nothing better than seeing a well plotted story being acted out right before your eyes.
-Read a story. Analyze what bits are your favorite, and how you might implement them in your own writing.
-Go for a walk. Fresh air, flowers, trees, sky... Quite inspirational.
-Observe the people around you. Take time to wonder what really makes them tick. I guarantee you will at least get a character trait out of it.
-Scroll across Pinterest. Ok. This one's tricky, because Pinterest can also turn into "Oh, look at this hilarious cat meme." And that's not inspirational. (I mean, maybe it is to some people.) But I find that looking at writing boards or travel boards or character boards or art boards are most inspirational for me.
-Visit a few writing blogs. Some amazing ones are GoTeenWriters, StoryForger, and This Incandescent Life.
-Write a letter, or journal, or something that's not what you need inspiration for. (For some reason, writing in cursive makes me feel really fancy and that sometimes inspires me to continue along in my creative endeavors.)
-Do something new. Changing it up can get you out of your usual pattern of thinking.
-Play an instrument or listen to music. Unplugging and just immersing yourself in music can be a great way to get thoughts going.
-Organize something. This one's more of something I do, because organizing relaxes me. Also having a clear work space is important.
A few months ago I did a post on artist's block that kind of builds on this topic.
...That's about all I have for today. Apologies for the late post. I haven't got an excuse for it, either. Although I did manage to type up 700 words in my WIP after having writer's block for a while!
What inspires you? (Comments are great, and guess what? They inspire me to write more posts. <3 )
Sometimes the smallest things can lead to a burst of inspiration. A little spark can throw you into a dreamy, inspired mindset for a whole day. Inspiration can't be faked. You can force yourself to write a story or draw a picture. And that's great. But it isn't the same as writing or drawing under inspiration.
Inspiration can't be faked, but it can be found. You can't decide when to be inspired, but it certainly helps to know where to look for inspiration.
I have a list of things I do when I'm searching for inspiration. So here:
-Take pictures. Zoom in, look closer than usual and everyday things.
-Go watch a play. There's nothing better than seeing a well plotted story being acted out right before your eyes.
-Read a story. Analyze what bits are your favorite, and how you might implement them in your own writing.
-Go for a walk. Fresh air, flowers, trees, sky... Quite inspirational.
-Observe the people around you. Take time to wonder what really makes them tick. I guarantee you will at least get a character trait out of it.
-Scroll across Pinterest. Ok. This one's tricky, because Pinterest can also turn into "Oh, look at this hilarious cat meme." And that's not inspirational. (I mean, maybe it is to some people.) But I find that looking at writing boards or travel boards or character boards or art boards are most inspirational for me.
-Visit a few writing blogs. Some amazing ones are GoTeenWriters, StoryForger, and This Incandescent Life.
-Write a letter, or journal, or something that's not what you need inspiration for. (For some reason, writing in cursive makes me feel really fancy and that sometimes inspires me to continue along in my creative endeavors.)
-Do something new. Changing it up can get you out of your usual pattern of thinking.
-Play an instrument or listen to music. Unplugging and just immersing yourself in music can be a great way to get thoughts going.
-Organize something. This one's more of something I do, because organizing relaxes me. Also having a clear work space is important.
A few months ago I did a post on artist's block that kind of builds on this topic.
...That's about all I have for today. Apologies for the late post. I haven't got an excuse for it, either. Although I did manage to type up 700 words in my WIP after having writer's block for a while!
What inspires you? (Comments are great, and guess what? They inspire me to write more posts. <3 )
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