"Red Warrior"

The prompt for tonight is to write a poem based around the metaphor "A Flourish of Hate." Here goes!

"Red Warrior"

Seething with misconceptions,

Injustice seems to reign

My courage is altered,

My pride adjusted,

My passion I dare not to feign

I write to these walls for comfort

Yet lust is my ultimate foe

Through carnal misreadings

And uncouth destruction

This cruelty I desire so

I read to create a sanctuary

Where hate flourishes above all

At long lengths I have tried

Yet no sense can be made

Of empathy's unbidden fall

In vain I have tried, 

To read and to write

This carnal destruction

Of hatred and lust

Yet oh what a worthy fight 

That's all I have for tonight, but thanks for reading. Remember, keep writing! 

"A Hard Teacher"

I feel it's time to return to the beautiful book Naming the World and the exercises included. Therefore, I opened up to a random page and found an exercise that dared me to write about the most shameful experience I've had, to shame myself while allowing myself to be redeemed in the end. To be honest, and at the risk of using cliches, this challenge hit pretty close to home, for I've been encountering a significant problem as of late. Before I write, I just want to make a little disclaimer that I know that my life is a very charmed one. I am not unaware of the opportunities I have that many others do not. I do not say this to be arrogant, but I do say this to clarify that no matter what I state, I know that I am so very lucky and blessed. I wouldn't wish my life to be anything other than what it is. However, I am a flawed character and will admit that in the name of writing. Here goes.

From the moment of my conception, my mother and I were inseparable. Mom said I was her "angel child," for I never gave her any problems during her pregnancy or during my childhood years. We did everything together, from dishes to laundry to visiting her friends. If I wasn't in her arms, I was writing notes asking her to cuddle or making her obscure gifts just to see her smile. I went out of my way everyday to tell my siblings to start on their work so that they wouldn't upset my mother. For anyone who knows me, this isn't a secret. I needed my mom. I told her everything, and she would confide in me as well. Our dependence, though unheard of for some families, was the most wonderful aspect of our lives. Coffee, recounting the day's events, and cleaning were the joys of our lives, and we relished in our need dearly.
Unfortunately, things change. I met someone, my dad needed his wife more, and the process of growing up took hold of us both. This separation, this choice of living our own lives, wasn't established with ease. Last year I found myself juggling A.P. classes, being in relationship, defining who I was, and spending family time. With infant nephews running around the house every weekend, other sisters returning from college or their lives with their beaus, and grandparents requiring vast amounts of attention, I was forced to realize that the friendship or routine that my mom and I once had must be toned down.
We stayed like this, missing each other and still conversing, but not on the scale we were used to. Then I began to separate a little more. As I made an effort to become a part of my relationship, I realized that in college it will only be me and my partner; I had to try to learn her, to give her the attention that a successful relationship required. At the risk of sounding incredibly juvenile, when one is in love - to the extent that he or she has been introduced, it becomes increasingly harder to be away from the cherished one. I became more busy with work, more weighed down by the stress of choosing colleges, driver's training, paying for graduation and college, paying for dances and all that came with it, maintaining my position as one of the top five in my class, and spending enough time with my five siblings. I became my own person, and that was not always a good thing. I resented myself for letting my chores be neglected, letting my cat be neglected, and more importantly, letting the most important family tie be neglected.
I needed Mom; I still need Mom. However, I didn't grant her time enough. Finally, it happened. As she was stirring the mix for lemon poppy seed muffins, she stated something that I had always feared. Another disclaimer: in no way do I mean this to degrade my mom, for she was right on all accounts and said it to help me rather than hurt me. The cruelest realization I have ever prevailed upon came in the form of her admittance that she no longer likes who I am, that I am no longer Dina, that I am not happy any more and it becomes more obvious in my eyes with each passing day. She claimed that I was losing myself, and that this new Sadina was not something that she could be okay with.
Naturally, this news was not taken lightly. I couldn't believe what she was saying to me. I tried to doubt her, tried to convince myself that she was merely stressed and couldn't possibly mean what she said. Alas, no reason could be made. I couldn't lie to myself, though I wanted to very much.
I had let my mother down.
And that was it. That was all I needed. It was this statement, and nothing more that I will always remember. I had been the "perfect daughter," the one who went above and beyond to ensure my mother's happiness. I had  been that girl in the family who everyone went to for their problems, everyone confided in just to get something off their chests. Yet no one came to me anymore. The disappointed and betrayed look in my mother's eyes still stains my memory, tainting my pride to a notable extent.
Perhaps I have spent too much time for myself. Yet how does one change their entire person? I supposed that  since I had done it once, I could do it again. It is to my disadvantage, though, that all attempts I make at reconciliation are not seen as I hoped they would be. No matter what I do now, the past mistakes are still there, screaming at us to remind us of their presence. I am not one who admits my faults easily. But the knowledge that I have let my best friend, my hero, my mother down...well that is too great a fault. I am deeply ashamed of my neglect, and though I would never really admit this to her, I truly cannot emphasize enough how I measure myself through her eyes. Is this a fault as well? I don't know. She seems to know me so well, it's hard to call her on a flaw of perception of such a character as me.
I know it's not too late though. I love who I am. I know that I can show her that I'm still Dina, still the person she needs me to be. I know that with enough time and perseverance, I will prove to her that she can still rely on me, that I am still there for her unconditionally.

Again, I do not mean to say this to reflect any negative image upon my mother, nor do I write this to evoke any form of sympathy for me. I merely write this as a true account of my most shameful experience. With this resolution comes fear that someone will read this and misinterpret what it was I meant to say. Nevertheless, I had to write this for me and for my mom. I am Sadina. I can do this because I have my mother's strength, gentleness, and determination to better myself. I can do this because I am her daughter.

"Psychological Recovery ... Six months"

Yet another writing prompt has stole my attention. The challenge today is to write something involving the line "the chest of childhood." Here goes.

He has an air about him that suggested he was internally happy. Though my life has not been a horrible one, I cannot deny that I have rarely seen this raw vision of happiness. I observed him, loved him for his ease-like smile. Too many times have I witnessed my reflection frowning at what it sees. The longing to be like him grew within me. I began to follow him.
Every day he took the same route, which involved purchasing a cup of decaf mocha coffee, grande sized; consuming an egg sandwich, super sized; resting on a bench, child sized; and reading an off-brand newspaper, business sized. He would then walk to a colorful building, lined in sky blue, grinning as he took the ride of the spinning door rather than entering the conventional door right next to it.
I never followed him into this building. I was too afraid that he would spot me and his smile would fade. What would I be without my inspiration remaining prominent? I needed to see this smile. I dreamed of it, longed for it, craved it when he was not there. He would then exit the building at 6:05 every night, check his watch, purchase another cup of coffee - only this time it would be a lite vanilla latte, and walk to his apartment - the walls full of neon-colored graffiti, conveying messages such as "Express yourself" and "The world is your oyster." What must it be like to surround yourself with such positive life, such vivacity? What passion is he filled with?
Then it happened.
He went about his usual day: coffee, egg, bench, read, walk to building. It was during this walk that the most unthinkable happened. He took one step to the right, rather than forward. One single step, to avoid a newly formed pothole before him. An approaching Buick did not expect this long stride toward the driver's direction. The car swerved, the man did not take notice, and the bones met the hood of the vehicle. Unable to react, I stood and observed his fall. The blood did not provoke any movement of my muscles. I was aghast, and therefore paralyzed as I gaped at my idol. I could see enough from where I stood. Death was nothing new in my life; in fact, it was expected. Because of this, I was able to stare with undisturbed eyes as I took note of his smile still present, his chest of childhood bearing a happy heart proudly, and his mind the purest, though simplest, I have had the opportunity to witness.
It has been six months, and this smile, his smile, is now carried on my face every day as I drink my coffee, eat my egg sandwich, sit on a small bench, read my newspaper, and walk into a colorful building, childishly spinning as I enter.

"Not In Blood, But In Bond"

I chose a very random writing prompt to do tonight from a random location on the internet, trying to get a crazy idea...or a challenging one. Therefore, the task is to write a poem that contains these lines in no particular order: "I tie the ribbon in a foolish way," "the delicious fragility of this travesty," and "where we still laugh and wish." Now, my first instinct is to write about someone who is visiting a common place where he/she and his/her friend use to sit and talk, but that friend died and now he/she is reminiscing. However, I think this is to easy, and I am determined - that's right, determined - to write something that takes a little bit to think of. Please harbor no expectations of incredible creativity, but I feel that small degree of creativity is still worth a mini-applause. Okay...here goes!

"Not In Blood, But In Bond"

I slump against the village walls 

Observing the chaos I have caused

I relish in the collective, pallid face

Of those whose existence I have disgraced

I, one among many, ordained for service

Travel with my comrades where we still laugh and wish

Taking from maidens their ribbons and strings

I vow to return them to my king

Yet a victim of mine remains prominent

For she was noble, and therefore prudent

Her silence was born from good manners and pride

And the unwillingness to easily subside

Alas, her strength could not match mine

And from her dress did I twine

A ribbon around my loving hand

An act of sentiment the maiden banned

I tie the ribbon in a foolish way

Pleading inside, but unwilling to say

How love seems necessary, even pertinent

To the unrequited message that I have desperately sent

The delicious fragility of this travesty

Only increases my incredibility

For I have taken from her a token of love

Though such pretensions must not be thought of

I meet, through this ribbon, my pending fate

Though I have had the chance to satiate

My lasting hunger, my need of her

And so my tragic end must occur

I have loved, loved I did

Though my heart appears placid

The facade is shattered, a knight I am not

As all expectations of humility are forgot.

So that's a rough poem, but at least I did it! Thanks for reading, and remember to keep writing!!! 

"Light My Fire"

I watched a movie that I absolutely loved, and I wanted to write something based on the idea. The movie that I am using as a "prompt" is Mr. Nobody. I know it sounds obscure, but that it is because the concepts in the movie actually are. From this originality, beauty is born, and I became deeply affected. Though there are several parts that have made an impact on me, I can only choose one to work off of in this blog, so I chose this particular quote:

"Urgh, you're still here? Did I fall asleep? Sometimes I don't sleep so I think... I think about how it was... and all I have left. What do you see when you look at me? A grumpy old man who never answers questions? Who mixes everything up? Who's kept busy by getting his meals? That's not me. Me... I wear shorts. I'm nine years old. I can run faster than the train. I can't feel my aching back anymore. I'm fifteen. I'm fifteen and I'm in love. "


I loved this after I heard it. I couldn't believe how beautiful this idea was. I know it may seem common to some, but I had never viewed it like that. After I heard this quote, I began thinking. Who am I? This is a universal question that I personally believe will never be answered. However, as I step into adolescence, I am discovering to a small extent of who I truly am. I am not the one who my parents had originally confided in, trusting that I will see it only their way and know that they are right in all things. I am not the sister who remains pure and forgets all past transgressions of my siblings. I am not the geeky girl at school who has to be before everyone else, or defined as the absolute "smartest in her class." I am not the friend who subsides to the will of others, hoping that they won't turn on me in the end. No.
 I am five years old, watching Little Bear and drinking coffee with my mom, admiring her for her beauty and strength. I am not seventeen and tainted with the perception of others...she is my mother, and in her do I place the deepest of trust. I am the five year old who constantly wants to hug her hero, the one who to this day has never let her down.
 I am seven and just learning how to truly evaluate the actions of others rather than succumbing to the social norms. I am learning the cruelest lesson of life, we all fall down sometimes. 
I am ten and am learning to simply express myself and not worry about what I am "supposed to be doing." I laugh freely, I write all the time, and I find the beauty in every person I cross because I wish they would do the same for me. 
I am twelve and am learning what going through puberty means, vulnerable yet excited to really live. I am looking at my sister and am in awe of her profundity, aghast at how people could think her anything less than magnificent. I am taking the first step away from my mother and am teaching myself the lessons of the world through movies. I am thirteen and am in a place I don't understand, but revel in the mystery. I express myself through words and music, stuck in an elated state of Hans Zimmer and my flute. I am willing to trust anything and anyone, so long as there is a smile in their eyes.
 I am fourteen and am crying over the loss of the two best friends I have had practically all my life. I learned the great lesson of closing off, preserving the very most inner workings of my heart. I am vowing over and over again that I will never open up to anyone again until I know that I can trust them, until I am sure that they will love me no matter what.
 I am sixteen and am terrified of doctors and weight complications. I am seeing the effects that old age may have and am desperate to become close to my family before I lose any of them to the will of God. God. I am sixteen and am struggling with how to define my faith in a world where no one seems to have an answer. I am sixteen, and I am in love. My dearest friend has revealed to me an irrevocable and infinite possibility to see  the good in everything I do. From her I have learned that hope is a necessity. I am learning that all the songs and stories are true to the extent of what we know it. The world has seemed to stop, and I have created my own with the one I choose. I am opening up, and though it is the most frightening thing I have been challenged to do, I am a new Sadina, a better one.
I am seventeen and am frightened about college, frightened about what it means to have a serious relationship, frightened of the relationship I am losing with my family, frightened about maturing and the obligations that come with it. I am seventeen and am excited for what is to come, excited about what I am capable of, and excited to show my family and loved ones how much their support and company has affected me. I no longer have to be the best. I just have to be me, and I know that's enough for everyone, especially me. 
I am Sadina the Wryter. Filled with an adventurous spirit, an ability to love with all of my heart, incredible passion, and a mind ready to open up to what the world has to offer, I am determined to understand that which I do not, and for the first time in my life, I truly believe in myself. I am Sadina Brott. I am who I am, and the perceptions of others will not alter that. 


Thanks for reading, and remember to keep writing! 

"A Little Push"

I have reached an impasse as I like to say. A serious conflict has been established in my book and I have no idea how to resolve it without betraying the history that my novella is written to correctly portray. Luckily, I have come up with a solution. I looked back on the "Twenty-One Tweaks to Write a Better Tale" from The Complete Handbook to Novel Writing and have resolved to use some of these tips to help expand my novella. However, I will not disclose how I will due this due to my attempt to preserve the originality that my writing may hold. Therefore, I will simply list the tips and hope that my readers can use them to their advantage. Call it a little push if you will.

1. Could it use a new beginning?
2. Does the ending point toward a deeper story?
3. Is there a dominant visual image?
4. Is the right person telling the story?
5. Is there enough interior monologue...or too much?
6. Are there too many minor characters...or too few?
7. Are there enough scenes, too many, or the wrong ones?
8. Why are you telling me this?
9. Do you appeal to a reader's senses?
10. Do you appeal to a sense of place?
11. Do your characters have sufficient motivation?
12. Could you make the time frame more interesting?
13. Could you add texture to your story with echoes, allusions, and metaphors?
14. What if your narrator was unreliable?
15. Do you give readers enough trivia information and "deep thoughts"?
16. Will lyrics, letters, or lists add interest?
17. What about coincidence or irony?
18. Does the story have enough contrast?
19. How lively is your dialogue?
20. Can you up the ante? (not quite sure what this one means)
21. When all else fails, why not try a "side car" approach?

I have already applied a few of these to my story when I went through and revised what I had, but I also am excited to try a few more. These tips work during your writing process as well, not just during the revision process. Best of luck to you, and don't forget, keep writing! 

"Paradox"

Due to Naming of the World's numerous exercises, I was tempted to do yet another one. Therefore, this exercise starts with a sentence and I keep running with it, akin to Levine's exercise I did earlier in my blog.

I did tell one person. God help me. She responded with a single touch. All this time, wondering what she would say, how she would evaluate the information, what she would hide from me, for naught. I am left as empty as I came, yet the sensation of her touch remains. Five years ago, I never saw this life for me. Oh, how obvious it was. I am now lost in the memory of her touch. What life is this? How can one survive from this.
She laughs as she removes the boundaries surrounding me. I weep as I end my days as one of the many who have forgotten all but what is. The presence, my future, is the entirety of my life. Integrity fades as realization sets in. I do not yet know if I should have told her. I do not yet know if I desired her touch. Yet here I am, submissive again to the whims of time. My end is her beginning, and in that do I reside. 

"It Is Only Beginning"

This is yet another exercise from Naming the World. I was somewhat hesitant in choosing this one, because I am a big believer in choosing your title after the piece is written. However, I thought that I should step out of my comfort zone and really challenge myself, and I am actually pretty okay with my results. The basic idea is to write six title according to the stipulations that the author listed. Then I was to choose a title and elaborate, stopping right when I was really getting into it.

Potential Titles:
Immensities
Suppression
"What Shall We Die For"
Pleading Night
From Whence Did I Come?
Tell Me to Come Here


For clarity's sake, I chose Pleading Night...here goes!

She winced as the light from Jerry's torch pierced her eyes. "You bloody fool," she spat. "Don't blind me!"
"Sorry, mate. I was merely trying to see if it worked or not."
"Well be careful where you point it then." Lucy tucked her long auburn hair behind her left ear as she continued down the dirt tunnel.
"Every night I wait for you, hoping that you won't be late or that you'll rescue me if something terrible happens."
"Aren't I supposed to be the damsel in distress? Jerry, you're slightly a git; do you realize that? I swear, that's not the way you woo a lady, even if she is as untoward as I."
"I'm sorry, Lucy. I just love our nightly explorations."
"Then dig."
With an indignant silence, Jerry scraped the dirt from the sides encircling him. He constantly marveled at the way the grains fell softly, without sound, as if free and passionate, without thought of where they would reside next.
"Do you ever wish you were a woman, Jerry?"
"Once. Why?"
"I find that women tend to be as observant as you, and as thoughtless."
"That's an awful judgment to say about your own sex."
"I come out here sometimes at night and wish for our lives to be different. That I were a man and you were a woman. Imagine our lives and how different they would be, happy even."
"I'm happy now."
"Oh don't be thick. No one is happy."
Jerry saw more dirt fall out of the corner of his eye and could swear he heard the night release a small cry.

"Tell Me Now (What You See)"

There was another writing practice in Writing Magic that I was intrigued by, so I thought I would give it a go. Gail Carson Levine gave a sentence and I had to keep writing. Therefore, the first sentence is hers and the rest is mine. Bear with me here, it was done in ten minutes and in a very noisy classroom, but admittedly, I'm still okay with it.

I have one green eye and one brown eye. The green eye sees truth, but the brown eye. The green eye sees truth, but the brown eye sees much, much more. It sees life. Reality. The exact opposite of truth. I've always been this way. My truth is perception, but their truth, observed with my green eye, is a different kind of reality. In our world, my brown-eyed world, lies and chaos rule. For those who don't know, this is a different time we live in. The music, the movies, the violence, the news, everything, it's all meant to add to the deception. Under the haze, the green eye understands that the intentions of the world are nonexistent. We are clouded by fear. Our reality has ruined us.

-July 2026

Is destruction a green-eyed or brown-eyed perception? I saw a man fall today, his heart completely obliterated from the impact of the bullet, only I saw with both of my eyes. Could this mean our worlds are colliding? Is truth becoming a reality for my brown-eyed world? Is perception no longer a reality? Or worse is their reality becoming my truth? Will I ever be able to tell?

-August 2026

That's all I have today. Thanks for reading, and remember, keep writing!!!! 

"Three Musketeers"

There was a writing exercise in Naming the World, yet another instructional book for writing, that I simply had to try so here it is. It will make sense as you read it. 

My Firsts:

1. My first kiss
2. My first fight with her
3. My first Ralph Fiennes movie
4. My first secret from my parents
5. My first concert - Rascal Flatts

My Lasts:

1. The last time I said "I can't"
2. The last date I went on before Sam
3. The last time I confided in Katie
4. The last poem I wrote
5. The last time Sam and I told our parents anything

**This creative activity is freely adapted. I had to choose a first or last and write about it...but I chose to add a little creativity to the mix. Therefore, not all the information is true.**

This was the first secret I had ever kept from my parents. As the "three musketeers," we had kept a very open relationship where honesty was a must. This, however, was something I could not share. What I was doing was improper for ladies of society. My companion promised she would not tell either. We betrayed my parents together, our passion for what we were doing too great to let the opportunity be taken from us.

We were reading.

Learning was restricted, for women were expected to fuss only about their petticoats and the happiness of their husbands to be. My friend and I had much more in mind though. We would not settle for the dull and expected life they set before us. Indeed we wanted to expand our knowledge, read about important issues, and expose ourselves to what we referred to as the real world.

It was worth it. What we read inspired us to be more, and now here we are, standing among the ancient ruins of Rome, the seemingly endless forests of Africa, the beautiful pyramids of Egypt. Yet that world was only on the page. My friend and I took so many adventures, forgetting completely that we were only admiring a mere photograph. I have traveled the world, met the great poets of the sixteenth century, and have married my own version of Prince Charming. Although, at the end of the day we report back to my parents, we have truly lived. This secret I shall cherish forever. 

"I've Got My Eye On You"

I have another writing exercise for you! In Gail Carson Levine's book on how to write, there was a passage when she listed ideas for writing. I chose one idea and just went with it, writing what I could before the person noticed what I was doing. The idea was that I should study a stranger and write how I perceive him. This is supposed to be a practice that would assist me in developing my skills of characterization. Anyway, there was a boy who is my friend's little brother, so of course I had to study him. I have always wondered who he was, and when I saw his last name, I knew I had to study this stranger. 

He looks just like his brother, same delicate eyes, same crooked nose, same hesitant smile. Quiet. Unsure. Only he was the one who had to try harder. He wasn't what his brother was. His solitude was born from a beauty of the unsatisfied. Too big, too unspoken,too unique. In a society today that strives for individuality, it condemns those who achieve it. He lumbers toward me, polite and with purpose. "Excuse me," a husky voice implies. He reaches past me, sharpens his pencil, the point still dull when he is finished.

I've studied his academic past in his classes and I've graded his papers, each problem done to perfection. Yet not one ounce of real enthusiasm ever crosses his face. There's something more to him that I must discover.

**At this point he had noticed me staring at him and writing, so I had to stop before he asked me to explain...how can one explain that without sounding potentially creepy? 

That's all I have for today, but I will keep this updated with my new writing exercises! Always remember, keep writing! 

"The Way of the Sword"

Welcome to my new section of the blog where I share all of my warm ups. As you read please keep in mind that these are WARM UPS....not meant to be written with great talent or care. They are only to get my creative juices flowing, as my instructor likes to say, and help stir ideas. The post I am writing tonight was inspired by a Lead O' Lists I had made a while back. I liked the first sentence, so I took it and built from it. Excuse the short passages, for though they are limited in length, they helped me write the beginning of my novella. The second passage is strictly from my mind. I wanted to write just so I could write. 

9-12

I inhaled the passionate and seductive essence of death as I drew my sword for the last time.

"Too long have I fought for you Ari. This is goodbye." 

The blade descended, gleaming under the crimson sun. As the tip impaled my foe, penetrating his gold embroidered tunic, a warm liquid caressed his body. A single breath, drawn too quickly as blood frothed in his throat. The weight of the weakening corpse caused further impalement as his knees gave a sickening crack upon their meeting with the hardened ground. 

"Goodbye brother. We will meet again." 

A final movement, to sever the head from his body, and my Adrien was no more. 

9-13

I could see his reflection in the glistening blood beneath him. Thick, resisting ripples dance in a laughing rhythm as the wind cried in despair for the fall of my warrior. As his hair whipped his lifeless face, the spike tipped in favor of the breeze. This was all I had left, the head of my love. I am a knight; he was a lord.The steel coloring to his icy-blue eyes left when his nose did, pecked away by the savage crows. We had played the game and lost. I no longer feel. I no longer live. My love, I give myself to the crows. 

"We Ride, Really!"

It has finally happened; my last book on writing has been read. Of course I will read many more, but for right now the required ones are finished and I can write about the last one. After that, we are on the road of writing!

Because the instructive books were great in length and shared a wide range of tips, I have a limited amount of things to share with you from this book. Nevertheless, Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird gave me hope. There were moments when I thought her writing was over the top in humor, even crude in some aspects. However, there were also pages that brought tears to my eyes as she conveyed her trust in every aspiring. Though she does not know me, she spoke to me on a level that no one else has. One thing I can say about these books on writing is that it is beautiful to have someone who is a writer relate to you. We live in a world where we feel alone most of the time, but these books reach out and tell you to keep writing no matter what because your words will break through someone's heart. Lammott touched me, and even though the book was tedious to get through, I feel that I will be a stronger writer because of her blind faith in a stranger such as myself.

Alright, now to the tips I have promised. After this post, I am only revealing the writing practices that I have done myself, so enjoy these tips while you can because you may just lose interest in the posts that follow.
Please excuse the random order. As I said, there is a lot more to the book than I will summarize, but they are probably in previous posts or I already knew them.

• Almost all good efforts begin with terrible first efforts. 
• Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism. It is also the voice of the oppressor. **I took this to heart because I am a known perfectionist. It's time to start trusting myself and understanding that the key to my success is knowing when to stop and hand it to an editor. 
• Read all of your dialogue, or just writing in general, out loud over and over. Just keep practicing this. Then, eventually, you'll edit people as you hear them. Listen, observe, store, and make it into a sentence. Capture life. You're a writer, so write. 
• Trust yourself to hear what your characters are saying, not the other way around....I am guilty of not doing this, so I read this page a few times. 
• Understand your characters and story. The example she used was to understand like Anthony Hopkins understood Hannibal Lector. If he hadn't, then what would Silence of the Lambs be like? 
•  Block out all of the little thoughts. Anything that doesn't have to with writing, chuck. Grab those squeaking mice by the tails and stuff them into little jars, planning to let them out later.
• Believe that you are worth it. When people write, they are broken with the most acute amount of the vulnerability. Bask in this; revel in it. Let the innocence of writing surround you, and learn to love your words. If you're a writer, words are what you are. Accept the beauty in this, and write. 
• This was just a quote that I loved very much, even laughed out loud while class was in session. "One writer I know tells me that he sits down every morning and says to himself nicely, 'It's not like you don't have a choice, because you do - you can either type or kill yourself.'" 

It is done! The tips have been listed, the writing process has commenced, and I have turned in my first five pages to my instructor. Don't worry though, the journey of my writing will continue in later posts. For now, thanks for reading, and remember to keep writing!

"Anything Can Happen"

Ello readers! I am now going to share with you a new book, continuing our adventure on how to write. This book I really enjoyed reading, for the author stirred the child inside of me while making me realize how much maturing I've yet to do. Writing Magic, by Gail Carson Levine, is basically imprinted inside. Honestly, I could write this post without even viewing my notes (but I will do so anyway, for who am I to deprive you of the best?).

Straight off the bat she challenged me to take the writer's oath...so I did. "Anything you say Gail." I am quoting directly when it comes to this oath, so please do not mistake me for being original.

"The Writer's Oath
        I promise solemnly:

1. to write as often and as much as I can
2. to respect my writing self, and 
3. to nurture the writing of others"

I accept these responsibilities and shall honor them always!! 

The following tips are random tips that I felt weren't covered by the book I had discussed previously. Though they are in no certain order, they are still valid, so bear with me, and remember, all tips are useful. It's how you utilize them that determines their worth. Remember, if you keep writing, something golden will show up eventually. Nothing is impossible. 

• If you have an idea, write it down. Don't let it slip away. Too many times have I had the makings of a great poem or story, but I am busy so I do not write it down. This is a mistake. Take the time and write. If you're a writer, this should be a trade for you, and done with ease. You never know what will come up. 
• You can make and fill out a questionnaire for your characters, in order to aid the development. 
• Keep everything you write. Never throw anything away, for you never know when you can use it, or even when you might need it. 
• What makes the reader care? The author's cruelty by making his or her hero suffer and the reader's sympathy. 
• Show where you are right away to get the readers interested. Setting is a weakness of mine, so this tip has significance for me.
• Know when to end the book...this was dabbled in the last post, but it is still important to remember.
• When you're stuck, write down twelve options of what to write about, some stupid, some silly, some great, and plow through. 
• DO NOT bend your story in order to accommodate your beautiful words. Revise!! I am very bad at this, for if I like a sentence, I try to make it work. I will definitely improve on that though by letting go of something if I know it does not work. 
• Consider joining a writing group or a writing workshop. Hearing from your peers is the best criticism you can get. 

That's all I have from the book. I am sorry they are so brief, but in my defense, the book was very short. There are a few writing practices that the book listed, some that I participated in. I will post those soon. Thanks for reading! Remember your oath and to keep writing! Don't forget, anything can happen. 

"Data, Data, Data"

Alright, this is my last post on tips from The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing. I have a lot though, so bear with me if you can. I find that when I get overwhelmed from all this information, it is best to see it in action. Writing them out helps, but I also feel relieved after I watch someone write. For example, after watching The Hours again, I have gained much more confidence in being able to incorporate these tips into my writing. Nicole Kidman portrays Virginia Woolfe as she writes the well-known novel, Mrs. Dalloway, and my heart still stops with certain sentences that she writes. With the right Hans Zimmer song, I know that I can do this, and I hope you feel the same after reading these tips, my dear imaginary readers.

• The Ending

I have a habit of killing off my characters, so when I read this forthcoming tip, I was deeply touched. "The struggle is life, not death." Beautiful isn't it. I never looked at it this way. Of course I know this truth. Of course I understand the difficulties life hands us, but I never really understood what this meant for my writing. Basically, be careful when you're writing the death of a character. Perhaps it's not always the best option. Death is not always the answer when it comes to resolution or appeal. This is important too because the best stories end with characters, not an idea. Perhaps the idea can still be raised, but it can be done through the character. That being said, good endings never really conclude or close, but rather, they open. 

Here are a few ideas on how to end the story: repeat imagery or lines throughout the end of the novel, end with a journey, think of the ending first and then write the climax when plotting the story, and save the best for last. 

I'm going to emphasize the latter. Saving the best for last can really be what sets your story apart from all the others. For example, Ned Stark's death in Game of Thrones has literally changed me. I have never been able to read a book and feel for a character again like I have for Ned, and I set every character up to Ned's standards, constantly comparing them. This would not have affected me so greatly if it had not been at the ending of the story. Now I know to say careful when ending the story, but trust me, if you've read the series then you would understand that Ned needed to die in order for the story to develop into five books. The point is, if Ned had died earlier, I would have definitely shut the book and never continued reading the series. Because he was beheaded at the end, I was forced to keep reading, to see if what I had read was a mistake Maybe he will come back, I always thought. Maybe Ned died for something more than what I am understanding. I could not find peace until I knew that he did not die in vain, and after reading the series, I have learned that he did. I am still not over my mourning period, but I do love those books over all others really. Ned is by far my character, mainly because of timing of his death. Know how to manipulate your story line in order to affect your readers as I have been affected. I surely will not forget this great lesson when writing. 

• Dialogue

This is what the book called "7 Tools for Talk"

1. Let it flow. Write as fast as you can and get it all out, paying no mind to sense or correct writing. Just get it all out there, then worry about editing. 
2. Act It Out. I'm really shy just to do this with myself, but I tried it once, in a British accent, and I actually think it's the best dialogue I've done in a story before. Just try it. The point of being a writer is to feel the words and make them come alive, so what could be better practice?
3. Sidestep the Obvious. This makes me so happy because I resent back and forth dialogue. Try to add new concepts within the conversation, rather than just answering the direct question or comment. Make it interesting, like real life. 
4. Cultivate Silence. As they are talking, have them focus on something else, look at an item, pause between dialogue. Build the spaces, as we do in everyday conversations. 
5. Polish a Gem. Now you may edit and perfect.
6. Employ confrontation...this is really self-explanatory.
7. Drop Words that you know you do not need. Limit them. Words are precious, so don't take them for granted. 

Also, a random tip for you...be careful of tag lines. I know, surprising. Nevertheless, they destroy a story, so keep them limited. 

• Details

You authenticate things by inventing details on how it works. Get specific with your details, but be careful not to use so many that it distracts the reader from what they are supposed to be able to extract from your story. You don't want to write a story about a woman who is throwing a party and leave the reader putting the book down remembering nothing but the beautiful, Victorian-styled lamp. Try not to make obvious detail either. It has to be believable, yet more interesting than real life. I know it's confusing, but that's the trick of being a writer, being able to balance the impossible. An exercise I know that I will use is observing something in a public place and writing down all the details that I see, but here's the spin...they have to be colorful details, details I can only pick up if I'm paying attention. Try it. See if it helps. Write!

• Adding Real Life to Fiction

Here's the thing...don't do it. It doesn't really work in fiction. However, coincidence isn't believable either. Try to make your story real enough where they can escape into it easily, but not too real where it feels as if they never left their bedroom. A book is a new world, so give your readers a good one. One last thing to remember when it comes to this is that complexities and contradictions of human beings must usually be redefined in fiction without reducing characters to attributes. 

• Genres

This one isn't really from the book..it's just my own input. That doesn't meant that you should skip this section. I've learned that you should really stick to your trade. Although it is good to push your boundaries and see what areas of writing you are good at and love, I find it is much more beneficial if you stay true to who you are. Personally, I cannot stand mysteries. Sherlock Holmes will never be a love of mine, sorry Sir Conan Doyle. However, when it comes to historical fiction, my passion is endless. I can read about medieval times until the end of my days. I also feel that writing about history with a creative twist is my trade. I know that I am passionate about, I know that I can write this genre well, and I know that I love the dramatic appeal that history gives the story. Therefore, I will develop my writing skills in this genre, occasionally adding elements of other genres in my story. I would advise you to do the same. I say the rule of thumb isn't write what you know, it's write what you love. After all, isn't love what we are known for? 

• How to Get Yourself Writing

One trick that the book gave was using the acronym LIFE. 

L= Literature

I = Imagination

F = Folklore

E = Experience

**Using all of these together can help your mind begin to pump creativity into your writer veins. Interpret them as you will.

Other tips to help you think of ideas is to change your perspective. Let serendipity happen by breaking your routine. Don't be afraid to do this, because I guarantee a breath of fresh air is everything for a writer. Set boundaries for the idea you have by building a fence around them. Look for connections. Ask stupid questions...this is my specialty ;). Lastly,when all else fails, question your direction. No matter what, keep writing. DON'T STOP WRITING! STAGNATION WILL BE THE DEATH OF US!

• Revising

Here is a four step plan on revision.

1. Edit the Structure
2. Edit the Texture
3. Edit the Dialogue
4. Edit just to edit....edit all you can until you are happy. 

You need to know that you will have to stop. Perfection will never be attained. It is not possible. However, you can get pretty darn close, so don't be disheartened. More steps on revision will be in later posts but they are referring to different books. 

• Miscellaneous Tips that are just too good to miss out on

Strong verbs are the key to taut writing. This will also help your editing process.

Name as few characters as you can; describe even fewer. 

When necessary, it is okay to tell...don't over-dramatize though.

Never skip a step.

Always remember to write. Never stop. Never, ever, ever stop writing. 

That's all the tips I have from the book. Don't worry though, for I am not done! I have read a couple more books on how to write and cannot wait to share the information I have learned. By the time you are done reading my blog, you will be a writing expert. For now, cheerio! 

"I Don't Think Now is the Best Time"

Alright, so I have a lot to work out with the novella I am currently plotting, and eventually my blogs will revolve around how I incorporate what I have learned with what I am struggling with. However, I simply cannot abandon the task of informing my numerous readers (indeed, if you scroll down, you will see that my ratings are just scoring up the charts) what I have read! Therefore, I understand that it is not the time or place to go astray.

That being said, it's the five basic modes of fictional discourse time.

1. Dialogue
2. Action
3. Description
4. Thought
5. Exposition

....I'd go more into this but it's really self-explanatory....basically just try to include all of these when writing something. If you're stuck, try expanding one of these modes and see where it takes you.

• How to Write a Good Scene

Basically you just make your characters as rich as you can, and I don't mean this in the literal sense...well I do, but only the ironic sense of literal. Enrich your characters by giving them depth, as was discussed in a previous post. By providing the necessary information to the audience, the plot can easily be moved forward. Focus on giving the readers "more matter, and less art." Focus on the actions, not the thoughts. Again, it all comes down to the art of writing. Skip as much as possible. Here is the key thing that I have learned: get into the scene as late as possible and get out as soon as you can. I was so surprised when I read this, for I was always one who suffered under the tedious labor of writing entrances and exits. You can only imagine my joy when I read that skipping was skillful. I tell you, these books only increase your passion. 

• The Importance of the First Fifty Pages

This is crucial. I cannot begin to state how vital it is that your beginning is captivating, for that is what the publishers read. If they cannot get through the first fifty pages, they chuck it, regardless of how impressive the rest of your novel may be. Personally, I've never written anything over fifteen pages, so this is quite daunting to me. Don't worry. There is hope. Here are tips to make your beginning what it needs to be. 

*Consider opening your story with a prologue in order to keep your readers wondering. 

*Open with a line from an engaging character then continue with that character's development.

*My personal favorite: write what happened with the characters two weeks before the readers are introduced to them. This allows you to meet them and know them very well. I know that I will do this for many of my characters. 

• The Big Bang

This is basically referring to the major scene in the story. It's important, and if your story doesn't have one, then you can be certain yours will not excel. However, the scene is insignificant if you do not have a scene to counter it, meaning that if your scene left a negative impact, then you must write a scene that has positive results. During "the big bang," let the reader know all that the character is experiencing. They have been waiting for this moment the entire story, so don't cut them short. Allow them to share the senses of feel, smell, taste, sound, etc. They should be able to absorb everything the character does. Most importantly, overwrite these scenes. Just continue to write and write, your hands burning with the passion that all writers feel when they are experiencing the true beauty of connecting to the story. Editing can come later. For now, just write.

Alright, that's all I have for now. I will be sure to share more exciting tips tomorrow! For now, thanks for reading. 

"Victory Starts Here"

Another day of writing, another day of success. I've started a new book that is giving me tips on how to write, but first I have to share the one that I was so excited about in my previous post. For all legal purposes, the book is called The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, though there are numerous authors who wrote this book, so I am not going to properly cite it because it's a blog, and honestly, no one is going to read this and care that much. If you find that you read these tips and want to purchase the book so that you may have these tips at hand, feel free to leave a comment and I will post more information regarding the details of the novel. My overall point is that with this beautiful book of information, I can now write a novella during my high school career. The first step to achieving my dream has been taken, and it is simply because I learned how to get out there again.

From this point on, all that I say will be referenced from the previously stated novel, with the exception of a few personal statements here and there.

• Plot:

I know that the concept of plot has been drilled into me, perhaps too deep, so I was thrilled when I read a few authors' interpretations on it. One insightful writer stated something along the lines of the fact the plot can be viewed as the highway and the characters as automobiles. Another way to look at the plot was as a chauffeur. It was even said, and this still confuses me, that it is possible to never plot at all. In serious work, plot doesn't really matter as much; the author should focus on character development instead.

• Character Development

I am not really strong in this area. I spend so much time writing in first person because of this. As I was reading, however, I came across an exercise that I will do for every character probably. The basic concept is to conduct interviews with the characters or write diaries in their voices. Beautiful! Can you imagine what this will do?! Not only will I get to know my characters very well, but they will be developed on a much stronger scale than I ever could have hoped for. 

I also learned that it takes time to give characters depth. First you have to give them the dimension you would give a photograph. Then, develop them into someone you would see in a video. Next their traits are revealed. Their traits can be brought out by showing how they react or interact with specific circumstances. The last dimension shown is just like the former only it is from a private persona and it includes the infamous "why?" that so many writers dread. 

Another thing is that there is such a term as the "emotional framework" behind your character. There are a few ways to attain this such as realizing your character's greatest strength and weakness, giving your character specific goals, knowing how your characters will react, giving the character an inner conflict, and integrating your character well. 

Some of this information overlaps, but that's a good sign that it's telling the truth. 

Well, that's all my updating for today. I'll keep you posted on more tips for writing tomorrow!  

"My Mind Rebels At Stagnation"

There is a crime that all writers are guilty of at some point in their lives - not writing. Too many times have they used that excuse the they're just too busy, the inspiration isn't there, life has been so chaotic that writing isn't a viable option, you know the drill. Being a writer myself, I have been known to use these reasons, and many more, far too many times. It is because of this that I decided to be proactive when it came to my writing career. I decided to take on the mindset that writer's block simply doesn't exist, for any great piece of literature can result from practice and perseverance. After staying so long out of practice though, I lost confidence in my writing skill, causing me to lose my perseverance. More importantly, I forgot the most important aspects of writing a story. When this cruel realization set in, I knew it was time for me to get informed.

After reading a book on how to write a novel (yes, I will name the book, but I don't have it, so I will name it in my blog tomorrow...my apologies), I am amazed at all that I didn't even think about. I consider myself a great student when it comes to English, but this educational book was packed full of so many facts, that I could have never imagined all of the tips listed in there. I can now say with confidence, however, that I am starting my novella with a ready mindset and an enthusiastic attitude, for I now have the necessary and useful knowledge to support my story. 

Because I am far too excited to keep all these excellent tips to myself, I simply must share. I will be more specific in my later blogs, when I know that legality is not an issue due to lack of citing, so alas, a brief overview is all that I can give as of tonight. 

Writing 101

In my blog, I will give insight into:

• Plot
• Characters 
• How to develop them, their importance to the plot, the emotional framework behind them, etc.
• The Five Basic Modes of Fictional Discourse
• How to Write a Good Scene
• The Importance of the First Fifty Pages
• The Big Bang (the major scene)
• The Ending of the story
• Dialogue
• Details
• Adding Real Life to Fiction
• Genres
• How to Get Yourself Writing (stirring creativity)
• Revising
• Miscellaneous tips that are just too good to miss out on

The beauty of writing is unending, and I'm incredibly excited to have this experience.