It is that time of month again! NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is approaching fast. I am so exited, this will be my second year attending. I thought I should probably do some sort of survival guide and intro to new comers of NaNoWriMo.
Friday, 16 October 2015
Pre NaNoWriMo: A Survival Guide
Hey Guys.
It is that time of month again! NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is approaching fast. I am so exited, this will be my second year attending. I thought I should probably do some sort of survival guide and intro to new comers of NaNoWriMo.
It is that time of month again! NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is approaching fast. I am so exited, this will be my second year attending. I thought I should probably do some sort of survival guide and intro to new comers of NaNoWriMo.
Thursday, 1 October 2015
October Reads
I do this often. Going to the library and getting a whole armful of books. With all the best intentions of reading them. Even though I am not the fastest readers. (It will be done)
BOOKS I'M READING
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey: I am almost Finished reading this. Seriously it is amazing. It's apocalyptic, Aliens taking over/destroying the wold and the human race, in a way I have never seen before. It's very war zone, military base stuff. And I really like it. It has been made into a movie and is being released in theater in January 2016! And I am so exited. I watched the trailer before the book, and was like "Wow." It looks really good. (Go watch the trailer)
Stray by Rachael Craw: Shout out to Rachael for publishing the squeal to her first book Spark, which I read last year. I loved the first one. And I'm bound to love the second. This series is like Agents of shield and X men. It's pretty bad ass.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth: I am scared. I have waited to long to get my hands on this book. And sadly I read a spoiler last year, so I know what happens. The divergent series is one of my favorite dystopian book series. So I'm very exited for this book.
They just released the Allegiant teaser trailer. It looked really good. They better do a good job on this movie. Cause I hated disliked the Insurgent movie.
BOOKS I'LL BE REVIEWING
I read We Were Liars earlier this year. And Red Queen a couple of weeks ago. Each of these reviews will have a spoiler section for those who have read it. Both these books are two of the most amazing and impressive books I have read this year. Those will be coming soon.
WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING
This is how to torture yourself. I'm almost halfway through season two. And trying my best not be spoiled. Cause if someone does, the are going to get seriously hurt. (Leaving the house is a risk)
I'm hooked.
Read or watched any of the things I have mentioned in this post? Let me know what you think. -Rachy
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
Behind the Scenes Writing Tag
So I thought it would be fun to do another tag. I saw this tag done over at Opal Swirls; and thought it would be fun. Besides, I like talking about writing.
Rules:
Answer the questions and tag people.
Is there a certain snack you like to eat while writing?
I try not snack. So I will just drink countless cups of tea and coffee. But if I do snack, I like peanuts.
Rules:
Answer the questions and tag people.
Is there a certain snack you like to eat while writing?
I try not snack. So I will just drink countless cups of tea and coffee. But if I do snack, I like peanuts.
When do you normally write?
I haven't written in a while cause I have been so busy with studying and being sick... fun times. But I mostly write at night. I find I get more inspired at night than I do in the day time. My mind runs wild with ideas.
Where do you write?
On my bed with my laptop. Or in the kitchen standing up with my laptop on my bench. I tend to write better in open spaces.
How often do you write a new novel?
I come up with a new story idea once or twice a month. I might write 1000 to 5000 words then stop... then get back to it. I will finish one to two novels a year.
Do you listen to music while you write?
Yes. I listen to vast variety of music. It all depends on the story I'm working on. I listen to music very possible minute.
What do you write on? laptop or paper?
I write on my laptop. I'm a fast typeset and can get my ideas down faster than writing on paper. I will sometimes write down small ideas and scenes on paper or on notes on my phone. But I prefer my laptop.
Is there a special ritual you have before/after you write?
I open up the Pinerest board of whatever story I am working on for inspiration, and help for when I get writers block, or to help with character and setting descriptions.
What do you do to get into the mood to write?
I will watch the Vlog Brothers. Read a book. Go on Pinerest. Other than that, I really just have to be in "the mood" to do so. I need to start making more of a habit of sitting down and writing, rather than just thinking about writing.
What is always near the place you write?
A laptop wall charger and my headphones.
Do you have a reward system for your word count?
No. Just the satisfaction of having a decent number of words on my document.
Is there anything about your writing process that others might not know about?
Nothing interesting. Sometime I will read my characters dialogue aloud to see if it sounds natural. I often have a vague idea of what the end is going to be. But I'm never sure what is going to happen in the middle.
Again I am not going to tag anyone (I'm to tired to) Writers go a head and do this tag. It is cool.
The Tag of HAPPINESS
Hello Everyone I'm Here to Do a Tag.
Opal over at Opal Swirls tagged me for this. Thank you for tagging me. It's best I start doing stuff on here. So I shall give this ago.
Opal over at Opal Swirls tagged me for this. Thank you for tagging me. It's best I start doing stuff on here. So I shall give this ago.
Rules:
Take the banner and put it in your post
List as many things as you want in each category
Come up with more categories if you wish
Tag as many people as you want
WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY?
Some songs that make you happy
What do you mean Justin Beiber | Bright Echo Smith | Love myself Hailee Steinfeld | Alive Hillsong Young and Free | Fireflies Owl City | On Top of the World Imagine Dragons | She looks so Perfect Five Seconds of Summer | Style Taylor Swift
Some books that make you happy
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli | The Selection Series by Keira Cass
Some foods that make you happy
Chocolate | Coffee | Trail Mix | Water Melon
Some words that make you happy
Clandestine (kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.)
Halcyon (denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.)
Elysian (Beautiful or creative; divinely inspired; peaceful and perfect)
Pluviophile (A lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days)
Selcouth (Unfamiliar, rare, strange, yet marvelous)
Some scents that make you happy
Candles burning | Vanilla | Spring Rain | Coffee | Freshly cut wood | Early morning | Petrol | The ocean | Corned Beef
Some random things that make you happy
Finding a good song | Being on a writing roll | Hugs | Mood lighting | Long showers | Big hoodies | Long hair | Pinterest | A heavy storm
I tag who ever feels like doing this tag!
Thursday, 10 September 2015
Resons Why I Love 80's Movies
Hello World.
I am in love with 80's movies. I enjoy them so much to I re-watch them multiple times. I have lost count on how many times I have watched the Back to the Future trilogy. As it continues to be my favorite...even though my siblings are completely sick of it by now. So here are some of the reasons why I love 80's movies. (Through GIFS)
First They have amazing music. Seriously, I love the music from this time period. I was talking to my dad the other day about music from back in the day, to today's music. He made the point that the music from the 70-80-90's have more meaning and morals than a majority of today's music. I love the song by Simple Minds, Don't You forget About Me from The Breakfast Club.
I feel like in just about every one of these movies I have watched so far, there has been generally good characters and character development. Hardly any of these teens are remotely shallow hollow headed. They stand up for themselves. They know what is right. And show good morals through their actions.
And that it's good sometimes to break out of own skin. To try something new. Breaking free. Talking to new people, and more important, making friends.
The romances are sooo cute. But not to sappy.
The Guys were pretty bad-ass!
There is always adventure. Around every corner.
And a lot of good lines and truth. (Feeling inspired?)
Last but not least, the language in these films are so beautiful and poetic. Something that you don't hear that much from teens these days. (Disclaimer, there is swearing) I heard someone once complain about how Johns Green teen characters are always speaking to much like Shakespeare and not like normal teenagers. There has come a point where our speech today is so lazy that we have lost the beauty of using meaningful metaphorical words.
-Rachy
I am in love with 80's movies. I enjoy them so much to I re-watch them multiple times. I have lost count on how many times I have watched the Back to the Future trilogy. As it continues to be my favorite...even though my siblings are completely sick of it by now. So here are some of the reasons why I love 80's movies. (Through GIFS)
First They have amazing music. Seriously, I love the music from this time period. I was talking to my dad the other day about music from back in the day, to today's music. He made the point that the music from the 70-80-90's have more meaning and morals than a majority of today's music. I love the song by Simple Minds, Don't You forget About Me from The Breakfast Club.
I feel like in just about every one of these movies I have watched so far, there has been generally good characters and character development. Hardly any of these teens are remotely shallow hollow headed. They stand up for themselves. They know what is right. And show good morals through their actions.
And that it's good sometimes to break out of own skin. To try something new. Breaking free. Talking to new people, and more important, making friends.
They kind of get my feels when it comes to class.
The romances are sooo cute. But not to sappy.
The Guys were pretty bad-ass!
There is always adventure. Around every corner.
And a lot of good lines and truth. (Feeling inspired?)
Last but not least, the language in these films are so beautiful and poetic. Something that you don't hear that much from teens these days. (Disclaimer, there is swearing) I heard someone once complain about how Johns Green teen characters are always speaking to much like Shakespeare and not like normal teenagers. There has come a point where our speech today is so lazy that we have lost the beauty of using meaningful metaphorical words.
-Rachy
Saturday, 29 August 2015
My Thoughts on Writing Romance
I'm Back!
I've been gone a while. I almost forgot I had a blog. After picking myself up with writing, if figured I should get back into the blogging.
(I'm going to try and finished How to be Invisible and Rule the World. From now on I will be calling it Invisible one here. Cause it is to long to type out every time it is mentioned.)
(this story was published on quotev, so it's not an actual book. I will not name it. I'm not bashing the story. This is just an example.)
The other day my friends highly suggested I read this book that they found online. So I jumped into the deep end, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. It turned out to be a cheesy Tumblr romance, with just about every cliche that was ever used in a romance all within 63 chapters. I had mixed feelings about continuing. As a writer, I was getting annoyed at the story and the characters. (I still liked the story though) there were times my friends would catch me smiling like an idiot at how cute some of the scenes were... and also put up with me screaming at them for how bad it was, and how none of it was real, and how the characters should just pick them selves up! *Pulls on hair*
Here are some points (do and don'ts) you must have when writing romance (I'm not experience writer... These are just my thoughts and how I go about writing.)
Stereo Types
Popular, Rich, Jock, Hot, Jerk randomly falls in love with, Not so pretty, unpopular, Insecure, Geek. You know, just about every teen movie that was ever written. This has been used all to many times in the wrong way. Any characters can fall in love. Even popular girls can fall love. Stop looking at characters as stereo types and more as human beings.
Love at first Sight
I think it is better said as attraction at first sight. You can't truly love someone until you have learned to love all their flaws, and live through their mistakes. Sometimes you have to be pushed to the point of insanity to truly love them. This can be in friendship or a romantic relationship.
Having your characters say "I love you." A chapter or two into the book is just a bit much. There needs to be something before that.
On the same note. There has to be something that brings your two characters together. To doesn't just help with plot, but also with how it will effect their relationship, this can be for friendships as well. For example, Anastasia and Christian from Fifty shades were bought together through an awkward interview (don't ask me why I chose to use that as an example... I haven't read the book or watched the movie) In All the Bright Places, Finn and Violet meet on the bell tower. Mix you characters relationship into the plot.
Character Development
Their is not such a thing as a perfect guy. Let me know when you find one. One thing that annoyed me in the story, was how perfect the male character was. There was just nothing in his backstory that explained why he acted the way he did. Like he had no life before he meet the girl. I was kind of rooting for there to be something wrong with him. But there was nothing. The only time he ever got angry and upset was when someone did wrong to the girlfriend.
As for the girl. There was no growth on her behalf. I was expecting her to grow in someway. But the further the story went on, she just became weaker and more vulnerable. There were points when she would stand up for herself, but then she would fall back. She had to lean on her boyfriends so much, that with out him she would fall.
Character development is crucial for any story. Events will change them, building them up taking them down, resulting in them being a different (hopefully stronger) character than from the start. In a relationship, each of the characters have to learn to build each other up. Kissing is not going to fix everything.
There is probably more I had to say on the subject. So I will probably do a part two at some point when it crosses my mind.
-Rachy
I've been gone a while. I almost forgot I had a blog. After picking myself up with writing, if figured I should get back into the blogging.
(I'm going to try and finished How to be Invisible and Rule the World. From now on I will be calling it Invisible one here. Cause it is to long to type out every time it is mentioned.)
(this story was published on quotev, so it's not an actual book. I will not name it. I'm not bashing the story. This is just an example.)
The other day my friends highly suggested I read this book that they found online. So I jumped into the deep end, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. It turned out to be a cheesy Tumblr romance, with just about every cliche that was ever used in a romance all within 63 chapters. I had mixed feelings about continuing. As a writer, I was getting annoyed at the story and the characters. (I still liked the story though) there were times my friends would catch me smiling like an idiot at how cute some of the scenes were... and also put up with me screaming at them for how bad it was, and how none of it was real, and how the characters should just pick them selves up! *Pulls on hair*
Here are some points (do and don'ts) you must have when writing romance (I'm not experience writer... These are just my thoughts and how I go about writing.)
Stereo Types
Popular, Rich, Jock, Hot, Jerk randomly falls in love with, Not so pretty, unpopular, Insecure, Geek. You know, just about every teen movie that was ever written. This has been used all to many times in the wrong way. Any characters can fall in love. Even popular girls can fall love. Stop looking at characters as stereo types and more as human beings.
Love at first Sight
I think it is better said as attraction at first sight. You can't truly love someone until you have learned to love all their flaws, and live through their mistakes. Sometimes you have to be pushed to the point of insanity to truly love them. This can be in friendship or a romantic relationship.
Having your characters say "I love you." A chapter or two into the book is just a bit much. There needs to be something before that.
On the same note. There has to be something that brings your two characters together. To doesn't just help with plot, but also with how it will effect their relationship, this can be for friendships as well. For example, Anastasia and Christian from Fifty shades were bought together through an awkward interview (don't ask me why I chose to use that as an example... I haven't read the book or watched the movie) In All the Bright Places, Finn and Violet meet on the bell tower. Mix you characters relationship into the plot.
Character Development
Their is not such a thing as a perfect guy. Let me know when you find one. One thing that annoyed me in the story, was how perfect the male character was. There was just nothing in his backstory that explained why he acted the way he did. Like he had no life before he meet the girl. I was kind of rooting for there to be something wrong with him. But there was nothing. The only time he ever got angry and upset was when someone did wrong to the girlfriend.
As for the girl. There was no growth on her behalf. I was expecting her to grow in someway. But the further the story went on, she just became weaker and more vulnerable. There were points when she would stand up for herself, but then she would fall back. She had to lean on her boyfriends so much, that with out him she would fall.
Character development is crucial for any story. Events will change them, building them up taking them down, resulting in them being a different (hopefully stronger) character than from the start. In a relationship, each of the characters have to learn to build each other up. Kissing is not going to fix everything.
There is probably more I had to say on the subject. So I will probably do a part two at some point when it crosses my mind.
-Rachy
Saturday, 1 August 2015
Welcome August
Hello World
So I thought I would take on board something I saw my friend Opal doing over at her blog Opal Swirls. And that was an update post at the beginning of each month. And since I have not been doing all that much blogging. I feel this will get me back on track with things.
Studies:
So as you all might know I am a graphic design student.
At the moment we have a huge level four project that a list of level two and three's have been assigned to do. This is to create a poster for a local band called The Clefs. We have been making their posters for ten years straight. And this is their last. I know some (most) people who hear me say POSTER, think this would be reasonably easy.... Trust me, it is not as easy as you think it is. Adding to the fact that we started last week, and have to have the entire thing finished Friday the 7th of August. We have days.... Thinking about that. I should be doing work on that now.
(P.S. Sorry for the rant. I will share my final poster over here on Friday night...)
August Readathon:
This month I am participating the August Readathon. I'm not sure what books I will be reading just yet. I am going to go to the library tomorrow and get out a whole lot. So that should be fun! I will try and film a book haul just for fun of the books I will gather...Might....
Favorite Song:
My favorite song for last month, and this month would have to be Dynasty by MIIA. Please listen to it, and love it. Cause I fell in love with it the minute I listened to it.
Photography:
I recently got a DSLR Camera. So I have had some fun playing round with it on weekends. I can only do it on weekends. Cause by the time I get home from course it is already to dark to do anything. So I am patently waiting for summer to come so I can do more! I have never really picked up a camera before. But I am pretty happy with how my work is coming along so far. :)
I better go and do so course work. I'm just hoping I survive this month to be honest. There is a lot of
things to do...
-Rachel
So I thought I would take on board something I saw my friend Opal doing over at her blog Opal Swirls. And that was an update post at the beginning of each month. And since I have not been doing all that much blogging. I feel this will get me back on track with things.
Studies:
So as you all might know I am a graphic design student.
At the moment we have a huge level four project that a list of level two and three's have been assigned to do. This is to create a poster for a local band called The Clefs. We have been making their posters for ten years straight. And this is their last. I know some (most) people who hear me say POSTER, think this would be reasonably easy.... Trust me, it is not as easy as you think it is. Adding to the fact that we started last week, and have to have the entire thing finished Friday the 7th of August. We have days.... Thinking about that. I should be doing work on that now.
(P.S. Sorry for the rant. I will share my final poster over here on Friday night...)
August Readathon:
This month I am participating the August Readathon. I'm not sure what books I will be reading just yet. I am going to go to the library tomorrow and get out a whole lot. So that should be fun! I will try and film a book haul just for fun of the books I will gather...Might....
Favorite Song:
My favorite song for last month, and this month would have to be Dynasty by MIIA. Please listen to it, and love it. Cause I fell in love with it the minute I listened to it.
Photography:
I recently got a DSLR Camera. So I have had some fun playing round with it on weekends. I can only do it on weekends. Cause by the time I get home from course it is already to dark to do anything. So I am patently waiting for summer to come so I can do more! I have never really picked up a camera before. But I am pretty happy with how my work is coming along so far. :)
I better go and do so course work. I'm just hoping I survive this month to be honest. There is a lot of
things to do...
-Rachel
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