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

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

A Writers Life For Me Tag

Hello Readers. 

I just found a writers tag created by one of my favorite book tubers Sara Ella and her Friend Sara Crawford. I do not have book-tube (yet). So I am just going to do it over here. And I encourage any of you bloggers to do this tag as well. Spread the love. Remember to take a look at their blogs and channels, and subscribe. Don't forget to credit them. 

A few rules before we begin. 

• Thank the person who tagged you. leave a link to their blog.
• Answer the ten questions.
• Re-post the picture.
• Tag 5-10 bloggers.  
• Have fun!!! 

1. What kind of writer are you? 

I am a writer of poetic metaphorical YA fiction. I like to write fantasy, contemporary, Dystopian fiction. I enjoy creating new worlds within our world, whether that be in the future, or in modern time. 

2. When did you start writing? What made you want to try it?

I always wanted to be a writer. When I was a little girl I would make "books" and write stories in them. As I grew up I would write stories in my head, but never write them down. Up until last year, I could hardly put words down on paper. The motivation came when I found out about NaNoWriMo, and I wrote and finished my first ever novel Clandestine.  

3. What inspires your stories?

Songs, Pictures on pinterest, Dreams, people I know. One little things can set off a shock wave of inspiration. And It is beautiful. 

4. What themes do you like to explore in your writing?

Sisterhood, mental illness, the power of humanity, and the power that we have over each other. I don't know...something like that.  

5. Are you a pantster or a plotter or a bit of both?

I'm more of a planner. I like to have an idea, or some sort of plan written out before I sit down. I will write up a document on the idea, and how I will develop that into a story plan. 

6. Where are you at in your journey? Querying, agented, published?

Still in the writing stage. But I want to be all the above in the next couple of years!

7. Have you ever entered any writing contests? Finaled? Won?

No. I want to enter a writing contest. I'm hoping to do so in the next couple of months to a year. 

8. Who are your writer heroes?

Tahereh Mafi is my biggest writing inspirational person. Her style inspired me to write the way I do. I also love John Green, Veronica Roth, Markus Zarkus, Keira Cass, Racheal Craw, Jennifer Niven...Etc. 

9. Have you been to a writing conference? Share your best or worst conference experience.

It is a dream of mine to attend a writer conference. Maybe one day, 

10. Top 3 tips you'd give to newbie writers?

One: Write like you're talking. Make things flow.

Two: Keep dreaming. No idea is to BIG or to SMALL. 

Three: Keep Writing. 

Nominations 

TessaAnn@Books,Bubbles,&Arohanui // Opal@OpalSwirls // AdrianaGabrielle@TheLibrarianFiles // BrettMichaelOrr // Aimee@ToTheBarricade! // Tori@Tori'sBolg // MorganLeAnne@BackToTheDrawingBoard // Cait@PaperFury 

Have fun with this tag!

Until Next Time -Rachy

Writing A Dream

Hello World

I'm back. I've been gone a long time. And that is because course is very busy right now. And I have not had any energy to do anything. Today I am here to talk to you about my dream that I am writing.
I don't know how many of you have every had a dream and remembered just enough to write about it. But seeing as this dream was some kind of a nightmare. I am not surprised it is still fresh in my mind. That is why I am putting all my other projects down and writing it down now, while it is still fresh in my mind. This story is a mixture of Jane Eyre, and the Secret Garden. So you kind of see the point.

The story is about a girl named Rachel Mackenzie. Who from a young age was orphaned and now is being claimed by her royal uncle the Duke of Nawvanshire house. An old mansion. The only thing she has left from the outside is a boy named Kyle who was selected to be her bodyguard. She meets her cousins Eden, Logan, and Aimee, who introduce her and Kyle to the world of Nawvanshire. Rachel start's to learn the secrets of the house and the royal family and her past. And as trouble strikes, she learns that she will never be able to escape.



The story is based in modern times. But when she gets to the house we can see a time swing. You get the feel of the 1800 - 1920 and modern time all together. The story is almost like a retelling of The Secret Garden, with the girl moving in with her rich uncle, and meeting her cousins. The Secret Garden has been a childhood favorite. So we will see where it goes.
I feel really bad about starting a new project. But How to be Invisible and Rule the World has come to a dead point, and I just need some time to pick it back up. And I believe it is good to take breaks and write something different. And I really love writing in this Genre. The kind of fantasy/ rusted. I think that was what I liked so much about Clandestine. It was just so different. It really shows how my mind works. Cause none of it is reality, making my writing an escape.

If this starts to work. Then I will share more. Take a look at my pinterest board BOOK IDEA: NAWVANSHIRE HOUSE to keep up with my idea generation.

-Rachel

Hello World

Hello World.

After a good shower, a coffee, and muffins in the oven. I can sit down to my laptop, playing round on pinterest, listening to Lorde. So I thought I might do a post cause I have the time to do so. I have not been the best. After waking up on Sunday morning, with every muscle aching, and my head spinning with the threat of a migraine.It has been like this since then. I have not really said it on here. But I have been sick for a few months. And I was starting to run smooth up until last week. Then it all came flooding back. 

Last night my brain thought it would be a good idea to do some writing. So I did. I set myself a timer for 25 minutes to midnight. And wrote about 400 words. I know that is not a lot. But it is something. I got back on track. YAY!!! I have missed writing. And I want to get this story written and out of the way to start editing.

I really have no plans for this holidays. I wish I did. But I don't. There really is nothing to do in New Zealand winter weather. It's just very cold, and wet. Making the house damp. Yeah. Nothing really great.

I will be organizing a blogging schedule soon.

-Rachel

80's Movies and Photography

Hello World.

It is in fact the school holidays. We are half way through the year. And I am tired. I'm really sorry that this blog has become run down, changed and all that. I need to get it together.
Over this time. I have devolved some new ideas, and passions. I am still writing... Just thought I might put that out there. Inspiration is slow, but steady.

Here are two new things I wanted to share.

• 80's movies
• Photography 

80's movies: I have started to not like movies all that much. Except for the over baring excitement of paper towns coming out! I was just starting to get board of them. But that was when I thought I might try out a movie I had heard tones about. And that was THE BREAKFAST CLUB. I am serious. I loved this movie so so much.  

The movie is about five teenagers from different backgrounds and social circles that get shoved together in a Saturday detention. Staring the song Don't You Forget About Me. I was taken by the way that teen talked and thought back in the 80's. Which lead me to want to scream "Take me to the 80's." There was something poetic clean and meaningful and the way that they talked. Something I think teenagers of my generation have lost. It was just a great movie. WATCH IT! 

The other one I watched and fell in love with; was SIXTEEN CANDLES Which was the funniest, most beautiful and real kind of teen romance. I really loved this one as a girl. But then I showed it to my brother and he liked it as well. So what can I say. This one is going down as one of my favorite chick flicks of all time. I fell in love with all the characters. It was amazing. 

So those are my little talks about my two new favorite movies. Please let me know if you have watched either of these two. And what you thought of them. 

Photography: Now this is my second point. As some of you know. I like art. I like doing creative stuff. And got into my head, (A while ago. I might add.) That I wanted to start photography. And learn Photoshop. Only thing that held me back was not having a camera. I remember at camp early this year, picking up my leader Helen's DSLR camera, and revel in it's beauty. I didn't take any photos. But I sure wanted to. The other spark was also on camp where I was lying in the field a fair way away from the tents with my friend, and saw an old chair sitting a distant away. I lay on my stomach and focused on how the chair looked at the angle. I remeber, I so badly wanted to take a photo. It would have looked amazing.
Any way. So after thinking over it for a long time. I decided was going to go save up and and buy myself a DSLR camera so I could start. But lucky for me, I am being gifted with a second hand DSLR. I will be receiving this holidays. So I can start.

I have been gathering inspiration of what I would like to try on my pinterest board PHOTOGRAPHY IDEAS. I really want to do fine art photography. And learn tones of cool camera and photoshop tricks. Also I will be doing mostly self portrait art. So I will be the concept for most of them. Which is a big step for me. Cause I am terribly camera shy. And hate myself in photos. But I am doing this for a reason.I am doing this to conquer what I said to myself was impossible. I had told myself that I would never do photography cause I sucked when ever I tried. And trust me. I gave it a go a couple of times.

So that is my small/ish update. You shall hear from me soon.

-Rachy

The Realization

Dear Readers. 

I just realized. That today is July st. And that means that it is... Camp NaNoWriMo. And I forgot... All about it... How...? 

I am at home today. Sick. And unable to function, like speak, and breathe. Literally can not breathe. This is why I am skipping a day of course. It is only two(?) more days to the school holidays, where I can relax slightly, and try to start over. That was when I remembered that I should be writing today. Which I think is a good thing. Cause I have not written anything in a very long time. And I need to do something on this story. So it looks like I am starting today. 

It has taken me a long time to come to terms with this story. Maybe just because it is so personal. And also the fact that a lot of people really want to read it, due to the short pieces I have shared on it. I have let everything get to my head, in turn, making me forget about the story it self. 

Over the last couple of months though, I have come up with the solution to the problem, on how to write this story. All I need to do is write it. I need to stop thinking about it, and simply write it. It's really not that hard. 

 

Picture Scores

This story is about to extraordinary teens who are brought together from very different backgrounds and circumstances. But intern learn that that can not stop them from fight through the battle of life. They learn that friendship is important. And that both life and death a factor of living. 

So over the course of this month. I am going to try my best to write this story. Even if is is sooo bad. It is only the first draft and can be changed later. I don't really know what I where I was going with this post. But my challenge for you this month, is to try your best with your project, and also to encourage someone else with their project. 

-Rachy