A continuation of the post previously published & a major update on my novel. Taking a break isn’t giving up, is it?
(I’m complaining again, so turn back now. Or stay to chat; whatever works.)
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Consistency is a fickle thing, so I’m taking whatever badge of accomplishment I can get. Good golly, 25,000 is a big number. Expect a writer-to-writer encouragement at the end and another post in conjunction to this one.
Drafted: 3/20/2024
We’ve come this far.
Thank you to my over-half-a-decade laptop for not giving out on me, Google Docs for not crashing, and NaNo for stressing me with my deadlines by simply existing.
To the slumps and bouts with doubting everything, you can eat my dust while you rot.
There are days and weeks when you feel like a machine, chugging through 4,908 words in 15 days, which is the best run in my book, bestowing upon myself generous extra points since it was the holidays. Then comes the subsequent period when you forget all about your draft because . . . life. And school. And extracurriculars. And committee work.
Sometimes, you get discouraged, comparing yourself to people who’ve “made it”âwho finished their drafts in 60 days or less, who have been writing for years, and who can juggle three drafts and other responsibilities like a champ. Those who know what they’re doing lightyears better than you.
Who are lightyears better than you.
Oops, wait a second. Wrong post. Self-deprecation is scheduled for 30 minutes from now.
Ahem, sorry about that. There’s a but meant there. Let’s try that again.
Who are lightyears better than you, but, as my Pinterest board of writing quotes says . . .
“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”
Terry Pratchett
“You fail only if you stop writing.”
Rad Bradbury
“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.”
Margaret Atwood
You can be sure a heartbroken me pinned those to her board after an emotional drop from thinking her writing was flawless to rereading what she wrote. Why do I mention that a lot? I never learn my lesson.
But if you’re a writer, don’t you, too? Don’t you keep writing even when you don’t believe anything you say has value? Don’t you keep writing even when it seems impossible to get anywhere with it?
As far as I know, we all go through these mental obstacles (thanks, Pinterest!). If you feel alone or discouraged, maybe remember not every short story out there is Pulitzer-prize worthy. Not every piece will become critically acclaimed.
And whatever small step you take toward completing your goal is still one step closer to THE END. If anyone hasn’t told you yet, congratulations. You’ve reached whatever point you’re in on your writing journey without becoming bald from constant hair-pulling. (I hope.)
Ultimately, the world needs more writers. We’ve stuck with this masochistic road this long, so why stop now, right?
Future-but-pretty-much-present me here. This post is pretty outdated since I made this decision recently that, well. . . Eh, we’ll talk about that later. (Later as in, 30 minutes from now.)
If I was too vague, the “hitting 25k” part was for my Swan Lake word count. I wanted to celebrate 20k at first but somehow postponed this post long enough to reach 25k before releasing this. This is nearly a month later than its original draft on March 20 last month and then again with the new milestone on March 31, but who’s keeping track? Ha. Haha.
Now, excuse me, I must make more content for you all.
Writing takes skillâĶ but much of the skill it takes can be acquired through practice and effort. Most fantastic writers arenât born that wayâitâs a âĶ
Do You Have What It Takes? 5 Things Every Writer Needs
I’ve returned with Part 2! The ramblings are a little niche, and that’s because I’m barfing a monthâs worth of pent-up frustration onto this post. If you’re willing to hear a stubborn, creatively blocked writer complain for 6 minutes, welcome.
My January was packed, to begin with, but insert my brain taking twice as long to process what’s in front of me because I’m mentally stuck in my draft, and you have a lovely little disaster.
With the encouraging reception of Pt. 1 of my Swan Lake tirades, here’s the second part for you, fellas!
1/4/2024
I’m stressed. SL has so much potential and could be spectacular if I pull it off.
*distressed swan honks*
Nah, scrap that. Let’s opt for Plan B.
1/31/2024
I’m doing a ballet variation from Swan Lake, and in the class where I started learning it, my teacher told me my character was performing for the guests in the courtyard, and I had to acknowledge the Queen and prince at the start to pay my respects.
It was like a lightbulb dinged over my head.
The timing was immaculate; I’d come to the class stuck on a chapter for SL, but my dance gave me a creative shift in course, served to me on a silver platter. (Is God saying something?!)
Scene: Siegfried follows an inkling, which should lead to a primary plot point, but the suspense falls flat. He was practically ambling around with no strong enough motivation.
What if I switched up the location from the ballroom to the courtyard, where all guests of different ranks were gathered, plopping them smack-dab in the middle of dangerâupping the stakes and potential loss? It was perfect!
2/1/2024
I’ve reached a milestone: showing a whopping total of three people my messy first draft. Three!
Throwing the advice of “Never show anyone your first draft” to the wind, I’ve earned an “I LOVE IT” and an “I LIKE IT” from the same person, a “DUDE 18K MY DUDE” from another, and an enthused “SWAN LAKE, SWAN LAKE, SWAN LAKE” chant from the first to have heard the title A Swan Lake Retelling (aka “that writer friend”). And get thisâone of them read and reread it, which flatters me to no end, but she did so in an hour or less when I spent months slaving away to hit the 18k mark.
So, you know, whatever.
I’m actually not 100% sure why I shared it when I’m . . . *counts finger* not even 1/3 of the way finished if my estimate is correct, but I needed an ego boost. And when you have kind writer friends who’ll tell you what you want to hear, it’s the perfect equation!
2/3/2024
Oh, to be young and think that 321 words in 20 minutes wasn’t a good run. Now, I can hardly reach 200 in 15 minutes. Because you know what? I’m stubborn.
I’m fully aware that the more efficient, rewarding path is plotting or plantsing, but my brain refuses to cooperate and insists on winging it. Every. Single. Writing session.
I’ve been forwarded articles on how to deal with this by generous people who share my plight, but do I listen? No!
I shouldn’t worry, though. If anything, I should learn that trial and error and a “what’s the worst that could happen?” attitude can bite back. Procrastination, in the long run, is not worth it. I’ve got to get that through my thick skull.
One day.
My NaNo profile says SL’s reached 18,793 words, but the Google Doc file where I’m writing the novel says it’s at 19,141 words. We’re believing the Doc, and that’s not just for my ego. Okay? Okay.
The above list consisted of my NaNo stats in the first series of ramblings, but since I haven’t maintained a streak recently nor regularly updated my stats, I don’t have the same updates to offer. Oopsie.
But I do feel better about this. There was a time when I was bound to my stats and focused less on the writing part of writing. This is healthier, right?
2/6/2024
(sitch: having to incorporate a thingamajig in the story that you know nothing about)
I currently have five tabs openâa Quora, two Google searches, an image, and some other websiteâall dedicated to crossbow research. I’d have more if I could, but I’m afraid my 8-year-old laptop couldn’t handle it.
So, apparently, you position the weapon on your shoulder when aiming. Unlike the traditional bow and arrow, the crossbow’s string doesn’t need to be drawn back, which means the user doesn’t need to exert as much effort. In practical translation, my flimsy-armed peeps with a passion for bowhunting, this one’s for you!
(I’ve opened three more tabs here.) An arbalest/crossbow was made of wood and later substituted with metal, making it much more fearsome, and consisted of a bolt, sear, and trigger. In its original version, there was a stirrup that the crossbowman put his foot through to stabilize the weapon while he put the bow in.
Do you know what I’m talking about? I sure don’t.
ðđ Pew pew. ðđ Pew pew pew.ðđ
Ugh, why did I spend time playing with PinyPons and Barbies as a child when I could have been finding out about crossbowsâ
*smacks bloody fingers on random keys in frustration* aekakjdsafhkldhafkakjsdowuiqsjhsakhwoui
(Don’t try that at home. I summoned an app I’ve never opened when I did that.)
Why, yes, I used a lyric for an actual line of dialogue in my draft. Laziness? Well, I like to call it “reused creativity.” (Copyright? Never heard of him.)
Ha.
Yes, I have lost the will to show anyone else my first draft.
What have I become? Who is this person who listens to classical music by already deceased composers? And of her own volition?!
This is why I’ve been labeled a grandma in various friend groups.
But we don’t gatekeep, so here’s some Rimsky-Korsakov for you.
You’re welcome.
This was less relatable than Pt. 1 since it’s just me on the brink of good ol’ sanity. No uplifting ending. No encouraging message this time.
And if you’re wondering why I mentioned “bloody fingers” in the 10th ramblings, that’s because I’d punctured myself with a needle while sewing my pointe shoes before writing that. Five times, on different fingers. But the grind never stops! Huzzah! ðĪšâ
Someone restrain me.
What’s one major roadblock you’re facing with your story? Let’s hear it!
(Why is this post 1,116 words if I don’t have the strength to add 150 to my Doc? ð)
5/5 stars, but I’m bitter. The emotional turmoil this put me though is inexcusable. Elizabeth Lim is a force of nature.
This book. This flipping book.
The journey started off well. I’d laughed. I’d squealed. I’d even shed a few tears. But in the end, I was appalled. I sat aghast before the seemingly innocent, colorful cover of The Dragon’s Promise by Elizabeth Lim.
Here’s a replica of the expression I’d made.
About 50% in, I was beyond sure that this. This would no doubt land in my top 5 favorite pieces of literature. As I’d said in my Goodreads review for Six Crimson Cranes, around 70-80% in, I wished the remaining pages would be a lovely conclusion, tying loose ends in a neat blue bow. I got uneasy when our beloved characters traversed the most dangerous and anticipated territory they’d set foot on andâ*peeks at the pages*âsupposedly second-to-the-last location, but it wasn’t too dire. I was sure they’d find a way, right? Right?
Oh, ha, never mind. Shiori SPOILER [turns into this moon dweller instead. She meets Imurinya, the moon goddess, and they go all buddy-buddy, along with Kiki.] SPOILER
But actually, SPOILER [When Elizabeth Lim described the final thread of Shiori’s life barely holding on, I’d already conceded. All right, fine, Mrs. Lim, you win! Our main character will die; I’d accepted the fact. Considering the book was in Shiori’s POV, Chapter 45 was just me wondering how it would end. And then the deal happened, and Seryuâthat guy I thought would die, whoopsieâsaves her life because duh. He disappeared, so he’s got to come back. Cue the realization: The Dragon’s Promise indeed. Boom, I blew your mind.] SPOILER
I hated this book.
And yet.
And yet.
I loved it. âââââ/5. Takkan is a sweetheart. (We readers could’ve done without him and Shiori being all lovey-dovey, kissy-kissy nearing the end, but it’s our one defense against the soul-crushing angst, aside from the SPOILER [sister-in-law & family fluff, and come to think of it, what happened to Qinnia and her tummy?! I need to know!] SPOILER, so we’re fine.)
I finished this in basically 2 1/4 days.
I can’t say the first half was better than the second because both had their own good parts.
Maybe it’s because I’d just finished Twin Crowns, which meant my expectations were on the ground. Or perhaps it’s because Elizabeth Lim’s style grew on me. (I gotta get Spin the Dawn, too, someday. Argh, I saw it at the bookstore; why didn’t I grab it?!) That means when I reread parts of Six Crimson Cranes, I saw its true beauty and enjoyed it for what it was. But . . . should I say it?
I loved the sequel better than the first.
Sure, I wasnât that huge a fan of the romance coming front and center near the end, but the writing? Exquisite.
Also, a side note: Shiori is an upstanding protagonist. People say her character regressed, but I believe all her decisions were necessary. I was holding on to every word she said and thought she thought like it was my lifeline.
Okay. The moral lesson of the story: don’t expect a happily ever after after the stakes are dealt with. Relish in every good moment, especially if it’s Elizabeth Lim.
I can still be sad and acknowledge its artfulness. ðŠ
Price my therapy sessions to the author’s bank account. Please, and thank you.
This whole post was uncalled for, but forgive me, I haven’t been so enthusiastic about something in so long. There’s something dangerous about Gindara, the kingdom Shiori’s family rules over. Actually, the entire world. You get so intoxicated with the magic, enchantments, and sheer glory that you might forget where you are. Who you are.
For a moment.
It’s mystifying, but will that stop me?
ð
For those who don’t know, Swan Lakeâwhich I might call SL or A Swan Lake Retellingâis the romantasy novel I’ve been working on. It follows Siegfried and Odette as they navigate through an arranged marriage and a rocky past. But circumstance isn’t the only thing out of them; it seems a vengeful outcast wants more than just freedom . . .
Narrated by a rambling, elusive sorceror. A story of love, magic, and . . . well, swans & lakes.
Drafted and Forgotten: 12/22/2023
Yep, Swan Lake. That WIP I started earlier this year and didn’t take seriously at first. I am now working to complete it to say I wrote a novel once in my lifetime.
Boy, did all those articles I read do nothing to prepare me for the absolute joy and horror of writing the first draft. 11 chapters in, I’ve executed virtually zero out of a thousand things I aim to convey. The high of typing the words on the keyboard; the low of accidentally rereading your brain barf and finding a million and one plot holes. The bursts you get after imagining what its polished version would look like. The slumps where you can’t get more than 300 words on the page in one sittingâit’s different when you actually experience it.
In short, the journey’s been wild, you guys.
I’ve wanted to share glimpses of the bumpy ride for a while, but they didn’t come out enough for the regular length of a blog post each, and I didn’t think you’d like reading two sentences passed up as a post.
But I delivered! I scrounged up a few to reach a reasonable length, so I hope you enjoy it.
The frustration of knowing who your characters are to the T and dying to show your audience how lovable or horrible they are when you’re not yet at the scene where there’s the reader’s determining that “Oh, yeah, I definitely like/hate him/her” hits hard.
I created a NaNo account to track my progress and force myself to reach deadlines to form some semblance of achievement. The most recent deadline I’ve been working on is hitting the 30K mark by December 31, which was a foolish decision. It’s the Christmas season, and I can’tâcannotâlose my streak. I have relatives from abroad coming over, impromptu trips, school deadlines, and what was I thinking?!
But it wasn’t too terrible an idea because yesterday I came home at 11PM after going to a theme park where I realized my athleticism needs a lot of work (but I’ll deal with that later; right now, I need to shut myself in a room and just writeâ) and attending a family dinner get-together. I was dead tired but slogged away for 20 minutes and got 321 words onto the page, so yay. That’s 321 words closer to The End. *fist punches air weakly*
NaNo Stats as of December 24 (in the website’s words)
The NaNo site has got to be perky and overuse its exclamation points while it reminds me of how much the opposite of on-time I am with my novel, huh? Isn’t that fun?
My profile: https://nanowrimo.org/participants/brebs
I don’t recall when I realized Swan Lake would essentially be a romance fantasy story if I played my cards right, but I did some time ago. I was this close to abandoning it. ðĪ A tiny pinch. But I pep-talked myself out of it and discovered my aversion to romance was a front. Those romance novels I’ve been reading did something, after all.
Oh, but writing a romance is a whole different story. I don’t know how I feel about that.
Fantasy is tiring to write. Thank goodness I’m only learning the ropes because I’ll turn over in my grave before releasing this less than a decade after I finish the draft and improve myself as a writer. And the improvement must make you guys gasp and wonder if it’s even me.
I’m serious. I think.
It’s imperfect. So much so that I hardly even glance at the words as I type them because I have to get it over with while I’m still in the fEeLz.
Writing is messy. I once woke up believing I’d finished writing a chapter, only to discover I did . . . but in my head.
Internal pain. Suffering. Tears I shed in my imagination.
RIP to that chapter because I’m avoiding getting it done at all possible costs for no justifiable reason.
I’m bound to that streak. It’s Duolingo all over again. (Plot twist! After I lost my 52-day streak, he captured me, and I’ve been writing from his basement ever since. I can hear his flippers waddling in threat above me. SOS!)
The pain of knowing those who meet your children, or, er, I mean, characters, might not love them as much as you do is unbearable. ðĪ§ I’ve nursed these people into being, you heartless creatures. What more dost thou require?!
Looking back at previous chapters, I noticed that my writing style changed. (That’s looking back, but not reading through it since my ego has endured enough already. Thank you very much.)
The (tedious? lengthy?) journey to finalize this reads like a fictitious documentation of my growth as a writer, which makes it painful to even skim through, but nevertheless. I remember updating my Docs right after getting discouraged from a ballet class and working on it cheered me right up.
Maybe even if I don’t finish this by my set time, I’ll leave with something I worked hard onâfinished or unfinished, polished or unpolished.
But I’ve come too far to even try giving up. And I have an issue with giving up, so in your face, procrastination!
And after that venting, this is still pretty short. Man, I should write down my weird ramblings when they come.
Let me know if I should do a part two with those and some others coz your friendly blogger here has much work to do this ho-ho-holiday season. ð
PS I’ve been out of practice, and you’ve probably noticed. Oopsie. Sorry if this flowed more chunkily than my other posts. I’m working to release better and more consistent content, so don’t you worry, my fine fellows.
PPS It’s giving Tumblr, not gonna lie.
The author reflects on a challenging, yet enjoyable October with events like multiple birthdays, sickness, strenuous activity, and sporadic writing. She discuss their long-term engagement with ballet, which, while demanding, has provided a vibrant social community. She’s currently working on a novel-length draft of Swan Lake, despite self-doubt and new experiences in writing. She also mentions dabbling in fanfiction and their recent inclusion in Goodreads. She promises more consistent posting in the future. ~AI, coz I’m lazy.
Wait, it’s November?!
Me, rushing to catch up with time:
My October consisted of an aching back & sore leg muscles, doctor visits, getting sick, celebrating one too many birthdays (Objectively, two is too much.), and bouts with my fleeting bursts of writing inspiration.
And you already know I haven’t been consistent with posting, so there’s that. :’D
But you know what? October was a great month. I enjoyed it. I might even be coaxed into doing it over again.
As with most things, dancing with grace and poise (and turnout and core strength and strong legs and back flexibility and-) requires the cultivation of time and dedication. And don’t forget not only accepting that your feet will undergo irreversible changes but actively choosing that path. GremlinToes4Evah.
Ballet is a process, they say. You won’t see immediate changes, they say. It’s true, and I believe it. But, when doing it, you tend to question if you’ve been going about it wrong all along. Worse yet, if the issue is within you.
But that’s just me overthinking.
I’ve been doing ballet for a considerable amount of my life, and a possible contributing factor to why (WHY?!) I still do it is my not having stopped yet.
Yep, so I still do it because I did. Don’t question my logic.
Fun fact: a universal ballet rule is that the student must be silenced for chatting loudly with fellow classmates. Must! If you thought ballerinas were dainty creaturesâshy, polite, and quietârethink that. Because the extrovert within us is unleashed during âĻballet class.âĻ (More accurately, time before and/or between ballet classes, but bear with me.)
I’m going to be dangerously honest and admit that my past community of budding ballerinas was relatively toxic. As toxic as 8-year-olds can go, which is quite far, believe me. I dreaded going to class every Saturday. But the same community plus a pandemic later, nearly everyone is getting along. With newcomers, too! I wouldn’t trade conversations with people who choose to torture themselves weekly (even daily for some) for a taco.
But multiple tacos? ðŽ I’ll get back to you on that one.
(Shhh, secret info, but we student ballerinas don’t all choose this hobby. Ha, “hobby.” As if ballet isn’t 24/7. But I digress. Our parents choose it for us, and we stick with it because the gym and other sports are too easy. You didn’t hear that from me.)
I keep sporadically mentioning this, but I’m still working on Swan Lake. I, uh, wait. I’m aiming for novel length, and I’ve never done that before, so this is all *snort* novel to me.
Oh, gosh. That was terrible humor.
Anyway, is it normal to hit 10K words after 8 *cough* inconsistent *cough* months? Probably not, and that’s okay. I think. I hope.
I’m only on the first draft and wish I could change so much already. But I can’t! I can’t make that mistake! Not with everything I’ve heard about it. And *sigh* I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I thought my retelling journey would be a one-person job, but apparently not! I met a writer friend earlier this year with a love for Greek mythology and a familiarity with fairy tales. We’ve grown so close I’ve gone as far as showing her my messy Swan Lake first draft doc file. (Not normal. This is not normal, people.) First draft. I know, crazy. But I’m not a published author; there can’t possibly be risks with that.
She’s provided immense support and even made a work based on it. She recently told me how she loves my pieces, which include a few short stories I gathered the courage to share, and joked that I was her favorite author.
And she shared a part of SL with her mom!
What is this magical feeling?!
It’s suddenly all worth it.
I read a translated short story set in Russia for Lit and was utterly disappointed with myself. I thought I was a genius when picking names for my characters, but those in my Russian ballet-inspired draft were the same as those in the story. My âcreativeâ names were completely generic.
Blast my lack of knowledge with Russian anything! *kicks chair*
I should modify the heading; instead of “Writing,” why not “Swan Lake Rants”? (Ooh, an uncreative title. Write that down!) But to avoid that, I’ll add something else: I have these two contemporary fanfictions I’m so darn proud of, despite not having drafted them yet. Writing outside of YA is so fun because you’re a child and have these unrealistic views of how having an occupation works. The prospects? Endless!
I’m not a plotter. However, I do organize and write down usable information. Or perhaps unusable. The opportunity to insert a character’s height down to the centimeter has yet to present itself. That means I’m not a pantser, either. What even am I?
Speaking of which, you know those moments where you wonder why you write? My SL novel is a fantasy for a younger audience with a sweet, lowkey romance and a quirky narrator. Doubtless, someone’s written something similar and executed it lightyears better than me.
Then you get encouragement from kind souls (with superb taste), as mentioned above, and you realize…
Maybe there is a story only I can tell. Something unique. Something someone will love. They’ll pick up my book with low expectations, perhaps never before having heard of it, and then they’re whisked away. And when they return from the perilous journey, they clutch the book close to their chest, bug-eyed and magic-drunk, and mutter, “I want to do that again.”
We’re still under the writing subheading. Whew!
I have this Spotify playlist with Old Disney songs with romantic and magical vibes, choice numbers from Swan Lake, a song from Anastasia, the ballroom background music from the Cinderella live-action remake, and “Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garlandânot quite in that order.
During the dead hours when I’m sitting quietly, maladaptive daydreaming and all (which wasn’t diagnosed, but I fit the symptoms *sweats*), turning on this playlist is sure to boost the fairy tale & “I’m on Cloud Nine!” feels, and I couldn’t be more thankful. But who to thank? Spotify? Disney? Music? Let’s go with myself for making the playlist. *kisses mirror*
WARNING: The author in no way promotes narcissism to this extreme. Do not try this at home.
The four I keep coming back to:
This grandma got a Goodreads account!
I’m clueless about adding friends, joining groups, and following someone, but I love seeing my reads in one place. And nearly everything is on there! Nearly. This Changes Everything by Jacquelle Crow, where? Where?!
I wanna pull a card on you guys and hit you with the “And because of newfound motivation, I finished 7 books this month. Ta-da!”
But nope. Four books are good enough for me. Plus, they were all a pleasure to read. Caraval, Tall Story, Chloe and the Kaishao Boys, & Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Oosh, I still have to write that post about Caraval, shouldn’t I?
You can expect more content this month. You can, but should you?
I’m kidding.
I’m getting back into the groove! Welcome, new followers! And to those who’ve stuck around, THANK YOU.
Alternative titles: “Bookish Rant: Children’s Books”; “Bookish Rant: Comparing and Contrasting The Name of This Book Is Secret and The Land of Stories: The Wishing Well”
The first was too vague, and the second was too lengthy, so you have this instead.
Reading Time:
Last Sunday, I acquired a copy of The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell. (I had to consciously type each word for “spell” since I initially misread it as “well” when I picked it up. Ugh, that’s the first of two times this week! My eyes are failing me!)
I was rather giddy with my buy. It had been a while since I bought a book, and though I’d said I was getting back into reading, that’s about how far I’d come to doing it. But in my hands was a tangible book with a story inside, eagerly waiting to draw me in.
Added to that was that I’d seen it on Amazon prior and wished for it to be something I could get one day. I don’t recall why exactly; it came as a recommendation from this other book I was fantasizing about, and the cover was pretty. But since Amazon is Amazon and I’m an overseas child with no income, I expected it to be no more than a dream.
Truth be told, reading the blurb threw me off a bit. It seemedâoh, what’s the wordâclichÃĐd and dry, like an empty well. (I thought I was going somewhere with that, but it’s coming off as corny now. Spell not well. Spell not well.)
I’m too tired to find the Amazon version, so here’s the synopsis from the back of my book.
ALEX AND CONNER BAILEY’S WORLD IS ABOUT TO CHANGE. When the twins’ grandmother gives them a treasured fairy-tale book, they have no idea they’re about to enter a land beyond all imagining: the Land of Stories, where fairy tales are real.
Mmhm.
Perhaps that’s what convinced meâseeing the book prior. Don’t kill me, but I’ll admit I’m accustomed to entering a bookstore and leaving empty-handed due to fear of disappointment. There are so many smutty, unrealistic, sloppy books out there, and I am scared. What if I morph into the unholy-type children the media love to portray? What if I become a fist-banging, whining, demanding monster of a child who grows but never matures and turns into a twenty-year-old who falls in love with a vampire?!
(I’ve never read Twilight, by the way.)
“You’re overreacting, Breanna.” “You’re being dramatic, Breanna.” Nope. Nuh-uh. Mhm-mhm. Micro-influences like these are what make and break us.
What was I saying? Oh, yeah. So, I got the book and began devouring it in the car. The first chapter was intriguing. Fresh. I then gave up since reading in a moving vehicle is not my forte.
At home, I continued, even annotating it because I wanted to feel bookish. (Yes, I write in my books. Again, please don’t kill me!)
My, that was quick, wasn’t it?
This is why I’d be a terrible book reviewer. It’s a gut feeling; it was missing something, yet I can’t figure out what.
The first one was exceptional but lacking. The rest? Worse.
Also, my current favorite genre is contemporary fiction, so maybe I’m especially critical of anything under its umbrella. Who knows?
I could get Snow White and even appreciated the new light shed on her and her situation, especially the “reality” she faced after her happily ever after. But *SPOILER* the Bailey’s dad dying? Not so. *SPOILER ENDED*
Or maybe I’m a heartless monster.
Let’s see: drinking, normalized half-nudity, manipulation, and trusting strangers are at least half of what I saw. I may be judging too hard or screwing my religious cap on too tight, but come on.
In its defense, the Little, Brown, and Company publishing house does tend to let these things slide, speaking from the six books I have from it. Five of six are part of The Secret Series, my favorite pentalogy, which was also aimed toward a younger audience but exceeded expectations. And you know what that series had that the Land of Stories didn’t? A lot of things, but one is an absurd, bonkers opening. The energy was relatively the same throughout the book. Though some parts were less thrilling than others, I was kept on my toes.
But the styles, message, and basic story contrast each other so intensely that it’s improper to compare them. Then again, starting The Land of Stories felt like rereading a book, and The Secret Series was so wacky you never know what came next. Ack, there I go again!
Wait for it. Wait for it.
“Sounds like a you problem.” There it is.
Now, this one has a definitive issue. The author was too caught up in technicalities. “So and so had dark hair.” “So and so had light hair.” “The forest had a lot of trees, and the peaks were really sharp.”
The descriptions of locations, people, and objects outbalanced how the features related to the main plot, conflict, and storyline. Is it just me who finds it difficult to process or care? My eyes skip over that and search for the integral details. When it gets too much, I get exhausted.
This is actually an experiment. I like viewing other blogger’s reviews, but that’s with the knowledge I’ll probably never get what they’re reviewing. I’ll see how you guys take this.
What? I’m controlled by my hyperfixations. And in the book’s defense, I finished 300+ pages of it in one day.
Donât take this too seriously since Iâm not done with it yet. It has good pointsâ like easy-to-understand, straightforward writingâbut my reviews usually focus on the unflattering points. Iâm not sure why, but thatâs how I roll.
Now Iâm done. Thanks for reading!
Hear ye! Hear ye! I am… fresh out of creative ideas.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t advertise other people’s works under the guise that I’m helping them. Ta-da! Fun, right?
This is an advertisement. I had to let you know before you continued.
And yet, you still proceeded to read this. What a shame.
Actually, no. No, it is not, merely because what I have to feature is self-promotional, sure, but also other-people-promotional. Isn’t humility and selflessness such a lovely thing?
I wouldn’t know.
What do you mean it’s still July?!
The pandemic stole two years from my life. Yes, I am using that as an excuse for my immaturity. But come on, nobody told me this year would be like the Earth outlet was switched back on. It was slow at first, but then it all came crashing down as if time were nipping you in the heels.
Just me? ‘Kay.
In simpler terms, July was a busy month.
My ideas well had run dry, so what better time to substitute some original stuff with unoriginal stuff, right?
Anyway.
Chaos We Unravel centers on the close-knit lookalike sisters whose personalities couldn’t clash more. It’s Independence Day, and Chelsea and Michelle expected a stress-free hang-out. With their older brother, Justin, and Jenna, the plan was 1) snacks and 2) enjoying the show. But when a fire and a gunshot ring out, another mystery finds them yet again. Now they just have to follow it.
synopsis by moi
Amanda and Anita, the writers behind this excellent work, share the clues email-by-email and encourage you to interact, sniffing out the clues and revealing your hunches. It tested my deductive skills, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Plus, the best friends are incredibly, well, friendly.
The mysteries aren’t murder-levelâa relief for me, who has difficulty finding clean onesâand lean more toward being realistic. As a relatively jumpy person, they have not kept me up at night, thank goodness, and will probably not haunt you whenever you’re alone with your thoughts.
Note: I probably discovered Hours We Regret, the predecessor of Chaos We Unravel, and the main book by Amanda and Anita, from Virginia @Books by Virginia, but I’m not quite sure since I can’t find the post where she promoted it. But visit her blog, you guys.
I’m so blessed to have discovered The Rebelution.
Being a teen in this day and age is hard. It’s always been. But with temptations amplified by the widespread impact of the internet, it’s even more challenging. People look down on us, judging us as inadequate and not skilled enough before we even prove ourselves. Sometimes, even we see ourselves that way.
But it’s not about us. It’s about God, and He can use teenagers where we are. We can learn about Him and know Him during this confusing stage. Developing Christlike character isn’t just for adults. We can start now, and the Reb will help you grow.
The link leads you to their site, where articles that benefit you as a writer and a young Christian are published weekly. And I highly recommend joining their weekly newsletter, from which you get 27 book recommendations…for free. Now, that’s a good deal.
Out of curiosity…
And if you’re wondering why that was so incredibly short, then…
*runs away but with 100x more dramatic flair*
You know those moments when you just don’t want to create? The inspiration is uninspiring, and the motivation unmotivating. You just lay motionless, waiting for something to happen.
I’m experiencing it now. Making myself start writing this took a lot of coaxing. It’s hard to combat, and sometimes the answer is stepping back for a bit.
If you assumed that this was a hiatus announcement, think again! You…probably didn’t because of the title. Yeah, I have to work on my subtlety. Next time.
The other sometimes is looking back at what you have done for encouragement. I can’t do that because I haven’t finished any writing projects I’ve begun yet. But I initiated stuff, which is better than nothing, right? Right?
If you’re curious, stick around for glimpses into my less-than-half-formed WIPs.
Description: ðđðĶĒððð§ðŧââïļ
Stage: Drafting (Planning isn’t complete yet, so what possessed me to start is beyond me.)
Completed Chapters: 3, currently in 4
Characters
Goal(s): 15+ chapters âĒ over 20,000 words âĒ succeeding in writing from a narrator’s POV âĒ giving Siegfried and Odette’s relationship some much-needed depth (as compared to their The Swan Princess counterparts)
Related: What’s Your WIP? (in which you will find a blurb, a snippet, and other important things)
The moment you realize your so-called “original work” is nothing more than fanfic of a specific Swan Princess movie…
…is not a pleasant moment. My apologies to anyone who thought I could pull that off. Original work. Ha, hilarious.
I’m a baby writer, so I’ll jump for joy if this first attempt at a novella passes 10,000 words. Don’t expect…a plot. Or do expect it and then be disappointed. But in truth, the only reason anyone would read till the end would be for the action, not my sorry, unpolished writing.
Enough self-deprecation for now. Moving on.
Description: ðšðĪðŧððĒâ
Blurb:
The village electing her father as chief changed a lot of lives: her father’s, her family’s, and her own. Nothing changed, they said. They were wrong; everything did. An ever-increasing burden of pressure was laid on Alessia’s shouldersâshe has to be the best. She has to prove herself. When the opportunity to go on a quest affecting not only her village but the surrounding ones, friend or foe, is presented to her, she grabs at it. So what if her father doesn’t know? She’s assembled her little band of coworkers, the best of the best: Brielleâher sharp, analytical, and strategical best friend, Siennaâthe history buff with access to forbidden maps, and Zedâthe self-claimed tech whiz with a sense of humor. Everything will fall into the plan, the plan she’s planning to make sometime in the future. So, imagine her dismay to having to work with a stowaway, a spy, from a neighboring tribe, with which they weren’t on good terms. How’d her life become such a mess?
It’s pretty vague, but it’ll become something one day.
Stage: Planning
Characters
Goal(s): 30+ chapters âĒ over 30,000 words âĒ developing the individual characters âĒ *gulp* pulling off the hero hating herself and finding peace at the end arc âĒ Enemies to Lov- say what? Who said? Huh?… Ignore that. âĒ and other stuff
If you’re like me, you were too lazy to read the blurb. Chunky paragraphs induce headaches.
To summarize, my MCâAlessiaâis a troubled girl; she goes on a quest with friends; an enemy was there (a “there” I will not disclose) before they set off and has to come. Gasp. Originality and articulateness abound.
I haven’t got a plot, but, funny thing, I’ve been brainstorming on this since last year. How sad is that?!
And yes, we are equipping children to do such outrageous things. Perfect!
I’m taking this opportunity to apologize for not yet posting this. It’s not professional or ethical.
I haveâHow do I say this?âgiven up on it. So, either someone requests me to complete it, or you, my dear reader, refresh this post once or twice to see what the outline was for the rest of it. No, this isn’t an attempt to get more views. I’m being serious. (Do the second one! Do the second one! ~your conscience)
Edit: Never mind, Iâve made it easy.
2. The Clark family is on a kalesa, exploring the walled city. Adamâtheir charming tour guide with impressive fluency in Englishâgets along with Dad just fine and regards all sites with respect. He claims they’re ancient, and Thomas can’t help but agree as the carriage’s horse trots past a historically significant Starbucks.
3. Thom and company return after strolling around Baluerte de San Diego. Marie (his sister) thought it was pretty, and he genuinely agrees that the site was interesting, more so after Dad gives some insight. Thom gets jittery after finding out they had one last stop: Fort Santiago. They reach there as quickly as he’d hoped, and Adam tells them all about how American and Filipino soldiers died there due to suffocation and the heat. Thom is moved and asks if his grandpa might’ve died there. Dad says it was his own great-grandpa, Thom’s great-great-grandpa. Thom is silent for the rest of the travel. He asks his dad if they could visit again sometime.
Goodness me, I feel so evil.
Descriptions: 1. ðĨžðĨ―ðĪĶðžââïļð·ðļ , 2. ðŽððĐðŧðŧðŋð
Which begs the question: Should I get an AO3 account? We’ll see.
Share in the comments how you feel about certain platforms where fanfics are regularly published. (AO3, Fanfiction.Net, Wattpad, etc.) Which do you prefer? Which gave you the best experience? The worst? Any advice is appreciated!
And come back next time oooooooon CKJ!
A Christian Kid's Journal 