Look who's alive! Me! And I'm doing NaNoWriMo again this year. I've done NaNoWriMo for two years, (my first year was Ebinicah James and the Crystal Orb which was done during 2014), this is my third year and I am so excited! YWP, that's the platform I'm working on this year, got a face lift (yippee!) and now I can write my novel on the actual site. The new site is more clean and slick and since it's brand-new, it's still in BETA (which is kind of sad). That means no friends (yet), no private messaging (yet), no 'watched threads' (yet), etc. Yet I'm not here to complain, I'm here to share my story with you! BUT FIRST, I have to tell you the reason why I've been gone. School. Okay, here's my story blurb. A strange journal. A mysterious Manor. An unbeatable enemy. Doesn't that sounds like a book you would read? Jemima is a fifteen year old girl and Hawthorn is either seventeen or eighteen (I actually haven't decided).
ANYWAYS, I'm around 17,000 words into this 50,000 word novel but I'm trying to get ahead. I'm thinking that I'll be able to do some character cafe's soon enough (character cafe = character interview), but I'm not going to promise anything though (because last time I promised stuff... I didn't keep it. D:). Later on in life I'll have blog posts on how I got inspiration for my book, who the characters are, and what I'm listening to right now while writing this crazy book, etc. And that's everything! Again, I'm really sorry that I've been gone for so long and I'll do my best to post more often. Thanks everyone!
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I've decided that I wanted to do a writing series, not only do I want to post more about writing, I wanted to talk about a few things. They aren't necessarily writing tips, but I do want to share some writing advice that I've gotten through the years. The first thing that I'll be talking about is: Making A Memorable MC I have a ton of great MC's. I have little Abbie from my WIP Another Imagination and I've got Ebinicah James from my paused WIP Ebinicah James and the Crystal Orb. I know Rehe only reason I've said two MC's is because I'm working on some secret books and I don't want to reveal who the main characters are just yet. Yet all of these main characters started out like normal ordinary people. They had something special that inspired us to write a book about THEM and THEIR journey.
Here are some questions I asked myself whenever I made a new MC:
After that step, I have one thing I must accomplish with my MC before I begin to write them: LEAVE. I put my character away for a few days, I don't think about the story (even though I end up thinking about it in the end), mention the character and I just go about my life. Then I go back to my MC to see if they're still fresh and new feeling (because I don't want a reader to be so into one of my books and then they, reluctantly, put down the book and come back to it later to just wanting to put it down again... Does that make sense?) There we go! My three handy-dandy steps I use to make a memorable character.
Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been posting a ton. Not only am I rushing to prepare myself for NaNoWriMo (which is only 23 days away), I'm trying to catch up on school (which I am kind of behind in... I still have an 'A' though!). What are YOU doing to prepare for NaNoWriMo? I've been thinking about this question a TON lately, and I realized--nothing. All I've done is make my 'book cover' (it's cool... But it could be WAY cooler), think up a book summary and name it. Then, I'm going to panster it all the way through (so much for being a planner... -_-). Would you like to know what my NaNoWriMo book is called and is about? I'm not going to leave you in the suspense this time. :D My book is called 'Another Imagination'. Abbie can see things others can't. A rare ability to some, a curse to others. Watching the beautiful creatures move around and about has people scared that she'll be influenced to do something she's not suppose to, but on the contrary the creatures that she sees want to be her friend, to be laughed with, to have someone love them. Do you like it? I can't wait to start writing! I'm going to have a character interview with Abbie some Thursday this month, so be on a look out! Are YOU participating in NaNoWriMo? Are you thinking about doing it this year? Do you have a book that you're about to start (even if you aren't doing NaNoWriMo)? By the way, I'm thinking about having a 'Book Cover Contest' for my book because I made a cover for myself, but I'm not sure if it really fits... If you like the idea, I'll consider putting the contest into action. Thank you so much everyone for what you do! (c) All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce, plagarize, or dulicate any work on this site. Links back to the site are encouraged and welcomed. Hey there everybody! As you can see on my Writing Progress, my New Book (which has a name, I just haven't revealed it yet) has 20, 470 words. I am so proud that I've written that many words! My personal due date for finishing the book is November 7th. I know that cuts into NaNoWriMo time, but since I've committed to finishing my book AND starting a new book for NaNoWriMo, I'm gonna do it. Honestly, I can't wait. I'm trying to prepare two books so I can pick which book I want to do for NaNoWriMo but I haven't completely finished the preparations. I hope I can become a winner this year. Although this is my second year doing YWP NaNoWriMo, I know that my older sister did Camp NaNoWriMo for one year and I think she did NaNoWriMo and she had lots of fun doing it. She's one of the reasons why I'm writing. :D The hard part for me is deciding whether I'm a planner or a panster.
Source: NaNoWriMo Prep Last year, I was a total Panster. I had NO idea what I was doing, only that I was writing a story that I barely knew anything about (which was Ebinicah James and the Crystal Orb. Don't get me wrong. It is still a fantastic book. It just needs to be seen with a new eye). It was fun being a Panster though (*grins*). But this year, I am going to TRY and be a planner and see whether being a Planner or a Panster is easier for me.
Guys, I am SO excited to start NaNoWriMo! Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? YWP NaNoWriMo (they're getting a new website this year!)? Have you done NaNoWriMo in past years? If so, do you have any writer-to-writer advice you would like to give? Have a fantastic day! I've got a lot of explaining to do. Since I've been really busy, I've decided that I have to move the Nex Gen Justice League to ever 2 weeks. So in March, I'll do it the second and forth week.
The reason that I didn't post anything last week and a few days this week was because I didn't have anything to post about and because I had allergies (which AREN'T fun... at all). I was able to one word war (and I was able to get 173 words in ten minutes... Go me!) and that's about it. Other than that, on Saturday (two days ago) I was watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars with my sisters and my dad came in with a package. He handed me the package and said, "It's for you." Then, I immediately screamed. It was the package. The package I had been waiting for. I had won Jill Williamson's book contest on her blog and I got the book, 'Go Teen Writers'. I started reading it and I just LOVE it. Hmm... And that's it! I'll be posting tomorrow and that's a promise! Hello world! Sorry that I didn't post on Saturday, but I've got something to say. At the end of each of my posts, there is a blue 'Bianca' sign. And it hasn't been popping up when you read my posts. BUT when you click the title and comment on the posts. THEN you can see the blue 'Bianca' sign. It's still there. (I just covered 'And Some Explanations' part of the post.) Now off to the 'Go Teen Writers Word War' part. As you all know, I love Go Teen Writers, I adore Word Wars and the two coming combine? It's like a miniature birthday. LOOK AT THAT GLORIOUS SIGN. IT'S MAGICAL. Okay, to get to the point, since they are having a word war, at the end of each of my posts, I'm going to post how many words I wrote at the end of the day. So if the posts come late in the day, it's for that reason. Thanks everybody! (And if you comments, we could decided on some Word Warring. :3)
Writers! YOU SHOULD BE WRITING!
In my last post, I told you that I went to Teen Author Boot Camp and had the time of my life, freaking out and enjoying all the writers and authors in one place. Everybody in that room shares one thing, they love to write (or will learn to love to write). Don't be afraid to yell to the world: I AM A WRITER! You should embrace that moment. LOVE THAT MOMENT! Since I love to do crazy things, I would do that. I'm pretty sure I would get a crowd of looks that say, 'Man, that girl is weird.' And I would just shyly chuckle and walk very quickly to my family.
Okay listen, the point that I'm TRYING to get across is that you should be writing. No matter what. It doesn't matter if you are terrible with grammar (that'll get fixed in the editing stage... don't worry) or allergic to words (no one is allergic to words..) or if you just don't think your story is good enough (YOUR STORY IS GOOD ENOUGH. WE ALL WANT TO READ IT!). In the end, your story is going to turn into a piece of art. And it WILL shine with all it's magnificent glory. You just have to be patient and finish your book (so that you may go on to the editing process!!! YAYAYAYAYAY!) You'll get it. Don't worry! :3
Let me sum this up in three-ish words....
IT WAS AWESOMELY-AMAZING! That had to be the best thing that I have EVER known. The authors, the writers, the amazing special effects... (btw there was TONS of that). The morning Keynote speaker was Jessica Day George, author of Dragon Slippers, Tuesdays at the Tower, and tons of more. After the keynote speaker, we all ran to our classes. Because if we didn't get to our class before it got full, we would have to go to another class. Thankfully, I was able to make it to ALL of my classes on time. :L Here was the class schedule: (the red is the classes that I did) 8:00 – 9:00 Registration Ballroom Lobby 8:45 Against Her Will book launch with author Jo Schaffer (You don’t want to miss this!) Ballroom 9:00 – 9:25 Welcome by Writers Cubed Ballroom 9:25 – 10:10 Morning Keynote Jessica Day George Ballroom 10:20 – 11:05 Breakout #1 How to Write a Killer Fight Scene by Jo Schaffer Ballroom Writing Fantasy and Sci-Fi by Julie Wright Room 206 A Map Making 101 by Jill Williamson Room 206 B The Art of Inspiration and Thievery by Natalie Whipple Room 206 C The Secret Ingredient to Great Fiction (Advanced Class) by Bree Despain Center Stage The Secret to FINISHING you Book by Tom Durham Room 213 A Let’s Make a Story by J. Scott Savage Room 213 B Panel: Writing Habits: Elana Johnson, Michelle Argyle, Peggy Eddleman, Sara B Larsen and Frank Cole Reagan Theater 11:10 – 11:55 Breakout #2 From First Glance to FIrst Kiss by Melanie Jacobsen Ballroom Murder & Mayhem: Elements of Writing Mystery by Lois D. Brown Room 206 A Dystopian Doesn’t Mean Made Up by Jonathan Ryan Room 206 B Digging in the Dirt (Advanced Class) by Matthew Kirby Room 206 C Plotting Dastardly (Fictional) Deeds by Shallee McArthur Center Stage The Psychology of Heroes, Villains, and Everyone Else by David Powers King Room 213 A What the Crap is Voice? I need to get me some of that! by Margie Jordan Room 213 B Panel: Villains We Love to Hate: Lisa Mangum, Tyler Jolley, Jessica Day George, Leigh Statham Reagan Theater 11:55 – 12:55 Lunch 12:55 – 1:40 Breakout #3 Starting Your Story by Brandon Sanderson Ballroom Three Parts to an Awesome Story by Chad Morris Room 206 A Writing the “Unputdownable” Story by Ilima Todd Room 206 B Making the Old New: Fairytales Retold & Re-imagined by R.C. Lewis Room 206 C How to Write a Book in a Weekend (Advanced Class) by Taryn Albright Center Stage Make Your Readers Cry with, Chuckle, and Want to Punch Your Characters in the Face by Chantele Sedgwick Room 213 A Writing Groups by Tahsha Wilson Room 213 B Panel: Favorite Books and How They Inspire Your Writing: Sara B. Larsen, Renee Collins, J.R. Johansson, Amy Jameson Reagan Theater 1:45 – 2:30 Breakout #4 Ask the Author: NEW THIS YEAR! Writers Cubed will be joined by several other Drill Sergeants (one author per round table) in the Ballroom. Come and pick their brains and ask questions about your work in progress in a more personal setting! Ballroom Let’s Make a Story by J. Scott Savage Room 206 A Writing Fantasy and Sci-Fi by Julie Wright Room 206 B Map Making 101 by Jill Williamson Room 206 C How Not to Muck Up Your Book by Frank Cole Center Stage The Art of Inspiration and Thievery by Natalie Whipple Room 213 A Digging in the Dirt (Advanced Class) by Matthew Kirby Room 213 B Panel: Things that Go Bump in the Night: J.R. Johansson, Bree Despain, Tom Durham, Jonathan Ryan Reagan Theater 2:35 – 3:20 Breakout #5 Murder & Mayhem: Elements of Writing Mystery by Lois D. Brown Ballroom How to Write a Book in a Weekend (Advanced Class) by Taryn Albright Room 206 A From First Glance to FIrst Kiss by Melanie Jacobsen Room 206 B Dystopian Doesn’t Mean Made Up by Jonathan Ryan Room 206 C What the Crap is Voice? I need to get me some of that! by Margie Jordan Center Stage Making the Old New: Fairytales Retold & Re-imagined by R.C. Lewis Room 213 A Let’s Get Serious (Advanced Class) by Jennifer Jenkins Room 213 B Panel: Out of This World: Brandon Sanderson, Renee Collins, Tyler Jolley, Peggy Eddleman, Leigh Statham Reagan Theater 3:25 – 4:10 Breakout #6 The Psychology of Heroes, Villains, and Everyone Else by David Powers King Ballroom Describing Where You Are: It’s More Than Just a Place by Elana Johnson Room 206 A Three Parts to an Awesome Story by Chad Morris Room 206 B Writing the “Unputdownable” Story by Ilima Todd Room 206 C Let’s Get Serious (Advanced Class) by Jennifer Jenkins Center Stage Make Your Readers Cry with, Chuckle, and Want to Punch Your Characters in the Face by Chantele Sedgwick Room 213 A Plotting Dastardly (Fictional) Deeds by Shallee McArthur Room 213 B Panel: I Want to Be Published! Amy Jameson, Jo Schaffer, Terri Baranowski, Lisa Mangum, Jonathan Ryan, Michelle Argyle Reagan Theater 4:20 – 5:05 AFTERNOON KEYNOTE BRANDON SANDERSON Ballroom 5:05 – 5:30 First Chapter Winners & Closing Ceremony Ballroom 5:30 – 6:30 Massive Book Signing Ballroom Lobby (Both Jessica Day George & Brandon Sanderson will be signing in the Ballroom). It was literally the best day of my life. (it was even better than Christmas!) When I went to my first class (Map Making 101 by Jill Williamson) I REALLY wanted to scream because I was meeting one of the Go Teen Writers authors. It was the best class EVER. My next class was Villains We Love To Hate. It was very informational and I got tons of ideas for a villain(s). :D My next class (after lunch of course) was Favorite Books and How They Inspire Your Writing. It was really good. Like really. After that class was The Art of Inspiration and Thievery. If I had to say awesome 10 times. I would. Natalie Whipple draws manga, writes books, AND is a great artist. It was amazing! Then, my next class was What the Crap is Voice? I need to get me some of that by Margie Jordan. Man, I could listen to her talk for hours and think of nothing but writing. It was the best. And after that I did I Want to be Published! I learned so much stuff in there that I am no debating whether or not I should do self-publishing or publishing (there is a difference). Everyone in my family (except Charisma) says I should take the self-publishing route. But I'm still thinking about it. Okay, after that everybody came back to the Ballroom and watched these amazing performers do an interpretative dance for Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Trilogy. If I could take any dance class, I would go find those performers and tell them I want to be just like them. Because, I am not joking, you wish you could see it THOUSANDS of times. It was WAAAYY better than EPIC. After Brandon Sanderson's Keynote, it was the First Chapter Contest winners. I had entered and I expected to win to be one of the ten runner ups... but nope. I didn't win. It was sad... But that encourages me more to do better next year! :3 And at the very beginning of TABC, they showed a video called 'I'm Reading A Book'... IT WAS HILARIOUS! Here you go! :D
hehehe... I love that. :3 SO after that, it was the TEEN AUTHOR BOOT CAMP AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING! I jumped up and ran to Jill Williamson's booth and asked her to sign my TABC tee-shirt (because I wasn't wearing it). She signed it, and, after I said thank you, ran to the rest of the authors asking them to do the same thing. GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!
THANK YOU TEEN AUTHOR BOOT CAMP FOR EXISTING!
TOMORROW IS TEEN AUTHOR BOOT CAMP... WHAT DO I DO?! I mean... I'm prepared and all... but... it just feels as if that I'm so UNprepared and so SCARED. (hehe... that's because I AM scared.)
I am meeting a ton of authors that write for teenagers and I'm pretty sure that I haven't read any of their books. (Jessica Day George is going to be there and I haven't read ANY of her books... HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!?!) -_- I feel so terrible... Oh well, I've got to get over it and be myself tomorrow. Because tomorrow is a big day for me (and everyone else in my family, because they're going to.) Wish me luck!
So sorry that this is SUPER late. But, I'm very busy getting everything ready for TABC. (SUPER EXCITED. I AM FREAKING OUT THAT IT'S THREE DAYS LEFT.)
Well, I've got to go (to sleep)! Bye! |
I am the Smol Scribble. I came to realize that, even though the first drafts of books aren't perfect, they are the closest to my heart...
The Ancient Past of the Scribbler
July 2019
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