Hello Twisters!Bianca here. Today I wanted to talk about my book. This should probably go in 'The Smol Scribble' (my writing section of the blog) but I think what I have to say will interest and benefit everyone. First, this process has been extremely challenging. The first draft of my book was a short story for school. It was meant for a fun, light read for kids. It was short, simple, and educational. But I recognized that I wanted to traditionally publish it (as that was my dream) and that started a battle. So many battles. Battle 1 - Lengthening The BookMy book at the beginning was around 3K words, I think. But I hadn't touched it since 9th grade (it might have been 10th grade, I need to double check), so it needed some major editing, fine-tuning, and developmental edits. It was difficult conveying to my family that I needed to do this step and why I couldn't do a regular edit (proofread = regular edit). It needed much more. The story was off, I discussed with some of the kids that I worked with what they wanted to see in book 2 and 3 and so I needed to add some foreshadowing and plot to help span into the next two books. And a simple edit just wasn't going to do that. But how was I going to edit it? I strongly disliked the editing phase because 1) I didn't know what I was doing, 2) so many people were sharing with me their opinions that I couldn't hear my own, 3) I had an expectation to fulfill and that already creates an unhealthy mindset when you begin a project for fun, and 4) everyone's advice on children books (as my story is for elementary and middle schoolers) are so conflicting. Battle 1 - SolutionSo what could I do to fix this mess I put on myself? I had already messed up but completed somehow a couple of drafts that I was semi-proud of but all of them felt lacking. I was trying to work on a version of the story that would be around 30K words, so a traditional publisher would even take a look at it (30K words is the industry standard for middle grade books). I learned that, as an author, I can't have two audiences, its either elementary schoolers (ages seven to ten) with the word count being either 10K to 12K or middle schoolers (ages twelve and up), with the word count being over 30K to 50K. There was no home for my 3K little book that both elementary and middle schoolers loved. Then my mother said something that made sense, "Why not work on a version of the book for young kids and then later on make one for the older kids?" That struck a chord with me. It was a great idea. But I took it a step further. Why not just combine the appeal to both? I know it sounds like the same idea before, but what if I make a story that is short that resonates with the younger kids, but is long enough and cool enough for the older kids. I still kept the premise of the appeal the same, I just changed my mindset. And after I created the mindset to run, I closed everyone out and I wrote. Because I could not afford to look or think about other things that would get me distracted. I needed to work. In short, I changed my mindset and I stayed focused. How To Apply The SolutionBut everything is easier said than done. So what if you find yourself in the situation, what should you do? Changing your mindset is hard. I tried to work on it for a month and a half (that's how long I was stuck on the 30K draft before scraping it altogether) and it was agonizing. I didn't like working on it, it was actual work, and it wasn't fun anymore. So I walked away from it. Not forever, no, that's no what you do. I walked away with it in mind. Since I couldn't see clearly where I needed to go, I decided to change the view. Ask people you trust about the situation. But don't blatantly ask them, "I'm stuck at this one part of my story and I don't know where to move, what do I do?" Depending on who you ask, you will get the help/answer you need or you won't. And sometimes, you don't want someone's opinion on your story (especially if you are still editing it, you want people's opinions after you edit), rather you want to know what they would do in your situation. (Or, at least, that's what I wanted to know.) So what I did was create a scenario for them with something they can understand and relate to. That way they could give me a response on what they would do and how they would do it. For me, the hard part came with their response and my response to theirs. What was I hiding from? What are you hiding from? Are you hiding behind favoritism and fear? (I was.) Are you telling people no to their ideas because it didn't fit in your own? (I did.) Are you stopping people in the middle of their sentences stating why that wouldn't work? (I did that too.) But that isn't going to help you at all. I hid behind fear and favoritism for my book because I loved how my book was already, even though I knew it wasn't perfect and ready for publication. However, since I loved it too much, I wasn't willing to hear anyone's critiques on how it could be improved. Other people's ideas are exactly what you want to hear when you're in a rut. You can't tell people 'no that's not going to work' because you don't like the idea. Half of all my good ideas comes from when me and another person expand of those ideas that presumably 'weren't going to work'. And since I felt I knew the industry and my book inside out, I refused to listen to anyone who even shared their opinion about it. Because I believed, that since I spent several hours every day for the past year looking at information, that I knew more than them and that I knew everything that I could know about the industry. In reality, I don't know enough about the industry and I was so scared of people telling me that I was doing it wrong that I became so focused on telling people they were wrong instead of listening to them. What I'm trying to say is, know who you are, where you want to go with your book, and recognize and listen to people. But only for a moment. You need to know and figure out when someone is helping and when someone is hurting you. I'm afraid I'm still working on that part. To Be Continued... Battle 2 - The IndustrySince this post is already so very, very long. I'm going to be splitting this series into sections. Battle 2 is going to be about the industry (and why I dislike it so much), Battle 3 is all about self-publishing (which I may or may not split into two parts), and Battle 4 is about Kickstarter. Looking back on all of this, I recognize how far I am in the process, because right now, I'm on battle 4. There will always be an easy way to do things, but trust me, not all easy ways are the right way. Listen to your heart and if you don't like your options, make a new one. Stay Safe, Stay Home and Until Next Time My Friends... Adieu
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And you know what that means? Less frequent blog updates! (Even though those already existed in summer...) Actually, no. That's not going to happen this year. This year, I'm going to plan what to post, when to post, etc. And I'm going to be SUPER PRODUCTIVE AND AWESOME AND YES. THIS WILL HAPPEN. But let's talk about school and what courses I've got this semester. |
Monday - Twisted Two |
Tuesday - Writing Journey |
Wednesday - Inspiring Art |
Thursday - Book Reviews |
Friday - Movie and Show Reviews |
Saturday - Game Reviews |
Post-wise, we are going to be uploading all the posts on their respective days at 6:00 AM CST.
Also, I have said previously, our blog is still kind of under construction. We're finalizing our pictures and rewriting things that desperately need to be rewritten. We'll probably do a blog post where we've finally say "IT'S ALL DONE!!" and celebrate with virtual cake or something, I don't know. Somethin' will happen.
Additionally!! (There's so much that I want to say, I'm so sorry!) Bianca and I might still post from outside of our schedule if we deem necessary. Bianca has told me that she's got a post coming up that she wants to put out before our schedule commences, so that's probably going to happen. So be on the look out for that.
It's a new year and that means new goals and a whole lot of new opportunities~ This past year, I regret doing so little regarding everything I did. School, I could have put a whole lot more effort into that, my Japanese class, I could have had a higher grade than my 96%, and I could have used my Bujo a lot more. Also, I regret not posting on the blog when I had the chance. I spent so much of my free time on YouTube or on Instagram that I didn't even have the decency to say, "Just A Quick Update!". That is why, this year, I'm going to change a WHOLE lot in my life.
My Goals:
- (1) - Finish my easy classes immediately. Charisma and I figured out that if we finished our easy classes in the first month of school (there are only 5 or 6 units in this semester's classes), then we would only have to worry about the difficult classes with more attention.
- (2) - Blog more often. If I can follow through with the first goal, I will have a LOT more time on my hands and that's just helpful in every case.
- (3) - Study Japanese for an hour a day. Last semester, I barely studied, if at all. I passed with a high grade in the class, yes, but I need to do more studying now before this coming semester starts because I remember only a few things.
- (4) - Reading 50 books (or more this year). If you popped into Book Reviews recently, you might've noticed that (to the right) I had set a 2018 Reading Challenge through Goodreads. I have a goal to read 50 books and I am so pumped. I already finished one book (which is the book by Diana Wynne Jones - The Islands of Chaldea. I make a post about the books I'm currently reading and my top 10 most anticipated 2018 releases.
- (5) - Set up a Redbubble. Since Charisma and I are turning 16 this year, that means we're going to be setting up a Redbubble and, goodness, are we excited! Over the past couple months, I have been editing Unsplash images to create a product line when the fateful day arrives.
- (6) - Becoming (half) a Bookstagrammer. It's hard to describe, especially when images are available, so I'll probably do a post about Bookstagram in the future. But, if you want to know what it is now head over to storygramtours on Instagram!
- (7) - Get the supplies for a business I'm starting. Basically, I have to create my plans for the business, but I am planning on trying to find bulk supplies. I hope to get the supplies sometime during the summer.
- (8) - Line-edit Jorge McGregory and Hawthorne's Manor as well as my two Biology short stories. I'm planning on being published by the end of next year (December 2019) or at the beginning of 2020. With this goal in mind, I need to start editing my books.
- (9) - Use my bujo more. I stopped doing bujo halfway through the school semester and I realized that, when I was actually using my bujo, that I was a lot more productive in terms of completing school work.
And those are my resolutions! I'm so ready for this year. I feel as though it's going to be a great year and I really think that my goals are actually achievable.
What are your goals for 2018? Tell us in the comments below!
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has created an Advent Calendar for the Christmas Season. They created this calendar so that, leading up to Christmas Day, people could do acts of service of do some of the things that Christ did.
I discovered this Advent Calendar this past Sunday, as my bishop introduced it to all those that were in the congregation. I was very excited to start participating, because I love the thought of serving.
Service was always something that I really enjoyed. I found it very fun and I could do it with the people that I loved. So when this opportunity came, I new exactly what my first act of service was going to be:
Share it with all of you!
Light the World
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I was so inspired by this video, it almost made me cry. (I didn't want to cry in my seminary class... so I tried to hold back the tears. ;3) When I saw this video, I wanted to do everything in my power to serve those around me, but I knew that I couldn't serve everyone in the entire world (because that was my inital feeling).
Writing this blog post on this was the least I could do, and I really wanted you all to 1) take part in this lovely act of daily service and 2) know that Bianca and I were still alive.
#LIGHTtheWORLD Advent Calendar
And what's so amazing about the acts of service is that technology can be used to help spread the word! If you want to be a part of this wonderful service opportunity, go start serving! But, if you want to let your friends know, use the hashtag #LIGHTtheWORLD. :3
I hope you take this chance to serve those around you and be as Christ was: a light to the world.
Matthew 5:14 - 16
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Let's start the Christmas season with a whole lot of service, joy, happiness and love!
With 14, though, we can start going to dances, we get even more responsibility and some other stuff that I can't quite think of right now. And it's kind of scary.
But, Bianca and I are prepared to face this new challenge of the ages with as much strength, will power, and might that we can possible conjure up. :)
Now, some happy things about being 14! :D
More Use of GIF's
Watching More Things
Going to Dances
There are a lot more, but those are the only ones that I can think of right now. Bianca and I are really excited to start this journey of being 14. X3
Did you like being 14? Do you have yet to be 14? Tell us in the comments!
Hello!
Tomorrow, yes tomorrow, will be the beginning of 2016. Janurary will begin, school will start the second semester, a lot of exciting shows and movies will be coming out, people will be wishing that the holidays weren't over, and it's going to be the year of the presidential election.
2016.
Wow. Put it like that and 2016 sounds scary (except for the show/movies part). I don't want to bore you with why I put the 'presidential election' thing-a-ma-gig-er up there, but this years wanna-be presidents don't thrill me. At all. And I don't like politics much so I guess that could be a reason why too.
I'll try not to think of 2016 very much (how can I not think of 2016?!!???! It's literally tomorrow!!!).
Charisma and I have started our Marvel movie watching! Meaning we've only seen Hulk (2003 version), Iron Man (you know, the one with Robert Downey Junior? The very first one?), and Thor (the one and only Chris Hemsworth is in it). Our next movie is Captain America with the dreamy Chris Evans. Eeep! I am so excited! :D
Charisma and I have been working on collaborative stories together for a good while (none of them seem to be going, if you know what I mean) and I've been wanting to make this RPG board game for quite some time (maybe something like Dungeons and Dragons?). But the question that's been stopping me from making the game (all you need is rules, character classes and a pair of dice.... Right?) is should I make it into a book before I make it into a game (I have made some characters that I really want people to enjoy and have fun reading, but would it be cooler that the characters I made were mentors and went on journeys with the RPG-er's?) or should I make the game first and incorporate that into a book? Yup, I know. C-O-N-F-U-S-I-N-G.
Does anyone have their New Year's Resolution written down yet? I don't (because I usually write it down at night time).
Well, I must be off! I'm a late little bunny and I have things to do.
~Bianca
It's the last day of September, everyone! Can you believe that?
This month was so exhilarating (I got to find out who the 2016 keynote speakers are going to be for Teen Author Boot Camp... Ya wanna know?). In school, I have good grades (I have an A in everything. And if you think about it, we only have 8 more months of school...) and blogging has been going fantastically (we've had 993 views in ONE day!). I don't know about you, but September was a great month.
I've been finding new animes to watch (like Pripara! Oh my goodness, I can't wait to watch it...), trying to find a reliable source to find out Japanese culture (if you want to learn a language... Learn the culture!), and I'm stocking up on my Spanish (my mother said if I wanted to learn Japanese during the next school year, then we had to keep up with our Spanish. I still love Spanish. :3).
Oh! And I'm trying to get ready for NaNoWriMo! It's NaNo Prep season, so I gotta be prepping myself. ;D
*SIGH* Life is full of blessings if you take the time to look for them.
Well, I must be off to go and get school finished!
Thanks everyone for reading our blog! If you want to share this blog post (and if you have a Facebook or Twitter account) there is a share button at the bottom of each of the posts. If you don't have a a Facebook or Twitter account, then just keep on being the lovely people you are. :3
Bianca
I have to apologize for not blogging very much this week. Charisma and I were getting use to school and the stagger start (meaning we have to slowly get into the habit of school). To some people, that sounds like an amazing idea... No school for three whole days! But to others it sounds like torturer. I was really looking forward to school and finding out that we had a stagger start got me very disappointed.
Yet since it is the weekends (as stated in the title), let us forget about school and relax on the time we get to enjoy free (unless you have to stagger start, then it just feels like a school day to you).
Hope you enjoy your free time!
The time of making new years resolutions, start doing new things to improve your lives, and a new year to spend with your families!
Hope you have a good day!
~Bianca
Who We Are
We are twin sisters who like to do almost anything! Inspiring people to get out their creativity is our forte and we strive to travel on magnificent journey through words on a page. Exploration is the doorway to opportunity and the endless possibilities of helping and reaching out to others is something that we endeavor to create. This crazy blog of ours is one of the many ways we hope to achieve that goal.
So, you ready to get crazy?
Twisted Two - Every Monday
TBD
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Eleanor Roosevelt