J is for Jackasses and Jerks!

Ah, so I ran out of time--kind of--to do the J post. But, better late than never is my policy. So, lately I've been encountering a lot of jerks lately. I'm not sure what it is, but there are a lot of them out right now. I thought that was supposed to happen when the weather started turning bad! (Albeit... the weather here hasn't really started turning good yet, soo...) Haha.

It got me to thinking. I feel like there are a lot of jackasses for love interests out there. Have you guys seen it too? I can't really think of any love interests that are complete douches at the moment--but I know they're out there! Heck, Ax started out from a really asshole-y character. (I have since changed that though.)

How do you guys feel about MC's falling in love with jerks? (Of course, this is kind of pinpointed to stories with romance in them :P) Sometimes it works, like everything else in the world, and other times it's just contrived. I'm definitely on a case by case basis with jerks in novels.

On another note, been making scenes out of the plot. Nearly finished~ Then I'll get to wriiiiite~~~~~ (I'm so excited.)

Thanks for answering my sex question for the I post, everyone!

I is for Intimates and Internet!

Today we got new internet so my parents could be cheap. Awesome deal, right? Fast new internet for less money. Pure awesome. For an update: I've finished plotting! Yay~! I have my entire story figured out--at least the core of it--and I'm happy with what I've figured out. That's the best part! I'm unsure of the ending, but, I've got the basics of it down, too.

The best thing is that I've managed to make it the best balance of romance and action that I've had yet. Which is really exciting. Like, super duper I'm-ready-to-start-dancing-around-my-house exciting. Yaaaay. If only studying weren't in the way--I'd be writing all night if I could. (Alas, school sadly comes first.)

Anyway, intimate scenes in YA. I don't really have any intimate scenes (aka sex or near it) but, how do you guys feel about it? I can't really recall any YA that I've read ever going in depth--or even having sex, really--about it, but I know I've heard that there are YA books out there with sexual content.

Sometimes they're necessary and they work well, other times they seem out of place. I know it's part of teenage life--I was a teenager recently :P But, when is taking it all the way going too far?

What do you guys think?

H is for Help and Harry Potter!!

First off, there's an awesome charity going on called Crits for Water hosted by the lovely Katherine Brauer (aka Kat). My best friend and writing partner Jessica Lei is offering up a critique herself in honor of the charity. Having been critted by her since the beginning of time, let me just say that she is awesome. Like... seriously. Awesome.

Also, you guys should follow her blog. It's worth the jump over and a simple little click. (Yes, I'm shamelessly pimping her out. :D) She might not post often, but when she does it's totally worth it!

Back to Crits for Water for a moment, you should definitely go check it out here and donate--can't donate there, but, that's where you get the information! It's amazing.

Onto a different topic--Harry Potter. There is nothing more amazing in the entire world than Harry Potter. (Crits for water is very close. As is Jessie. Actually, Jessie's better.) I mean, really. How can you not love this? I'm clearly obsessed--and that's okay. I know that I am completely and utterly in love with this story, but it really it's amazing.

I can remember when I used to compare all my characters or base them off of J.K. Rowling's amazingness. I used to wish I would get my Hogwarts letter and that I could escape from being just plain-old-Devin and become a witch. Even a bad one would've been okay!

Harry Potter was what got me writing in the first place. It is because of this story that I found myself in this amazing world of people, realms, characters and plots. I am ever thankful to J.K. Rowling and her characters.

What got you guys started off in the path of being a writer?

(And don't forget to donate to get an awesome crit from Jessica~!)

G is for Good Ideas and GAH!

A short post today because my plot is shaping up so well that I don't want to leave it for too long! School was torture today, haha. My fingers kept itching to grab a marker and get all those words out of me. I've found that plotting in a notebook instead of on my laptop is helping me out immensely. 

It's kind of weird to think of, but I can remember doing this all through high school. Pulling out notebooks in the middle of math and plotting out the latest idea that popped in my head instead of taking notes on ...some geometry problem. (See? I can't even remember a name for one!) I did this all the time back then. It got me to wondering, when did I stop using paper and go to the keyboard?

I honestly don't know why, but I know from now on that I'll be plotting on paper instead of on screen.

As for the "GAH!" Well... let's just say that in Botany today, we were learning about the difference in soils between Western Washington and Eastern Washington. (And yes, I mean the state. :P) The reason is because of glaciers and massive floods from the ice age melting--but that's not the point. Someone in the class asked... a really ...awkward question. I was both surprised and annoyed. I kept thinking, "Who in their right mind asks that??" (Even the prof looked very awkward trying not to offend her while she answered.)

Have you guys ever had to deal with situations cause by someone? How'd you handle it?

E is for Excitement and Eccentricities!

We got snow-hail today! That's so crazy, it was 50 something yesterday. Oh Northwest weather... how crazy you are. My semi-cute outfit was not beneficial when I walked to and from my car--I think a hail stone gave me a bruise on the top of my foot... (Extremely ridiculous, I know).

Anyway! I've been plotting pretty hardcore lately. Like, I've condensed about 3 days of my more recent plotting binge into one night. But, I'm nowhere near done. Not yet. And that's really okay with me. I'm really excited for all these changes and that tells me that this is the right thing to do. How could being excited not be a good thing, right??

Heck, I even wrote a random scene last night (it certainly was weird using "A" and "B" for characters... hahaha) and I hammered out more words in one sitting than I have in like a month. It was ridiculous. 


On a different note, lately I've been noticing a lot of other people's quirks. My math professor, for instance, relates everything mathematical to birds. He also rubs off the white board (which he hates) the exact same way. A girl in French can't stand eraser shavings and another girl in French always wears a blue sweatshirt on Thursdays. It's just these little things that've got me thinking about ways I can show little eccentricities in my characters. Something being the usual lip-biters, hair-twirlers, nail-biters, and chain-smokers.

What're some quirks you've seen lately?

C is for Confidence and Change

Yup, there's that word again: Change. I am (yet again) changing things up. I can't really say I like changing things up (in my story, real life is a bit different), but it's one of those things that's necessary. I've heard so many people say that the best thing you can do is "Follow your gut" and my gut is telling me that something just isn't right with my story.

Of course, this is the who knows how many-th change I've done and I have yet to even finish my dang story. Ugh. Everyone's journey is different, but I wish mine would find a path and stick to it for a few! This is getting frustrating. I like what I have. I really do like everything that I've thought of. I keep trying to think of ways to make it different but keep the same elements (I'm hoping that will work...) All of this right after I had a breakthrough, too.

When it comes to change, I always wonder: "Do I really need this?"
"Will I know when to stop?"
"When will this finally be right?"

To me, change in my MS is both good and something I dread. It's one of those things I need to learn to learn to accept--and welcome.

I think one of the reasons why change is so hard for me is because that evil little voice that everybody (especially us writers) whispers words that no sane person would ever say to another even in the darkest mood--I hope not, at least. We truly are the hardest on ourselves.

It took Cosmetology school--where I was forced to work with the public for 10hrs each school day--to gain basic confidence in myself. To be able to tell myself, "Yeah, I'm kind of pretty today. Yeah, I can cut hair pretty good--but I can color hair even better. My classmates know a lot, but I know more. I'm actually good."

Until I decided to actually write out a story with the intent to publish, I'd never given my writing a thought. I was the only one who was going to see it (for the most part) so what did it matter? It isn't like that anymore. I've had more doubts about my writing in the past couple months than I have in my entire lifetime. I know I'll gain my confidence back--maybe when all the changes stop??--but until then, I'm just going to keep swimming through the negativity, waiting for the day when the sun'll shine in my brain and the angels come out going "HALLELUJAH"

I wouldn't mind if that happened soon... Just a heads up, brain. 

What do you guys think about change? Do you like it? Hate it? And how do you stay confident in your writing? Until tomorrow--D-day!

Stupid Dam

First things first, thanks for all the comments on the challenge post! Now to answering it. One, I do have a niece. She's adorable and very distracting. Two, she does own a rabbit's foot and I really do gag when I see it. I don't know why, but they are just so gross to me. Hers is supposedly real. It's tawny and supposedly soft--I wouldn't know, cause I refused to touch it--unlike the neon purple ones I remember seeing in elementary school.  Grass used to make me squirm. I couldn't walk on grass with my bare feet until about sophomore year in high school (about 5 years ago). I still don't like to sit on grass with bare legs, but I can deal with it.

The mythology science project.... Hahaha, well, lets just say that it was about the names of the planets so I told her to find out the names of gods and goddesses that would be the equivalent to the Roman ones and talk about that. (I totally helped with that, but, no one but you guys really needs to know that. :P)

The lie is that my niece and I have never played a game where she yodeled and walked down the hall "all fuliguline." (Wish she had though, cause that would be so awesome!) She does, however like to lick my cheek and attempt to tickle me. Jessie (by the way, go check her out. She's amazing and has great posts!) pointed out that because I'm not 100% bossy that could be a lie, too, so that could also be it. (I still think I'm bossy though...)

Now onto the rest of the post. So, 12 days ago I posted about being on track with my plotting. (You can check that out here if you'd like.) For the past 4 days I've been staring at my computer screen--specifically at the document where I've been plotting--with nothing but "ugh what happens next?!" running through my mind. The river of thoughts I had almost a week ago has had a dam built over it. I think it's similar to the Three Gorges Dam. Huge. Impenetrable And devastating. I am chipping away at it much like a stupid prisoner thinking they can dig their way out of a penitentiary with a spoon. (It might only be like the Hoover Dam, or something small like that--but it feels much bigger.)

I'm hoping when the dam breaks, the amazing reservoir of ideas will just flood my entire brain and I won't be able to think of ANYTHING but my plot.

How's everyone doing?

Belated Just Kiss Already Blogfest

Eek! I was supposed to post this Monday but.... as we can all tell that didn't happen. So, here is my 2-day late blogfest post! Figured it's better to have it late than never. It just feels wrong signing up for something and not ever doing it. So, yeah. Hope you all enjoy it. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the other posts.

This is from the old plot. 

        I stepped up behind Emelie as she slid the key from her skirt pockets. The vanilla and cherry scent of her hair tickled my nose. I couldn’t get enough of it. She jammed the key into the knob, twisting it roughly. “Are you sure this is the right key? It won’t budge.”

        “Here,” I said, leaning into her body for a blissful moment. I wrapped my hand around hers and shoved the key in further with a rough twist of my wrist. The door eased open with a creak.

        Emelie turned, eyes looking deep into mine. There was just enough light to see splashes of green within the blue. My heart rammed into my chest, aching. Heat curled in the pit of my stomach, my hands going sweaty. I wanted her so much. She licked her lips and swallowed. “Thanks.” Her voice was quiet and satiny.

        “You’re welcome.” I licked my lips and leaned in. Why did she have to be so beautiful?

         She pressed into me as her eyes flicked down to my mouth. I stopped breathing. She wanted me, too. “We… should head in.”

        “Yeah,” I breathed. Gods, I couldn’t hold it in. I closed the distance and swept my lips across hers. Her chest hitched with a gasp, but her lips molded against mine, her body melting into my hold. I tingled, relishing in the heat of her body, the feel of her lips—her hands, everything.  My fingers inched under her shirt as our tongues slid against each other, her skin smooth as lily petals.

         “Axel.” She pulled away breath heavy, her lips a strawberry red. “I—Lukas.” Her brows scrunched together.

        My body went cold. “Right… sorry.” I swallowed, moved away and shook my head. “I shouldn’t have. It won’t happen again.”

        She nodded and straightened out her clothing. “No, it won’t.” Emelie disappeared into the room.

        Stupid fucking Lukas.

On another note, the crusades are taking off like crazy. Eek. Looks like my self-imposed internet ban (was supposed to keep distractions away so I could plot faster.... which hasn't happened) is now over. I've got a lot of stuff to read now! And to my crusading group, hello! 

How's everyone been? Busy? Bored? Going crazy? Needing to go out and get crazy?  I wanna hear. :)

Plots and Crusades

My plot and I have gone on dates, and I think we're finally working our issues out. Hurray~ I truly think this change was for the better, so I'm pretty happy. I will admit I've been a bit lazy with writing everything down and getting it set out. I've just been letting my mind run wild and come up with all these ideas for it, that it's almost a little difficult to get it all pinpointed!

I can't wait to get started on writing again--my 600 words a day this past week or so hasn't been kept up. (Eek) All in all, I feel like I'm on the right track. I don't have everything figured out, but that's okay right now. I'm still in the creation process--though really, writing an entire novel is a creation process, but shh! Don't tell my brain that.

Also, I've belatedly jumped into the Crusades that Rachael Harrie is hosting. Go check it out here. Seems like it will be epic. And less bloody than the actual crusades. (Lucky for me! Seeing how I faint when I see blood... many stories about that, but that's for another time.) Head on over!

Lastly, cause my plot is calling me again, finally found somewhere that's hiring! (Yay. Money is always useful.) And, I have tons of candy--and therefore will be going on a sugar high. Let's just say that I love it when I get to indulge in my sweet (actually sour) tooth! Wonder if I'll get more on the 14th...

How's everyone doing? What're you going to do for V-Day?

Changes

So, it seems like I'm doomed to never get to the double digits. Once again, I'm changing up my plot. It's kind of frustrating to realize what you have is just short of working out. It's enough, but it's not great. Generally, I think we all aim for the great, or even the amazing sort of stuff. I'd like to hope that my WIP will eventually be great.

I've been debating between whether or not I'll go in a completely different direction or just adjust it a little. I could combine the basic structure of this WIP with the idea for another, or I could just tweak it. Decisions, decisions. 

The hardest thing is that I'd love to keep all of what I've already written and not change it. It's also hard to change the story idea I had only because it'd been running rampant in my mind. As I've chewed it over in my mind, it's getting easier, but, there's still moments of doubt. 

Change is always hard. Sometimes it makes me want to give up, but, haha, I'll never let that happen. I don't care how many times I'll have to do this, I'm not going to stop. 

Hopefully--like the good old saying--the third time's a charm.

Kisses

Ahahahahaha! (Yes, that was an awkward laugh to start the post with but whatever. :P) I'm five scenes in, roughly 1/5 of the way through my WIP and I have managed two almost kisses! It's almost more exciting than the fact that I'm 1/5 the way through! Actually... I think I'm more excited about the kisses.

Axel's totally going crazy--head over heels in love. It's ridiculous. And awesome. Frickin' awesome. I'm super stoked to get to an ACTUAL kiss. Yes... That'll be really exciting. Axel's only been daydreaming about it for ... well quite a few pages now. (Yeah, that's right. A few pages. Intense, I know.)

I've already planned out the actual kiss. I'm trying to work a few more in there if I can.... We'll see how sneaky I can be. And how many times it'll apply. Emelie's sadly not... as available as she should be! (My fault, I know, but I can't just make it easy!) I'm hoping for two actual kisses before they get together... I'm seriously itching to get to one! Goodness gracious it's ridiculous! Only five scenes and I'm ready for my head to explode I want to write it so bad. (Just think of how bad it is for Axel. Poor lovesick fool.)

Have any of you craved for the meatiest parts of your WIP? I know I am! (And I'm not even a big fan of meat...)