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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Chapter 24

I haven't updated in such a long time.  This is probably because I hadn't written anymore of Shadow in such a long time.  School got in the way, then NaNoWriMo did too.  As much as I want to finish the novel/novella I started for NaNoWriMo, Shadow and its sequels take precedence.


Here's what has happened:
  • The series went from a trilogy to a quartet.  It's sort of begging to be a quintet now, but I think I can rearrange some of the events to keep it a quartet.  I'd rather not drag out this series for too long.
  • The question of how to solve a particular problem had been plaguing me for awhile and I finally had an epiphany about it.
  • I've realized that some characters who seemed inconsequential are actual indispensable.
  • I wrote Chapters 20-23.
  • I plan to finish the first draft in the next couple of days.
It's wonderful how, even when a story is planned out and you have an idea of where it's going and who it's getting there, something can happen to surprise you.  Your story may end up taking a completely different path, but is better for it. 

Thursday, October 1, 2009

DONE with Chapter Nineteen!

I think this chapter was especially hard for me to write for many reasons. My first isn't writing-related. I had to prepare to get back to school. Other than, however, this was the first chapter in Part Three and I had such a clear image of Chapter Nineteen that actually getting it out the way I had imagined was extremely difficult. I didn't get it out exactly the way I'd imagined either - I had to do some tweaking. I managed to get it out, however, and since I had vaguely planned out how Part Three is going to be, I need to finish plotting that out.

I'm shaking now, though, with the realization that I'm really almost done with this story. I can't believe it. Now that I'm so close, I really want to plunge into it and just finish. I have to study, of course. That is kind of important. But I'm going to make sure I write at least five pages everyday - more if I'm inspired.

I'm going to finish a novel.

This will honestly be the second full-length story I've ever finished in my life. The first one was when I was a freshman in high school. I'm not kidding.

Okay, maybe instead of writing about this story, I should actually go and write it!

Monday, September 7, 2009

I Don't Know Why I Avoided Reading Memoirs of a Geisha

It's a fantastic book in every way - there's a reason why it's so famous and why it was included on the BBC's Top 100 Book List (of which they believe the average person has only read 6.  As I very random side note, I've read 34 and am on my way to 35).


More than anything, it made me remember that writing is an art.  All his descriptions, similes, metaphors...everything was beautifully written and unique.  There was such life to this book that in the late nights I spent devouring every word on every page, I began to imagine I was actually Sayuri.

It's good - it makes me want to go back and comb through Shadow to make it just as alive as Memoirs of a Geisha.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Updated Reading List

  • The Wallflower Vol. 1
  • The Wallflower Vol. 2
  • The Wallflower Vol. 3
  • The Wallflower Vol. 4
  • Sayonara, Zetzubou-Sensei Vol. 1
  • The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
  • Being Nikki - Meg Cabot
  • The Pact - Jodi Picoult
  • Choke - Chuck Palanhuik
  • Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
  • Life of Pi - Yann Martel
  • Gone - Michael Grant
  • Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
  • Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
  • Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 14
  • Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 15
  • Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 16
  • X/1999 Vol. 5
  • X/1999 Vol. 6
  • xxxHolic Vol. 1
  • xxxHolic Vol. 2
  • xxxHolic Vol. 3
  • xxxHolic Vol. 4
  • xxxHolic Vol. 5
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 1
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 2
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 3
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 4
  • Fruits Basket Vol. 23
  • The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton

Friday, August 28, 2009

The Reading List

  • The Wallflower Vol. 1
  • The Wallflower Vol. 2
  • The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
  • Being Nikki - Meg Cabot
  • The Pact - Jodi Picoult
  • Choke - Chuck Palanhuik
  • Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
  • X/1999 Vol. 5
  • X/1999 Vol. 6
  • Life of Pi - Yann Martel
  • xxxHolic Vol. 1
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 1
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 2
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 3
  • Fruits Basket Vol. 23
  • The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Finished Chapter 17 AND 18!!!

I had just been aiming to finish Chapter Seventeen last night, but I managed to finish Chapter Eighteen as well!  Of course it isn't all that much of a feat since I sliced off part of what was originally supposed to be Chapter Seventeen and made it into the next chapter.  It was just getting so ridiculously long - over 50 pages.


I'm excited to start the main story again - get from the past to the present and into the thick of things.

Chapter Nineteen, here I come!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Reading List

  • The Wallflower Vol. 1
  • The Wallflower Vol. 2
  • The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
  • Being Nikki - Meg Cabot
  • The Pact - Jodi Picoult
  • Choke - Chuck Palanhuik
  • Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
  • X/1999 Vol. 5
  • X/1999 Vol. 6
  • Life of Pi - Yann Martel
  • xxxHolic Vol. 1
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 1
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 2
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 3
  • Fruits Basket Vol. 23
  • The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton

I Had the Weirdest Dream Last Night

Parts of it were completely random, as dreams tend to be.  However, the strangest part of the dream was because of an oddly coherent segment.  And during this portion of the dream, I knew exactly what was going to happen next.  It was as though I were writing it as I slept.


I am seeing through the eyes of a girl named Mina, who has a mentally retarded older sister (who disappeared without a trace).  She transfers to a new school where she is snapped up by three super popular girls.  She's in class with all three of them and a cutie named Charlie (blonde hair, blue eyes - classic good looks).  While they are in class, a woman from the office c comes in to do a presentation.  The three girls don't want to watch the presentation (which isabout mentally disabled people), so they go to the bathroom, taking Mina along.

A girl comes up to the bathroom door while they're in there, fixing their makeup and whatnot and one of the girls (who looks strangely like Chastity from "10 Things I Hate About You" the TV show) squeals, "Lock the door!  Lock the door!  She's crazy!"  So, Mina locks the door.  Then she finds out that the girl is mentally retarded.  So, feeling bad, she opens the door.  She starts saying things such as, "I'm so sorry for closing the door" and "Wow, you're really, really pretty."  (She is pretty, with long dark hair and blue eyes) The girl responds, "Thank you, Mina." (Apparently everyone knows Mina, the transfer student)

They go outside and Charlie is there.  He takes the girl away, leading to the realization that she is his younger sister.  He doesn't even glance at Mina because several times it has happened that a girl is nice to his sister just to get close to him.

Mina, however, is determined to get to know his younger sister because she reminds Mina of her older sister, who she misses sorely.  So, she starts to spend time with her.  Eventually, Charlie also starts to spend time with the both of them of them.  There are even times when just Mina and Charlie hang out.  Of course, during this time, the two of them start to fall for each other.

The three girls find out and are jealous that Mina is spending time with Charlie, so they tell her not to hang out with Charlie's younger sister (apparently she isn't cool enough).  Mina is confused as to what she really wants - she wants to be friends with the three popular girls, but she does want to hang out with Charlie's sister.  The only problem with that is that sometimes hanging out with his sister makes her miss her own sister terribly.

Mina ends up standing up Charlie's younger sister.  He finds out and gets really upset.  Instead of yelling or anything, he coldly tells her not to bother coming around any longer.  Mina keeps trying to talk to Charlie and apologize for her lapse in judgment.

She runs into his little sister at school and realizes she's the one who needs an apology.  Charlie's little sister is very forgiving and says she just wants to be able to hang out with her friend again.  Charlie realizes he can't protect her forever, no matter how hard he tries.  So, he grudgingly lets Mina hang out with her again - although that doesn't mean he's forgiven Mina.

Mina apologizes to him and explains her situation, with her older sister and everything.  Charlie is shocked and not only forgives Mina, but comforts her too.

The End.

I seriously can't believe I dreamt this.  It has some plot holes, but it makes complete sense.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Reading List

This consists of books I currently have in my possession:

  • The Wallflower Vol. 1
  • The Wallflower Vol. 2
  • The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
  • The Pact - Jodi Picoult
  • Choke - Chuck Palanhuik
  • Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
  • X/1999 Vol. 5
  • X/1999 Vol. 6
  • Life of Pi - Yann Martel
  • xxxHolic Vol. 1
  • Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 1
  • Fruits Basket Vol. 23
  • The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton
I'm excited, although a bit overwhelmed.  It's quite an extensive list.  But I have to read them and in a timely manner because the only ones I actually own are Fruits Basket and the Forgotten Garden.  And I really do want to read these.

So, time for a bit of writing now - then some reading?

Monday, August 17, 2009

I Stand by the Last Post I Reblogged (on Tumblr)

Meaning the post here.


The best ideas really do come in the shower.  I just took a shower (my first time taking a shower at 7 a.m. in a long, long, long time, I might add) and I was struck with brilliant epiphanies for Shadow.  I literally haven't thought about this story since the Thursday before last.  I've felt guilty about it, but I haven't taken the time to think about it.

And now I'm inspired, motivated, and ready to get crackin'!  It's hard not to hate your WIP sometimes for being so draining, but when you get an idea that you're so excited about, it's backing to loving it.  I've never been so enthusiastic about any of my WIPs.  That's probably why they haven't ever made it past a few chapters.

But Shadow - it not only is quite close to being completely planned out, but a sequel is also in the works.  Of course, it would be smart to finish actually writing this one before getting to the sequel.

Still, I can't wait!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

300 Pages!!

Yes!  It's finally happened!  I've hit 300 pages - 75,812 words!  I'm so tired of Chapter 17.  I want to finish and be done with Part 2 haha.  Then I can move along to Part 3 and back to the main action.  The faster I finish Chapter 17, the sooner I can get to Part 3, right?

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Chapter 17

When I'm finished with this chapter, I'll be done with Part 2!  So exciting.  Then it's back to the main action.  I've always enjoyed writing, but for the first time it really feels like work - and that's okay.  I love it - I really feel like I'm accomplishing something.  297 pages and counting.  Of course, I'm going to be revising like crazy, rearranging stuff, cutting stuff out.  For right now, however, I'm just going to watch as my word count and my page count build up.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Another Quiz

ANIMOLOGY: What Animal Are You?
Your Result: Silver and Red Wolf
 

*howl* You're a very strong person. You tend to be naive most of the time, but when in love boy do you know how to get around! You prefer to be quite around adults. Your soul mate is the gold falcon. You're in conflict with the maroon panda.

Ocre and Gray Dolphin
 
Teal Cat
 
Blue Fox
 
Gold Falcon
 
Tan Giraffe
 
Red Jaguar
 
Yellow Trout
 
ANIMOLOGY: What Animal Are You?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Recap: First Week of Summer

This past week I:

  • Went to Great America
  • Started summer classes
  • Started a writing date tradition
  • Went to lunch with friends
  • Saw fireworks
  • Played tennis
  • Got a Facebook wall post comment from Ilich Guardiola

Saturday, July 4, 2009

I Forgot How Much Fun These Are...

Which Air Character Are You?
Which Air Character Are You?
Hosted By theOtaku.com: Anime


Who Is  YourTsubasa Date?
Who Is YourTsubasa Date?
Hosted By theOtaku.com: Anime

Who Is Your Ouran Host Date?
Who Is Your Ouran Host Date?
Hosted By theOtaku.com: Anime

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Wow

This is amazing.  The end.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

iPhone 3G s Upgrade

I asked my mom yesterday if I could upgrade my iPhone to the amazing one that just came out.  I had checked with AT&T and they told me how much I would have to pay and everything.  She said okay, but if I paid for it.  I was, and still am, completely willing to do that.  For this new iPhone, I don't mind forking over a couple hundred dollars.  She said she still needs to check with my dad, however.


So, too, I brought up the question again, but I really want this phone.  Apparently my parents are willing to pay for it now.  They'll buy it for me once my finals are over.  That's awesome, of course, but...

I can't help but feel a little scared.  I'm glad I don't have to spend money from the small amount I have in my bank account (since I don't have a job right now - school is my job, as well as writing).  At the same time, I know that I'm used to this pattern of constantly getting what I want because my parents are able to provide it for me.  There has never been a time when I've asked for something and I didn't eventually get it.  I'm not trying to brag, just state a fact.  Because of this, I've gotten used to a certain way of life, and I don't want to be the type of person who doesn't know how to value money.

In a way, I wish my parents would let me pay for this phone, because it would be a major purchase that I made for myself, rather than something I just got by asking them.  However, knowing my dad, he will never let me do that.  So, I guess the best thing to do is to appreciate this and keep in mind that money doesn't come easily - my parents had to work hard for it, and someday I will too.  As long as I keep that in mind, I think that'll be okay.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Super Cute!




Aaaahhhhh!!  I want some of my own.  They are so adorable.  They're the "guardian characters" from Shugo Chara! which can be seen legally here.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Recap: 200+ Pages!

I know this is a day late, but here's last week's recap:

  • Finished Air TV
  • Finished Witch Hunter Robin
  • Finished Ghost Stories
  • Signed up for summer classes, including a creative writing one that I'm very excited to take!
  • Had my FINAL ochem lab
  • Reached 200 pages in Shadow!
  • Finished Ch. 13!  It was originally going to be longer, but I decided to cut it and make the rest of Ch. 13 the new Ch. 14.
  • Ordered the FullMetal Alchemist OVAs which are coming out in August!
  • Introduced my best friend to FullMetal Alchemist
  • Tried to take pictures in a photobooth at the mall, but ended up with two 100 Yen coins instead
  • Finished Skip Beat!  (You can legally watch Skip Beat! here)
  • Downloaded some iTunes U lectures - I'm excited to listen to them at the gym
  • Had a short message exchange with Monica Rial
  • Went to Fresh Choice for lunch with my best friend and some friends I hadn't seen in awhile
  • Had Thai for dinner the next day
  • Went to Red Robin for lunch the day after that
Hmm this makes it seem like all I did was watch videos and eat out...maybe that's true.  My excuse is that it's almost finals week.  Sucks...why does school get out so late? :(

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Music!

I finally added music.  I keep talking about how beautiful the song "I Talk to the Rain" and the other songs from the Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNICLE soundtracks are.  So now, they're finally here on a beautiful iPod Touch like music player.