The Writing Palace

Oh, curse you, characters

2011-06-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hello, my friends. I'm still alive, don't worry. My stupid characters are being stupid. GRARG.

Dear Jamari,
WHAT THE FLIP? You aren't supposed to be the main character! You're one of three! I'm only getting into YOUR thoughts, not Bromen's or Aingeal's. The three of you are supposed to balance out main character-ness. Okay? And stop saying the exact same thing over and over again, it's driving me nuts. We get that you can't believe Eolas Tonna was wrong, and we get that you can't believe that the Priests were real, and WE GET that you just can't believe the flippin' universe is ending! Gosh dang it...

~ Your Creator

Dear Argia,
Curses! You made the scene that was supposed to be funny terribly serious! And you, like Jamari(funny, because the two of you are connected), were being a complete scene hog! How many lines did Parel have? And Olat? Seriously, just because Olat is kind of permanently drunk doesn't mean that he doesn't say anything. Scene-stealing, unfunny old woman...

~ Your Creator

Basically, The Universe is Exploding started out to be this hilarious, usually un-serious novel. Now Argia, one of the extremely minor characters from my book, has transformed the scene that started the funny parts into this ridiculously solemn conversation between her and Jamari. They're out to get me, I know it. And Jamari was my fave MC! And Argia was my favorite spirit!

You two - CUT IT OUT. And everyone else has to make this book the funny book that it's supposed to be.

Princess Voyagefan

A Random Idea I Got...

2011-05-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

So, while gallivanting in NYC(Museum of Natural History and the subway are the only places I went, really), I had a rather interesting idea for a sort of 'writer's profile.' Here it is:

Name: Voyagefan(to you guys, anyway)
Pen Name(if you don't have one, pick the one you would be most likely to use): E. M. Parker(kudos to anyone who guesses what the significance of this name is!)
Writing Blog(if you have one): The Writing Palace, of course!
Favorite Genre: Fantasy, definitely
Genre You Always Have Trouble With: Um...anything that isn't fantasy. Blech.
Your Writing Environment: A cluttered computer desk with distractions everywhere...Internet access, a comfy couch, a TV, etc. Lots of stuff to fiddle with.
Your Writing Routine: I write whenever I want to. Sometimes(when the computer isn't free), I use the other computer or a notebook. My DWG(Daily Wordcount Goal) is about 2k a day, but at the mo I'm aiming for 1k because I'm getting a feel for the book.
Your Favorite Writing Websites: NaNoWriMo.org, Seventh Sanctum, DeviantART(technically an art site, but oh-so-inspirational)
Where Do You Get Inspiration From? Everywhere. Just everywhere. For example, I experienced an abundance of inspiration today. Of course, I was tired, so I hadn't really thought of anything yet. YET.
Writing Achievements: Completed a story in NaNo '10(31k words, a fin), completed a 68k novel, over six hundred pages of freewriting(all of my freewriting files combined)

I would love to see what your results for this little thingamajiggelumbus are. Post them on your blog and comment!

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. I keep signing Princess Voyagegirl, don't I? Whoops...

OHMYGOSHIZ!!!!!!!!!!

2011-05-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Ohmygoshiz, readers, you will NEVER BELIEVE what happened last night!

I FINISHED MY NOVEL!!!!!!!

So...I admit I rushed the climax scene, but that's what editing is for! But it's done! And it's 68,000 words long! (Not exactly. The exact wordcount is 68,387.)

I really have to learn John Green's Happy Dance now...

So, once I finished it, I was all, "Now what?" I decided to return to plot notes for The Universe is Exploding. I haven't worked on them in about four or five months. (That's how long it took me to write my novel? I will be TOAST in November!) Still, they show hopeful signs of being a comical fantasy novel that might actually be a novel. But it does seem to be rather funny...hopefully. I'm bloody awful when it comes to being funny on purpose.

I just realized something. I use the word so WAAAAAAY too much. XP

Don't give up hope on your novels, guys!

Also, Beth...break a finger! (You know the expression 'break a leg?' How it's for theater? Well, we've come up with one for writers, cuz, y'know, writers type...with their...fingers...never mind...)

Princess Voyagefan

Where the flip did YOU come from?

2011-05-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

So, a few chapters ago, I had some random, unnamed seer hijack the scene. She was only supposed to pop into the command tent, and pop back out. But NO. She just HAD to give my MC a useless reading...and now she's back. CURSES.

Anywho, last night was a novel failure. I wrote about a hundred words or so, and then my dad needed the computer for work, and then while he was working I took a three-hour nap, and slept until about nine o'clock at night, and I didn't want to attempt my 2k-a-day goal. XP

Which leads me to the good news! I have successfully began reaching my daily goal again, after four months of slacking! So, on chapter 44 of 49, I should finish by the end of next week, at the most. *cheers and shouts and whoops*

Happy scribbling,
Princess Voyagefan

Empty threats and...RESEARCH?

2011-05-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

First off, I would appreciate a loud yell at my antagonist. Here is a letter to him...

Loren,
YOU ARE BEING A PAIN. Stop trying to slow things down and shoo me away. You're losing your chances to get an appearance in my 2011 NaNo!

Get your butt in line,
~ Your Creator

GRARG.

Anyway, I have become interested a NaNoWriMo.org forum topic entitled "What research have you done for your novel?" I have decided to answer that question.

Fantasy creatures? Well, once...cuz I needed inspiration for evil creatures on Loren's side as well as a very threatening mount that was NOT a dragon or a horse. I settled on a Winged Nightmare. Google it, it's aweshum.

Weapons? Yes! I have. Not THAT much research, though...just flipping through a book and saying, "Oh! So-and-so should get this weapon! And they can take this..." Surprisingly, my antagonist's weapon(a Bohemian earspoon, which is a term I never really use) was found not in my book of weapons but a YKYWFW forum. Cool!

Ummm...I'mma try to bang some words out. Aiming for 57k tonight...let's do it, characters!

Princess Voyagefan

Sorry for the delay...

2011-04-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

On the fateful day of April 13, 2011, I ate my chocolate bar.

I think everyone here knows what that means!

YES! I did it! I reached the glorious 50k and gave my characters a vacation! I wrote an earlier post, but with a bug on Blogger, I had to delete it. Sheesh. XP

ANYHOW, I am currently back on schedule. I have been slacking a bit, but...I don't have an excuse! I'm just a procrastinater, and no matter how many excuses I come up with, THEY'RE USELESS! Bwahahaha! I admit it.

Goodness, I'm incoherent this afternoon...because I overslept. There I am with excuses again. I think I should end this post before I completely muddle the blogosphere altogether.

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. I didn't edit this post because I'm too lazy to edit this post.

I am exhausted but determined...

2011-03-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

So, after being rather overworked in my karate class today, I am still going to write. Yes, I am determined. Not that this is a magnificent and daring feat...

Oh, before I rant a little bit about the novel, here's a message for some very special someones: To Margaret and Jadyn, if you're reading this, thank you for accepting my offer to read my novel(and hopefully point out any plot holes or lousy scenes) when it's completed. And thanks for being two of the best people ever. Love ya, guys!

ANYWAY, things are going okay right now. I lost a bit of writing time cuz I was working on my report for confirmation, but all is well now. I'm actually kind of eager to get cracking on today's work. Yay! That's good.

One last thing: Margaret, I'll need an outline for the fanfic I'm going to be writing for you. Also, if it might get slowed up a bit next month, because I'll be working on my novel and I'll also be doing Script Frenzy, plus schoolwork and stuffs. Thanks, girl!

Princess Voyagefan

OHMYGOSHIZ...

2011-03-11T17:11:00.000-08:00

I am uber-spazzy here, because I just reached page number 100 in my novel.

This is huge for me. The longest book I ever wrote was 86 pages. This is actually going to be a full-length, 50k novel, and that excites me. And I mean REALLY excites me.

Ummmm...just thought I'd mention that. At the mo, my two MCs are very angry at each other, my villain just hired a private battle trainer(for free, of course), and my so-called king is freaking out because there are vampires in his citadel. SPOILER(not really): The vampires are how I am able to fit the Traveling Shovel of Death in. Tee-hee.

Princess Voyagefan

Mimi, you are ME

2011-03-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

The ultimate procrastination comic that has something to do with writing: Will Write For Chocolate, devised by the brilliant, hilarious Debbie Ridpath Ohi. This is what I have been looking at today...when I should have been working on my novel. Still, I managed to bang out my daily goal. Page ninety-something right now, should reach 100 tomorrow or Wednesday. Wish me luck!

Anywho, one of my fave characters from WWFC is Mimi, a poet/horror author(her horror story is BRILLIANT). She's always procrastinating. Basically, there's chocolate-obsessed Eliza(also like me), Mimi(MY COUNTERPART!), Eliza(the purple/Twitter/Facebook/MySpace/etc. romance writer), Sven(Eliza's husband, I believe, and the scifi writer), and Michael(the children/YA author whose cat died by being squashed by books and had to be replaced by his guinea pig). And Theo, Eliza's cat. Plus the guinea pig, Gertrude. And Sven's nephew, Tasha. And Michael's girlfriend.

Just check it out. It's hilarious.

Princess Voyagefan

The Year of Doing Big, Fun, Scary Things Together!

2011-03-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

The title is technically copyrighted, credit where it's due, it belongs to NaNoWriMo.org. Basically, a forum page is dedicated to what we want to do this year. My writing goals are as follows:

-Finish my first-ever full-length novel(I'm on my way!)
-Attempt to write a short story, a mystery, poetry, a scifi novel, a screenplay for a remake of "The Final Sacrifice," a childrens' book, and any other thing that I can think of that I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO WRITE.
-Read The Writer faithfully and remember all of the advice it has given me.
-Try more writing prompts.
-Continue to wonder why publishers don't really look at kids' submissions...sheesh...

What's YOUR BFST list? Huh, huh, huh?

Princess Voyagefan

I haven't died YET...

2011-03-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

Well, I suppose I could call this long absence from both my blog AND my novel my characters' well-earned vacation, but I suppose the correct term would be: I AM PROCRASTINATING.

So true. That describes me in about three words.

Anyway, I'm going to attempt to get back in the groove, but it will take a bit of wading back into the story instead of just diving back in. It's very difficult to return to a story when you haven't really worked on it for a while. Psh, makes me think of Lisa Shearin's latest article in The Writer about how you can't schedule a novel. It has a life of its own...and it appears to not want me to check back right now.

I only hope my characters will forgive me for getting them started again...they've been pretty overworked lately, what with a recent ambush.

Okay, so I did some calculations this morning. 50k = about 130 pages. I am on page 84. I have 48 chapters(not counting my one-page prologue), averaging about three pages each. 48 times 3 is 144. I also have the title page and a title page for Part 1 and Part 2. That means I will most likely succeed! WOOOOOOOO!!!!

And when I do, I'mma gonna get a big Hershey's chocolate bar...

Princess Voyagefan

There is still hope!

2011-02-19T15:29:00.000-08:00

Sooooooo...my characters are kinda slow lately, and I feel like I'm backstaging the two FMCs. Sorry, girls. Meanwhile, my secondary MMC is getting a bigger part as I've assigned him to training my MC.

Anyway, I'm very proud of my villain at the mo, because he's actually following some of the rules from Peter's Evil Overlord list(Google it, it's HILARIOUS). He dies anyway. Oh, well, life is tough in a novel. Sorry, dude.

There is some hope of my reaching 50k. I haven't reached Chapter 24 yet, which is the halfway point, and I'm almost at 28k. Most of my chapters are about three pages long, except for the ones with major battle scenes. At first I was freaking out about how the first major battle scene isn't until Chapter 30, but hey, Tolkien left off the first major battle scene until the end of Two Towers. I think I'm good.

How is everyone else doing, writing-wise?

Princess Voyagefan

The Ten Commandments of NaNoWriMo

2011-02-06T14:38:00.000-08:00

Hello! I was forum surfing and found a forum dedicated to your own list of 10 Commandments for NaNoWriMo. These are mine(written in archaic language, like most other NaNoers used to share theirs):

1. Thou shalt actually write and make an attempt to reach thy daily wordcount goal.
2. Thou shalt refrain from bashing the keyboard to bits when thy characters don't cooperate.
3. Thou shalt take advantage of thy family members and friends to rant about thy NaNo.
4. Thou shalt either use an outline or fly by the seat of thy pants.
5. Thou shalt boast about how thou is doing NaNoWriMo while thy sister isn't. (Sorry, Beth.)
6. Thou shalt read the NaNoWriMo.org forums while procrastinating.
7. Thou shalt ALWAYS have a notebook on hand.
8. Thou shalt not feel terrible if thou does not reach 50k, but feel proud for finishing thy novel in a 30-day period.
9. Thou shalt use as many word padding tricks as thou can without making thy novel a load of marshmallow.
10. Thou shalt ration thy Halloween candy wisely, and thou shalt indulge in thy Halloween candy every time thou reaches thy daily wordcount goal.

What are YOUR rules for NaNoWriMo?

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. My villain has FINALLY been seen in person. He'd better develop a personality at some point.

Don't worry! I'm still alive!

2011-02-03T11:31:00.000-08:00

Sooooo...it's been a while since I've posted, I know. *awaits criticism for disappearing for such a long period of time*

I am progressing quite nicely in Riam, Saviour. I've FINALLY managed to find a "voice" to write in, because I started in a voice that wasn't really mine, then I briefly slid into a modern-sounding voice, and now I've kind of latched onto an in-between voice. So it's pretty natural now, and it works nicely. Boo-yah.

I must write an apology to my MC about what just happened in Chapter Eleven.

Dear Ethir,
I'm sorry I made Mysta punch you in the nose. Maybe you should have known better. After all, she does have a short temper. And she could whup your butt.
~Your Creator

There. That's better.

I discovered that my antagonist isn't officially seen in person until Chapter Thirteen. He's actually pretty smart, as antagonists go. I dunno why, maybe because I wanted at least ONE of my villains to be smart. So he is. But he dies anyway.

For once, I am NOT falling for one of my guy characters, because he's unlike the rest. I might go for the FMC's brother, but he's taken. And, of course, all of my characters are WAY too old for me, anyway. And the three best-looking guy characters are either taken or dead. That's that, I guess.

Well, good luck to all fellow writers! I do so hope you're breezing through your WIPs!

Princess Voyagefan

Sleep is SO overrated...

2011-01-08T11:20:00.001-08:00

So, Salty came over last night. Anyway, I was up until one in the morning because Salty and Beth were watching Will Smith movies. I had permission to kick them off the couch, but I decided to be a martyr. Well, I was technically being a stubborn little writer, but Beth called me a martyr first.

So, I am currently sleep-deprived, but I did get eight hours, so it's okay for now. The upside staying up that late is that I spent a few hours busily scribbling away...and getting side-tracked by the "You Know You Write Fantasy When..." forum on NaNoWriMo. I wish I could relate to everything on there! Fortunately, I can relate to some stuff. Here are my own YKYWFW's:

- Everything non-fantasy that you write is bloody awful.
- You receive a book of weapons for Christmas and spend hours poring over the pages with swords, daggers, and spears instead of the guns(don't get me wrong, the guns are sweet, too.).
- You hand-draw maps for the country your novel is taking place in.
- You begin to compile a list of fantasy stereotypes and fantasy "uncommons," as I call them.
- The genre you look for at the library is fantasy because it counts as "research."
- You listen to the CD "Blood of the Dragon" by Nox Arcana and construct a basic storyline by doing so, just by visualizing people and places.
- It's your favorite CD and you listen to it constantly.
- You've heard of Nox Arcana.

I am guilty of all of the above. However, I don't usually discuss random fantasy things with my family, but I started getting into a random conversation about killing Drows and their aging rules last night with Beth.

Fantasy rocks.

Anyway, I am constantly writing letters to my characters from Riam, Saviour. Especially Mysta and her brother, Dracir. Dracir randomly said "dragon's toe's sake" instead of "Pete's sake." So I just HAD to ask where THAT came from.

Princess Voyagefan

I just couldn't help myself...

2011-01-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

So, last night I finished the chapter layout for Riam, Saviour(I changed the title...AGAIN). And, since I was very excited about writing it, I decided to start it then instead of waiting until February. I just couldn't help myself!

So, I'm on the second chapter, and I must thank Princess Emiria. She may be an annoying diva with definite blonde behavior, but she's been boosting my wordcount nicely with her constant chattering about how handsome the MC is and how wonderful her father is. Still, she's kind of a pill. At least she isn't as bad as her 'fraidy cat father, Muralon, who doesn't even want to face three vampires when his sixteen year-old daughter can finish 'em off easily. Sheesh.

I can't wait until I have more scenes with the love interest, Mysta, because she's a butt-kickin' thief who is utterly terrifying when she's mad. She'll prolly be my favorite character. I dunno, I just think that she and Eysiel would get along, even though they're both somewhat different. Maybe I'll write a crossover fanfic for my own stories sometime, involving my Host Tree characters and the Riam characters.

I have continued writing letters to my story characters, and something tells me I'll be yelling at them a lot, because some of them might not cooperate. But they don't know that I have the power to yank them out of the story.

Gosh, I hope Ethir develops a personality soon...he just woke up after sleeping for a hundred years and can't remember much, so he's kind of bland. I hope he doesn't turn out to be a total coward. He and Mysta are both supposed to be warriors. Crossing my fingers...

Princess Voyagefan

Dear [insert character name here]

2011-01-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

So, I was forum-surfing on NaNoWriMo.org and found a fantasy forum where you can write to your characters. I'm going to write to all of my MCs.

Dear Fira,
Yes, I know you're angry because I made Takat fall in love with you when you didn't want a boyfriend, and because I killed off two of your best friends, but that's what life is like in a novel. At least I didn't kill you.

Love, The Author

Dear Takat,
I'm terribly sorry that you and Fira didn't work together. Being a hopeless romantic, it was a little hard for me. But you'll probably find some sweet milkmaid or farmer's daughter on your travels and hook up with her.

Love, The Author

Dear Eysiel,
You rock my socks, girl. Thank you for being such a fun, friendly character. I'm sure your friends appreciate it, too, even if there was a slight misunderstanding between you and Brina. I love how intelligent you are, and how you boosted my word count by rattling off random facts. I am proud to say that I named my LOTR OC after you, because you're my favorite character.

Love, The Author

Dear Brina,
I apologize. You had such a hard life. Feeling like an outcast, keeping your race secret, falling in love with Takat when you thought he loved Eysiel and he loved Fira instead. I suppose I could have cut you a break by not killing you off. Really, I had nothing against you, it was just a random decision.

Love, The Author

Dear Nock,
I'm sorry you died. But that was your decided destiny, and you know that you can't do anything to stop it. I will miss you, even if you could have been a bit of a pill sometimes, going on about the circle of life and stuff...

Love, The Author

Dear Halwyn, Volkan, Bora, and Pyry,
Well. You four have been very, very naughty. Eating people, bashing their skulls in with shovels, setting them on fire, freezing them...it really isn't a very nice thing to do. And YOU, Halwyn. Killing off Brina. She was really a nice girl. I hope you aren't feeling too cramped in that tree right now.

Love, The Author

What about you? What would you say to your characters?

Princess Voyagefan

I got bored...

2011-01-05T17:43:00.000-08:00

So, as you can see, I randomly decided to change my background! I get bored easily, okay?

ANYWAY, TMIS has vanished for the mo, which I am thankful for. I still feel quite stuck while working on the chapter layout for my high fantasy, which I have once AGAIN changed the title for. Now it's just Riam, Saviour. So, with that final title, I am hopeful that I can finish the layout before February, when I plan to write the book.

Though the chapter layout is being annoying, I have planned out the battles. There are going to be five. The "king" wins the first one, with the help of the MC and his mini-army of warrior thieves. Then the antagonist, Loren, wins the second, third, and fourth battles, while the MC wins the fifth. Because he has to. Because it's the CLIMACTIC sequence, and the hero almost ALWAYS wins.

And no, I am still not sharing the plot. Because I'm lazy.

Princess Voyagefan

Getting slightly stuck...

2010-12-29T16:39:00.001-08:00

So, I'm working on the chapter layout for my high fantasy, which I will probably change to Saviour of the Battle. Don't ask why.

Anyway, I'm trying to get through the chapter layout, but it's going slower than treacle in January. Hey, why is treacle so slow in January, anyhow? Sorry, moving on.

I know my two biggest MCs semi-well. Since one had his memory wiped while sleeping for a hundred years, he's pretty clueless but tries not to act it. The other is a kick-butt warrior thief who acts like she's better and that the entire quest is her responsibility. They don't get along well.

So, I have four ideas to juggle, and to top it off, three of my characters from my two books about Lynn(Lynn, her boyfriend, and the antagonist/her boyfriend's brother) decided to make an appearance in my dream last night. Hello! I killed off the antagonist! What was he doing there?

???????

So, while TRYING to work on plans for the story, I'm getting sidetracked. I'd better get off the Internet...

Princess Voyagefan

A title and studying plot bunnies...

2010-12-28T17:54:00.000-08:00

So, the untitled high fantasy I'm planning now has a working title. Be warned, it is lame, but when I was writing the plot it clicked into my mind. I might change it. Hey, that's why it's called a working title. It's temporary while I work!

Beware. Here be retardness...

Prince of Darkness.

*waits for boos and laughter from those who are reading*

Okay, okay, I know it stinks, but that's what I'm using for now! Maybe the best title will come along later!

So, here I am with FOUR stories to plan, a bunch of dying revisions, and freewriting snippets that I keep resurrecting. As well as a forum on NaNoWriMo.org dedicated to the scientific study of plot bunnies.

Here is a definition of plot bunnies:

"They're crazy little ideas that bounce through when you're in the middle of your plot, and you can't help but follow them down a new and bewildering rabbit trail, to the tune of Alice in Wonderland's White Rabbit, right? And then they breed, and pretty soon you have more plot bunnies than you know what to do with and your characters are following them and pulling you in all directions." - dei.gratia.hobbit, NaNoWriMo winner.

What plot bunnies plague you? Several people are annoyed by the Shower Bunny, which is a subspecies of the Two Things At Once Bunny. The Shower Bunny comes when you're in the shower and gives you ideas when you have nothing to write with. So you're hurrying in the shower and then you end up slipping and cracking your skull open(I made that last part up, btw).

I'm plagued by the Ha-ha-you-are-captured Bunny, which other people hate, also. It comes and makes the MC get captured by the villain. I hate that bunny...

But plot bunnies aren't always horrible, because several people have domesticated them. Here's how:

When a plot bunny hops by, wiggling its eyebrows and beckoning you to follow it on a twisty maze trail, don't just run after it. Write its description down and where it was heading. Then you can continue with your present work. People have notebooks dedicated to domesticating these furry little distractions.

Good luck with your plot bunny breeding farm. ;)

Princess Voyagefan

Still suffering from TMIS

2010-12-27T16:02:00.000-08:00

TMIS is like writer's block, only it's kind of an opposite of the traditional form. Writer's block is when no ideas come, you have no enthusiasm, no inspiration, nothing. Your creative engine died.

Too Many Ideas Syndrome is when your creative engine is working overtime. You get idea after idea from everything. I came up with names by looking at a blanket(don't ask), and listening to my sister's Nox Arcana CD. This is almost as bad because eventually, you have so many things going on that you can't choose which to work on right away and you get swamped with plotting. Plus, you run out of notebook space if you don't have an impressive collection like my sister and I!

Another idea struck by listening to Nox Arcana. I don't have a title. I'll tell you that it has a very, very stereotypical plot(with the warrior prince who has to save the world), and I picture the MC looking like Alex Pettyfer. I can't help it! All of the things I pictured made me piece together an incomplete idea!

Thank you, Jessamine Diane, for wishing me luck with my other fantasy story. I appreciate all of your support!

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. Please pray for our sweet, sweet kitty Java, who is possibly sick and most likely dying. :(

Not again!

2010-12-18T15:56:00.000-08:00

Okay, everyone knows I was debating what to plan for my next story, and I selected LotD. Then I came up with another idea and started plans for THAT. Needless to say, I'll probably be doing the writing in February.

My NEWEST idea is for a book called The Universe is Exploding, which is actually just the working title. Pretty much, the universe is exploding, and a half-angel, a ranger, a zoologist in training, a priest, and two pixies have to save the universe, which includes other galaxies. Did I mention they do most of the galactic traveling on a time-traveling, flying, shrinking ship?

Anyway, I've begun a chapter layout, and it's going to be slightly more comical than my NaNo, as the priest is a slight twit who tries to act like the leader and the terminology used for all of the magical things that the saviors use is ridiculous. I'm looking forward to writing it.

Here is some sympathy to all writers suffering from writers' block: be patient and keep trying. You'll pull through. At least this means you aren't suffering from TMIS.

Princess Voyagefan

Darn character design...interfering...

2010-11-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

'Lo, folks! I was beginning plans for Legend of the Deck and the same day I started the plot notes, I opened my sketchpad, saw a girl I had drawn several pictures of and made up a profile for, and before I knew it...

I had another idea!

So, I decided that I was going to do this new story idea, which I call Conspiracy. Of course, as I write this, I remember challenging myself to do something for LotD, and it's a pretty darn good challenge.

Basically, I'm torn between two ideas. However, I believe I have a solution! Write LotD first. Then, when I have more time, I'll plan out a complicated system for the second idea, which is required. Anyhow, here are the ideas:

#1: Legend of the Deck

There's a teenage girl named Nascha who finds a deck of mysterious playing cards and claims them as her own. After a few embarrassing incidents, she realizes the card deck is magic, and she's a complete threat to her town. So she travels.

Then she releases a mini twister through a marketplace, and catches the attention of a sorcerer. He needs the cards for his own.

So, Nascha is using the cards to battle the dark sorcerer who wants them, and is trying to save his sister, whom he's dragging along on his chase. And, to top it off, Nascha has to find out who the original wielder of the cards is...and return the deck to him.

#2: Conspiracy

Althea Grace, princess of Anaria, is a studious, quiet girl who spends most of her time with her nose buried in a book. She finds a mysterious box one day, one that is locked with magic. Using a few special charms, Althea manages to unlock it. Out flies a Fayra(meaning a ball of glowing light with a human shape in the middle) named Nivi. Nivi is quite unlike Althea - she's a little lonely, and mischievous, with a knack for spying - yet the two hit it off quickly, and Althea, curious of the ways of her father's rule, sends Nivi to spy on the Royal Court, as well as several important noblemen that live in the kingdom.

That's when Nivi brings urgent news.

An assassin/master of disguise has become a prince living at the castle for the year. When he talks to his spy in the halls of the castle, Nivi stops to listen and tells Althea about the biggest assassination plot in Anarian history.

Now, with barely any evidence, Althea has to prove that the Royal Family is in danger and uncover the one missing piece in the entire plot. If she succeeds, the traitor will be put to justice. But if she doesn't, she'll soon be lying with murdered family members.

XP

But still, those are some random ideas I've come up with, plus something for a book called The Seers' Mark, and one called The Eternals, and one for a really lame story called The Fairytale League. Notice how I've drifted away from my stories about Lynn and Syl, plus Waterblade. I guess I'm just startin' over!

Princess Voyagefan

Forum surfing!

2010-11-28T08:31:00.000-08:00

I wonder if any of my rare readers here is addicted to NaNoWriMo forum surfing. I usually only visit two different forum pages: the Reaching 50,000 category and the Fantasy lounge. Today I have been reading a fantasy forum entitled "What does your story have that most other fantasies don't?"

Here are things from the Host Tree:

-My MC turns down the main love interest.
-One of the three FMCs is a Nephil.
-There are no elves, dwarves, unicorns, phoenixes, centaurs, or griffins. (There are, however, dragons, yet they have small parts in the tale. Couldn't resist putting them in.)
-One of my MMCs is a talking toad.
-Surprisingly, the two MCs with magical powers don't use them that much. One of the sidekicks actually can't control her psychic powers.
-Humans, if they try hard enough, can feel the life in plants and animals. See? Nymphs aren't the only ones who can do that!
-The antagonists aren't after power. They want freedom so they can continue causing chaos in the world. (Being demons and all, destroying is the only thing they're good at.)
-Four of my five MCs, though they have never been trained, are surprisingly good fighters. Plus, NO SWORDS! All they carry around are daggers in their packs.

So, what about you? What do your fantasy stories have that most others don't?

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. I have started plans for the not-so-famous-and-special JanNoWriMo. What? ANY month can be a month where you write a story that's 50k! Aaaaand...Mr. Ian Woon will probably be making an appearance this year!

The chocolate bar is gone! You know what that means...

2010-11-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

Well, folks...

*drumroll*

IT'S DONE!

A little over 31,000 words. 86 pages including the title page, one-page introduction, and Table of Contents(cheated with it!) After I typed the last word, I treated myself to a chocolate bar leftover from Halloween.

And, with a few missed writing days, I wrote the longest story I've EVER written within a thirty day time limit.

Boo-yah! I deserved that chocolate!

PEM

Almost on the last chapter...ZERP

2010-11-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, the bad news first. I'm not even going to be close to reaching 50k.

Good news is that I'm prolly gonna get up to 30k, making The Host Tree the longest story I've ever written. Revising will be when I do some serious describing, serious journal entries, extend part of it, add a scene I forgot to put in, and etc. Maybe I'll be able to add on 10k, thus reaching 40k. It's not bad for my first NaNo. I'm sure lots of other people come in this way, too. I was on the forums yesterday and saw someone who was "nearing the final scenes" of their novel and were only around 18k.

Still, it's a little annoying to be defeated this year. :(

Yesterday, I had little writing time due my party, but I made a valiant effort to reach my wordcount goal. And today I was reading the book I got from Rose for my birthday present. It was quite good, actually, and I finished it all today.

So, overall, NaNoWriMo will be a semi-failure. Still, I'm gonna finish it in less than thirty days! That's an accomplishment for me!

Princess Voyagefan

Boo-yah, NaNoWriMo rocks!

2010-11-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

Date: November 7th, 2010
NaNo: The Host Tree
Wordcount Goal: 50k
Daily Goal: 2k
Current Wordcount: 18,929 and counting
Chapter: 15
Page: 51
Status: Demon scenes are getting easier to write. I absolutely LOVE writing about studious, intelligent Eysiel. Takat isn't getting much attention. The Host Seed has been found. Two Demon encounters so far. Fira is extremely worried about Nock(he's dead). They'll find the Golden Water within a few chapters. The Traveling Shovel of Death has been included.
Overall Condition: Excellent!

Well, those are the stats for my NaNo right now. What's new with any of you fellow NaNoers(not that there are any...)?

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. Ha ha, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo before my sister because she's too afraid! Nyeah nyeah nyeah!

Reached my word-count goal!

2010-11-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hello, fellow NaNoWriters! Today is full-swing writing day!

Last night I stayed up till midnight just so I could write a few words in my designated NaNotebook. I reached my word cound goal of 2k today, and I have just had a piece of chocolate. This book is filled with dirty word padding secrets, tee-hee. Anyway, my mom's friend Jessica is participating, and she knows I'm doing the same, so my mom is talking about it on Facebook. Good luck, Jessica!

Anywho, I guess no one else here is participating, but I seriously DARE you to do it next year! Go NaNoWriMo!

Princess Voyagefan

Holy...where did THAT come from?

2010-10-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

Well, here's something that'll leave you all speechless: I have actually worked on lynn2revision!

Technically, I've only written five sentences tonight, plus the word SIX for a chapter header. But still, this is a major accomplishment here! How many months have I gone without working on this story? XP

NaNoWriMo.org has installed a countdown. OHMYGOSH, two friggin' days left. I am NOT backing out. I AM going to need a lot of chocolate this November. I AM SO DEAD.

But I am still quite motivated to write the dang thing. Please don't mind if I am writing novel-long posts on here ranting about the gosh-awful progress.

Princess Voyagefan

TEN days left...

2010-10-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hi, friends! Guess what? I have found a way to include the TSoD - the Travelling Shovel of Death.

It's a classic NaNo element. It's simple. Kill someone...with a shovel. It's called the Travelling Shovel of Death because it pops up all over the place. Since my NaNo involves demons flying around the country and destroying cities, I think it should be pretty easy to just make one pick up a shovel and bash someone on the head. Thus, the TSoD has a place in my novel! MWAHAHA!!!!

Unfortunately, I cannot includ another great element, Mr. Ian Woon. Mr. Ian Woon's name comes from NaNoWriMo. See? Rearrange the letters and you get his name. But he doesn't sound fantasy enough. So, next year I will move the Shovel over for Mr. Woon, so they can both be included. Heck, maybe Mr. Ian Woon will be the wielder of the Shovel!

Ten days left, folks. NaNoWriMo may have a few bad days, especially since my birthday is on a Tuesday and we'll be going out to dinner, plus my birthday party and Beth's birthday party...and on top of all that, homework. Please, if I'm stressed, don't take it personally.

Princess Voyagefan

The sweet smell of a tiny success...

2010-10-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hey, guys! I'm very proud of myself because I just said, "Psh, do it!!!!!" and finished my outline for The Host Tree! Twenty-six chapters, plus a title page and an author's foreword! I am coming up with little tricks for boosting word count...I am failing miserably this November, I really am.

Anyway, if I succeed, you'll know. I'll post it everywhere on Blogger...on PEM, here, and maybe a little mention on Arthur, VTTBOTS, and MORE!, just to be annoying. Plus Google Buzz, and probably a letter I'll write to K2. But I'm not even close to succeeding.

Anyone else participating? Any dirty word padding tricks planned? Outline done yet? Good luck, fellow writers!

Princess Voyagefan(aka Soon-to-be-VERY-Stressed Voyagefan)

October 1st tomorrow...one month of planning left!

2010-09-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well, tomorrow is October 1st, meaning I have one month to complete my Host Tree outline, and try to stop adding items to the list of NaNo Survival Kit...I made my own, after the forum on the Website. Almost twenty items now...oops.

I almost ditched the outline, which equals not good. I need an outline for specific details. This is one of the rare times when I've decided to actually use plot notes(I have a bad tendency to start stories randomly...oops), but A) It's a way to occupy myself, and B) It will REALLY help in November if I get stuck. I have the plot laid out for me. Sa-weet! The problem is I don't have any random characters to kill off or hire as spies...poo.

So, anyone on Google Buzz has seen my Survival Kit. It's a very nice survival kit. Hee.

Princess Voyagefan

Planning Underway

2010-09-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Planning for The Host Tree is well underway. I've finished up Q&A, whoopie, and a map of Fira's country, Maythielin. Does word count include chapter headers and titles and all that jazz, or just the story itself? I'll prolly find a way to, y'know, discount the chapter headers and all that by subtracting the number of extra words from the number of actual words in the file. That way I can determine how many words a day I've written.

The rotten thing about NaNoWriMo is the whole word count thing. You're supposed to have a word count goal, usually like, 50,000 words. Being an inexperienced writer who can rarely finish a story, I'm going for maybe 10,000 words. I'm trying to get at least one hundred words in a day, even though that will only result to 3,000 words. So, 5,000 words or more. I'll prolly fail miserably, but writers have to get used to that.

I guess I should shut up about NaNoWriMo, shall I? One more random thing: I'll try to save some stories this month, just until November rolls around, and then The Host Tree will be my obsession.

Princess Voyagefan

Still Impatient for NaNoWriMo

2010-09-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

I still have to get through October. I think that when November 1st rolls around, I'll be ready to start the story I have planned, entitled The Host Tree. I'll give you a synopsis.

Basically, there's this nymph(Fira) who lives in a forest with an Animal companion, a toad. Her job is to take care of the forest. Still, she's pretty restless, and starts making plans to go a nearby city. Her toad companion advises her not to, but being stubborn, she leaves.

Doing this, she leaves the forest to decay. Doing so, the magical powers the Host Tree holds vanish, releasing a great evil: the Four Demons of Carnage. The demons then proceed to cause total chaos.

Fira learns about how to trap the evil: plant the last Host Seed and water it with the Golden Water. The challenge is finding these objects.

That's why Fira asks her three newfound friends to join her: Eysiel, a mapmaker's apprentice, Takat, an apothecary's assistant/thief, and Brina, a freelance dancer. It's a dangerous journey, filled with several encounters with the demons. Still, Fira knows she has to succeed...and she does. *cheers*

It's a start. I kind of stole the whole thing from the Adopt-A-Fantasy-Plot forum on NaNoWriMo.org, but I came up with Fira's name, changed the toad's name from Glick to Nock, added Eysiel, Takat, and Brina, and came up with the Four Demons of Carnage myself...powers and all. So, I deserve some credit.

Remember: November 1st to November 30th are the days you have to write your novel dedicated to NaNoWriMo! Good luck!

Princess Voyagefan

Impatient for NaNoWriMo

2010-09-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

As everyone knows, November is National Novel Writing Month(or NaNoWriMo). Very appropriate considering I was born in November.

Anyway, this year, I'm celebrating it for the first time. I'm going to force myself to write a story...in just thirty days. Word count doesn't matter, I just need to write every day, for a long time, until I finish that story. If I do finish it, I'll give myself a treat. If I don't, I'll punish myself. How should I punish myself...

So, as blank-minded I am about this whole thing, I am very impatient for November 1st to arrive. Luckily, the next month can be spent planning! I hope all my writer buds will celebrate, too.

If you DO decide to celebrate, good luck!

Princess Voyagefan

Surprise, surprise! I'm still not working on Waterblade...

2010-09-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hi, ya'll! I'd like to welcome ma new reader, Livabug. She writes awesome poetry. Hi, Livabug!

WRITING NEWS:

1 - Waterblade, of course, isn't really going anywhere.

2 - My mind has been bubbling with freewriting ideas lately, one inspired by Godzilla, one inspired by James Bond, and one inspired by Strolen's Citadel.

3 - F. A. will be taking up a lot of my writing time.

4 - I have also been taking away writing time by working on(and finishing!) my Disney princess project. NOTE: I will be uploading that drawing to Preteen English Major later!

So, how has everyone been, writing-wise? Beth never tells. *pouts* But I can usually tell from her expression if it's good or bad. What about you, Gandalf? White Forest? JACK=D, how's songwriting been going? And Livabug, what about your poems? They're very nice, y'know. You should check out her blog, Precious Rarity.

Well, I'm going to go see if I can find some inspiration. G'bye, y'all! Thanks for reading!

A Rant About Waterblade - by Voyagfan

2010-09-07T18:01:00.000-07:00

Has King Arch come back to life and drained the Pool of Tears? Has Redd come back to life and somehow managed to capture Everqueen, then re-drain the Pool of Tears? I don't know, but I'm sure getting ticked, because Waterblade will soon be joining the ranks of somewhat successful stories I started but temporarily left to die.

This ranting is being ranted because I have TRIED to work on Waterblade today, but somehow, it's getting boring and very hard to write. I want to move on to the second book in the series, but I'm still struggling to finish chapter three in the first one. Chapter three. About fourteen pages so far, including the title page and the introduction.

*bashes head into a brick wall...several times*

Can I go to their magical world so I can dive into the sea and shout, "Come on, you slackers! Do something interesting, move the story along, put a burst of action in there!"? Because that would make me feel better. Maybe while I'm down there I'll hire the main character to give me a fish that I can use for my own personal punching bag.

Here are the facts: Waterblade started out as an awesome idea with a sa-weet and spunky main character named Aysu, who had a carefree life and thought her purpose in the world was to hunt. When she found Waterblade, she was amazed and liked hunting with it better than her trident. Then her dad showed up in the later scenes - not yet introduced - and said that rebel Waterlings were on their way to the kingdom to declare battle. This put some people on the edge, I imagine. And now, the war hasn't started, the first battle has a location set, and I have no idea what the flip I'm supposed to do! And my character's personality appears to be draining away as she keeps using the sword, which seems to be all she ever does nowadays.

What is wrong with me? Who screwed up imagination in Wonderland again?

Please, please, PLEASE kill me(no Beth, not you!)! Nothing is getting done writing-wise...I can't even find an idea that my heart is set on, and that's what lots of writers tell you to work on. So, I think I'll take a temporary vacation, do some writing prompts, and try to once again resurrect some of my failed stories. Chances of this working are...definitely not good.

And I would appreciate some of the extremely rare encouragement I get from my occasional readers. Seriously, guys, I am the most loyal TWP reader. Do I have to delete this blog, or will you stick to it?

Princess Voyagefan

Time to get back to work...

2010-09-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we arrived home from a short "vacation" at my grandparents' house. (See PEM post entitled "New template AND my avatar!...or something like that.) Anyway, it took off precious hours from my writing time, but it was totally worth it, seeing my relatives and their cats and all. And I got another idea there.

So, I have been trying to work on Waterblade, but my imagination is having a little bit of trouble getting a jump start after being turned off for the visit. I've been trying to work around it somehow. I got through the second chapter, which was hardest, because I had to get the town council scene in. Now, I'm lost. I don't know whether most of the book should be battle(it's about a war), which I'm awful at writing, or battle preparation, which is boring because it won't be suspenseful. Meanwhile, the first two chapters are kind of dead, mostly made up of the main character practicing fighting with her sword and hunting. It's pretty dull, but that's what revising for!

Okay, since Beth is TOTALLY distracting me(we trailed off to having conversations about saying "nomegusta" and naming the bat in our sheep barn...his name is Simon, so now Simon has a bat AND a hamster!), I will go and TRY to work on Waterblade!

Princess Voyagefan

Waterblade

2010-09-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Points for me! 'Kay, not really. I was SAYING I MIGHT deserve just a FEW points cuz I started a new story that's turning out rather well. It's called Waterblade, and it's the first book in a series of five books I plan to write, based on the four elements. It's about four blades hidden in the territories of a magical world, and how four teenage girls find them. In the first four they handle their own special personal missions, but in the fifth they unite - enemies or not - to defeat a greater evil.

I also got an idea for two other stories: one with a title and one without. I wrote a bit from the untitled one in my Emo Notebook(it's black and grey with white and red flower stuff, so I think it's emo), and wrote down the title and idea for the other one. The titled one is called The Zodiac Enchantment, in which a teenage girl accidentally insults a witch. The witch casts the Zodiac Enchantment on her, which means that dark magic in the forms of symbols of the zodiac torment her. That's as far as I've gotten...I'm working on Waterblade.

That is, I'm working on Waterblade when I'm NOT playing Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Problem is, MK:SC is extremely addicting, which means when I'm playing it, I end up spending precious writing time. Can't help it. "It's more addicting than pistachios. What, have you ever eaten just one pistachio?"

Also, I have been making plans for a photo shoot called a Strange New World, which takes place at the playground across the street and in our house. I need a model...either me or Beth. And a fantasy-looking dress.

So, progress report: Mario Kart is taking away time, my imagination is returning(yayz!), Waterblade is now my most important story, and I'm making photo shoot plans. And Jessie and Skye came over for a campout in the backyard. :P

Princess Voyagefan

And I call myself a writer... DX

2010-08-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

At the present, I am not worthy to give myself the title of writer. DX Cuz I'm not getting any productive writing done! Right now, I am waiting for my fellow writer friends(meaning Beth, White Forest, and Gandalf) to come and destroy me. Go ahead, I deserve it.

I don't think JACK =D would destroy me cuz A.) I've been reading her blog, yay for newest posties! and B.) I'm songwriting. NO, you may not see ANY of the songs because BLOODY AWFUL doesn't even BEGIN to describe them.

So, instead of writing, I'm kind of just sitting around, trying to freewrite, and watching Hawaii Five-0. Oh, that reminds me, I had a dream last night where I was getting JAMES MACARTHUR'S AUTOGRAPH!!!! *dies*

Ha, ha, I WISH...

I have to go. I'm going to take a look at some of my stories-in-progress(*laughs at the concept*) and see if I can resurrect any of them.

Princess Voyagefan(in writing terms, peasant)

A Lazy Tuesday Afternoon...

2010-08-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

Ah, the wonderful Bookshelf Muse. Somebody who posts almost every day. And her posts friggin' ROCK. Now, there are some "braincandy" links in her posts. And when I say braincandy, I MEAN braincandy. C'mon...what's not to love about a list of phobias, a pirate dictionary, etc.? Like, I found out that I don't have astraphobia! Astraphobia is the fear of thunder and lightning, right? Well, it's not really the thunder and lightning that freaks me out. I have lilapsophobia, the fear of tornadoes and hurricanes. I'm afraid a storm'll be so bad a tornado will appear. And the pirate dictionary? I found out that another name for rum is "kill devil." AA's blog is getting better every minute...

Writing, of course, isn't going that well. Of course, it doesn't help I have become distracted by the games in the Dream Chronicles series. Oh, fun fantasy-themed puzzle games, why must you tempt me so? Why must you tear me away from productive second-draft writing and towards Dream Piece-collecting and puzzle-solving? And looking at pretty graphics? Oh, I am a failure as an author. *sobs*

I'm sorry. I just feel like a blog is a perfect place to rant.

Other distractions include trips to the library. I went to the library with my mom a few days ago. Yesterday, we went to a DIFFERENT library, and I got MORE books. Of course, I've read three of 'em already...heh, heh, OOPS...what? Joan Lowery Nixon books about ghosts(yes, Gandalf. I AM POSITIVE GHOSTS ARE REAL!) and books about magical recipes and how someone uses them are really quite fun. What can I say? I'm a very bookish person.

Well, I should prolly go. Not that I can do anything cuz Beth and Jessie are on the other computer trying to find more furniture for their "dream home." It would probably cost trillions of dollars to convert our sheep barn into a home. First, they'd prolly have to build a different roof, cover the floor, fix the walls, put in new doors and windows, get rid of all of the rotting wood, growth, and other icky stuff I don't know about, find a new place for the massive brush pile, and then buy all of the furniture they need! Now, if I calculate that, it would probably come out to...I wouldn't be able to count that high on my fingers even if I was a Hundred-Handed One!

Maybe I could. But I'm not a Hundred-Handed One, so I can't.

GERROFF THE COMPUTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Princess Voyagefan

The Blogosphere is Dead and Setting Thesaurus Entries

2010-07-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

Today is a rather good day and a rather not-good day. It's actually more good than not-good.

Good points: Angela Ackerman posted on The Bookshelf Muse this morning. Interesting topic about the positive part of rejection. Not that it matters to me, I haven't sent anything to a publisher...like they'd accept MY writing. *snorts in disbelief* Another good point is that K2 is coming soon! August 16th, we believe. Not sure. And we got more episodes of Firefly. And books. Wait, this is a writing blog...okay, I don't have any good or bad points about writing today, considering I just got on a computer for the first time as I was reading a Gilda Joyce book.

Bad points: The blogosphere is dead. Well, not MY blogs, and White Forest recently reappeared on her blog, and Angela Ackerman posts every few days. Good thing I've got all these older posts on her blog to entertain myself. Lots of interesting writing exercises...quite good.

I've been working on practicing some of Angela Ackerman's(I'll just call her AA) Setting Thesaurus Entries in my own words. I recently experimented with two of the locations she had, plus our hotel room in Lancaster, and a barbecue. It's simple and fun, and a great way to practice your creative descriptive writing for a place or event.

There are five categories, one for each of the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Think about the place you want to describe. Think about colors, small details, people, furniture, and little details. Then, under "Sight" put words of what you might see. If it's a barbecue, you probably see the grill, lawn chairs, or picnic tables. A hospital emergency waiting room, lots of doctors, some toys and coloring books for the kids, or rows of chairs.

Think about the sounds. Do you hear singing? The leaves rustling in a tree? A dog barking? A television? List some of the things you might hear. If it's a birthday party, you might hear somebody singing "Happy Birthday," someone blowing out candles on a cake, or laughter. If it's a haunted house, you might hear moaning, screaming, or creaky floorboards.

What about smells? Is there the scent of food in the air? Hay? Lemony fresh cleaning products? List the scents drifting the air. At a diner, there's probably cooking oil, hamburgers, and strong coffee. In a beauty salon, you can smell shampoo and perfume. In a hotel room, you might smell chlorine(from an outside pool, and if your balcony door is open, and if you actually have a balcony FACING the pool!), and, if you're staying the hotel we were in, GARFIELD'S CURLY FRIES! *spaz*

And taste, of course. Do you taste food, gum, blood?

Y'know what? I think you get the idea by now. If you want to describe a room in a story or poem or something, start one of these on a separate piece of paper or a different file. Then, using your STE(Setting Thesaurus Entry) notes, describe the room in real detail.

Now, isn't that fun? It gets addicting after a while, just be warned! Good luck!

Princess Voyagefan

Nice..........

2010-07-27T12:19:00.001-07:00

Okay, folks! I rarely visit writing blogs(like, it was limited to The Inner Typewriter when it was still alive, and Here to Create), but today was different! I HAVE LOOKED AT WHITE FOREST'S BLOG LIST AND FOUND THE BOOKSHELF MUSE!!!!!

It's a very, VERY nice blog. Lots of helpful lists and things. Very nice. If anyone wants to visit it, they can go to my profile or White Forest's profile for a link, cuz we both follow it. As soon as I read some of the posts, I was, "Okay, I'm gonna follow this!" And I did.

So, I hope that if you visit, you find it helpful! IT'S FUN!

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. The Bookshelf Muse is copyrighted by Angela Ackerman. GOT THAT?

While Beth and Jessie are planning...

2010-07-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, today has been a semi-productive writing day, as I have started a second second draft for revisedsyl. Cuz the very, very first document wasn't completed when I said, "Man, this stinks." So I wrote up to the point where I stopped, and then I finished the second draft, and now I've started a second second draft. I've been working on it today. Meanwhile, Beth and Jessie are planning on making their own house...in the sheep barn. Now, last I looked, the sheep barn had broken windows, a dirt/mud floor, a roof that's liable to cave in, a bunch of tree branches in the brush piles we have in there, and numerous plants that nobody has dared get close enough to identify, plus a groundhog living underneath. We dug a hole in there with K1 and K2 in there years ago, and I think they're trying to convert that into a Jacuzzi. Now, they're using a virtual house-designing program of Beth's to design a basic visual of what their "house" would look like. And they're planning on spamming each other's Facebook walls with links to furniture they need.

Can we say "not productive?"

Anyway, I'm really pleased with how the second draft is going(I'm just going to call it second draft instead of second second draft cuz it's easier to type). I've changed the villain around a little, and the clothes they wear, and I've added some more descriptive writing, and I added a short scene, plus some extra dialogue that helps move the story along. I've also come up with an interesting plot twist that was not in my original finished draft. Mwahaha, it's prolly real predicatable, but it's fun...teehee...>:)

Moving on.

ANYWAY, I hope everyone else is doing well with their writing, and if anyone has writer's block, I have a solution. I can make copies of an article from The Writer(my fave writing magazine, it's great!). The article is called "5 Ways to Break Writer's Block." Now, it is copyrighted by Lois Duncan, who originally published it in the March 1969 issue, cuz it's in the archive thing. Anyone who wants a copy, just comment and tell!

Princess Voyagefan

PLEASE READ PLEASE READ PLEASE READ!

2010-07-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am desperate for readers on this blog. One reason is that I am posting news about "revisedsyl."

I FINISHED IT.

No applause, please. LOL, JK. I'm not expecting applause, maybe a "Congrats, Voyagefan! You finished a story!" Of course, it IS only forty-seven pages long...I definitely have to extend some scenes and polish the beginning. Maybe add some more descriptive writing.

But for now, I am determined to maybe get about a paragraph or chapter at the most in lynn2revision. I swear, I planned my butt off, and then I ditched the story for a few months! I didn't plan the whole thing, but it's enough. I just needed some filler scenes. This is what writers call "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...no motivation...AAAAAAAAARGH!"

And that really fits right now.

In other news, Playlist is being stupid! My songs started rapidly disappearing, so that(last time I checked) even though I have 101 songs on my Playlist, ONLY 67 OF THEM ACTUALLY WORK! Prolly less by now. Anyway, bless the maker of Grooveshark.com, because they have provided us with free music with our fave artists. Even more songs than Playlist, I'll bet!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, SORRY, PLAYLIST! Tee, hee...

Princess Voyagefan

Revised this, revised that, still nothing productive...

2010-06-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmmm....I have started at least two revisions since my last post. I've ditched "revisedjosephine" for now and lynn2revision is - I am sorry to say - sorta dying. I will finish it at some point in the next fifty years, I'm sure of it!

I started an finished a freewriting snippet inspired by an actual dream that I had! A dream! My dreams are usually too disconnected and ridiculous to write about...I'm not telling what it is, in case it actually turns out to be used in a story. Oh, and I picture one of the characters looking like Abby from NCIS, which is epic because I want her to be played by Pauley Perrette. Maybe, somehow, I can get a Caf-POW in there somewhere...EPIC...

Moving on.

Now I've started ANOTHER snippet with her being the main character. First person narrative, my fave. Anyway, I'm DEFINITELY getting her to drink a Caf-POW in that one. Seriously, I think I should reference all sorts of her connections to the show if I picture her as a character. And a Caf-POW is a good connection.

TRYING to move on.

Actually, I'm moving on to the end of this post. I apologize for the many, many references to NCIS in my latest blog posts. But you won't hear the end of it...I'll be posting on Arthur, VTTBOTS, and MORE! sooner or later...mwahahahaha, I can ramble...

Princess Voyagefan

Hum, hum...

2010-05-02T16:23:00.000-07:00

Ahem-hum-hum(as Blue the caterpillar would say), everyone, as you notice, I have updated my "Works in Progress" list. Clappies for me.

Though bouncing from story to story, trying to keep a grip on the desire to work on the main ones, is not fun, I am trying to fix some ghastly stuff that might be able to turn into something decent. I try to clean out folders and get rid of documents, but I'm afraid of forgetting everything. WAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Also, how do you feel about this:

For example, weeding the jungle-like garden, Second Eden, which resembled the Garden of Eden as much as a circle resembles a square.

Does that sound...silly? To you folks?

Anywho, revisedsyl was inspired by our local florist. The shop seemed so...magical! And really, it fits...perfectly...and it's going well, too, though I didn't finish the first draft...heh, heh, it was so ghastly I couldn't stand to finish it, and started a better one...I'm beginning to detect a pattern here...

Oh, yah, the excerpt above is from "revisedjosephine." Just thought you should know.

Weeeeeeeell, see ya, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

Princess Voyagefan

Sorrwy...ummmmm....

2010-04-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I apologize for lack of posty-ness, but I've been working on Lynn2revision and a new revision of a first draft I never finished. I couldn't bear to improve my writing as the book went on. So, naturally, I started another one. I changed the ages of four of the characters and cast them in my head. Not sure about the main character. Oh, yeah, the people I cast are people at FA.

Anyway, I guess that's all I have to say.

BYE!!!!

Good Luck With Whatever Project You're Working On Now,

Princess Voyagefan

Dead End

2010-04-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'm listening to an Ok Go song called Here It Goes Again, which, FYI, was the song from that treadmill vid that Fnick showed us. LOL, I watched that vid today!!!!!!! Along with a Shakespeare version of the classic skit Who's On First?, a Godzilla: Final Wars version of Dragostea din tei(aka Numa Numa), and an epic Godzilla: Final Wars video that focuses mainly on Don Frye. XD, "What the heck is a maser? Oh, that's a maser, that explains it..." Oh, and I also watched "Beth and Jessica Dance," The Neuron Dance, and Accio Love. Beth and Jessie are in the first one, and Emily(a friend of ours, she's amazing!) is the dancer in the Neuron Dance, and Accio Love is a RonMione shipper vid.

Well, writing-wise, the title says it all: DEAD END. I have NO motivation for writing lately!!!! EEEEEEEEERGH!!!!

And in other news:
Beth and I were just outside doing dances from theater camp.
IT'S HOT OUTSIDE!
DON FRYE.
Oh, that reminds me, Fnick: if you come over to discuss our speech, we simply must watch Godzilla: Final Wars, and then show you the Don Frye video. XD.
A long religious debate has started on Google -----(not telling!) I'm hiding because I HATE religious debates...

Princess Voyagefan

READ! COMMENT! ANYTHING! MUUUUSIC!!!!!

2010-04-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

Okeydokey, last chance to tell me the music you listen to while you're writing. And please, pretty please, COMMENT!!!!! PLEASE?

Okay, now to the writing thing.

Lynn2revision - OMG - is going so-so. I haven't looked at it yet today...oops. I've been too busy playing Dream Chronicles 2: The Eternal Maze, which is fun. I am SOOOOOO glad I have learned to navigate the maze at the end. Much thanks to Beth for the starting point info.

ANYWAY, I looked at a file that I call WRITING EXERCISES. Here is the prompt I am working on right now: Write a story to match the title of The Wedding Cake in the Middle of the Road. Eyecatching, no? Makes you think, no?

IN OTHER NEWS: Our cat, Suzy brought in a "present." Translation: She brought in a dead sparrow. Stupid animal...
Ah, Kyle, if you are reading this...DEAD!!!!!!! How dare you lead Beth and me into believing that the third Batman movie is coming out soon! I'm going to bring my hobby horse into FA...AAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!
Fnick and I have started obsessing over Equations of Awesomeness, or at least I have. I think after this I will go on PEM and post some equations of my own.
I am listening to one of my fave songs(which is why it's on my playlist), "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson. And I might freewrite later.

Princess Voyagefan

HOLYMARSHMALLOWIACTUALLYDIDSOMETHING!!!!

2010-03-29T18:37:00.000-07:00

OMG.

OMG.

O. M. G.

Get this...I STARTED THE SECOND DRAFT OF LYNN2!!!!!! I just started it tonight. Half of me isn't ready, half of me is, and I just decided to go with it. I hope I won't regret it...which I probably will.

TTFN!!!!

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. I am listening to We Are All To Blame, by the Mega-Squee Worthy SUM 41!!!!! The first Sum 41 song I've ever heard...sniff sniff, cry cry.

Duuuuuh...More Music for Writing?

2010-03-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

I am now listening to "Another Kind of Blues" by Fluke. Never heard it in my life. I'm going to freewrite when I'm done with this post.

I have something to say, for books: FANG - aka the sixth MaxRide book - STINKS. Do NOT waste your time, money, or sleep reading it, because it is the worst book I've ever read.

Now, for those of you who want to try music for writing, here are my recommendations:

SUM 41!!!!! - Like, SQUEE. This punk rock band is unbebloodylievable. So, LISTEN TO EM!!!!!

Enya - Perfect for the fantasy writer. Her songs put you in mind of some magical feeling, some fantasy, dreamy...thing.

Cascada - Um, I recommend this for girls, cuz she's more of a girly, love-song-writing, Eurodance artist. Not exactly an artist for guys.

I guess that's it!

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. TELL ME YOUR MUSIC, FOR PETE'S SAKE!!!!!!

Ummm...Hi.

2010-03-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Well, pretty much, I've just been freewriting. And in my latest snippet, I picture one of the characters being played by Drake Bell(SQUEE!!!! Beth, pausing the special features...). I do that a lot. I mean, picture movie stars playing characters, not just Drake Bell.

I also started an inspirational pictures file. I'm getting the pictures off of DeviantArt, which I really want to get an account for when I turn thirteen. In the meantime, I'll practice doing art and photography. I think photography is better than art for me...even though it isn't that interesting. Maybe my own pictures will inspire writing.

That's about it!

Princess Voyagefan

Music for Writing

2010-03-07T16:57:00.000-08:00

Well, writing has been going okay. I've worked on notes for the second draft of Lynn2, and they're going pretty well.

Now comes the important question, the topic of this post.

Does music help you write?

Now, watching movies? That doesn't help. But listening to music like Sum 41(MEGASQUEE), Hinterland, Enya, etc. really does help. I need the background noise. It blocks the outside world. So, before I go on, I would like to thank all of my FAVE music artists(which, y'know, is a LOT of artists), other artists, songwriters, and, of course, the maker of Playlist.com. You rock, people!

ANYWAY, right now, I am listening to Fat Lip, by the incredible SUM 41 OMGSQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Sum 41 always helps me write.

Other good artists are artists I mentioned above, such as Hinterland. And then there's Enya, and Cascada, and Chris Rice(special thanks to Gandalf for introducing me to his music!), and Rascal Flatts, and Paul Oakenfold, and Caramell, and *claps hand over mouth*

There are also certain songs, like Burly Brawl by Juno Reactor Vs Don Davis(Beth, thank you for recommending the song!), and I Predict a Riot by Kaiser Chiefs, and Alright, Alright! by Sahara Hotnights, and Watch Your Back by Benny Cassette(XD, BETH!!!!!!!!).

Please tell me which artists and songs help YOU while you're writing. Unless, of course, you can't write with music. Thanks!

Princess Voyagefan

The Chronicles of Neglecting Revision Notes

2010-02-26T08:09:00.000-08:00

From the title, you can see that I haven't looked at my notes in some time. Mayhap I'll look at them today. Y'know, 'cause that story DOES mean a lot to me...

Freewriting is going okay. I've found a certain interesting idea, and I'm going with it. It consists of an inn and two teenage girls, one of which always criticizes the agricultural system of the town where the beginning takes place.

For those of you who have finished a first draft(and absolutely hate most of it), how do you organize notes to change - or fill in scenes that are horrendous - your story? Don't tell me anything about the plot, if you don't want to, but perhaps tell me how? I'm organizing mine randomly. Filler scenes, Q&A, etc.

Well, good luck with YOUR revising!

Princess Voyagefan

Hi!

2010-02-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

I've turned away from notes, and now I'm working on freewriting.

Hi.

Freewriting is fun. And, y'know, it helps you get into the groove of writing, I guess. Of course, I haven't been writing as much as I should cuz I got addicted to Minoto's escape games...Beth, is Morning Time a new on or am I imagining things? It won't load...*bawls*

I guess I should go. Sorry about this lame post. I've got other stuff to do.

Princess Voyagefan

What was I thinking...?

2010-02-24T09:18:00.001-08:00

What was I thinking when I was writing the first draft?

How stupid can I get?

If I took out all of the trashy stuff and didn't put anything back in, my story would only be about five chapters and would be about twenty-two pages long. Those were just random numbers I chose, by the by.

This morning, I was planning, and my brain was working until Beth turned the light on. "But the light bulb is the symbol of the idea," she says. Bah! Things were going okay, then my writing groove just went :PPPPPPPP. Curse you...

Anyway, do you guys have any problems like that? You take one look at your first draft and say, "The whole thing has to be thrown away and re-planned."? I mean, that's not what I'm thinking with ALL of it. Just MOST of it.

Maybe I should have taken up another hobby, like origami, or gardening, or rock collecting...not that those could get you a major career.

*sighs*

Princess Voyagefan

AAAAARG!!!!!! CURSE YOU, STUPID BRAIN!!!!!!

2010-02-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

I'm angry at Mr. Right Brain.

And Mr. Left Brain, cuz that's his BFF.

I'm planning stuff for Lynn2(I'm taking away the "'s.), and, y'know, I'm ticked cuz I'm taking stuff out and I'm gonna write the filler scenes AHEAD of time and I might be adding some chapters and getting rid of more and adding more and :PPPPPPPPP.

I'm not sensing any sympathy here!

Oh, wait, the rootabaga in the back row has something to say!

"That's very unfortunate, Princess Voyagefan! I hope things go smoothly!"

Thank you AGAIN, Mr. Rootabaga. Such a kind gentleman, he's my new budday.

Anyway, revision notes aren't that bad. It sort of transforms into something okay towards the end, except for teensy details. I must consider many of the issues I've come across. And I'm somewhat pleased with the climx, though, I must add a bit more actiony stuff. It's just two pages and a half of pointless, dull dueling between the main character, her boyfriend, and the bad guy. *sighs*

I must go off to work on things. Goom-bye.

Princess Voyagefan.

Now What?

2010-02-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

Well, now that I finished "Lynn2," I don't know what to do with writing! I'm working on revision notes, but it won't be as easy as all that. I'm cutting out tons, and I have to figure out how to fill that stuff back in. Maybe add an extra chapter or two.

ANYWAY, as I said to Beth in my comment on the previous post, if you work, work, work every time you get on the computer, writing will go okay. Understand, Beth? I write almost every turn. Sometimes freewriting, but when I'm close to the end of a story, I focus mainly on that one. And when I'm done, I'm all, "Duuuuhhhh...now what?"

Do you guys have this problem? I mean, I have SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSOOOOO many stories I started without a plot idea(an epic fail on my part), and only a few have been planned out properly. How do you balance that out, and find a story to work on? How can you tackle the few stories you have an idea for(while you're still going "duuuhhh"), and then plan out the rest? WILL I LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO PLAN ALL OF THOSE OTHER STORIES OUT?!?!?!?!

Pardon me.

I took a look at "Spies3," which, y'know, won't be as long as the others because it's so STUPID - just like all of my other stories...why do I bother? - but overall, it's going okay so far. By the way, for all you female writers, if you make teenage girls your main characters(why do I do that? I'm only 11!), are they sarcastic, athletic, and tomboyish? Are they the fastest on the boys' track team? Yes, I said BOYS' track team. Like any school would let a girl do that. Do they always hang out with boys? Well? Please answer!

A flaw in "Spies2" - which is the story before this one, which I finished - is that in the first book, they did not know how to fight...AT ALL. "Spies2?" Always fighting and doing stuff like that. And I still need to rewrite the first book, rewrite the second book, finish revision notes for "Lynn2" AND think it out properly, take a look at "Lynn" and "Lynnrevision," etc. AAAAAARGH!!!!!! Why must this job be so DIFFICULT?!?!?!?!?!

Oh, well. Sorry to rant.

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. I found Max, so that's another dilemma I don't have to deal with.

Well, what are you waiting for? I want a Congrats!

2010-02-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

I finished "Lynn2." But there's still the matter of revising other stories and revising that one and then picking one story to focus on and AAAAAAAAARGH!

Well, I have to go. Stuff to do.

BBBBBYYYYYYYYYYYEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Princess Voyagefan

I Am Very, Very Sorry...

2010-02-16T13:30:00.000-08:00

I am very, very sorry about not posting lately. See, I keep forgetting. I hope this doesn't affect the entire blog's future.

Anyway, writing is going so-so. I've started working on my "sampleprofiles" file, which is where I test out writing profiles. I just changed the profile format when I discovered something that Beth got offline. Thanks, Beth!

"Lynn2" is going okay. The main characters have started a raid on the bad guy's lair. It's a raid/rescue mission. Lynn+her boyfriend, Sebastian, forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I haven't looked at "Dolphin" or "Spies3" in like, FOREVER. So don't ask me how those are going.

Ummmmmmmmm...I think I'll either A. Go on allthetests to do quizzes for ma characters, or B. Work on either "freewriting" or "sampleprofiles."

Bye!

Princess(ha, Gandalf) Voyagefan

I'm Alive!!!!!!

2010-02-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I survived. I could have died on several occasions, but luckily, I DIDN'T.

"Lynn2" is going very well. I came up with an interesting idea. I just hope it doesn't go :P. Sometimes, you come up with something, then look back and say, "Wow, this is trash." That happens to me a lot. So, perhaps, this might not work out.

For the time being, however, it's cool. I'm still in chapter 10, which is good, because I want to finish it soon. The first one - I think - had eleven chapters, plus an epilogue. Maybe eleven+one is a magical number for me.

Well, I hope you can describe your progress. What chapter, how goes it, that sort of thing. No need to go in depth, wouldn't want to spoil the surprise! And you can come up with a codename if you wish. I'm just using file names. Haha!

I also hope writing is going well for all you other writing bloggage buds!!!!!!

Princess Voyagefan

Not My Best Writing Day

2010-02-12T05:55:00.000-08:00

Today is one of my not-my-best-writing-days. That means that I am either constantly distracted, our computer crashed, or nothing is coming. The first one applies today. Here are the reasons:

1. I am simply exploding with excitement about Percy Jackson tonight.
2. I might be out a lot today.
and
3. I was up late watching Spiderman, so I'm kinda tired and my brain is :P.

ANYWAY, I was outside in the snow yesterday, but I only did some sweeps of the pine tree. The rest of the time was spent making snowball ammo units, eating snow, and desperately trying to make a coaster track. No success. I think I need to do some Internet/book research.

ANYWAYANYWAY, I am going to write a teensy once this is posted.

BYE!!!!!!!

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. If I don't post, it will be because the screen exploded at the movie theater because of Percy's hotness and Jake Abel's hotness and just pure awesomeness!
P. P. S. I am still too lazy to update WORKS IN PROGRESS. I have recently entered chapter 10 in "Lynn2."

Once Upon a Blizzard...

2010-02-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

Well, everyone knows about my snow faeries research. I think.

Now, that research has started again, due to the spectacular blizzard we had! We got lots of snow. Perfect! Of course, I was out there yesterday, during the storm, and I wrote a bunch of messages in the snow(they got snowed in, of course), but they were hiding. Even snow faeries don't like blizzardy days.

And today, since the sun is shining, I'll go out to continue my research! Perhaps I will write a story about them. Yes, that would be charming. And, of course, I could use OLa's snow faery maker...brilliant!...

Since I got a good amount of sleep last night, I should be able to focus on my writing and research today. Yesterday - after shoveling and investigating in the snow - I was too exhausted to even think about writing. Well, I wrote a teensy bit, but mostly, I read books, searched frantically for Max(which I have so inconveniently misplaced), and watched most of Godzilla: Final Wars on the computer. And I posted on Preteen English Major, and played virtual air hockey with ducks, and etc.

So I was busy.

Well, I must go. I do apologize for the lack of wonderfulness in this post. Hmm...oh, yes. If you believe a magical being is living in your backyard, go for it and try to investigate. Okay?

Princess Voyagefan

P. S. Since I'm too lazy to change my WORKS IN PROGRESS list, I must tell you that I have progressed to chapter 9 in "Lynn2."

The Fantasmabullistic...Freewriting File!

2010-02-10T06:59:00.000-08:00

Who here can define freewriting? Yes, yes, the rootabega in the back row.

Freewriting - When you write when the first idea pops into your head, and keep writing. Freewriting might turn into serious work, but when you are forming it, it is just merely a way to expand your ideas and thoughts.

Thank you, Mr. Rootabega.

Well, how do YOU define freewriting? Everyone has their own definition when it comes to writing. For example, fantasy for them might be magical fairies fluttering about it flower homes. For me, fantasy is hardcore, magical, and sometimes, war-filled. Usually with a quest.

Anyway, freewriting is helpful to get you in the groove of your words, to let it flow a bit. Need an idea? Check out your freewriting file and develop a story from one of your ideas in there. I have a little over 83 pages of all sorts of ideas, each separated carefully. Now, about four of them were the same idea tossed around and rewritten, but it still counts as freewriting.

Now go ahead. Start. Don't stop until you're drained of ideas.

Princess Voyagefan

Common Distractions of a Writing Homeschooler

2010-02-09T14:20:00.000-08:00

Well, most homeschoolers I know go to my homeschool co-op every Tuesday. Like today, for instance.

Today, I'm going to talk about common distractions for writing homeschoolers. I mean, we all have issues with homework, deadlines, socialization, time organization, etc. And I'm only listing problems. YOU have to come up with a solution.

Stress - Almost everyone gets stressed at some point, even kids. On Monday night, for example, I stressed out about my sewing class at the co-op because of my projects. Stress can make you angry or depressed, which makes you want to wallow instead of write. So, stress=less writing time.

Homework - High schoolers, like ma sista, Beth, usually have heavy duty homework. Homework takes away time if you don't plan it out carefully. You could be swamped with English, history, chemistry, math, etc. and would never be able to write a word because of being overwhelmed. This means that too much homework=less writing time.

Socialization - I bring a notebook with me to the co-op in case an idea strikes during study hall or lunch. But I'm too busy hanging with my friends to pay attention. You stop focusing on writing, and you could be scribbling away. Too much socialization=less focus=more writing to be done. Hey, socialization isn't bad, but don't abandon your writing because of it, okay? Not that I don't...

I hope you guys can come up with some solutions for these problems. You don't have to, but if you reallyreallyreallyreallyreally take your writing seriously, this will probably help you work smoothly.

Princess Voyagefan

Special Thanks to Sue Grafton

2010-02-08T05:47:00.000-08:00

Good morning, everyone!

Well, I might as well start off the day with a progress report:

Lynn2 - Okay.

Spies3 - Pushing it aside for awhile.

Dolphin - Bleah :P.

It's a wonderful life, isn't it?

The rest of this post is dedicated to Sue Grafton. Has anyone heard of her? She's a mystery writer. She wrote books like "A" is for Alibi and "G" is for Gumshoe, as well as others in between and after. I have NEVER read a thing by her. But an article thingy she wrote in The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing has been somewhat helpful for one of my stories.

Of course, I ditched the story, but here's the thing anyway.

You could start a journal for your writing. You know, not like, "Dear Diary"(though you could start that way, if you want to!), but writing down your progress and your ideas and problems and blah blah blah. See, if you have a writing journal, you don't HAVE to plot out your work formally. Just scribble some things in your journal, peek at it later, and sort of weave it into the work you've got.

The journal I had is for a file called "Nessia." I started a badgillion years ago and ditched the story. Now I am awkwardly starting one for "Lynn2." And it's awkward because I'm in the middle of chapter eight. Word of advice: Don't start the journal when you've progressed into the book.

And, so, that is my tale for the day.

Happy Journaling,
Princess Voyagefan

It finally happened...

2010-02-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

Well, it happened. The writing blog of moi has finally opened its doors to the public!

I hope to share tips, short stories, problems, opinions, etc. on this blog. The Writing Palace was created for my friends(and that does include people I've never met, like White Forest :0D!) who love writing. I dedicate this blog to them, especially ma sista, because she sort of passed on her love of writing to me.

And also, you'd better enjoy this blog. It took me about ten minutes to find a title that was actually AVAILABLE. Anywho, I hope this title suits what I have in mind.

Peace Out and Happy Scribbling,

Princess Voyagefan, Princess of The Writing Palace