Showing posts with label link up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label link up. Show all posts

27.8.13

twelve questions and how they were answered

Meghan Gorecki over at Every Good Word (as well as Just as I am) has a lovely aimed-towards-writers, as, I'm sure you could find it interesting even if you are not an authorly person, but, I do believe its aimed to the wordcrafters in general. 
Anyway, she has a link up for her followers, which is always fun to browse and mingle on, as well as participate, so, without further ado, where-are-my-drumrolls, here is my answers to her link up questions!


1: What was your first-ever piece of writing? 
If my memory serves me correctly, my first ever piece of writing was a double paged narrative about how much I loved my cat, and why I loved my cat, and how she was the best cat to ever be. It was accompanied by a drawing of my black, white pawed cat. I hadn't learned yet that drawing wasn't my forte.


2: How old were you when you first began writing?
 Is it cliche to say I've been writing for as long as I can remember? 
I always wrote, I can't really remember a time where I wasn't writing something. 
But, I suppose I didn't really write the stories in my head until I was eight. Before then, it was all journals and letters and diddies about my cat.

3: Name two writing goals. One short term and one long term. 
My short term goal is to simply finish a novel. I've never actually finished a book, and to do so is my goal. Long term, is to publish that book. simple, I know. and I don't have any clue how I'll get there, but it'll come to me. somehow. 

4:  Do you write fiction or non-fiction? 
Well, I write fiction in my books. I don't have the right brain for writing non-fiction books. novels are my thing. but, if blogging could be considered non-fiction, I suppose I write both. but, I've never actually considered my blog to be writing...strangely enough.

5: Bouncing off of question 4, what's your favorite genre to write in?
I'm all over the place.  I have two mildly dystopian (no. they do not involve, in the least, an evil organization government out to get teens. that's not how controlling governments work people. They do not alienate teenagers, but befriend them. look at Nazi Germany duhhh), two Historical Fiction, a handful of fantasies and a couple contemporary fictions.  I guess, if I were pick my favorite, I'd say fantasy. Be it Modern or more Tolkien esque. I love the flexibility and imagination you can infuse on a fantasy world, people and culturals. 

6: One writing lesson you've learned since 2013 began. 
I am a perfectionist or a notatall. and that gets in the way if almost everything I do (not just in writing. If I can't make the kitchen looking dazzling, and sonething Martha Stewart would be at home in, I'm not going to do it at all). So, when I write, if it's not just how I expected it to be, I shove it away and pout in my 'lack of skills' for weeks.  But this year, I've been learning that it's ok to not be perfect to first go round. If I need to polish it up in draft two, I can. draft one is just to get it out. Draft two is to get it perfect. 
now. to just find a way to apply that to cleaning...

7: Favorite author, off the top of your head! 
you had to ask, didn't you?!
*initiate annoyed sounds and rolling on the floor* 
gaaaah. 
My favorite author changes weekly, but right now, at this moment, I'd say....probably Robin McKinley. she stays a pretty constant favorite through all the times, and I love her works. especially Chalice
When people ask for a book recommendation, I always say Chalice first thing.

8: Three current favorite books. 
ah, see, you grew wiser. you are asking for our 'current' favorite books because, if you asked for my favorite book, I'd simply laugh and move on because even I don't know. 
But right now, my loves are:
 Chalice by Robin McKinley (HA. Surprise! did you expect that?),  
This Mortial Coil by Mirriam Neal (which isn't published yet. but I can still list it. nha) 
and The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King (a pure genius novel about a retired Sherlock Holmes. My darling Holmesie was written so perfectly, so real, and Watson, the few appearances he has made thus far, as I haven't finished it, he is such a teddy bear. ♥)

9: Biggest influence on your writing {person}: 
Can I list a group of persons? because I have to say, all the beautiful people in my lovely writing group, The Tea Spitters, are, undoubtedly, the biggest influence on my writing. I've had fewer and fewer days of self writing hate since knowing them, and just gah. I could gush forever on how perfect they are, especially Amë and Abby and Sky and Mirriam and Isabel.

10: What's your go-to writing music? 
It depends a good deal on what sort of scene I'm writing.  But, anything instrumental, normally. Or in another language. I don't write we'll when distracted by the lyrics. I'm tempted to sing instead of write.

11: List three to five writing quirks of your's! Little habits, must-haves as you write, etc. 
1||| I have to have my headphones on. Even if I'm not listening to music while writing (most times though, I am), I have to wear the headphones. They are huge and dull a lot of sound, and just make me focus. like blunders on a horse. 

2||| I have to sit with my back to the wall. It irks me to no end when people come up behind me while I'm writing. it greatly distracts me.  But even if I'm home alone and writing, I have to be up against a wall. 

3||| And it must be dark. which means I do 88% of my writing at night. If its daylight, I just cannot write. During NaNoWriMo, I put a blackout during over my window so it was night time dark in my room all day and that's the only way I was able to write. 


12: What, in three sentences or less, does your writing mean to you?
 hard question. I know, here I should probably put something beautiful about it being my way to witness, or something Christian like that, but I do want to be honest. To me, writing is a me thing. It helps me understand myself, it helps me calm down when upset, or grow passionate over something.  Writing is the reason I go out and do things or try things I may not like. (Like, the only reason I got on a jet ski was because I might have a character do it someday).  Without writing, I could easily see myself being a passionless potato. 

oh dear. 
you said three sentences of less. oops. I failed.

That was immensely fun, and please, do stop by the link up, and maybe have a go at it yourself, eh?


 

gfh

7.2.13

All le single ladies

As I'm still clueless on posting (actually, I have many ideas, but if you happen to follow my twitter, you'll easily see where my thoughts have been.  Wicked, Wicked, and more Wicked. I might be a wee bit obsessed...just a wee bit, though). So I decided to do another link up.  But, thats terrible of me.  Even if my mind was crowded with non-Elphaba thoughts, I'd still participate in this darling little link up, as it is just such a sweet and lovely idea.


 It is an incredible sweet idea; for all us single ladies, the day of sweet hearts can be....tough. (Unless you have food. no. even if you do have food it can be hard).  And so, Meghan has created a darling blog party for all us single ladies.

The first day of this linkup includes a list of questions for us to answer, and, as I've said, I adore answering questions....


1. White chocolate or milk/dark chocolate? Oooh. hmmm....I think I'll go with Milk Chocolate, even though White is also scrumbilbilduptious.
2. Tea or Coffee? Tea. I mean, there is no way I'm going turn down anything with a Starbucks logo on it.  But I really don't like coffee if it isn't equipped with a green mermaid logo.
3. Movie or book on a night-in? Book. Oh yes a book please.
4. Rom-com or a tear-jerker? I think Ecclesiastes 7:3 was made for us who like having our heart torn usunder by novels, movies, and musicals.
 Frustration is better than laughter,
    because a sad face is good for the heart.
Of course, that isn't normally my philosophy, but when it comes to movies (or books, or musicals) I'd rather leave with my face wet with bittersweet tears rather than laughter.  
5. Who is the first literary couple to come to your mind? Elpheba and Fiyero. (Told you. My head is filled with Wicked...)
6. Who is the first *movie* couple that comes to your mind? Elpheba and- oh. Movie. *clears throat* well, musical isn't close enough? no? well...you probably don't want to have the same answer for both questions...
*clears mind of all thoughts of blue diamond and green skin*
Erik and Christine. 
Oh I see how you are so surprised to hear that from me.  My head, t'is filled with nonsense of musicals, be them in stage or movie form.
 
7. Roses or chocolate? Chocolate. Roses are nice, but chocolate shaped as roses are even better. I also happen to be a pig when it comes to sweet things, and I can't very well eat roses, now can I? 
8. Fancy dinner in a 4-star restaurant or a simple picnic? Picnics are nice, but they just cannot compare to a restaurant with silver and crystal.  However, a picnic I would gladly suggest, is a moonlit one where we watch shooting stars while sharing a large Hot Chocolate canteen.
But, when it comes to the basic answer, I say, 4 star restaurant wins.
9. Dream wedding scenario: outdoor family affair, or a formal church wedding & reception at a 5-star hotel?  I shall now pour my girlish heart out unto you, caring not whether it is sensible, accomplish able, or will even ever happen.  I'd like the wedding held at some Celtic retreat, an old grey castle.  But, for the actual ceromony, I love the Jewish weddings; the candles, the salt, the glass breaking, Mazel tov-ing.  The reception would be held in the castle, where'd there would be much dancing, and could we please arrange piggies in a blanket as appetizers?
I'm an odd girl, and I don't actually want a wedding cake. I'm not much of a cake eater, preferring pie instead, so I think I'd have various pies.  Won't it be fun, shoving blueberry filling in my husband's face?
10. What was the last love song you listened to? "Do you love me?" from Fiddler on the Roof.  Perhaps it's not the most beautiful song in the world...but it packs so much meaning. This married couple, they've gone through hardships together, and yet, never even thought about if they love each other, only to find out, hey, they suppose they do!
11. Favorite real-life/celebrity couple? Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner? oh...I don't suppose they are truly 'together', are they?  Then, I suppose that goes to Kirk Cameron and his wife, Chelsea Noble.  They met on the set of two television shows they co-stared on, and on "Growing Pains" she was even his character's girlfriend. They ended up dating, and marrying in real life, and when Kirk played on "Fireproof" he refused to kiss anyone but his wife, thus, why the fire station kiss scene was filmed in silhouette..it was Mrs. Cameron.
12. One piece of advice about love:
All of Warren Barfield's song, pretty much:

 Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in
And then commit to never leave
So lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees

Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
If we try to leave may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

To some, love is a word that they can fall into
But when they're falling out
Keeping that word is hard to do

Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
If we try to leave may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

I want this song played at my wedding, I want it played whenever I feel like giving up, on every anniversary, and on every hard day.   It's such a perfectly powerful song. 

And, I guess that concludes day one.
I'm truly looking forward to the rest of this link up's events, so...
tootles!

Cheerio me ol cream crackers!
(I'm listening to "I'm not that girl" and...yeah. tears. pouring down my face. hmhm.)

25.10.12

Demetrius//Emi//Xander

:UPDATE: I changed the URL, so please go to Hushashleyspeaks.blogspot.com and refollow! Thanks!


“So, uh, what did you say your name was again?”Allison handed him a cup of coffee, and glanced at him over her own Starbuck’scup.  “De-Demetrius” He paled, and thensmiled, “And, I heard that man call you Allison?”
She put her cup down; “Yeah” Silently she couldn’thelp but wonder what sort of name ‘Demetrius’ was. “Do you get called Demetriusin full, or do people shorten it to something, like, ya know, Demi, or Demen?”
Demetrius bit his bottom lip, it was an utterly attractiveand adorable action, and Allison had to sudden look down, under pretense offinding her chap stick, due to her blush.
“Well, uh, they tend to call me Grim…And that’s justa start” Demetrius glanced around, and looked positively panicked.
“Grim?” He looked ready to run, and Allisonfrowned, “Hey, it’s not something to be ashamed of. I mean, I was calledStinker when I was little”
His panicked expression faded, and he sat back alittle in his seat, “R-really? That’s pretty terrible” He laughed lightly, andtook another sip from his coffee.
“Yeah, tell me about it” Allison rolled her eyes, “Theyfinally stopped calling me that when I was around Seventeen.  Anyway, Demetrius is a bit long on thetongue, and I won’t call you Grim, can I call you Demi? I’ve always loved thename Demi”
He fidgeted slightly, then slowly met my eyes, “I’dlike that very much”

-Grim


As he let the man drop, Emi backed further awayfrom him, what was this creature who faintly resembled the Vice she knew?
He laughed, but it was a pained one, and if shecould see his face, Emi would have noticed that Vice’s emotions were beingsplayed across his newly gained face, and it seemed he couldn’t decide whetherto rejoice, or be disgraced with himself.
He fell to his knees, all while looking at hishands, and then he covered his face, a sobbing laugh filling the air. 
She stared wide eyed at him, and shuffled to herfeet, “Who are you? What are you?” she begged for it to not be Vice, she knewall too well what this creature was, and should it be Vice…she would have tokill him.  She would have to kill himanyway, but the thought of killing the man who had saved her so many times,repulsed her.
He stopped that terrible crying laugh, and stood,his height still being a couple inches above her, without turning to face her,he whispered, “Are you going to kill me? You are terrified of me, I can senseit” he took a deep breath, and looked up at the darkening moon, “Your fear,though, its different then…his” he gestured at the shrunken man whose lifeforce he had just drained.
Emi held her hands up in attack form, “Fear, isthat what your race drains?”
Vice bent to retrieve his cloak, and Emi tensed.
“I’m just putting my cloak on, no threat” Vice,still not turning to face her, held up a hand. It was dark, nearly as dark asthe shadow he stood in, except for red swirls that looked, etched. They glowedfaintly, but not enough to disperse the darkness around him.
“You want to hide your face?” Emi asked sharply.
“I fear, I am probably horrid looking” His voicewas pained, and was a little back to the normal Vice she knew, but yet, he wasdifferent. Very, very different. 

-The Story of Emi

 Xander wanted to run after her, but he heard his name being called from across the courtyard.
General Beleg, a dwarf who made up for his short stature with a huge voice and bravery.
"Xander Bolivar!" He came up to Xander, and caught the last glimpse of Bly fleeing the area.
"What's wrong with her?" He asked, jerking a thumb in the way Bly had taken. Xander shrugged, which the pain in his arm quickly scolded him for, "I have no idea sir, something seems to have upset her"
Beleg laughed, "Well, that's apparent. It's good to see even Elvish woman get temperamental and moody"
Xander nodded, and Beleg glanced up at him, "Oy, Captain Bolivar, you plan on just letting her run away?"
Xander started to reply, but hearing his Aragathian Gaurd title used snapped at his attention, "General, I- Nithron I suppose informed you to my status? I'd be more then pleased if you wanted me to testify in front of a court, I'd completely underst-"
Beleg chuckled, and drew a rolled up paper from his coat, "In fact, I knew before Nithron told me" he held the paper out, and Xander hesitantly took it with his good arm.
"We got this from one of our men inside Aragathia..."

"I write to inform General Beleg Stonesir of the expected arrival of a dear friend of mine, Captain Xander Bolivar. He should arrive with the Elven Ambassador Bly Fernwalker"

It went on to go into enough praise to cause Xander discomfort, he skipped to the bottom where an all too familiar seal was pressed into that signature red wax.

"Greven Yark: Chief of Archery, and humble servant to the Freedom Movement"

Xander stared at the seal for a moment, Greven? It seemed like he somehow always knew, the way Greven acted, a thing he would say,
It made sense now.
Beleg coughed, drawing Xander back to the present, as he handed the letter back to the Dwarfish commander, Beleg said "I am not often found disagreeing with Lt. Yark, and I don't plan to now" he extended his hand, "Welcome to Revelin, Captain Bolivar" his grip was firm and incredible strong, and he walked off with a smile, but a few steps, and he stopped, "Oh, just a hint of advice, Captain. It's best to not leave a woman alone when she is in distress. It grows quicker then mushrooms over night, and often can get more terrifying then a full grown warrior Dragon" he winked, and strode off.
Xander waited until the General was gone, and took off quickly in the direction Bly had fled.

-The Incantevole Tales



Just some current brainstorming of mine. The Story of Emi is my NaNo novel, and Grim is a 'I-Must-Not-Get-Attached-Before-NaNoWriMo' Novel. And The Incantevole Tales is a RP story I'm working on with a few friends of mine. You can read the rest of it HERE. I write Bly and Xander, FYI.
Oh, and just so you know, I'm failing horribly at not getting attached to Demetrius/Demi and Allison. Particular Demi.

The Girl who gets attached to everything, 
The One who is excited for NaNoWriMo to start,
The One who is also anxious over NaNoWriMo's start,
Ashley.

Linking up to Katie's Snippets of a Story. Thinking about it, so should you. 


P.S you might notice, the new URL.