Wednesday, November 24, 2021
concerning wanderlust, changes, gandalf, and an overdue hello
Monday, August 30, 2021
#abouttheauthoraugust (week two) + something you love about your main character(s)
other posts in this event
introduce yourselfthree facts about your work in progress
your writing space
Heyyyyy, it’s About the Author August week two prompt no. 6! I am quite excited to write this one, as I’ve JuST FINALLY At LASt fOr OnCe for CERTAIN found something in my main character to grip my teeth into. I hated Ichabod before, like, yesterday. He was so useless yet I couldn’t get rid of him because he is so iconic. When I decided to start really working on this project again, I read through all of my old notes, my original plot and it was like I was reading off pages of swiss cheese. Holes everywhere, everywhere. Which actually excited me. If I can tell what’s wrong I can fix it but I find it so frustrating when I dig myself into those holes and can’t find a way out or around or under. A new perspective was exactly what I needed. Did I need a two year long new perspective? Probably not but it’s fine. Here’s what I love about Ichabod Crane.
I. he is a self proclaimed folklore expert
in Sleepy Hollow, most know that magic-folk, fae, seelie & unseelie etc. used to exist, but have long since gone extinct. Some deny their existence at all. Ichabod believes they may still wander in safe havens or less populated places. He blames humans for butchering the chances of fae and man existing together and believes that the world could benefit from a touch of that old magic. However, he has no idea what he’s getting into when he comes to the hollow.
II. he is okay with being different
due to his beliefs, Ichabod is often laughed at. Often. He doesn’t let it phase him. Instead it inspires him.
III. he is kind
not a jerk. I’m a little sick of the mean angsty main guy who the world just DOesN’t understand.
IV. he carries a notebook everywhere
it’s admirable. But also quite funny. I can’t imagine carrying one with me and ACTUALLY using it, but Mr. Crane does.
V. he sees beauty in everything
the world is far more wonderful to Ichabod. Nothing is only as it seems, so he studies people the same way he studies plants and wings and the weather. With care.
🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁
I’m still a bit unsure on everything that he is. But I definitely know some things that he is not. He is not…
utterly gorgeous. I am so tired of attractive characters. Get lost. Go stare at yourself in the mirror all day then.
a sixteen year old who acts like a twenty eight year old. I would like to read more stories about young adults and after thank you. A lot of popular books push the TEENAGE everything and everyone but they make adult choices and act like adults and have adult relationships?? and it confuses me.
the center of all romance in the book. Call me crazy but I don’t think a book has to center entirely on love or have the main character be the center of all love be it triangle, circle, or square (get it ha) for it to be good.
a character who has a horrible terrible parental relationship. Ichabod loves his parents oh my gosh crazy right?
Hopefully I’ll crack the code of his character soon and give him a heavy emotional and fundamental attachment to the story. Characterization is a huge challenge for me but it’s quite fun when it goes well!
Next I’ll share my writing routine ✨
Thursday, August 26, 2021
#abouttheauthoraugust (week two) + writing goals
other posts in this event
introduce yourselfthree facts about your work in progress
your writing space
At this point, I’m not even going to address if I’m late. Because it’s getting a bit redundant. I’ve proven to the world I’m not good with deadlines, everybody’s thinking it, I’m just saying it okay let’s move on.
p.s. hi Brooke thanks for following!
It’s way past week two in About the Author August and today we’re discussing prompt no. 5: writing goals. Which if I’m honest is a foreign concept to me. I tend to work on my projects for hours and hours every day for six months and then not touch it for another six months. Such behavior is frowned upon in most writing societies because while it may be creatively effective it is not productive in the least and at that rate my book will be published when I’m 100 🧙♂️ So, today I’d like to establish some writing goals for myself.
Soooo, how do I do that?
I used this video to help myself set goals. I love Kate’s channel. She is so productive it scares me. Goals scare me too. If I say I'm going to do something part of me doesn't want to do it anymore. Very counterproductive.
1: NaNoWriMo
could this be the year I finally participate in nanowrimo?? I have been “planning” on doing nanowrimo for maybe like 7 or 8 years (I know. I know. My procrastination skills are off the charts) but I would either remember late in December “oh yeah nanowrimo happened” or start and then trail off after a couple of days of writing. However, I’ve gotten much better at taking action and prioritizing things that make me happy or interest me this year. I also have a full draft of sleepy hollow at my disposal which would help a lot even if I don’t plan on the story remaining the same as the first draft. I could at least get words on a page. This won't be an official GOAL goal, since I'm hopefully going to be moving over the winter but I could at least set my own word count goal of 20,000. It's a thought.
2. blogging
one of my greatest joys so far this year has been blogging. It's very therapeutic for me. I would like to continue writing posts and be semi consistent with them. I don't want my blog to turn into one of those commercial flavored, ad speckled, robot mommy blogs. I want my posts to remain genuine.
3. freelance classes
this is exciting. I'm looking forward to learning all about freelancing. I have an online program that I'd like to complete before I begin my freelance journey.
4. go writing in a cafe once a month
this isn't necessary but I imagine it would be quite fun. I've never gone on a solo coffee trip to write but I hear it makes it feel like you're out at work so it stimulates progress. I would like to try to go once a month. Maybe I'll find it very productive or maybe I'll be so worried people are reading what I'm writing over my shoulder and judging my first draft that I'll stare at my computer and pretend to type we'll see.
5. begin to build a writing portfolio
this is a long term goal. Once I complete my freelance writing course I would like to build a portfolio of blog posts, articles, stories, copy writing etc. to show future employers.
What are your writing goals?
Friday, August 20, 2021
what just happened
Remember when I was doing this event and I was posting throughout the week and I was enjoying my life? Me too. If I were to explain what the last week of my life was like this post would be illegally long and I would regret 90% of its content. It's far easier to show instead of tell.
The Last Week and A Half of My Life
Sunday, August 8, 2021
running wild in impractical outfits
Car Wash
University of Glasgow
Abandoned Castle
A Fictional Place of Your Choosing: Hobbiton
Picnic
Summer Road Trip
In the Woods
Paris
In a cottage with a garden
Circus or Masquerade
On the Moor
It's the 20's (or some other era) and your husband's been mysteriously murdered. What's your outfit?
Saturday, August 7, 2021
#abouttheauthoraugust (week one) + a snippet of your work in progress
other posts in this event
introduce yourself
three facts about your work in progress
your writing space
Prompt no. 4 in About the Author August is to share a snippet of my work in progress. That is easier said than done, because this story is one I decided to put my energy into plotting rather than writing. I tend to want to write scenes that I can see very vividly and I’ll work on those until they get to maybe 2nd draft level and then I realize I didn’t develop the actual story and I get overwhelmed and pick up a new project. So in order to avoid that unproductive cycle, I disciplined myself to plot instead. I actually really enjoyed it. Seeing the scenes connect and entwine was so fulfilling and exciting. I did write a few scenes here and there but they are outdated, scrambled, and very short. It took me a wwwhiilleee to choose which one to post. A lot of them had spoilers and that's just not allowed.
I finally settled on a scene I'm not sure will even be in the completed story but I think depicts the characters fairly well. At this point, Ichabod and Caitriona decide to lure the horseman to them in an effort to determine why he is haunting Sleepy Hollow. You also see Crispin's (the horseman's) obsession with Catriona. As far as quality writing goes, I'm not in love with the way this scene is written, it's fairly straightforward and blech but I like the happenings. I like the tension, the fact that Crispin gets to show an emotion other than rage, you see the protective side of Ichy (I legitimately refer to Ichabod as Ichy throughout my notes). Hopefully it's not too dreadful.
"Can you see?" whispered Catriona. Though she hadn't yet lit the candle, she tip-toed across the room.
"Yes," Ichabod said, resting his brow on the cold wood and watching her billowing skirts as she unlatched the window. She pushed it open, letting in a crisp chill that could whip your spine into shape. She placed the stub of a candle on the sill, then halted. Ichabod shifted, his joints already complaining.
"What is it?" he asked, squinting into the treeline outside. Catriona shook her head lightly, as if she were bothered by a fly. She lifted a match to the striker. Her hand shook so hard she couldn't place it. She tried again, smudging her palm with soot. Ichabod stepped from the wardrobe. Her brown eyes glittered like freshly polished wood under her furrowed brow.
"I can't get it," she trembled, missing the box again. Ichabod draped his hand over hers. It folded like a flower closing up, but still it shook. She blinked at him as he lead her fingers to the striker and drew the match down. It spat sparks and ignited.
"You can do this, Catriona," he said, their hands still holding the match. "You've faced him before, a dozen times. And you did it alone. Now, you have me and I reckon we make a pretty good team." Caitriona's jaw clenched and she drew a breath in that sucked the flame toward her. Though there was a smudge of that wild fear he'd seen in her that first night in the garden, it was shaded with something else. Determination. "Alright, Mr. Crane," she said, leading their hands towards the wick, "a team."
The flame licked to life and Ichabod retreated into the wardrobe. He re-positioned his hand on the hilt again and again trying to anticipate the best way to charge if need be. Catriona stood at the window with her hands stitched together, breathing slow, long breaths. They waited. Through the mist it was hard to see anything but the tops of the trees and the stars. Ichabod watched more and more wink to life. The candle's wax bubbled down the sides and dried on the sill. They must have been there for over an hour, but Ichabod did not dare speak and Catriona kept her eyes on the treeline. Ichabod rubbed his eyes. Perhaps he would not come. Perhaps he was too angry with Catriona for lying to him. If that were true, it would be best to meet Abraham in the barn where they could formulate a plan. Ichabod placed a hand on the wardrobe door to open it when the stoic, solid figure of the headless horseman strode into view.
"Catriona," said Crispin. His voice was softer than Ichabod had expected. It was not rasping and pained as he had imagined. It was full of… emotion. So much so that he could imagine an expression for each of his words. "You know the light offends me," the horseman finished.
"Yes. But your darkness frightens me," answered Catriona. Ichabod was impressed by the steadiness of her voice as his own knees bobbed. She moved to pinch the flame.
"Then I would have you leave it," said Crispin, grasping her hand to stop her from extinguishing it. Catriona stood still and the headless horseman cradled her hand in his, continuing to hold it. Ichabod felt his fingers pulse against the sword's hilt. Finally, Crispin released Catriona's hand. "You lied to me," he said, quietly.
"I did," replied Catriona.
"You tore my heart out and you flaunted it in my face with that… boy."
Catriona nearly turned her head towards the wardrobe but caught herself just in time. Instead, she looked to the floor. "I was afraid," she said. There was a long pause wherein Crispin stood still as stone. His chest did not rise or fall with breath. His body did not move with any life at all.
"Wait!" He froze. "If you would only tell me what you are here for," she said, gripping his large glove. This was it. Ichabod strained his ears. "What it is you need to do, I could help you." Crispin teetered ever so slightly, as if on a precipice, towards Catriona and then to the woods. He could not have shown more confliction if he had had a face. He placed his other hand on Catriona's, cupping her wrist. Ichabod got closer.
"No need, Catriona," said Crispin, and he let her hand fall. "I do not crave heaven, for I have already experienced it through you," and in three strides back he was enveloped by the mist. The sound of Goliath's hooves pounded in Ichabod's ears, mingling with his heartbeat. Catriona turned to Ichabod, eyes wide.
"No." There was an edge to the horseman's words as he had retreated. "He's let go of all need to be good," Ichabod said.
Friday, August 6, 2021
#abouttheauthoraugust (week one) + your writing space
Other posts in this event
introduce yourself
three facts about your work in progress
Did I post this on time? No. Was it because I didn’t pay the WiFi bill? Perhaps. It could also be argued that I did not post yesterday because I was DYING. I woke up at 4 am for work. I left the house at 4:30 AM FOR WORK. I waited for the truck to arrive for 2 HOURS AT WORK. ERGO, I woke up at 4 am for NOTHING.
But we are not here to discuss my inability to function. We are here to discuss WRITING. It’s prompt no. 3 in About the Author August and I’ll be talking about my writing space.
I don’t have one.
Okay thanks for reading guys!
In all seriousness, I don’t have a special writing space. It would be cool if I did though. I imagine a large window and a desk with a rollie chair and my notebooks around. In reality though, I write at my kitchen table. It’s where I do my blog posts and my creative writing as well even though I do have a desk in the living room. I mostly use that desk for work stuffs like my freelancing or my Etsy shop. Neither of which are in motion right now they exist in a special place in my mind (:
It’s a little white table with two hard uncomfortable wooden chairs. The pain of sitting in them keeps me motivated. The sunshine comes in and brightens the whole kitchen. I also like the view out of the window. I can see the woods behind the cornfields and right now the corn is in that deep green stage where they look like some made up plant. I usually make some coffee or a cup of cinnamon apple tea and listen to music there as a write. What’s in your writing space?
Tomorrow, I’ll share a snippet of my writing!
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
#abouttheauthoraugust (week one) + three facts about your work in progress
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
#abouttheauthoraugust (week one) + introduce yourself
I changed some things around my blog. I want it to evolve with me and I recently leveled up soooo obviously it has to too. I really like the new header, it's simple and pretty. The quote on it is from Peter Pan and it is one of my favorites. I think it defines my journey well. Also, I reverted the unknown back to draft because it was doing more harm than good for me at the moment. Sometimes goals inspire and sometimes they feel restrictive. I may reaffirm my intentions and repost it, who knows?
Today, I stumbled upon THIS:
I hope to start working as a freelance writer within the next two years, that would be a little dream of mine come true. I've also had a goal to blog more often in order to improve my writing skill to prepare for that and to help me with my creative writing as well.
Monday, August 2, 2021
lately I've been loving
I’ve never done a post like this, but I love reading them. I'll take any opportunity to use something other than just words to describe my current mood. I do adore writing, but I can never seem to say EXACTLY what I mean. You know?
Also, shout out to my new follower, McKayla. Welcome, welcome there's still time to escape.
Enchanted
This is on my list of favorite movies. It’s not a very long list, mind you, it’s PRETTY exclusive. This movie always makes me happy and it is deep enough to make me think about my life too, which all great movies should. The messages: dreams do come true. never stop trying to make your life a fairytale, never settle. always honor your emotions. face real-life problems head on. It GENUINELY helps me to remember to DREAM BIG and be myself.
Monk fruit sweetened coffee
Sugar makes me feel like I have cancer. So I’ve been drinking these sugar free plant based coffees and they are delicioussss.
Little trips
My sisters and I have taken several little trips to the park, to grandma's (where we promptly ate her food, used her shower, and broke her laundry machine. true story.) and to the bookstore because why not? It's nice to get a change of scenery.
Long flowing hair
Do I have it anymore? No. Am I bitter about it? Maybe. But I do have a new goal to grow my hair out and to keep it healthy this time so I don’t feel the need to cut it again. I have this thing about hair… I hate it. Hate how it feels, hate how it gets tangled, hate brushing it ehghhfkiheski it’s disgusting but so pretty what do I do.
Falling by Emmy Rossum, Bridges by Broods & Someday from Thumbelina
All whimsical songs that make me feel like I’m somewhere special and free.
Going makeup-free
Mostly because I’ve started a new job and I can’t be bothered right now. But I forgot how nice it feels to wake up and not worry about makeup, to touch my face throughout the day, and to come home and splash water on my face without sitting there scrubbing every single eyelash. I still wear makeup but I think I'd like to do it less often.
Being kinder to myself/ self reflection
Giving my worries to God
Pumpkin
She’s my three footed cat and I adore her. She curls up very close to me every night, rolled in a swirl like a cinnamon bun.
Lasagna
Kinda nasty but really good at the same time. Sometimes I just love food that makes me feel like my mom made me dinner again. Like soup or toast. Those mom-ish foods.
Beautiful videos. Just stunning. My sister showed me this channel, and I instantly thought, "why do I watch anything but these?". They talk of life, love, loss, and they give you a new perspective which can be very hard to come by.
Feminine energy
I've been getting in touch with it more. Realizing it has a great amount of value. More on this later.
My journal key necklace
I have this fancy purple journal that has a gold heart lock and key that keeps all of the (blank) pages secret. I never use it because I don't like journaling. Sooooooo I strung the key for it on a necklace so I could live my childhood dream of being "that girl who has her secret journal key around her neck because her secrets are so secret." I just have to add the secrets.
Those are all the things I've been loving. What have you been doing, feeling, thinking, or NOT thinking? Do share.