Originality

Opposites Book Tag

January Wrap Up & February TBR

I Should be Writing

I sat down to write a blog post the other day, and my blog was blocked!! Apparently it developed some sort of virus that would brutally murder your computer if you opened it. I threw a big fit, deleted some stuff, nothing worked, so I gave up. But now things seem to have worked themselves out and everything is running smoothly (knock on wood.) Basically, I'm saying don't blame me for the lack of recent blog posts because, for once, I actually have a valid excuse (ok, my blog may have sorted itself out about two weeks ago....)

I woke up this morning feeling really inspired to write. And I believe in writing as soon as I feel inspired, because that doesn't happen often enough. I got up, turned on my computer, and saw that I'd left Facebook open. Then I spent an hour on Facebook. It's not even that Facebook distracts me, but as soon as I get on it all of my creativity seems to seep away. Facebook is the enemy. I should probably delete my account (again,) but then I would have absolutely no social life. So probably better not. Besides, then I wouldn't be able to run Creative Writers, and that page fills my soul with joy. Right now we're obsessed with "You Should be Writing" pictures. I've posted about forty of them, and people keep requesting new ones.

Haha, too bad they don't seem to be inspiring me. This one is a more accurate representation of my life:

I did make some progress on The Witch's Key! ...two days ago. I wrote about 1,600 words. Changed The Council to The Coven (which makes infinitely more sense in a village of witches; I'm really not sure why it wasn't The Coven from the beginning.) Oh, and I introduced Orilla, which made me happy since she's my favorite. I still haven't found a picture for her yet, since I apparently have no idea what she looks like. Also, I'm trying to give her a Louisiana accent, and I've watched about a billion (that's a low estimate) videos of people talking in Louisiana accents, but it's still super hard. Writing real cultures is the hardest! This is why I prefer to write books that take place on fantasy worlds, but my characters don't actually care what I want. Jerks. 

Anyway, while I was browsing Facebook today, I came across an interesting article. This vlogger published a book and broke J. K. Rowling's first-week sales -- of all the Harry Potter books. I actually find it super hard to believe. But I'm really excited for her! I started watching her vlogs, and she seems really sweet. I've also added her book to my Amazon wish list (hint, hint.)

Reading about Zoella's success has inspired me to work on my own vlog. I mean, not that I expect to hit such great heights (though I suppose there's no harm in dreaming,) but I do have a loyal, if little, fan base -- some of whom have held on even though it's been a year since my last video. I have one viewer in particular who has e-mailed me several times, demanding videos -- and I really appreciate it. At this moment, old footage is being processed (which takes forever, hence my writing this ridiculously long blog post) and videos are being prepared! Hopefully you'll see something in the not-too-distant future. 

Also, if I keep up on my vlog, maybe it will inspire me to do more writing. It did last time. I feel too hypocritical telling the world (or even a tiny portion of it) to write if I'm not writing myself. I have gotten really excited about The Witch's Key again. I get to (re)write the scene where we meet Thanasius today! And we all know how much I adore Thanasius (Lisa Mangum teased me for having a crush on him when I pitched my novel to her.) 

My videos have finished processing, so it's time for me to go! I promise to really try to hit both the book and the vlog hard this week (because abusing them always helps.) Hopefully I'll have some progress to report next time I post! And hopefully my blog won't get another virus....

Love and sparkles~! 

♥/Kat!e

Kate's Novel Idea Episode 9

Sorry this is somewhat belated. My only excuse is that I'm lazy.



Today's Novel Idea Prompted by: "Write the story of Little Red Riding Hood from Little Red's point of view, emphasizing the pain and horror of being eaten by a wolf. Really make Red suffer!" Courtesy of Gail Carson Levine's book Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly. 

Kate's Novel Idea Episode 8

♥/Kat!e

Today's Novel Idea Prompted by: "Do something recommended in this video--go for a walk, do some window shopping, go to the library, climb a tree, do a crazy dance. Then write about it!" Just an off-the-top-of-my-head prompt. 

Kate's Novel Idea Episode 7

♥/Kat!e

Today's Novel Idea Prompted by: "Do a 10-minute Free Write using the theme "Lost." Then do another with the theme "Found." Courtesy of Young writers and About.com. 

Kate's Novel Idea Episode 6

♥/Kat!e

Today's Novel Idea Prompted by: "If you have a book that you've been plotting, and working on character-building and world development, and you've told people all about it... but you haven't actually written it, pull it out and write one page."

Kate's Novel Idea Episode 5

Books recommended in this video (and a little more information about them)

Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly by Gail Carson Levine

This book is full of writing advice, geared at Elementary aged kids but good for writers of all ages! It includes advice on silencing your inner critic, writing characters, getting over writer's block, and more! Every chapter ends with a prompt, and the book includes a great character sheet. Check it out!

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Any introduction to this book seems silly, since odds are you've already heard of it. It's the story of a hobbit who wants a quiet life, but then gets whisked off the become the Burglar in a quest. It is an exciting adventure full of giant spiders, trolls, goblins, dragons, elves, dwarfs, hobbits, humans, and treasure.

So You Want to be a Wizard? by Diane Duane

The first book in the Young Wizard series, So You Want to be a Wizard? is about 13-year old Nita Callahan who finds a self-help book on how to become a wizard. This throws her into an exciting adventure, along with Kit Rodriguez, another budding wizard, and Fred, a white hole that the two kids accidentally summon. The book is fun-filled and unique and "well worth a read."

Sahara Special by Esmé Raji Codell

I kind of failed to give a good description of this book in the video. I don't usually like books about troubled kids who discover themselves and realize their worth blah blah blah. But this book is so much more than that. It's funny and clever and really makes you think. Believe me, it is fantastic.

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull

Jason Walker finds himself in a magical world--a world without heroes. The land has mostly been taken over by the evil Maldor, and few rebels remain. But Jason, along with another Earth girl named Rachel, has involved himself in a quest that may just save the world... or get them killed.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Elantris was a great city, peopled by ordinary humans transformed into magic-using demigods. But then Elantris fell, leaving its inhabitants powerless wrecks. Prince Raoden finds himself in Elantris, neither dead nor alive and a future of starvation and pain ahead of him. Meanwhile, his fiance, Princess Sarene, has arrived to be told that her betrothed has died. Sarene sets about trying to learn about the politics in her knew kingdom, all the while trying to keep a recently arrived high priest of Fjordell from converting the populace. Elantris is full of intrigue, magic, romance, politics, amazing writing, and fantastic characters.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Shakespearean comedy at its finest, Much Ado About Nothing follows the stories of two young couples: Claudio & Hero and Benedict & Beatrice. Claudio and Hero are pretty boring, since they're just cute and in love. But Benedict and Beatrice fight constantly--and their friends decide to hook them up, because either they'll be perfect for each other and fall madly in love, or they'll kill each other and it will be hilarious. This play is laugh-out-loud funny and just plain ridiculous.

Much Obliged, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

Wodehouse is a comic genius. His works are wordy and witty and just plain fun. Bertie Wooster always manages to get himself in some sort of trouble, and relies on his gentleman's personal gentleman, Jeeves, to get him out of it. For wacky, off-the-wall, British humor you can't do better than Wodehouse.

♥/Kat!e

Today's Novel Idea Inspired by: "Begin a story with the first line of one of your favorite books." A prompt I just made up off the top of my head. 

Kate's Novel Idea Episode 4

Today's Novel Idea Prompted by: "Write a story consisting only of words of one syllable." courtesy of Dragon Writing Prompts. 

Kate's Novel Idea Episode 3

Character Name ideas:
Behind the Name: http://www.behindthename.com/
Go through the names of your Facebook friends
Look through the phone book (assuming you still have one lying around)
Look at names of authors, or characters from books (obviously don't use the name "Harry Potter," but you could technically use the name "Harry" or the name "Potter" or the name "Rowling" for that matter.) 

Some good character sheets:
http://www.eclectics.com/articles/character.html
http://www.solaba.blogspot.com/2010/05/character-month.html
http://www.solaba.blogspot.com/2010/05/character-questions.html

If you or your character would like to become Facebook friends with my characters, check out these links:
Phyllida Mandrake: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002961914881
Morgana Moon: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003116078501
Thanasius Litwin: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000352731889

I should note that when I say sometimes characters come to me "fully developed," I don't mean I know everything they're ever going to do and they're a total breeze to write. I mean, sometimes I have a pretty good character before I have a story. I still have to work with them, and they still may change considerably. While I adore writing characters, and it is probably what I am best at in my writing (as opposed to writing action scenes, which I kind of suck at), that doesn't mean it comes easy to me. 

I'M INSANE!!! And proud of it ^_^

♥/Kat!e

Today's Novel Idea Prompted by: "Take one of the Seven Deadly Sins (Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy, Gluttony) and one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues (Patience, Charity, Diligence, Humility, Chastity, Kindness, Temperance) and personify them--turn them into characters! Then have them meet up somewhere. What happens next?" Courtesy of Dragon Writing Prompts. 

Kate's Novel Idea Episode 1

Hey! So, I've started this vlog about writing. This is the first episode, and it's just an introduction, nothing too exciting, but I'd love it if you'd check it out ^_^

♥/Kat!e

Today's Novel Idea Prompted by: "Cut up a paper bag (phone book page, newspaper, ...) into 20 pieces of various sizes. Write 20 words on the pieces. Any 20 words. Mix them up then shuffle them into a poem. Or intriguing phrases to use in a writing piece." Courtesy of Dragon Writing Prompts.