I Wrote Today

I wrote today.

You have no idea how wonderful those words make me feel, how they send a burst of excitement throughout my entire body. The sense of accomplishment for writing is the greatest thing I have ever done.

It is all the more important because it has been hard for me to write throughout this past year. For some reason, my mind wanders whenever I sit down to type out my story. It is as if, from what I have concluded after some thought, as if I am almost afraid of writing. I do not want to have my finished product hated by the people that I so thoroughly want to please. The thought of letting people down is just terrifying.

Writing is an art form that is hard to perfect. In fact, I'm pretty sure nobody has ever perfected writing. But that is because there are so many different styles and ways to let out the thoughts in ones mind. This is something that should be embraced, though, not feared. My thoughts are different from anyone elses. They are mind alone and I shall share them in my own way. The end result is perfection in its own form.

So, when I say, "I wrote today," I am saying it with so much enthusiasm that it is almost impossible. I have done something that my mind has been fighting against, I have done something that I love. Writing gives me the greatest feeling of pleasure and importance. Hopefully one day I will reach my ultimate goal: completing a novel.

I'm sure I will.

~Mira

Revelation

Usually before I go to sleep my minds wanders - to everything and to nothing. I become immersed in thoughts of all sorts. That's when I head over to my diary and just let everything spill out, where I can say everything I don't want to tell anyone else.

You would think that it's the same each night - think and think and then fall to sleep. Yet... Last night it was quite a bit different. My thoughts eventually drifted to the usual - where am I supposed to go in life, what am I supposed to do? The very next thought that entered my mind was of several things I had heard over the course of the day: murder, undeserving pain, immense sadness. Before I could even prepare myself, tears were falling from my eyes.

Yet I could not have not cried enough tears for all the pain I felt at that moment. There are all these people in the world murdered, starving, deathly sick... Yes, I had known my whole life that people died every day, that people live in the worst conditions possible. But I hadn't ever really felt it, hadn't truly known it. There aren't just a few people who are put in these unfortunate circumstances, there are millions. And what have I been doing? What have I been doing for these people?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

And I feel terrible. Here I am, constantly worrying my life away about little things (and some big). These people put up with their life every single day while I am sitting here, spoiled and unhappy with how things go at points.

So, I decided I'm going to take a stand. I'm going to do something big, help those that are in pain. I want to try and help prevent anything terrible from happening to these individuals. I want to save them from the ugly monsters around them. To start, I'm going to get involved. Community service, join groups, help others...

Today I took the first step. I joined a group called Amnesty International (www.amnesty.org/en). They strive to protect human rights and help people around the world that are facing unfortunate events. I am so excited to be a part of something that will be helping people. Hopefully I will make a difference.

My next steps are still a little unknown. I did a lot of research on groups that make a difference and there are so many. It makes me smile just to see that long list sitting on my desk. Amnesty International, Red Cross, Rotaract Club, Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Americorps, and so so much more. And I love that. I love that people are striving to make a difference.

And my future steps? Well, I decided that I want to write a book and publish it. Some of the money I earn will be donated to organizations that are really helping in the world, to orphanages, to anyone that needs the aide.

Tomorrow is a new day, full of new choices and directions. I may not want to work a double, I may want to sleep in, I may want to play on the internet or read a book all day... But there are people out there that need my help. So I will get up and live my life with a smile on my face. Because at the end of the day, all that will matter is if I've helped someone, or at least put a smile on someone's face that needed it.

~Mira

A Start

It is always amazing to rediscover the joy of writing. After almost spending the entire summer with inspiration to write, I have once again become immersed in the pleasure of such a fine art.

The story that now speaks to me has been one I've been discovering - step by step - since last summer. The characters are telling me that I need to start sharing, to start turning their journey from just a thought into a real novel.

And I know that I am near ready to commence with doing just that. I have the middle and end of the story figured out. It is only the start that conceals itself from me. However, once the discovery of the start has been obtained, then the words shall flow out like a river... or so I shall hope. Inspiration doesn't always let the words flow out as they should. It's a well-known fact. ;)

However, I do have high hopes for the adventure I am about to undertake. I am so excited about the world, the characters, the plot... It is a story I would want to live, a book that I would want to buy as soon as it came out. Hopefully the same applies to others. We'll just have to see where the reading process takes me and how this story will truly come to pass...

It's time to meet... Character Development!

Bad character development is detrimental to a story. You take away personality and where is the flavor of the text? Nowhere.

The personalities that are created for you story, however, must not be too built upon. You try to thrust a life upon them and everything will fall apart. As time will teach you, characters tend to grow and change as the piece moves. They have a life of their own. This doesn't mean that you can't help shape them however. And there are several important things to do for this.

Choose a point of view, a distinct personality sphere to start from: the jock, the geek, the baddie, etc., etc. Go from there. What makes them unique? Do flowers scare them? Do they have a deep, dark secret they can never tell anyone? Is there a secret crush?

Don't forget to know what your characters look like. Develop a mental picture in your mind. And it's not just the physical appearance that you need know, it's everything about the character. Behavior, weaknesses, a quick history...

Remember, the characters help build the story. How could it move from one point to the next if there were no characters? So add some spice to the journey. Why have a bland dish, when you could have the most extraordinary work, full of mouthwatering flavor? Give those characters some personality and dish it out; just not too much, or you'll stuff the readers full to where they can't take anymore. ;)

Happy writing!
~Mira

Advice

The past haunts me at moments in times, more so than the future tortures me. Questions constantly run through my head: Why didn't I do that? Why did I do THAT? How have I changed so much? Why didn't I prepare more?

My childhood was a beautiful thing, not that my life isn't a joy now. I fully love my life. It's just that there was more of a magic to my younger years. I could believe in anything, I could dream of the most impossible things. I didn't have to worry about the future, about what I needed to prepare for. Unfortunately, I should have started worrying about that years ago.

This leads me to some major points of advice as you grow older. It would be wise to at least read them. ;)

1. Keep ahold of your family. Even though you and your family are changing, one thing remains the same: you are still family. No matter what, there is a bond stronger than anything else between your mom, your dad, your brother or sister. Don't let the bond break, because you will find yourself missing it most of all as you grow older. Family is one of the most important things in life.

2. Never give up. I didn't often do this, but at the points I did give up, I regret it. I should have tried to harder, pushed myself to do more. I'm proud of what I have done, but I could have done so much more. Just know that people believe in you, no matter what, at least, the people who are important do. You can dream of reaching the stars, but you never will if you decide not to take the hardest step. So go ahead and shoot for the stars; even if you miss, you'll just learn how to do better next time.

3. Prepare. Know what you want to do and don't just dream about it. Push yourself to do your best and plan ahead. Do you know what college you want to go to? What majors do they offer? Do you even know what you want to do yet? Save up money for any financial issues you may have. It'll help, I promise, but do realize that money goes fast. You may have to get a job to continue to help out with any financial costs.

4. Enjoy yourself. This, over all others, is the most important. Life isn't important if you don't have fun. So make time for it. Ride a horse. Try out for that part you always wanted to get. Sing a song. Read a book. Geez, write a book if you want. It doesn't matter. As long as you enjoy yourself between getting yourself ready for the future and studying for your final, everything should go great. I mean, what do you have to keep you going forward if there's nothing exciting to come? But, then again, there's always exciting to come, I should hope. ;

The Beast

The words fill my head, day and night. Ideas and stories weave themselves, threatening to loose themselves if I do not take hold. With this, I am given two choices: become a master of words or forever stand in the shadow of the people whose words are mountains.

It is hard, however, to tell if I am ready to wield the words that come to me. I trimble at their defiance, weep at their unwillingness to obey. They are like a snake, slippery and desperately trying to slither out of my grasp. Can I truly become their master if I cannot control them as I should?

But who says that the author is ever in control? The plot will find its own twists, deciding to share them with you at the last possible moment. The characters will grow out of their boundaries, taking risks and steps you had never thought them capable of. The imagination roars as the story develops, taking the control that the writer seeks.

There are those who claim that they have taken ahold - famous authors and poets alike. But do they truly wield the sword or does the sword wield them? For how else can the words escape onto the paper, but by taking control of the person who has discovered them, by entering into their very heart and brain and coming out through the fingers that move so carefully over the keyboard or paper?

The words fill my head, day and night. Ideas and stories weave themselves, threatening to loose themselves if I do not take hold. With this, I am given two choices: become a master of words or forever stand in the shadow of the people whose words are mountains.

I choose neither. The words and I will become one, both of us becoming tame when without each other we were considered the untamable... And we will never truly be completely tame.

On Writing

It's everywhere around you - in school, at the movie theater, and most definitely at the local bookstore or library.

The written language, however, goes beyond little words and phrases. The world of literature excells because of the artform that has been created over the years. Novels, short stories, essays... Each and every form has a required sense of style - not that style is limiting in any means.

I've met many junior novelists and poets. I'm thoroughly awed by the talent I see put out by those younger and older than me (I'll put it this way - I'm prone to get writing envy). So many individuals have put in the time and work required to make a legacy, a timeless piece of art.

How do they do it?
There's a lot I could write, and I wouldn't be able to tell you everything. To be able to put out your best sense of writing, a lot of practice and hard work needs to be exercised. The work won't flow, won't come alive, if you don't breathe into it with your very heart and soul.

It's also good to get the advice of others. Not one writer can make it in the world without others reading their work - even after the literary piece is published, you are being critiqued by the readers that have bought it! Sound advice and good opinions help push a writer forward, allowing them to climb the ladder that has been set in front of them. I've found a great place for this at www.youngwriterssociety.com. ;)

I'm not the best of writers myself, but this advice seems right: practice, work, and get others to critique your work. Then practice some more. Nothing is ever perfect, but you can get it pretty darn close if you put your heart into it.

~Mira