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...
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
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
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
Monday, June 28, 2010
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. ;
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. ;
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
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
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Life
A boy at my high school died last week in a car accident. It was a tragic event and impacted everyone that knew him. It is hard to believe he was gone, a few months away from graduation. He had a lot left in life.
However, at the funeral, one of the speakers said, "We are only on loan." We have been truly been giving a blessing to be on this world and don't know when we will be taken back; so every moment is a treasure, a gift from God. The boy is now in Heaven, I am sure, with beautiful wings to carry him through the skies.
This event has been an eye-opener, but as the bishop said yesterday, "If we just had sun all the time, we'd have a desert. If we just had rain, we'd have a swamp. It takes both the sun and rain to make a balance." Sadness will come, but so will happiness. And we are only here for a short time, and though we must depart from each other for a little while at some point, we will all meet up again one day.
However, at the funeral, one of the speakers said, "We are only on loan." We have been truly been giving a blessing to be on this world and don't know when we will be taken back; so every moment is a treasure, a gift from God. The boy is now in Heaven, I am sure, with beautiful wings to carry him through the skies.
This event has been an eye-opener, but as the bishop said yesterday, "If we just had sun all the time, we'd have a desert. If we just had rain, we'd have a swamp. It takes both the sun and rain to make a balance." Sadness will come, but so will happiness. And we are only here for a short time, and though we must depart from each other for a little while at some point, we will all meet up again one day.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
True Beauty
The world is amazingly beautiful at times. The sun rises and falls behind the distant horizon, lighting the sky with amazing colors. The resulting picture is just gorgeous, a sight that cannot be truly caught in a picture.
The sunset that I caught in this picture is just beautiful, but I'm afraid that it does it no justice. The sunset, however, is not the only thing that can't be captured correctly. A sight is only truly breathtaking in person - the Grand Canyon, a curving river, Disney World... It doesn't matter what it is; only you will get the exact meaning of the view.
A picture may speak a thousand words, but the true scene cannot be described.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Creating a Dream
"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." ~ William Wordsworth
One of the greatest joys in my life, apart from music, is books. I love the way the words speak directly to my soul and allows me to take place in the greatest adventures that have existed. It's a great break from reality, the boredom I call my life.
However, just reading books is not enough to satisfy me. I can't just learn about all these adventures I'll never go on; I have to discover my own journeys. Writing is an artform, a release, that I could not live without. It allows me to transform myself daily. I become brave, powerful, fun, humorous... Not only that, but I am allowed to walk the path of people that I discover. No one else can see these characters in the same light that I do. And, better yet, no one can relay their story as well as me, the discoverer.
The power of controlling whole worlds is incredible enough, but I like the fact that writing takes you to so many places. These worlds that I find are all unique and beautiful. They are either different versions of the Earth we live on or another world altogether. The people in these are all incredibly amazing - you can never find the exact same type of people in them. There is always something that makes the characters of one story stand out.
As a dreamer, I find all of this thrilling. My life is plain compared to all the adventures that I find in books and in my imagination. Where I am just a teen, striving to do my best in everything that comes my way and drowning myself in stress at times, those other worlds are pretty amazing. The words What if... always run through my mind.
I spend a lot of my time imagining, silly as it sounds. I've got a huge imagination, though at times it comes to a standstill as writer's block takes grip of me. It never fails to amaze me and I love the ideas that flow for my books. And even though the ideas come from my mind, I always hold them in my heart. I love what I do because I'm not just a dreamer anymore. I make my dreams come true. It only takes two hands and a laptop sitting in my lap...
One of the greatest joys in my life, apart from music, is books. I love the way the words speak directly to my soul and allows me to take place in the greatest adventures that have existed. It's a great break from reality, the boredom I call my life.
However, just reading books is not enough to satisfy me. I can't just learn about all these adventures I'll never go on; I have to discover my own journeys. Writing is an artform, a release, that I could not live without. It allows me to transform myself daily. I become brave, powerful, fun, humorous... Not only that, but I am allowed to walk the path of people that I discover. No one else can see these characters in the same light that I do. And, better yet, no one can relay their story as well as me, the discoverer.
The power of controlling whole worlds is incredible enough, but I like the fact that writing takes you to so many places. These worlds that I find are all unique and beautiful. They are either different versions of the Earth we live on or another world altogether. The people in these are all incredibly amazing - you can never find the exact same type of people in them. There is always something that makes the characters of one story stand out.
As a dreamer, I find all of this thrilling. My life is plain compared to all the adventures that I find in books and in my imagination. Where I am just a teen, striving to do my best in everything that comes my way and drowning myself in stress at times, those other worlds are pretty amazing. The words What if... always run through my mind.
I spend a lot of my time imagining, silly as it sounds. I've got a huge imagination, though at times it comes to a standstill as writer's block takes grip of me. It never fails to amaze me and I love the ideas that flow for my books. And even though the ideas come from my mind, I always hold them in my heart. I love what I do because I'm not just a dreamer anymore. I make my dreams come true. It only takes two hands and a laptop sitting in my lap...
Friday, March 5, 2010
Choices, choices...
"Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." ~ William Jennings Bryan
Life can be cruel sometimes, throwing choices at us that we are unwilling to make or choices that are just too hard to pick the right path. Yet, we could not move forward without choice. It would be easy to stay right where you are now, to have everything decided for you. But where would the fun be in that? Without making your own choices, you aren't complete, you aren't you.
The quote above fits perfectly in with my life at the moment: I am a senior about to go to college. This is the point in life full of choices. It can be scary at times, because I want everything to be perfect, to be right. I have to choose between colleges, between what jobs I want to apply for, the classes I want to take, the way I want to start my new life... In a way, I might sound like I'm overexaggerating, but... Graduation day is truly a new beginning for me. I won't be just another teenager living life; I'll be preparing myself for my entrance into the world. I will be pursuing education at a higher level in order to become a professional in the realm of medicine, a dream I've had since second grade. And to me, in order to reach that childhood dreams, I must make good choices. I must achieve what I want, not wait for it come to me.
So, I suppose my message is this: follow your dreams and make the choices to get there. Don't sit around; reach for the stars. When that darling little thing is wrapped in your embrace, your smile shines with its light.
Life can be cruel sometimes, throwing choices at us that we are unwilling to make or choices that are just too hard to pick the right path. Yet, we could not move forward without choice. It would be easy to stay right where you are now, to have everything decided for you. But where would the fun be in that? Without making your own choices, you aren't complete, you aren't you.
The quote above fits perfectly in with my life at the moment: I am a senior about to go to college. This is the point in life full of choices. It can be scary at times, because I want everything to be perfect, to be right. I have to choose between colleges, between what jobs I want to apply for, the classes I want to take, the way I want to start my new life... In a way, I might sound like I'm overexaggerating, but... Graduation day is truly a new beginning for me. I won't be just another teenager living life; I'll be preparing myself for my entrance into the world. I will be pursuing education at a higher level in order to become a professional in the realm of medicine, a dream I've had since second grade. And to me, in order to reach that childhood dreams, I must make good choices. I must achieve what I want, not wait for it come to me.
So, I suppose my message is this: follow your dreams and make the choices to get there. Don't sit around; reach for the stars. When that darling little thing is wrapped in your embrace, your smile shines with its light.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Music
"Music is love in search of a word." ~ Sidney Lanier
Life is amazing. It's full of magic, in friendship, family, love, art, music... It's all around us, but I find it to be plenitful in the songs and melodies that fill the air of life.
Music has been used as a source of entertainment and pleasure for ages; tribal ceremonies, symphanies, plays, and choirs... It's been present in almost every human's life.
But the magic? The magic is in the heart and soul of the tune, the melody that speaks to your soul. There are so many types of music: classical, pop, country, rock, rap... Each one speaks differently to the individuals that hear it. And it's amazing that no matter who you are, the song will have its own unique meaning to you.
"Music is love in search of a word." Well, music is love. It is the gift of someone that is extremely in love with sounds, with tunes and melodies. They are giving this love to you, if only you let it into your soul. And even though it isn't always in search of a word, it is definitely in search of you.
Life is amazing. It's full of magic, in friendship, family, love, art, music... It's all around us, but I find it to be plenitful in the songs and melodies that fill the air of life.
Music has been used as a source of entertainment and pleasure for ages; tribal ceremonies, symphanies, plays, and choirs... It's been present in almost every human's life.
But the magic? The magic is in the heart and soul of the tune, the melody that speaks to your soul. There are so many types of music: classical, pop, country, rock, rap... Each one speaks differently to the individuals that hear it. And it's amazing that no matter who you are, the song will have its own unique meaning to you.
"Music is love in search of a word." Well, music is love. It is the gift of someone that is extremely in love with sounds, with tunes and melodies. They are giving this love to you, if only you let it into your soul. And even though it isn't always in search of a word, it is definitely in search of you.
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