April 2016 Poetry A Day: Week 2/5

Week 2 of the Poem A Day challenge.  It's been a little harder to keep with it because I'm not adding these into my NaNo Camp project, at least not yet, but it's fun.  One of them might make their way into my NaNoWriMo project or another work (My Rock Falls series does have a few writers within.) So Monday's poem theme was distance.  Seriously, 2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 4 is to write a distance poem.  Upon reading this, my brain compared how I learned to tell distance with that of those who learned to use meters or miles.  Surprisingly, this poem gave me it's title before I even started letting it flow.

Varieties of Distance

They say distance makes the heart fonder

yet they contradict with

long-distance relationships won’t work

For distance between cities I’ve noticed

While several use miles and kilometers

Even more go by time

Distance works in length of songs, books, movies, too

But nothing is nearly as long

as the distance of a life

Nothing is as short either

For some life is ended at the start

Gone before they truly live

Others go beyond the distance of their life

Known generations later

For distance is just a measurement

2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 5 was actually a "two-prompt challenge."  He gave us the option to write an experienced or an inexperienced poem.  Since the word experience can refer to so many things, I have to agree with Robert Lee Brewer, the author of these posts, that this should provide a large selection of poems.  My attempt at an experienced/inexperienced poem is actually slightly influenced by the series Dancing With The Stars.  No, I haven't given it a title, but if you have suggestions, don't be shy.  Leave it in the comments!

They dance as gazelles run or grass waves

Magic leads every step

It’s so hard to know

just who is the professional and whom is new

Then there are those who

obviously have two left feet

stumbling, bumbling, and no sense of rhythm

dancing on a stage just to have fun

Does experience always matter

when you love what you’re doing

or when the story is so compelling

it makes a person forget the dismal dance they see

Day 6 was a bit harder for me to actually focus on.  Okay, so it was nearly impossible for me.  2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 6 was to write an "ekphrastic poem".  I'm so glad Brewer gave a definition for this and provides his own example of the poems.  Anyone who knows me well, knows that anything can be inspiration for a new piece of work.  In fact I couldn't tell you the number of times a picture I saw was the inspiration for a person or piece of work.  Look at my NaNo Camp project...it was inspired by a picture I took on my phone!  Either way, apparently an ekphrastic poem is inspired by a piece of art.  For mine I took a pic that I had saved to my husband's computer that had originally been shared by a friend (or was it group?) on Facebook.

Chained by a warrior

Of unrivaled power

She reeks of goodness

Though she appears dark

She seems almost calming

To the ghostly image 

Of a creature much worse

than any she'd known 

It came from a time

ere humans e'er lived

A time populated with

creatures more noble than she

The strength the pair exudes

The grace and nobility within

They eclipse all making night

seem like day and day like night

They overpower even Arthur

with his noble ideals and 

Knights of the Round Table

This flying creature and it's majestic captor

Apparently once again there was no title forthcoming from this poem.  Any suggestions are, as always, helpful.

2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 7 marked the end of the first week which is surprising as the month seems to be flying by.  This time the prompt is "Urban _________".  All I can think is 

URBAN RANGER

Tracking in the sewers

City streets make no difference

This hunter is at home

in a bustling city or minuscule village

They have no need

of learning the ways of the wild

or patterns of the tides

Not when they can weave through a metropolis

They've learned to track in the merchant's home

or through a thieves'guild's den

The urban ranger is no tracker of the wild

they are the bounty hunter of the old days

2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 8 had a prompt that gave me a bit of a memorable trip.  He says to write a doodle poem.  So here's my attempt and a title as well!

DOODLE TO A MASTERPIECE

I sit bored as I wait

Can't help myself 

On the blank page before me

I take a pencil and mark

The lines take a life of their own

the swirls expand to create

a picture of their own

A masterpiece from a doodle

I can't stop the connections

I can't remove the pencil

I don't remember why 

I was so bored before

For 2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 9, we were challenged to write a Hide Out poem.  As you'll see, my hideouts have never been in a physical place.  Likely they never will be. 

HIDEOUTS IN THE PAGES

Pull the blanket over your head

Grab the flashlight from beside your bed.

Disappear a bit from a cruel, cruel world

Into one we know will end happily

It may take hours days, weeks or years

But through the tears a smile will emerge

As each journey ends A forced return

From the hideout that exists between the pages

The stories that are used to hide away

from cruelties of a modern world

Hidden from our injustices 

by following the heroes of other worlds

That's where my hideouts are

They're between the pages of stories

The images in daydreams 

My hideouts have never been on this physical plane

Yes, a library worked 

So would a bed or chair or even hidden room

They weren't where I disappeared to though

It was in the stories on the paper in my hands

It was the romance of the wild west

The adventures in far off lands

Mysteries that needed solving

These are still the hideouts I seek

Today is day 10 out of 30.  A third of the way through the challenge and while I might not have written them daily, I'm proud to say that I have written a poem so far for each challenge.  So today's challenge, 2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 10, the prompt was to write a poem about an emotion using said emotion for the title.  With the wealth of emotions and their synonyms available for usage, I think the option  are endless.  So, here's my attempt.  Hoping you enjoy it!

JUBILANT

Joyous

Until the end

Birth is its beginning

Intelligence unneeded

Love can cause it

As well as

Numerous other events

Transcending most emotions

Camp NaNoWrimo April 2016: 2/5

So last Sunday I didn't get a lot done on my project and I meant to give a little highlight on the write-ins, but ended up not seeing as I was unable to watch them in their entirety before my Sunday post.  I will admit though that I am working on the story and am tempting to draw out or find a way to create a map on a computer to give the overall area that the story, which is promising as a series starter instead of a stand alone (which was my original plan), spans.  Is what you're working on shaping up differently than you originally planned?

I'm also working on it's cover.  I'm thinking of using the house I have in Camp NaNoWrimo April 2016: 1/5 as the background and impose a picture of either the family or their vehicle to make this story's cover and if it really is the start of a series, use the house as a backdrop for the cover.  Give your opinions on these thoughts in the comments.  Maybe you have a better idea?  If so, don't be afraid to comment about it!

April 2016 Poetry A Day: Week 1/5

So, April 1 was the first day of the 2016 April PAD Challenge.  The poem we were tasked to write was "a foolish poem" - apropos for April Fool's Day.  Basically a poem involving fools, pranks, and/or tomfoolery.  So this was my attempt, possibly a bit more or less refined from the actual submission in the comments section for 2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 1.

Tricksters extraordinaire

Come out to play

On this 

All Fool's Day

Illusionists and hypnotists

Pranksters and general populace

Let out a side that's hidden

364 days of the year

From mild misplacement

And sleight of hand tricks

To worldwide dupings

Played upon unsuspecting targets

So enjoy it whilst one can

The pranks and tricks, hijinx and hilarity

For those unsuspecting victims

While it may end up cold - Revenge is sweet

I haven't thought of a title yet, but am willing to accept suggestions.  Go ahead and leave one in the comments.


For 2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 2, the poem was to be a He said, She said type poem.  It just seemed to flow for me, but once again I have no title for it.

He said he needed space

She claimed it was okay

He said it would be a short time only 

She claimed she would wait.

He called her to hear her voice

She said things were fine

He mentioned some places he saw

She said she was still waiting

He finally returned

She waited in the door

He went to greet her 

She stopped him with a bag

She said she needed space

He demanded why

She said she needed time

He replied she'd had enough

She pointed out that was his

He claimed she could have as well

She couldn't say anymore as she walked to a waiting vehicle

He tried to call her back

He never noticed the tears on her face 

Neither did she on his 

He didn't notice the changes

But neither had she

The biggest thing they missed

Besides each other 

The biggest thing left unsaid

Were three little words

Both had waited for the other to say them

Neither wanted to be first

To admit to those three little words

I love you

Today's challenge, 2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 3, is to right a "Three ________" where the _________ is a word or phrase.  With it being the third day of the third month, the only thing missing is a three in the year....

Three

three songs to describe

three ways to sing

just as there are three types of stories

to describe three styles of writing

Three games to play

Three cheers to yell

Three dances to try

Three ways to cry

Tragedies in three

But Blessings are sole

Couples are doubles or duos or bi

But Triples are trios or tri

I know, it's not exactly a "Three ________" poem, but it's what flowed for me.  At least this one has a title!  Let me know what you think of the poems or if you have title suggestions for me for the above poems.

Camp NaNoWrimo April 2016: 1/5

So this was the first week of Camp NaNoWriMo.  I finally figured out what I wished to work on.  It'll be something kind of paranormal.  For more information why don't you check out my Camp NaNoWriMo page.  If you'd like, you can even add me as a writing buddy.  The picture I'm referring to is:
 

Neat isn't it?  I took the picture from just inside a building across the street from it.  The way the tree just kind of guards over the house barren of the leaves that are typical of spring lends itself to a more eerie atmosphere.  Then as I was walking my dog only a few days ago I thought of this picture while seeing how friendly and welcoming the rest of the town was.  I couldn't help but wonder how much of a story lies in just the opposite atmospheres.  What is the welcoming and safe-like environment was just a front for the horrors that exist in the town.  The town is home to those that is typically not spoken of.  Ghosts, vampires, weres, just about anything that would be considered mythical.  Well, the entire town except that one house.  The house in town that lends credit to the stories of hauntings and campfire ghost stories.

What do you think?  Sounds interesting I hope.

Anyway I had a late start and am glad that my target goal is only 20K words.  Luckily I've written over six hundred of them already!

Future of April 2016

It's been what a week already?  Surprising, isn't it?  Anyway, this post is more about my plans for the month of April, though there might be a bit of a warm-up post as well....As they say though, April showers bring mayflowers.

So the first order of business is that in April we begin two events.  The first is Camp NaNoWriMo.  Do I plan to participate?  Yes.  What do I plan to work on?  I have yet to decide.  Still a little miffed that I can't use my own computer.  It's still out of commission thanks to that free Windows 10 upgrade last July.  I may restart an earlier project that went missing or continue the project from November.  Of course I might work on a whole different project as well.  We'll have to see what my muses decide on.

So back in October 2015 Writer's Digest Platform I'm fairly certain I mentioned that I follow Writer's Digest.  If I didn't, well, now I am.  Anyway, I must admit that I'm not a constant follower, so I don't know every event they promote nor am I aware of all their products and services and blogs.  That's actually a little depressing when I think about it.  Back to what I was typing originally, though.  Apparently it's time for their annual Poem-a-Day competition.  For more information on that go to their blog 2016 April PAD Challenge: Guidelines.  He even gave a few hints as to what may be asked for.

So here are my plans for these two events.  Since I try to post on Sundays, I'll attempt Camp NaNo updates in the mornings throughout the month.  My goal is 20,000 words.  Perhaps I'll meet that and maybe I'll even finish enough to work on the revising over the next few months.  If I end up working on a fanfiction piece, perhaps I'll get it done enough to put it up on a fanfiction site.  This means at least five posts.  A final post claiming either success or effort filled failure will be made on May 1.  For the Poem a Day Challenge I hope to post the poems from each week in a full post on Sunday evening.  If not the actual poem then at least give an idea of each poem posted or even links to where that poem is.  In fact, the original post gave practice links for three poems as a Wednesday Poem, which if you followed the previous link, I'm certain you managed to find.

The first past practice link given is to a "Don't Forget ___" poem.  All I can think of is Demi Lovato's song Don't Forget.  That admitted, I did check the post, and here's my attempt on said poem.

Don't Forget the Truth 

It's out there somewhere

Hiding around the bend

Retreating in our mind

So we might have 

A chance to defend

It's out there somewhere

Between naysayers and do-rights

Leaving breadcrumb trails 

And messages in the dark

It's right in front

Just beyond the end of our noses

So obvious bats can see it

So why is we lose it

Hide it, dismiss it, forget it?

Don't Forget the Truth

It's always there, just hidden

It's waiting to be found

To be discovered

To be uncovered

It's always been right there

Comforting us, abetting and aiding

Allowing us our delusions, 

Yet remaining unchanged

It's right between lies 

It's beyond our noses

It's been hidden in messages

Been left in breadcrumbs

Don't ever forget the truth is always there

So, what do you think?  I know it's a strange format, but it just seemed right.  Leave some feedback in the comments, I promise I don't mind.

The next is a Valentine poem.  He gives two options in the original post, but I found I wanted to do something slightly different.  I even checked some of the posts and didn't see this type anywhere, so here it goes.

Valentine's Day

Virtually everyone is aware of

Alienating singles this one day a year

Letting nothing slide in setting this one day up

Even if it's obvious they want

Nothing to do with it

Telling friends and family they're happy alone

Indicating they have other plans that require not being a couple

Not really lying as they go to mixers for singles

Even if they'd rather not hear of the holiday at all

Single is just a status that really works against for the one day

Daring couples find gifts worthy of their other halves

Always unsure if it was worth the money and the hunt

Yet certain when they made the plans that it be perfect

Single - the status they almost wish they had

So there's that one.  Again, feedback is always helpful.  I don't bite, at least not hard and only if asked, I swear.

The third practice is animal-influenced.  This is actually very loose in regards to interpretation.  I'm a little glad that I don't have my old works in front of me, because I'd be tempted to use one of them and that's not what this is about.  No what this is about is making new works of art, which is what I feel poems are.  There is no shortage of animal inspiration so here goes my attempt.

The Brindled Beagle Mix

Snoring Running great

she's just a bit overweight

my pet a canine

So, there's my last one.  These are my practices for what begins on April 1(I know to expect some pranks and jokes that day...I'm glad it's not a Sunday!)  If you decide to do either of these, let me know!  I'm always happy to meet others whose hobbies are the same as mine.  Anyway, have a wonderful Easter, or if you celebrate something else, enjoy it as well!

Have we Always Competed?

At a very young age, I learned that failure, while upsetting, was necessary.  It was learned quickly in a family of five children with five cousins on one side.  I learned to wear masks because of the competitions.  Even in a small town, I was always competing for any scrap of recognition.  Today, I've stopped caring about getting recognition.  I only want acknowledgement of the fact that yes, my words were heard.  I don't care if it's only by my dog.  Does this mean I don't make attempts to be acknowledged?  No, it just means I'm less likely to make a fuss if I don't get what I want or don't win.

There are things that I've ignored over the years that maybe I should have grit my teeth and stood fast about.  There are events that I did well at, but as soon as I started to gain attention for them, I, as I think back on those times, believe I may have self-sabotaged them.  I made it to regional spelling bee, but knowing we would never afford the expenses and feeling self-conscious about being on a stage in front of numerous people I didn't know, I screwed up on spelling the word frugal.  I was in sixth grade and the likelihood of me being in a spelling bee ever again was nonexistent.  Did I want to win?  Yes.  Why did I misspell frugal?  I had never seen the word before. (Never saw the word mutton but spelled it just fine.)  I had wished to locate where my family were sitting in the audience before I misspelled a word.  Yes, I had a very defeatist attitude, but it's only enforced by the number of times my family would ignore or discard things regarding myself.  I became accustomed to not getting what I wanted.

I became accustomed to being the scapegoat because everyone else would spin the story just right that I had no recourse but to accept my allotment.  I recently spent time with my mother and it was brought up, once again, an old event that maybe shouldn't have happened on my end, but a key piece of information was always left out by my siblings.  I'm always remembered to be the one chasing after my brother with a hammer.  I got in trouble for it.  When my mom brought it up this time, I couldn't hold back.  I raged in my short explosive burst of a rage about that every forgets that he was chasing one of my sister's first.  My mom had a quick reply.  "I was never told about this."  My response?  "Yeah, well everyone always forgets that part don't they?"  She was quiet until we were searching for the location we were heading to.

Am I bitter about that event?  Of course.  I get in trouble for chasing my brother with a hammer - never hit him with it, wasn't even indicating that I would.  When a few years later I'm hit in the back of the head by him with a cast iron skillet, there was no outcry.  Worry was almost nonexistent and once again I was reminded that I was at the bottom of the pole when it came to my place within the family.  Like I said, there has always got to be a loser.

We have a need to be needed and wanted, but also to prove ourselves as better or smarter than someone else.  It's not always grand but sometimes when I think back to my childhood, I wonder if things would have been different if I'd have lived with my father or actually gone through with my runaway attempts.  Trust me, I thought about escaping my family in numerous ways and even started to plan said escapes, but never went through.  I never truly tried.  In several ways I did a disservice to myself.  However, I could never forgive myself if I had somehow failed those who were truly counting on me.  The ones who needed me to fail so they could do better.  The ones who needed someone to play the sheltered, naive, smart kid who was the target for verbal bullying.  I went with the flow a lot, but there were times where I stopped and said not this time.

Sadly, those times were few and far between.  Now, I don't worry about upsetting so-called family, mine or my husband's (and yes, this pisses him off to no end.  Seriously, we avoid the two, TWO, extended family events that my family has, but you expect me to call off work for every single one of yours?  Nope, not happening.  That's a minimum three events.  And it's only been in the last couple of years, not the last five like he claimed.).  I stopped trying to figure out what would make them happy.  I think I may have stopped caring even.  I don't worry about holding myself back, at least not too much, but I'm still working on knowing who I am and what exactly I want.  What I'm still willing to put up with and what I need to speak up about not putting up with anymore.

What about you?  Were you a winner or scapegoat?  It's not bad letting others win, just make certain that you find something that matters to you that you don't budge on.  Let the things that don't matter to you slide, but hold fast to the things you feel strongly about.  It's not a bad idea to take a step back or to make a decision to make them work for things.  Family should be those who care about you, not those whom are constantly tearing you down with nothing to help build you back up.

Cooking, TV, and Writing

Maybe I should make this a bi-monthly blog?  I mean, I can't seem to keep up with making a weekly post right now.  I think of posts during the week, but never record them and then forget to post.  I mean sure, I redid the hamburger patties I mentioned in Microwave Cooking, Week 1.  They were definitely better with the horseradish included.  I must admit though that I might rather call them mini meatloafs.  (Yes, I am very aware that the previous sentence is likely grammatically incorrect and that there are likely to have been spelling mistakes.)  

I've been trying to catch up with The Voice, but not paying as much attention currently.  I keep seeing interesting things on my friend's Facebook wall from DWTS (Dancing with the Stars) and possible celebrities for it.  Sadly I need to actually look at who they are since I missed the GMA (Good Morning America) reveal.

Also, I've been working on a few different fanfictions and an original work that's part of a series that I have on my computer, but may have to redo almost all of that work thanks to that Windows 10 update back in, what was it, September of 2015?  Here's my advice: Do not get Windows 10 as an update.  If you want Windows 10, by a new computer with it already installed.  Well, I'm off to work some more on writing and getting some of my work straightened out.

The Voice in the First Half of an Election Year?

Alright folks, it's been a crazy couple of weeks, but I'm excited.  Do you want to know why?  The Voice starts again on Monday, which is also a leap year extra day....I think several hi-jinks will ensue.  For those who were born on a Feb 29, no matter the year, I don't no if I should apologize or envy you.

But enough on the once every four year phenomenon.  No what's got me excited is that if you've subscribed to The Voice's YouTube channel you've likely seen them: the coach ads.  I have yet to see one for Blake, but the three I did see made me laugh.  It also put me in mind of the fact that yes, it's a presidential election year.  So, now I've got even more on my plate to do, because I need to update myself on who is actually running for the election and where they stand on the issues that matter most to me.

Do I care about what they claim they'll do once in office?  Not unless they can explain how and it makes sense to me, but doesn't feel like it goes against what we need.  I haven't been watching the Voice very long, but it one I don't have to sit in front of the TV and watch, either.  I can listen to it while doing other things and not miss out.  Anyway, since I can't watch it when it airs, I have to wait for Hulu to air the episodes.

I don't know which coach I like most, but their ads are worth watching.  I'll post the links below.  What about you?  Do you watch The Voice and, if so, do you have a favorite coach?


Coach Campaign Links:
Pharrell Williams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZvl6VNfALI
Christina Aguilera - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B20timw0yCo
Adam Levine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zNJXIoogj0

Cookbooks: Microwave Cooking, Week 1

So in 2016: It's A New Year!, I mentioned doing a weekly synopsis to help me go through a number of cookbooks to try and cut back the number of them that we have.  I randomly chose a cookbookfrom our large stash.  It's Betty Crocker's Microwave Cooking.  The version I have was printed in it's format in 1986.

The first two recipes I tried out of it were Hamburger Patties on page 10 and Broccoli Italiano on page 50.  The hamburger patties were actually really good.  I did forget the prepared horseradish and brushed homemade ketchup over the top.  Disappointingly, we didn't have buns to put them on, and using regular sandwich bread just wouldn't cut it.  I, however was not a huge fan of the broccoli.  They were easy to make though.  If I had tried a bit better to time it right, I probably wouldn't have had as many frustrations, even if I had read both recipes a few times before starting.

The only real hiccup I ran into was not having ketchup and not wanting to go out to buy it, so my husband found a recipe online and we made our own using vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, and tomato paste.  The ketchup turned out really well.

When it comes to the broccoli italiano, I personally felt that it had too much breadcrumbs used rather than a flavorful mix of crumbs and parmesan cheese topping broccoli.  Perhaps it's just the grittiness that I had an issue with.

These were the only recipes I managed to try out of the cookbook, and it was an easy start.  Would I try to make them again?  We both enjoyed the hamburger patties, and yes, I plan to make them again.  Maybe this time I won't forget the horseradish.  If I choose to ever try the broccoli dish again, I hope to alter it so the breadcrumb topping isn't quite as disappointing.  The broccoli was good, however so there were redeeming qualities to it.

#ThankYouDanielBryan

This past Monday an announcement was made to the world about a wrestler who is retiring.  I should probably remind that I'm not a huge wrestling fan.  There have been a few that when my husband watches them, I'll sit down to watch as well.  This doesn't mean I get annoyed when I miss a particular event or go all crazy when there's an event nearby (not that there is anything wrong with that.  I go crazy about certain authors, and was exceedingly manic for a while in regards to Hawaii Five-O, Once Upon A Time, Bleach, and Grimm.  Let's just say with how varied my interests are, I change manicness regularly).  It's just that this particular wrestler was entertaining even within the between fight story line things.

In case you didn't know who this wrestler was/is, he's not dead, but for health reasons can no longer wrestler (stupid concussions!).  I, for one, will miss Daniel Bryan.  The only other wrestler that I liked and enjoyed watching wrestling because of also retired from the ring for health reasons...only a few short months after I admitted to enjoying watching him.  That particular wrestler was Edge.  Typically I'm not superstitious, but in this case, I think it's justified if I refuse to announce to liking or enjoying watching particular wrestlers as wrestlers.  So, yeah, there's that.

I won't go into all the accomplishments or things that I enjoyed watching about Daniel Bryan, but I will admit that one of my favorites was his time on Team Hell No.  That always made me laugh.  Just the antics between the two and as I think about it now, I've a slight grin forming.  Stupid psychologist/therapist.  Anyway, I just wanting to type how sincerely I'll miss watching Daniel Bryan in the ring, but I hope everything goes well for him and his wife.  I'll miss him, yes, but I hope he's happy as he starts a new chapter of his life.

Super Bowl and FutureLearn

So I meant to post this much earlier, and I would apologize, but that's getting tedious.  I believe I've mentioned that posts might be sporadic.  I promise I'm trying, but I still don't have my computer.  So instead I'd like to thank you for returning to my posts even with the waits between them.

For those who live in the United States of America, today was a bit of a special day - Super Bowl Sunday.  I'm going to be honest.  I know absolutely nothing about the Super Bowl except that it's a huge football event and the commercials during it are usually pretty epic.  That being said, I hope those who watched the Super Bowl were well entertained by either the game or the commercials (whichever reason you were watching it.)  My first time hearing about Super Bowl Sunday was from one of our regularly watched family shows as a kid.  It could have been Full House, Roseanne, or Home Improvement.  I don't really remember which one.  Football has never been a sport I really watched.  Heck, I've never really watched sports.  They tend to bore me from the home sidelines.  Even at the event, if I'm not participating or don't understand the game (like the fact that I just can't seem to grasp the rules of football) I quickly lose interest.

Outside of that...I haven't been up to too much, just trying to keep up on house chores...Oh!  I'm participating in some Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) through Future Learn.  It's kind of nice, and I can take it at me own speed working around everything, even putting a few courses on hold until I have time to return to them.  With my huge list of varying interests, this is a terrific benefit!

Anyway, hoping you guys enjoyed the start of February!  And Happy Valentine's a week early!

2016: It's A New Year!

I know it's been just over a month since I last posted, and I apologize.  I last typed just before Christmas which was a bit of a crazy time for me.  We had to finish the Christmas shopping, wrap it all, and visit two families for the holidays while still having to go to work.  By the time the Christmas stuff was done, it was time to start on the New Year's celebrations.  I just fell behind on just about everything.  For this I apologize.  I meant to have a resolutions post for the new year that would include a review of the year 2015 and it's resolutions as put forth in Resolutions for 2015.  I didn't even get started on it so this post, likely the only post for January, will have to relay the resolutions review and for a new year, that of 2016 plus a general overview of this year's posts, hopefully.  So, here's my general synopsis of last year's goals, this year's new resolutions, and my hopes for posts to be put forth this year, though a flexibility within these posts and a lack of definitivity of their appearance should be expected.  (Did that make any sense whatsoever?)

First is last years resolutions which can be found in full at Resolutions for 2015.  The first goal wasn't met fully, but I did increase my post outputs thanks to There Are No Rules, most importantly, it's 30-day Author (Writer) Platform Challenge.  It was fun and seeing the sheer number of others who struggle with the online presence made me even more determined to at least try.  I did not manage to even attempt to increase my Project Noah goal, however, nor did I win at NaNoWriMo 2015, though if you wish to read more about my progress in that you can read my November 2015 posts.  I worked on a fanfiction but never posted the chapters, nor have I truly worked on my fanfiction.  Hopefully this year will be different.  I will recycle last year's goals to use for this year, I think.  Though, I shall add a fifth.

5) Cook more often.
I have numerous cookbooks and recipes that I wish to try but do not.  Hopefully, I can finally start to cook more often.  Maybe I can even give a weekly synopsis of the recipes used and the feedback of those who tried them?

Speaking of giving a weekly synopsis, this is when I type about some of my plans for this year's posts.  There's quite a list of goals when it comes to these future posts, but I shall endeavor to put some semblance of ideas and order together.  I must reiterate, however, that randomness is a part of these rants and they can and likely will disrupt any planned posts.

First, I plan to get my Dungeons and Dragons posts caught up.  These can be found as LANZ: Session 1 and New Campaign: LANZ Session 0.  Not only have we had numerous other sessions, we have started an arena/horror campaign and are planning a heroes campaign.  The heroes campaign will be us using Dungeons and Dragons to create some of our favorite T.V., movie, game, and book characters.  We've actually created Gaara and Neji from Naruto as well as a start towards Tris from Tamora Pierce's Winding Circle series/set.  While I don't remember exactly how the Naruto characters were created, I hope to attempt to put forth at least some ideas for different heroes, villains, or other characters at least once a month.  As mentioned priorly, I hope to attempt to type up recipe trials/tests and their results.  As in the last year and a half that this blog has been live, I plan to perform Camp NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo updates.

So those are this year's goals and plans and the dismal results of last year's resolutions.  Have a request for a Dungeons and Dragons-based character?  Leave the character and source material in a comment.  Hopefully, I and/or some friends of mine can find ways to create said character.  Other post suggestions or questions?  Leave a comment!

Rambling of Current Events to Unknown

With all the unrest in the United States, I couldn't help but wonder about a few things this week. First, I guess I should explain a small thing, at least, small to me. I don't pay as much attention to current events as I should. It's not just that I don't have television, either. I just got tired of trying to watch the news as a kid for more of the important events and finding glorified horror stories. Quite honestly, if you're a writer and need a plot bunny, you likely don't need to go much further than the evening news.

The next thing I should explain is that when it comes to Facebook or social media of any kind, I am the least likely of persons to actually use said outlet effectively. I use Facebook as an example, but the same is true of Twitter and any other social media site I have an account with. It's not because I don't wish to connect with other people, though. I just don't heave enough time in a day for everything I want to do as well as need to do. And even though I'm of the generation that can still add, subtract, multiply, and divide using either pan and paper or a calculator; I'm not as computer savvy as people seem to think.

When users on Facebook used a rainbow filter on their profile pics back when the United States legalized same-sex marriages, I did not. It's not because I have a thing against it either. No, I honestly believe that so long as a person believes themselves in love with another person they should be allowed to be together in marriage if that's what they truly want. I'm just to lazy to edit a profile pic that shows support to something I'm just not paying attention to in the news because I have too many other things to worry about(like Christmas gifts for numerous nieces and a few nephews!)

So, after explaining that no, I'm not current events aware and that most of my information is minimum secondhand (though more likely fifthhand...) I must admit I started wondering why people have to be politically correct. And by politically correct, I mean the BS of speaking the “correct” term to describe someone's description. If I said a black man did something or claimed that someone is black because that is the color I perceive their skin to be or that someone appeared Asian by look, suddenly I'm prejudiced, according to some. These are most likely the extremists, but it colors our whole way of communicating.

The biggest thing on my mind was when did we decide saying the truth was so offensive as to reasonable grounds to call someone else prejudiced? It's not like we weren't all raised differently based on the values of those who raised us. Our experiences also likely changed our opinions as well as what we've read and watched through various forms of media. I started rewatching some old shows and I've found that when some of these shows have a strong female character, they don't make them realistic. Some books or short stories are the same. If you read fanfiction, I'm sure you've noticed that some of the characters are taken to the extreme “never wrong” standpoint. This actually annoys me and I find myself enjoying shows that center on males.

This is not the way things should be. Yes, jokes about women or blacks or gays are going to be commonplace. Just as jokes about Pollocks, geeks, blondes, and moms (I've heard numerous relating to all of these over my 29 years of life, and don't find them offensive if delivered in a way that indicates the joker is actually telling a joke) are abundant. However, when I'm reading a story or watching as a story unfolds on a screen of any kind, I want to be able to relate to the characters personalities. I referenced a quote in an earlier blogpost, Tyranny through Shamefor what we Read?, about YA reading defenders admitting that part of the enjoyment of reading YA had to to with escapism. I could not and still cannot nor will I argue this point. I agree with it. Lucky for me, this particular point plays to my advantage in this post.

When I read or watch something, yes, by now I'm very well away of what the ending is likely to be. The guy and girl end up together, the villain is defeated, and everyone lives happily ever after. Or at least that is the general premise for most stories. Sometimes it's annoying. Today I find myself looking for the romances that people seemed to fall into with their personalities rather than their hearts (mostly catered to in fanfiction.) I've started looking for more in relationships that are meant to only be either close friendships, frenemy status, or sibling-like. I'm not saying it's wrong. It's just something I'm looking for that's different. Mysteries end up with the lead detective or team figuring out the case. We know everything will be wrapped up with a pretty little bow and “happily ever after”. What we don't know and that which intrigues us, is the journeys taken. That's why we tend to be drawn in. It's the characters that keep us there. I can't get behind a female who is always right, but lords it over her friends or family or both and gets away with it. Characters that are able to manipulate everyone around them and when their victims realize it, the perpetrators are forgiven. They don't even hold or show resentment for what the person had done!

It doesn't seem realistic enough even if it's in a fantasy world. No matter how much time is given or how much someone claims to have forgiven someone, there is still a little piece of resentment in their heart at what was done to them. Mercedes Lackey managed in her Dragon Jouster series to weave it in such a way that while yes the main character held resentment toward and for a certain person due to circumstances outside of their control, the resentment was still there. It would peak through in some of the interactions when they were of equal status again. Yes the character understood and appreciated everything he'd done for him, he also resented that the man had been a part of the system and never seemed to try to fix it.

The journey is what is great. When I read I jump in head first. When I watch a show, my brain keeps trying to see things that don't quite exist or relate it to what I'm aware of. The authors and creators don't worry about being politically correct because they exist in a different world where what they say while expected to be grammatically correct isn't expected to be inoffensive. The characters take on lives of their own and it's a lot more noticeable in written works than it is in a show or movie. The nuances are in both, just more readily received through the written word rather than a visual representation.

I know I got off whatever I was originally going to type up for this post and part of that is because I managed to get sick earlier this week. In fact I got sick just as I was going to finish this post, edit it, and schedule it for posting last Sunday. It didn't happen so instead I'll just have to post this this Sunday and hope you understand what I've ranted about. Feel free to ask for clarification or rants about something else. Yes I still plan to type up Session posts for LANZ, but I'll probably start them back up after the New Year.

Yes I do plan to go over last year's resolutions and decide if they'll be the same this year or if some of them may change. Last year's resolution post can be found as  Resolutions for 2015.

NaNoWriMo 2015 6/6

So, this is the last of my NaNoWriMo 2015 updates.  The biggest question is, did I win?

The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a 50,000 word novel in a single month.  I already rebelled against this by deciding to work on a fanfiction that just wouldn't leave me alone.  Yes this has become perfectly allowable by the NaNoWriMo website.  In fact during their write-ins, fandoms have been just as inspirational for prompts as historical pieces.  Even so, it's not the original purpose of the event.  I also must admit, I have yet to actually reach 50,000 words in the month.

I am proud of what I did get done, however.  I managed to complete a rough copy of the first two chapters.  I also managed a total of just over 25,000 words.  That almost doubled my total NaNoWriMo lifetime word count. (I hope that makes sense to you.)  Anyway, I want to get a few more chapters written up before I start actually posting them on my Fanfiction.net account.

Also, I was working on Saturday, but it was so slow(my guess: people were still eating leftovers,) I started wishing I had a notebook or recording device because my mind started spinning other possible crossover instances.  Like dealing with Agent Booth from Bones, but mistaking him as Angel...or I'm positive I had a few dozen other things that I managed to think of.  If I do end up with more than just it being a Leverage and Librarians crossover, I likely will move it to AO3, where I've noticed a bit more flexibility in stories that would crossover into multiple source materials, including a section that is dedicated to original works.

So for those who met or beat the 50K word goal, congratulations.  For those who did not, look at what you managed to get done and remind yourself it's better than where you were 30 days ago.  You managed to complete something, even if you didn't get the big goal, you tried.  That's winning in my book.

NaNoWriMo 2015 5/6

In NaNoWriMo 2015! 4/6, I mentioned that I wished to be working on Chapter 3 by the time of this post.  I'm still working on that second chapter.  One of the problems with the final weeks of November - socialization and family obligations sometimes must take precedence.  Not too mention two people on one computer?  Leaves less time than one would like for writing/typing.

My word count is suspiciously low at less than 20,000, but there's still the rest of today and tomorrow to reach the 50,000 word goal, right?  Maybe if I keep thinking positive and working towards that 50,000 word goal I can make it...then again, probably not.  At least I got the fanfic started!

For those who've won at NaNoWriMo 2015, congratulations!  Enjoy editing all of that work over the next couple of months.  For those who haven't?  As I mentioned earlier in this post: there's still all day today and tomorrow (at least where I'm at in The United States of America,) so don't be discouraged.  Even if you don't hit the 50k at least you got something done that you felt the need or want to share with the rest of the world (or at least those willing to read your work if you ever decide to share it!)

Either way have fun, and enjoy the writing!

NaNoWriMo 2015! 4/6

As I type this, I'm really just taking a break from my NaNoWriMo project.  I finally finished the first chapter (just the typing, no editing!) putting me above 12,000 words last week.  I've been chugging along working on the second chapter, but had to type up the scene I had remarked upon in NaNoWriMo 2015: 3/6.  So other than a quick update about reaching 14,000 words since my last post, and a wish of good luck to my fellow writers, there isn't much to write within this post.  I do however hope to reach Chapter three by next post, but it will be little typing time as my husband is off of work and Thanksgiving is this Thursday.

Speaking of, Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers out there!  Now I've got to return to my NaNoWriMo 2015 fanfic, here's to hoping that by next Sunday I'll be working on chapter three.  It's either that or work on a cover for the story, but I'm not that great an artist.  Also, I'll need to figure out a proper title for it.  I think I've made my to-do list even longer for the week, or is that rest of the month?

NaNoWriMo 2015: 3/6

Finally!  I just managed to finish chapter one of the fanfiction I had mentioned that I would be working on for NaNoWriMo 2015 in previous blogs, NaNoWriMo 2015! 1/6 and NaNoWriMo 2015: 2/6.  I know only getting just over 12,000 words for the first chapter of a fanfiction doesn't seem like much, but currently it's a personal record!

Now, I get to start on the next chapter, or perhaps I'll work on a later scene in fanfiction...  There's a part from a promo that I found for the first episode of season 2 of the Librarians that's just begging for a scene.  I may try to get that done before my work party this afternoon.

Speaking of work, I'd have had more towards my NaNoWriMo 2015 fanfiction typed up if a coworker hadn't gotten the flu yesterday.  Also the first gun deer season in Illinois will be occurring in less than a week, so I'm not sure how much havoc that plus Thanksgiving (American here!) will have on my writing.

Hope any other NaNoWriMo 2015 participants are chugging along, meeting their personal goals if not the overall 50,000 words for the month.  If not, there's still half the month to type or write!

NaNoWriMo 2015: 2/6

So it's the end of the first week, and I'm no where near the end goal.  I'm not even on target for the 1,667 words per day.  I am working on it though.  And when a person has to use either handwritten or typed when their husband leaves, it's not as easy as one might think.  It's not even issues with the characters not wanting to work with me, because their constantly tell me to write...when I'm at work or not near any form of recording what they want recorded, damn it, Jacob Stone/Elliot Spencer!

So, yes, this is another promised update from NaNoWriMo 2015! 1/6.  This does not mean I'm giving up on trying to reach the 50,000 word goal.  It just means that when given time for each session on the computer or when I'm able to work on it by hand, I'll need to do more.  Distractions in the form of housework, work work (if that makes sense?), and family obligations are going to have to be minimized.  Even my other hobbies will have to be put on hold at least until I get caught up.

Now, I'm going back to writing.  For those who are ahead or on target, congratulations!  Keep it up!  For those of us who aren't?  Get back to writing!  It's not that hard.  If you've hit a block, try it from a different character or object's point of view.  It might help you to figure out  what the problem is and continue on.  Happy  writing!

NaNoWriMo 2015! 1/6

Today is the first day of NaNoWriMo 2015, and I must admit this first Sunday is not going to be an update. Instead, I'm going to give a brief overview of my plans for NaNoWriMo 2015, sinceNaNoWriMo: What Is It? gives a brief explanation and more can be learned at their official website,NaNoWriMo.org.

This year I plan on giving a brief update every Sunday, and yes, I do plan to still give updates on the campaign, which I will soon post update blogs for the previous sessions or you can reread New Campaign: LANZ Session 0 or LANZ: Session 1 . I promise I haven't abandoned it, and the campaign is going strong. This happens when players actually play their character and allow others to have play time instead of trying to show just how awesome their character is.

Alright back to my NaNoWriMo 2015 schedule. So this is the first in a series of six. Why six? Because this year, the last Sunday of November is not the last day of November. The final NaNo Update 2015 post will be made on the first Sunday in December.  Instead of trying to reach the goal of 50,000 words with an original piece, I shall be typing a fanfiction which will hopefully be put on (hyperlink) at the end of the month after editing, most likely heavily. The fanfiction will be a crossover between The Librarians and Leverage TV shows.

I have yet to title it and it will focus of Elliot Spencer being Jake Stone. Things will change within the The Librarians time line. I've decided that the first episode of The Librarians is ten years after the first episode of Leverage. Also, I can't really see Jassandra ( the Jake Stone and Cassandra Cillian pairing), so I don't know if their will be a pairing for Jake, though I could see over some length of time something occurring between Jake and Ezekiel Jones (which I will hereafter refer to as Jezekiel.) The Flynn and Eve pairing is pretty nonexistent in the first season and I'm not sure how well it will translate into my fanfic, but it is a journey I look forward to undertaking.

Now, I follow Kristina Horner on YouTube and she recently posted a NaNoWriMo Tag. It consists of technically ten questions, though two are linked and counted as only one. This gives nine lines for the questions. These questions are for NaNoWriMo and not Camp NaNoWriMo. I will answer as honestly as I can so far as my memory goes or I can find the information.

1. How many NaNoWriMo's have you done?

2015 will be my third year participating in NaNoWriMo, though I have yet to “win.”

2. How did you find out about NaNoWriMo?

I first saw the term NaNoWriMo in author's notes in some fanfictions as early as 2010 but it wasn't until 2013 that I took the initiative to learn what it was about.

3. What was the title of your first NaNoWriMo attempt?

I titled my first attempt Shambles and while it's still a work in progress, it a futuristic setting that relies on the search for one's family history. I managed what I did on it in less than half the month, I think. I know I didn't find out and actually start on Shambles until at least a week into November, anyway.

4. Give a one sentence summary of this year's attempt.

A crossover between The Librarians and Leverage, where Jake Stone and Elliot Spencer are the same person, or you could just read the first part of this post.

5. The best writing advice you've been given?

I've seen and heard a lot of advice, especially as NaNoWriMo comes around, and I've heard it from numerous walks of life. There's the time honored “Write what you know.” Or how about a NaNoWriMo fave ”Ignore your inner editor and just keep writing.” Another common one is to stop right in the middle of what you know you are going to type or write up. These are all sound pieces of advice. At least for everyone but me, or so it seems. I've tried them.

Writing what I know annoys me and to be completely honest, I bullshitted my way through papers in high school. Aced most of them, but over half the time I had no clue as to what I was trying to say. Somehow I'd still manage practically perfect test essays.

If I ignore my inner editor, I find myself annoyed at the smallest of mistakes in a piece and I either have to go back and fix it (usually after the bout of inspiration is done,) or give up until I can figure out what is bothering me so much about it. Oftentimes, by listening to my inner editor, I can usually gain some more insight which actually spurs my writing on. Instead of ignoring it, I use my inner editor when I hit some kind of block.

I've purposely stopped in the middle of writing a sentence so that I could return with something in my mind to actually continue on, and found me trying to puzzle out what it was I was trying to say. A couple of times it was because my husband or a friend called me from my work but I've done so on purpose just to see if it would work. It never failed that when I returned (and it could have been a five minute hiatus,) I just could not figure out where I was going with the sentence!

I have found however that there is a piece of advice that works for me: Write from a different perspective, from any other viewpoint. Basically take the scene that's giving you trouble and either tell it as a different type of story (my favorite is as a newspaper of magazine article) or get inside the head of someone or something else in the scene. Write as though you're the sidewalk the main character is being made to lick their bully's shoes upon or write as the bully or their shoes. Write as the wall that is being vandalized after having watched a murder the night before or write as the murderer. No matter what, if you get stuck on a scene not working the way you think it should, just rewrite from another's perspective. A really good example is to think back to those kids books we'd read (The Babysitter's Club comes to mind) where practically every chapter or book was written from someone else's viewpoint. I've got a fanfiction and original stories that make use of these alternate tellings. Sometimes that's what needed to get back into the flow of the story is to explore the story of another character, be it animate or inanimate, human or creature.

6. Have you ever taken a year off of NaNoWriMo? If so, why?

Since starting NaNoWriMo back in 2013, I have attempted each NaNoWriMo, though I almost did not this year due to the untimely demise my new computer thanks to the Windows 10 update and a lack of inspiration. However, I found a spark to ignite the NaNoWriMo fire, and can always hand write.  Transfering it at random points in time to my husband's computer with good ol' Windows 7.

7. What is your biggest inspiration when figuring out what to write?

Typically something I see or read sparks some kind of what if, like last year when I listened to the battle rounds on The Voice and the duet of Joliene starting off a capella with one voice male and the other female made me think “What if one of the men this Joliene had seduced had been gay?” Then I thought, “What if she couldn't seduce him but came really close? Ooh, and she fell in love with the man she almost stole him from's brother!” From that came my next project, which again is still being worked on, and even worse, still has no title.  This year's inspiration was actually the lack of Leverage and The Librarians craossovers

8. Read the first sentence from one of your novels.

Obviously this was meant for those who vlog. I shall however give a quote of the first line of a work in progress, meaning if it ever gets published this line might be changed. “Everyone is jealous of someone or something.”

9. And finally, why do you love writing?

I love writing because I can get things down and not worry about it strangling my brain. Sometimes I feel I have planets and solar systems and galaxies and universes even striving for my attention, yelling that that's wrong or so and so is described too prettily. It gets crazy for me, but when I go back to read it and find myself enjoying the world I created, knowing the subtle nuances and the manipulations occurring even as I submerge myself into the world I didn't even realize I was creating, it's well worth it.

Sometimes, it's too keep the voices of all the characters waiting for their story from overwhelming me, but others it's to write the story I'm trying to find that I wish to read. A few times it's because a dream overwhelmed me and keeps itself on repeat. Poems just suddenly leap on the page sometimes. It's a joy for me to write, most days, but just about every day it feels a necessity as well as so long as I can do both, I'm actually very happy.

That wrap's up the NaNoWriMo tag. Have a tag you want answered? Leave a link to it in a comment or find me on Facebook or Twitter. Planning on attempting NaNoWriMo 2015? Let me know and buddy me on the site at Ency Peterson. Answer the tag yourself and leave a link to it in the comments!

Halloween Memories of Costumes

Happy Halloween! Yes, today is my favorite holiday, and while I have to work and live in an apartment where I can't hand out any treats because no one ever comes to apartments...I will enjoy the intensity that I have of years past.

There are a few things though that I keep thinking of. First, in the last twenty-odd years I've been alive, have I ever been worn out by Halloween? Yes. After my mother moved us half an hour away from the small town that her parents lived near, I was...tired. I can't say that as a fifth grader I was depressed (though sometimes I wonder if I could be considered as being depressed) but I remember I didn't have the spark to dress up that my friends and siblings had...In fact, as I think back, I don't think I ever really got excited before high school about dressing up as anything really. Being a princess and queen were easy costumes. I believe I have posted earlier about having siblings.

I think I tried to use Halloween to try to separate myself from the others. I used to justify my distancing of things I enjoyed and could have been a huge fanatic of by the fact that even in kindergarten I knew better than to ask about anything dealing with money. I learned quickly to just go with the flow of things and let numerous things slide. Whenever I look back, I realize that I ended up hurting myself. When the Power Rangers first came out, I loved Trini. She was the first female in a show that I wanted to know more about. Don't get me wrong. I loved Belle, but I wasn't always a fan of the story. I always felt something was missing (and my youngest two siblings playing it every time we put a movie it did not help. Watching it over and over I don't know how many times in one day...I still cringe a little when I think about watching Disney's version.) but could never place what it was.

Anyway, I remember that year as the first one I actively decided not to get dressed up for Halloween until a friend convinced me that I was dressed up as Curly Sue. Thus, it began. I started pulling off easy costumes. In fact, I pulled off Blair and Jo from Facts of Life one year. I wore a suit and hair down, at least until I got annoyed with my hair flowing around my face. Then I just pulled my hair off and had the jacket slung over my shoulder. But as I think back, yes I love Halloween. Some of the costumes I've worn? Not so much.

Let's see...I know I've been a princess. My mother had this rule, though. If you've been it before, you had to do something else. There've been a number of years I've done a witch, but they've mostly been after my mother stopped enforcing the same costume rule. I've been a Christmas tree, onion, one of the sleeping kids from the story about the littlest one shoving them out of the bed, a sorceress, a gypsy, an enchantress, Jasmine, and this year I'm doing Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice. There's more that I just can't seem to place, but these are the ones that stick out in my mind as I think back on them. The gypsy costume was the last one I wore in South Carolina. It's also the only one I can remember from when we lived there.

If I had gotten to go as what I wanted I can guarantee I would have been more excited but when the costumes had to be made using what we could find at home, I didn't get excited by the dress up. Hope your dressing up as what you want this year, and planning to have an awesomely scary Halloween.

Have you had crazy costumes in the past? Leave a comment about them or some that you wish you could have pulled off. Like I wish I could have pulled of Trini, that was one I really wanted as a kid. I've also wanted to pull off Hermione(back when the Harry Potter books first came out) and Cimorene(from Patricia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest books.) I've been a vampire before, too, though I couldn't stand the taste of fake blood.

Anyway have a happy, scary, safe, and treat-filled night tonight for Halloween! Oh, and don't forget about Daylight Savings tonight. Turn the clocks back one hour (this occurs officially at 2am, but most do this before going to bed, or after getting up, depending on if they have to work or be somewhere by a certain time the next day.)

Writing and Road Trips

While watching a video about plot, the first speaker in the video managed to make me compare writing a story of any kind (be it short story, fanfiction, novel, or essay) to a road trip,which in the United States is almost synonymous to what historical novels would refer to as a “trip to the continent.” I must admit, I was in middle school when I first read this particular phrase and it took me until I was halfway through high school to actually figure out that when they referred to the continent and were European characters, they weren't talking about the U.S.

Writing as a road trip, however can be a sound idea, especially with NaNoWriMo 2015 beginning next Sunday morning. In fact each character in the piece of writing being worked on is either on the road trip with the writer or they are someone that you meet as you make the journey. The other thing is that the story for the reader is similar to a road trip as well. After all, unless you're trying to recreate something along the lines of Lord of the Flies, everyone knows it will have a happy ending. No, the journey is the important part, not the ending. As such, the same, in my opinion is true with every piece written.

Ideas and knowing what happens is easy. It's figuring out how that part of the story was reached or why the villain made that choice that can be interesting. Theories abound on why characters that are secondary, tertiary, and even “throw away” are speculated upon more than the main character, whose already had their story told. “Throw away” characters are those who are mentioned once or twice throughout a story in an abstract way that is meant to be considered negligible, such as the students upon a class list(students of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and Salem Witch's Academy are first in my mind.)

When working on your NaNoWriMo novel, maybe think about this: if you get stuck on your word count, delve into the life and viewpoint of one of these other characters. Tell the scene from the view of someone watching it instead of in the middle of it. Make a record of the emotions involved by everyone present. Just like on a road trip, if some little thing catches your attention, explore it. That's what writing is anyway. It's just an exploration of things that caught an author's attention and the characters are the people either on the journey or that were met on said journey.

Planning on working on a novel for NaNoWriMo 2015? What do you think you'll be working on?  Leave it in the comments.  Mine is likely to be a Leverage and Librarians crossover this time, though I may return to some of my original pieces!

Apologies

Terribly sorry about the huge wait on a blog post, but when Windows 10 manages to screw up my computer and nothing seems to help, there's not much one can do.  Now, I'm using my husband's computer, so while the posts might be even more sporadic and random, at least it's better than using my Kindle!

Now as to what I've been up to...well I made a quick blog post about the October Platform Challenge from Writer's Digest.  If you want to learn more it's located on there Editor Blogs: There Are No Rules blog.

It's October.  That means, you guessed it! Halloween.  You may not have realized it yet,  but Halloween is my favorite holiday.  This year there are some plans in the works, and some that are likely to be changed, but overall We have an 80's theme Halloween party on Halloween night and I'm getting costumed as Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice.  I always did enjoy watching it.

What about you?  Will you be dressing as a beloved character from a favored entertainment piece?  Or a more generalized costume?  Perhaps something inanimate like a christmas tree, onion, or computer?  Leave a comment about your 2015 costume and Halloween plans!

October 2015 Writer's Digest Platform

At the start of the month I received an email from Writer's Digest.  Said e-mail included a link to their There Are No Rules blog, which would contain daily challenges for writers.  For more information please check it out.  In fact day 3's challenge is to start a blog, or for those who already have one, make a post!

I really must apologize about my lack of posts.  I really have tried, but work 6 days a week and add in a few online classes referred to as MOOCs and it just slipped my mind, and yes the D&D campaign is still running, so I'll try to type up a post about the previous sessions before Halloween.  If I don't, I apologize preemptively and wish you all a very frightful and "happy" Halloween!

LANZ: Session 1

I know, I meant to type this two weeks ago, but kept finding reasons to put it off...We started the campaign two weeks ago!  As I sat here trying not to allow the local carnival distract me as I try to think of things needed for tonight's session and realized I had yet to update on the first session.  It was awesome to play without arguing with each other over semantics.

In fact it only took us about five minutes to get set up.  It took maybe another five or ten minutes to get the backstories straightened out enough to play.  I have a habit, and the DM's have mostly allowed said habit, of figuring out my character's backstory as we game.  I was already having trouble with this particular character's backstory.  It just kept refusing to reveal itself.  That is until the DM and I talked about the background of the fey'ri race.

In Races of Faerun, the fey'ri were created thanks to power-hungry sun elves of a particular house in the realm of Faerun.  For this campaign, we switched theories.  Instead of sun elves using succubi and other demons to be made stronger, the succubi kidnapped elves of all kinds to use for breeding, trying to increase either certain abilities or the effectiveness of their looks.  It did not work the way they wished.  In fact, the succubi saw these creatures as below them.  They saw them as so far below them that they referred to them as slaves.  These slaves were kept hidden in cells that had anti-magic fields upon them.  They had learned with the first ones that fey'ri had easy access to a number of spells.  They decided to use them for their own goals.  While the fey'ri were never certain of just what their purpose was the older ones were feared even more than the ones who had sword and shield tattoos upon the backs of their hands.

All fey'ri that reached one hundred fifty years of age were "sorted" based upon their abilities.  They were all tattooed with an unfilled heart at birth.  As they were raised to be put to use as entertainment and cannon fodder when needed, the heart would be filled in if the fey'ri were troublesome.  Upon losing their virginity somewhere between the age of one hundred fifty and two hundred, a teardrop would be tattooed either filled in or not, to match the heart.  Often times the filled in hearts went to more sadistic creatures for breeding and entertainment.  They were taught only the weapons with which their first owners would allow.  Every owner branded their own symbol upon the fey'ri and when said fey'ri gained a new owner by being sold to a new owner, the old owner dying, being traded, or just a partnership in the ownership of the creature.

On the troublesome fey'ri would be a tattoo of a skull and crossbones on the back of the neck starting at age two hundred.  Every infraction or instance of disobedience, the tattoo would increasingly be filled in to be a completed skull and crossbones with black eyes.  After the tattoo was completed the infractions would result in the loss of applicable body parts.  Each demon owner held different limits before they would get fed up and punish their piece of property.  Either way, those that would be considered troublesome would be severely scarred and the older ones would be missing parts of their wings, fingers/claws, tongues, etc.  The older fey'ri were feared because they survived and some, not many, were survivors of some of the most sadistic owners.

My character was definitely among the troublesome.  She didn't exactly filter her mouth and seemed to always wish to fight.  She was put in with those who gained the sword and shield tattoo.  She gained a filled in heart and skull and crossbones.  In fact she only had one more eye to color in before she would be losing parts.  Her tongue would have likely been first.

Anyway, the race mostly managed to escape about fifteen years prior to the start of the campaign.  While they'd been captive, they were kept bald and held to other standards.  None of the fey'ri that had been held captive were willing to sheer their hair after their escape.  They aren't sure exactly how they escaped, but they traveled on different planes until about twelve years ago they managed to find safety on the Plane of Air.  Now, the planes are bleeding into each other and Sul'ri, named for what they are the descendants of, has been sent to find more information on how to keep them safe and been given carte blanche to fight those who challenge her.

Luckily, it's now time for us to head out for the next session.  Here's to gaming in D&D 3/3.5e!