"Failure is not an option."

Technically speaking, I guess I failed. I missed two days in a row for the 100 for 100 Challenge, and as they straddled two different weeks, so I'm out of the game. (You only have one grace week, which I used this past week while enjoying my sister's birthday celebrations.)

Does that mean I'm quitting? Heck no!

 In fact, just last night I wrote approximately 2 1/2 chapters of my novel in one sitting. How exciting is that!? All of the best scenes are coming up. I wish I had more hours in a day so that I could get them all on paper!

I'm planning to make a note on the 100 for 100 spreadsheet that I've technically lost the challenge, but I would like to continue writing alongside the other competitors. Something about being part of a program makes it a lot easier for me to keep up with my writing.

On another note...

I just blew through two historical fiction novels in three days! The first was Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys, and the second was Interrupted by Rachel Coker. I'm planning to write more expansive reviews for my account on Goodreads, which you can access by clicking the Goodreads pic on the right-hand sidebar. Until then, I'll give my blog friends a quick preview of what I thought of both!

 

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys (Buy a copy here!)

Out of the Easy had my attention from the very first page. Warning, fellow readers: It's pretty mature content. There isn't anything overly explicit, but be aware, this book deals with prostitution. (Doesn't that make it sound so scandalous?) Sepetys does an amazing job of conveying the 1950's New Orleans setting. She has affirmed in me the need to thoroughly research your location if you want to give your reader the "feel" of the place. The main character, Josie, is likeable and totally worth cheering for. My only disappointment has to do with one of the characters. If anyone has read it, I would be happy to hear your thoughts. I couldn't put this book down and I will gladly sing its praises if anyone is interested.

Interrupted by Rachel Coker (Buy a copy here!)

Interrupted was good. However, I will be honest: It seemed more of a first draft than a completed novel. The pacing was sort of off, the characters not fully developed, etc. It's set in the early 1940's for the most part, but the setting has little bearing on the story. In fact, the details that pertain to World War II feel thrown in and out of place. Certain words were certainly not period appropriate, namely "creep" and "jerk". The Christian ending is kind of sudden. And people's mouths twitch... a lot. But I really think that Coker has talent (she published this at FIFTEEN, people) and I do pass some of the blame onto the editors who should have caught the historical errors. I plan to read her sophomore novel, Chasing Jupiter, in spite of Interrupted's shortcomings. Besides, Interrupted has, like, the most gorgeous trailer ever. 

I wasn't paid to read these books or comment upon them. This is just my way of passing along the literary treasures I have uncovered!

Who made you king of anything?

Sometimes, people will try to discourage you. They'll tell you that, among other things, Wuthering Heights, Ingrid Michaelson, and your writing are no good. Well, you know what?

Don't listen to them. They see us rollin', they hatin'. So people don't appreciate Wuthering Heights? They're the ones missing out on all of the dramatic fun! Your family can't understand the genius of Ingrid Michaelson? Listen to it 24/7 anyway. (But out of earshot. You can only push them so far.) And if anyone ever tries to tell you to give up on writing? Cue the music and tell it like it is.

Hsst-yaow!

How to Live Vicariously Through Your Characters

Sounds healthy, right? Kind of like those moms who live vicariously through their children on shows like Toddlers & Tiaras. Living the dream.

 This kid's a riot.

In all seriousness, living vicariously through a character (or your daughter) is not good. Nor is living vicariously through Bella Swan because she is a shell of a character who is left hollow so that any girl with any appearance or personality can slip herself into her mopey shoes.

"Blogging Twilight" by Dan Bergstein. A must-read if you want to mock Twilight for what it truly is... and enjoy yourself along the way. Click here to read all 4 books, Dan style.

If you still want to live vicariously through a character, consider fanfiction. No shame in that --- I wrote it too, when I was a wee lass. However, I would prefer we didn't revisit that period... very embarrassing... Um... Hey look! A distraction!

There are several reasons why living vicariously through a character is a not-so-good idea. For one, it makes everything that happens to that character personal, which means that injuring, killing, or hurting that character might be uncomfortable... or you won't have the heart to write it at all. Furthermore, any criticism of that character becomes a criticism of you. Who wants their editor telling them that they don't like the character that's based on you? Uh, NO ONE. And you know what else could happen? People could realize the story is about you, and/or that you've included other people from your life in the story. Like in Read it and Weep!

However, having a stake in your character is normal, healthy even. Characters often reflect little pieces of ourselves, or a piece that we would like to adopt as our own. I think recognizing your personal relationship with your characters is important, so that you can make them as well-written as possible.

I bring this up because I had a fairly recent revelation regarding my main characters in my 100-4-100 novel. Enter Mary, my female main character/protagonist. Two questions into answering these 100 questions you should answer before writing your novel, I discovered that Mary had virtually no personality. I always envisioned her as being very quiet and a keeper of the peace, which totally goes against the grain in a market full of girls who spend their pages kicking the boys' butts. Yet before I knew it, she had gone from a pacifist to a weakling, big time. I hated her. I was more passionate about her life than she was! I had to quit typing for a bit and think.

Where did Mary's quiet side come from? Why was I so determined to make her that way? It hit me: I was writing Mary as my opposite! (To an extent.) I have always been that girl who talks way too loud for her own good, and "talking out of turn" always showed up on my report card. When I was younger, I actually wanted to be quiet and invisible. Yet I was incapable of keeping my mouth shut. For someone who is very introverted, I am fantastic at running my mouth. Wouldn't it be great if I could be quiet and unnoticeable like Mary? I found myself thinking.

Recognizing that desire had manifested itself in Mary, I made what sounds like a silly decision: I decided to put MORE of me into her. Alright, she's quiet. But she and I both love story-telling. She and I both sing. She and I both fear rejection. (Personal stuff, right?) Now I identify with her. We act and react differently, but she has a few of the good parts of me in her, and we get on much better. Moral of the story: Putting a piece of yourself into a character can actually help you relate to them.

Encounters of the Austen Persuasion

(Brownie points for that pun.)

Some days, I just ooze Austen. The past two weeks have been no exception.

Between The Jane Austen Handbook, a long conversation on the merit of various Austen heroes, and the discovery that Dan Stevens played Edward Ferrars in 2008, I daresay it's been an Austen occasion. Not counting the Darcy encounter...

... is it so wrong if I prefer Matthew Crawley? *blush*

HA! Now you want to read about the Darcy encounter! Well, you're going to have to wait. First, I owe you a 100 for 100 Challenge Update!

Day #: 17
Today's Word Count: Haven't written for the day yet!
Overall Word Count: 4,598


This challenge has been an absolute blast, as well as a huge burden. On the bright side, I am so glad to be writing every day. Hitting 100 words is easy for me. I average between 300-400 per day, and on good days, I hit above 700. NaNoWriMo has conditioned me to churn out larger amounts of work in single sittings. Knowing that I'm actually doing something about the story inside of me feels amazing. I'm so blessed to have these stories. I really hope that someday I get to share them.

On the not-so-bright side, this story is hard. I know virtually no historical details about early 20th century Ireland. Who can blame me? It's not like the information is easy to find or I can just meander down to my local museum. I'm searching for needles in haystacks when it comes to finding historically accurate details. I'm taking lots of liberties just to get the story down at this point. I know I need to read some more, and I wish I had some guidance on where to look. Now more than ever I am desperate to visit the Emerald Isle. I was once promised I would go there someday... The only question that remains is when.

Isn't it *gorgeous*?

Now, about that Darcy character...

There is this guy. He looks kind of like Daniel Vincent Gordh(geous). He says things in a very Darcy manner, where you're not sure if he's just out of his element or being mean. Yeah. Everyone tries to pin this guy down, but we can't. *facepalm*

They don't call him Gordhgeous for nothing.

Well, this weekend, the boy actually talked to me. (Wow. That sounds so middle school. Don't think of it like that.) It's just, he isn't exactly known as a conversationalist. But he was pretty talkative yesterday. However, being the dork that I am, all I could think of was this:

I HAVE NO LIFE. I think I need to get out more.

Final note: WHAT IN THE NAME OF JANE IS THIS?

... Pride and Platypus?

*squee!*

My first tag! Ladies n' gentlemen, I have been tagged! Tagged, I tell you! It's so exciting.

I was tagged by Treskie of Occasional Randomness, who runs a super cute blog. Checking out her blog has revealed that I am not the only Whovian/Sherlockian/Fantom of the Opera (I totes just made that up)/lover of letters in this world! Her blog is an explosion of color and happiness. I'm so glad she tagged me, because scanning through her posts brought a smile to my face.

Now, I am faced with her challenge: answer ten of her questions about yours truly. I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to talk about myself. I like those opportunities too much for my own good. Dear Lord, teach me humility!

Rules

* Acknowledge the person who passed the award to you and provide their link.

* Include the award logo on your blog.

* Answer the ten questions posted below.

* Make up your own ten questions for the next people.

* Nominate blogs and link those you have especially enjoyed reading. The number you can select is up to you.

* Notify each individual that you have nominated them.

Now, unto the questions!

1. Do you like waffles?
Are you kidding! I love 'em! So much, it shouldn't be legal. Belgian waffles with whipped cream, powdered sugar, and fresh fruit? My downfall. Mmm-mmm!

2. What does the word, "DoooWEEEEOOOOO!" mean to you? 
It means that something magical and wonderful is about to happen. It means that I'm about to go on an adventure, and that I'm going to smile, laugh, and cry along the way. But sometimes, words can't express these feelings. Sometimes, I need an audio-visual. Would this help?

3. How tall are you?
Five foot, three and three quarter inches. The three quarter inches are essential. Practically every guy towers over me. It makes hugging interesting, considering how much I love hugging.

4. On a scale of one to ten, ten being the greatest, how much do you need coffee?
This question is actually quite difficult. See, I get caffeine headaches... but love coffee. And I've been craving a cup all evening. So seven on the "I want to drink it" scale, and zero on the "my body can handle it" scale.

5. Would you like a Hiddleston hug?
Yeah, sure. I'm not a Hiddleston fan (yet), but he seems pretty awesome, so sure!

6. On average, how many books a year do you read?
I honestly have no idea. You'd think it would be a ton, but I am super busy throughout the year, so I might get through anywhere from one to twenty in a month! It really depends on my mood and my schedule.

7. Who's your favorite musical artist?
That's a difficult question. Not counting bands (artist being singular)... I love A Fine Frenzy, Regina Spektor, and Sara Bareilles.

8. How do you feel about black and white movies?
Like I need to watch more of them.

9. Favorite type of food? (i.e. Italian, Chinese, American...)
Probably Italian. Did I mention we got an Olive Garden fifteen minutes away now? SCORE.

10. Can you count to five? ... In Swahili!?
No. But I can sing The Circle of Life in Swahili. At least, I'll be able to once my chorus practices some more.

I'm gonna be honest, I don't really have anyone to tag, except for my friends Ally, Marlene, and Athena at Charlie and Me. So I guess I will only be tagging them, collectively. ^_^

Since we're friends in "real life", this should make the questions interesting. I think I'll try and set the stage for y'all to see some of the reasons why I love them so much in real life! So, without further ado:

1. Genie appears! Three wishes! What are they?
2. Who would win, sharks or ghosts?*
3. If you could only wear one color with all of your neutrals for a year, what would you choose?
4. Zombie apocalypse! You're stuck with the last three characters you read, wrote, or saw. What are your chances of survival?
5. What would be your plan of action if you were in The Hunger Games?
6. What is the most unproductive thing you've done this week?
7. Can you recite or sing the alphabet backwards?
8. Fruity candy, or chocolate?
9. What do you do when you're stressed?
10. If you were stuck on an island with five fictitious characters, who would you choose to be stuck with and why? 

* This question was posed during my co-op. I think there would be a stalemate because they can't do much to each other physically. Or can they?

BREAKING NEWS!

I am on track for the 100-4-100 Challenge. I'm planning an update post so I can tell you about my progress. Just know that I am filling my daily quota and enjoying myself!  

My "New" Bulletin Board

Who wants a peek at my "new" bulletin board?

I call it new even though most of the elements remain unchanged. The board is almost finished. I'm hoping to add some spring fashion ideas once my Boden catalog comes in the mail. *broad grin* A few more alterations, and it shall be perfection! (Until I feel like switching things up again.)

* Note: Pardon the crummy photos. I think the off-kilter look is artistic. Some may interpret it as sloppy. Your choice.

Exhibit A: The overview. A conglomeration of debate certificates, poetry slam winner's envelopes, old photographs, tickets to local events, etc.

Exhibit B: I made this map, oh, three or four years ago, for a story I never wrote in a magical world I knew virtually nothing about. But the map is pretty so I kept it.

Exhibit C: This year's NaNoWriMo winner's certificate! I am quite proud of this accomplishment, and one look at this piece of paper reminds me that I am a writer of books and gives me a healthy dose of confidence. I tucked some Shakespeare in the corner for good measure.

Exhibit D: This is the genius of my brain. Until I reorganized my bulletin board, I was keeping a list of titles I wanted to read. But editing the list was a pain, and it was hard to decide what to read next. Now I can just scribble a title, toss it in the baggie, and pluck one out when I need a new book! It doesn't look very full, but I used only little snips of paper.

Exhibit E:  Favorite poem. It is so gorgeous, and the story of the author is so tragic and utterly IRISH and HISTORICAL. Click here to enter the sobfest.

Exhibit F: My 2nd favorite poem. When I was in County Chorus, this was the men's piece, and I was blown away by the beauty of the music and the words.

Exhibit G: The top is a sticker from my best friend that proclaims my personal motto. Below are my William Mason pictures. ^_^ They make me smile, and only the best make the bulletin board. I might add one or two more beloved characters (the Doctor is a must). Finding these particular images was quite an adventure. I found them all under "William Downton Abbey". "William Mason" wielded some intriguing results... Click here if you're in for a good laugh. (Click here if you're in for a good cry.) Basically, thinking about my favorite characters makes me want to create ones that are equally wonderful!

Exhibit H: Yes, these are pages of a Lands' End Kids catalog. But I want all of these dresses SO BADLY, that I kept the pictures. Someday, I intend to sew them myself. Or employ someone else to sew them for me. Or wave my magic wand and make them come in adult sizes. The light blue striped one in the middle seems story-worthy to me.

Having a neat bulletin board full of things that inspire me keeps my head clear and motivates me to write. What about you? Do you like putting your "stuff" on display? What gets your creative juices flowing? The comments await you.

Next up: My super secret writing box! (Not so secret any more, I suppose.)

100-4-100: Day 1

Day #: 1
Today's Word Count: 340
Overall Word Count: 340

Time for my first 100 for 100 Challenge update!

Obviously, I exceeded my 100 word goal... by over 200 words! Excitement! Of course, this felt like scribbles compared to the 1,667 words I churn out per day during NaNo. I think that's why I produced more work than I needed to: My perspective has been distorted by too much NaNoing.

I found that I couldn't hold out any longer: I'm writing that Irish novel I always drone on and on about. I'm trying to research as I go. Not great for historical accuracy, but fantastic for getting a feel for the "spirit" of the story. I wrote all of my stuff today at school, which meant school filters. I found it ironic that Google Docs is blocked at school, but in my search for facts on pipes, I can access a wealth of information concerning how to smoke pot. The school system at its finest.

What I wrote isn't exactly poetry. In fact, it's teetering on being pure garbage. But you know what? This wonderful story that has been pent up inside me for over a year now is getting a chance to see the light. I'm certain that I'll hate what I've written: the crummy attempts at prose, the foolish mistakes, the cringe-worthy historical inaccuracies. Yet today is Day 1, and for today, I'm going to enjoy the process. Just this once.