HD Love, Jimmies (plural), & the Like

5 Interesting Things You All Ought to Know

-1-

New year, new me, new blog.

 Look around. Isn't it colorful? I am currently working on improving the layout of the blog and making it more functional. I'll be rolling out some more minor changes which will hopefully make this blog easier to navigate. 

-2-

Heather Dixon loves me.

Me, and Marlene. Below is a screenshot to prove it. If you haven't read Heather Dixon's positively enchanting novel Entwined or clicked "follow" for her hysterical blog Story-Monster, I would highly recommend it. She can make me laugh (or swoon) even on the darkest and dreariest of days.

Fangirl captions added for your entertainment.

-3-

Downton is back, ladies n' gents.

While other viewers are trying to keep calm and carry on after Season 3, I am still suffering from post-Season 2 depression. Face it: Best season of Downton Abbey ever. I have professed my love for William and Branson and Downton Abbey before, so I will leave the gushing to my past self. I am looking forward to Season 4 viewing sessions with my family until I return to school. My sisters, mother, and I all make tea and watch it together, and my father inevitably asks for the details the next day. (He's secretly a fan. I just know it.) So far it's more of the same, but the promise of new characters should shake things up relatively soon.

 -4-

On top of Jimmy, there are jimmies!

There's Downton Abbey Jimmy, and then there are jimmies. As of tomorrow, I'll have both! I'm planning to bake some sprinkle-covered cookies over the course of the week, and for some reason the irony of back-to-back Jimmy-ness tickles my funny bone.

Durdurdur I'm Jimmy durdurdur.

-5-

 My sister loves Earl Grey. I repeat: SHE LOVES EARL GREY.

I watched my youngest sister acquire a taste for tea over the past few years, but we had sort of parted ways. She experimented with vanilla chai concoctions while I perfected the art of a perfectly steeped, stirred, and sweetened cup of E.G. She saw me having my "usual" this evening and asked for a sip. She brought the mug to her lips, took a tiny sip, looked me in the eye, smiled, and said, "That was delicious." I promptly made her her own cup and watched her skip off into boiled leaf juice bliss. I'm so proud, guys!!!

The tea was Iroh approved.

On the writing front... All this time off has given me some time to write, which has been glorious. Still in my fairy-tale phase. I may or may not have promised some of my friends at school some finished stories, so I have my work cut out for me. I only have two weeks before I have to head back! My sentiments on the subject look a little like this:

Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but I'm pretty happy right where I am. So there you have it: 5 things you ought to know. Until next time!

Image Credits: 2nd down, 3rd down, 4th down

WARNING!

I'm going to be at camp for the next week, and I won't be home most of the following week. You'll have to look elsewhere for your occasional literary and/or geeky fix.


I guess that means it's time to say goodbye, eh?

By the way, I am totally capable of making non-Doctor Who related references. For some reason they are simply the ones that first come to mind. Plus, the fandom makes the gifs and images so goshdarn accessible... You want something else!? *sigh* Fine.

Now stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Confessions of an Invalid

It's official: I have strep throat. Yuck! What to do when one is sick?

1. Eat lots of unhealthy food.
This one may not seem like such a good idea at first, but after one considers how wretchedly miserable they are, comfort food does seem to be a viable and reasonable option. I myself have already downed two pieces of buttered toast (classic sick food), a bowl of potato soup, a serving of ice cream (for my throat), a piece of spinach quiche, and a glass of orange juice. Mmmmm! I'll get around to the fruits and veggies part of my day later. *coughhopefullycough*

2. Watch television reruns.
Technically, TV is off-limits during Lent, but when you're ill at 4 AM, our family makes exceptions. I've watched nothing but Full House and Boy Meets World. I restrained myself from watching Doctor Who: That's my go-to "sick show", so I'm still making a sacrifice. 

FULL HOUSE!!! :D

3. Nap... a lot.
Even if it means you have weird dreams involving awkward proposals that go somewhere along the lines of, "I love French dresses, and I love you!" Did I mention this dream involved a certain William Mason? And that I was not being proposed to? Bummer. I was holding hands with an unknown, small child and walking nearby. Awko tacos.

I love you. Is that dress French?

4. Avoid any and all homework like the plague.
Yet another act of The Merchant of Venice? But I'm an INVALID!

*snort*

5. Read.
I finished Under a Fairy Moon, and I have yet to decide what is next on my priority list. Under a Fairy Moon was sweet, and though the writing wasn't "bad", I do think the novel needed a lot of work in terms of pacing and characterization. It still had the marks of an early draft. Of course, it's also aimed at younger children, but there were still parts where I was either confused or felt like I wasn't getting the full picture. Still, stunning cover art! I really ought to finish A History of Ireland, but I'm stuck in a dry part. Boo! Any suggestions?

6. Write.
Working on fairy-tales? Yes, please! Nothing like a fun story to lighten my mood.

What do you like to do when you're sick?

Recent Developments

Check out the new lay-out. You liiiiike? You buuuuuy?

I’ve been on a major cleaning spree, which meant the blog was majorly overdue for some tidying up. At some point I would actually like to pitch this thing to a greater audience and not hang my head in shame (although that will undoubtedly occur anyways), so enjoy the new view. Among other things, I also organized my closet, my dresser, my bulletin-board, my make-up, and my Google Drive. *awkward pause* Okay, so Google isn’t done yet. But all of the old embarrassing stuff is in its own separate folder, which prevents it from discouraging me in my latest endeavors.

More news: The final installment of our family Christmas gift arrived in the mail… Season 3 of Downton Abbey. Now the question is, is it ethical to skip ahead and watch the whole thing ahead of the majority of the country? I mean, all the British people already know everything! Plus, my best friend has seen the whole series, so it seems only fair… Thoughts?

Even more news: The 100 for 100 Challenge is fast approaching. I feel so unprepared! Just like NaNoWriMo, I probably won’t “officially” decide what I’m writing about until the day of. Anything I say before then should be disregarded as rubbish. Fortunately, I am not alone in this adventure! My friends over at Charlie and Me will be joining me! I can’t wait to see what we all come up with. It’s bound to be a real adventure.

(I hope.)

 

Writer's Fight Club

Disclaimer: I've never seen Fight Club. But I have seen the trailer for Jane Austen's Fight Club.

Basically, I propose that we (you and every writer out there who is reading this) form our own Fight Club. We hit our readers as hard as we can... right in the feels. Kind of like Episode 4 of Season 3 of Downton Abbey. Right. In. The. Feels.

Since I'm still smarting from last night's episode - and by "smarting" I mean "trying to understand why my family and I just can't pick up and move on after a simple TV show" - I figured I would talk a little bit about emotion. Also, I found a way to tie in the awesome trailer above, which then proceeds to tie into the 200th Anniversary of Pride & Prejudice, which also shamelessly allows me to plug the 83rd episode of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. I am aware I just wrote a run-on sentence. Please, ignore it.

Making sure your story has plot twists is essential. Making sure those plot twists resonate with your readers is a different story. Here are some examples (SPOILER ALERT):

- Pride and Prejudice: Finding out that Lydia ran away with George Wickham. Readers can't see this plot twist coming, as the two characters never seem to express any explicit interest in each other. Yet the twist isn't entirely improbable, as the reader knows that Lydia is silly and flirtatious, and George is a scumbag who has dabbled in such behavior before. Readers care because Lizzy and her family's reputation are at stake. The actual delivery of this plot twist is dramatic because Mr. Darcy is present when Lizzy gets the news.

- Downton Abbey: Sybil's death. (Yeah, I went there.) Viewers don't see it coming, because the baby is healthy and Sybil appears totally fine after giving birth. Yet when she starts having her seizure, it makes sense: Dr. Clarkson warned about eclampsia, and it can still kill after giving birth. Viewers care because Sybil is sweet and kind, and Tom and the baby need her. The actual plot twist is dramatic because her death could have been prevented, and because no one took Sybil to the hospital, everyone is entirely helpless when she dies.

- The Princess and the Frog: Tiana and Naveen turn human! (I needed to sneak a happy one in.) Viewers, or at least not this one, don't see it coming because they have been led to believe that the "happy ending" lies within Naveen and Tiana getting married. Yet it makes sense, because... Well... "Once you became my wife, that made you..." "... a princess! You just kissed yourself a princess!" And as we know from earlier, kissing a princess breaks the spell! The actual plot twist is dramatic, because OBVIOUSLY they're human and happy and it's a Disney movie. 

I picked at least two plot twists because they stick with the themes of my post, but obviously I could post hundreds more. There are twists in the beginning, the middle, and end, of big and small proportions, dealing with characters of every persuasion. The question is, do these twists mean anything? Do they make your reader feel something? Joy? Fear? Sorrow?

Just because I love lists, here are some tips on writing awesome plot twists:

1. Don't let your readers see it coming! Never underestimate the element of surprise. Sometimes authors make the mistake of eluding too often to a certain twist. A small hint here or there can't hurt... (Downton spoiler: Slipping in a nasty Lord Grantham comment about Catholics makes Branson's desire to have the baby baptized Catholic even more tense.) Just don't overdo it. Get feedback from someone you trust. Make sure you don't leave too many clues.
2. Don't be too cliche. Some cliches are unavoidable, or can have a fresh twist put on them. Yet others are so overused or classic that readers can't help but see them coming (see #1). If you're writing a Disney movie, you can get away with a few. But try and avoid heroes saving the day during a villain monlogue, the death that everyone saw coming, etc. Most cliches lie elsewhere, but beware cliched plot twists anyway!
3. Make it personal. Fear nothing. Kill off an unlikely major character. Permanently injure an unsuspecting victim. Give a happy ending when all the odds go against it. This third tip really boils down to how well written and constructed your story is, so this is another area where feedback can help. Ask your beloved critique partners if the twist made them feel anything, anything at all. If they complain that it's falling flat, do everything in your power to fix the twist... or ditch it if necessary. 

Chances are, I've taught you nothing. However, it can't hurt to keep all this in mind as we, the new members of the Writer's Fight Club, go out to pick a fight with readers everywhere... and lose. *

* Note: I honestly don't know what Fight Club is about, so why do you want to lose? I mean, all I know is that Rule One of Fight Club is don't talk about Fight Club. Why even fight? I don't get it.

Anyways, I think I'm gonna go get punched in the feels by Pride & Prejudice to celebrate the book's 200th. Read a few chapters. Watch a few clips. Ardently admire and love Darcy. The usual.

Doing something daring.

As much as I love adventure, I am not the most adventurous person. I play it safe in practically every field. Don't do anything with a risk factor above 0.00001. Don't eat anything too abnormal. Don't say anything that will attract attention (okay, that one's a bit of a lie). But seriously. My sister has told me to not play the rules so much. Yes, ladies and gentlemen: I have been told to "let my hair down", "break some rules once in awhile", and "live a little". Her words, not mine.

Yet today, I decided to do something daring.

I signed up for the 100 for 100 Challenge! *cue the fanfare*

Go Teen Writers, a blog for young writers that y'all should really check out, is hosting their second 100 for 100 Challenge. Basically, for 100 days, you write 100 words per day. All the same manuscript. Like a less frenzied version of NaNo.

On a side note, I'm watching You've Got Mail for the first time as I type this. I missed the beginning, and I'm on a schedule, so I'll probably miss the end, but the Pride & Prejudice references? Much appreciated. Especially since I've been obsessed with The Lizzie Bennet Diaries to the point of insanity for the past few weeks, and I had to explain the whole "Colin Firth lake scene" to my sister last night. Did I mention I reread part of the book two days ago? Maybe these coincidences are really a SIGN. The Doctor says, never ignore a coincidence, unless you're busy.

Anyways, you all are probably thinking how while this 100 for 100 is indeed a challenge, it's not much of an adventure. Well, brace yourselves: I have made the split-second decision to go through with writing that Downton Abbey-esque novel I've been hinting at. The idea is strong enough that I think I could slap together 10k. It will be a good indicator of whether or not the story has any real steam.

What do you think? Am I crazy? Will you all punish me if I fail? Do you think Darcy is trying to contact me through near constant P&P references?

DARCY. Between the suspenders, the occasional newsboy caps/bow ties, and his astounding vocabulary, I've decided that the LBD version of The Great Love Interest of Literature is my soul mate. Move over, Lizzie.

PS - Why is this movie so adorable?

New (Old) Typewriter

I have always wanted a typewriter. Ever since I read the Kit Kittredge books as a kid, I have wanted one. I used to type up newspapers just like Kit, but it wasn't the same without the click-clacking of a typewriter.

My sister owned the doll, but I read all the books. :)

Well, guess what? I am now the proud owner of a typewriter! Sort of! I mean, it doesn't have an ink ribbon... and it's not entirely "mine"... and it's an electronic one from the 80's... but STILL!

It all happened at Goodwill. I was having a glorious day: I bought two skirts, one for $2, the cutest/most unique pair of flats, and a great quality white shirt. Then, my sister and I saw it: the $15, still working, electronic typewriter. Needless to say, we bought it, and the rest was history.

I can't really do anything with it except make clacky noises and play pretend. I want to find an ink ribbon for it, assuming it doesn't lead to any killers...

Don't y'all watch NCIS? That episode where this killer starts killing people (obvs), but it's related to McGee's unpublished manuscript, and it's this crazy fan who steals the ink ribbons from his typewriter and thinks that the book is real!? Somebody? Anybody? *sigh*

Just read this bit of the episode, wouldya?

MCGEE: Okay, sometimes when I’m in trouble, I take a few minutes to free-write.  
TONY: Free-write?  
MCGEE: Stream of consciousness. About my characters, my story arcs, my possible plot lines, everything. No filter. 
 TONY: No filter. 
 MCGEE: Whatever pops in my head goes right to the page.  
TONY: Ah. Write. Be free! Just do it. Free write! Be free. I get it.

See? I didn't just want to tell you about my typewriter! I wanted to segue into a section about free writing! (And gush about how much I love McGee and we're both writers and stuff.) 

I had such a great free writing session today. It was very much Downton inspired. I just finished The World of Downton Abbey, which is such a great intro to the Edwardian era. Plus, it really enhances the show. I find myself explaining the historical significance of certain lines/events to my family. Makes me feel awesome. I feel particularly awesome when I understand all of Branson's political references. Like a sir.

Anyways, my newfound (albeit shallow) understanding of the early 1900's made for an awesome pair of passages. I don't know if these musings will ever transform into a full novel, but I would definitely consider expanding the story. I've got a beginning and an end, but no middle. Someday, right? I'm sure the stuff is ridden with historical inaccuracies, but you know what? It's free writing. Like Dinozzo says, be free! Just do it.

Read my review of The World of Downton Abbey here! Do any of you free write? Tell me about it in the comments, if it strikes your fancy.

I was going to just put a picture of the book, but this bit of awesomesauce cropped up. *smirk*

My Christmas present. Super cool.

Let the festivities commence!

Guess what, everyone!? I have off for Christmas break!

Sound the trumpets, ring the bells, burst out into spontaneous song! Nothing but Christmas spirit, New Year shenanigans, and other festive activities to come! Wondering what's on my agenda? I shall tell you!

1. Eat food. Not just any food, mind you. This morning, two giant muffin/scone/bagel/cookie baskets arrived from my favorite local restaurant. One of them was delivered by a classmate, and I was conveniently still moping around in my Disney princess pajamas, so naturally I stayed in the kitchen while my mom did all the talking. Regardless, our fridge is overflowing with baked goods. AND I CAN'T EAT ANY OF IT. I gave up dessert for Advent, and I am counting down the minutes until I can feast on scones and tea.
2.  Do homework. Yes, I have it. My AP Government teacher assigned us the biggest chapter of the year to do over break. Hoping to knock that one out ASAP...
3. Watch Downton re-runs (specifically, ones with William Mason in them). My mother and sister may be in love with Matthew Crawley, Tom Branson may be Dreamy McFly, but William is where it's at. I like to pretend Season 2 never happened, we're happily engaged, and I own a horse. Cuz he's good with horses and I always wanted a horse so therefore I should have a horse. Did I mention we're engaged?

I've been in love with him since he walked on camera for all of thirty seconds in the first episode. Even though my sisters tease him relentlessly, he's still #1.
4. Watch Emma. My friend Anna got it for my sister and I for Christmas. We opened it in my car, started screaming, and called Anna on the phone and left her a message of us screaming.
5. Celebrate Christmas, of course! That means attending Mass several times over, opening gifts, rocking out to Christmas carols, having my best friends' family over, and watching the Doctor Who Christmas special. Which leads us to 6...
6. Freak out over Doctor Who. New companion. New outfit. New theme song. New TARDIS. Should I go on?

8. Have a Happy New Year. We're visiting two different sets of cousins, which means an excursion to the beautiful Longwood Gardens followed by a murder mystery dinner theater. *sigh* Holidays are great.
7. WRITE! Most of my free time is merely an illusion, even during break, but that doesn't mean I'm not fitting in time to write! In fact, I'm planning a session for this evening. I do best just before bed... Too tired to criticize myself, my mind filled with the stuff of dreams. My best work comes after midnight.

How about you? Any plans for the break?

Welp, I'm beat.

I WON NANOWRIMO!

*applause*

I finished a day early, too. Now I just have to order my winner's T-shirt. My mum is letting me purchase one as a reward for my efforts. My best friend baked me a whole batch of brownies to celebrate my victory. (They were unbelievably chocolatey. It was insane.) My dear sister didn't even complain when I stayed up late on the 29th to just get the gosh darn thing over with. I've got an awesome team behind me, that's for sure.

If you're wondering why I haven't posted all month, I would think it's obvious. I've been NaNoing! That, or watching Doctor Who and Downton Abbey. Or doing homework. Basically, a cycle of stressing over NaNo, completing college apps, doing homework, and then de-stressing with some quality British television. And if anyone wants to talk Downton with me, I'd be happy to oblige. Next up is the Christmas episode, and I'm still upset over the last one. I mean... LAVINIA? WHY!? I hate writers. Oh wait, I am one. *blush*

Dude, check it.

 

You can see where life got crazy, and the insane sprint to the finish line over the last few days. Three days in a row, I came home, sat down at the computer, and did nothing but write for hours on end, taking short Facebook/food/run around the house breaks. It was intense. The writing was awful. But I DID IT. Huzzah for yours truly!

Now, for your reading pleasure, the best and worse of my 2012 NaNoWriMo novel, If and When.

Obviously, this is all copyright of yours truly. Anything plaguerized is ILLEGAL. Not that it's good enough to steal. *sigh* Forget it.

THE GOOD 

• "Try to look inconspicuous, she thought. She wished she could say the last word aloud. Inconspicuous. It tasted like chocolate; New words always did." 
• Why I like it: I used the image of words have flavor several times in the novel, and I thought it really worked well within the context of the book. Not to mention Anthony has chocolate brown eyes. Coincidence? I think NOT! 
•  Aubrey’s mouth clamped shut. Words, words! Her mouth opened up just enough to let one tumble out of her mouth.
      “Inquisitive.”
      Dimitri’s eyebrows managed to go up even higher. “Excuse me?”
      “Yes. I... I read. Books, I mean. I read books.” She gulped.
• Why I like it: I thought it was funny. You're allowed to disagree.
• Aubrey looked up and into the pale face of the sky and wondered what stars looked like. She had read so much about them… They were supposed to be bright, twinkling orbs of light. There were so many poems about them. If Aubrey remembered correctly, they were supposed to be romantic.
• Why I like it: In my story world, there are lots of factories. It occurred to me when Aubrey went outside with her friend, Anthony, that the pollution would block the sky... and the stars. Anyone who reads knows that stars come up a lot. The writing here wasn't splendirific or anything like that, but the concept was cool.

THE BAD

• Suddenly the shacks around them weren’t just unsightly, but eerily still.
• Why it stinks to high heaven: Sometimes my grammar faltered during the month. 

 

• The sky was a bruise, black and blue and bordering purple, while streaks of smog streaked across the sky like scars. 
• Why it stinks to high heaven: The concept? The sky is a combination of black, blue, and purple. Bruise! Dark clouds. Scars! Brilliant! Except... Ew, now everyone is thinking about wounds, oozing puss and nastiness. Gross.

More on NaNo later. Our football team made state play-offs for the first time in history, so I've got to get up bright and early to cheer my little heart out and play my xylophone like there ain't no tomorrow. Until then, I leave you with the most adorable thing ever. And before you ask, I didn't go looking for it. David Tennant is a pure coincidence. Although I'm certainly not complaining...

I mean, I could have played fish girl.

Soak up the adorbs. You're smiling. Admit it. No matter how cheesy that was, you're smiling. Don't hide it: EMBRACE THE SMILEY FACE. There you go. :)

* FOR AFTER YOU'VE WATCHED THE ABOVE VIDEO: Don't you love how the sign beneath the girls apartment is Juliet's Something-or-Other, and then the sign behind him switches to Romeo? Too. Cute.