Casting My Novel!

Over at Absolute Write there's a thread in YA where everyone is casting their characters on who would play them if their book became a movie. It looked like so much fun I decided to join in!

This is for my WIP; Anemoi Boy

Aleksandrukas doesn't have a mother. He has a maker. He was forged out of clouds seventeen years ago by an Anemoi named Beroe. His only purpose? To win the tournament featuring the human races pitted against each other. The prize? The fastest storks the Anemoi leader can forge. They are bigger and stronger, allowing them to carry more cloud-babies down to earth for the winning Anemoi. The prize for the kids? Well, they won't be "recycled" for the magic stardust that brought them to life in the first place.

Aleksandrukas
"Alek"
Race: Indian
Anemoi: Beroe
Age: 17

All Alek wants is to win the tournament for his Anemoi. But when the Anemoi outcast tells him about a conspiracy involving his maker, he confronts Beroe about it. Beroe kicks him out, banishing him from his life and removes him from the tournament. Now Alek has to try to sneak back into the tournament with the help of his friends, and decide whether to ruin Beroe's life.

I cannot find a picture for Alek! I want him to have like Josh Hutcherson's body, but Indian with curly black hair. Anyone know any actors/models who look like that?

I am so happy I found her! She is the perfect Minnie and the best part is that she is actually Russian! She speaks fluent Russian! It's so perfect lol!

Minerva
"Minnie"
Race: Russian
Anemoi: Believed to be Abellona but is actually Beroe
Age: 17

Minnie is sweet and practical, but is distant and cold to everyone except Alek and Abellona. She worships Abellona and does anything and everything by the rules Abellona sets forth. She doesn't always approve of Alek's antics, but they're best friends. When she finds out that Beroe is actually her anemoi, not Abellona, she is devastated and quits the tournament out of spite, running away to live with Merope; the Anemoi outcast. She helps Alek sneak into the tournament.

This is perfect except her hair would be Merida's hair from Brave. If Merida's hair was white.
Name is Unknown
Alek calls her "Ambrosia"
Age: Unknown

Ambrosia is the maker of the clouds. She's an artist and takes great pride in her work. Beroe sends Alek to her to try and persuade her to give up her best clouds. Over the course of these many visits they become friends. Minnie does not like her, or the amount of time Alek spends there "fooling around". Ambrosia hides her own life but she loves talking about everything and anything. She especially enjoys talking to Alek.

I have a ton of other characters but they are harder to cast, being that they are neither male nor female. But I'll update when I find some more!

-Jessie

Let's Class This Place Up A Bit...

Notice anything different around here?

I got so tired of the rainy window - as much as I liked the theme, the colors I chose (and the font!), well they weren't very professional or impressive, huh?

Then again, I may not be those either.

But anyway I just spent way too long updating the blog and it's already late. I have to get up early tomorrow anyway. Goodnight bloggers!
-Jessie

Goal Numero Dos y Tres

Second goal of the summer is to fix the plot line for Fighting Samuaii. I need to rename characters, revise characters, motives, places, personalities. I also am starting to hate the name "Samuaii" because it's so obviously a rewrite of Samurai and that is just weak naming. Which means that I will have to relearn my own story!

Now that just in general is going to be incredibly frustrating, but on top of all that I need to reexamine the subplots I have in place, because my first half-draft focused almost entirely on the "interesting stuff" (i.e. who's fighting with whom, which characters are into each other etc.). I wasted more than 30,000 words on this already and more than half is unusable because I stopped writing for the plot. I'll have to monitor myself very carefully so I don't waste more time/energy but I'm worried being too strict will hinder my creative process as well.

My third goal is to find a place to submit my flash fiction piece Old Walnut. I don't remember if I shared it on this blog but I'm sure I did at least once. After failing to get it published the first time, I would love it if I could get it into a really good publication. That way it will mean something. I don't really want an e-publication either - I want to be able to hold it in my hands years form now and be able to say this is it. The first thing I ever published.

I'm sure I'll come up with more goals as time goes on but I have to work on focusing and carving out time to get them done!. The internet has become more and more distracting lately but I need to stop making excuses. I'm old enough to not procrastinate like writing is a chore. I just don't want to write that much in case it confirms my fear that I'm really not that great a writer.

But onwards march, men!
-Jessie

Back from the Abyss

I am (clearly) not very good at this "blogging regularly" thing. I was supposed to post a bunch of stuff on how much progress I've made with Fighting Samuaii and how amazing it is to be back in the writing game and blah, blah, blah. But I didn't do that because I really made almost no progress. I'm still stuck on naming the main characters (and whether to destroy one entirely). When I first came up with the story I named all the characters with very close sounding, four letter names that started with pretty much the same letters. But now that's how I know the characters. In my head that's how I remember them! So I can just move ahead with the old names and find/replace later or worry my head off with the new names now.

But it's summer vacation and I have some very ambitious goals. VERY. AMBITIOUS. I don't know why exactly I believe I can accomplish them when everything I've done in the past points to absolute failure, but, hey, start off the day with a positive attitude, right? Anyway goal #1 is to rewrite Being Evil. I recently read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (which I completely recommend - it's absolutely amazing and I hear she is a member of Absolute Write as well) which was filled to the brim with the most beautiful imagery and descriptions - they're works of art. It definitely elevated the tone of the book and she is a description master in my opinion. I started to study the difference between her book and my WIPs and that's when I noticed the tone difference. The Night Circus, in general a little more serious, just had an overtone of a quality book without gimmicks or ploys to make you laugh - it didn't feel cheap I suppose is what I mean. It is just in general a really good book. And the feeling I get from Being Evil sometimes is that it's a little too young for the target audience or there was just one too many sarcastic lines. It gives the impression that it is just a cheap little paperback - not a treasured or remembered book. And while Being Evil is supposed to be funny, it's not supposed to be a joke all around. There are serious parts. And I don't want to cheat my readers with "young" and "jokey" writing when my book is not supposed to be young or jokey.

A major Beta Reader complaint was that I didn't have enough description of places in Being Evil and it made it hard to become immersed in the book. So, in my own little wannabe Scrivener, I am going to write everything about every place in the book. Most of it probably won't make it in the final draft but at least the best stuff will. This way I also have a better Mind's eye view of the story as it unfolds. I'm also going to use the Virtual Notebook to practice manipulating words to create tones and feelings about certain places and situations, which should get rid of the gimmicky feel.
 
Well I have to get back to writing. Tomorrow I'll post Goal #2. Seeya then!  
-Jessie

Checklists and Goals

Hey guys! See I told you I would write more. And I bet you didn't believe me...

Right now I'm working on an old series that I don't think I've mentioned before; Fighting Samuaii. I know I used to have an old website that was pretty much dedicated to it, but I shut it down a while ago and lost the URL. I'm really passionate about this idea (it's one of the few I call "all mine" because it was inspired purely from a dream, not something I saw one day) but I have to admit I'm really cautious. Last time I attempted writing it I got 33,000 words in before I realized I wasn't really focusing on the plot enough. There goes a few months of work down the drain. The names I had chosen were also too close together and there were a couple redundant events/characters and just things that didn't make sense.

It sort of became obvious I didn't spend enough time on world-building and if I was going to continue the book I would need to flesh that all out first. World-building can be the most fun and trying process in writing. On one hand it's literally you just making a bunch of stuff up and putting it all together into a cohesive history. But it's easy to get carried away or run out of compelling ideas. You have to really monitor yourself. What's your general process for world-building? Or does your genre not have to deal with any of that silly stuff? : P

So that's where I'm at now. But I have a whole week of free time (Well not completely free but I'm going to force myself to write everyday anyway) and I'm hoping to get all the background stories set. As you can probably see, I'm one of those "planned" writers. Or I try to be.

So, here's my checklist:

• World-building complete (including regional people/religions)
• Character backgrounds
• Character name changes (if needed) 
• Plot scene outlines
• Notes on the scenes 

I'll check in in a few days and we'll see how well everything's going. How are your WIPs?

-Jessie

I'm back from the dead

I know, this blog has been dead for months. Not that I was good at updating anyway. Truthfully guys, I'm just coming out of a writing hiatus. I can't point my finger at something to blame - Oh, I could tell you it was all the work from school, or ideas that were not working but honestly? I stopped writing because I couldn't do it anymore. Everything I tried to write was awful. It sounded stilted and gimmicky, like I was playing pretend and my flow was just an imitation. During these months I was no longer a writer. I forgot how.

I just read my post on how writers listen, how their brains instinctively look out for ideas because they're never satisfied. I've been trying to recycle old ideas for months now and I get the same result. But I've stopped finding things around me to make me wonder what if.

I stopped reading too. I was too busy and just didn't have the time, but I know the real reason was it was just too depressing to read successful stories and no longer feel connected to that world. I used to read and see a particular line and smile, knowing not only how clever the line was, but the exact nuances and reasons behind keeping it, including it with the finished project. I couldn't do that anymore. And these are realizations that I'm only now seeing as I sit here typing for the first time since October 2011.

I have laid dormant for too long. And I know that I do not know enough right now to write what I need to. But you know what? I have time. And I can grow and learn with the best if I keep trying. And stopping isn't going to help anyone. My road ahead is difficult and I've got more things against me than for me. But I am a writer. And I know I always will be, even if sometimes I need to give up.

I'm taking up the burden again, and I'm opening my eyes and my brain for ideas. I know that it may not show up immediately and that just accepting the facts won't get me to the end that much quicker, but you know what? I'm not going to give up anymore. I will get to the top of the hill one day, book in hand. And though this post seriously borders too cheesy to take seriously, it's the first time since October where I've written for this long and haven't erased my words. And I'm not gonna lie, that feels pretty good.

So welcome back to my brain. Find a seat and get comfy because I'm sure this adventure will be even more fun than the last ones.   

- Jessie

Anthology Adventure

And so the results of the anthology are here. Well they were actually here about two weeks ago but I've been lazy and haven't posted. But I will first bring you through the journey that ended with one little e-mail.

I, after much deliberation and hair loss sent in my submission. (seriously I spent an hour trying to figure out what to type in the body of the e-mail. Why is that part the most confusing?) And then the waiting....the waiting...more waiting...

I was surprised I had not yet recieved a rejection. And then another e-mail came in saying that I was going to the second round! Specifically that it wasn't an offer, but they really liked the piece. I was thrilled! Published? Me? It seemed closer than ever before! And the timing was great  - with so much other personal bad news, me getting published would be amazing.

That excitement lasted for a little while until me and the other second-rounders got bored and decided to plague the anthology thread with nonsense, random e-mail checks, dragon poetry, prospective names for the anthology, and dragon/elf crossovers, as well as some strange movie references I didn't understand. It was a lot of fun. And lasted a long time lol. (Not that I'm complaining - Considering what most turn-arounds are, Mac was extremely fast, and kind, posting little updates when she could. It was just my first submission so I was hopped up on impatience :D) Finally Mac told us that any e-mail she sends out would be a rejection. So people started to avoid checking their e-mails. And somehow, I scraped by again. After three more weeks, she said we would know the final Table of Contents by the end of the week.

Somehow I forgot about that deadline and ended up rushing to my computer on Saturday Night. And there, in my inbox was a nice, polite, heart-breaking rejection.

My first rejection - I guess I'm a real writer now huh? And as nice as it was...I couldn't help it. I felt crushed. I felt worthless and stupid and horrible. I felt like a failure, and I felt that way for a few days after too. But I picked myself up. The reason it was rejected was because it didn't fit the theme of the anthology - not because it was an awful story right? And since the theme wasn't agreed upon before submission, how could I have possibly known mine wasn't going to fit? So it's not my fault - it's not anyone's fault. It just happens. And as a writer I need to get used to the fact that a rejection doesn't always mean something negative. Sometimes they just happen.

-Jessie

Surprise Attack From...Me!

I know I said I wouldn't post anything, but a rejection still hasn't come through so I'm freaking out at the prospect that I might actually be Published. I'll say it again because it deserves that sort of recognition; PUBLISHED.

Anyway, I've decided to at least pretend I'm a real-type-blogger-person so I will talk about this super freaking amazing article I read on Men With Pens, which I actually only just discovered through a link in an AW Thread. Anyway, it's about ways you can break through Writer's Block by sorting out your brain into a work space (And y'all know how much I love sorting my brain : D).

How to Unblock Your Writing and Create Effortless Words.

The way it explains how each "worker" interacts is really a great way, in my opinion, to think about it and it sort of helped me prioritize and just focus - by pretending it's a game. I do things like this all the time - make up scenarios and pretend how people react so I suppose it might just be me. And while I'm not mapping out the whole book but going chapter by chapter, I'm adapting the idea and turning it into my own personal writing tool - And I didn't even have to buy it.

On another note, as I believe keeping a blog should compel me to keep everyone informed, I am working on the super epic sequel to Being Evil. I know I haven't even finished off the first one, but I have to write something and this is it. I can't stand going back and seeing how awful my writing may be for BE. I'm going to have beta-reader tear it to shreds for me before I even touch it.  Also the article above helped me brainstorm a new short story about my brain - featuring our old favorite like Depressed Unicorn, Kitty-Bear, and Baby Squirrel. Along with Exposition Man (remember him?) and some new characters will join together to defeat The Virus. Schweet, right?

Bye, guys! Seeya in the rejection pile! Or *gulp* in the Anthology.
-Jessie

My First Submission

Well I subbed it. Eep! It took me a while to come up with the best thing to write. I seriously was freaking out trying to make it as perfect as possible. And while perfection can't be obtained, I was pretty happy with the product. Now I'm just working on not thinking about it.

Do you guys ever get that way? I mean I was talking to my friend about it and she said that she was sure "they" would love it. My first thought was, "Don't tell me that!". I really don't want to think about it and I sure as hell don't want to get my hopes up. If it does get rejected than the letter itself will be hard enough to get through, without the soul-crushing despair that goes with deluding yourself into something that just didn't happen. I don't want ot tell people. I don't want to boast to them that I just submitted something (it's not exactly something to boast about either) I'd rather just keep it to myself. As it is I only told two friends and my parents. I don't want to think about the possibilities of it being accepted, because that scares me more than being rejected.

I'm not even sure if that makes any sense at all. But I just don't want to contemplate it or I'll obsess over it forever and won't get anything else done (Because I'm so productive normally). So if you will indulge me with a happy cookie dance, I will be on my way.

Thank you. That is all.

-Jessie

P.S. I probably won't post again until I get the letter back on whether I'm accepted or rejected, because I have a few ideas I need to roll around my head (to clear out all the clutter). But you never know, stranger things have happened.

The Crisis, The Blog, and The Cookie Bear

Okay guys. I think this is it. I think I'm am finally going to submit a piece of writing in hopes of getting published. Today is the day so many have had before me, a ritual all writers must eventually undergo, a strange mix of nerves and excitement. Except for me that is.

I'm trembling in fear.

It's a flash piece about an eccentric old walnut tree that is worrying whether the rains of the "wet season" will come this year. And then of course there's a twist. But I'm not going to spoil it! I figured I would work really hard on it and maybe push it through to the AW Anthology. Maybe I would get lucky. Better to fail among friends, right?

Well that time has come sooner than I thought. I now have a finished draft of my flash and then I have to go through the submitting process which, thankfully, has less rules and regulations on AW than some other places. I can follow standard formatting - my computer does all the real work for me. No problem right?

Wrong. Now I'm filled to the brim with noob questions. The guidelines for this anthology say submit it as a .rft attachment. I can do that.
 Except, what do I write in the body of my email? Nothing?
Do I include my username on AW? Or do they know it from the email I have set on there?
What do I include in contacts? Is just an E-mail fine, or do they need an address, phone number, etc.?

It's mind-boggling! And I know common sense would have a play in here somewhere, but for some reason that part of the writing process has decided to call in sick. Now I'm sitting here chewing my nails to bits worrying I'll screw up my first submission and be doomed to failure for the rest of my life. Like Mac will send out a mass email to agents and publishers saying to ignore anything I submit for the rest of my natural life. (However when I become an immortal god, then we can talk.)

You see? Obviously I'm delusional. See that's my paranoid-self talking. For some reason we've all passed millions of years of evolution and in a crisis we still think the world is going to eat us alive. So I am sitting here, while the world breathes down my neck, overlooking my piece searching for something wrong that may not even be there. But I don't know anymore! I'm going insane from all this. And I stepped away and came back and still sat there and scratched my head, completely unable to tell whether what I had just written was any good or complete crap. I'm at a lost but I want to give myself the best possible chance to get this right. I wanna be published and I refuse to screw it up.

By the way, before I go that I just wanted to point you all to a post that I thought was really brilliant and it actually gave me a pretty original short story idea that I'm working with.  An AW member (Bartholomew) helped me a lot with editing my flash on AW and I started browsing his blog when I came upon this article. It's pretty simple, talking about how to combine something marketable with something original and coming up with something that not only is interesting, but you can actually sell it. Which is, you know, important.

I normally suck really bad at combining ideas, but the other blog he links to in the first sentence actually helped a lot as well. I starting looking for similar ideas and themes which were mainly taking scary or depressing things, putting them together in a non-scary/depressing way by adding comedic elements. And while sometimes I veer away from this, I do notice that I enjoy taking serious subjects and turn them into something light-hearted and funny. The subject of corruption, tyranny, evil v. good, hell, heaven, death, and the afterlife all came up in Being Evil. But in the end it's a funny book that takes this serious subjects and turns them into an Adventure! story. And if that's what I'm good at, and what I like doing then I should go for it right?

Anyway, thanks a lot to Bartholomew, both for helping me with editing and his blog posts, which also helped immeasurably. I feel kind of bad sticking you at the end of a random post...

Well bye guys! 

-Jessie

Put One Foot in Front of the Other....

I know I promised to write something nice and funny to show that I'm getting on my feet, but I don't have that. I am, however, getting on my feet. I had a crazy novel idea that I started but may hit a wall. I'm writing a bonus behind-the-scenes type chapter for BE. I have another novel idea I may default on. AND I'm revising a flash piece for the new AW anthology; which you can read about here.

So I'm super busy with that as well as a bunch of school-related work that is driving me insane. Where has my summer gone? What did I do with it?

Anyway I gotta go jet off and excercise while contemplating my workload. I need to start getting up earlier.
Night guys!

-Jessie

P.S. If you want to help me out by critiquing my flash fiction, check it out here. Please and thank you!

42

Hey guys! How's everyone doing during my month long absence? I seem to go through phases like that where I write a lot (a.k.a two posts) on the blog then give it up for a month. But hopefully during my break you got some writing done, right? Feel free to brag in the comments, maybe it will help me along.

 I know that I whine and complain about not being able to write quite a lot on this blog. Perhaps more than the average writer should. But I really am starting to get a bit worried. I thought, "Just take a break after Being Evil, the inspiration will come back eventually." And then, as you may recall, I went through what must have been about twenty different book ideas to try to get something that sparked in my brain and that obviously hasn't worked. To be honest, I'm completely out of ideas. I don't know what to do. I feel like I want to write, that I should be writing but I just can't... Everything I write seems too short and not good enough, so I give it up after about half a page. What am I supposed to do? Is it normal for a rut to last this long, because I really am getting scared I've become sort of a one-hit wonder, at least book-wise. The problem with that is that my completed novel isn't even a hit. I have two ideas in my head at the moment and I'm contemplating just shoving myself through and writing crap. I can edit it later, right? If I ever learn how to edit...

Oh my god, I don't think I'm very good at this, am I? Keeping a blog that supposedly helps other writers when I don't have a clue what I'm doing or really any advice at all. I don't seem to be doing much of anything except complaining and that can't be very interesting to read, can it?

But anyway, I'm really sorry for going on and on about my inability to write all the time. If you have any suggestions to help me, please comment or send it to my e-mail (keowriting@yahoo.com) because at this point, I would really appreciate any help. Next post I promise I won't be whiny and depressing and sad. I'll surprise you, but it will be funny, promise!

See you next time!
-Jessie

P.S. If you don't understand the title of this post, read this book.

This is all.

 

-Jessie <3

Please Don't Be The End

I don't know what to do guys. I just feel stuck. I don't know why but Just Add Magic just seems completely stalled. I don't know what to do, every time I tried to sit down and write, I would hit a wall and get distracted and give up. I thought maybe I just wasn't a huge fan of the idea. But now I have a new idea I was working on (that I figured would be easier because I seem to write better in first person) but it was slow going too. I would just...stop. The only thing I've really successfully completed was a flash fiction thing I did that I'm debating let see the light of day. It's not because it's awful, it's just that for some reason it feels really personal to me and I don't think I would be able to take it getting torn apart in revisions.

But that's it. I'm just freaking out if my writing brain is gone-what if it is? What if I can never write again? Or, at least not well? And Jesus Christ will someone kick Being Evil out the door?!?! I just want it edited so I can think of what to do.

Has anyone edited a fiction novel before? Any basic pointers? When do you think you're ready for beta readers? I hate showing my noob-ness but I just can't find the answer.

-Jessie

Final Stress-Out

Finals suck. They're just really long, hard, cryptic tests that take up way too much time in very hot weather. Who does well in that kind of environment? Cramped in a stifling hot room with a bunch of other miserable people taking a six page test. Gee, that sounds like fun.

I'm a little moody slash stressed slash ready to tear my fudging hair out. And of course what am I doing instead of studying? Writing a blog post. Man, I can never do what I'm supposed to WHEN I'm supposed to can I? Geezus it's already 9:45....I'm so toast. I'll type another post from the other side of the grave. CUZ I'M GONNA DIE! You know...in case you didn't get that....yeah...

Why do we need finals? Can't we all just get A's and go home?
-Jessie

A Month Ago I Dissapeared, Now Is The Time To Persevere

Wow guys hard to believe it's been a month since  my last post...and a month since I've accomplished anything. In the story that is. But in my life too. I've just felt like at a standstill for some reason, with no real accomplishments.

I say I don't have enough time to work on the story, which is true, but I could make time. Believe me, there's only a couple shows I like on TV anyway. Yet I spend hours just sitting there. What happened to me having a real goal? For some reason I stopped trying. I don't know if it's because the characters are less interesting...thing is, I have to stop blaming the characters. I know that they're just as good and as interesting as Eric was in BE. The reason I stopped working is because I was taking it too seriously. Every time I write it's just another instance of "I'm not good enough".

I've been writing 3rd person books for years but one 1st person book and now I'm frozen, afraid to death of Telling too much, How to actually "show" things and just being an amateur altogether. Well maybe I am an amateur. I need to stop holding myself up to the standards I have. Standards are good, but for me they're stopping me from moving forward. I think the real problem is I'm afraid of wasting my time. Which is ironic as writing counts as practice whereas watching TV is a real waste of time. I need to go back and reconnect with the characters, start writing again. But every time I think that I get this little feeling of dread and a mile-long to-do list forms in my head. But the reason that list doesn't shorten is because I never do anything to solve it! I have to stop stopping and get over this...whatever it is. It's time to finally end my writing break. It's been too long anyway.

I need to find a notebook...
-Jessie

My Scholarly Article

This is my very honest attempt at a scholarly article about something pertaining to writing in general. I'm covering all my bases here so I can't mess up. Aren't you proud of me?

I've talked about "jinxes" a lot in my blogs posts, mainly whenever I withhold information about whatever I'm working on. It seems that a lot of writer's have certain superstitions. Some won't let anyone read the first draft until it's finished. Some won't write it down in a notebook for fear of losing it (man do I know what that feels like!). Maybe they even insist that it's bad luck to write with anything except for their special "writing" pen. And that's okay. Superstitions are okay because they are part of a writing routine.

Think about it. Each individual's quirks didn't just show up one day. They developed over time as events cement more ideas into our minds. I wasn't always so afraid of jinxes. But as more and more stories started than stopped two pages in I found a reason. I'm not saying it's the right reason, I'm just saying it works for me. Every Start- Stop Story happened after I had told one of my friends my great idea. I would sketch out characters and who would fall in love with who and possible ideas for the second book. It was all premise - no plot. So then I worked on the plot, sometimes to no avail. You know those books that have some sort of story going on, but the writer mainly just talks about relationships and love triangles? I had a lot of those books. By the time I was done outlining and talking to all my friends I was bored with the story and ready to move on to my next "brilliant" story idea.

I blamed me talking to my friends. I was trying to entice them to read it. But I do not have many book-friendly friends, and there was nothing to read anyway. Because I talked about it before it was written, before the plot was chosen. I killed every idea prematurely for a year like this. Now I don't even want to go back and look at my so-called "good" ideas. That's how my jinxes came to be. I can't talk to anyone except my Pre-Beta or else the story will die. I don't know if it holds true for every single story (I had multiple writing problems back then) but I sure as hell am not going to test it out. For right now I'm content to live in fear of the horrible jinxes and just hope they don't find my new babies.

I would like to point out that while the jinxes look quite evil, they are sweet when you keep them away from other people and enjoy Earl Grey Tea. That's all.

Hope you all like my attempt (ahem) at a more serious post. It might not happen again for a while so cherish it. Night all!

-Jessie

Wassup?

I must say Just Add Magic (I don't know if I said this, but I have changed the name to Just Add Magic. It just makes more sense now that I'm writing the revamped version) is running much more smoothly than Being Evil. I think I'm hitting a stride with the characters, especially the main one and now one of the more interesting ones is about to show up. Mr. Plant boy himself. but I don't want to give away too much, just in case I change stuff later.

Anyway to keep y'all up to speed, the final tally is that five out a loosely planned 25 chapters are completely finished. I have a feeling more chapters will be added on though. being Evil started as 10 chapters and is now 18 including the Epilogue (I always count the epilogue : D).

I don't know what's wrong but lately I've been getting these headaches that kill me. They aren't migraines but i do have a slight sensitivity to sound and smell - but that's it. It's just a really intense pressure behind my eyes and feels like someone is pinching the bridge of my nose really hard. It's not helping with dealing with all the work I have to do on top of writing.

On the plus side I notice I can type a lot faster now and keep up with the thoughts in my head pretty well. I can almost type without looking. That's pretty good right? Of course if I lose concentration for a second that's where the mistakes come in. That's why I put a quotes mark instead of an apostrophe in "that's". Oh well you can't be perfect.

Sometimes I feel like this isn't really a writer's blog. I feel like all my posts are just updates on the story that are pretty vague in general. I can't help it - I don't want to jinx anything. Anyway I have to get back to dishes and math. My two favorite pastimes. Not.

-Jessie

Updates, Updates, Oh Beautiful Updates...

No, I have not finished chapter. Nor I have I found out how to make my novel perfect in every conceivable way. Or learned how to fly *successfully*. Notice I am pointing out impossible feats. There's a simple reason for that/that reason is:

I'm sick! I have this horrible pressure between my eyes, behind my eyes and my whole forehead. My shoulders and neck hurt and are all stiff. I've been sneezing and coughing, and (because that list wasn't enough pain and suffering) I think my sore throat is coming back.

To make up for accomplishing really nothing besides maybe a thousand words in Chapter three, I outlined the chapters. I hit a wall at around chapter 15, where the main character didn't know where to go, ergo I didn't either. I knew where she needed to end up, but how do I justify her going? Luckily I came up with a completely plausible explanation (and probably the only genuine reaction she would have in that situation) and solved the whole thing. (showers are very helpful when you have plot problems. I recommend them) Now the only thing I don't know is how the whole issue will be resolved. Oh, and which love interest will be chosen and reign supreme.

I thought I should post more often now, but only when I have a real topic or update. I haven't had a formal topic in a while, but I suppose I'm teaching through my experiences. At least I hope I'm teaching and not coming off like a newbie. But, hey, I am a newbie so it doesn't matter much anyway lol.

I really apologize for any spelling errors/grammar errors/errors in general in this post and my last one. I have not been getting real sleep lately and I get really tired. For no reason at all, today I woke up at 6:30. I felt like hitting myself.
Anyway, good night guys!

-Jessie

So...Tired...ZZZzzzzz....

So yeah I'm kinda feeling a bit sleep-deprived. I really wish I could just go to sleep but I have too much stuff to do. The good news is that I finished chapter two for Just Add Water.

One thing I'm noticing that's different with this book and BE is that I'm not playing around. if I'm in the mood to write, I'm writing a full chapter, no excuses. I don't want it to drag on and on like Being Evil. After a three month break (omg...I still cringe at that) it's the least I could do. So far the one complaint I keep getting form Pre-Beta is that I don't have enough details in my writing. I used to have tons of detail, a paragraph describing how the inside of a tent looked. However in BE it was told in first person and the MC was very short and to the point. Most detail came from his sarcastic comments. Because this one is third person limited, I don't have a lot of those inside thoughts. But at the same town I keep thinking that details = telling not showing. But how am I supposed to show? I can't describe the street my characters are walking on? I have to have them comment on how wobbly and dark the road is?

I don't understan the show don't tell thing in practice. Anyone wanna direct me to a crash course?
Well I'm off to exercise in the meantime.

That's right. Exercise.

-Jessie