Last year around this time, I did a blog post talking about all the good and bad things that happened in 2009, and how I was going to make 2010 an even better year. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking a lot about that post, and how much things have changed in a year, for better and for worse, and how I can do better in 2011.
First off, let's talk a little bit about things that have gotten better since last year. Some of you map remember that my parents got back together in April after a six-month separation. Obviously, that's the best news I've gotten all year. Also, I kinda got a job. Something that slightly ruined the way I spend my time, but allowed me to buy gifts for my parents.
I had another fabulous vacation, with much thanks to the new Wii. And there's a chance I may be going to either California or Florida sometime in the next two years. I've made progress in researching my family tree. Oh! And I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 1, and it's definitely the best movie yet.
My goal to write more than ever before certainly paid off. While I'm not sure if I reached 300,000 words like I wanted, I did do pretty awesome. More than six fanfics complete, another successful NaNoWriMo year, a failed but still lengthy movie script for Screnzy, and lots more started projects. My hope at reading more, however, didn't pay off.
Back in September, I was given seventeen books for my twentieth birthday (titles below). So far I've read nine of them, and am about half way through of the the six books I got for Christmas (titles below). Even if I miraculously finish that one by midnight, I'll have only read 14 new books this year. My goal was 50, so it's a bit of a let down, but I'm pleased with how much I did read.
Of course, with the good comes the bad. I had to give up a cat at the beginning of the year. Some people who I called my friends showed their true colors. And I did some things I'm not proud of, too. But, like last year, the good outweighs the bad.
So, here's what I'm planning for next year:
-I will read 50 books that I have never read before, write book reviews for each of them, and participate in at least five book challenges.
-I will write at least 300,000 words, keep a track of all words written, and continue to update my WriYe account with this number.
-I will participate and win both Screnzy in April and NaNoWriMo in November.
-Using a combination of my new Wii Fit and John Green's Fitness for Nerds routine (http://dft.ba/-johnfit) I will lose enough weight that I'll feel comfortable in a one-piece swimsuit by vacation time.
-I will keep a detailed schedule and check it every day so that I don't forget to do my household work, or neglect my friends.
-Using the webcam that I'll (hopefully) be getting around Valentine's day, I'll make a video for the Project for Awesome in December to raise awareness about Lupus.
-I will finish writing and editing Ghosts of Autumn.
-I will not be as angry this year. I will forgive myself more. I will let go of the little things. I will build my self-esteem up to where it needs to be.
-Lastly, I will update my blog at least once a week, so I'm not rushed to write an end-of-year post seven hours to midnight on New Year's Eve. ;)
It's a rather long list of promises, I know, but I really want to do this. Each thing is something I need to do to better myself, and better my life. I thought by 2010 I'd be somewhere completely different that where I am in my life. I have only myself to blame for that.
To make it easier to follow along with my progress through the year, without having to read through all my posts, I'll be changing the blog's layout a little bit. It's hard to explain right now, but you'll see soon.
If you're still reading this, then I have to ask you a favor. Post your New Year's resolutions below. You can do it anonymously or sign it. If you don't do the whole resolution thing, just tell me something you wish would happen to change in 2011. If you'll be keeping a blog next year with updates on your resolution list, link me to it. I don't want to do this alone.
---
Before I go, I just wanted to do a little bragging about how awesome my parents are, and how well they know me. Without me putting the majority of these book titles on my birthday/Christmas lists, they got me:
John Green's-
Looking for Alaska
An Abundance of Katherines
Paper Towns
Maureen Johnson's-
Suite Scarlett
Scarlett Fever
Girl at Sea
13 Little Blue Envelopes
The Key to the Golden Firebird
The Bermudez Triangle
Garth Nix's-
Sabriel
Lirael
Abhorsen
Rick Riordan's-
PJO: The Lightning Thief
PJO: Sea of Monsters
PJO: Titan's Curse
PJO: Battle of the Labyrinth
PJO: The Last Olympian
HoO: The Lost Hero
James Patterson's-
Witch & Wizard
Margaret Peterson Haddix's-
SC: Among the Hidden
SC: Among the Impostors
SC: Among the Betrayed
SC: Among the Barons
Amazing, aren't they? =D
I'll stop rambling and go work on that schedule now. I hope everyone has a great night. Be safe, and have a Happy New Year!!!
Love, Lizzy<3
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Travelling Blogger?
Hello lovely people.
I've had a wonderful ten hours, and I'm here to tell you all about it. =)
As you well know, yesterday I was all set on saving up to buy a webcam. And then for nine amazing hours, I thought I may actually have a chance at going to Infinitus 2010, the Harry Potter convention in Orlando, Florida this summer. Of course, I knew it was a long shot, what with the amount of money I'd have to save up to get a plane ticket, a hotel room, admission, not to mention worrying about getting a passport and other stuff for the trip.
I had planned on working my butt off for the next three months to be able to go, but I've since spoken to my mom and we've worked out a better plan.
For the next year - maybe more - I will be working hard to get in shape. It'll also give us time to save up for another trip for my mom and I. If all goes well, we'll be going to California in no more than two years. California. Now, while I really, really want to go to a Harry Potter convention, the main reason I wanted to go to Infinitus was to see Tippy so ... I think California's a nice trade-off, don't you? =D
Then I was back to where I started. Saving up to buy a webcam, maybe. And then I told my mom that I would disconnect my webcam after using it every time. Amazingly, she agreed! And that's also partly thanks to Tippy.
So, to recap, I'll be getting a webcam in about a month, and I'll be meeting my best friend in a year. Best day ever? Yesssss!!!
Now for the part of the blog where I for your help: I am so not tech-savvy. I need a webcam that is easy to install and use, and I guess video-editing software? I don't know if there's some program that comes pre-installed on computers for that or what. So if you own a webcam or know a lot about them, can you give me some advice? Price really isn't a big deal.
Ok, I'm gonna stop rambling now and try to get some sleep now, though I doubt I'll be able to get any right now. ^_^
Love y'all,
Lizzy<3
I've had a wonderful ten hours, and I'm here to tell you all about it. =)
As you well know, yesterday I was all set on saving up to buy a webcam. And then for nine amazing hours, I thought I may actually have a chance at going to Infinitus 2010, the Harry Potter convention in Orlando, Florida this summer. Of course, I knew it was a long shot, what with the amount of money I'd have to save up to get a plane ticket, a hotel room, admission, not to mention worrying about getting a passport and other stuff for the trip.
I had planned on working my butt off for the next three months to be able to go, but I've since spoken to my mom and we've worked out a better plan.
For the next year - maybe more - I will be working hard to get in shape. It'll also give us time to save up for another trip for my mom and I. If all goes well, we'll be going to California in no more than two years. California. Now, while I really, really want to go to a Harry Potter convention, the main reason I wanted to go to Infinitus was to see Tippy so ... I think California's a nice trade-off, don't you? =D
Then I was back to where I started. Saving up to buy a webcam, maybe. And then I told my mom that I would disconnect my webcam after using it every time. Amazingly, she agreed! And that's also partly thanks to Tippy.
So, to recap, I'll be getting a webcam in about a month, and I'll be meeting my best friend in a year. Best day ever? Yesssss!!!
Now for the part of the blog where I for your help: I am so not tech-savvy. I need a webcam that is easy to install and use, and I guess video-editing software? I don't know if there's some program that comes pre-installed on computers for that or what. So if you own a webcam or know a lot about them, can you give me some advice? Price really isn't a big deal.
Ok, I'm gonna stop rambling now and try to get some sleep now, though I doubt I'll be able to get any right now. ^_^
Love y'all,
Lizzy<3
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
My Dreams, Coming True
Ok, so as you may know, I've been kinda obsessed with getting a webcam or video recorder since mid-July when my best friend Tippy got one and started vlogging, and then I was introduced to the VlogBrothers and the 5 Awesome Girls and Alan Lustufka and Katie Campshure and ... now I can't go a day without visiting YouTube.
So of course I've been going on about this in real life as well. But I did get good (and more important) birthday presents, and my family didn't really give out presents last Christmas. Besides all that, my mom is sort of against webcams for safety reasons. I told her I could do the same things with a video camera - which she's wanted forever - but she's still undecided. So now that I'm getting my own money (well, my parents are paying me to clean the apartment while they work) and the desktop computer is now located in my bedroom, I asked my mom if I could get a webcam now.
Her answer was that we'd have a family discussion about it. Now, I really shouldn't be so worried. These things usually turn out to be in my favor. I'm not saying I'm spoiled, but ... well, maybe I am a little. ;) Anyway, my mom is really, really against this and thinks I'm going to get sick of the webcam and all that. I've brought this up to my dad before and he thought I just wanted it to make my blogging easier. Naturally I explained to him how I could never quit blogging completely. And there are things I would still do with my blogs that I couldn't do on camera, and vice versa.
My book blog, for example, would stay a blog. I may make mentions of what book I'm reading in a video like I do here, but that's as far as it'll go. "Shades of Lizzy" will continue on as a blog and a vlog, depending on my mood and time constraints. Sometimes I think it would be easier to talk to a camera than have to type everything. Also, I've had plans for videos since I was a kid. Harry Potter discussion things. And now that I've started watching YouTube, I'd like to be in a collab channel. Better yet, a while ago I found this project on the NerdFighters site for a Harry Potter-does-YouTube kinda collab thing that I definitely wanna restart and do a normal collab. Lastly, Tippy asked me back in December if I wanted to be a part of a podcast. I realize all I need to do that is a microphone, but why just get that when I can kill two birds with one stone?
So those are my ideas, and it's what I'm presenting to my parents. If you have any good ideas for things I should tell my parents, tell me. Or if you have ideas for what I should do with my blogs/webcam, tell me those too.
Love,
Lizzy ^_^
So of course I've been going on about this in real life as well. But I did get good (and more important) birthday presents, and my family didn't really give out presents last Christmas. Besides all that, my mom is sort of against webcams for safety reasons. I told her I could do the same things with a video camera - which she's wanted forever - but she's still undecided. So now that I'm getting my own money (well, my parents are paying me to clean the apartment while they work) and the desktop computer is now located in my bedroom, I asked my mom if I could get a webcam now.
Her answer was that we'd have a family discussion about it. Now, I really shouldn't be so worried. These things usually turn out to be in my favor. I'm not saying I'm spoiled, but ... well, maybe I am a little. ;) Anyway, my mom is really, really against this and thinks I'm going to get sick of the webcam and all that. I've brought this up to my dad before and he thought I just wanted it to make my blogging easier. Naturally I explained to him how I could never quit blogging completely. And there are things I would still do with my blogs that I couldn't do on camera, and vice versa.
My book blog, for example, would stay a blog. I may make mentions of what book I'm reading in a video like I do here, but that's as far as it'll go. "Shades of Lizzy" will continue on as a blog and a vlog, depending on my mood and time constraints. Sometimes I think it would be easier to talk to a camera than have to type everything. Also, I've had plans for videos since I was a kid. Harry Potter discussion things. And now that I've started watching YouTube, I'd like to be in a collab channel. Better yet, a while ago I found this project on the NerdFighters site for a Harry Potter-does-YouTube kinda collab thing that I definitely wanna restart and do a normal collab. Lastly, Tippy asked me back in December if I wanted to be a part of a podcast. I realize all I need to do that is a microphone, but why just get that when I can kill two birds with one stone?
So those are my ideas, and it's what I'm presenting to my parents. If you have any good ideas for things I should tell my parents, tell me. Or if you have ideas for what I should do with my blogs/webcam, tell me those too.
Love,
Lizzy ^_^
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mega Update
Hey, remember me?! I know, it's been a while. But I figured, what better time to start blogging again, then the month where EVERYONE is blogging every day?
Ok, so I'm not doing BEDA this month - maybe next year - but I am doing Screnzy, as I said I'd be doing months ago.
The screenplay of Ghosts of Autumn, the novel I wrote in November, is going quite well. I'm way ahead of schedule. My finishing/editing of the novel itself is not going so well. And I find myself wanting to write a Supernatural fanfic instead. I have yet to finish the Digimon fic I was working on through all of January even though I only have two chapters left in the whole thing. I should really get back to that. I have no idea about my current yearly word count.
As for the 6mo, 6no writing challenge, I'm through with it. I haven't been on the site since February, when I promised to try and revamp it and didn't. I know if I went on right now I could do all the work and it might restart it, but do I want to? Not really. I loved the idea of the challenge, but I'm just busy and tired.
If you follow me on Twitter, or we're friends on Facebook, you already know that my parents got back together just over a week ago. Yes, things are basically back to normal there. It's strange, I'll admit. These past six months have been depressing, but they've brought a lot of good things too, like my extreme writing and reading challenges.
Reading challenges... They were going well in Feb/March and then everything went down hill. I've been reading the same book for two/three weeks now. Ugh.
My role-playing has suffered. I'm still on Tainted Blood (and loving it) and I joined There Goes My Life - a site I've been keeping my eye on for over a year. I owe posts on both sites, but I just don't have the energy.
That seems to be a big problem lately. Energy. I'm tired all the time, stressed, over-worked... I'm putting too much pressure on myself again. I know it. I don't know how to get out of it though. I seem to have this thing where I think everyone is going to get mad at me if I take a week off role-playing or if I don't update my blogs regularly. So ... yeah.
I feel a little better getting this off my chest. Maybe I'll write again over the week. We'll see. Sorry for the depressing update.
Love,
Lizzy<3
Ok, so I'm not doing BEDA this month - maybe next year - but I am doing Screnzy, as I said I'd be doing months ago.
The screenplay of Ghosts of Autumn, the novel I wrote in November, is going quite well. I'm way ahead of schedule. My finishing/editing of the novel itself is not going so well. And I find myself wanting to write a Supernatural fanfic instead. I have yet to finish the Digimon fic I was working on through all of January even though I only have two chapters left in the whole thing. I should really get back to that. I have no idea about my current yearly word count.
As for the 6mo, 6no writing challenge, I'm through with it. I haven't been on the site since February, when I promised to try and revamp it and didn't. I know if I went on right now I could do all the work and it might restart it, but do I want to? Not really. I loved the idea of the challenge, but I'm just busy and tired.
If you follow me on Twitter, or we're friends on Facebook, you already know that my parents got back together just over a week ago. Yes, things are basically back to normal there. It's strange, I'll admit. These past six months have been depressing, but they've brought a lot of good things too, like my extreme writing and reading challenges.
Reading challenges... They were going well in Feb/March and then everything went down hill. I've been reading the same book for two/three weeks now. Ugh.
My role-playing has suffered. I'm still on Tainted Blood (and loving it) and I joined There Goes My Life - a site I've been keeping my eye on for over a year. I owe posts on both sites, but I just don't have the energy.
That seems to be a big problem lately. Energy. I'm tired all the time, stressed, over-worked... I'm putting too much pressure on myself again. I know it. I don't know how to get out of it though. I seem to have this thing where I think everyone is going to get mad at me if I take a week off role-playing or if I don't update my blogs regularly. So ... yeah.
I feel a little better getting this off my chest. Maybe I'll write again over the week. We'll see. Sorry for the depressing update.
Love,
Lizzy<3
Friday, February 5, 2010
Happy 1st Birthday!!!
Today marks the first birthday of Shades of Lizzy! Amazingly this is my longest-lasting blog, even though I kinda disappeared for a little while. Before this I had two, maybe three blogs that I could never get used to. I'm happy this one finally worked out.
On to other news. I haven't been able to write much in this past week. My little spare time (when I'm not unpacking) has been for compiling a list of books to get from the library and trying to catch up with friends. And the little I've been able to write hasn't been great.
There's a new blog post on Bookmarked - esbookmarked.blogspot.com
Life's a mess. What else is new? Somebody save me.
I know I had more to say when I started writing, but I suddenly don't feel like going on. Talk to you next week, I guess.
-Lizzy<3
On to other news. I haven't been able to write much in this past week. My little spare time (when I'm not unpacking) has been for compiling a list of books to get from the library and trying to catch up with friends. And the little I've been able to write hasn't been great.
There's a new blog post on Bookmarked - esbookmarked.blogspot.com
Life's a mess. What else is new? Somebody save me.
I know I had more to say when I started writing, but I suddenly don't feel like going on. Talk to you next week, I guess.
-Lizzy<3
Monday, February 1, 2010
January Review; Writing Stats
I talked a lot in December about how I was going to make 2010 better than last year. How I was going to finally make something of my life and not let the little things get me down any more. We're now entering the second month of the year, and some of you may be wondering if I still have high hopes, or if I've given up yet.
The answer is, I'm more optimistic than ever. January was a very crazy month. Some great things happened, and there were some set-backs, but overall I'm happy. I moved, and I'm really pleased with my new apartment. I picked up a story I'd abandoned months ago and am almost finished it now. I discovered some amazing bloggers and challenges. I wrote on all but two days! So yes, I'm still hopefull. This year has started out perfectly.
I admit, my writing did fail a little last month. I fell behind and never quite caught up. That being said, I'm about two thousand behind on the year's total (easy to make up) and probably over eight thousand behind on the story total for "Oh, Baby!" I am about five chapters away from finishing the whole fic, which is great! I anticipated having to continue writing the story into February, so it's no big deal. I'm going to keep at it until it's finished.
As scheduled, I'm going to get back to writing Ghosts of Autumn (NaNo '09) this month, and hopefully have it revised and edited by the end of the month so I can get my free bound copy of it from CreateSpace. I've already started editing a little bit by reading over the copy I printed out after NaNo. There were several spelling and grammatical errors I was able to catch, and some stuff that got mixed up when I changed character names, ages, and where they're from. I'm a little stuck on how to make it longer though.
In case you don't remember (or weren't reading back then) GoA is split into three short stories about the Naylor family, who start seeing and hearing ghosts. I finished the first story Sweet September, and am almost finished the second one titled Cold October. The problem is that SS is a lot shorter than CO. I have no idea how to fill it. I've always been terrible at fillers. I just like to get right to the point and write scenes that are important to the plot. In CO I was able to work on a ton of sub-plots and bring in new characters - that one story alone is about twenty-five thousand words.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the characters in GoA recently as well. As I told Ari over at Reading In Color, I want to start writing more poc main characters. And what better way to start than with the novel I want to get published first. I just need to figure out which MCs I'm changing now.
Technically, there are about four main characters in my novel, and about four important side-characters. Six of these characters are part of the Naylor family, the other two are the Yardley sisters. So, no matter who I change, I'll have to do it to more than one. I think I've pretty much decided to switch the sisters, Annie and Kristen. I was never completely happy with the celebrity I chose to represent Annie anyway.
In other writing news, I was on the WriYe forums today and saw that they have a February mini-challenge going on. Romance. As I've said before, romance is never my main genre (well, once maybe) but it sneaks into almost all of my writing somehow. The challenge is just to write something - anything - romantic this month. Whether it be a short story, novel, or a fic. Ironically I came up with an idea for a romantic comedy a few days ago. I hadn't planned on using it this year as I'm already booked full, but I'm going to give it a shot until I get overwhelmed.
Basically, the idea is that three women attend a wedding and, over the course of the weekend, they all fall for different guys also attending the wedding. It might be another three-stories-in-one kinda thing, but I'm going to try not to turn it into that. I've been working some basics out for the past few minutes. I think it's going to take place in California (unless someone suggests another place to hold the wedding) and the names of the four main characters (including the bride) are going to be Diane, Avery, Willow, and Nathalie. These may change later, but I'm quite happy with them so far. And of course, at least two of them will be poc.
That's all I've got for today.
-Lizzy<3
The answer is, I'm more optimistic than ever. January was a very crazy month. Some great things happened, and there were some set-backs, but overall I'm happy. I moved, and I'm really pleased with my new apartment. I picked up a story I'd abandoned months ago and am almost finished it now. I discovered some amazing bloggers and challenges. I wrote on all but two days! So yes, I'm still hopefull. This year has started out perfectly.
I admit, my writing did fail a little last month. I fell behind and never quite caught up. That being said, I'm about two thousand behind on the year's total (easy to make up) and probably over eight thousand behind on the story total for "Oh, Baby!" I am about five chapters away from finishing the whole fic, which is great! I anticipated having to continue writing the story into February, so it's no big deal. I'm going to keep at it until it's finished.
As scheduled, I'm going to get back to writing Ghosts of Autumn (NaNo '09) this month, and hopefully have it revised and edited by the end of the month so I can get my free bound copy of it from CreateSpace. I've already started editing a little bit by reading over the copy I printed out after NaNo. There were several spelling and grammatical errors I was able to catch, and some stuff that got mixed up when I changed character names, ages, and where they're from. I'm a little stuck on how to make it longer though.
In case you don't remember (or weren't reading back then) GoA is split into three short stories about the Naylor family, who start seeing and hearing ghosts. I finished the first story Sweet September, and am almost finished the second one titled Cold October. The problem is that SS is a lot shorter than CO. I have no idea how to fill it. I've always been terrible at fillers. I just like to get right to the point and write scenes that are important to the plot. In CO I was able to work on a ton of sub-plots and bring in new characters - that one story alone is about twenty-five thousand words.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the characters in GoA recently as well. As I told Ari over at Reading In Color, I want to start writing more poc main characters. And what better way to start than with the novel I want to get published first. I just need to figure out which MCs I'm changing now.
Technically, there are about four main characters in my novel, and about four important side-characters. Six of these characters are part of the Naylor family, the other two are the Yardley sisters. So, no matter who I change, I'll have to do it to more than one. I think I've pretty much decided to switch the sisters, Annie and Kristen. I was never completely happy with the celebrity I chose to represent Annie anyway.
In other writing news, I was on the WriYe forums today and saw that they have a February mini-challenge going on. Romance. As I've said before, romance is never my main genre (well, once maybe) but it sneaks into almost all of my writing somehow. The challenge is just to write something - anything - romantic this month. Whether it be a short story, novel, or a fic. Ironically I came up with an idea for a romantic comedy a few days ago. I hadn't planned on using it this year as I'm already booked full, but I'm going to give it a shot until I get overwhelmed.
Basically, the idea is that three women attend a wedding and, over the course of the weekend, they all fall for different guys also attending the wedding. It might be another three-stories-in-one kinda thing, but I'm going to try not to turn it into that. I've been working some basics out for the past few minutes. I think it's going to take place in California (unless someone suggests another place to hold the wedding) and the names of the four main characters (including the bride) are going to be Diane, Avery, Willow, and Nathalie. These may change later, but I'm quite happy with them so far. And of course, at least two of them will be poc.
That's all I've got for today.
-Lizzy<3
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Crazy, Crazy Day
I think the title says it all.
Finished packing and stuff on Friday night. Then, when my mom came home at eleven-thirty, we threw the last-minute stuff in boxes and hit the road. It was a twenty-minute drive to our new home (from Milton to Mississauga), and now we're in our new home! My mom and I spent most of the night moving boxes around together. You know, keeping kitchen things in the kitchen, taking all twenty+ of my boxes into our room... that kind thing. My dad got to sleep for a few hours since he had to get up and six-thirty and pick up the rest of our furniture (couches, hutch, armoir..) with his friend and bring them here.
When that was done my parents went back to the house to get our cats, since they didn't feel like cooperating when we wanted to leave. My oldest two, Smokey and Oliver, are here with us now. As mentioned in my previous post, Mickey could not come with us. My dad finally managed to get him in the box and take him to the shelter. I'm trying not to dwell too much on any of this.
So, I really like the apartment so far. The bathroom's huge, I'm sharing the master suite with my mom (computer's in my room!), we have a fireplace and a dishwasher now... It's very nice. The downfall is that it's freezing in here. It's only starting to warm up now. I managed to get a few hours of sleep between all the madness, but I should probably go back to bed room.
Now, onto more exciting things.
Bookmarked, my new book blog, is finished!! Yes, as soon as I finished dinner, I ran to the computer and got to work putting the finishing touches on it. It'll probably go through a few changes as I really start to use it, but it's fine for now. Also, I've already done my first review of a book I read last year. So, head on over to www.esbookmarked.blogspot.com to subscribe and let me know what you think. Okay?
xoxoxoxo,
Lizzy
Finished packing and stuff on Friday night. Then, when my mom came home at eleven-thirty, we threw the last-minute stuff in boxes and hit the road. It was a twenty-minute drive to our new home (from Milton to Mississauga), and now we're in our new home! My mom and I spent most of the night moving boxes around together. You know, keeping kitchen things in the kitchen, taking all twenty+ of my boxes into our room... that kind thing. My dad got to sleep for a few hours since he had to get up and six-thirty and pick up the rest of our furniture (couches, hutch, armoir..) with his friend and bring them here.
When that was done my parents went back to the house to get our cats, since they didn't feel like cooperating when we wanted to leave. My oldest two, Smokey and Oliver, are here with us now. As mentioned in my previous post, Mickey could not come with us. My dad finally managed to get him in the box and take him to the shelter. I'm trying not to dwell too much on any of this.
So, I really like the apartment so far. The bathroom's huge, I'm sharing the master suite with my mom (computer's in my room!), we have a fireplace and a dishwasher now... It's very nice. The downfall is that it's freezing in here. It's only starting to warm up now. I managed to get a few hours of sleep between all the madness, but I should probably go back to bed room.
Now, onto more exciting things.
Bookmarked, my new book blog, is finished!! Yes, as soon as I finished dinner, I ran to the computer and got to work putting the finishing touches on it. It'll probably go through a few changes as I really start to use it, but it's fine for now. Also, I've already done my first review of a book I read last year. So, head on over to www.esbookmarked.blogspot.com to subscribe and let me know what you think. Okay?
xoxoxoxo,
Lizzy
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Busy, Busy
Just a quick update because I feel really bad for not having posted since Sunday when so much has been going on.
Writing: Going good. I'll post my word counts at another time because I'm trying to make this a quick post.
Reading: I have started reading a book online, more on that later.
Book Blog: Bookmarked has been started. You can go and subscribe if you want, but keep in mind that it's not done yet, and may not be for a few more days.
Moving: I'm moving in two days. Ahhh! I still have a lot to pack, and my mom is sick so the packing is pretty much left up to me now. There's a pretty good chance this is the last time you'll hear from me in January.
Real Life: sucks. I have this cat, Mickey. He's great. He's a beautiful grey tabby, only a little over a year old. Unfortunately my parents want to let him go. Tonight will mark our fourth attempt at this - and probably our last as we're kinda running out of time before we leave. I thought last night was it. I did my job and helped my dad get Mickey into a box - and then he broke out when my dad was carrying it down the stairs. Lovely. So you'd think I wouldn't be punished for his mistake right? You'd think he would take pity on me and not make me trick my poor Mickey again. Ha. I don't know what he'll do to Mickey if we can't do it tonight. I really don't want to think about it.
Lastly, I've created a new email address for my blogs. So if any of you have comments or suggestions on my blogs, I'd appreciate you emailing me at blogsbylizzy@gmail.com - Thanks!
-Lizzy<333
Writing: Going good. I'll post my word counts at another time because I'm trying to make this a quick post.
Reading: I have started reading a book online, more on that later.
Book Blog: Bookmarked has been started. You can go and subscribe if you want, but keep in mind that it's not done yet, and may not be for a few more days.
Moving: I'm moving in two days. Ahhh! I still have a lot to pack, and my mom is sick so the packing is pretty much left up to me now. There's a pretty good chance this is the last time you'll hear from me in January.
Real Life: sucks. I have this cat, Mickey. He's great. He's a beautiful grey tabby, only a little over a year old. Unfortunately my parents want to let him go. Tonight will mark our fourth attempt at this - and probably our last as we're kinda running out of time before we leave. I thought last night was it. I did my job and helped my dad get Mickey into a box - and then he broke out when my dad was carrying it down the stairs. Lovely. So you'd think I wouldn't be punished for his mistake right? You'd think he would take pity on me and not make me trick my poor Mickey again. Ha. I don't know what he'll do to Mickey if we can't do it tonight. I really don't want to think about it.
Lastly, I've created a new email address for my blogs. So if any of you have comments or suggestions on my blogs, I'd appreciate you emailing me at blogsbylizzy@gmail.com - Thanks!
-Lizzy<333
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Help Us Search
Tonight I'd like to share with everyone something I've never told anyone before. I have a half-sister who I've never met.
She was born on March tenth, 1986 in Toronto, Ontario. My mom gave her up for adoption, and got to choose the family she went to. We know that her name is Martha, and she would have an older brother named Matthew.
Tonight my mom signed up on a site to start searching for Martha, so I'm doing my part as well. I know it's a long shot that she's reading this blog, but I've always wondered if we'd ever been close to meeting each other.
If your name is Martha, and you were born on March 10th, 1986 - or if you know that person - please send me an email at rowlingfan@msn.com. You have no idea how much I want to meet you.
-Lizzy<3
She was born on March tenth, 1986 in Toronto, Ontario. My mom gave her up for adoption, and got to choose the family she went to. We know that her name is Martha, and she would have an older brother named Matthew.
Tonight my mom signed up on a site to start searching for Martha, so I'm doing my part as well. I know it's a long shot that she's reading this blog, but I've always wondered if we'd ever been close to meeting each other.
If your name is Martha, and you were born on March 10th, 1986 - or if you know that person - please send me an email at rowlingfan@msn.com. You have no idea how much I want to meet you.
-Lizzy<3
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Replies & Poll
I think my list of books to read now surpasses a hundred. I've been flooded with recommendations for the past three days. Not that that's a bad thing. Actually, it's probably for the better seeing as how I've become a pretty fast reader over the past year. I'm not going to bore you with the list just yet, but it'll be coming soon on the new blog.
Yeah. So I decided to create a book review blog. I haven't actually started it yet, but I plan to sometime this week. I was going to yesterday but I couldn't decide on a name for it. I did come up with ideas though.
-Book Smart
-Bookmarked
-Virtual Bookshelf
-Lizzy's Bookmarks
There were others (Page Turner, Read Right, Good Reads, Don't Judge a Book, Cover to Cover) but my mom and I like the above four best. I like Book Smart and Bookmarked, she likes Virtual Bookshelf and Lizzy's Bookmarks. Help?! Tell me what your favorites are, out of the choices here or something you make up. I'll choose the winner sometime on the weekend.
Now, onto replies... because I think it's easier to do it here than in the comments.
Heather: The Gift sounds cool. Thanks! Oh, and I've already got two people offering to help you with the movie. =)
Ari: Thanks for the recommendations. I'm really looking forward to reading Silver Phoenix after I read the summary. I will be joining the challenge. Definitely at level 3, probably at level 4. And what's MG?
Okay, that's all I can think of. Oh, and I'm working on updating this blog. Maybe a new layout, some new features, ect. So, keep watch for that.
-Lizzy<3
Yeah. So I decided to create a book review blog. I haven't actually started it yet, but I plan to sometime this week. I was going to yesterday but I couldn't decide on a name for it. I did come up with ideas though.
-Book Smart
-Bookmarked
-Virtual Bookshelf
-Lizzy's Bookmarks
There were others (Page Turner, Read Right, Good Reads, Don't Judge a Book, Cover to Cover) but my mom and I like the above four best. I like Book Smart and Bookmarked, she likes Virtual Bookshelf and Lizzy's Bookmarks. Help?! Tell me what your favorites are, out of the choices here or something you make up. I'll choose the winner sometime on the weekend.
Now, onto replies... because I think it's easier to do it here than in the comments.
Heather: The Gift sounds cool. Thanks! Oh, and I've already got two people offering to help you with the movie. =)
Ari: Thanks for the recommendations. I'm really looking forward to reading Silver Phoenix after I read the summary. I will be joining the challenge. Definitely at level 3, probably at level 4. And what's MG?
Okay, that's all I can think of. Oh, and I'm working on updating this blog. Maybe a new layout, some new features, ect. So, keep watch for that.
-Lizzy<3
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Changes To Be Made
I'm going to ignore my pile of things to do to day, in favor of discussing two important issues with you, and a possible new project or two for myself.
First, I've been hearing a lot about Haiti this past week and it's been getting me a little depressed. I mean, I usually stay out of the current affairs - politics, war, American Idol - but this just seems to be getting worse as time goes by. It's especially bad knowing that there's nothing I can do to help. So that why I'm asking anyone who reads this blog, to please give to the Red Cross or another trusted organization that you know is helping the Haitians. Every little bit helps and you'll earn my gratitude and respect - and let's face it, my gratitude and respect is what you really want out of this deal, isn't it? ;)
Second on my list is big publishing problem. After reading a well-written open letter to Bloomsbury publishers by Ari(here- http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/2010/01/open-letter-to-bloomsbury-kids-usa.html) earlier, I became aware of how Bloomsbury has used a Caucasion model on the covers of two books featuring African American main characters. Thankfully they've already changed the cover of Liar by Justine Larbalestier, but Jaclyn Dolamore's Magic Under Glass still has the wrong cover on it.
Please go over to Ari's blog (http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/) and join in the discussion about how to get Bloomsbury and future publishers to change. And while you're at it, start buying and/or checking out books with main characters of a different race than yourself. While I've never shied away from books not featuring a white MC, I haven't read many either.
Now, onto my new projects:
You already know about my writing challenges which I'm happy to say are going quite well. And I've talked a little bit about the 50-book challenge I wanted to take up last year before real life interrupted it. I'm obviously still doing both of these.
Also, I'm managing the site for the 6 Months, 6 Novels writing challenge I'm doing. I'm involved in two rpgs right now. Toss in my one writing course, chores, and the inconvenience of having to spend time with my family, and you'd think I'm booked full, wouldn't you? Not quite.
I've been working off and on for the past couple of weeks on another site. The official site of Elizabeth Sabourin. Because I figured I'll need it when I start publishing my stuff later this year. Besides, I need a place to store links to all the sites I'm on so when I make new friends I can point them to the site and say "I'm at all of these places. Check me out!"
But after reading Ari's blog, and being linked to a couple of writing challenges, I thought about how I really need to start reading more. I mean, I know I said the 50 book thing was going to happen, but I feel the need to clarify. It's starting next month. As soon as I get to the new apartment, I'm finding the nearest library and taking out a stack of books. But it's not just the reading that's bothering me.
As I said above, I have no problem reading books that don't have white main characters, but I don't think I ever have. I have a list of over fifty books to read this year compiled by my friends and mother, but I don't know if any of them are really going to get me out of my set ways. It's not only the color of the MC I'm talking about, the genre is also something to look at. I'm a fantasy freak. Supernatural, horror, some romance and comedy too. I'm slowly getting into historical fiction by accident. I need a wider variety of books to read.
So, I'm calling on the help of anyone who stumbles upon this post to send me book suggestions. Any books. Any rating, any genre, any length, any author. Keep in mind that I'll be skipping over any sex scenes as best I can. I'd rather just stay away from non-fiction. Anything else goes. Tell me what books you like and why.
Thinking about this, I wondered if, while I'm reading all of these books, maybe I should start another blog that focuses totally on book reviews. I know I've done reviews here in the past, but wouldn't it be cool to have one place devoted to the reviews? -shrug- Just an idea.
So let me know. Give me books to read, tell me if I should go ahead with the new blog. I want to know what you think.
xoxoxo
Lizzy<3
First, I've been hearing a lot about Haiti this past week and it's been getting me a little depressed. I mean, I usually stay out of the current affairs - politics, war, American Idol - but this just seems to be getting worse as time goes by. It's especially bad knowing that there's nothing I can do to help. So that why I'm asking anyone who reads this blog, to please give to the Red Cross or another trusted organization that you know is helping the Haitians. Every little bit helps and you'll earn my gratitude and respect - and let's face it, my gratitude and respect is what you really want out of this deal, isn't it? ;)
Second on my list is big publishing problem. After reading a well-written open letter to Bloomsbury publishers by Ari(here- http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/2010/01/open-letter-to-bloomsbury-kids-usa.html) earlier, I became aware of how Bloomsbury has used a Caucasion model on the covers of two books featuring African American main characters. Thankfully they've already changed the cover of Liar by Justine Larbalestier, but Jaclyn Dolamore's Magic Under Glass still has the wrong cover on it.
Please go over to Ari's blog (http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/) and join in the discussion about how to get Bloomsbury and future publishers to change. And while you're at it, start buying and/or checking out books with main characters of a different race than yourself. While I've never shied away from books not featuring a white MC, I haven't read many either.
Now, onto my new projects:
You already know about my writing challenges which I'm happy to say are going quite well. And I've talked a little bit about the 50-book challenge I wanted to take up last year before real life interrupted it. I'm obviously still doing both of these.
Also, I'm managing the site for the 6 Months, 6 Novels writing challenge I'm doing. I'm involved in two rpgs right now. Toss in my one writing course, chores, and the inconvenience of having to spend time with my family, and you'd think I'm booked full, wouldn't you? Not quite.
I've been working off and on for the past couple of weeks on another site. The official site of Elizabeth Sabourin. Because I figured I'll need it when I start publishing my stuff later this year. Besides, I need a place to store links to all the sites I'm on so when I make new friends I can point them to the site and say "I'm at all of these places. Check me out!"
But after reading Ari's blog, and being linked to a couple of writing challenges, I thought about how I really need to start reading more. I mean, I know I said the 50 book thing was going to happen, but I feel the need to clarify. It's starting next month. As soon as I get to the new apartment, I'm finding the nearest library and taking out a stack of books. But it's not just the reading that's bothering me.
As I said above, I have no problem reading books that don't have white main characters, but I don't think I ever have. I have a list of over fifty books to read this year compiled by my friends and mother, but I don't know if any of them are really going to get me out of my set ways. It's not only the color of the MC I'm talking about, the genre is also something to look at. I'm a fantasy freak. Supernatural, horror, some romance and comedy too. I'm slowly getting into historical fiction by accident. I need a wider variety of books to read.
So, I'm calling on the help of anyone who stumbles upon this post to send me book suggestions. Any books. Any rating, any genre, any length, any author. Keep in mind that I'll be skipping over any sex scenes as best I can. I'd rather just stay away from non-fiction. Anything else goes. Tell me what books you like and why.
Thinking about this, I wondered if, while I'm reading all of these books, maybe I should start another blog that focuses totally on book reviews. I know I've done reviews here in the past, but wouldn't it be cool to have one place devoted to the reviews? -shrug- Just an idea.
So let me know. Give me books to read, tell me if I should go ahead with the new blog. I want to know what you think.
xoxoxo
Lizzy<3
Monday, January 18, 2010
Not Long Now
My living room is full of boxes, my bedroom is bare, and I have a large pile of laundry to do. What does that mean? Yeah, packing time. Uh.
So yesterday was the beginning of my family's journey of fitting everything from our house, into an apartment. We've been packing off and on for the past few months, but last night we really got to work and cleared things out. I'm not joking, when I woke up this morning the only things I had in my room were two shelves, an end table, my bed, my dresser full of clothes, and a box that will remain open until I have to move - at which point I'll throw my alarm clock and books inside and tape it up.
It was very strange to not bang into the half-closed door this morning (I'm clumsy) because my Harry Potter shelf was not behind it anymore, so the door was wide open. My desk is gone, too. Very large open space now.
Anyway, getting to the important stuff: my writing.
I had a couple of sucky days, but last night was great! After the WriYe Sunday Word Wars (I signed up for both) I wrote a total of 2,337 words yesterday. That makes it 12,484/30,000 words I've written for Oh, Baby! this month, and I've already written about 600 today. And 14,504/300,000 written for the entire year, when you factor in my role-playing applications.
Speaking of role-playing, the website I've been working on for the past month or so with Tippy is finally opening! It's called Tainted Blood, and it's the third in a series of rpgs Tippy's owned. I don't have much to say, except please join! Right now we have eight members - all of us amazing, of course - but we could use some new blood, pardon the pun. So, if you're a Harry Potter fan, and if you role-play (or not) join, pleeease! I play Fred, Luna, Joanna, and Patience at the moment, so contact me when you get over there. www.taintedbloodrpg.proboards.com
Unfortunately Tippy is sick right now (I'm praying for you, hun!) but the rest of us are still there. And once I'm finished my writing for the night, I'll be heading over there to finish Patience's app and starting some mega advertising.
That's all I have to say right now. Maybe I'll be back tomorrow. Doubtful as I'll have to get another newsletter out then. Maybe.
xoxo,
Lizzy<3
So yesterday was the beginning of my family's journey of fitting everything from our house, into an apartment. We've been packing off and on for the past few months, but last night we really got to work and cleared things out. I'm not joking, when I woke up this morning the only things I had in my room were two shelves, an end table, my bed, my dresser full of clothes, and a box that will remain open until I have to move - at which point I'll throw my alarm clock and books inside and tape it up.
It was very strange to not bang into the half-closed door this morning (I'm clumsy) because my Harry Potter shelf was not behind it anymore, so the door was wide open. My desk is gone, too. Very large open space now.
Anyway, getting to the important stuff: my writing.
I had a couple of sucky days, but last night was great! After the WriYe Sunday Word Wars (I signed up for both) I wrote a total of 2,337 words yesterday. That makes it 12,484/30,000 words I've written for Oh, Baby! this month, and I've already written about 600 today. And 14,504/300,000 written for the entire year, when you factor in my role-playing applications.
Speaking of role-playing, the website I've been working on for the past month or so with Tippy is finally opening! It's called Tainted Blood, and it's the third in a series of rpgs Tippy's owned. I don't have much to say, except please join! Right now we have eight members - all of us amazing, of course - but we could use some new blood, pardon the pun. So, if you're a Harry Potter fan, and if you role-play (or not) join, pleeease! I play Fred, Luna, Joanna, and Patience at the moment, so contact me when you get over there. www.taintedbloodrpg.proboards.com
Unfortunately Tippy is sick right now (I'm praying for you, hun!) but the rest of us are still there. And once I'm finished my writing for the night, I'll be heading over there to finish Patience's app and starting some mega advertising.
That's all I have to say right now. Maybe I'll be back tomorrow. Doubtful as I'll have to get another newsletter out then. Maybe.
xoxo,
Lizzy<3
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Random Update Post
Look! New profile pic! That's meeeee!
Anyway... Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been too busy writing Oh, Baby! to be bothered with blogging. Today, I'm just doing this so I'll stop my procrastinating habits.
So on Friday I wrote a grand total of 147 words. Wow. I did even worse on Saturday with my lowest word count of the month: 68 words. Then, on Sunday, I remembered the site Write or Die which I owe around five thousand words during NaNo. Basically, you type in the amount of time and how many words you need, set your difficulty level and start writing. And, if you should stop writing, you get punished. The punishment varies depending on the level. I use normal, which flashes a red light at you. Very effective. I wrote 1,196 words on Sunday. Then, yesterday, I continued on with Write or Die, with 1,377 words. That left me with a total of 7.425.
And today? Blegh. I've probably wrote around twenty words earlier (didn't bother counting), but I still have very little inspiration and about four hours of free time in which to write. Five if I push it. Basically what I'm saying is that I really, really, really don't want to write today. Honestly, I'd rather be fixing up my profiles for a role-play I'm helping to build. Wait a minute ... doesn't some rp stuff count to the WriYe total? I'll have to check that out.
In other news, Castle returned from holiday hiatus yesterday and I taped it, so my mom and I will be watching that tonight after the new episode of NCIS featuring Tony's dad. So, maybe that can be my prize for writing? If I make it to over a thousand again tonight, I get to watch my shows. If not, I guess I won't get to watch my shows. That sucks. Better start writing then...
-Lizzy<3
Btw, go to http://writeordie.drwicked.com/ for Write or Die! =)
Anyway... Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been too busy writing Oh, Baby! to be bothered with blogging. Today, I'm just doing this so I'll stop my procrastinating habits.
So on Friday I wrote a grand total of 147 words. Wow. I did even worse on Saturday with my lowest word count of the month: 68 words. Then, on Sunday, I remembered the site Write or Die which I owe around five thousand words during NaNo. Basically, you type in the amount of time and how many words you need, set your difficulty level and start writing. And, if you should stop writing, you get punished. The punishment varies depending on the level. I use normal, which flashes a red light at you. Very effective. I wrote 1,196 words on Sunday. Then, yesterday, I continued on with Write or Die, with 1,377 words. That left me with a total of 7.425.
And today? Blegh. I've probably wrote around twenty words earlier (didn't bother counting), but I still have very little inspiration and about four hours of free time in which to write. Five if I push it. Basically what I'm saying is that I really, really, really don't want to write today. Honestly, I'd rather be fixing up my profiles for a role-play I'm helping to build. Wait a minute ... doesn't some rp stuff count to the WriYe total? I'll have to check that out.
In other news, Castle returned from holiday hiatus yesterday and I taped it, so my mom and I will be watching that tonight after the new episode of NCIS featuring Tony's dad. So, maybe that can be my prize for writing? If I make it to over a thousand again tonight, I get to watch my shows. If not, I guess I won't get to watch my shows. That sucks. Better start writing then...
-Lizzy<3
Btw, go to http://writeordie.drwicked.com/ for Write or Die! =)
Friday, January 8, 2010
Think Short, Think Short...
Okay, I'm going to try and make this post short. 1) because I tend to ramble a lot, which you probably already know, and 2) because I'm really short on time tonight.
So, yesterday I managed to write 1,340 words for Oh, Baby! - all of which I owe to Cryndyl on the 6Mo, 6No site and the word wars we did last night. We're going at it again tonight at 10 Eastern time if anyone wants to join us. The first war is ten minutes, and the winner of that decides when and for how long we do the next one. It's lots of fun and my parents know ahead of time not to bother me so I won't have to leave early like last night. www.6wrimos.proboards.com
Not much else to say really. My total for the year is now up to 4,637/300,000. Not bad, I guess. My brain is still insisting I take up more stories and challenges. It's taking all my strength to say no. As it is, I still have to go and apply to that writing course 2YN. And class started today. Yikes. So, I should probably get going.
-Lizzy<3
So, yesterday I managed to write 1,340 words for Oh, Baby! - all of which I owe to Cryndyl on the 6Mo, 6No site and the word wars we did last night. We're going at it again tonight at 10 Eastern time if anyone wants to join us. The first war is ten minutes, and the winner of that decides when and for how long we do the next one. It's lots of fun and my parents know ahead of time not to bother me so I won't have to leave early like last night. www.6wrimos.proboards.com
Not much else to say really. My total for the year is now up to 4,637/300,000. Not bad, I guess. My brain is still insisting I take up more stories and challenges. It's taking all my strength to say no. As it is, I still have to go and apply to that writing course 2YN. And class started today. Yikes. So, I should probably get going.
-Lizzy<3
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Work? Me? Nah!
Leave it to me to stay up until seven in the morning yesterday. I got up almost three hours ago at four-thirty. I'm still dead tired. Had to get up to make dinner though sooo .... ugh.
Anyway. I didn't do a lot of writing yesterday. I think I got a little over two hundred done. I didn't even bother to update my word charts. As it is, I have about three and a half hours of writing time left, and it's not just writing I have to do in that time. I have a site to update and research to do.
I admitted to the people on the 6Mo, 6No site last night that I'm tackling a history story later this year. Two of those lovely people offered to help me as I'm so not knowledgeable about the 17th or 18th centuries. Now I just have to figure out which century I'm sticking to, and where the story is going to be set. Wikipedia is not being cooperative. Right now I'm thinking the 1700's in either France or England - or both. It seems more realistic because one of my female characters will be an author, and I don't think there were any in the 1600's.
Aside from that, I've started watching Digimon again. I don't have many episodes myself, but I've found two people on YouTube who have posted the first four seasons. It's really been helpful, because I haven't seen the first two in at least five years. Gave me lots of inspiration for the story I'm writing at the moment. Unfortunately, it also gave me ideas for a new story.
Why can't my brain just shut up?? Why must it torture me by coming up with more ideas when it knows I already had it settled with what I was going to write this year? Before you ask, no, my brain did not stop by giving me another digimon fic to write, it proceeded by reminding me of two Harry Potter fics I thought up early last year.
I promised my mom I'd keep these three ideas on the back burner unless I could handle them. I know I have four months free at first glance of the calendar. But let's face it, I'm probably not going to be able to write all of these stories in a month. At least two of them will carry over. I'd actually have five free months if I didn't still have to complete my NaNo '09 novel and get it sent off to CreateSpace for my free copy. And I haven't even added the history and horror novels to the calendar yet.
That reminds me. I'm thinking about getting someone to read my NaNo novel. My mom has a copy of what I've written so far, but she won't be reading it until we're settled at the new place - next month. That's when I'll be finishing/revising it. I don't know. I'm always nervous showing off my work, especially non-fics. And it's not edited yet. Should I really subject someone to an incomplete, rushed novel with spelling and grammar mistakes?
I have to go before I stress myself out further by talking about this. Later.
-Lizzy<3
Anyway. I didn't do a lot of writing yesterday. I think I got a little over two hundred done. I didn't even bother to update my word charts. As it is, I have about three and a half hours of writing time left, and it's not just writing I have to do in that time. I have a site to update and research to do.
I admitted to the people on the 6Mo, 6No site last night that I'm tackling a history story later this year. Two of those lovely people offered to help me as I'm so not knowledgeable about the 17th or 18th centuries. Now I just have to figure out which century I'm sticking to, and where the story is going to be set. Wikipedia is not being cooperative. Right now I'm thinking the 1700's in either France or England - or both. It seems more realistic because one of my female characters will be an author, and I don't think there were any in the 1600's.
Aside from that, I've started watching Digimon again. I don't have many episodes myself, but I've found two people on YouTube who have posted the first four seasons. It's really been helpful, because I haven't seen the first two in at least five years. Gave me lots of inspiration for the story I'm writing at the moment. Unfortunately, it also gave me ideas for a new story.
Why can't my brain just shut up?? Why must it torture me by coming up with more ideas when it knows I already had it settled with what I was going to write this year? Before you ask, no, my brain did not stop by giving me another digimon fic to write, it proceeded by reminding me of two Harry Potter fics I thought up early last year.
I promised my mom I'd keep these three ideas on the back burner unless I could handle them. I know I have four months free at first glance of the calendar. But let's face it, I'm probably not going to be able to write all of these stories in a month. At least two of them will carry over. I'd actually have five free months if I didn't still have to complete my NaNo '09 novel and get it sent off to CreateSpace for my free copy. And I haven't even added the history and horror novels to the calendar yet.
That reminds me. I'm thinking about getting someone to read my NaNo novel. My mom has a copy of what I've written so far, but she won't be reading it until we're settled at the new place - next month. That's when I'll be finishing/revising it. I don't know. I'm always nervous showing off my work, especially non-fics. And it's not edited yet. Should I really subject someone to an incomplete, rushed novel with spelling and grammar mistakes?
I have to go before I stress myself out further by talking about this. Later.
-Lizzy<3
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Calendar Update
As promised, some new stuff about my stories:
Yesterday I joined the WriYe forums. I'd been on the official site before, but never the forums. When I first heard about Writing Year, I thought it was too ... big. I mean, writing throughout the entire year to meet one HUGE goal. Of course a few weeks later I started the 6 Months, 6 Novels project and offered up my sanity to write six novels this year. And when I really thought about what I'm aiming at, it's about 220,000 words this year. That's 30k for each fic, and 50k per novel. That's insane!
So I thought I'd check out WriYe for the hell of it. That, and I've been hearing a few people talk about it over the past week and it kind of got me curious. Needless to say, I'm an official WriYe participant now. -headdesk- I just couldn't resist after reading the list of things that are included in the year's tally. All the work I do for my writing courses, my Screnzy script, novel planning, even some role-play stuff - it's all included!
So, taking all that into consideration, I figured it would add a good 70k. Then I went and looked at the challenges. Well, they have this one called BOYB. Breaking Outta Your Box challenge. Basically you sign up to write a genre that you wouldn't normally write. That got me thinking. There's no doubt that Fantasy is my thing. Magic, vampires, werewolves ... the whole thing fascinates me, and I've written and planned for a lot of stories in that genre. Supernatural also kind of falls into that catergory. Plus, my NaNo '09, Ghosts of Autumn, was a supernatural story. I'm pretty good at humor. At least, I try to include a lot of it in all my stories. Romance, despite my pushing, somehow winds up in the majority of my work. I think I'm pretty good at it too.
So what does that leave me with? Erotica? Hell no. Adventure? I've touched on it a little. Religion? Ghosts of Autumn took an unexpected turn in that direction. Let's not go there again. Science Fiction? Oh, yeah, cuz I'm such a fan of aliens. -eyeroll- Unless I write a fic for the Star Trek 2009 movie, there's no way I can do it. Historical Fiction? So much research ... hmm. I do have an idea for a sort of prequel to this year's vampire novel. Horror? Oh, I love horror. But, can I do it? I tried to cross that line with Ghost of Autumn, and it sure got scary, but a total horror?
So that's where I am now. I've got that kind-of prequel to Afterthought (I'm not gonna bore you with a full summary because you won't get it) about a human who is in business with two vampire siblings in the 1700's, maybe. The horror idea I got from Debbi on the 6Mo, 6No website. A few kids in the 1950's are playing in this river beside a convent, and they find human bones, but no one believes them. I've elaborated and came up with how several years later, one of them ends up dead and the others come back to town for his funeral, only to find his murder involved with the bones in the river. Each novel gives me another 50k.
All together, I think it'll give me over 300,000 words for the year. That's amazing! I've already signed up in the correct club for my word count, and I'm looking forward to participating in the team challenge starting this Sunday. I'm also entering the Harry Potter-inspired house cup.
Anyway, this year's calendar now looks something like this-
January: finishing Oh, Baby!
February: finishing/editing Ghosts of Autumn
March: write Temporary Youth
April: make Ghosts of Autumn into a movie script
May: write Left Me Breathless
June: ???
July: write Afterthought
August: ???
September: write The Historian
October: ???
November: write untitled time-travel story for NaNo
December: ???
So you see, I have four empty months to toy with, and so far I have two new novel ideas. The Afterthought prequel will have to be written some time after Afterthought itself. And the horror one I'd prefer to write in Jun or August (summer months, lots of daylight). And I'm sure I'll be doing a few one-shots along the way. I may even attempt a Star Trek fic like I joked about before. You never know.
xoxo,
Lizzy<3
Yesterday I joined the WriYe forums. I'd been on the official site before, but never the forums. When I first heard about Writing Year, I thought it was too ... big. I mean, writing throughout the entire year to meet one HUGE goal. Of course a few weeks later I started the 6 Months, 6 Novels project and offered up my sanity to write six novels this year. And when I really thought about what I'm aiming at, it's about 220,000 words this year. That's 30k for each fic, and 50k per novel. That's insane!
So I thought I'd check out WriYe for the hell of it. That, and I've been hearing a few people talk about it over the past week and it kind of got me curious. Needless to say, I'm an official WriYe participant now. -headdesk- I just couldn't resist after reading the list of things that are included in the year's tally. All the work I do for my writing courses, my Screnzy script, novel planning, even some role-play stuff - it's all included!
So, taking all that into consideration, I figured it would add a good 70k. Then I went and looked at the challenges. Well, they have this one called BOYB. Breaking Outta Your Box challenge. Basically you sign up to write a genre that you wouldn't normally write. That got me thinking. There's no doubt that Fantasy is my thing. Magic, vampires, werewolves ... the whole thing fascinates me, and I've written and planned for a lot of stories in that genre. Supernatural also kind of falls into that catergory. Plus, my NaNo '09, Ghosts of Autumn, was a supernatural story. I'm pretty good at humor. At least, I try to include a lot of it in all my stories. Romance, despite my pushing, somehow winds up in the majority of my work. I think I'm pretty good at it too.
So what does that leave me with? Erotica? Hell no. Adventure? I've touched on it a little. Religion? Ghosts of Autumn took an unexpected turn in that direction. Let's not go there again. Science Fiction? Oh, yeah, cuz I'm such a fan of aliens. -eyeroll- Unless I write a fic for the Star Trek 2009 movie, there's no way I can do it. Historical Fiction? So much research ... hmm. I do have an idea for a sort of prequel to this year's vampire novel. Horror? Oh, I love horror. But, can I do it? I tried to cross that line with Ghost of Autumn, and it sure got scary, but a total horror?
So that's where I am now. I've got that kind-of prequel to Afterthought (I'm not gonna bore you with a full summary because you won't get it) about a human who is in business with two vampire siblings in the 1700's, maybe. The horror idea I got from Debbi on the 6Mo, 6No website. A few kids in the 1950's are playing in this river beside a convent, and they find human bones, but no one believes them. I've elaborated and came up with how several years later, one of them ends up dead and the others come back to town for his funeral, only to find his murder involved with the bones in the river. Each novel gives me another 50k.
All together, I think it'll give me over 300,000 words for the year. That's amazing! I've already signed up in the correct club for my word count, and I'm looking forward to participating in the team challenge starting this Sunday. I'm also entering the Harry Potter-inspired house cup.
Anyway, this year's calendar now looks something like this-
January: finishing Oh, Baby!
February: finishing/editing Ghosts of Autumn
March: write Temporary Youth
April: make Ghosts of Autumn into a movie script
May: write Left Me Breathless
June: ???
July: write Afterthought
August: ???
September: write The Historian
October: ???
November: write untitled time-travel story for NaNo
December: ???
So you see, I have four empty months to toy with, and so far I have two new novel ideas. The Afterthought prequel will have to be written some time after Afterthought itself. And the horror one I'd prefer to write in Jun or August (summer months, lots of daylight). And I'm sure I'll be doing a few one-shots along the way. I may even attempt a Star Trek fic like I joked about before. You never know.
xoxo,
Lizzy<3
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Decision...
Well, it's just after ten-thirty here, and that means the end of my writing for the day (ok, so I've been finished for an hour or so).
My final count for the day is 1,460 words. Pretty darn good. That brings my total up to 3,093. No, I didn't make my two-thousand goal, but I'm ok with that. There's also the writing course to think about. I think I'm going to join. I've been feeling really optimistic all day (all week...) and I'm going to try it.
In other news, my parents just found an apartment for us to live in. Um, I did mention I'm moving before, right? Yeah. Was November, then December, then January, now February first. Kinda fits in perfectly with my novels, doesn't it? Anyway, I'll probably be packing more than writing this month, but I shall continue.
Good night all, and happy writing,
Lizzy<3
P.S. I've got news on my 2010 stories tomorrow (more than six?).
My final count for the day is 1,460 words. Pretty darn good. That brings my total up to 3,093. No, I didn't make my two-thousand goal, but I'm ok with that. There's also the writing course to think about. I think I'm going to join. I've been feeling really optimistic all day (all week...) and I'm going to try it.
In other news, my parents just found an apartment for us to live in. Um, I did mention I'm moving before, right? Yeah. Was November, then December, then January, now February first. Kinda fits in perfectly with my novels, doesn't it? Anyway, I'll probably be packing more than writing this month, but I shall continue.
Good night all, and happy writing,
Lizzy<3
P.S. I've got news on my 2010 stories tomorrow (more than six?).
Tick-Tock
Sorry about the lack of a second posting yesterday. I only wrote 332 words, and that was in the hour before I went to bed. So, that puts me at 1,633 words for 2010. Blegh. If I was going by NaNoWriMo standards I'd be at 6,668. In four days I haven't even reached the minimum for one! Well, hopefully day five will be better. I'm going for over a thousand again. I did a lot of research and plotting yesterday, so I think I should have enough to get me to that.
Still not sure what to do about that writing course. And I only have three days 'til class starts. Okay. I've got an idea. If I can write two thousand words today, I'll join the course. That gives me approximately twelve hours of free time to do so. If I really want to do this course, then I'll work my butt off. Wish me good luck.
xoxo
Lizzy<3
Still not sure what to do about that writing course. And I only have three days 'til class starts. Okay. I've got an idea. If I can write two thousand words today, I'll join the course. That gives me approximately twelve hours of free time to do so. If I really want to do this course, then I'll work my butt off. Wish me good luck.
xoxo
Lizzy<3
Monday, January 4, 2010
To Write or Not to Write?
Lots of writing talk today.
First off, an update on my challenge word count. I'm currently at 1,301 words for "Oh, Baby!" The first day I got 698 words, 268 on the second, and 335 yesterday. I haven't written anything yet, but my goal is to write a thousand or so. I'll probably get about 500 but I have to try. Busy day.
In my last post I talked about the stories I'll be writing this year. Two of them were untitled. Well, I came up with a title for the Harry Potter fic. Temporary Youth. What do you think? I also thought of Temporary Childhood but I'm not sure. Any opinions on this are welcome.
I'm also here to talk about writing courses. I recently found out about one called 2YN. It's a two-year course and helps with writing and editing. It's done over the internet and sounds very good. The catch? This is the last year it's being offered free. Classes start on the eighth and I really don't know what to do. I'm already on hiatus from my other writing course. And I'm doing this six-novel challenge, and I'm moving, and I've got sites, and I have a life. Do I really want to torture myself by adding another responsibility to my plate?
Don't get me wrong, I really want to take the course. And I really don't want to pay for it when it starts up again next year. But can I handle it? Time management is not one of my strong suits. I get frazzled at least once a week. It could come from the smallest thing - spending too much time with family instead of writing, or role-playing with friends instead of doing dishes. Eventually I start to panic until I get balanced again. I have been getting better this past month, so maybe I should join?
Must go do chores and un-frazzle brain right now. I'll try to post again later tonight to update you on my word count. =)
Thanks for reading,
Lizzy<3
First off, an update on my challenge word count. I'm currently at 1,301 words for "Oh, Baby!" The first day I got 698 words, 268 on the second, and 335 yesterday. I haven't written anything yet, but my goal is to write a thousand or so. I'll probably get about 500 but I have to try. Busy day.
In my last post I talked about the stories I'll be writing this year. Two of them were untitled. Well, I came up with a title for the Harry Potter fic. Temporary Youth. What do you think? I also thought of Temporary Childhood but I'm not sure. Any opinions on this are welcome.
I'm also here to talk about writing courses. I recently found out about one called 2YN. It's a two-year course and helps with writing and editing. It's done over the internet and sounds very good. The catch? This is the last year it's being offered free. Classes start on the eighth and I really don't know what to do. I'm already on hiatus from my other writing course. And I'm doing this six-novel challenge, and I'm moving, and I've got sites, and I have a life. Do I really want to torture myself by adding another responsibility to my plate?
Don't get me wrong, I really want to take the course. And I really don't want to pay for it when it starts up again next year. But can I handle it? Time management is not one of my strong suits. I get frazzled at least once a week. It could come from the smallest thing - spending too much time with family instead of writing, or role-playing with friends instead of doing dishes. Eventually I start to panic until I get balanced again. I have been getting better this past month, so maybe I should join?
Must go do chores and un-frazzle brain right now. I'll try to post again later tonight to update you on my word count. =)
Thanks for reading,
Lizzy<3
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Writing Frenzy Year
Hey folks. How's everyone doing this fine morning?
Last month I talked a lot about the new year and how I want to make it so much better than the last. But as usual I forgot to talk about the most popular topic this time of the year. Resolutions. I don't think my parents have ever made new year's resolutions in their lives. My mom is of the opinion that you shouldn't make a resolution that you know you won't do. Like how so many people make quitting chocolate or coffee theirs. I agree. So every year since I was about thirteen, I've been making a list of things I'd like to do in the new year. I've never completed the list, but I have been able to cross things off every year.
This year, I've decided to share my list with all of you. Maybe not by going into detail of how I'm going to complete each goal. But by telling you throughout the year when I'm one step closer to finishing something.
You might already know about the biggest goal of mine, especially if you've read my other blog. I've wanted to be an author for a long time. I think I decided on that when I was six. Of course, that was after the phases of waitress, detective, archaeologist, teacher, and lawyer. To be clear on those: my grandma was a waitress; I love dinosaurs and was totally sold on digging them up until my mom told me I might find human bones too; I watched way too many Matlock and Columbo episodes when I was a kid. Oh, and I still want to be a teacher. Anyway, writing. I have collected a large file box full of novel and short story ideas. Want to know how many of them I've finished? Zero.
In 2007 I started a writing course from the Institute of Children's Literature. I course they promise has a two-year plan, but obviously not for procrastinators like me. Through this course, however, I've written two first drafts of short stories, and an article. That's pretty good for me. I admit, I wrote two stories when I was a kid. That was before I could actually write it down. I don't remember much of the stories, but I'm sure my parents have the pictures I drew for them around here somewhere. I remember one was about a young witch on Halloween, and the other was something about a girl being neglected by her parents in favor of her two siblings - a little Cinderella-ish, maybe? From then until the course, I only wrote fanfiction. Harry Potter, mostly. Some Supernatural. A little Digimon. Not to mention the dozens I never got around to writing.
My goal this year is to get something published. I mentioned in my last post how thanks to NaNoWriMo I have a half-finished novel. I plan on finishing that and publishing it this year. Or at least getting the ball rolling so I can publish next year. I want to be a professional writer. Who has actual deadlines and doesn't have to feel guilty as she explains to her parents why she has to meet her personal writing deadlines instead of watching a movie with them. Or an actual office with filing cabinets, a cork board, big window, a comfortable desk chair, a desk that doesn't dig into my leg, and a computer that's not slow with bad speakers. I guess I finally realized I'm never going to be that unless I stop my procrastinating and actually write.
Maybe my irrational fear of turning twenty has something to do with that. As cheesy as it sounds, I liked being a teenager. Everything about me - my likes, dislikes, passions, obsessions, friends - came out in the past seven years. As stupid as it sounds, I don't want that to go away when I'm twenty. I don't want to wake up one day and find out that I don't want to be a writer after all, and that I've wasted years and a lot of money on learning things I'll never need to know again.
I don't want to lose contact with my friends because I stop role-playing, or lose interest in Harry Potter. Amazingly, those two things are all that's connecting me to a few of my friends. That's another thing. I don't want to be shy anymore. I've been shy my whole life, and I'm sick of it. Last year I felt what it was like to have an acquaintance die and realize how many opportunities I had to get to know her better, but I didn't take because I was too shy. I don't want to go through that again.
Aaaaand I'm getting off topic again. You see, this is why I shouldn't be allowed to blog when I'm tired. My mind goes in a million directions, I start remembering things from when I was eight, and I decide to tell you random facts about myself that you don't need or want to know. Terribly sorry. This won't happen again.
So, the main reason I wanted to write this post (when I started an hour ago) was to explain my latest writing project and maybe get some people to join me.
6 Months, 6 Novels is a challenge based off of NaNoWriMo in which myself and several other people will write novels in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November. A woman I met on the NaNo site a month ago came up with the idea and I made the site for it. We've got well over thirty members now, and we all started writing yesterday. Our rules are slightly different from NaNo's, mind you. We allow you finish started stories, or write fanfiction instead of a novel. And I admit, I made these rules to fit my own needs.
Now, as promised in early December, here are my story ideas for 2010:
January: Oh, Baby! (a Digimon fic)
Go on fanfiction.net and search the author Aduial Evenstar. Under her stories, you will find an incomplete fic called Oh, Baby! which I fell in love with almost a year ago. Realizing she hadn't updated in quite a while, I decided to finish it for her. I'd written three chapters and posted them on my own page before life and writer's block got in the way and I suddenly stopped as well. I plan on having the fourth chapter posted by Monday, and the story complete this month.
Summary: Ten digidestined have been de-aged, and now it's up to Kari and TK to look after the babies while trying to find a way to turn them back with help from Gennai and their families. Plus ... new digidestined?
March: Untitled (Harry Potter fic)
Something I came up with just last month. I couldn't get it out of my head and decided to swap it with another story.
Summary: (summer before 5th year) Severus Snape is working on a potion for the Order and, being short on time, enlists the help of Sirius, Remus and Tonks. Something goes wrong with it and the four adults are de-aged into infants. Harry arrives at Grimmauld Place days later. By the end of the month, Dumbledore has only found a way to slowly age them, but no one to take care of them while they do. The Order members are obviously busy, and Molly can't handle four young children on her own. Hermione then - somewhat jokingly - suggests she, Ron and Harry take them back to Hogwarts. Dumbledore agrees and so beings a re-written fifth year - with no Umbridge!
May: Left Me Breathless (Twilight fic)
Came up with this months ago, but only managed to write a few pages.
Summary: What would have happened if Alice never had the vision of Bella jumping off the cliff in New Moon? Would Edward ever have come back? Would she have moved on? The night Harry Clearwater died, when Bella and Jake are in her truck - the night Alice was supposed to come back - Bella said yes to him. They dated, they married, they had children ... and then they divorced. Bella had been a good wife, giving him everything but the love he wanted from her. And Jacob couldn't put her through that anymore. But he married again, this time imprinting, and was expecting another child. Bella still lived in La Push, was still best friends with Jake and the pack. Still looked after all the kids on the reservation in her daycare. Then, while shopping in Port Angeles on her birthday, she saw him. Edward. But he looked different from how he had the last time she saw him ten years ago. He looked ... human.
July: Afterthought
A vampire novel. -squee-
Summary: Saphetta Mackenzie was your average teenage girl in 1996, until the war started up. Every man, woman, and creature fought to the death - or close enough to it. Vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, elves, fairies and all sorts of other things crawled out of whatever holes they'd been living in for the past few hundred years and started to revolt against the humans. Saphetta's family was one of many that fought on the side of the creatures. They wanted equality. But not everyone knew their views. At twenty-four, Saphetta found herself on a battlefield, trying to be the peacemaker and stop the attacking humans, but a vampire mistook her for the opposition and bit her... Now going by the name Saphy Wallace, the century-old vampire works as a college professor. The two roommates who she claims are her cousins happen to be her great-great-nieces. And she really hopes her newest colleague will one day become her husband and mate - if only he'll agree to it first.
September: The Historian (Covenant fic)
I've had this idea pretty much since the first time I saw the Covenant. After several false starts on it, I'm settled on a beginning, but nothing else.
Summary: Defying all odds, Caleb and Sarah had a daughter. Together with her younger brother and the sons of Pogue, Tyler, and Reid, Ashleigh Danvers completes the new generation of the Ipswich witches. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks she deserves to be included. The Parry boy may be the oldest, but he doesn't like Ashleigh being second to Ascend. Tyler's son hates the Power and anyone associated with it since it drove his mother away. Her little brother Zach is just plain jealous. And Reid's son? He's her only real friend. That is, until a mysterious new boy comes to Spenser academy and Ashleigh quickly learns that his life depends on whether or not she stays in the Covenant.
November: Untitled
I actually thought of this while I was half-way through my '09 NaNo.
Summary: Four teenaged friends go camping one weekend in the summer. While they mostly talk about the upcoming school year and have a good time, they each name a reason they'd rather just run away from home. They talk about the possibilities until they all pass out. When they wake up, they're no longer together. Or even in the same town for that matter. And they find that they've somehow aged ten years. Now, while trying to locate each other and figure out what happened, they have to live through what would happen to them if they did run away.
Well, that's all for now. I'm exhausted. So, see you next week.
-Lizzy<3
P.S. If you want to join 6 Months, 6 Novels go to the site - http://6wrimos.proboards.com
Last month I talked a lot about the new year and how I want to make it so much better than the last. But as usual I forgot to talk about the most popular topic this time of the year. Resolutions. I don't think my parents have ever made new year's resolutions in their lives. My mom is of the opinion that you shouldn't make a resolution that you know you won't do. Like how so many people make quitting chocolate or coffee theirs. I agree. So every year since I was about thirteen, I've been making a list of things I'd like to do in the new year. I've never completed the list, but I have been able to cross things off every year.
This year, I've decided to share my list with all of you. Maybe not by going into detail of how I'm going to complete each goal. But by telling you throughout the year when I'm one step closer to finishing something.
You might already know about the biggest goal of mine, especially if you've read my other blog. I've wanted to be an author for a long time. I think I decided on that when I was six. Of course, that was after the phases of waitress, detective, archaeologist, teacher, and lawyer. To be clear on those: my grandma was a waitress; I love dinosaurs and was totally sold on digging them up until my mom told me I might find human bones too; I watched way too many Matlock and Columbo episodes when I was a kid. Oh, and I still want to be a teacher. Anyway, writing. I have collected a large file box full of novel and short story ideas. Want to know how many of them I've finished? Zero.
In 2007 I started a writing course from the Institute of Children's Literature. I course they promise has a two-year plan, but obviously not for procrastinators like me. Through this course, however, I've written two first drafts of short stories, and an article. That's pretty good for me. I admit, I wrote two stories when I was a kid. That was before I could actually write it down. I don't remember much of the stories, but I'm sure my parents have the pictures I drew for them around here somewhere. I remember one was about a young witch on Halloween, and the other was something about a girl being neglected by her parents in favor of her two siblings - a little Cinderella-ish, maybe? From then until the course, I only wrote fanfiction. Harry Potter, mostly. Some Supernatural. A little Digimon. Not to mention the dozens I never got around to writing.
My goal this year is to get something published. I mentioned in my last post how thanks to NaNoWriMo I have a half-finished novel. I plan on finishing that and publishing it this year. Or at least getting the ball rolling so I can publish next year. I want to be a professional writer. Who has actual deadlines and doesn't have to feel guilty as she explains to her parents why she has to meet her personal writing deadlines instead of watching a movie with them. Or an actual office with filing cabinets, a cork board, big window, a comfortable desk chair, a desk that doesn't dig into my leg, and a computer that's not slow with bad speakers. I guess I finally realized I'm never going to be that unless I stop my procrastinating and actually write.
Maybe my irrational fear of turning twenty has something to do with that. As cheesy as it sounds, I liked being a teenager. Everything about me - my likes, dislikes, passions, obsessions, friends - came out in the past seven years. As stupid as it sounds, I don't want that to go away when I'm twenty. I don't want to wake up one day and find out that I don't want to be a writer after all, and that I've wasted years and a lot of money on learning things I'll never need to know again.
I don't want to lose contact with my friends because I stop role-playing, or lose interest in Harry Potter. Amazingly, those two things are all that's connecting me to a few of my friends. That's another thing. I don't want to be shy anymore. I've been shy my whole life, and I'm sick of it. Last year I felt what it was like to have an acquaintance die and realize how many opportunities I had to get to know her better, but I didn't take because I was too shy. I don't want to go through that again.
Aaaaand I'm getting off topic again. You see, this is why I shouldn't be allowed to blog when I'm tired. My mind goes in a million directions, I start remembering things from when I was eight, and I decide to tell you random facts about myself that you don't need or want to know. Terribly sorry. This won't happen again.
So, the main reason I wanted to write this post (when I started an hour ago) was to explain my latest writing project and maybe get some people to join me.
6 Months, 6 Novels is a challenge based off of NaNoWriMo in which myself and several other people will write novels in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November. A woman I met on the NaNo site a month ago came up with the idea and I made the site for it. We've got well over thirty members now, and we all started writing yesterday. Our rules are slightly different from NaNo's, mind you. We allow you finish started stories, or write fanfiction instead of a novel. And I admit, I made these rules to fit my own needs.
Now, as promised in early December, here are my story ideas for 2010:
January: Oh, Baby! (a Digimon fic)
Go on fanfiction.net and search the author Aduial Evenstar. Under her stories, you will find an incomplete fic called Oh, Baby! which I fell in love with almost a year ago. Realizing she hadn't updated in quite a while, I decided to finish it for her. I'd written three chapters and posted them on my own page before life and writer's block got in the way and I suddenly stopped as well. I plan on having the fourth chapter posted by Monday, and the story complete this month.
Summary: Ten digidestined have been de-aged, and now it's up to Kari and TK to look after the babies while trying to find a way to turn them back with help from Gennai and their families. Plus ... new digidestined?
March: Untitled (Harry Potter fic)
Something I came up with just last month. I couldn't get it out of my head and decided to swap it with another story.
Summary: (summer before 5th year) Severus Snape is working on a potion for the Order and, being short on time, enlists the help of Sirius, Remus and Tonks. Something goes wrong with it and the four adults are de-aged into infants. Harry arrives at Grimmauld Place days later. By the end of the month, Dumbledore has only found a way to slowly age them, but no one to take care of them while they do. The Order members are obviously busy, and Molly can't handle four young children on her own. Hermione then - somewhat jokingly - suggests she, Ron and Harry take them back to Hogwarts. Dumbledore agrees and so beings a re-written fifth year - with no Umbridge!
May: Left Me Breathless (Twilight fic)
Came up with this months ago, but only managed to write a few pages.
Summary: What would have happened if Alice never had the vision of Bella jumping off the cliff in New Moon? Would Edward ever have come back? Would she have moved on? The night Harry Clearwater died, when Bella and Jake are in her truck - the night Alice was supposed to come back - Bella said yes to him. They dated, they married, they had children ... and then they divorced. Bella had been a good wife, giving him everything but the love he wanted from her. And Jacob couldn't put her through that anymore. But he married again, this time imprinting, and was expecting another child. Bella still lived in La Push, was still best friends with Jake and the pack. Still looked after all the kids on the reservation in her daycare. Then, while shopping in Port Angeles on her birthday, she saw him. Edward. But he looked different from how he had the last time she saw him ten years ago. He looked ... human.
July: Afterthought
A vampire novel. -squee-
Summary: Saphetta Mackenzie was your average teenage girl in 1996, until the war started up. Every man, woman, and creature fought to the death - or close enough to it. Vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, elves, fairies and all sorts of other things crawled out of whatever holes they'd been living in for the past few hundred years and started to revolt against the humans. Saphetta's family was one of many that fought on the side of the creatures. They wanted equality. But not everyone knew their views. At twenty-four, Saphetta found herself on a battlefield, trying to be the peacemaker and stop the attacking humans, but a vampire mistook her for the opposition and bit her... Now going by the name Saphy Wallace, the century-old vampire works as a college professor. The two roommates who she claims are her cousins happen to be her great-great-nieces. And she really hopes her newest colleague will one day become her husband and mate - if only he'll agree to it first.
September: The Historian (Covenant fic)
I've had this idea pretty much since the first time I saw the Covenant. After several false starts on it, I'm settled on a beginning, but nothing else.
Summary: Defying all odds, Caleb and Sarah had a daughter. Together with her younger brother and the sons of Pogue, Tyler, and Reid, Ashleigh Danvers completes the new generation of the Ipswich witches. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks she deserves to be included. The Parry boy may be the oldest, but he doesn't like Ashleigh being second to Ascend. Tyler's son hates the Power and anyone associated with it since it drove his mother away. Her little brother Zach is just plain jealous. And Reid's son? He's her only real friend. That is, until a mysterious new boy comes to Spenser academy and Ashleigh quickly learns that his life depends on whether or not she stays in the Covenant.
November: Untitled
I actually thought of this while I was half-way through my '09 NaNo.
Summary: Four teenaged friends go camping one weekend in the summer. While they mostly talk about the upcoming school year and have a good time, they each name a reason they'd rather just run away from home. They talk about the possibilities until they all pass out. When they wake up, they're no longer together. Or even in the same town for that matter. And they find that they've somehow aged ten years. Now, while trying to locate each other and figure out what happened, they have to live through what would happen to them if they did run away.
Well, that's all for now. I'm exhausted. So, see you next week.
-Lizzy<3
P.S. If you want to join 6 Months, 6 Novels go to the site - http://6wrimos.proboards.com
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