The Writer's Life Tag

Hey everyone! Today's post will be on the 'Writer's Life' tag! I recently found this tag on another book blog and I've been dying to try it out for the heck of it. So basically, this tag is asking ten random questions about you as a writer and it was created by the author Kelsey Macke. Let's get started shall we? :)

1.       Writing Fuel: What do you eat/drink while writing??

Lots of water & ginger ale, and the once-in-a-while fancy drink. I like to eat cookie dough bites and peppermints, and popcorn.. :P

2.       Write Sounds: What do you listen to while writing?

 I love to listen to Japanese music (from various anime shows), anything random that’s on my you tube playlists or spotify.

 

3.       Write Vice: What’s your most debilitating distraction?

The internet, loads of books, and self-doubt.

 

4.       Write Horror: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you while writing?

 
Before I discovered the saviors that are google docs and flash drives, I saved my files in random email drafts and in folders on my laptop. But, I’ve had terrible luck with laptops due to my own mistakes and other peoples’ spilling drinks on it, so I had to literally restart my laptop a bunch of times and bawl my eyes out until I realize that I outline a lot on paper. Though, somehow I manage to ruin or loose the papers from moving everywhere and the bawling continued till I kept everything by my side and not let people touch my shit... So save & watch your work people: paper and files.. Watch them like a hawk.. >_>

5.       Write Joy: What’s the best thing that’s ever happened while writing or how do you celebrate small victories?

I managed to complete the first draft to my first full-length novel back in late ’13 and managed to win my first ever NaNoWriMo with its rewrite last November. ^-^ It made me happy to see that I can be the writer I’ve always dreamt of being. As a reward, I did buy the scrivener program for my laptop and give the amazing parents, boyfriend, and Cheshire cat the good news. (Only a couple of people I’ve met in college were happy for me, otherwise I just worked on homework soon after I won the event.)

6.       Write Crew: Who do you communicate with or not communicate with while writing?

I always communicate with my Cheshire Cat Greg. He’s the brother I’ve never had despite the fact we only met back in late 2011. We support each other as writers, siblings, and friends. I’m glad he understands the depressing self-doubt we both develops while writing because writing can be lonely. If people like myself ever needs that support system, he is literally the best person with his honesty and encouragement. He’s also a great person to discuss ideas with and will agree with the blood and gore things.. hehehe. I also talk to my boyfriend when I need the emotional encouragement when facing reality when not writing. He’s my purple rock to my craziness and I love how he can be logical when we discuss things even though I don’t agree to it sometimes. Plus I can hit him with pillows and he won’t yell at me. He’s not a writer like my Cheshire cat, but he’s always there for me when I need him for hugs and anime time. He also cooks really good food like my dad, yay food! :P

7.       Write Secret: What’s your writing secret to success or hidden flaw?

I have a secret?? Um, I guess my secret would be to blast music in my room and pretend that I’m living in my characters’ world to understand the scenes they want in the story. Sometimes I would act them out in private, but I guess I’ve been caught a couple of times in the act and have been accused of having schizophrenia when I don’t have it at all. I encountered to many idiots in my lifetime..

8.       Write-spiration: What always makes you productive?

I constantly wear my grandfather’s navy tag as a necklace so it brings me good luck. I carry notebooks and my pencil bag for motivation when I’m not in my room. And I also create playlists of music to get things rolling. (Also staying up really late doesn’t kill 40% of the time haha)

9.       Write Peeve: What’s one thing writers do (or you do) that’s annoying?

I find it annoying when writers are arrogant in a negative way. They act like hot shots when they’re not. If the story is good, it’s good. But, if they’re popular based on the constant pushing of getting others to read their books instead of their actual writing, and then forget it. Learn how to support other writers instead of going, ‘oh he/she sucks, don’t read their story. READ my stories instead.’ It doesn’t help others get that positive vibe to continue writing. I get you have to promote yourself and your stories, but it doesn’t help to support others too.

10.   Write words: Share one sentence from a project. Past or Present

Aww do I have too?? Um, okay I guess. It’s from a short story I started planning yesterday called “December Wind”. Enjoy. :P

‘There was a time when I thought snow used to meant peace and tranquil. With tiny speckles of it gently falling into the blanket around my home and the call for hot chocolate was stronger than ever. Instead, when I met Nic in the depths of the woods soaked in unfamiliar red liquid, it made me realize just maybe the December snow was also filled with oblivious despair.'

Okay guys, so that was writer's life tag. I tag all of those who haven't done this tag yet and enjoy yourselves. Till next time guys, happy howling! :)

Book Review: Throne of Glass

 

Throne of Glass Written by: Sarah J. Maas
Release date: August 7th, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsburys USA Children's
Format of Novel: Hardcover
Summary *from goodreads*: In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The crown prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass-- and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

(Warning: There will be some fan-girling in this review)

- - - -

 

I'm in the middle of re-reading this entire series in perparation for the upcoming release of Queen of Shadows in September. I received this book in the original cover from the bf when it first came out, and I pretty much read this book like a speed demon. (Mainly due to the idea of having my foot fixed from surgery during the summer and I was bored). This book was a great start to the never-ending series. The reader was able to see Celaena develop from an arrogant and violent killer, to an actual beautiful and powerful warrior. I loved how she was such a balanced character. On one hand, you got a bad-ass, beautiful assassin out for revenge and freedom, and then on the other hand, you have this girly-girl who loves fashion and all things shiny. It was awesome with how Sarah J. Maas did that and it made me want to read more about Celaena's journey to freedom.

 

Not only was she was amazing, but the guys -fans self- are hot. I love Carol with a fiery passion. He is a hottie in my eyes and I support the fanbase of him and Celaena being together! Of course he's the strong silent type, but at the same time, he's gentle and holds loyalty in his heart for people he believes in. Yes I do agree about him being a idiot with social interactions, but he's still awesome. Plain and simple. Dorian was another cutie, but I felt as so he needed to wing himself out of the 'prince' role. He's a ladies man and yet, he does hold a certain type of innocence that makes you want to hug him to bits. In a personal opinion, I thought he was somewhat annoying and he didn't really shine as a major character in my eyes. Mostly because this was in fact the beginning novel of the six-book series.

Another thing I loved in this book was the friendship between Celaena and Princess Nehemia. I loved the loyalty the two had for one another with their common interests and their curiosity for the fae magic that disappeared from their world. Nehmia brought out the best out Celaena and I wished that she was more involved in the competition than she was in this book. In the sequel, Crown of Midnight, I know she's plays a major roles so I look forward to seeing their friendship grow stronger once again.

Sarah J. Maas brought her world to life with bits of information that was suitable for a debut that made you excited for more. She didn't go overboard with it and took her time with the flow within the pacing  The world building was executed nicely and the evolution of this story from a classic Cinderella re-telling to an epic fantasy was really well done.

If you are a fan of re-tellings or high fantasy stories like Game of Thrones, then I highly consider this book for you. Especially if you want a kick-ass female protagonist. See you guys in the next review. Happy Howling.

Book Review: Nevermor

Nevermor (Nevermor #1) written by: Lani Lenore
Release Date: February 12th, 2013
Publisher: Self Published/Createspace
Format of Novel: Paperback

Summary (From Goodreads): LONDON, 1873 - In the foggy city, polluted by coal smoke from the factories along the river, 15-year-old Wren is clinging to a small thread of hope: the shimmering silver dream of a better life.
Wren and her brothers, Henry and Max, are orphans. They wish to be adopted, but no one wants to take in all three of them. Wren won’t be separated from her family, but no matter how hard she fights to keep them together, she fears she will lose them nonetheless.
She wants more for both of them - for herself. She wants an escape.
Prompted by a world she sees in a dream, Wren begins to tell her brothers stories of a place where they can be carefree forever - a place called Nevermor. It is an island at the edge of the universe, where all dreams go. There is a boy who guards it, and he is known only as the Rifter. Wren believes that this place truly exists and desires her own life there, where she can keep her family together without anyone tearing them apart.
Wren gets more than she bargained for when she is kidnapped by the arrogant and volatile Rifter and taken to Nevermor against her will. It is not completely unwelcome, however. The land is beautiful and there is freedom. The Rifter and his pack of wild boys accept her, and she feels that her brothers will be happy in this place too. 
Wren falls in love with Nevermor - and with the Rifter - and yet the more she learns of the conflict between the Rifter and a wicked man called the Scourge, the more she comes to realize that Nevermor is not a place for children.
Nevermor is a dark fantasy based on the legend of Peter Pan.

- - - -

So, this book is the first ever Peter Pan re-telling that I've ever read. (I know, I'm crazy for admitting that). I was in absolute love for this book. This book was written as a prequel to a Peter Pan fan fic on fictionpress by the author. She did a fantastic job in creating a new twist into the older story and making it her own. The characters were a wonderful bunch, matching their original counterparts, but maintaining a twist of their own. I especially enjoyed the Lost boys, each of them had their own originality  The atmosphere of Nevermor was haunting and vivid. It was beautiful yet it didn't completely held a 'child-like' feel to it, which in my personal opinion, was awesome since this was based on an horror element. I loved Rifer and the mystery between him and the Scourge. They were both compelling and I kept picturing the Scourge as a mirror image of Rifer until he really appeared later on in the book.

The writing was beautiful. It felt like I was inside a fairy tale with how balance the pace was throughout the chapters. Sure there were a few parts that were slow for my taste, but this story overall was phenomenal and one of my most favorite books of 2015 thus far. Considering that this is the first book to a trilogy, I cannot spoil much for you guys until I review the second book, Forsaken Dreams.

On good reads, I gave this a 4.5 out of 5 stars, and for a self published novel, it was a nice read. I highly recommend it for people that enjoy Peter Pan and a horror twist in their stories. See you guys next time with the sequel of this trilogy and new reviews in the near future.

Happy Howling.

The randomness of My Writing (Take One)

Hey guys. Since today is the release of my anime review blog, I'm not going to post a new book review for you. But instead, I wanted to talk about my writing process. This blog is not only a book reviewing blog, but a personal writing journey one too. So, I figured why not talk about my journey as a writer on here too. So, let's do it.

Let's consider today's title, 'randomness take one'. Like many of you writers, I'm a crazy one. One that is truly confuse about which solid project to work on and stick with for a extended period of time. Especially when a event is occurring outside of the writing life. Now, don't get me wrong, a lot of my confusion has to do with laziness and self-doubt. With the laziness, it is the lack of motivation to write because of my self doubt. I self doubt a lot of times and when I do have the motivation to write, nothing happens. And that's my fault.

The randomness in my writing involves a lot of wolves and what ifs. Plus, it involves me daydreaming when I'm probably not suppose too. And that's fun and all, but is it truly productive? Nope. The randomness should be involving the bursts of jolting shit down on paper or on a word document like I'm doing now for this blog post. But instead, it brings me to wondering if I'm meant to be a writer or someone that can teach about writing. It's truly random when you think about the crossroad, but it doesn't mean people like you and I are quitting.

We want to write, we want to teach the full aspects of writing that doesn't involve text books, we as writers want to be random and pop out a book that's fun for readers instead of treating it like a business. Its wrong of me to have doubts, but its going happen to me and to everyone else. So maybe this post isn't about our bursts of randomness in writing, but maybe in the random sets of self doubting. I'm saying its okay to feel this way, but we as writers and artists have to work together to get out of the ruts and into being what we are meant to be, writers.