Head-First Into a New Adventure

Book two now has fifteen pages written, and I am so excited to finally be back with my precious characters. Sure, four years have gone by since the first book, Shadow Whispers, and the Whisperers have certainly changed a lot. I mean, I'm not sure if Mortiod is going to make it; Briaka will have a lot of work cut out for her trying to cheer him up.

However, Shadow Remnants is up and running, and you have no idea how happy it makes me to have that book started and know that I'm back to writing.

I won't lie, there is a lot I still need to fix up in the first book. I do need to get that fifth draft written, but in the meantime it's nice to work on something at least.

Plus, I've been on a couple of dates since my last post here, and it's so nice to just talk to someone for hours while playing a super nerdy board game and taking up two tables at a coffee shop because the game took up so much space. It had been a while since I'd smiled that much.

I also am finally done applying to colleges. That's a lie. I still have one that I need to finish. But... well, I'm a lot closer.

And I cleaned my room today!

Ignore the random milk carton in the corner. There's a story behind that. And yes, this picture is actually mine!

And I graduated from high school! It was an interesting ceremony, since I happened to be the only graduate, but I had so much fun. I survived the walk down the aisle without tripping, got through my speech without problems, and got my diploma. Unfortunately I still have to go to school next week to finish up my finals. But... I'm graduated!

Isn't it so exciting? I'm holding my diploma of graduation. Wow. I'm graduated!

So, there you have it, the crazy events and the most exciting fact that I am back to writing Book Two. Wish me luck and speedy writing.

Oh, plus I got to watch the Hobbit! Such a good movie, I love the Lord of The Rings!! <3

Yeah, he's my favorite, for sure!

How to Think Like a Boy

I know what you're thinking. "What is wrong with this girl, and why does she care how guys think?"

The answer, of course, brings you back into the pages and away from the girl that sometimes exists on the other side. You see, the Whisperers (all nine of them) each tell a chapter of the story at a time. And four of those Whisperers just so happen to be guys. The result: I need to figure out how guys think in order to write accurate chapters to represent them. Now it makes sense, right?

The first step to this I already explained in a previous post. Weapons. I went through a very tedious stage of discovering everything I could about weapons in order to learn how to write about them. I think I'm doing pretty well so far, though of course I haven't finished that stage of editing.

But I know there's more to guys than just weapons. Obviously. And only a percentage of guys even care about the weapons side.

So I asked my friend to describe his sister- everything he said was visual, which I kind of expected. Visual, and not very detailed. I may have to lower the writing style a bit for some of the guys...

I asked another friend to describe the room he was standing in. The first thing he mentioned was the bench he was touching, and the atmosphere of the room. He continued with things you can touch, too, like the benches and the walls.

And I asked a third friend to describe one of the other boys in class. The first things he mentioned were all achievement based. I also had expected that because of conversations about the differences between girls and guys in my Dating, Marriage and Family class. (Yeah, we have a dating class at my school. What?!! There are strange classes in Christian schools.)

So.... what I'm left with is the impression that guys are very visually stimulated. And rely heavily on achievements, especially when relating to one another, and are also more physical. Sound about right?

I hope so, because that's the turn I'm trying to make in these guy-narrated chapters. Although I am still talking to boys to try and get inside their heads, and the fourth draft has yet to be finished.

Still, the pages are progressing, and the girl on the other side is beginning to feel extremely excited about watching all the words come together so flawlessly.