Writing Prompts

I feel a little bit stuck right now that I'm between stages of my novel. I have the first draft written and I know that starting the second draft right now would be a terrible idea since I'm leaving in 7 days. (Wow, that is so soon!) But I can't just not write!

So I turn to writing prompts, which keep me writing even when I'm not working on a book. I have to admit that this is really frustrating, because I know that I'm not going to do anything with these stories and probably no one is going to read them, and in some ways it feels like a waste of time. You know, life every day like it's your last and enjoy every moment to the fullest. And so I feel like I should be focused on, you know, doing something to change the world or what not.

But I do need to take a break before moving on to Draft Two because I need time to think through what I need to change and add and take out.

I just don't need to take a break from writing, because everyone knows that the only actual good advice for writers is to read a lot and write every single day.

So... writing prompts. I know if I tried to write on my own I would get carried away and want to start another novel, so prompts are a great way for me to just get writing without thinking about it too much. You know, just write with my heart instead of my brain for a little bit.

And I found this fantastic website or tumblr or something and it has tons of writing prompts. Some of them are kind of meh, but a lot of them are really awesome and I've already gotten some pretty interesting stories out of them.

Also, every Wednesday I post a creative writing challenge on the Young Writers Society group blog, Writing Gooder, so that's another way to find challenges and prompts to get creativity flowing and write even when you're not working on a specific project.

I encourage you to find some prompts and write EVERY day!

How To Change The World

Or How the World Is Changing You.

I'm sure by now you've gotten sick of hearing about college and all these up coming changes, but I just need to rant a little more.

I have plane tickets! I'm going back to Colorado to visit my lovely sister and then to Europe. I'm going to Europe. Wow.

It feels like my life is becoming my life. Like, sure, it's been my life, obviously, but up to now so many other people have been making the decisions for me and I haven't done very much on my own. I'm not a very independent person and I would rather go with the flow than do something on my own.

But now I have no choice, because the "flow" is all over the place and suddenly I'm leaving all my friends and family behind and I have to be on my own.

The world is mine right now and I have to figure out how I'm going to change it.

I guess I'll start with writing, because that's what I know how to do and love to do. Draft One of Book Two is finished, and although I'll have to put it on hold until my life at least somewhat settles down, I'm still really excited to have it done. I wonder what Book Three will end up looking like?

And maybe these books won't be read by more than a few people and maybe I'll never get published, but I know that I want to change the world, and I think the only way for me to start is through words. I'll get there eventually.

And until then I'll let the world change me. I'm going to travel like crazy and learn everything I can from every part of the globe. I want to see the world and explore the universe. After all, I can't change the world if I don't know what the world is, right?

So wish me luck, and I'll do my best to keep dropping in with updates as the travels begin.

You Know You're A Writer When...

You know you're a writer when you turn your little Christmas village into a map of your world.

I love the little Christmas houses that I find all over stores each winter, and this year I've managed to keep them up until now, even with my mom's constant hints that I should put them away. I just, I really like my little Christmas village.

However, today, instead of taking them down, I turned them into a map.

See, I realized that I keep losing characters, and every time I start writing I have to take a little bit of time to figure out where everyone is. It would be so much easier if they always stuck together, you know?

And of course with time and major editing this shouldn't be a problem, because of course it would be terrible if the readers couldn't keep track of the characters, either. But in the meantime, I needed a way to keep them in track.

I was talking to my best friend, who also happens to be the person I discuss my writing problems with and the one who coached me in weapons for the first book, and he told me to make a map. He even offered to carve little wooden people for me to use, and I loved the idea.

But then today I saw the Christmas village, and, well, it works.

This is a terrible picture, but you get the idea, right?

Oh, and did I mention? Book two has 100 pages now. It's getting there, and I am so excited. Now today I get to go burn houses to get the Remnants out of Ciopal....

Hm, maybe I ought to avoid spoilers?

Anyway, what kind of you know you're a writer moments have you had?

Chaos and Christmas

I know, I know. 
I haven't been on in ages, and this poor blog has been hopelessly abandoned.


I went on a cruise this Christmas, and spent Christmas Day in Jamaica. Good thing God is everywhere. It was great overall, and I did a lot of new things, such as parasailing and scuba diving and touching sting rays. (Which feel incredible slimy and gross, by the way.)

I also went to Florida, and North Carolina, and then finally came back to Oaxaca in time for a paintball game with some of my friends and a couple movies and multiple coffee dates. Overall, a fantastic vacation, and I wish I had more time to tell you more about it.

However, book two has been started, which I'm sure I've mentioned many, many times, and is now over 80 pages long. I'm excited to get it down on paper, although I have to admit that writing this book hasn't been easy. These characters are stubborn, you know, and they'll have their way whether I want them to or not.

Honestly, you have no idea how much I've argued with some of them. Especially regarding romance, with all of the trying to pair off even though they know that it is completely outside of character and irrelevant to the story. They try anyway, and I'm barely keeping them away from each other's throats.

The Remnants are fantastic, though, and I wish I could give more time to each of them. They are all developing splendidly, and they deserve an applause.


I also have no school for the next few months, which means a lot of time for writing, Or for meaning to write and then procrastinating or getting frustrated and not writing after all. Still, time is time and I am so grateful that now I can write when I want to instead of having to write complaining poetry in my journals.


Oh, that reminds me that I am now a Junior Moderator of that site I mentioned once or twice, The Young Writers Society, which as far as I'm concerned just means that my name is written in Green letters instead of Blue and I have some new special powers that I haven't quite figured out yet.

Well, there's a ridiculously quick summary, and probably still too long.

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!