Thursday, April 9, 2015
Closing Down
Sorry to say it, but this blog is out of order. I can't keep up this blog, so it has to go. However, I will be blogging at A Study in Blue and Ryebrynn's Random Ramblings, so pop over and give me a follow! :)
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Live Up Contest Entry - 2014
Please like and share my sister's video ON YouTube to help her win a scholarship! Thanks!
-Author
-Author
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Pitcharama
Title: Heir of Windwoen
Author: L. Grace Buller
Genre: YA Christian Fantasy
Word count: 24,232
Synopsis: Gwendolyn has never wanted to be royalty. Now betrothed to the dashing but insufferable Rogen, who she knows holds her sister's heart, she feels it even more. It's an opportune time to escape, but she is hounded by search parties, and finally fakes her own death, but is forced to return to Windwoen, because she is fallen ill. In utmost secrecy, her sister, Malia, and the palace doctor nurse her back to health, but Malia's wayward tongue gets the best of her, and the king's advisor, Jahrn learns that she is alive, and his own devious plans are revealed--to steal the throne. But to become royalty, he has to marry the Crown Princess.
Author: L. Grace Buller
Genre: YA Christian Fantasy
Word count: 24,232
Synopsis: Gwendolyn has never wanted to be royalty. Now betrothed to the dashing but insufferable Rogen, who she knows holds her sister's heart, she feels it even more. It's an opportune time to escape, but she is hounded by search parties, and finally fakes her own death, but is forced to return to Windwoen, because she is fallen ill. In utmost secrecy, her sister, Malia, and the palace doctor nurse her back to health, but Malia's wayward tongue gets the best of her, and the king's advisor, Jahrn learns that she is alive, and his own devious plans are revealed--to steal the throne. But to become royalty, he has to marry the Crown Princess.
Malia and Gwendolyn are caught in battle that delves into the heart--can they survive, or will Jahrn marry Gwendolyn and get the throne?
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Beginning Characters
I really think this post is overdue, so here it is. Posted, with no bow. But with GIFs! :P
I think that all beginning writers have a common problem--and I include myself in that number.
Sometimes our characters are flat, and emotionless, and we dismiss it and say: "No, they aren't." Truth is, sometimes they do this:
You might be saying right now: "Nothing like that ever happens in my novel!"
Sometimes it does. I say this even in mine. But, I've actually turned into someone who likes to injure my poor characters and show their pain. And then sometimes they go overboard like this:
Hang in there! I'm not here to criticize you! Or your characters.
We all do this. Since I really don't have a point to this post, and I still do this, so I don't have a solution for the problem, this is basically an "it's okay, I do that too" post.
Here for y'all.
So, do any of you have something to say on the matter? A solution to the problem, perhaps? :) Comment and let me know!
-Author
I think that all beginning writers have a common problem--and I include myself in that number.
Sometimes our characters are flat, and emotionless, and we dismiss it and say: "No, they aren't." Truth is, sometimes they do this:
You might be saying right now: "Nothing like that ever happens in my novel!"
Sometimes it does. I say this even in mine. But, I've actually turned into someone who likes to injure my poor characters and show their pain. And then sometimes they go overboard like this:
Hang in there! I'm not here to criticize you! Or your characters.
We all do this. Since I really don't have a point to this post, and I still do this, so I don't have a solution for the problem, this is basically an "it's okay, I do that too" post.
Here for y'all.
So, do any of you have something to say on the matter? A solution to the problem, perhaps? :) Comment and let me know!
-Author
Thursday, December 19, 2013
What Do You Do When Someone Tells You That You Have Too Many Characters.
Do you have too many characters?
Is your novel feeling flooded? Are you readers telling you that there are just simply too many characters to keep track of?
Or, on the other hand(which happens to be my right one, and it hurts), do YOU think you have too many characters?
If I may intrude, I'm going to attempt to help you through this by telling you what I do, because, most of the time, I have far too many characters.
First things first. Do what most people tell you to do. Eliminate the useless characters.
At this point, you're probably wondering how you should go about this, especially when this post is supposed to be telling you how. Now, I'm not going to make things totally easy for you, because writing is not an adventure when things are going smoothly, no matter how much you may covet writing going smoothly. I'm going to make this as simple(or not so simple) as possible.
Personally, my method of eliminating useless characters is to go through my book, and figure out which ones I can delete without making the book not make sense. Once I figure out the ones that have nothing to do with the plot, and have said and done basically nothing, then I enter their names in the "Search and Replace" thing and delete them. Then I go through and delete any dialogue they had, or anything they did.
If I find I still have too many characters, I find a battle that is either recent or in the book's near future, and then I kill several characters off in the battle. This may not help you much if you aren't writing fantasy by the by, unless you haven't already guessed that.
However, characters is my weakness. I love developing them, writing them, creating them, and spending time with them. By the end of a novel, if all goes well, I tend to care for what they care fore, love what they love, and sometimes, they even convince me to read a certain book, listen to a certain song, or eat a certain food.
Characters are people, and like people, they impact your every day life, and fill it with meaning.
Just remember, though--you and your characters are nothing without God.
Before I go, I have a question. What do YOU do when someone tells you that you have too many characters?
-Author
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Two Interviews, Two Characters, One Author
Hello, readers! Today we have two interviews with two characters, which are questioned by me. Enjoy!
THE FIRST INTERVIEW
Author: Hello!
What is your name?
Ailwyn: Ailwyn
Torrent.
Author: Where
did you grow up?
Ailwyn: Corrive.
It's a small village right between The Capital and Airsdacc Forest.
Author: When
is your birthday?
Ailwyn: I
was born two days after Christmas.
Author: Where
were you born?
Ailwyn: The
Capital. Mother traveled there to have me because it was safer and
there were more doctors that were better at what they did.
Author: Who
were your parents?
Ailwyn: Cordelia
and Allar Jention.
Author: What
was important to your parents?
Ailwyn: Mother
cared about every detail. Everything had to be perfect, or she
wouldn't accept it. Father cared about family ties. He wanted us, his
daughters, to marry well.
Author: Did
you have many friends when you were growing up?
Ailwyn: Some.
But they were shallow friends. I considered them very good friends at
the time when they were my friends and every time one moved away or
decided they didn't want to be my friend... Well, it hurt. A lot.
Author: Did
any of your ancestors do something great or were they famous for
something?
Ailwyn: My
aunt married into the higher families in The Capital. That's about
it, I guess. The Jentions weren't a very famous family.
Author: Where
have you lived?
Ailwyn: I
lived in Corrive until I moved to Airsdacc Forest when I was
seventeen.
Author: Do
you have any siblings?
Ailwyn: Yes.
Amery and Adette. Adette is much like Mother, but Amery was my
closest friend.
Author: Where
do you currently live?
Ailwyn: I
live somewhere around the middle of Airsdacc Forest.
Author: Did
you go to school when you were little?
Ailwyn: Mother
taught Amery, Adette, and I at home. She didn't think the schools
taught enough and as well as she did.
Author: What
was your favorite subject?
Ailwyn: I
was fascinated with writing. Every now and then, I do write stories
that I think of. They're always sad stories, though.
Author: Did
you receive any special training—sword fighting, archery, martial
arts, the like?
Ailwyn: No.
Mother considered fighting highly improper for a young lady to learn.
Author: Do
you have a job?
Ailwyn: No.
I try to stay away from people.
Author: Do
you like to travel?
Ailwyn: As
I said before, I try to stay away from people.
Author: Do
you have any friends?
Ailwyn: Darren,
I guess. And the Eternal One.
Author: How
do people usually see you?
Ailwyn: Um...
Well, they view me as a witch—a sorceress. That's why I don't leave
Airsdacc Forest.
Author: Who,
if anyone, do you live with?
Ailwyn: I
don't live with anyone.
Author: Do
you fight with anyone?
Ailwyn: I
fight with Darren. That's what we do most of the time. Disagree.
Author: Who
do you spend time with?
Ailwyn: Me,
Myself, and I.
Author: Who
do you wish you could spend time with?
Ailwyn: Raul.
Author: Who
depends on you?
Ailwyn: No
one.
Author: What
person or people do you admire?
Ailwyn: I
admire King Davin, for putting up with the Corriennetes. And the
Eternal One, of course.
Author: Who
are your enemies?
Ailwyn: Just
about everyone, I guess. But the Mavericans, especially.
Author: Are
you married or betrothed?
Ailwyn: No.
But I was betrothed at one time. When I was seventeen.
Author: Do
you have any children?
Ailwyn: No!
Author: Are
you a loyal Follower of God?
Ailwyn: I
like to think so.
Author: Are
you a glass half full girl or a glass half empty one?
Ailwyn: I
like to fancy myself a glass half full girl, but people tell—told—me
I'm a pessimist.
Author: Do
you like yourself?
Ailwyn: Depends.
Author: Well, thank you for joining us today, Ailwyn!
Ailwyn: You're welcome.
THE SECOND INTERVIEW
Author: Hello!
What is your name?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I'm Leilani Sunblade.
Author: Where
did you grow up?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I lived in Elven-Hold until my parents were killed, then I went to The Underground.
Author: When
is your birthday?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: April Seven.
Author: Where
were you born?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: Elven-Hold.
Author: Who
were your parents?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: Sarah and Peter Sunblade.
Author: What
was important to your parents?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: Family.
Author: Did
you have many friends when you were growing up?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: Yes. I had some pretty good friends, but when I went to The Underground, I had to part from them.
Author: Did
any of your ancestors do something great or were they famous for
something?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: No, not really. The Sunblades really didn't do very much that was famous.
Author: Where
have you lived?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I've lived in Elven-Hold and The Underground.
Author: Do
you have any siblings?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: No.
Author: Where
do you currently live?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: The Underground.
Author: Did
you go to school when you were little?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I did when I was in Elven-Hold.
Author: What
was your favorite subject?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: Writing and reading, mostly.
Author: Did
you receive any special training—sword fighting, archery, martial
arts, the like?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I learned archery.
Author: Do
you have a job?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I'm one of the eight Sentinels of The Underground.
Author: Do
you like to travel?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: When I can.
Author: Do
you have any friends?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I'm pretty good friends with Sentinel Gold Arrow, and Lessien, and, of course, Taryn.
Author: How
do people usually see you?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I'm not sure. I've never asked.
Author: Who,
if anyone, do you live with?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I don't live with anyone.
Author: Do
you fight with anyone?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: No, not really.
Author: Who
do you spend time with?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: Sentinel Gold Arrow, Taryn, Lessien.
Author: Who
do you wish you could spend time with?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: My parents.
Author: Who
depends on you?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: Most of The Underground, I think.
Author: What
person or people do you admire?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I admire the other Sentinels, and Shaddai.
Author: Who
are your enemies?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: Jahrn, mostly.
Author: Are
you married or betrothed?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: No.
Author: Do
you have any children?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: No.
Author: Are
you a loyal Follower of God?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I believe so.
Author: Are
you a glass half full girl or a glass half empty one?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I like to think of myself as a glass half full person.
Author: Do
you like yourself?
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: I'm fine with how and who I am, because that's the way God made me, and the way he wants me to be.
Author: Well,
thank you for joining us today, Leilani!
Sentinel
Leilani Sunblade: It wasn't a problem. Thanks for having me!
THUS ENDS THE INTERVIEWS, AND THIS POST.
-Author
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Change
CHANGE.
It's one of the main characteristics of
a good story. Good stories always include change, because that's how
life works. Every story needs a good shot of reality, even fantasies.
For a reader to love your story, you need them to believe it.
Now, I'm not going to tell you how to
write change, because I still don't know really. But, if you do it
correctly, readers will love your story.
The change could be sad, or happy, or
downright heart-wrenching. A good example of change would be in The
Door Within by Wayne Thomas
Batson.
(CAUTION:
Example contains major spoilers for The
Door Within. If you have not read the book, read the
example at your own risk)
The
MC, Aidan, starts out as a disgruntled boy who isn't sure what to
believe, and isn't exactly the bravest squirt. He's just moved from
Maryland to Colorado, and the change doesn't sit well with him. He's
angry with his grandfather for instigating the move, and with his
parents for enacting it.
But
it's also because of his grandfather that he goes to Alleble.
By the
end of the book, Aidan has come to terms with his new life, and
believes in King Eliam. Whilst he was in the Realm, he became the
Twelve Knight, and went to Mithegard with eleven other knights. He
braved tempests, and even the forces of Paragory. By the time he
returns home, he is much braver then before.
As you
see, there was much change in the above. The above presents change
for the better. There are other changes, as we all know very well.
Like changes for the worse.
For
example(I know this isn't exactly writing, but this is story change,
and it can be used to help you enact writing changes in your tale),
Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith.
(CAUTION:
Example contains major spoilers for Star Wars: The Revenge
of the Sith. If you have not read the book, read the example at
your own risk)
We have the MC,
Anakin Skywalker, Padawan to Obi Wan Kenobi. When the movie starts,
Anakin is on the good side. He's a great kid, and secretly married to
Senator Padme Amidala. However, she reveals to him that she is
pregnant, and something in Anakin snaps. He starts having
dreams—dreams that she dies in childbirth. This worries him, and he
turns to his good friend, Chancellor Palpatine. The Chancellor, who
is really Darth Sidious, tempts Anakin. Anakin tells Mace Windu that
he thinks Palpatine is a Sith, so Mace Windu and several other Jedi
go to apprehend Palpatine. Palpatine massacres them, but when he is
about to kill Mace Windu, Anakin comes to rescue him. Anakin helps
Mace Windu, but Palpatine succeeds in turning him, and kills Mace
Windu. Anakin becomes Palpatine(Darth Sidious)'s dark apprentice.
Palpatine orders Anakin to the Jedi Temple and Anakin kills every
Jedi there. Next, Anakin goes to a fiery planet(sorry, forgot the
name of it), and kills everyone there on orders of Sidious.
In Coruscant, Padme
is confronted by Obi Wan, who finds out who the father is. He asks
Padme to tell him where Anakin is—she refuses. She goes after
Anakin, and Obi Wan stows away on her ship. When she reaches the
planet, Obi Wan comes out of the ship and Anakin attacks her. Obi Wan
and Anakin fight. Anakin loses, and is badly injured(also known as:
no legs, no arms, and very burned). Obi Wan flies off with Padme.
Palpatine comes for Anakin, finds him. He encases Anakin in armor,
and life support... stuff.
Padme dies.
Anakin is angered,
destroys stuff.
In the above
example, the change for the worse is visible. Anakin starts out as a
good kid—becomes evil Sith(“YOU
UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER”).
This is a great example of bad change.
Just
a word of advice. If you include change, and reality in your story,
it is more likely that readers will love it. I'm not promising
anything, but, I might even read your story. :-)
So,
go ahead. Comment. Tell me what you think. Did this blog post even
help? :-D
Signed
with the Sharpie of Ideas,
-Author
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