Life Changing

Every once in a while a book will fall into your hands; a book that ends up as more than just a good read. This book will literally change your life. You will never be able to read another book and say much more than "it was good". Books will simply become entertainement, like television, and this one book will become something much more. It will be what you wish you could write, it will be the book that outshines all others, and it will captivate and engage you like no other.

There are a few books in my life that have affected me this way...some much more than others. So in order, here is a list of books that changed my life.

1. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

2. The Chanters Of Tremaris Trilogy by Kate Constable

The Twilight series, mostly the debut novel Twilight, is my absolute favorite collection of books. Ever. And I recommend that everyone, mostly girls, needs to read in their life ... and soon. The new book is set to come out August 2008 (this year!!) and the movie for Twilight is coming out this year as well. Though most movies demolish the books, I feel like they might succeed with this one, and even if they don't I have to make myself see it ... it's Twilight!

My only advice for reading this saga is this: 1. DO NOT let anyone EVER tell you about the book. 2. Make sure you have prolonged periods of time in which to read, it makes the experience so much more worth it. And 3. if you have the chance and the books read them all back to back in order with not other literary interuptions.

I suppose this advice applies to most books, but these books deserve so much more.

Sorry for the short entries as of late. I'll kick it up a notch next time!

The Word Of The Day according to Dictionary.com.

misnomer (Noun) - 1. The misnaming of a person in a legal instrument, as in a complaint or indictment.2. Any misnaming of a person or thing; also, a wrong or inapplicable name or designation.

The Tenth Power

So if any of you are keeping up to date on the lovely right hand side of my blog, you may have noticed something. Not only do I absolutely adore A Fine Frenzy (favorite song? - Lifesize), but I go through books pretty fast. I am the bookworm and I am in the last book of an absolutely phenomenal trilogy. The Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy by Kate Constable is a must read and i will have a full trilogy review once I have flown my way through this last book (The Tenth Power). So be ready for many book reviews and don't expect too much negativity, I'm pretty partial to books.


Word Of The Day

Diffident (Adj): 1. Lacking self-confidence; distrustful of one's own powers; timid; bashful. 2. Characterized by modest reserve; unassertive.

Give Me Five!

So to let you all get to know me a little better, and maybe tug a little advice out of my ear, I am going to be posting random listings. They will be favorites, facts, or just randomness. Today:

Top Five Songs:



"Gravity" by Sara Bareilles
"LDN" by Lily Allen
"Brave" by Idina Menzel
"Fuego" by Bond
"4am" by Our Lady Peace




These songs are in no particular order. And yes, now it's time for me to scrap together a bit of advice from this little activity. And it's simple: lists.



You can list:

• Characters
• Places
• Plot points
• Unique vocab for your story
• Book titles
• Chapter Titles
• Any other random stuff you want to keep track of

Also, a bit of advice I've taken to this weekend, write what you need to. I was at work and struck, quite viciously, by a vivid idea. So I ran and took some reciept paper and jotted down two full reciept scraps of story. All this scrawled chicken-scratch was a description of one character. Of course I am nowhere near introducing her in my story yet, but I have her established completely now. And I have that part out of the way and written to it fullest potential. If a scene, a huge event, or just a snippet of story crawls into your brain, write it. Keep all your little story pieces to fit into one amazing story later on.

And a little exercise for anyone with writer's bloq or who is just bored and needs something to write. In one of my classes we were told to pick a person, not a famous or infamous person, but like a label (i.e. Painter, Ice cream truck driver, Vet, etc). Then we were told to pick a place, yet again, not a famous place or anything (i.e. Train, Woods, Basement, etc). And lastly we were told to pick a thing, yet again no famous items (i.e. Earring, Pearl, Hubcap, etc). And when you have a person you simple describe them. Do not elaborate into a story (at leat not until later), simply describe attitude and appearance and demeanor. This may become one of your most predominant or lovable characters. I'll provide my example for the person next post.

And the much anticipated Word Of The Day from Dictionary.com

Inchoate (Adj): 1. In an initial or early stage; just begun. 2. Imperfectly formed or formulated.

- Kismet

Twilight

For fans of Stephenie Meyer (with such amazing books as Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and, in August this year, Breaking Dawn) we have some news for you. Now you already know this if you are religious to stepheniemeyer.com, but there is a movie coming out for the book Twilight. It is set to be released in December 2008. So we're only about, oh, nine months away.

The casting so far:

Bella Swan: Kristen Stewart Edward Cullen: Robert Pattinson

Carlisle Cullen: Peter Facinelli
Esme Cullen: Elizabeth Reaser
Rosalie: Nikki Reed
Eric: Justin Chon

The other roles are all rumored. But if you want to check them out: CLICK ME!

Dictionary.com Word Of The Day
Rara Avis (noun): A rare or unique person or thing.

-Kismet

Spaces Of Sky And Treetops

Everyone has written something: essays, persuasive papers, literary analyses, and more grueling and generally unenjoyable experiences. So what are the keys to enjoying writing?


It's really easy: Pick something you enjoy. In your free time experiment. Try out a poem: haiku, sonnet, or just free form. Keep in mind that poems are not about rhyming and Dr. Seuss is not someone to admire for poetic brilliance. Rhyming does make for fun and whimsical poems, but it can also be a hindrance. Finding words to rhyme can deter your intent in the poem and ruin your flow and idea.


If you need help breaking the habit of rhyme just check out some free form poems and other alternatives (a good site to check out:fictionpress.com) Get used to the flow instead of the matching words and just let yourself go!


"April 18" by Sylvia Plath

the slime of all my yesterdays

rots in the hollow of my skull

and if my stomach would contract

because of some explicable phenomenon
such as pregnancy or constipation


I would not remember you

or that because of sleep
infrequent as a moon of greencheese
that because of food
nourishing as violet leaves
that because of these


and in a few fatal yards of grass

in a few spaces of sky and treetops

a future was lost yesterday

as easily and irretrievably
as a tennis ball at twilight


If you are going for the rhythm of rhyme, then try a new approach. Rhyming every line or every other line is too cliché. Try beginning and ending a stanza with a word that rhymes and don't set a number of lines to the stanza.

Truly the only great advice is practice. Experiment.





Dictionary.com Word Of The Day


Probity (noun): Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness.


On a writing-related note, you'll see a lot of books presented here. Recently I read The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. The book is an amazing piece of writing. It paints wonderful pictures in the mind and you truly become a part of this historical story. The story is that of Mary Carey, the sister of Anne Boleyn. Their family pits the two against each other to win over King Henry VIII. The scandals and deaths and the life in court are illustrated beautifully and the story is captivating. I recommend it to everyone, though mostly girls. A must read! And look for the movie which came out this weekend starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Eric Bana.