Writing Playlist for the Day

Music has inspired many great things, especially writing.  It can provide the perfect background to just about any scene.  So I thought I'd share my favorite writing songs for today:

Wrapped in Your Arms by Fireflight

Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift

All I Wanted by Paramore

I Almost Do by Taylor Swift

Stop the World by Demi Lovato

Nobody's Home by Avril Lavigne


And lastly, here's a snippet of my writing for the day.

The funeral is short but sweet, and although I don’t cry, pain does tug at my heart.  I've never felt so alone.  I have no one older than myself to ask advice.  No one to take comfort in.  I can't talk about my problems with Honey.  Even though she’s mature for thirteen, she’s still only a child.

She stands sobbing by my mother’s grave for minutes, and I know that I can't help her.  I'm never one to sympathize with others and I've often been called insensitive because of it.  I have feelings.  I just know how to hide them when I need to.

But now, I need someone.  And I wish Damon was here.

Just a minute later, I turn my head and notice that he’s standing just a few feet to my left.  He doesn’t move or even yell at me like I figured he would.  Instead, he says, his words soft, “I came as soon as I heard.  Are you okay?”

I don’t reply.  If I would of, it would have been a lie and he would have seen right through it.  Instead, I run to him and find myself tight in his arms. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, but I know that he has already forgiven me.

Damon gently brushes the loose strands of hair on my back as he holds me close.  He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t need to.  I know he’s glad that I'm not mad at him and I’m thankful that he’s kind enough to forgive me for the terrible things I said.

Got to get back to writing, but enjoy :)

Abigail

The joys of November - NanoWrimo

I've debated about doing NanoWrimo for the past two years, and have decided not to each time, for a variety of reasons, all of them pretty lame.  I don't have enough time or writing that much in a month surely won't be fun.

Those excuses were put to rest this year and I decided to try, at least.  Once I started, I realized just how much fun this would be.

For those of you who don't know, in NanoWrimo, you try to write 50,00 words in 30 days.  In November.  It's a genius idea and it really motivates you to let go and just write.

As I shared in my last post, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to writing.  Or...about anything.  Except cleaning my room.  But during Nano, I've learned to shut off the internal editor, and not think about how lame that blurb of dialogue was, or how many times I used the word "look" in a paragraph. (My record is 5.  In 6 sentences.  Very, very sad, but I have learned not to care while writing a rough draft.)

It's a challenge.  Here are my stats: 

I know today's is low, but I haven't started writing yet today :P

Against my better judgement, here's a snippet from my writing.  Not the best, but hey, it is a rough draft.



     I'd have to conform to their standards. I'd have to pretend to admire the ways they treat normal citizens.

     A group of soldiers walk down the street, pushing people out of their way and shooting anyone who objected. It doesn’t surprise me. I've seen it my entire life. Those men, foolishly drawn in by the idea of glory and riches, think that they are better than anyone and everyone.

     I'm taken off the train and escorted through the chaotic streets. The military men “protecting” me, from what I do not know, are shoving people away, since I must be so important. It makes me sick.

     A mother drops her bags of hard-earned food as they shove her aside, and she doesn’t move, but bends down to pick them up. They yell at her, but she doesn’t run off, as most would. While holding her young child’s hand, she tries frantically to scoop up her groceries. She can't afford to leave them. Finally, one of the men kicks her to the ground and shoots her in the head, right in front of her little boy.

     My hands clench into fists and I look over my shoulder at her, my face contorted in an expression of horror and outrage. Her child is screaming, calling his mother’s name. They murdered her, in cold blood, simply because she stopped to pick up fallen groceries. What has the world come to?


It's a Dystopian story, currently untitled, but I'm hoping a title will present itself to me during the writing process :)

Oh, and to anyone also doing NanoWrimo, good luck and have fun!


Abigail :)

Productivity of Terrible Writing

First off, sorry for the lack of posts.  Life is insane with homework, sports, music, and church and I'm trying my best to squeeze my writing in.  As of now, I'm going to try to update my blog at least once a week.  Maybe more.  Who knows?  Life is typically unpredictable.

The idea for this post came to me right now as I sit here, working away on a much-disliked history paper.  I've never been a history fan and I do not care for compare/contrast essays.  Give me a persuasive essay any day...

Anyway, I realized this as I sat and, with much difficulty, tried to write the introduction paragraph:

I'm too much of a perfectionist when it comes to writing first drafts.

I'm not trying to brag by stating this.  It's true, and it's not a good thing.  You can never finish a first draft in a short amount of time if you're determined to make it perfect the first time.

I have to finish this paper by this evening because I have plans tonight, and this paper is due tomorrow.  Meaning, I only have a few hours to write it.  I have to be efficient, and efficiency is not maintained by making every sentence perfect the first time.  Because you know what?  Even when I edit-as-I-go, it's still not perfect enough and will need to be edited again.  Meaning, I just wasted a whole lot of time for nothing.

I just wrote a paragraph in two minutes flat.  I took my page of notes and typed out my thoughts into short, choppy, nasty sentences.  It's far from perfect.  But that's okay.  Why?

Because I'll go back and edit it later.  And it won't take as long as that "perfect" first draft would take.

The same is true with creative writing.  We have to let ourselves make the first draft terrible.  No matter how hard we try, the first draft will never be perfect.  Instead, we will have just wasted a lot of time writing a draft that will still need every bit as much editing.

It's easy for some and hard for others.  For me, it's incredibly hard.  But I'm trying just to force the writing out without caring how great it is.  Because the first time will never be perfect.

And it takes work to accept that.  To let go, and just write, without getting caught up with commas and adjectives and bland verbs.

That's what a second draft is for.




Abigail :)

Sneak by Evan Angler - Team Novel Teen Blog Tour

In a future United States under the power of a charismatic leader, everyone gets the Mark at age thirteen. The Mark lets citizen shop, go to school, and even get medical care—but without it, you are on your own. Few refuse to get the Mark. Those who do . . . disappear.

Logan Langly went in to get his Mark, but he backed out at the last minute.  Now he’s on the run from government agents who will stop at nothing to capture him. But Logan is on a mission to find and save his sister, Lily, who disappeared five years ago on her thirteenth birthday, the day she was supposed to receive her Mark.
Logan and his friends, a group of dissenters called the Dust, discover a vast network of the Unmarked, who help them travel safely to the capital city where Lily is imprisoned. Along the way, the Dust receives some startling information from the Markless community, opening their eyes to the message of Christianity and warning that humanity is now entering the End of Days.
When the Dust finally arrives in the capital, it seems that all their careful planning is useless against a government that will do anything to bend its citizens to its will. Can the gentle words Logan has found in a tattered, banned Bible really stand against the most powerful military the world has ever known? Can Logan even sacrifice his own freedom, choosing to act through faith alone?


Wow.  Book one was amazing.  Book two is even better.  I love the Dystopian world the author created.  The government and setting in itself is enough to make this book great.  But what really set book 2 of this three-part series apart was its historical and biblical references and allegories.  My personal favorite was an allegory of the Underground Railroad - it was well done, and added and enriched the plot.
The characters were also excellent.  I wasn't really in love with Logan's character in the first book, but this book made me understand his personality more.  My other favorite character was his grandmother - a character that can easily become clinched but in this excellent book, was not.

All in all, I'm in love with this series and am eagerly awaiting the third book.  Good job, Evan Angler! :) This book deserves 5 out of 5 stars.

Evan's Blog: http://www.evanangler.com/
Link to the Sneak book trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-8YiWa8p3M
Buy this book on Amazon.com!: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1400318424/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=wwwteenageaut-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1400318424&adid=0B5A7A9AGDN4BNMZW7MZ

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Sneak by Evan Angler by clicking on the links above, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers, however, the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Other reviewers:
ADD Librarian • Blooming with Books • The Book Fae • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading  • Christian Book Review Blog • Heavenward Reviews • Jill Williamson • Labor Not in Vain • Maniacal Bookworm • Oh, Restless Bird • The Pen and Parchment • Reviews by Jane • Shadow Writer World

-Abigail

Swipe by Evan Angler - Review for NovelTeen

Everyone gets the Mark. It gives all the benefits of citizenship. Yet if getting the Mark is such a good thing, then why does it feel so wrong?

Set in a future North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed. United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship. 

The Mark is a tattoo that must be swiped by special scanners for everything from employment to transportation to shopping. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back.

When Logan and his friends discover the truth behind the Mark, will they ever be able to go back to being normal teenagers? Find out in the first book of this exciting series that is Left Behind meets Matched for middle-grade readers.


First off, I loved this book! It was excellently paced with action and mystery.  It had a simple, easy to follow plot that neverless kept readers intrigued.  I read it in a single day.

It did set you up well for book 2 and I will definitely be getting it when it comes out.  Most of the loose ends were tied up though I feel the ending could have been a bit more explained.  I suppose it leaves more mystery for the next book.

In all, Swipe was an excellent book, deserving of a 4 out of 5 stars.

Other reviewers:
ADD Librarian • Blooming with Books • The Book Fae • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Books I Recommend • Christian Book Review Blog • CTF Devourer • Fiction Fire • Jill Williamson • Labor Not in Vain • Maniacal Bookworm • My Story Shelf • Oh, Restless Bird • The Pen and Parchment • Reviews by Jane • Shadow Writer World

Evan's Website:
http://www.evanangler.com/



I reviewed this book for Team Novel Teen and I received the book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers.  The opinions expressed are entirely my own, however.

Abigail :)