Live Journal #01

Why You Should Get a Dog

This blog is brought to you by my lovable crazy little puppy Desi, who is just about the most destructive disgusting infuriating sweetest dog you will ever meet. It is also brought to you by a page in The Pocket Muse By Monica Wood that says the following.

"T.S. Elliot loved cats.
William Butler Yeats loved cats.
Christina Rossetti loved cats.
John Keats loved cats.
J.R.R. Tolkien loved cats.
Mark Twain loved cats.
Christopher Smart loved cats.
Marianne Moore loved cats.
Ernest Hemmingway loved cats.
Oscar Wilde loved cats.
Doris Lessing, Rita Mae Brown,
Carolyn Chute, Nuala O'Faolain...
Isn't it time you got a cat?"

No, it isn't about time I got a cat.

In case you couldn't put two and two together, I'll spell it out. I'm a dog person. And you should be too. Here's why.

Dogs are love-ably dumb.
They do not need to be the kings (or queens) of the house. They are not cocky. They do not think they own you. They are happy if you simply remember to give them a treat, maybe scratch in that little spot behind the ear that they like. And they are so transparent about their emotions. If they're upset, you see it in their adorable puppy dog eyes. If they're happy, their tails will swing around like a helicopter. And their always looking for a playmate. (And, speaking of my dog personally, she always seems to know when I need her happy little kisses.)

You can walk dogs.
Now, granted, I do not claim to be an expert on the care taking of a cat, but don't they do their business in a box? Okay, yeah, that's real convenient. Because everyone loves it when when animals pee and poop in the house. Real lovely fragrance that comes with it. But seriously, walking dogs is the better route. I know, I know. Your thinking to yourself But having to walk a dog is tedious. And there's an old couple that lives next door that my dog loves to attack. But think of it this way. Sometimes, you need to get away from your computer/notebook, right? You need sometime to think, to work out the next part in your book. And sure, you can take a walk around the block to clear your head. But still, who wants to look like a depressed loner? When ever I see someone walking alone on the street who isn't over sixty or carrying a backpack, my heart breaks a little. Thusly, dogs allow you to take a nice leisurely stroll without giving off the vibe that you have issues.

Dogs are a challenge.
I'm not going to try and tell you that dogs are easy to take care of. They're noisy, obnoxious, very dumb, and seem to ram into things all the time. Everyday when I come home from school I see a new part of the sofa ripped up and a nice little surprise waiting for me on the carpet. Not to mention in the dead of night Desi will crawl into my bed and absolutely hog it, trying to cuddle up to me. This may sound endearing, but in 100 degree weather I'm less then pleased to be pressed up against my 80 pound sweaty fur covered heat machine. No matter how many times I kick her off the bed, she jumps right back on. And if I get up to pee she will somehow encompass my whole double twin sized bed. Did I mention she snores?

But that's the fun in it! Who wants an animal that just lazy-s around the house all day? I wanna a pet who's never going to stop pushing me to my limits, keeping me on my toes. It's one of the few things I can actually handle.

Therefore, get a dog.

So what's your take? Cat or Dog? 

The Ways of Inspiration: Dreaming

Hello, and welcome to another exciting episode of Becca talks to herself! This week on the agenda we have-
Wait...No that was the other thing. Nevermind.

Clears throat.

Greetings Primates. Prepare to embark on a magical journey, deep into the depths of-
Hold on...Nope. Still not right.

Sips tea. Clears throat.

...Monkeys? Is that what this is? Right, I'm sure I have it this time. Sorry about that guys. Long week, lots of stress. You get the picture. On with it then. So, this week I'm starting a  new mini series, The Ways of Inspiration, to dive into what makes someone create a story. Where exactly does that spark come from? As any practiced writer knows, this is an impossibly large subject. There are without a doubt as many answers as there are people alive. Times two. But just for the fun of it, lets try to narrow it down to some general categories. And what better way to start then with dreaming?

This particular post comes from a number of things going on in my life that have taught me the importance of a dream. To get a bit scientific on you for a second, the importance of dreams goes beyond just the necessity of sleep. We all know, of course, that our bodies need rest to function properly. But dreams? They have a purpose of their own. Oddly enough, they help us sort out what has gone on through the day. I don't know all the science behind it, I only got the cliff notes, but apparently dreams are part of what keeps our sanity. They give our brains a chance to figure out what's what. Ironic, I know. But I have a point. And I sincerely can't stress this enough, I'm speaking from a place where good friends of mine are suffering because of a lack of dreams, getting full restful sleep is very very important. Insomniacs, hear my plea. Please take care of yourselves.

'K. Done with the heavy stuff. Now onto the writing. 

For any writer, I believe, dreams are an invaluable tool for inspiration. In dreams, anything can and will happen, just like in our stories. And, much like how I feel when I'm creating a story, it's not really me that's in control. I'm just observing and recording. But it's so much more then that when it comes to dreams! It's a way to engage all of your senses in the story, if only for a night. You're not just imagining it, you're living it! This is golden in the universe of fiction, to be able to put your self in your main character, to be able to experience your fictional world. Last night I was at a friends house spending the night (I practically live there, they even have a mattress for me) I had this amazing dream and when I woke up before I could even yawn I was jotting down pages of notes in my writing journal. I'm telling you guys, this has got to be one of my favorite forms of inspiration.

So what about you? Have your best stories come from the realm of dreams?

Want Some Extra Fun?

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted So The Funniest Thing Happened the Other Day... and it had a giant paragraph of gibberish? You wanna know what it said?

Original


ABANDCALLWANTTOHANGOUTMYROOMISAMESSOHLOOKTHEDOGCHEWEDUPALLTHECARDSOHLOOKTHEDOGCHEWEDUPTHETVOHLOOKTHEDOGCHEWEDUPMYBROTHERWHYISTHERENOFOODINTHEHOUSENEVERMINDIFOUNDSOMETEAANDMILANOSBUTINEEDTOWRITETHISWEEKSBLOGANDPROOFREADANOTHERCHAPTEROFSTICKWITHTHEPACKBUTWHATSTHEPOINTIFONLYNEGATIVETHREEPEOPLEREADITSCRAPPERSTILLNEEDSTOBEDITEDFORTHESIXTYBAGILLIENTHTIMEGAINTPILEOFJANEAUSTONBOOKSSITTINGONMYDESKJUSTSTARINGATMEWHOGIVESACRAPABOUTSOCIALIZINGISTILLNEEDTOREADGRASSHOPPERSNOVELLAANDWHATSTHISMYMOMWANTSMETOCLEANTHEHOUSEANDINEEDTOMAKETHATVIDEOFORCHURCHORELSETHEYWILLCOMETOMEINTHENIGHTWITHASHARPRECONINGANDOHLOOKTHEDOGISTRYINGTOEATMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


What it said...


A B AND C ALL WANT TO HANG OUT MY ROOM IS A MESS OH LOOK THE DOG CHEWED UP ALL THE CARDS OH LOOK THE DOG CHEWED UP  THE TV OH LOOK THE DOG CHEWED UP MY BROTHER WHY IS THERE NO FOOD IN THE HOUSE NEVERMIND I FOUND SOME TEA AND MILANOS BUT I NEED TO WRITE THIS WEEKS BLOG AND PROOF READ ANOTHER CHAPTER OF STICK WITH THE PACK BUT WHATS THE POINT IF ONLY NEGATIVE THREE PEOPLE READ IT SCRAPPER STILL NEEDS TO BE EDITED FOR THE SIXTY BAGILLIENTH TIME GIANT PILE OF JANE AUSTIN BOOKS SITTING ON MY DESK JUST STARING AT ME WHO GIVES A CRAP ABOUT SOCIALIZING I STILL NEED TO READ GRASSHOPPERS NOVELLA AND WHATS THIS MY MOM WANTS ME TO CLEAN THE HOUSE AND I NEED TO MAKE THAT VIDEO FOR CHURCH OR ELSE THEY WILL COME TO ME IN THE NIGHT WITH A SHARP RECKONING AND OH LOOK THE DOG IS TRYING TO EAT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Writing Classes and New Notebooks

Well, senior year is here. And that means a heck of a lot of things to do. I could ramble on full novels of what I have to do but that doesn't concern you Monkey. Seriously, leave it be. You don't want to know. But here we go, because I've signed up for another conference. In February, I will be down in Colorado Springs for the Jerry B. Jenkins Writing for the Soul Conference.

Monkey:...But wait a minute Becca, you write Young Adult Paranormal Adventure fiction. Why are you going to a Christian writing conference?

Well Monkey, I will tell you. I have referenced here and there that I am indeed a Christian (especially in the last post, A Summer of Reflection). Evangelical in fact. And as such, I often am in touch with other Christians. One of them, a Bill Givonetti, recommended I go to this conference because I could sign up for fifteen minute slots with agents, have some face to face time. I'mnotgoingtopassthatupnomatterhowsmallthechanceisI'mnotgoingtopassthatupnomatterhowsmallthechanceisI'mnotgoingtopassthatupnomatterhowsmallthechanceisI'mnotgoingtopassthatupnomatterhowsmallthechanceisI'mnotgoingtopassthatupnomatterhowsmallthechanceisI'mnotgoingtopassthatupnomatterhowsmallthechanceisI'mnotgoingtopassthatupnomatterhowsmallthechanceisI'mnotgoingtopassthatupnomatterhowsmallthechanceis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, yes. I am going to a Christian writing conference. 

But as I said, that's in February. Right now I am scrambling to get readjusted to my new schedule and trying to cram five days of writing into two hours. My good ol' Composition notebook, Damian, is nearly retired, soon to be upsurred by my shiny new leather bound Luke. I also bought a great book called The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood, filled with all sorts of writing advice and prompts, to help with my short work. Which brings me to today's topic. (At last.)

Getting better at writing when you've hit a stale mate. 

Now, I had this problem a lot last year. Being a mostly self-taught writer, as most of us are, you get most of your skill from reading books and observing the little things. Foreshadowing, flashbacks, prose, so on and so forth. But that will only take you so far. At some point, you need some form of formal training, whether it be in a classroom or from a How-To book. It is, after all, essential to make your writing all that you can when trying to go pro. For this, I have a list of great books to check out if you can't afford any classes (whether it be because of time or money or both.)

13 Ways to Look At a Novel
The Anatomy of Story
The Art and Craft of Fiction
Beginnings, Endings and Middles
Book Life
Characters and Viewpoints
Characters, Emotions and Viewpoints
From Where You Dream
Lights! Camera! Fiction!
Nail Your Novel
Self Editing for Fiction Writers
Story Engineering
The Elements of Style
The Frugal Book Promoter
The Soul Tells a Story
World of Wonders
Write Away
Write Tight
Howdunit: Forensics
The Pocket Muse

Alright, that's all I have. Happy Writings!

PS, wanna know what me and my writing friends do during our study halls?

A Summer of Reflection

*I'm a terrible person. I really am. I keep telling all of you that I'll make a last video and then I just do a written post instead. Sigh. Well, anyway. Today's post is a bit lengthy, so if you want to skip it I don't mind. 

I don't often talk about my personal convictions and beliefs on this blog. When I started it I wanted it to be a non-biased medium of sharing my experiences of writing, reaching out to like-minded individuals, and hopefully helping some fellow writers in their craft. But as summer comes into an end and I start the last year of my high school education, what might even be my last year at home, I want to look back and think about what has happened over this summer. And I cannot do that without expressing my gratitude to my Lord. He was such a powerful element that I can't fully explain how I've grown without explaining how he's helped me along the way.

This has truly been a summer that I've prayed for and more. 

At the end of Junior year I was exhausted. So many things of this world were tugging at my heart. I constantly found myself betraying my base principles so that I might better please my school friends and earn a level of respect that I had always known I would never get unless I renounced the name of God, which is something I didn't intend to do anytime soon. Still, I let many things slide with my friends. They mocked my religion, looked down on my principles, and expected me to smile while they did it. And personally, even without my beliefs they still got to me. Don't get me wrong, they're great people, really. But I felt like whenever I had a problem I had to suck it up and deal with it so that I could stay on their good side. More often then not I felt like they didn't really care whether or not I was there.

Not only that but there problems with my friends at church too. Understand, these people had been close to my heart since childhood. I can't imagine a time where we didn't know, care and depend on each other. We were each other's rocks when the ways of the world became too much. These people, these people I felt I could express myself freely with. It seemed like no matter what we'd always be a part of each other's lives. But, with the inevitable pains of growing up, I began to see that there were a fair share of problems in this dynamic as well. Really bad things happened to really good people and it started to tear us apart. There was always a fight, there were always sides to pick, there was always hatred for the poor soul who took up the mantel of peacemaker. All the sudden it seemed like we all hated each other. And, as it usually goes, I was left behind in all of it, picking up the broken pieces and trying to hold on to the memories of when there was nothing but love between us.

And, of course, there was the time old classic of my disconnection with my family. A sister who hates the world and focuses that hate on me, a brother who I barely know, parents who I struggle to understand, etc.

After a while, I got sick of the drama.

So before summer started, I prayed that I could have a summer of peace. I prayed that God would keep the drama at bay and give me a chance to sort out my thoughts, see what I could do to better the situation and help all those who were hurting. What I got was all that and more.

I'll start with the part that you're all interested in, the writing. 

As I've mentioned in past blogs, all of my siblings ended up at camp at some point in the summer. My older brother and younger sister left for the majority of the summer to be workers, my younger brother went only for the last two weeks. This meant, more or less, that the house was mine to do as I pleased. But, much to the joy of my parents, I hadn't done much at all. Sure, I did enjoy a few freedoms that are allotted when you are alone, such as listening to my music without my headphones and occasionally peeing with the door open. (I'm weird.) And yes, I was in an utter state of bliss with having a clean house that I could roam about as I pleased without fear of running into any monsters, terrible beasts or krakans.

But even more so I invested my time in something I would have done whether or not my siblings and parents were there, my writing. The summer presented a rare opportunity, the last summer I could get away with not having a job, so I devoted most of my time solely to my passion. I am proud to say that I completed NaNoWriMo once, and that I am now on the downwards slope to finishing the third novel in The Order of Vemberia series. I've also started looking into going to a conference in Colorado in February, and bought The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood so that over the year I can work on my short work. I've also surprisingly met many writers and grown closer to ones I already know. It's been a summer of writing.

But that's not all. 

He also gave me a reconciliation with friends. Because of camp, again, some were sent to camp while most stayed back at home. It gave us time to learn how to enjoy each other's presence again, to repair the parts of the relationship that broke and build it up so that we would be ready to do the same with the ones who left for camp. Not only that, but I also made more friends who now I feel I've known my whole love and have some to love with all my heart. The optimistic and stead fast air of the church did much for my weary heart, reminding me that life doesn't half to be terrible and that I'm blessed beyond my imagination. All I have to do is lean on God, and somehow everything will work out. That little fact has been in my face all my life and yet I continue to forget it. Whenever I look to the world I find myself in a spiral of pessimism and despair, yet when I look to God I find happiness abounding. And when with him I find that I am never, ever alone.

God has given me much growth this summer, something I will carry with me for the rest of my days. And I could not thank Him enough for the awesome time I've had.

Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Becca's Little Pearls of Wisdom Episode Three-"When to Quit a Manuscript"