Some Screaming Fangirl

Talent Reality Shows Face Off: Part TWO

2012-02-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: So I'm actually blogging as scheduled. Yay me, I guess.

Song Stuck In My Head: Smells Like Teen Spirit, the Nirvana cover by 2CELLOS. Has anyone seen these two guys? No? GO TO YOUTUBE. NOW.

Okay, so if anyone had seen my last post, you know that SSF has a Talent Reality Show theme going on this week. We're judging the shows like their contestants get judged.

So let's get right to it. Monday was the Premises, Prizes, and Network. Don't believe me? READ IT FOR YOURSELF. Today is the HOSTS, JUDGES, WINNERS, and LOOOOSERS.

HOSTS

American Idol: Ryan Seacrest, who makes sure you see a lot of him. Or hear a lot of him. Top 40 radio. New's Years Specials. Hosting everything he possibly can. But he has a nice smile, so we like him, okay?

X Factor: Steve Jones. Ahhh...hopefully you didn't get too attached.

The Voice: Carlson Daly, a man trying ever so hard to be the next Seacrest through his own late night show (airs after Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno, when most of the world is asleep) and even hosting his own New Year's special! Good for him.

America's Got Talent: Fiesty Nick Cannon, also Mr. Mariah Carey. Easygoing dude who jokes around with the talent a lot. After all, it get's pretty ridiculous. First you have a dance crew or innocent little kid, then you have a drag queen or...well, this. Does anyone remember this?

Winner of this round: No one can deny the power of the Seacrest. AMERICAN IDOL takes this guys.

THE JUDGES

American Idol: Second year of having stable judges, which hasn't happened in a while. Formula: Nice, Latina divorcee plus Flirtacious 70's rock singer plus Experienced but Hip Music Mogul. Somehow it works, though poor Randy Jackson has had to make the harsh critiques a lot more often with no one to properly advise the contestants.

X Factor: Everyone's favorite British badmouth who's softened up like a marshmallow so far, and a record label superstar who discovered everyone from Pink to Justin Bieber to - the most important in my petty, teenage book - Avril Lavigne. As for the Ex-Pop Star and inexperienced female group leader, the axe came down on hard on them. Who know Simon could do such a thing, cutting two people off his show just like that! Oh, wait...

The Voice: Country star, pop/soul singer rocking the Top 40, pop/rock band leader taking over the Top 40, and one ex-pop star who, despite her haters, is still well-known for her voice. IT's a formula that covers all genres and would well, if only they actually showed the judges being anything but nice to the contestants. At least they compete with each other.

America's Got Talent: How this formula works, I don't know, but it does. Lovely British wife of a heavy metal superhero mixed with a former comedian whose other TV credits include Deal or No Deal and Mobbed, and now trashtalking radio host Howard Stern. While we've yet to see Stern in action, he will surely be a worthy replacement for the intelligent but cruel past judge, Piers Morgan.

Winner this round: Any show except for the X Factor. So, AMERICAN IDOL, THE VOICE, and AMERICA'S GOT TALENT...congrads! Prizes for all!

Now onto the actual winners...

WINNERS

American Idol: Everyone from superstars Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood to erm....Jordin Sparks, the cool Lee Dewyze (Duwyze?) dude, and that-guy-with-the-gray-hair-everyone-forgot-about-I-think.

Let's play a game...name that Idol!

X Factor: So far, Melanie Armaro, with a huge comeback and hero's story. She was also recently featured in a Pepsi commercial with Elton John. Yep. Sponsorship and Corporate America is still going strong.

The Voice: Javier Colon! Hmm. Wonder how that dude's doing....

America's Got Talent: A surprising number of singers and artists for a show focused on variety acts...coincidence? Though there is no denying Landaeu Eugene Murphy deserved the win last year.

Winner this round: the X Factor...so far...

And onto the people who sometimes are just as famous if not more famous than their winners...

LOSERS

American Idol: Everyone from Clay Aiken and Adam Lambert to Smash's Katharine McPhee, Weight Watchers/Dream Girl Jennifer Hudson, and Daughtry frontman Chris Daughtry.

X Factor: A lot of people, but we mostly remember the kids. Like smart-mouth rapper Astro, who got a gig on...a detective show! (Seriously!)

The Voice: Um....those people. You know. With the faces?

America's Got Talent: Another everybody. Jackie Evancho, the opera-singing little girl, didn't win even. Can you believe that!? Of course, America's Got Talent actually has a reason why some acts aren't always the winners or voted through...do you really want young, innocent Jackie hosting her own Vegas show?

The winners this round: American Idol all the way. No show's runners-up and even bad auditioners have gone on to achieve as much as fame as the winners, not like Idol. So at least they got that going for them.

That is all for today, my friends. But be sure to comment on who you think deserve the best of the best when it comes to the people on talent reality shows. Really. I like comments.

Until then...um....

DANG IT I FORGOT I DON'T HAVE A SIGN-OFF!

Later.

TALENT REALITY SHOWS FACE-OFF: Part One

2012-02-06T15:58:00.005-08:00

Quick Update: So...Superbowl...yeah.

Song Stuck in My Head: Supermassive Black Hole by Muse

American Idol returned last month. The Voice’s second season debuted last night. The first American X Factor was crowned not even two months ago, and recently dropped two judges and a host. Annnd America’s Got Talent is in its beginning stages of its summer season, with new judge Howard Stern.

Whether they’re dancing, having mental breakdowns, singing, yelling at judges, or performing fire tricks there’s no denying TV is full of those talent reality shows. Maybe you’re an avid fan yourself. You love them for their showcasing of starving artists, giving them the chance they never had. Or maybe you just watch for Simon Cowell’s jibes, we don’t judge (pun intended.)

Welcome to SSF’s TALENT REALITY SHOW WEEK. A week to kick back and relax and discuss various shows’ merits and well…more laughable parts. A sort of compare and contrast, if you will.

First, let’s meet our contestants….

THE PREMISES
American Idol - Search the country for an unsigned artist. Give them a microphone, give America a phone line. Occasional celebrity advice, but mostly the artist is on their own.

Number of seasons: Currently in eleventh. Must be pretty successful.
Stolen from a British show? Check. Pop Idol.
Sponsored by: Coca Cola.

The X Factor - Search the country for an unsigned artist, or group, of any age and give them a microphone and randomly chosen mentor. Categorize them by Girls, Boys, Groups, and Over 30’s. Occasional celebrity advice, including the mentors’.

Number of seasons: Just finished up first.
Stolen from a British show? You know it. And same name too!
Sponsored by: Pepsi.

The Voice - Search the country for an unsigned artist. Four mentors who choose team based off voice alone, and compete more against each other than the contestants do.

Number of seasons: Currently in second.
Stolen from a British show? No! Congrats, guys! Originality. Except wait just a second...THIS IS BASED OFF A DUTCH SHOW!?
Sponsored by:…hmm. Might have to get back to you on this.

America’s Got Talent - Search the country for…well, anything. Singers, magicians, glass-eaters, dirt bike riders, dance teams, comedians, etc. Three judges are expected to keep cool during the chaos, America is expected to narrow down the contestants to top four to get their own Vegas show.

Number of seasons: Six.
Stolen from a British show? Checkcheckcheck. Britain’s Got Talent, of course!
Sponsored by: Orville Redenbacher Gourmet Popcorn (though I do love the Criss Angel commercial).

Winner of this round: The Voice. Unique, fair, and free of some sort of food/drink sponsor and Simon Cowell (we can’t have him on every show.)

Now, tell us, Mr. Host…what do these contestants have to look forward to?

THE PRIZES
American Idol - Record contract! And either instant fame or getting upstaged by your runner-up, depends. And tour with the top 10 contestants.

The X Factor - Even better record contract! Five million dollars! No tour with the other contestants, who cares about them? You won a FIVE MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT!

The Voice - Record contract! Annnd you get to be on late night shows and stuff, even if you’re a runner-up! And tour with the top 10 contestants.

America’s Got Talent - Your own Vegas show, and a tour with the runner-ups. Neat.

Winner of this round: Tie between X Factor and America’s Got Talent. Sure, we all enjoy money, but record contracts come and go. How often will you be a headliner in Vegas?

Where will our contestants perform this time, Mr. Host? Do tell!

THE NETWORKS

American Idol - Fox. Just in case you didn’t get your Glee fix. Usually plays in the very beginning of the year.

The X Factor - Fox again. (What? We need something to play when we don’t have So You Think You Can Dance or American Idol to rely on. You can only watch so much House.) First season played during fall.

The Voice - NBC’s fun, new winter show that they’re now pairing up with their Glee-esque show about the Broadway life, SMASH. (Which premieres tonight by the way). However, it's also paired up AGAINST American Idol. Fight to the death, anybody?

America’s Got Talent - NBC’s summer show, usually paired up with re-runs of every other NBC show.

Winner of this round: America’s Got Talent. No competition to worry about.

That’s it for today. Do you guys have a favorite premise for any Talent Reality show (not just including these four). Do you agree with the winners for prize and network? Share your thoughts.

So far, we have AGT with two, The Voice with two. X Factor, American Idol….catch up! Tomorrow we’ll cover the people of Talent Reality shows: the Judges, the Hosts, the Winners, and the Losers. Should be fun.

Later!

What I Learned in My High School Library Club Today…

2012-02-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Awesome news, friends. I entered YATopia’s contest and just won my first query critique, by author/blogger/former literary agency employee Jodi Meadows. Woot! To keep up with the spirit, I included a link to her website with her name. Check her out. She’s badass.

Song Stuck In My Head: “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani. Orchestra class is learning songs from movie Fiddler in the Roof, including the original “If I Was a Rich Man”, so not too random. Maybe. :/

So, I went to my high school’s fourth Library Club meeting this week. There’s only four regular members and monthly, if even that, meetings. Our purpose: to provide input on which books get ordered. Rather neat power. For instance, I got one of my favorite bloggers Tahereh Mafi and her first novel, Shatter Me, on the top of the list. However, since today was our biggest turn-out, I made some keen observations for my fellow YA writers out there. Some common sense, some interesting. Check it:

1. Power of a Name

Series AND author brand names are still big. Most of our orders were sequels to books we already had, or popular authors like Cassandra Clare and Rick Riordan. While stand-alone novels are always good, most modern teen readers seem to enjoy riding a story beyond one book. As long as the concept is fresh, that is. (Translation: PUT THE VAMPIRE IDEA DOWN! STEP AWAY FROM THE WEREWOLF LOVE STORY!)

2. Get Out the Popcorn

Movie adaptations don’t have to be Harry-Potter size to have an effect. While The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’s success led to us ordering its sequels, I Am Number Four and Beastly didn’t exactly blow up at the box office. Yet, not only is Beastly one of the most checked out books, but I Am Number Four’s sequels made our list. They also make books easier to recommend - I’m proud to say I successfully convinced a girl to at LAST check out the Hunger Games. Muhahaha. Only took how long before the movie? Pssht.

3. Not Too Feminine After All

The boy-girl ratio of YA readers isn’t too dramatic at my school. Out of our eight members this meeting, three were boys and five were girls. They were also mostly seniors, but I’m guessing that’s more because freshman and sophomores are afraid to join clubs than anything else. However, there is somewhat of a time period (around fourteen to seventeen) where a teen reader might slow their reading intake. That age is also usually when they start transitioning from young books to more adult material.

4. Find Your Niche Audience

Tastes vary here. A bunch. For instance, one girl admitted to being a fan of old, archaic and even foreign versions of stories. Then another girl is big on the author Tamora Pierce. And then there’s me, the weirdo who drifts back and forth between the random vampire series and music-themed indie novels. While bestsellers might attract both avid and fair-weather readers, don’t hold back from writing in an odd genre if that’s where you thrive. Your audience is out there somewhere.

5. Standing Out

Word of mouth is valuable. A lot of authors and book/series names were shared, and I know they’ll get checked out, even bought. So don’t be afraid to get yourself out there and make your name known. Today’s writers need more than just a kick-ass story to survive in this publishing world. You never know when or how your future fans will hear about you, so make everything count.

Okay, peeps, that’s all for now. But stick around later this week for a blog on CW’s version of the “Secret Circle”, as part of my series on TV shows. I had one last week on Napoleon Dynamite. Hopefully journalism class will die down enough that I can continue next week too.

And since my blog has been a tad bland as of late…time for LOLcatz apology! (Man, it seems every one of my posts has these now...)

Later!

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE...the TV Show (That's Right. I Watched It.)

2012-01-20T14:45:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Hectic two weeks back from winter break. My biggest highlights: getting to ride in a hot air balloon (for FREE!), learning how to blow bubbles with gum (only took me seventeen years), and finding out next week's spirit week is medieval-themed. Woot.

Song Stuck In My Head: "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger. It's a 90's song. I fell in love.

Okay, so today and hopefully next week will be sort of a TV-themedd series of blogs, starting with an animated series that just premiered last Sunday night as one of Fox's mid-season replacement. :) Read on.

Whether you were a budding preteen or a young adult yourself in 2004, It’s likely you remember the ridiculous, fantastical, and quirky NAPOLEON DYNAMITE movie. You remember the tots. The ligers and llamas. The Vote For Pedro badges. And, of course, Jon Heder’s crazy dance scene.

While a lot of critics questioned the movie’s comedy, ND managed to gain a cult of fans who quoted it, bought every merch possible for it, and found their inner geek through it. Now, only eight years and apparently one videogame later, the Idaho-native dweeb is back. You can now watch Napoleon, Pedro, Deb, Kip, and Uncle Rico every week during Fox’s “Animation Domination”. If you’re willing, that is.

Let’s get to the review, shall we?

There isn’t an exact premise. The Napoleon Dynamite TV show doesn’t even to seem to be a continuation of the movie. For instance, his older brother Kip isn’t married like he was at the end of the film, since it‘s more comical if he‘s a geek pursuing online relationship interests. If the show had a premise, it would be throwing the characters into a cartoon version of the already cartoon-ish world they exist in.

The main difference is the perspective. While Napoleon Dynamite the movie was the world’s perspective of an extremely odd character, the show is more the character’s way of seeing the world. Since the show is animated, there are no longer limits. However, someone of the movie version’s humor came from live action. Would you rather see a cartoon geek break-dance onstage or a live action one who has no idea what he’s doing? Exactly. Movie-Napoleon would only claim to have mad ninja skills stolen from the government. The TV Napoleon might have an episode where he actually becomes a warrior master.

Yet, we can’t forget the pros. For one, all the original actors are back to voice their characters. I gives the show a more natural feel - besides, if someone other than Jon Heder had voiced Napoleon, the show wouldn’t stand a chance. Since it’s a part of “Animation Domination”, there’s also a chance for more outrageous antics and jokes that couldn’t fit in on any other channel. Of course, this might ruin the movie’s famously kid-friendly rating. So far the show’s puns have strayed away from cursing, gore, or “toilet” humor. Will the innocence stick?

One of the show’s biggest pluses is how it does remain loyal to the film’s main entertainment: awkward geeks with superb vocabularies and big dreams. If you think about it, if it wasn’t for the nerds of Napoleon Dynamite, actors like Michael Cera and Jesse Eisenburg wouldn’t be the household names they are today.

An interesting subplot in the TV show is Deb and Napoleon’s relationship, something only hinted at before. The show is not subtle at all about Deb’s crush on her friend. However, it’s also clear that Napoleon isn’t exactly capable of romance. Whether this plotline is a pro or con is yet to be seen.

In its own way, the ND show is more or less a tribute to the original. While the storyline and jokes are original, there’s no shortage of references to tots and Uncle Rico’s golden football days. This is neat right now…but it could get very old, and very fast.

My best advice for the show would be to stick to the original jokes. The original jokes so far have been the most outstanding. They got such great characters - use them!

All in all, if you’re a fan then you should definitely give the show a chance. Even if you don’t laugh, you’ll at least relieve the year 2004 and find yourself renting Napoleon Dynamite for memory’s sake. Think of how far we’ve come since then! Juno. Superbad. Easy A. Now if only we could have such a cult classic in the YA world…you know, without vampires.

Take care, peeps. Oh, yeah, and vote for Pedro. All your wildest dreams will come true. ;)

Favorite Quote From Show:

Principal (I think it was the principal): Young man, let's go talk in my office.
Napoleon: No, we'll go to my office.
Principal: You don't have an office!
Napoleon: Okay fine then we'll use yours.

The Only Holiday Playlist You’ll Ever Need (Okay. You can have ONE other. BUT THAT'S IT!)

2011-12-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: About to go on winter break. Can't wait to be reunited with sleep. In other news, I JUST GOT 40 FOLLOWERS. Woot. If I get a job before I get to 50, then I'm definitely doing a contest or something. Any ideas?

Song Stuck In My Head: Basically any Top 40 song on the charts right now. We were listening to radio in my math final exam, so basically Colbie Caillet and Adam Levine and Adele are dancing in my head.

If you’ve been watching commercials on TV, putting on some of your favorite Christmas movies, or even turning on the radio, you probably got some sort of holiday tune dancing in your head like sugar plums. The coolest part about holiday songs is that a lot of modern artists are fans - hence, you get some pretty neat covers and the occasional original.

Here are some Christmas songs to check out by MODERN artists! All of them are rock and pop. There’s also a few random, non-genres thrown in here or there. It may or may not include singing cats. I can’t make any guarantees. ; )

Enjoy.

(Do you know any? Feel free to comment, and I'll make one twice as good next year! Muahahaha!)

WHITE CHRISTMAS, covered by

Lady Gaga
Michael Buble ft. Shania Twain
Panic! At the Disco
Katy Perry

And fun fact for the day... actor Robert Downey Jr. sings!

WINTER WONDERLAND, covered by

Jason Mraz
Hellogoodbye
Phantom Planet
Selena Gomez

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, covered by

Weezer
Relient K

Disney's Santa Buddies! (They're cute, even if registered by Disney...(

LAST CHRISTMAS, covered by

Wham!
Taylor Swift
Hilary Duff
Jimmy Eat World
Hawk Nelson

JINGLE BELL ROCK, covered by

Aly and AJ
Rascal Flatts

And then the classic cover and dance from the movie "Mean Girls"

JOY TO THE WORLD, covered by

No Doubt
Simple Plan
Mariah Carey (again)

And Jingle Cats!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU, covered by

My Chemical Romance
Mariah Carey
John Mayer

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, covered by

Coldplay
Christina Aguilera

And if you're not celebrating Christmas or just like to hear a good Jewish tune here and then, here's a couple things to check out:

Get Your Dreidel On by Incubus

And Adam Sandler has some funny ones too..

Now some random, newer and not so traditional songs (most of them I am getting from my best friend's I-Pod...just to be honest)

That Time Of Year Again - Sick Puppies (as in, my favorite band peeps).
Killing Myself For Christmas - Sick Puppies (not as sweet as the first one, if you could guess).
Things I Want by Sum 41 ft. Tenacious D (yep. That means Jack Black).
Baby Please Come Home - Josh Ramsay (from Marianas Trench)
Christmas By the Phone - Good Charlotte
Happy Holidays, You Bastard - Blink-182
I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas (From the Strokes)
I Won't Be Home For Christmas - Blink-182
It's Christmas Day - Family Force 5
Merry Christmas I Don't Wanna Fight - Bowling for Soup
Merry Christmas, I Missed You So Much- Taking Back Sunday
Merry Christmas Kiss My A** - All Time Low
30 Days - NeverShoutNever
Christmas In Hollywood - Hollywood Undead

And probably the best modern Christmas song, my favorite singer Avril Lavigne's ex-guitarist and his solo song... "MERRY SWIFTMAS!"

My list not good enough? Fine. Then I'll provide some more lists for you... Try these links, okay?

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=185582

http://www.free-christmas-songs-lyrics.info/list-of-christmas-songs/list-of-modern-christmas-songs.html

http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Christmas.html (this ones a list of lists).

And lastly...not enough Jingle Cats? DID YOU NEED MORE?

Here you go. :)

Have an awesome holiday, peeps. If you can’t guess my New Year’s aspiration, then here it is: to blog more! Ah!

And anyone doing anything interesting for the holidays? New traditions, traveling, etc.? If you go or live somewhere with snow, please oh please ice it and send it my way. We’ve been getting the cold but not the snow. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, living in a desert town in the middle of nowhere….

Just found that online. The closest I can get to what it's like where I live, haha.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The REAL Truth About Teen Lit (Post-Simpson's Style)

2011-11-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Oh, hey. Hi.

Song Stuck in My Head: You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall and Oates (yep, all thanks to Glee, I started listening to it like crazy.)

So, I watched an interesting Simpson’s episode whilst watching the American Music Awards. The episode - for anyone who has better things to watch than twenty-year old cartoons I suppose - talked about the young adult literature industry in a very new way.

Basically in this episode, entitled "the Book Job", our favorite feminist/nerdy/bookworm Lisa finds out that her favorite tween book series (the Angela Button books, which has shown up in previous episodes and strongly but innocently resembles Harry Potter) is a scam. Instead of being written by one author with an inspirational underdog backstory, it was a commercial scheme and produced by a team of business gurus for cash money.

While Lisa is enraged, her father and brother seek their own team (which includes Moe the bartender, Principal Skinner, one of the Selma/Patti twins, and the crazy scientist genius whose name I keep forgetting) and create their own masterpiece.

They figure out the formula is orphaned hero plus magical school plus hero finds out their supernatural. They almost go with a vampire hero before realizing every shelf is covered with bloodsuckers. And so they create a story about two troll twins who go to an academy under a bridge where the pixies are popular and the gargoyles are the stoners. Lisa decides to prove them wrong and says she’ll write her own novel - which ends up meaning she’ll organize all her CD’s, play Boggle on her computer, visit book fairs to see the competition, and go to coffee shops to be a “real writer!”

Though the episode did have some merit value - despite airing less than two weeks after the release of the final Harry Potter movie, when everyone is still suffering Post-Potter Depression - it’s time to set the record straight. Especially since my favorite screenwriter Diablo Cody has the movie Young Adult coming out this year and I’m crossing my fingers it’s more realistic.

THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT TEEN LIT

1. It’s one writer (usually). While the occasional book is co-written, it’s usually by best friends who share a love of literature and can actually work together. Writing a book, not just a YA book but ANY book, is such a solitary process at first. You’re stuck with your own mind and imagination and emotions.

Writers will spend months, years, even decades on a story because of its personal meaning. Novels are probably the least commercial part of the entertainment industry because they always start with one person. Movies have crews. Music have a production team. Fashion have designers. And etc., etc..

2. Sometimes, writers are going to have cheesy-cool back stories. Much like J.K Rowling, authors aren’t always the richest people at first. While a lot do have side jobs, especially in this economy, there are many who sacrificed careers and money to write. And when they get successful, you know we’re going to pat them on the back for it. They get to make a living on writing. What’s wrong with that?

3. The publication process is COMPLICATED. In the Simpson’s episode, they go to a literary company business executive. He takes the manuscript, flicks through the pages in two seconds and says it’s great. The team get a first copy what seems like a day later. Later on, they merely puts a flash drive with the manuscript on it into a computer. A screen comes up that says “Publish”. One click and it goes into print, and one week it’s in stores.

It’s not like this at all. There are agents who pour over manuscripts all day long to find a beautiful story; there are editors that seriously consider all the books that are sent to them by these agents; there are copyeditors who find mistakes and revise it to perfection; publishers that make sure the print version is flawless. It seems simple but lately this process takes one to two years for a book to appear on a shelf.

4. No, completely original books didn’t get changed last-minute to vampire books. Spoiler: that nearly happens to their beautiful troll story. It also apparently happened to Stephenie Meyer, whose originally wrote Twilight with a human girl and a golem (Jewish monster and no I’m not kidding look it up) boy love story.

I’m sure all the authors who penned the many, many, many, many (you get my point) vampire books chose that path beforehand. As did the werewolf authors. And angel authors. And dystopian authors. And mermaid authors. And what could be the next authors of leprechaun or teen sci-fi stories for all I know.

And lastly…

5. Neil Gaiman probably knows how to read and is not a scam artist. Long story. Just watch the episode.

It was a funny show though, and Lisa’s procrastination syndrome did portray us a bit too well (thankfully, most of us do get past typing up “chapter one”). The point is to prove stereotypes wrong though, isn’t it? And for all the writers out there who are underdog stories waiting to happen, we believe in you anyways and can’t wait to cry over your Lifetime movie.

And if there isn't anything truer than this emotion portrayed right here:

Later alligators.

Oh, right…the obligatory sorry-I-haven’t-posted-in-forevah-LOLcatz….

(Psst. The last one's my fave. :) )

HOPEFULLY see you next week and have a delicious Thanksgiving! Me, mine will consist of waking up early on a vacation day to see my favorite singer perform in the Macy's Day Parade. Thus is the curse of a fangirl...

Rock/Pop Songs For the YA Writer - The Writing Process Version!

2011-08-24T12:32:00.001-07:00

Quick Update: So, long time, no blog! I’ve been on summer vacation for the month, two month-ish and have only had glimpses of the internet, but never enough to truly blog and catch up with everyone in the writersophere. So how is everyone? Having a kickass summer, blah summer? Has anyone nearly melted to death yet? If you feel like hearing my not-as-exciting update post, check it out ah here.

Song Stuck In My Head: "I Don't Want to Wait" by Paula Cole. What? They were playing a special on the "kids of Dawson's Creek" when I started drafting this. :p

To be one of those crazy writer people is hard work. There’s the mood swings, the late nights, the laziness, the lack of touch with reality, the conversations with pets when no one else is around (okay, that could just be me…:/). So why not let a little music bring you up?

Since I didn’t get a chance to do a Playlist of the Month in the first week of June, July, OR August, as scheduled, and haven’t done any sort of writing post in ages, I decided to combine the both. BTW, no links today - I'm under watch *suspicious wandering eyes* but as soon as I get to the library every song will have links.

Ready?

THE STAGES OF A WRITER - Le Rock (and Pop) Version.

Stage One: Holyskittles-that-thing-you-just-said-just-friggin-made-my-brain-explode-I-must-write-this-down-I-MUST-WRITE-THIS-DOWN
Translation: Idea.
Musical translation: Rob Thomas’ “This Is How a Heart Breaks”

Stage Two: Yay, let’s come up with some of that extra cool stuff to add to this! Oh! Maybe I can finally have a character who has a pet unicorn! YESSS!
Translation: Prewriting/plotting (pantsers might skip this stage, haha)
Musical translation: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Want You”

Stage Three: Okay, so now I just have to make sense of this PURE GENIUS.
Translation: Beginning of the drafting process.
Musical Translation: AFI’s “Medicate”

Stage Four: No, no, no, spark…stay! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING SPARKY-SPARK!
Translation: First writing blocks/fading “spark”
Musical Translation: White Rabbits’ “Percussion Gun”

Stage Five: *sob* WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. *sob*
Translation: Doubt/on-and-off writing
Musical Translation: Atreyu’s “Falling Down”

Stage Six: Must. Hold. On. Must. Make. Mother. Proud.
Translation: Persevering. Also revising/editing
Musical Translation: P!nk’s “Please Don’t Leave Me”

Stage Seven: I am in this for the long run. TIME TO FINISH UP THIS MESS!
Translation: Final drafting and revisions
Musical Translation: Kansas’ “Carry On My Wayward Son” (BTW, does anyone else think of the show Supernatural when they hear this song? Haha)

Stage Eight: DON’T JUDGE ME!
Translation: Sharing/beta readers
Musical Translation: Incubus’ “Dig”

Stage Nine: Please don’t hate me. Don’t stomp on my dreams.
Translation: Agent time!
Musical Translation: Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory”

Annnnd should all go well, you might just reach stage ten. There’s no words that could properly describe stage ten. So let’s just stick with the musical translation, shall we?

Okay everyone, have a nice week. Or two weeks. Three weeks? However long until I revisit the world wide web, let’s go with that. After all, school is kicked back into gear, so I am currently drooling for a job. This means a) money! gas money to go to library! It also means b) I can finally pay off those library fees that makes the library hate me. Yay!

Ah well. One can only pray and hope.

Later!

Not-As-Exciting Update Post (as well as a catch-up with my followers

2011-08-24T12:22:00.001-07:00

Heyo, guys. As you know, I've been pretty much absent from the internet world. Let's call it a "hiatus". And while I will make up for it with the most epic cat pictures in the world (as always), how about some small news?

SSF's SEVEN HIGHLIGHTS OF SUMMER

7. HELPING TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL

Okay, so my church is miniscule. It used to be the minister's house, until she moved across the street. I live in sort of a small neighborhood, so it's a church for that sort of people. However, since there is a lot of little kids there, we officially started a Sunday school for them, with me as the only assistant. Which is pretty cool. It's weird seeing how toddler/kindergarden-aged kids think.

6. FALLEN IN LOVE WITH TALK SHOWS

I recogized that just watching primetime and sitcom junk would drive me insane, so I decided to give both morning and late-night talk shows a chance. Now I'm addicted - especially to Jimmy Fallon, who completely rules - and will probably have a hard time getting un-addicted once the school year approaches.

5. FINALLY SEEN SOME NEW MOVIES!

Growing up, even as a kid, whenever I had a movie I loved, I would end up watching enough to memorize it. But for once, I finally gave more movies on TV and such a chance! What movies, you ask? Among the many teen comedies and dramas, I finally, FINALLY got to watch "I Am Sam" and "Silence of the Lambs", as well as "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", "The Karate Kid" (original one, too!). There's others, but my mind is currently blank. An unexpected bonus: many culture jokes make sense now..."it rubs the lotion on the skin or else it gets the hose again"...

4. BEAT LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME

No, not the cool 3-D version that came out, the original, on my good ol' retro Gamecube. But I still beat the crap out of it, bringing my video-games-I've-destroyed total up to...eight! Of course, three of those games are more little-kid games and one is a super-easy Harry Potter game (Chamber of Secrets, haha). I'm not exactly on the path of being videogame-extraordinare here.

3. KITTENS!

One of my cats - Em, short for Emma - popped out kittens two months or so ago, right when I was taken away from the outside world. Since this was her first litter not all of them lived, but the three survivors are the most beautiful critters I've ever seen. Their names: Duck, Rabbit (both part of an inside joke) and Swarley, a reference to a "How I Met Your Mother Episode" (anyone seen it?). Would post some adorable pics, but sadly, they already have homes. Next time!

2. MY BEST FRIEND IS OFFICIALLY MY ILLUSTRATOR....SORTA

So, my BFF, and the only person who gets most of the inside jokes mentioned here, happens to be a kickass drawer. Her drawing is like if someone took Tim Burton designs and mixed in a little anime. Since she draws a lot of sorta monster/demented/dark stuff, I asked if she could draw the monster in my WIP (work-in-progress). Now, I just need to find a way to get an agent and publisher who will be willing to have her be the actual cover designer/illustrator person when and if my stuff gets published. Once I can, I'll post a picture of the "monster".

1. HARRY POTTER!

However, despite being someone who dressed up as Hermoine three years in a row, dressed up as Luna Lovegood for the final book release party, read the first HP book I ever picked up (Prisoner of Azkaban) in one week, and read the last one within two days, and pretty much became a writer because of J.K Rowling... I have not seen the new and final movie. *cue audience gasp*. Let's just say that the aforementioned BFF has parents that aren't too happy with letting her go off and see movies. It wouldn't be friend-like to go see without her, so I'll wait until it comes out on DVD if that's what it takes. Though I hope it doesn't! BTW, can someone please explain the whole jumping-off-the-tower-with-Voldemort sequence? It was most definitely not in the book, though it looks cool.

Okay, okay, now that the updates are up, time for my apology. As always, here are some pics straight from the mouth of Google! That is right...LOLcatz!

And my personal favorite...

So hopefully you guys forgive me. And now I can ask you about you guys! Any exciting summer news? Funny moments? Watch any good movies? Don't be afraid to speak up! Besides, I miss people! I miss you guys!!! My Twitter followers come and go, but my few blogger followers are the ones that I adore!

Well, that would be it. For a more formal goodbye, you might wanna check out my actual, more exciting post...here.

So...later?

OPENING A STORY IS LIKE OPENING A DOOR (Lessons From High School English)

2011-05-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: One week of school left. Also one week until a music video premiere. Conclusion: AH!

Song Stuck In My Head: “In Too Deep” by Sum 41 (and yes, listening to my favorite singer’s ex-husband’s band is very awkward, very awkward indeed. Sorta the fan girl’s equivalent to flirting with your BFF’s ex-boyfriend).

Hello, strangers! It’s time to bring back another short-lived segment - LESSONS FROM HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH. Today’s topic - story openings! *cheers from make-believe class*

As writers, there is nothing we sweat out more than the beginning. The first words, the first paragraph, the first page. It’s because it’s also the first glimpse into our imaginations, our first time exposing our imaginary friends (“characters” they’re typically called), and the world’s first taste of either a flop or work of genius.

There is no cookie-cutter way to open stories. No formula one can follow to spit out a flawless opening line that will make agents shudder. Us writers are always flailing for the “best of times” or “worst of times”, or just a simple “call me (insert name here)”. Uniqueness is the key.

So, as we all struggle to carve our own sculptures of fictional art, how about I fill you in on the sort of stuff we’re learning in class?

HOW TO OPEN A STORY ACCORDING TO MY LITERARTURE CLASS NOTES (Pros/cons/examples all of my own making).

1. Start with Dialogue - I.E… “It is rather dark and stormy tonight,” I said.
Pro: Bam, voice is introduced, without even trying.
Con: “So, I’m totally talking about something that the reader has no clue about, and doesn’t care about to be honest.”

2. Interjection - I.E… Oh, no! Dark and stormy clouds are gathering outside!
Pro: Immediately ignite some action and emotion.
Con: Do you really want to be one of those writers who starts off their tale with an exclamation point? REALLY!?!!!

3. Onomatopoeia (absolutely ADORE that word) - I.E… KABOOM! Thunder had now entered our already dark and stormy night.
Pro: They demand the attention of le reader.
Con: Maybe a bit too demanding, and can easily weigh in on the “corny, cheesy” scale.

4. Immediate action - I.E… The flash of lightening bounced across the field, heading straight for mine and character two’s car.
Pro: Makes the reader feel immediately involved in a story.
Con: Some readers aren’t ready to take it fast, or keep up with a such a brand new story.

5. Character’s thought - I.E… “Why is it so dark - and stormy - tonight?” I pondered to myself.
Pro: Gives the reader an immediate first impression of your character.
Con: Not an entirely realistic way to start a story, unless it’s a think piece - not many adventures begin with a “hmm” moment.

6. Foreshadowing - I.E… As dark, thunderous clouds overcast our town, I knew something was off.
Pro: Gets the reader interested in the events going on.
Con: If done wrong, you could come off as a *cough* TEASE *cough*

7. Contradiction - I.E… Our peaceful town was usually one of sunshine and smiley faces…but as clouds gathered, I knew today would be different.
Pro: Instantly points out the strangeness of the situation in your story
Con: Can too easily come off as corny, much better for short stories.

8. Moral - I.E… They say every cloud has a silver lining…but what sort of metaphor is it when the cloud is dark and stormy?
Pro: A central theme gets your reader thinking, and prepared for your story’s message.
Con: Distracts from the introduction of your story, if it’s not that important.

Did any ways stick out to you? How many ways have you tried before, or considered trying? Which ones come off as corny to you? Which ones make you think of stories you’ve read before?

Anyhow, there’s a lesson here, and it’s this: forget EVERYTHING you’ve learned about the first page (well, not everything, keep the basics like grammar and how to hold a pen). Rules and “tricks” aren’t always vital to your story. After all, YOUR story is what matters. It’s like every novel has a gazillion doors, all locked…except one. You can try opening the others, but once you find the right one…you can just walk right in.

In this one door, your story will be introduced, with the right voice, mood, vibe, and attitude that will make it stand out, and be its own. Not just some rip-off of your favorite writer or TV show (totally didn’t do that once…well, fine, but I was young, okay?).

And when you find that door, remember that not every reader who enters it will fit. Personally, my favorite opening line of all TIME (“The early summer sky was the color of cat vomit” - Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld) is one that typically grosses people out. But according to SSF, Westerfeld’s sorta a misunderstood genius, so there you go. I love it. Others don’t.

Okay, writer friends. I somehow managed to poke fun at my literature class and compare story openings to doors in one blog post. Accomplishment of the week! So, see you all next week?

One last note though….there is one rule.

Never.

Ever.

EVER…

…Start your story with a “dark and stormy night”.

Later!

Playlist of the Month: Songs That Are Also Stories!

2011-05-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Finally tackling creative writing in my literature class, with a narrative to finish the year off. Pro: chance to write a non-research essay. Bad: going through a bunch of notes on the basics (point-of-view, rising and falling action) that my “peers” treat like calculus. Grrr.

Song Stuck in My Head: A lot of Paramore right now, actually. But I just found the score for my favorite movie on Youtube, so now the theme song is joining them.

It’s the first week of the month. Time to return to the only segment that SSF has so far managed to keep! That’s right - it’s the fourth ever PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH, peeps. POTM is, of course, a chance to share songs that could very well earn their way into your hearts and your own personal playlist for writing.

Today’s topic: songs that are also stories!

There’s generally two things musicians do when it comes to lyrics and such - either convey some universal, relatable emotions, or paint a picture. Both rule and work. When it comes to a story-songs though, inspiration is sorta just waiting to ignite. The musician will tell their side of the story, and let you finish or expand the full story. So go ahead and let the imagination juices flow.

And let’s help. Here’s my top TEN (as in, twice as many as usual) story-songs. Disclaimer: not all stories are true, of course, such as one about a girl killing her boyfriend, or another about nuclear warfare. No need to panic.

So...are you ready?

Florence + the Machine’s “KISS WITH A FIST” - Taken straight off from the soundtrack my favorite slasher-comedy film, “Jennifer’s Body”, this Florence indie-pop smash follows a rather violent guy and gal experiencing a medical case of lover’s spat. Example lyrics: “You smashed a plate over my head/and I set fire to our bed”.

Blink 182’s “ADAM’S SONG” - And you thought they were just brash punks. This surprisingly thoughtful alternative rock track from the popular pop/rock trio revolves around a guy - let’s just call him Adam - about to commit suicide. However, it doesn’t focus on the pain and torment of emotions. Told from Adam’s perspective, it’s very teenager-ish, talking about the things he's missing out on, and things he's thankful to leave behind. A goodbye. Him asking to give away his things, to fix up his room, and to “tell mom this is not her fault”. It feels like Adam’s closing a chapter - only it’s a one-chapter book. Very sad but more nostalgic than anything else.

Avril Lavigne’s “NOBODY’S HOME” - It wouldn’t be a SSF playlist without Avril! Hehe. Anyhow, serious business. Once upon a time, Canadian guitar \-pop star Avril had a friend. And this friend had wandered an unpleasant path, leaving Avril behind. Avril’s life went on to soar, but her friend’s only got worse. The result: a beautifully sad rock ballad that chronicles the slow but heavy fall of her friend. The music video even portrays a glamorous, famous girl and a lonely, homeless girl’s lives being compared (both of which is played by Avril herself).

Linkin Park’s “THE LITTLE THINGS GIVE YOU AWAY” - No rap/screaming metal beats here. With the mellow, but intense, vibe that LP has been channeling lately, this track’s lyrics was inspired when the band visited the site of Hurricane Katrina. The sorrow and empathy is mixed with the disbelief and resentment with our government. Very intense.

Green Day’s “GIVE ME NOVOCAINE” - Another track about a young teenager’s suicide (wow, isn’t SSF a ball of positive energy today?). This time though, it’s not Adam but St. Jimmy - the protagonist of the rock band’s concept album “American Idiot”. Prior to the track where St. Jimmy actually kicks the bucket is this acoustic number, in which our hero is overdosing on Novocain to “take away the sensation inside”. It’s depression, but numbed.

Phil Collin’s “ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE” - What playlist would this be without one of the classics? Hopefully you all know the legendary Collins, and maybe even know this sad but beautiful song. The lyrics follow strangers as they cross paths with people in need…and keep on walking. They’ve been crying, they need a place to sleep, everything…the fact that life remains unfair for them tells a million stories.

Sick Puppies’ “HOWARD’S TALE” - Oooh, this song - an alt-rock track by my favorite group - may be the heaviest listed. Not just in terms of instruments, but in emotional weight. No mere pain here - the song follows “Howard” as he goes from a relatively normal kid to one whose life is tainted at age nine when he is sexually abused (never actually said, but implied the crap out of). Only he cannot - and will not - tell anyone. Confused and victimized, he can’t function well after. He can’t be with a girl, he lives in denial, he gets expelled from school, everything. The song teasingly ends with an ending that could be interpreted as happy or cruel. Very amazing song.

The Pretty Reckless’ “GOIN’ DOWN” - Actress Taylor Momsen’s rock band that has the energy of the classics had this spunky song on their original EP. The picture it’s painting isn’t pretty. The narrator is at confession, and telling the priest a juicy story about about a cheating lover and her having to “bury him eight feet underground”. Of course, she wants forgiveness, even if it means bargaining with a priest of all people, but she also just wants answers as she’s starting to regret the deed. Very fiery and creative song.

My Chemical Romance’s “S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W” - Yay, another concept album! Alt-rock/punk group MyChem’s recent album, “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys” focused on a rock group escaping death during the end of the world (dystopia, anyone?). And this particular song, while ethereal and hypnotic, isn’t as innocent as it seems. The song is about a nuclear bomb about to go off and kill everyone, and is basically a warning to “hold your breath when the black bird flies” and “move your body when the sunlight dies”. However, it'll be a song you can’t resist listening to over and over.

And lastly…

EVERY BOWLING FOR SOUP IN EXISTENCE. You know “Bowling for Soup” right, the comical alt-rock/pop favorite? You probably know one of their hits…like one about a woman way behind in the times (1985) or a geek with a thing for a girl into wrestling and rap metal (Girl All the Bad Guys Want) or even just one about the suckiness of high school in general (High School Never Ends). My absolute favorite is “RUNNING FROM YOUR DAD”. Picture a couple swinging on the porch. Then a picture the girl’s dad running out ready to beat the life out of the boy. Ah, the romance! This song manages to come off as hilarious though.

And there’s today’s lesson! Now time for the discussion questions: what is YOUR favorite song that is only a story in musical form?

Anyhow, only the one blog post this week, but since next week is my last FULL week of school, I decided to conclude the year with a special week of blog posts on…

*drum roll*

STORY OPENINGS.

So check for that, and have an awesome weekend! I certainly will - about to go to my first dance as a high-schooler, supporting the GLBQT community. Cool stuff.

Later!

Random Random Random

2011-04-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Completely winging this blog entry.

Song Stuck In My Head: "Smile" by Avril Lavigne. Just found out the guy directing the video to this amazing new single has directed pretty much the majority of my favorite pop/rock music videos. Panic! At the Disco anyone?

So today is very rushed day. Both of my BFF's are sorta in chaos, I had to turn in a poorly-made fable about a rabbit and a duck (another day?) annnnnnd I'm seriously relieved it's Friday. Anyhow, no legit blog entry today. Just random stuff.

First off, for any Gleeks/or anti-Gleeks out there...I do adore this performance of "Born This Way".

There was also a scene where they danced to this new song, "Barbara Streisand". Has anyone heard it? It's seriously the most ridiculous song in the universe. It's all dance music and then one random person saying the name of the song.

But, oddly, it's quite catchy.

Anyhow, since this is just a random post, why not mention NOVELTEE(N)? A.K.A, new blog that just started up. And yes, I'm totally mentioning them to enter their contests (especially this one!) but the blog seems cool so far. Do follow! It's one of the rare For Teens by Teens blogs!

Okay, see you later!

Oh, and LBH - here's a drinking buddy!

Road Trip Wednesday: If Your WIP was a song...

2011-04-27T12:05:00.001-07:00

Quick Update: I think this is the first "Road Trip Wednesday" I've ever done, from the popular "YA HIGHWAY" site. Awesomeness.

Song Stuck In My Head: No Doubt's "Just a Girl". No idea why.

For anyone who knows the "YA HIGHWAY" blog, awesome! Good luck to you. If not, it's basically this writers' blog (mostly female writers, but whatever) who focus on writing YA fiction. Contemporary. Paranormal. You got it! Their guest writers include young writers already published (their books "The Duff" or "Like Mandarin" are really popular) as well as up-and-coming young and older ones. Pretty cool site.

Anyhow, anyone is welcome to respond in a blog post to a question on Wednesday. I decided to do that today since, well, I kinda do already!

This week's question...

If your WIP or favorite book were music, what song(s) would it be?

Easy answer! SICK PUPPIES, and their rocker, guitar-feedback heavy track "ISSUES" of course!

If anyone wants to join in, knock yourself out!

I'll talk to you all on Friday!

YA Writers Are Saving the World (Sorta...Kinda) - WPT Post

2011-04-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Wow. Okay. Fast week. Is today seriously Friday? Whoa.

Song Stuck In My Head: "For the Love of God" - Steve Vai (a.k.a someone who had to sell his soul to have that sort of guitar skills).

So, would have typed up a less spontaneous post (maybe), but an Earth Day project for school decided to eat up all my time. I'm very passionate about deforestation after all. I mean, how could you ever "slash and burn" forests for money and land? They're the most things (or clusters of things) in the world!

The horror. Well, this is beside the point.

So, I'm stealing today's topic from my lit. class as well as science class. We're doing this small unit on fables, the cutesy tales of lessons and morales. Slow and steady wins the race, don't count your chickens before they hatched, all that fun stuff.

I remember when I was younger and heard or read fables. Let's take the popular "Ant and the Grasshopper" story. Hardworking ant, bum grasshopper. One gets to party all winter, and one freezes and dies. What little tykes are supposed to get from the story is "ohhhh, not doing is work is bad, I better do all the work I can now so I can play later".

And come on. We know the morales in those stories failed to really stick. Procrastination deserves its own health documentaries these days. All the little kids reading the story don't think about the morale. All they think is something around the lines of "haha, grasshopper, sucks to be you!".

But now, YA writers instead of fable writers (if they're even alive anymore, most of them are from centuries ago).

When teenagers transition into the stage they're in now, they are vulnerable to learning morales. The hard way or the easier way that we - yes, we - provide. There's reasons why bookish people tend to be the ones that avoid parties and drugs and craziness. That's because they already read enough tough, but good, books on these issues to avoid it. By having characters go through a mess of chaos, they have less desire to do it on their own. Unless they're sociopathic and like to pretend they are the character in whatever novel they're reading. That's a whole other story.

Not that all teenagers read (or even know how to these days, when it comes to my peers). They usually don't even read the required reading, or think about it. However, slowly YA and books is making its way into mainstream again so you never know....writers could very well affect the lives of young adolescents before they venture into the world themselves. And if the effect is positive, hooray.

In some ways, we are SUPERHEROES. Kinda. Okay. Maybe not.

Okay, enough mediocre philosophy today. Hope everyone is doing rather awesome (oh, and happy...Earth Day, I suppose) and hopefully talk to you next week!

Rec of the Week: "Impulse" by Ellen Hopkins

2011-04-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Had an epic Hastings overdose yesterday. Got a few eerily cheap books. How exactly does anybody, let alone writers, make money when books are $5.99 at entertainment stores? Sorta too late to change a career choice now though, haha!

Song Stuck in My Head: "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac. Very random. I'm aware.

Drafting this in literature, since we’re taking notes on dialogue. Which would be cool, if the lesson was anything like writer’s blog posts on dialogue (avoiding passive voice, varying sentences, etc.) but nope. It’s basically just quotation marks and other tags besides “said”. Ugh! Since we have to write our own piece of dialogue, I penned a story about a duck selling car insurance to an incompetent rabbit. There’s a very complex inside joke in that, but maybe another day.

So today, let’s go to the world of intelligent writing. Such as the Rec of the Week, “Impulse” by Ellen Hopkins.

I actually read this a few weeks ago, aforementioned in a blog post, but since I’m currently re-reading the Morganville vampires (a.k.a best bloodsucker series ever) why not blog it now?

For anyone whose read or at least heard of the iconic Ellen Hopkins before, you know how her writing works - free verse. No, it’s not all rhyming poems like a YA Dr. Seuss. It’s all dangling, non-rhythmic, yet insightful free verse. No paragraphs or normal dialogue.

“Impulse” was my first EH book, though I’d definitely noticed her work in the teen section. Sort of hard to miss, with how chunky and artistic books like “Crank” and “Burn” are. I picked up “Impulse” as it dealt with teenagers in a psychiatric hospital, something I was trying to find more YA books on.

At first, the opening pages were outrageously flowery and morbid-poetic (the three protagonists attempted suicide for different reasons,) but by the tenth or so page, I was sucked in.

The story is about Conner, Tony, and Vanessa. Conner’s a new patient at the hospital, with elite boy charm and a relatively calm and collected demeanor - if not for the fact he shot himself. Tony, meanwhile, is an older patient - who’s already friendly with institutions like juvie - and is still recovering from the drugs that nearly killed him. Though he also seems normal, his life is bruised with neglect and abuse. And lastly is Vanessa, a mid-level patient that’s showing progress as she deals with depression after her mother’s suicide and being dumped by the love of her life. Under all of that, she has signs of bipolar disorder, which her mother had as well.

The book will probably the most intense the first it’s read. All three characters start off with these thick and impassable layers. Slowly, they open up not to their doctors but each other, and secret after secret is revealed. Let’s go ahead and say “bad childhoods” would not even begin to describe it.

What writers could really take from this book is how the three characters’ back-story is handled. After all, a popular mistake among noobs is dumping a load of 411 and fun facts about the character and their life prior to the story. Though I’ve yet to read her other books, Ellen Hopkins definitely handles the intricate back stories. Characters are revealed bit by bit, instead of being sloppily explained in detail in chapter one.

Annnd that would be it. Definitely a good read, no matter how you look at it! Now to figure out which EH book to pounce on first…. Muhaha.

Besides that, pretty good week over here. I actually understand the section my Algebra 3-4 class is covering, which terrifies me to the bone. Got to watch Avril Lavigne perform on Oprah, and sing a duet with Pat Benatar during the episode’s “Rock Goddesses” special. Also watched Miley Cyrus’s attempt to mirror Joan Jett‘s natural rock, onstage presence when they sang together as well. It was amusing to see a Disney starlet try to come off as “rock n’ roll”.

Anyhow, I’ll stop my ranting about music before it gets too whiney. Hope everyone’s week has been spiffy, and talk to you next week! Maybe on a day before Friday, even! * le gasp*

Later!

Playlist of the Month: “Bipolar” Songs (er, slow and fast songs)

2011-04-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Now to save le blog from a serious case of abandonment. Since this thing’s not even a year old yet, that could be considered child abuse.

Song Stuck In My Head: Tiny Dancer - Elton John (who’s been very prevalent in the media lately. I love this song in the movie “Almost Famous” though).

Hello, strangers! Haven’t really gotten much computer time at home to blog, since my laptop charger sparked its last cold last week (let’s just say you can SEE the metal wires inside the black rubber). I hope no one has forgotten me!

Main news includes: new music vid from favorite band (YAY!), newfound obsessions with the band All-American Rejects (mentioned later), switch from original Twitter to something called “Tweetree” as Twitter’s been giving me the cold shoulder, and a case of James Cameron syndrome (definition: sudden urges to watch Cameron movies - couldn’t find our copy of “Avatar” but did get out the box set of “Titanic” and sobbed over Leo DiCaprio’s death, as per usual.

So funny how this blog post came about. While back, I was writing with a Top 40 radio station playing. Since my WIP takes place in a mental ward, one of my MC’s is diagnosed with “manic depression”, a fancy term for bipolar.

Anyhow, I was idly considering a switch of moods for her in the scene when…BAM! Katy Perry’s hit “Hot N’ Cold” started playing on the radio.

I believe they call that “fate”, haha!

So here are the songs that are bipolar themselves, starting out smooth and slow, then picking up in an extremely energetic part two. It’s mostly alternative rock, but it has some soundtrack love too, as well a guest appearance from rock royalty.

LET IT DIE by Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl’s post-Nirvana band has turned out several bipolar songs over the years, but this one reaches high and low extremes. The song starts out soft, with very melodic and almost whispery vocals reminiscing about a lost love as an acoustic guitar plays. Slowly, voice tracks, base, and drums are added in small amounts. Then an explosion of loud, furious singing and electric guitar tears open the beat and a whole new song emerges. Pretty epic stuff.

SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS ( Eurythmics cover) by Emily Browning. Taken from the soundtrack of the film I reaaaaaaaally want to see, SUCKER PUNCH! This cover is super-psychedelic, and starts out very calm before delving into a whole range of craziness. It’s sung by the movie’s lead actress, Emily Browning, a British starlet you may recognize as Violet Baudelaire, or from the horror film “The Uninvited”. Her modest voice and accent make the song take a whole new life.

THE POISON by All-American Rejects. Another soundtrack tune, this time from “Almost Alice”, the compilation album for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. I recently realized that AAR - pop/rock band with well-known songs like “Gives You Hell” and “Move Along” - is one of my favorite bands. This song is only more reason why. The love song starts out like a catchy, sugary, acoustic song that works perfectly with singer Tyson Ritter’s dark vocals. And then the tempo changes into a heavier, shouty song that sounds more like the band’s mainstream mess. There’s something wonderfully hypnotic about it. Very much worth a listen if you like the band at all!

ONE (cover song) by Filter. I love this band! Filter, mostly known for “Take a Picture”, also have a soundtrack song. Theirs goes all the way back to the 90’s, for an X-Files film. This is pretty much a rock take on “One”, a classic bluesy-oldies song that croons “twooooo can be as bad as one”. The song has an intense change in tempo. It begins with gloomy, but strong, singing over loneliness. Then, with only a pounding of drums, the depression becomes screaming and a grunge-rock song ignites. Talk about emotional!

And last but never least…

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY by Queen. Anyone who dislikes this band is probably un-American. I kid. In any case, these rock icons had a variety of hits, a lot of which switch tempos so much that it feels like listening to two or three songs in one sitting. Bohemian Rhapsody is a very fitting - and enjoyable! - example. From saddening, piano ballad to crazy, opera-esque, to classic rock fight song. The song feels a dream that makes no sense, but was awesome in every sense of the word.

And that would be it! I avoided mentioning Sick Puppies, as half of their songs could go here (I mean, their third album TITLE is “Tri-Polar”!). You could check out “Pitiful”, “Anywhere but Here”, or their cover of Smashing Pumpkins’ “Cherub Rock” though, if you need more proof. Or you could check out their new music video, the not-so-bipolar "Riptide"! Just saying!

Other than that, I hope you are all doing well. And if you’re not, then just go to the grocery store and get some Easter candy before it gets too expensive - it‘ll cheer you right up! I had a couple of Peeps for breakfast this morning (and no, I realize nothing about that even sounds remotely healthy).

Oh, and how does Ellen Hopkins sound for a “Rec of the Week”?

Later!

YA Fashion and Stereotypes...Today!

2011-03-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Just finished typing up a faux movie review for my journalism class’s April Fools Issue. It’s a sci-fi/dystopian-macabre-adventure/action-soppy romance. Its lead actor is Justin Bieber, and Charlie Sheen voices a talking animal. Figure THAT out.

Song Stuck In My Head: “Stay Home” by Self, via soundtrack for 1st Shrek movie (rather random, I know)

Heey, guys, long time no…blog. Spring break’s over, I’m back in the computer lab, I got TWO, count ‘em, TWO new followers in my absence (to whom I wave vigorously to) and it’s time for something fresh.

This post is mostly inspired by a purchase I made the other day, a long and very Joan-Jett-esque leather lacket. One of the buttons is missing, a pocket’s torn in, and there’s some tears. That kinda just makes look more badass though. : ) I LOVE it. And not just because it looks rocker, but it fits this thing the baddie wears in my WIP. Which got me to thinking….

What DOES fashion say about the tweens/teens in your WIP? Anything? Everything?

I am so not going to make it seem like I know anything about fashion in the real world of teenagers. I have a dorky-rocker look going on with lots of colors, ties, gloves, skirts, and heavy makeup. Very hybrid.

Here are what I would call today’s stereotypes though. It has evolved far from the broad classifications (cocky jock, cheerleader-prep, uuber-nerd, poetic goth, and plaaain/everyman) that we all already know and love. Much more distinct….

Jock has developed into…

Richer, preppier, well-to-do “jocks” - For some reason, wear a lot of white. Long shirts. Lifetime supply of shorts. These tend to be the ones on track or cross-country teams, but also basketball too.

Buff, more classical, tanned “jocks” - The vest is still a popular artifact, if you want to keep that in. More pants too. Definitely for more of the football variety, but soccer and baseball too.

Cheerleader has developed into…

Girl “Jocks” - These are the girls who walk around with the jerseys and sports outfit’s a lot like it is their wardrobe. Depending on whatever sport they’re in, of course.

Actual cheerleaders - Not too much of a similarity between them, except for their size. Just remember they almost ALWAYS have their hair up.

Fashionistas of the future - Girls with big, layered hair made by extensions and a lot of short skirts, heels or boots, make-up galore, fishnets, lace, etc. Sometimes I see them wearing designs they made in fashion class. Good for them.

Uuber-nerds have developed into…

Modernized geeks/nerds - Think a lot of cargo shorts and a lot of baggy t-shirts. The most common hair is short, sorta-touseled but thick hair that makes you think of Daniel Radcliffe in the first Harry Potter movie.

Girl geeks/nerds - More fashionally awkward clothes. Think stuff you’ll see in a thrift store a bit more, haha.

And, my fave, fan girl geeks - Band shirts, lots of colors and randomness. I have friends who wear pigtails and then ones who merely straighten their hair. There’s usually some sort of thing on their clothes or backpacks that relate to animals too.

Poetic goth has developed into…

Dark goth - Yep, they still wear black. Dyed hair. Fishnets and the occasional leather glove. When it comes to girls though, not-so-Goth accessories like silver jewelry have become more commonplace. Don’t ask why, because I do not know eiter.

Rocker/metal Goth - A lot of black, but more skinny jeans, band or Hot Topic shirts, and so many accessories that one might scream. Their hair is usually wild, colorful and creatively dyed but usually joined by black (underneath or in highlights perhaps).

Plain/everyman has developed into…

Well, nothing. This sect shall always exist, the epicenter of all the others. Today, that usually means Wal-mart or Target clothes. I’m not sure about shirts, since my high school has a t-shirt uniform. Skinny jeans are still way too popular (if it was just girls I’d understand but there’s nothing more traumatizing than a guy wearing skinny jeans low enough to see his boxers). Shoes are mostly converse or sneakers. A lot of hair is straightened when it comes to girls. Relatively simple when it comes down to it.

Stereotypes have come a long way since John Hughes. There are more in-betweens, more specific classifications. When deciding what kind of teenager your main character will be, don’t over think their wardrobe. Sometimes fashion can just be natural.

What sort of fashion-stereotypes do your characters already seem to be like? How about your favorite YA characters when it comes to clothes? After all, there are many interesting people out there besides Plain-Jane/girl-geek hybrids like Bella Swan.

Okay. The laptop screen is starting to dizzy me, so time to catch some Z’s. I’ll talk to you all later, hopefully! Expect a Rec of the Week on a book next week. ;)

And I'll leave you with a trailer for the movie I'm sort of DYING to see right now (it involves a girl in a mental asylum, haha!)

THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THIS

2011-03-09T11:14:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Just checked out two books dealing with teens in a mental hospital to read over spring break. Haha.

Song Stuck In My Head: EVERY. AVRIL. LAVIGNE. SONG. EVER. CREATED.

Pretty amazing day I had yesterday. My friend may or may not have broken up with her jerk of a boyfriend, finally. The adorable gay guys in this "gay-straight" alliance club me and a couple of my friends attend were friggin' HILARIOUS yesterday during this game we played. We didn't have to trek in my P.E. class.

Oh yeah...and yesterday I bought this CD here...

Pretty amazing day indeed!

And I listened to it all in one sitting, barely breathing. My face probably looked like this...

There's no greater joy than being a fangirl. I truly regret the day I do that weird "growing up" thing (haha) and don't obsess over things like musicians and movies, because it's an inner happiness that can rarely ever be obtained. I mean, it has its downsides (me and one of the aforementioned friends were recently ready to cry and sob because we JUST found out the guitarist and drummer left one of our favorite bands) but the upsides (is that a word?) were worth it.

I won't post a long, overly detailed review on here, to save you guys the time. Avril Bandaids has a post thingy just for reviews, so I think I'll put my long, overly detailed opinion on there. It's definitely a CD I would recommend though, if you ever decide to purchase an Avril Lavigne album. Just sayin'.

And to keep this blog-ish, have you guys ever waited for a CD/book/movie/etc. so long and so passionately that you felt it in your veins? How did it feel when that wonderful, spectacular, beautiful thing came into your possesion? Sharing time! Haha!

Okay, hopefully I can talk to you guys later this week. We have two early release days, then a week off for spring break (even though I live in a mega-party town, I'll probably stay inside 24/7) but I'm hoping to visit the library and visit. :)

So whether or not I talk to you guys, have fun, and see you later!

PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH: Nostalgiac, Bittersweet Songs

2011-03-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: My mom just got herself her first Facebook! I'm not too terrified (yet) because I rarely go on there and she doesn't know how to use it anyways, xD.

Song Stuck In My Head: Pretty much this entire video.

I'm drafting this in math, instead of doing notes. I failed to write the blog last night, since I sorta dozed off while listening to Avril Lavigne songs. Sleep deprivation will do that to you.

Anyways, welcome to the second ever PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH! And today's theme is *drum roll* NOSTAGLIA. As in, missing somebody or a part of your life that you can never go back to, with a mixture of happiness and downright depression.

This is today's theme mostly because a preview of one of Avril's new songs - Wish You Were Here - is dancing in my head. Also because we mentioned something about conserving old memories in my history class.

And now, moving onto the music!

INCUBUS - 11 A.M. This song is very bittersweet, almost-acoustic tune, and Brandon Boyd's vocals match it perfectly. With lyrics that mention how the garbage day is a sad day, since there are things you're throwing away for good. They use the best metaphors. I'd definitely recommend looking up the lyrics to this when you listen to it.

THE CARDIGANS - Erase and Rewind. Totally not a song I would typically listen to, but someone put it in the background of a video I watched once, and it stuck. IT's a very soft, mellow tune, and really descriptive of how it feels to be unable to go back and change something in the past.

SICK PUPPIES - The Way. My favorite band! This is one of their earlier songs (circa 2000) when they were living in Australia still, and it's definitely the soft song on the album. But it's still pretty amazing, and very nostalgiac over "the way things used to be".

METRIC - Combat Baby. Metric is one of my Indie vices. :) Anyhow, it's a very dark and moody indie-punk song, about missing the way things were, even if the way things were weren't the most enjoyable thing over. Stuff like "I miss your ranting", and "do you miss my all-time lows?"

GREEN DAY - Whatshername. The ultimate modern rock, post-break-up song. Trying to forget the person, trying to remember, it's a whole mass of confusion. Since the entire American Idiot album is about the fictional "St. Jimmy", it makes sense that the girl he loved would get her own song, however nostagliac.

I guess I'd thought it would be cool to have a playlist with this theme, since last month's theme was all love songs. These are songs that hit hard when the love and spark is gone and fading. A lot of fictional characters go through this feeling after all. Can you guys think of anything that represents that emotion to you?

And that's today's blog! I have no idea how inverse functions (today's lesson) work, but I'm thinking my life will go on. I guess I'll talk to you all later. Expect a very, very, VERY Avril-themed string of blogs next week. xD

Later, and be sure to have an awesome weekend!

ZOMBIELAND! (Rec of the Week Post)

2011-03-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: I’m in another fight with my WIP right now. We’re giving each other the silent treatment, so I thought I would finally blog, haha.

Song Stuck In My Head: “I Believe In a Thing Called Love” by the Darkness. Such an awesome yet weird song.

My hand really hurts right now. We had one of our “standardized tests” today in school, and it was the writing portion. I’m so used to writing illegibly and all over the place that writing as neatly as possible on lines just gets on my nerves. It doesn’t help that I had a panic attack because in the two pages we have to write on, I started on the second by accident (it shouldn’t matter, especially since I made a note, but until it gets graded over the summer I will never breathe properly).

Anyhow…onto the topic of ZOMBIELAND!

Once upon a time, two screenwriters realized there was a serious lack of zombies on TV. Movies had a lot of them, sure, but what about primetime? Only their pilot bombed. So, with encouragement, they decided to instead make it a movie and release as an independent film. However, with big names from Woody Harrelson to Abigail Breslin signing on, it instead became a feature film. And…tah-dah.

Zombieland is the farthest thing from a zombie flick. Narrated and told in the point-of-view of geeky, shut-in “Columbus”, played rather redundantly by Jesse Eisenberg, it instead follows four survivors of a viral disease gone bad. As Columbus words it, “Mad cow became mad human became mad zombie”.

Columbus lived because he was lonely and feared people, and created many rules for himself, which is mostly small things like avoiding bathrooms and checking the backseat for any monsters. Woody Harrelson’s character, “Tallahassee”, is a tough, badass modern cowboy - basically a polar opposite of Columbus - who makes hunting zombies (and Twinkies, apparently) his main priority, having lost his baby son to the disease. Joining on for the ride is sister duo my favorite actress Emma Stone (“Wichita”) and Abigail Breslin (“Little Rock”). The sisters are cons with serious trust issues, and lived by pretty much playing other guys for what they had, and because they look out for each other.

This not-so-merry band of survivors end up together, and staying together when they realize it can be a good thing to not be alone in this mess. Together, they avoid the zombies and end up saving Wichita and Little Rock in an epic zombie-fest at an amusement park.

There is only reason I need to give to watch this movie, and it is the characters. Sure, their clashing personalities is a laugh, but there is a depth to each one of them that is rarely ever seen in horrors or comedies, as this is both. The movie is pretty much shaped around them, and how they would actually react towards a messed up situation like this. Definitely a rarity for Hollywood films these days (no offense, guys…okay, maybe a bit).

Here’s one of my favorite parts from the film, if you guys wanna watch. It's Tallahassee on the hunt for Twinkies. ;)

So, has anyone else seen it and have comments? If not, then…another time. It’s the first week of the month, so I’ll try another Playlist post. Any ideas for song themes? :) Oh well. I guess I’ll go back to listening to Avril Lavigne (all I’ve been doing the past week or two, with her album out, well, NEXT WEEK!) and see if my WIP will talk to me. Ooooh, hey, American Idol is on…. *torn*

Later!

So Many Questions!

2011-02-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Decided to start torturing myself - even though there are 30-second previews of every song on my favorite musicians’ new CD (on shelves in two weeks) I’m only allowing myself to listen to one. Don’t want to ruin it. :) Wish me good luck!

Song Stuck In My Head: Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses (it’s becoming one of my favorite songs, for no reason whatsoever).

Note: This post is mainly inspired by the fact my favorite band, Sick Puppies, is hosting a live chat tomorrow (well, tonight when you're reading this, since this is all being typed Tuesday night) on their Facebook, and since I might find a way to the local college library to participate, I’ve been searching my head for every question one could ask the most amazing three-piece alternative rock band alive.

As writers, there’s a definite chance that one day in our lives we’re going to meet a well-known author. Either through the industry, through a email conversation telling them how much they rule, or even something small like a book signing we get to attend. However, the chances that we’ll get to meet the writers we call idols, I.E the godly J.K Rowling, are so depressingly slim.

Which sucks. Because the greats are the ones who have the most knowledge to offer us, aren’t they? How did they become cult classics? Icons? Go from slightly disturbed, hallucinating storytellers like us to critically acclaimed, artistic geniuses? And…ow.

(Sorry, we’re experimenting technical difficulties. Kitten totally just clawed me in the face. Ow, ow, OW.)

Anyways, ignoring the burn above my lip, let’s get to the meat of the matter.

QUESTIONS I’D ASK WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS IF THEY WEREN”T TOO BUSY BASKING IN THEIR CREATIVE GENIUS OR NEVER-ENDING RICHES

To J.K Rowling, writer of…well, DUH.

“Does Hogwarts exist? I’ll file out a transfer form NOW, I don’t care if I have to move to England, I can tolerate the accents and slang terms. I mean, uh, how about “How do you go about your world-building? People like you and Tolkien have to have a system for this, tips on how to flesh out a story until ending it feels like destroying a whole entire world.”

To L.J Smith, author of the Night World series as well as the original Vampire Diaries books (love Night World , but Vampire Diaries TV show is more tolerable than the books).

“Only one question, really. Do you miss teenage fantasy horror as much as I do? Well, okay, two questions. Can you get me Ian Somerhalder’s home address? Please?”

To Scott Westerfeld, writer of the kickass dystopian Uglies trilogy.

“Where do your awesome, futuristic ideas come from? And how the hell do you keep concepts like teenagers born at midnight having superpowers (Midnighters series) and a one-track minded government (Uglies trilogy) from being so far from corny? Is there a trick to giving everything a touch of personality and passion that keeps it so un-corny?”

To Sarah Dessen, teenage-chick-lit writer extraordinaire (okay, technically, I’ve only read one of her books, but I know the general idea of the rest).

“Does Lifetime and ABC Family even know about you? Haven’t they fought over the rights to every one of your books? Wait, don’t answer that. How about…how do you manage to keep your writing in one genre? Is it possible for writers to do that anymore, to keep themselves fresh yet never stray from whatever genre they love the most? I mean, this is a super-crazy world we live in. One day you go from writing about vampires, to writing about aliens, and now you’re talking mermaids and stuff like that. Speaking of which…..”

To Stephenie Meyer, a.k.a Middle-aged-Bella-Swan. Er, I mean author of Twilight.

“HOW!? No offense against the series, it’s entertaining no matter how you look at it, but HOW did you get a book agented when said book only existed for six months? Can one write a publishable book in six months? Did you even get to edit it yourself? I’m so confused….”

Those are the YA writers I can think of off the top of my head. It’s sorta late, so my imagination isn’t the most reliable thing in the world right now. And I’m still recovering from Cat Scratch Fever, haha.

And you know it’s coming, but what about you guys? Any questions you would love to ask a writer otherwise untouchable? It doesn’t have to be just YA authors, like my list. Any published author will do!

Okay, that’s it for now. Expect a Rec of the Week post Friday, most likely on the movie “Zombieland”. Which rules, by the way.

(And as a last note, did I get the song “Cat Scratch Fever” stuck in anyone’s head in the other paragraph? *evil grin*)

Later!

Let’s Talk About Zombies (And Vamps…and Werewolves…and so on)

2011-02-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Is it weird to love Lady Gaga but not favor Madonna whatsoever? I feel like a hypocrite.

Song Stuck In My Head: Glee's cover of a My Chemical Romance song, "Sing". Now THAT really took me by surprise.

What a week I had! Mostly it was spent being sick out of my mind (which I’m using as my alibi for the lack of blogging last week) but it was also spent watching “Zombieland” a couple times (one of the inspirations for this post, and definite future “Rec of the Week”), diving deep into a huge AvrilLavigneobsession mode, etc. Oh, and watching my first ever 3-D movie! No, it wasn’t something cool and adult like “Santum”. It was - and you all have permission to laugh your head off at this, because I certainly did - Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never”.

Don’t worry, though I was ill with many sicknesses last week, “Bieber Fever” *snort* was not among them. It was mostly a chance to hang out with my best friend, and fellow fan girl, who happens to be a diagnosed with a serious case of BF. Her Twitter page background is just a repeated tile of him right now as we speak. The main problem was that no one warned me of the damage 3-D effects do to one’s eyes. I mean…uh, ow.

Okay, onto the actual blogging. Well…half-attempt at actual blogging.

So I just found out one of my favorite Sick Puppies songs, “The Bottom”, is a song written from a zombie to its next victim. Not only does a lot about it make sense, but it also made me think. In the end, which modern and fictional critter is truly the most badass?

And so, the randomness begins.

ZOMBIES:

Why they are badass…Well, they eat you. I would consider that a little terrifying. If anyone has seen “Zombieland”, whose zombies are friggin’ SCARY monsters that drool black guck and blood, you know how true that is. Pretty much, zombies have no conscience or intelligent thoughts. Unless “foooooood” counts as an intelligent thought. They’re just diseased, and they spread the disease like wildfire so they’re not alone. There’s no point to their monstrosity - it just is. Which makes them pretty eerie.

Why they’re not so badass…. Zombies are far from immortal, though undead. As seen in various movies and videogames (I.e Resident Evil games) human weapons are more than enough to take them out. I mean, if Jesse Eisenberg of all people can kill zombies, obviously any of us can.

VAMPIRES:

Why they’re badass: Well, Twilight references put aside, most vampires in literature have been known to be sadistic and creepily intelligent critters. They’re immortals, so they have a lot of time to kill. Humans don’t mean much but pawns to them, chess pieces they can play with in their little games. Since humans are also edible pawns to vampires, the vamps can be pretty merciless too. Unlike zombies, they do have a conscience and thoughts, but they use it too. Psychological bullies, in the long run, are worse than physical ones.

Why they’re not so badass: Since the majority do have consciences, they also tend to be a little…overridden by human-like emotions. Love isn’t the only one, though recently it’s been used to the point of abuse. Guilt can be one, like with Angel of the Buffy the Vampire series whose weighed down with regret over all the innocent people he killed. There’s also fear, insecurity, etc.

WEREWOLVES :

Why they’re badass…Werewolves are animals. As in, all human qualities like emotions or feelings…once the fur’s out, they’re gone. Instincts take over, and in most paranormal fiction or horror movies, they become downright monsters who aim to kill and destroy. They have fangs, claws, and are more like rabid wolves than half-humans if written right. If not written right….

Why they’re not badass… Well, werewolves are animals. They’re not exactly the most fearful thing in the world. Are you more afraid of a human with a weapon or an angry dog? Besides, everyone knows silver gets them. And you only have to worry about them twelve times a year, on a planned schedule. They are easier to avoid than most critters.

FAIRIES

Why they’re badass…Yeah, yeah, they’re not many books where fairies are the danger. But they can be, both fairies and their close relatives, the pixies. They’re small little buggers with human intelligence but the speed and strengths of bees and wasps. And we all know they have sharp teeth too. How is there not a hundred slasher films about fairies yet?

Why they’re not badass… It’s a mixture of their glittery dust, colorful wings, adorableness, and the fact we were all raised to believe fairies are like Tinkerbell.

GNOMES
Why they’re badass…. Look at how easily they can attack unsuspecting victims. They’re in gardens all over the world, passed off as innocent, Santa-like statues. Yet when they attack…who knows what will happen. Apparently there’s already a book written about the possible hazards of this too.

Why they’re not badass… Well…

SLOTHS
All the evidence I give to you of the badassery of sloths is this picture my friend showed me a while back. You have been warned.

So, any badass monsters give you the shivers? Or can you think of any critters whose dangers have yet to be known to the public?

Okay, enough randomness for the week. Hopefully I’ll have a Rec of the Week post for you guys sometime Friday. Till then, happy Wednesday and Thursday!

Playlist of the Month! (Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager post)

2011-02-03T11:06:00.001-08:00

Quick Update: Just uploaded my fifth ever Youtube video last night, dealing with the bassist of my fave band, Sick Puppies. Very ecstatic.

Song Stuck In My Head: Alien Ant Farm's cover of the MJ hit, "Smooth Criminal". Not too random, it was on the radio in teh car this morning.

And now, introduding yet another new segment to the most spontaneous and off-schedule blog in existence! SSF presents...PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH! *confetti*

Writer's playlists are a vital part of the process. Finding the right music for your tone and characters can make a major difference. For instance, much of my WIP was re-shaped by the song "Issues" by the aforementioned Sick Puppies. They also act as a fun and suprising expression of the writer. Maybe Stephenie Meyer's writing is run-on, but at least we can agree with her undying adoration for the band Muse. Right? Right.

So, in PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH - hopefully every first week of the month - I'll share some worthy songs spanning various genres to be added to your own music library!

Let's do this - PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH, Februrary 2011. Since love is mostly in the air (irritation with high candy prices tends to overrule the romance) here's five songs for the romantic.

Avril Lavigne's "FALL TO PIECES". This is a very sweet, younger song of hers. It sort of depicts the honeymoon stage of a relationship when a couple is obsessed with the presence of each other. It's mellow, melodic, and perfect for fictional characters who don't maybe talk about their feelings but feel like being with each other is enough.

Cute is What We Aim For's "TIME". This is another light-hearted melody, from one of the indie bands on the soundtrack for "Jennifer's Body". It's a very cute, adorable song with so much sweetness you can taste the sugar coating in lyrics like, "I always thought your left was your strongest side/but when it comes to you, no I can't decide". Very fitting for an newlywed-ish couple as well.

Depeche Mode's "I Am You". Via my favorite 80's dark rock/techno/New Wave band, "I Am You" definitely isn't cute. Instead, it's a heavy song that depicts the way love can sometimes trap people into another world. Though I hate to make a second Twilight reference, it's very much like the "imprinting" thing werewolves do in the series, being trapped to another soulmate.

Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillet in "Lucky". Another mellow song, this had some minor pop success but still deserves a recognition for a pretty love song. It's best for lovers who are friends, soulmates, other halves. And they appreciate is as well - they understand how "lucky" they truly got. (Pun highly intended).

My Chemical Romance's "Summertime". The only pop-esque track on their newest record, you can tell the lead singer - Gerard Way - wrote this for his wife. It's a very sweet song about using love and the connection it gives you as an escape. Very obvious in lyrics like "you can runaway with me, anytime you want".

How about you guys? What sort of lovey-dovey songs are already on your playlists?

Okay. That's it. I'm just relieved I got to blog at all today. Hopefully I can make this a legit segment. Have a good weekend, guys!

Inceptionnnnn! (Rec of the Week post)

2011-02-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Drafted this during Friday’s school pep assembly - which I skipped - to eventually not even type it up until Monday night. Oh well. Procrastinators live for the future.

Song Stuck In My Head: Limp Bizkit’s version of “Behind Blue Eyes” by the Who. For a band full of angst-ridden, half-rappers/half-rockers, their cover of the Who was incredibly emotional.

Heeey guys, hope you’re doing above average. So let’s just pretend it’s last Friday, and this blog post was typed up in time. Sound good?

There are various things I love in the world. Many things. Kittens. Goldfish crackers. Diablo Cody. Spoof movies. Skirts with pockets. If I had to make a list the best things in the world, somewhere on that list would be actor Leonardo DiCaprio (also known as “king of the world!”); actress Ellen Page (Juno, Hard Candy, Juno, The Tracey Fragments, Juno, Whip It!, JUNO!); and anything dealing with dreams and nightmares (mostly because they’re something a lot of my writing gravitates around).

Enter: INCEPTION!

Inception definitely deserves the Oscar nod it recently received, and I’m hoping it gets more than a nod. Christopher Nolan, the creator of this masterpiece, gave us an actual film. A movie with an unexpected but incredibly realistic world. Scarred and three-dimensional characters. A mission that goes from simple to complex and could be deadly for many people if it doesn’t end well.

Even better, Inception is one of those rare, modern films that delivered the “oohs” and “aahs” the classics always gave us. It didn’t remake an old film or plot, or rely on special effects. Even more noticeably, it didn’t weight itself down with forced modern lingo and pop culture references galore. After all, those are the easiest way to give a film - or any story - an expiration date.

Best of all, never-won-an-Oscar Leo definitely made the whole professional acting look like a natural instinct. He prevailed in this film. And his supporting cast - including the lovely, aforementioned Ellen Page - fit flawlessly into each role. If you’ve yet to see Inception, then be sure to change that in time for the actual Oscars so you’ll be rooting for it too. Inception definitely could pull of being the best movie of the year…well, it and the lasts Harry Potter installment. Oh, was that good….

Okay, now off to see if I’m in the mood for math homework again. Hopefully talk to you later this week. Until then, be good! And also please don’t catch acute bronchitis, as I did last week. It’s rather horrible.

Later!

Real Teenagers Vs. Fictional Teenagers (Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager Post)

2011-01-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: For those who didn't see my tweet about it, right now I'm decked out in Nerd/Fangirl gear. Twilight t-shirt. Harry Potter "Hogwarts" robe. Panda backpack. Oh, and three little kid tattoos on my face - "Team Edward", "Team Jacob", and a lightning scar. Muhahaha....

Song Stuck In My Head: “Steady as She Goes” by the Raconteurs. It’s a very catchy song. I love the beat.

Okay, my eyes are still burning hot thanks to waking up WAY too early, but here we go. For the first actual WRITING, PUBLISHING, and the TEENAGER post in an era or too…we shall debate fictional teenagers and…well, the ones in reality. Hopefully I can consider myself knowledge enough in this area, being an adolescent who only writes YA-aged stuff.

Also, I am very bored and feel guilty for not posting as much. And, begin!

FICTIONAL TEENAGERS know much about themselves. They can tell you their favorite color, their favorite band, how they got that scar on their cheek whenever they glance in the mirror. They’re pretty confident with their sense of self identity.

REAL TEENAGERS need a minute when you ask what their favorite song is. They also freak out whenever they see a new scar because how they supposed to know how they got it?

FICTIONAL TEENAGERS have a way with words. Since all their dialogue is specifically tailored to their personality and style of speaking, there’s no need to worry about it sounding less intelligent than they really are, or out-of-tone.

REAL TEENAGERS…. “No way”, “you’re kidding!” “are you cereal!?” “Omigod, I love that show!” are among the more popular phrases of choice when it comes to them. And though they do have a certain personality to their words, sometimes it’s hard to tell them apart.

FICTIONAL TEENAGERS fall in love with eerily (handsome/smart/mysterious) fictional teenagers, and never have to worry about chemistry or whether they’ll get along. After all, meeting your eternal soul mate in the school hallway is a bit too common when it comes to YA books.

REAL TEENAGERS are lucky if their “meant-to-be” relationship lasts more than a week.

FICTIONAL TEENAGERS tend to have a grasp on their goals in life, where they see themselves going, what their passions are. They already know what they’ll major in come college. They got it all planned out.

REAL TEENAGERS are clueless. Fifty percent of them say they’re going to be doctors and/or surgeons when they grow up. Until they figure out they have take way more classes than the usual college student. And that’s why God invented the “cubicle job”.

Personally, though it could be that I’ve watched too much Diablo Cody movies where her teenage characters lived in a more heightened reality, fictional teenagers beat the crap out of real ones. But that could be bad. Any sort of character that’s a bit too perfect will raise eyebrows. When you start realizing your characters live in an odd, even cliché world, just try to remember your own adolescence. How swell was it? Exactly.

What sort of major differences do YOU guys see in fictional characters? When compared to real ones, that is.

Okay. My fingers hurt. So see you next Friday (hopefully) when I give you guys my fan girl review of the film INCEPTION! Later!

Rec of the Week: Brandon Boyd! (a.k.a lead singer of Incubus)

2011-01-21T11:30:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Typed up in-between periods of psychosis as I await a certain music video debuting this Sunday. : ) La, la, la, la…

Song Stuck In My Head:… Taking Back Sunday’s “Sink Into Me”. It’s a very awesome video.

After Sick Puppies and My Chemical Romance - two bands I have already fangirled about - Incubus would definitely be my next favorite band. Since they’re extremely well-known (you’ve probably heard “Drive” before) I won’t waste anyone’s time squealing about a popular alternative band that’s been around since the 90’s. Unless truth be told, and they do release an album this year, but that’s just expected. Other than that, no fangirling over the band. Nope.

Just the lead singer. *evil laugh*

The lead singer of Sick Puppies agrees with me on this (or so he’s said before) - Brandon Boyd, the lead vocalist as well as occasional congo-drum player of California-native band Incubus, is the most friggin’ talented male singer of our time. No, seriously. We’ll always cherish Frank S., and Michael Jackson, and all of those other cult classics…but for now, Brandon is still performing and croons his way into many hearts. It makes sense, as Incubus has a very mellow edge to their music. A raw edge. And he’s an amazing live singer (at least of what I’ve seen in videos, hehe).

Recently, Brandon Boyd released a solo album. Which only makes sense. The guys in Incubus are just as perverted and drunken buffoons as you would expect young rock stars to be, but they’re also bursting to the rim with creativity. They’re artists, cartoonists, designers, etc. Since Brandon could rock the congo drums like a pro, and wasn’t too bad on acoustic guitar, he released the small in-between album “Wild Trapeze”.

I haven’t properly listened to any of its tracks until now, since I’m in the middle of an Incubus obsession. And hoooooly skittles, is it amazing. Take one of these singles from the CD, and its very artistic video, “Last Night a Passenger”.

I’d mostly recommend the song “Courage and Control”. This was one of the most looked up songs of his on Youtube, and there’s a reason why. It’s all acoustic guitar and has a soft, gentle piano touch to it. His first single, “Runaway Train” is pretty good as well. The whole album seems to have this indie meets folk edge to it, but still has the dramatization of Incubus songs. What’s not to love? And even better, he's also a badass artist. You should look up some of his work.

In a random change of subject, has anyone seen the new season of American Idol yet? Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are rather…odd judges. Oh well. I'm just thankful that Kara Digouridi (NO idea how to spell her last name) is gone. She really got on my nerves. I was glad that when Katy Perry of all people guest-judged, she threatened to throw her coke in Kara's face (it would have been entertaining!).

Later, guys. Hope you have a good weekend.

SHARING TIME!

2011-01-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Attempting the “Snowflake Method”. So far I haven’t stopped to stare, with self-pity, at my laptop screen so it must be going good. I’m still at the character description part though, of course.

Song Stuck in My Head: "Do That Thing You Do". For some reason, the audio visual class used that for the background song in the announcements. To each it's own....

The cool thing about us writers is that they’re sponges. Anytime we read a blog article, or a book that looked rather awesome and informative on the shelves, its vacuumed up and converted to an everlasting brain juice that could very well affect…well, everything we do.

But there’s always your first.

We don’t come into this world automatically aware of how the publishing process works. Or what the heck a “literary agent” is. Or, even, *gasp* that “fiction novel” IS REDUNDANT! WHAT! We enter the writing world full of random, reckless ideas and adoration of Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings/Stephen King/all of the above/other. Then - usually after writing the first horrible first drafts that at the time seemed so [insert corny and much-too positive adjective here] - we decided to know more about the craft.

I got a bit too lucky. I didn’t really leave the house a lot (this was before my obsessive-library-visit phase) and lacked internet a couple years ago as well. Then one day, our church had a yard sale. As in everyone who had stuff they wanted to throw out anyways just dropped it off and we sold about one tenth of it all.

Fortunately enough, I was helping. And since was business was, well, slow (we live in a rather deserted area) I wandered. I picked up the books, which were mostly the dull health ones that a lot of the old ladies in our park read. And then - shining beautifully, gorgeously, and happily in the afternoon sunlight - there it was.

HOW TO WRITE & SELL YOUR FIRST NOVEL by Oscar Collier and Frances Spatz Leighton.

(Cue: Opera singing of “Hallelujah”).

Perhaps you read this, perhaps you haven’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if you hadn’t (it’s a bit old, circa 1986) but at the same time I wouldn’t be surprised if you had (it’s a jackpot for the clueless newcomer). Pretty much, no matter how outdated it is, most of what I know and practice today bases from it. How plot and characters fit together. Different genres and sub-genres. True stories of six, different and famous writers. There’s even a chapter on how to handle tough stuff like character names or more R-rated material.

What was the first book, or the first article/blog you came by, that filled you in on the business? Or did you learn in a less conventional way? Awesome writer friend? Youtube video? Because no matter how much you learn from the blogosphere or your nearest library, nothing might ever compare to where you learned first.

Share, share, share! In the meantime, back to the Snowflake Method document I go….

And, though very random, anyone hear about a sequel to "Mean Girls" coming out this Sunday? Poor Hollywood. You know it’s bad when they they’ve already run short of 20th century teen horror flicks that they’re moving onto more modern classics. I can’t watch it (no satellite) though I do have reason to if somehow I had access to ABC family this Sunday (Avril Lavigne video premiere, hehe).

Anyone have a take on it? I’m mostly just feeling sorry for the wonderful Tina Fey, Amanda Seyfried, and Rachel McAdams. A made-for-TV sequel is the worst fate any pop culture icon can face, after all. Not that I can guarantee it will bomb.

Later!

Best. Pop. Song. EVER. (Rec of the Week post)

2011-01-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: My friend has been noticing a lot of teachers resemble celebrities. For instance, her old math teacher looks like Bobby Monyham's bald twin.

Song Stuck in My Head: "Arms of an Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. Mostly because we were talking about persuasive ads in literature, and my teacher mentioned the depressing commercial of cats and dogs in Humanes Society pounds.

Okay. You've been warned. It's time to release the fangirl on -

Avril Lavigne.

She's mostly known for being some teen, pop/rock Canadian who emerged in 2002 with songs like "I'm With You" and "Complicated". By 2007, she'd become a sort of punky pop goddess. Never a fan of autotune or having songs written for her, Avril is a converse-wearing, tie-loving, raccoon-eyed rocker with a sweet and outrageously "innocent" voice, despite the tattoo of the F word on her ribcage.

And had it not been for hearing her guitar-heavy hit "Sk8r Boi" back whenI was a big-eyed and music-clueless tween, I would not care for the heavy or alternative rock I love today. So, pretty much, I'm eternally grateful to Avril.

Well, her fourth album, "Goodbye Lullaby", is due in March and the early listeners of it rave about how it's very anti-pop, and full of acoustic and piano ballads. Except the first single off the album, of course. A single that's already #2 on the Itunes charts, after being debuted on Dick Clark's Rockin New Years special.

It's synthy, entergetic, brutally honest, feisty, and demanding to be sung along to. It's fun, with lyrics like "I'd rather rage" and "I'm messing with your head". It's a testament of independence - independence against the media, who still think of her as some punk teenager even though she's 26 now, and independence against her first marriage, to Sum 41 lead singer Deryck Whibley. It's "What the Hell".

I don't usually like pop melodies, but Avril tends to be the main excption. I absolutely adore this song. And, as a writer and not fangirl speaking, it's suitable for a rebellious character or a goody-goody about to take an epic journey to the wild side. *wink*

Okay, going back to reading blogs now. Have a good weekend guys!

SSF IS...SORTA BACK! (Update Post)

2011-01-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: I started drafting this while watching "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" in history. It took until ten minutes before the movie was over that I figured out which one was even Elizabeth. Oh well.

Song Stuck In My Head: Fireflies by Owl City (got in a converse involving that today).

See that massive hand in the air? That's me waving at you guys - hey, long time no see!

Winter break's over, and there's laptops in journalism class now (though, I'll be honest, Macs scare me very, very much). So it's time to get back to work. Kind of. Actually, I've doomed you all to a fangirl post by the end of this week, my deepest and most sincerest apologies for that.

I hope you guys had a cheery Christmas and epic New Year's. I didn't do much except for read (expect a very strong review on Brooke Taylor's "Undone"), watch movies (INCEPTION. IS NOW. IN MY. POSSESSION! Muhahahaha....), finishing my first Legend of Zelda game (and with only a little itty bitty help via Youtube walkthrough) and talk to my best friend, who's thankfully recovering more and more from the accident that, weirdly enough, happened a month ago from today. She recently dyed her hair red, thanks to this guy. I didn't do a lot of writing (which is an invite for someone to run up and slap me) but I made up for it with epiphanies and prewriting.

I'm hoping this year on SSF will be one of actual blogging. I worship my flash drive, even though I don't use it to type blogs at home. Well, I do sometimes, but then the laptop freezes up (it's very shy) and the whole document vanishes. This is actually the third version of this blog post you're reading now. Fun fact, right?

Even this is proof I'm procrastinating, since it's just another "hey, whassup?" post. But I have reviews of movies, books, etc. And I'm reading these two books right now, one about fiction books in general and another about "getting romantic" with the idea of writing. So I'm sure that'll spark a Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager post or two.

And how about you guys? Hey! Whassup? I can't still believe I'm getting more followers...but hi to you guys too. Thanks for thinking of me enough to hit the subscribe button.

Okay, I'll stop now before the rabid and drooling fangirl in me ends up spitting out anything from my Rec of the Week post.

Oh...too late...I'm sorry. Here, I'll make it up to you with the best quote I ever heard...this week.

WHEN EVERYONE AROUND YOU BURSTS INTO FLAME...IT'S TIME FOR S'MORES.

- Jim Carrey, Saturday Night Live, 1/8/11 (as in last Saturday, he hosted).

Later guys!

‘Tis the Season and All that Good Stuff (And LOLcatz!)

2010-12-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Only blog of the week, and probably next week too. But starting the first week of January, I’ll be debuting not only a new SSF blog, but a new schedule that I’m hoping to stick to for once instead of this spontaneous whenever-I-can-post.

Song Stuck In My Head: Something by Fleetwood Mac. It was playing on the radio today.

Hey, guys. Merry early Christmas!

Well, I have some news here and there. Good news: Thanks to a contest by Warwick bases, I won a badass contest. Second place! I don’t get a base like the grand prize, but I do get twelve sets of strings…which might be a little useless, since all I have is a Fender Stratocaster guitar knock-off. Oh well. I also used my handy-dandy new flash drive to transfer a lot of my old documents from our computer to my laptop. It’s so much fun to see how many plot holes I had when I first began my book! Ah, good times…

Bad news: Some of you might have saw my panicked tweet, but my best friend and practically sister Lacey and her family were in a car accident last Saturday while going to pick up her sister in Phoenix, AZ. Pretty scary stuff. Rolling over car, everyone unconscious. However, right now everyone’s healing both emotionally and physically. Her grandmother, who was driving, and littlest brother are getting out of surgery; my BFF has staples in her head and punk haircut going on apparently. I haven’t seen it yet though. Still, even if things are improving, it was a very panicky situation. Obviously car accidents are never pleasant. But, said BFF is coming back to town this weekend. So hopefully life will move on, and God will continue to protect them. I sorta consider her family my second family sometimes.

So I’m hoping you guys are all doing alright. If I can get a chance to sneak online, or even try the library, I plan on re-visiting the blogosphere for a while. Any good blogs or entries any of you have seen lately that I should check out?

And, I can’t let you leave without a Christmas gift!

I give you…LOLCATZ! (Holiday edition!)

And since we have been learning about different religions in world history class, I suppose I could add this, just in case I have any Jewish friends…

So Merry X-mas and other holidays! And be sure to watch Ryan Seacrest’s New Years Eve special on ABC too. Why? There’s a certain song debuting there that I probably won’t shut up about it the week after. Just warning you like any responsible fan girl would.

Peace!

NAMELY ADVICE (Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager post)

2010-12-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Does anyone have any idea what happened to the ever-so-wonderful Querypolitan? They haven't updated anything in a while, and that site was the atomic bomb.

Song Stuck In My Head (a new segment): Pressure by Paramore.

Characters names have been known to contribute a lot when it comes. So, using the first name you hear on TV is not so wise. Here are some methods taken from favorite or well-known authors that could help spur some labels for your characters.

THE J.K ROWLING METHOD… Use names with secret meanings that go along with the character. Take Sirius Black. A lot of people already know this, but “Sirius” is also the name of a famous star (as in constellation star, not celebrity) that’s called the “Dog Star”. Guess what Sirius can transform into? A barking, drooling dog. “Lupin” is similar to the technical name for werewolves. Many words that resemble Rubeus Hagrid’s name also mean unkempt and scruffy. “Voldemort” is a French phrase for “master of death”. And don’t even get us started on Dumbledore’s full name…

THE STEPHENIE MEYER METHOD… Use names of friends and/or family. I read dedications of books and CD’s a lot. In the Twilight books, Meyer gives a shout-out to her siblings…Emily, Heidi, Paul, Seth, and Jacob. Oh, hey aren’t those the same names of the Quileute werewolf pack (as well as the girlfriend of one) and a member of Twilight’s Volturi clan? One of them, Paul, is also thanked for his valuable motorcycle lesson. As long as you get permission, why n ot honor your loves one in your story? For all we know, Stephenie’s brother gets a huge kick out of being the original muscle man.

THE SCOTT WESTERFELD METHOD… Use names that fit the timeline. And, no, we’re not talking about baby name sites for a particular year. Take the Uglies Trilogy, a dystopia that happens over three hundred years from now. Mr. Westerfeld made some unique observations on our society - how names were shortening already. No one is called Christopher or Elizabeth anymore, it’s all Chris or Liz. So in the future, or his future, we have characters like “Tally”, “Shay”, “Peris”, “Zane”, etc. And this is their full first name too, not nicknames. This method adds a comical effect when the character “David” (also Scott Westerfeld’s middle name) is introduced, and Tally thinks it’s an odd, made-up name.

THE JAMES PATTERSON METHOD... Use fun. If you've read any of the "Maximum Ride" books, about a few mutant half-human and half-bird kids, you know that Patterson really got creative with his main characters. They were science experiments, "test tube children", after all. What are their names? Maximum, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the "Gasman", and Angel. Priceless.

There are many ways to title your characters. My personal favorite is phone books, since they’re completely random. If it’s contemporary, then keeping it random is best. A few special names, and many common names, etc. Take the movie “Juno” with Ellen Page and many other talents. Juno, obviously, is a not-so-common name. However, there are characters like “Leah” and “Mark” to back it up. Also, doesn’t the name “Paulie Bleeker” perfectly suit Michael Cera’s wimpy character?

So…what shall you do?

REC OF THE WEEK: Stranger Than Fiction

2010-12-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Downloading songs if fun. Except for when the flash drive says "too many videos". Then that's not fun. :/

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I popped in one of my favorite flicks. Ironically, though it is about fictional characters, literature, and a deranged author…it gets facts about us writers very wrong. However, its other details keep it enriching and lovable.

STRANGER THAN FICTION - also known as Will Ferrell’s most serious movie - is a dramedy about a not-so-social IRS agent, Harold Crick, whose life is suddenly narrated by a British author. An author that uses sarcasm and the phrase “little-did-he-know” to reveal that Harold Crick is a character about to die. His lonely and dull existence comes to a halt as he goes on the search for a writer before she can kill him off…much like every other protagonist in her seven previous novels.

One extremely likeable thing about this film is the random, but well-placed, cast. Maggie Gyllenhaal as the rebellious love interest Harold must audit. Dustin Hoffman as a writing professor who attempts to help Harold locate his potential killer. And Emma Thompson as the author whose eccentric attitude about writing battles her self-loathing when she learns Harold Crick is a real character.

Another likeable part is the screenplay. It’s genius, but realistic genius. Emma Thompson definitely gives the narration the soft humorous touch she needs when describing the tedious details of Howard Crick’s life, and the awkward relationship between Will Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s characters is perfectly scribed.

With its many memorable actors, the movie definitely hits home with the character sympathy. You feel for the guy being killed and the person who’s about to kill him. What could be better?

I guess the main flaw I should point out - as you guys are writers - is its almost comical way of picturing authors. Such as how morbid the author is when it comes to killing her character (going as far as visiting a hospital and asking where the dying people are) or having an assistant (played by Queen Latifah of all people) sent from her publishing company to help her with her writer’s block. Even if it does get some facts wrong, it does capture the fear of an one our kind when the unimaginable happens…our characters being real after all.

Okay, peeps. Another time! Oh, and the new SSF schedule and blog overall will probably show up in a week or so, now that Web Design class is coming to an end. So stay tuned!

Newest Obsessions (Rec of the Week post...technically)

2010-11-22T10:54:00.001-08:00

Quick Update: American Music Awards 2010 was dull, compared to last year's homophobic freak-out about Adam Lambert that is. Oh well. In other news, I'm getting a new Facebook account (apparently I never verified my old one, so they got rid of it. Forget that!)

So, this is going to be the one blog entry for the week (Thanksgiving break! Three days off! YAY!) so time to make the most of it.

As of late, I have been warming up to new musical and/or film-ical crazes. I'd thought I would share some of it with you guys!

The band FILTER (you probably know their hit song "Take a Picture"). I've always liked them and the total of three songs I know by them, including an epic alternative rock cover of the song "One". Then after hearing another one of their songs in a movie, "The Only Way is the Wrong Way" I've been going psycho about them again. They have this sort of heavenly, industrial touch to their sound, it's very soothing.

The band MUSE, and no, not just because my favorite singer Avril Lavigne introduced them at the AMA's. I've just been getting "Supermassive Black Hole" and "Uprising" stuck in my head for no reason. Not complaining though. They're pretty epic Brits though.

The rock group HEART. I heard "Crazy On You" and "Barracuda" within the same few days on two separate radio stations. Result: Crazy for Heart. The singer's voice is friggin' epic.

My Chemical Romance, of course. Their new album, #DangerDays, is out today and there was a listening party to toast this on their Youtube page.

A band called Mindless Self Indulgence. They're very punk-meets-pyschadelic, but they have funny perverted lyrics snd a half-girl, half-guy line-up so why not? At the moment, their song "Shut Me Up" is dancing in my head. Very odd song.

And, I'm rediscovering the Pretty Reckless. Their new video for "Just Tonight" came out, and it's so Goth it's beautiful. Also, Taylor Momsen (the lead singer of the band) recently became a familiar character on the show "Gossip Girl". And yes, I watch that show. Feel free to throw stuff at me.

As for movies, the obvious HARRY POTTER. Holy skittles, that was beautiful. And also "Anger Management", since I realized my scratched-up copy of it is still in working condition. (I feel pretty...oh, so pretty...). The other day I also watched one of my favorite childhood movies about a kid and his dog, "My Dog Skip". Yeah, the dog dies, but it's of old age so that's a relief.

Other than, my only other obsession is Sarah Rees Brennan's "The Demon's Lexicon", the first book I ever won in a contest. I finally have time for it after re-reading the Harry Potter series. Anyone a fan?

Okay, peeps, be awesome and don't get too huge of a turkey headache! I'll see you later! And as a goodbye for now, here's a funny article about Photoshop I just read on "Cracked".

For Those Who Enjoy Spoilers: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS!

2010-11-19T11:30:00.001-08:00

Quick Update: So guess who nearly dozed off during a math test today because she stayed up till three to watch a movie last night? Yeah, me. Not fun.

My Chemical Romance song of the day: Disenchanted (a sort of soft ballad, but it's lovable anyways).

I'm actually doing a legit review of this certain HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE movie for my journalism class. But, I'd thought I would be a little less dull and a little more fangirl on here.

So obviously, I saw it via midnight showing wiht my best friend, dressed up in my prized Gryffindor robes (as a kid, I dressed up as Hermione for Halloween...three years in a row). And, as any diehard fan of the books and the films would say - "HOLY SKITTLES, IT WAS 100+ ON A 1-10 SCALE OF AWESOMENESS!"

The reasons? For once, things were spread out a bit and not jumping from plotline to plotline. Second, a lot of favorite characters returned that were necessary to be in the movie (i.e Dobby, Mad-Eye, Umbridge). Third, I'd never seen such beautiful effects - I felt like I was int he wrong reality after leaving the theater. And fourth...well, it just was, okay?

So here's some juicy tidbits. Oh, wait, this is required... *SPOILER ALERT!*

- Hermoine gets a character exploration I'm really fond of. The movie starts at the Ministry, with Rufus talking, but then goes to Hermione's house. There, she's walking towards her parents and, most painfully, erases their memories to keep them safe from the wizarding world. Slowly, to add a depressing emphasis, we see Hermione vanish from all her family photos and her walk away, alone, from her home. Later on, when she must "obliviate" the Death Eaters at a diner, she clearly hesitates. A lot of their hiding places are also old vacation spots with her family.

- As seen in a clip in my last blog, Harry does try to leave the Weasley's in the middle of the night. Ron ends up chasing him down, and gives the scarred man a wake-up that it isn't all about the chosen one and that, besides, neither of them would last two days without Hermione.

- After Ron leaves, there's a sweet scene in which Harry and Hermoine are sitting, lost in their own thoughts while listening to music from Ron's abandoned radio. Harry, who hates seeing Hermione so upset, walks and offers her a dance to the corny music playing.

- Dobby's part is lengthier than in the book, so as to make-up for him being MIA in all the movies since the "Chamber of Secrets". He arrives through Kreacher, having helped the bitter elf capture Mundungus Fletcher. His last scenes at the Malfoy's mansion and Shell Cottage also deliver an emotional punch that the book never could.

- As you may have already heard, the "Tale of the Three Brothers" is told in animation. Not like cutesy animation or anything...it's a cross between line-drawing and Tim Burton but it works. The story has more intensity, and a fairy-tale touch to it.

Most of the major scenes that were taken out are: the heartfelt goodbye to the Dursley's (though they show a hesitant Aunt Petunia in the car), meeting Tonk's family as they go straight to the Weasley's, the informative chat with Elphias Doge (though there is a small meet-and-greet), finding Lily's letter to Sirius though Harry roams through his godfather's room, and Kreacher's tale.

Also, Dumbledore's mind-bending secrets are skated over. While Aberforth's name is mentioned and Hermione shows Harry a picture of Grindelwalk in Rita Skeeter's book, his mother and sister are still unknown.

All in all, a lot of the important and most anticipated were in there, and thanks to acting by British veterans, they exceeded expectations. I hope you guys either see it and enjoy it, or have already enjoyed it. If so, what was something new you really liked about it? Or what was a scene you wished they included?

Another time then...

Random Harry Potter Facts - HP and MCR Week

2010-11-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Happy-birthday-mother-who-won't-ever-see-this-as-her-and-internet-aren't-very-close-but-what-the-heck. In other news, here's another blog hosting a Harry Potter week (at least that I know of, haha)

My Chemical Romance song of the day: "Destroyah" (it's pretty badass, and really new as well!)

Okay, so I was going to talk about the importance of secondary characters but after seeing so much hooplah about that, decided to be a bit more original.

So, with a special thanks to Google, here are some fun facts I bet you didn't know about the HARRY POTTER SERIES! *drumroll? Anyone?*

- A picture of Gandalf the Grey (from The Lord of the Rings) can be seen in the collection of great wizards in Professor Dumbledore’s study in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

- Rowling is the first person to become a billionaire (U.S. dollars) by writing books

- The actress who played Moaning Myrtle is actually 37 years old and is the oldest actress to portray a Hogwarts student

- In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, dragon blood is revealed to be an effective oven cleaner

- Numbers are symbolic in the series, especially 2, 3, 4, and 7. For example, the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione suggest the power of three and the spiritual trinity. Harry fatally wounds the basilisk on its third strike, and Hagrid knocks on the front door of Hogwarts three times. Students attend Hogwarts for seven years and there are seven players on each Quidditch. Sirius is also imprisoned on the seventh floor of Hogwarts

- Rubeus Hagrid, one of Harry’s closest friends, is part wizard and part giant. Rubeus is Latin for something produced from a bramble or a thicket, which fits Rowling’s description of him as “wild.” Hagrid most likely comes from the term “haggard” which also means “wild” or “unruly

- Sirius Black’s tattoos are borrowed from Russian prison gangs. The markings identify the person as someone to be feared and respected

- The divination textbook used at Hogwarts was written by “Cassandra Vablatsky.” Her last name refers to a real woman, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky who founded the Theosophical Society. Cassandra was the daughter of the rulers of Troy (Priam and Hecuba) who was cursed by Apollo to prophecy the truth but never to be believed

- The driver and conductor of the Knight Bus, Ernie and Stanley, are named after Rowling’s grandfathers

- Harry Potter books made the American Library Association (ALA) list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books for five consecutive years. A challenge is a formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness

Okay, I'm actually doing an article (journalism, haha) for either a review of the movie or facts about the new movie itself. Maybe I'll post some here!

See you guys again!

Ultimate Harry Potter Books Vs. Movies Debate (HP and MyChemicalRomance week)

2010-11-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Get your toy wands and Every Flavor Beans - HARRY POTTER AND MCR week has arrived, the series that is the #3 contributor to the fan girl I am today (MCR places somewhere in the twenties though, so yay for them as well).

My Chemical Romance song of the day: “Kill All Your Friends” (morbid title I know but it’s a pretty catch song for a B-side)

So, as my WIP declares yet another civil war on me (it’s been threatening to off a couple secondary characters and change the color of my protagonist’s hair, the rascal) the week preceding the release of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE begins. As does the week before the release of rock group My Chemical Romance’s 4th album, “Danger Days: the True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys”. So, let’s jump right into it!

Okay, so I know the books vs. movies debate is as old as time’s great-great-grandfather but now that I have so many cool writer buds it’ll be interesting to share opinions.

My opinion? Well…I’m glad you asked.

SSF’s PROS AND CONS OF THE HP MOVIES AND BOOKS

Books:

Pros…
- Sorta obvious. Meatier plots and characters, as well as backstories never mentioned in the films.
- Things are explained so you’re not left to wonder how one piece of magic is possible when something else said it isn’t.
- Peeves the Poltegeist! Everyone’s favorite, immature poltergeist. If he’d been in the movies, I would vote for a contemplation of his rude songs.

Cons…
- Okay, the world’s a BIT too open for the imagination at times. You’d think they can do any sort of magic to achieve something, then get disappointed to learn the rules clearly explaining that, no, they cannot.
- There’s only so much time Harry can spend on his “obsessions” (like when he knows there’s a mystery in the castle or that Professor Snape’s up to something). In the movies, they’re introduced then resolved. In the books, Harry spends not only paragraphs of his book but weeks of wizarding-time thinking about the newest mystery. You guys probably already know, but as great of a way that is to focus on voice it means no action. It’s the whole “thinking-and-washing-dishes” technique.

Movies:

Pros…
- The constant action! The horror that is more distinct! Its amazing depth really resignates with people, even the ones who don’t know how to read. The screenplay adds just enough snarky humor that still aligns with the characters too.
- The actors have fallen so permanently into their roles that I wouldn’t be surprised if Emma Watson (Hermonie Granger’s portrayer) finds herself reading textbooks for fun while she’s a student at Brown University. Besides, there have never been so many spot-on castings in one movie - Helena Bonham Carter as psycho, but forever loyal, Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange is enough proof of that.

Cons…
- Huge chunk of story missing, of course! No house-elves rights (S.P.E.W!). No Bill and Charlie Weasley (though hopefully that’ll change with Bill in this last movie as he’s getting, I don’t know, MARRIED). No dramatic Ron vs. Hermonie plots (I think their arguing over their pets in “The Prizoner of Azkaban” lasted a minute). Not even any Horcruxes - well, one Horcrux. Big whoop.
- Really random additions. I’m sure you all remember the shrunken heads in “Prisoner of Azkaban”. Or has anyone noticed that “Nigel” character that’s in the fourth and fifth flicks? I have no idea who this kid thinks he is, but he’s not a figment of J.K Rowling’s wonderful imagination, that’s for sure.

Yeah, sadly nothing about Harry Potter is perfect (the books are close though). However, one pro is that both the books and movies share is that they’re worth waiting in line at midnight for.

So, friends, what’s your view on the debate? Is there something you love about the movies but would usually hate to admit, or vice versa? Tell all.

And as a goodbye until tomorrow, here’s an entertaining cameo that British actor Daniel Radcliffe (you know…the guy who dons the Harry Potter glasses and lightning scar) did in “The Simpson’s” Treehouse of Horror episode last week. He plays a vegeterian vampire named Edmund…huh, sounds familiar.

REC OF THE WEEK: "How I Met Your Mother"

2010-11-10T11:30:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: I have gotten myself a flash drive. This shall make exchanges between internet-less laptop at home and school-computers-internet-access much easier. So, after HARRY POTTER AND MCR WEEK is done, maybe I can actually return to the schedule I once had!

All I ever watch is the CW channel (the epic channel that used to be the WB, for people who don't know it well). We lack cable/satellite so it makes sense. After all, it's played the best sitcoms, has random movies on weekends, and was the birth home of three-fifths favorite TV shows of all time (Reaper, Supernatural, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer...the other two are Family Guy and True Blood, which of course are Fox's and HBO's creations).

Whenever the CW adds a new show to its lining, I give it a chance. This isn't always wise (the new 90210 and this weird "Hellcats" should be proof enough) but it's always fun to watch the pilot and see what they offer. Since it recently fit the popular CBS sitcom "How I Met You Mother", of course I tried it out.

And while it's cliched, a bit corny, and not the most original...dang it, I LOVE this show.

So pretty much it's about Ted Mosby. He's this alright, sorta sentimental guy in the architecture field. His best friends - Lilly, who happens to be none other than Alyson Hannigan from the aforementioned Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Marshall - are a couple who have been together for so many years they've become the sort of ooey-gooey pair that you'll see just talking about how much they love each other. After Lilly and Marshall decide to get hitched, Ted considers the same, as he's never been so successful in the dating game.

With the help of his other friend, Barney - the suit-wearing, classy, but not too intelligent player portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris - he enters the dating world again. And the conquests of his romantic failures and craziness, the weirdness of his best friends Lilly & Marshall, Barney, and Robin (an ex-Canadian newsgirl that is introduced as Ted's first failed relationship and becomes a main character) are the whole hook of the show. Slowly and steadily, it's all up leading up to - what else? - how he met the mother of his two, teenage kids.

The show has flair to it though. It's random and explores the archetypes further than most sitcoms would. Also, Ted narrates in occassional places (he's telling this all to his kids in one setting) which adds a unique, and maybe even more emotional, edge to it all. I think the best part is that somehow all the characters come off as sentimental despite their flaws, so you're rooting for all of them.

Sentimental characters are indeed a beloved characteristic of TV shows...and maybe even literature, if you get my hint.

Another time then, my friends. Another time.

Feeling Random

2010-11-09T11:14:00.000-08:00

Quick Update: Once I finish re-reading "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" for the, er, tenth time I'm going to start Brooke Taylor's "Undone" and Sarah Rees Brennan's "The Demon's Lexicon". Kristin Nelson would be so proud. Sadly, I'm in the scene Battle at Hogwarts scene...way too many people die. It's actually rather depressing.

So, I saw this on Youtube (via the blog YA Highway) and...it is rather odd...

And then got caught up in a related video, of course...

So I've decided...I'm declaring next week HARRY POTTER WEEK on my blog. What do you think?

Actually, just for the heck of it - as the band My Chemical Romance's album is coming out the Monday aftewards - HARRY POTTER AND MCR WEEK.

This will be fun.

#NaNoWriMo and Concerts

2010-10-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: This is bound to be an epic week. A costume contest, a CD that shall finally arrive in the mail after a month of waiting, and more and more Harry Potter TV spots. What else is there to love?

So, I'm thinking of entering #NaNoWriMo.

Okay, you can hit me now.

See, what happened is that I sort of attended my first concert last week. I live in a "one-starbucks town", persay (yes, a quote stolen from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hit me again if you must). They were a few Christian bands performing in our high-school auditorium, and I actually knew one of them (the Letter Black) and so my friend and I stayed after school to watch. Free show. Two bands, one hilarious rapper. It rocked.

After something like that - a wholly, mega-inspiring moment in my life - of course I felt like tossing my WIP (or should I say WTSHBOOPAA, for work-that-should-have-been-out-of-progress-ages-ago) out the window once more and writing something else. That happens a lot, i.e. first time I watched Titantic, first time I read a Twilight book (way back before I knew what grammar was, I should say) and a lot of stuff like that. Of course, the ideas swimming in my head are mostly stories dealing with music, shocker.

However, I'm not sure what to do. At once, my WTSHBOOPAA demanded attention again. I don't want to feel like I'm betraying it, you know?

What about you guys? Anyone else at suicide risk because they're about to enter the National Novel Writing Month? If not, have you ever considered it?

Talk to you guys later - and sorry if I reply late, I likely won't get online until Thursday. If not, I definitely will this weekend...I think.

Later!

Yet Another SSF Update

2010-10-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: I have...way too many songs revolving in my mind right now.

So, welcome back. Or not. Whichever you prefer. I'd been sorta burdened by fall break and the journalism computer lab being taken, so I guess you can say Some Screaming Fangirl took a two-week break. But, I bring good news.

1. We start HTML in Web Design class this week. In a little while, this blog is going to look pimp.

2. I'm getting a job. I know this. This way I can afford internet at home, muhahaha.

In personal news, my cat Bella (can you tell I got her during my Twilight phase?) just sprouted her fourth litter of kittens yesterday. Anybody willing to pay for shipping and handling? They're free (just kidding...maybe). Also, I've been preparing an awesome costume as of late...me and my friend are going to be escapees from a mental institute. It can technically be counted as research for my book though, so...yay?

In writing news, I've been getting loads of last-minute drafting done. My goal is still finish this LAST AND FINAL draft by Decemember, and throw it Kristin Nelson's way. Speaking of the Pub Rants genius...has anyone else tried going to that amazing agent's blog? It's not working too well for me anymore. And if it's just the school computers being idiots, I'll scream.

In just plain book news, the contest I won (by a technicality, but still) about an era ago to win a copy of THE DEMON's LEXICON finally paid forward, and the book...is now in my mother's possession in her town.

In musical news...haha, favorite band + new music video x new videos of them answering fan questions = very happen fan. Which band is this? Why, SICK PUPPIES, of course.

And in random news...I recently learned of an interesting phobia. Apparently there are people in the world who fear that, wherever they are, a duck is watching them. Pretty interesting stuff. Can't you see books written about that?

So, I have blog posts ready. Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager, of course (and if you missed the last post, here's a link). And a few million "Rec of the Weeks" (I saw EASY A for my birthday, so expect it to be about actress Emma Stone). As for random...who knows?

Okay, signing out. What's going on with you guys? Any new writing accomplishments? Share your stories, I like you guys. Talk to again, and remember...watch out for the ducks.

Choose Your Instrument...Your Writing Instrument

2010-09-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Okay, so I'm not doing this blog post because I finally got a guitar amp over the weekend...well, maybe I am. In other news, see Easy A. Only good teen movie since...well, let's not go back that far.

Okay, writers, prepare for the grueling and emotional, hideous WRITING PROCESS. You have your idea, or your direction. You have your inspirations, and a few beautiful, poetic words in your head. So let's start the band practice! That's right...BAND PRACTICE.

So you walk into the garage (office/couch with notebook/laptop/etc.) You pick up the instruments and tune them a bit (sharpen pencils, start laptop, make it look like you're taking notes so the teacher is unaware, etc.) But WHAT instrument will you choose? How will you approach this story you NEED to write, preferably with no panic attacks?

Maybe you'll pick up a GUITAR. With heavy and complicated chords, you'll take every strum seriously. As a writer, that means you're the outliner. You're the one who thinks about the characters and how they'll act, and thinks over the plot before you try to accomplish it. You'll take on every word like a pro, much like Hemingway, and end up creating a fine sequence of events - or should I say musical notes? - that will only need a couple layers to be polished.

Or maybe you'll avoid the guitar...perhaps you just want to get the idea out, and will perfect it later. You're a downright DRUMMER. Take out all your thoughts with two drumsticks, and spit out a wicked, but sloppy, rhythm that your story will abide. You don't need the finished copy, you just need a tune to rock to, and the rest of the song will follow.

Maybe you're...unsure. You have a lot of ideas begging to come to life, but aren't ready to dish out a finishing solo yet. Get yourself a BASS. Lay down the relative, imperfect layer that will frame your story, but manage to get your voice and talent into this draft as well. Your low-key, but thought out, touch will lead to a story that is readable yet flexible layer to start with - then you can make the needed edits, or slaps.

Were you just born to SING? Pick up that microphone, er, red pen, and go. Belt your little heart out and tell the story that rings true to you. Then you can attack it with autotune, back-up vocals, and unbelievable notes that are added afterwards - your revisions. Maybe the ending voice will sound different, but it'll be impeccable and catchy and wonderful to sing later on.

As writers, all of handle our "creative genius" (as we'd like to label it) differently. One thing to agree on is that the finished copy is worth a listen.

Signing out now. Cross your fingers I get my first, minimum-wage job at McDonald's this Wednesday (I turned sixteen last week, haha). Then I get internet at home and do REAL blog posts! Another time, creative geniuses...go make beautiful music!

Rec of the Week...GEEK ROCK! I mean, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE!

2010-09-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Hey, I officially have 30 followers...hello, strangers! In other news, my writing idol @diablocody tweeted me, how fun!

So, total fangirl post here, just a heads-up.

See, there is this band called My Chemical Romance. My best friend worships them, and I favor them above most. Highly attractive and huge geeks, they have had punk-ish/rock albums come out over the years with very metaphoric lyrics and awesome guitar riffs. They're a sure band to check out if you never heard of them. Maybe you can try the song MAMA if you like dramatic rock, or VAMPIRES WILL NEVER HURT YOU if you enjoy tunes about bloodsuckers?

Anyways, here's the fangirl moment...their new album (Danger Days: The True Lives of the Five, Fabulous Killjoys) is due out soon, and a trailer recently got out for the album. And so far, it seems E-P-I-C, even if they have to get a new drummer and all.

Do you wish to view the video? Well, here it is!

Okay, journalism is nearly out now, so I better go unless I want to be late to Web Design class again, haha.

Talk to you guys another time!

We Interrupt This Blog Post...

2010-09-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: A huge, mega, ultra shout-out to MEEROAR of http://meeroar.blogspot.com/. She gave SSF its first blog award, and just as I was about to comment on her blog with the longest thank-you speech, my best friend's wireless internet decided it didn't like Blogger anymore. So, everyone be sure to follow my writer friend "Meeroar" for pitying me and having one of the coolest blog names ever.

This was the blog award, if you're curious.

So, I'm on a ROLL today. SIX notebook pages, and I still have two and a half periods of school left. And then the rest of the day. Usually, I get up to three, maybe four, by evening time.

See, with only ten days left before I turn sixteen, I decided that with a little determination - and a little excessive pleading with God - I'm going to finish the last draft of my book by the 23rd. The LAST draft. The one I'd revise and edit and send to Kristin Nelson (and other agents, but mostly her). I guess I just want to say in the future "yeah, I finished this book when I was fifteen." Then I'd laugh evilly and maliciously.

It was the first thing that came up when I typed in "evil laugh".

I figured out a new way to write. If any of you have ever picked up a Rachel Caine book, you've probably noticed the way she plots. There are so many characters and subplots, but they fit together. Since the Morganville Vampires is my favorite series, my books are very similar to that.

So I decided, for the LAST and twelth draft of my book, to write the scenes by character. I started writing each character's scenes, starting with the least important, in a row. That has been making it much easier.

Since it's a laid-back Monday, I guess I'm just curious...as writers, how do you work? How do you plot? What do you usually come up with first...the setting, the characters, the storyline? And where are you with whatever you're writing? Are you at the stage where you're in love with the plot, and can't wait to write it all down? Are are you at that stage where you're considering how far your computer will go if you toss out the window?

Don't you just love Google Image?

As you can tell, I have a lot of free time today in journalism, so tell me whatever you want! Oh, and just for fun, I'm giving you guys a BONUS blog post in twenty or so minutes...unless a class decides to use a computer lab today, of course.

Well, anyways...spill.

CHARACTER: Lessons From High School English, a WPT Post

2010-09-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: So, good news...I shall be at a friend's house for two days. Looking very forward to reliving my addiction to blogger/Twitter/and Youtube.

Attention, class. We covered plot yesterday, so today let us move onto the helpless dolls and puppets in your story that face horrors and fantasies... I mean, uh, *cough* your characters!

The definition of "characters" in my English class was blunt as well, sadly. To quote our test, characters are "persons who are given personalities and role in stories". True...and false.

For the truth, I would certainly hope your character have personlity. Traits, habits, manners of speaking, and experience are just some of the makeup you give them. Characters are like us - maybe they have the same taste in music as whatshisname, and dress like that-one-girl, but everyone manages to be different and unique.

Good characters are when they might do something, or say something, and make us think, "that's so him/her". It means you put a clear image of the character in the mind of the audience. So know your character well. I can honestly say I know most of mine better than myself...well, on good days.

The false part is the "given roles". Hello. Stories are not waiting for actors to portray them. It is the characters, and their back stories as well as a variety of their own habits and traits, that truly begins a story. Usually, tales are centered around relationships, or a decision the character makes. How can you just insert a random person into this plot, and not expect it to change?

If you really want characters to stand out, don't create a story then throw them in. Create them, and let the story fold around their own quirks and oddities.

Of course, we did do a bit on "dynamic" and "static" characters as well, which makes me breathe easier. There's another tip - if you want a memorable protagnist, make him/her/it dyanmic. If they have the same personality traits and do the same routine they did in the beginning of the book...you failed. Just kidding.

Be sure to remember...are you the same as you were ten years ago? Yeah, I didn't think so. Not that I can say much...ten years ago I couldn't spell 95% of the words in this blog post (I was five, hahaha). We're all characters. If you put that in mind, you should be good.

PLOT: Lessons From High School English, a WPT Post

2010-08-31T12:17:00.001-07:00

Quick Update: Nothing much. Unless almost spontaneously combusting in the Arizona heat last week when our AC gave out counts.

As matured authors and writers, I hope you at least know the basics of grammar, stories, and literature. Well, too bad, because you're backing up some years to high school English class! Aren't you excited?

Aforementined in my previous, update post, we're covering the basics once more. Today's lesson...PLOT.

We all know plot. It's the meat of the book. Chubby and complicated or slim and angular, plot is the challenges that face your precious hero, or so only Nathan Bransford himself says. No plot would be like Harry Potter staying with the Muggles, making friends at a normal school, and not fighting back. And certainly not facing any complications like half-giants or owls. If your characters are going down a straight, peaceful path where everything works out, plot is what rudely shoves them off. As writers, you just have to figure out how they get back up, bruised but stronger (or with a broken ankle, whichever you prefer).

What really interested me is that in class, the dumbed-down definition given to my fellow students was this: plot is the sequence of events in a story. That really made my eye twitch. Good stories aren't a "sequence of events". They're a sequence interrupted by a haywire, uncontrollable force, and the rest of the story is an attempt to get the events back in order. Until the main character learns from it.

Plot is, of course, one of the best ways to show off your creativity as a writer. After all, you are the one who creates this outside, inevitable force, you're the one who throws the Dupree into a newly-married couple or brings the fangs into a high-school relationship. You get to be the one who throws routine away and exchanges for this multi-choice fantasy.

Have fun.

Catching Up With SSF

2010-08-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Well...hello there.

So, maybe (or maybe not) you figured out I have been away from Blogger and Twitter for...oh, say nearly three weeks? There is a reason. I assure you.

In short, I am a student witohout internet access at home. My female parental in Tucson (who I visited for the summer) had broadband, so of course I took advantage of that. Now that I am back in my actual town for school, I have to figure out a way to either get on the computers here at school, or go to the town's only public library to catch up with my awesome writer friends. You know...you guys.

So, right now I happen to be on a school computer (shhhh) since I had to type up a World Literature essay anyways. In the past two/three weeks, I haven't done much, unless watching five hours STRAIGHT of Buffy the Vampire Slayer last Saturday, and waking up on time on week-day mornings counts as accomplishments.

However, I'm delighted to say my usual writing time, during class notes (another shhhh) has been brought back to me. In the past fortnight or so, I have not only written two fight scenes and a sorrowful death, but blog posts are cooking up as well. Heck, I might even enter the Writers Digest Short Story Contest for the first time this year.

I'm hoping next week or so, I'll post an entry on conflict, plot, and characters, so you can try to look for that. My English/World Literature class is covering the basics before we move onto the Odyssey. Sadly, my class NEEDS a re-cap on everything. Proof of such: three girls who sit around me in class were freaking out about the grammar bellwork. Quotes from their conversation... "What are prepositions again?" "Don't you mean pro-junctions?" I felt like slapping somebody when I heard that.

Also, since I'm in a Web Design class an elective now, hopefully I'll be able to, er, fix this website. My teacher was not happy when he saw how many colors it had. Which is true, but I just worked what Blogger had, I guess.

Thanks for reading, and I'm hoping no one is TOO upset with me. And again, I say goodbye for now (unless I can get on again this week? Maybe? Perhaps?) and apologize with...LOLcatz.

REC OF THE WEEK...Director David Slade

2010-07-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: So, apparently Myspace and Sodahead hate me now that our ethernet is dead. I'm thinking Blogger and Youtube have been talking with them behind my back, because they seem mad at me now. Is it really too much to ask of them to load a page within one minute? Ugh...at least Yahoo! and Twitter will always be on my side...

Okay, it is rather late, but it's time for my first ever "REC OF THE WEEK", people. And that rec (short version of RECOMMENDATION) is director David Slade.

This is totally the work of someone else, I promise...though it is rather funny...

So...have you seen any of the these three movies?

1. 30 Days of Night, a horror movie about an Alaska town that is pretty much overrun by evil, horror movie vampires in winter when there's no sunlight for a month.

2. Hard Candy, an intense film with Ms. Ellen Page playing a young girl seduced by a sexual predator.

3. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, well...hopefully you know what this is, even if you've yet to see any of the movies. See my old blog post on the Eclipse movie if not.

Anyways, should you have seen any of these movies, then, wah-lah, you've seen a movie of David Slade's already.

While my favorite director is actually Tim Burton (EDWARD SCISSORHANDS! CORPSE BRIDE! NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS! ALICE IN WONDERLAND! SWEENEY TODD! JOHNNY DEPP! Wait...the last one isn't a movie...) David is definitely my second. Mostly because he didn't start out as a MOVIE director...no, he directed music videos, and very wicked ones at that.

No idea how that got there...silly Blogger...

Here are a few of my favorites...

If you watch his videos, you'll notice a pattern...I mean, besides the creepy, but cute, characters in the last two and various others. Well, otherwise, a lot of his videos have a morbid edge to them, as well as this colorful, but intense, use of red-against-blue coloring. It looks amazing.

His use of colors in music videos, and the intensity in his films, make me glad he still has films coming out. So, hopefully you'll check him out; check him out on IMDB or Wikipedia for some more info.

Muse, in "Hyper Music". Isn't the red and blue pattern beautiful?

Other music videos by the Slade...(list brought to you by Wikipedia and Youtube...)

* Aphex Twin's "Donkey Rhubarb"
* LFO's "Tied Up"
* Rob Dougan's "Clubbed to Death"
* CJ Bolland's "Sugar Is Sweeter"
* Muse's "Hyper Music, Feeling Good"
* Muse's "New Born"
* Stereophonics's "Mr. Writer"
* System of a Down's "Aerials"
* The Killers' "Goodnight, Travel Well"

Hope you enjoy all his videos, movies, and such, and all the creepy bears and pedophile natures to some, though they are all still friggin' amazing...talk to you on Friday!

Side note...since Blogger is still not letting my comment on ANY blog posts whatsoever...to people on Monday's post, thanks! And the clone puppies produced the biggest "awww!" out of me as well. Also, Sandy Wills decided to post her own take on songwriting and character's voice, which you can read here. It's awesome, don't worry.

Thanks for reading and subscribing everyone!

How Characterization and Voice is Like...Songwriting

2010-07-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Every book-review blog I know is spazzing out about the new "Mockingjay" book trailer...an eerie reminder that I'm probably the only YA reader in the world who has yet to read Suzanne Collin's "The Hunger Games" series...do I get points for being obsessed with the Uglies trilogy?

So, today, I am going to give you my own, personal tip on how to master the tyranny of first-person narratives, or character voices in general. One thing authors do wish to avoid like the swine flu, after all, are having well-written and humorous role-players...that sound exactly the same.

Unless your novel happens to be about an army of clones, of course...

Authors, I want you to think of a song. No, not some catchy one you accidentally heard at the store earlier and have stuck in your head still. Think of a song with lyrics, tone, or theme that you relate to, that whenever you hear it you ponder, "Oh, how flawlessly this describes moi!". And yes, that is French.

Easy, right? We all have songs who lyrics or atmosphere we relate to, it's the joy of music.

I want you to think of different character voices as song lyrics, tone, and theme. Do not gawk at me like that, did you really think I'd let you escape without explanations and examples? Dream big!

Think of how lyrics are similar to other song lyrics. They all tell stories, or rants, or opinions on the world. They vary from chipper and peaceful tones to angst-y and heartbroken. And usually, they're easy to relate to, we can see a whole new perspective through words.

Really intense songs can spark a variety of emotions!

Now, think of how they are different. Songwriters all have different perspectives, as well as experiences to focus on. A song could have more than one tone, and express amounts of emotion, or be pretty average and neutral. Sometimes, they are just stories, something to maybe see an inch of ourselves in but mainly listen to for entertainment.

In a way, song lyrics and songwriting is EXACTLY like writing characters and distinguishing their voices: you tell a story through their words, whether they speak articulately or bluntly, whether they are optimistic or a little on the negative side. You tell their story, and hope that everyone will either say "yep, that's MY life, exactly" or be amazed by it.

So, here's my tip: think of three songs that would match your character. One to match their grammar and voice, or how they talk. Do they use metaphors, ask a lot of questions, have a favorite word they say in every few sentences? Another way is to match their personality mood-wise. Someone like Kesha and Lady Gaga would be the life of the party, always wanting to dance. Someone more AC/DC or Metallica is charged up and easily ticked off. The last is how they share things. If your character is like Taylor Swift, which I'd say is more first-person, then be ready to have a narrator who's willing to fess up EVERYTHING, and not leave details out. Then you can have someone more, say, third-person (Green Day anyone? Wow, I'm such a teenage girl...) who tells others stories, and leaves out a lot but does get across the emotional impact. See the album "American Idiot" for more.

Hopefully the only time I'll ever compare St. Jimmy and Taylor Swift...

I'll give my own example: in my series, the main character is a sorta sarcastic, distressed girl with many issues (PTSD and nightmarish monsters to be exact). I'd say the way she speaks is sorta offensive towards others, but she's just curious most of the time, and asking why. Sorta Katy Perry's not-so-popular song "Ur So Gay". When it comes to tone, it's sad and regretful, but trying to force herself to move on...very Three Days Grace or Sick Puppies. And when it comes to her perspective, she's Avril Lavigne, focusing on herself more but doing her best to not expose much of her life's experience, but instead talking around it. Not many words, but just enough.

The coolest part of my examples? They were all my musical influences while writing. ;)

Hope this helps, and that you understand your character more. Do you know songs that would describe your MC's, or any of your characters really, in these ways? Oh, and if I don't commant back like I usually do...again, blame the ethernet. :/

Blame My Ethernet or (Lack Thereof) Please

2010-07-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Well, this post is technically an update itself, so this part is rather pointless.

Okay, so during the past week I've mostly helped out my female parental prepare for this huge yard sale, and clean up our room due to a nasty bed bug infestation (if I had a camera hooked, I could show you a picture of my arms, the evidence). And that required moving the computer into another room...only somehow her loser boyfriend had messed with the internet too many times. Our ethernet decided to stop working, pretty much.

It is still sorta warped, and Youtube videos takes about a decade to load, but the internet-without-ethernet rather seemed to hate Blogger, Blogspot, and all related things. Which is a pity, too, because I had Monday's WPT post written and ready! Ugh.

Anyways, to my subscribers - new and...well, new (this blog is only an infant after all) - I apologize, and promise an awesome WPT post Monday, as well as the first "Recommendation of the Week" on Wednesday, and who knows what on Friday.

Okay, now to return to Twitter because I missed today's first EVER #UFchat (a chat just about urban fantasy! AND THAT'S WHAT I WRITE!) and neeeed the transcript. ;) Hope all your weeks were swell, and I shall talk to you all on Monday! Unless the computer decides to crash...okay, now that isn't an optimistic thought...

So, to extend my apologies, here are some worthy LOLcatz (since LOLcatz brighten every situation, don't you agree?)

Let's Talk about Twilight Spoofs

2010-07-16T14:55:00.001-07:00

Quick Update: So, you're probably wondering whatever happened to my first Wednesday post...well, that is a long story, involving a huge debate on which musician/movie/book I would talk about first. So, hopefully next week the battle of good and really good will be resolved. On a positive note, I think I learned how to link stuff in my blog...cheers!

For today's random post, let us talk about Twilight spoofs.

That's actually Taylor Swift there as Bella...and Frankenstein as Edward.

Spoofs and parodies, as you should know, are usually movies or small clips that mock a well-known culture icon. They'll highlight the flaws, and add humor to them. Perverted, slapstick, and nonsense humor, sure, but still humor. My favorite would have to be the entire "Scary Movie" series (Anna Faris, who plays the dumb blonde Cindy Campbell in each, happens to be my choice actress). However, what MANY of us have seen lately is spoofs mocking one certain franchise:

The Twilight Saga!

Weirdly enough, I have already talked about this series. But, since I have been hearing about the trailer for the film, "VAMPIRES SUCK" everywhere I go, I thought it would be fun to talk about. If you have no idea what the The Twilight Saga, then I'm surprised. It's sorta...everywhere. If so, whether you like it, hate it, or just don't care, you might enjoy this trailer.

However, not that VAMPIRES SUCK is the first to tackle the issue. Small mentions have gone into other spoofs, such as the prom from the first movie (DANCE FLICK) or just Edward and Bella in the not-so-popular THE 40-YEAR OLD VIRGIN WHO KNOCKED UP SARAH MARSHALL AND FELT SUPERBAD ABOUT IT. Hollywood certainly isn't alone though. So, I have complied a list of my favorite Twilight spoofs/parodies...please note, I happen to be a fan. I just enjoy the humor. Check them out if you have the time!

TWILIGHT SPOOFS/PARODIES:

Movies -
1. Vampires Suck

Television -
1. Saturday Night Live (Firelight, as in, Twilight with Frankensteins)
2. Jimmy Kimmel Show (done by the cast of Jersey Shore)

Books -
2. Nightlight (some of which you can read HERE: http://bit.ly/1dWFv0)

Youtube Videos -
1. EVILIGUANAPRODUCTION have so far spoofed all three of the trailers. Their first spoof, of the original Twilight movie trailer, became so popular that it earned them a chance to also do their version of the Edward vs. James scene.

2. JACKSFILMS is more known for his summaries of the Twilight movies in a minute. Though he wasn't around for the first film, he did have time to parody New Moon and Eclipse. His most popular video will have to be THIS though, which is just a comedic parody of the Eclipse trailer.

3. JCKSPARROW, or "The Hillywood Show" as they go by, have also spoofed the Twilight movies, usually having a dance and music sequence to add to the film. As seen here, they sum up Twilight with Katy Perry's hit "Hot n' Cold".

There are plenty of amateur The Twilight Saga spoof videos on Youtube that would take a few ages to go through. Sometimes they re-act a scene with humorous lines, put a different voice over the actual actors in the trailer, it varies. Heck, there is even a puppet-version or two of the series.

Other spoofs -

I came across this the other week, and if you like LOLcatz, you'll likely find THIS hilarious as well. It is pretty much the entire Eclipse movie in LOLcatz pictures. They have New Moon and Twilight in the archive as well, but they're shorter and do not span over the whole film.

Well, hope you enjoyed the excessively long post and videos. Are there Twilight spoofs you have seen or read that thought are worth reading? How do you feel about the franchise? Thanks everyone for subscribing! Truly appreciate it.

Since Blogger Isn't Perfect...

2010-07-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Some Screaming Fangirl: WHAT TEENAGERS DON'T WANT FROM YOUR BOOKS...Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager Pt. 2

Since I began the draft of this post on Friday, apparently it counted as Friday's post, so...here's the link to Part Two of my opinion on what teenages desire and do not desire from your YA books, in case no one saw it.

Thanks for reading and subscribing everyone! ;)

NEW SSF BLOG SCHEDULE!

2010-07-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Expect the second segment of "Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager" tonight, brought to you by the song I am listening to now...and if the link does not work, forgive my idiocy with HTML.

So, in the middle of writing my newest post, I had an epiphany...sort of. Okay, it was not nearly as cool as that, but I did think of an official blog schedule for SOME SCREAMING FANGIRL that isn't hectic and unpredictable (at least for now):

MONDAY: Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager. Once, I had thought of doing this as a separate blog. But it's not like I have THAT much to write about. Still, as a writer and teenager, I want to share some of my knowledge, because even a year later, I'm still hungry for information on writing. It's one of those things that authors, new and old, will hunger forever.

WEDNESDAY: Entertainment-related things. As in, my chance to fangirl over movies, music, books, you name it. My plan is to recommend a favorite of mine every Wednesday. Of course, for writers, if you have a book you want reviewed, I shall gladly do so, and for anyone, I'll take recommendations. Maybe your favorite band or flick will be one of mine, too! You know...if Netflix or Youtube has it... *wink* P.S. Did not make the collage, just found it online, and I happen to know a majority of the bands, so....

FRIDAY: This shall be RANDOM day. Something I might have noticed over the week, rants I need to get off my chest. Discussions. The options are endless!

That said, expect a WPT post in the next hour or so!

WHAT TEENAGERS DON'T WANT FROM YOUR BOOKS...Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager Pt. 2

2010-07-09T15:05:00.001-07:00

Quick Update: I feel famous. Kimberly Pauley (a.k.a author of "Sucks To Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire [Maybe]) is following me on Twitter after I talked to her on there. Crazy or what? I'd definitely recommend her books though...unless you don't want to laugh....

http://www.kimberlypauley.com/

So, anyways, while I wait for more questions about the YA genre to come in to answer, how about a sequel to my earlier post?

My own, personal list (as in, please do not go psycho and say I'm wrong or that I left out a million things) of things YA readers DO NOT WANT FROM YOUR YA BOOKS!

1.WE DO NOT WANT LESSONS SHOVED IN OUR FACE. Of course, the idea of every novel, story, etc. is theme. Theme is a good thing. You learn values through fictional characters, and see the consequences of common sins. However, I'm sure parents of adolescents are quite aware of what happens when you tell them what they did was bad...glazed-over eyes and repetition of the word "whatever". i.e... Say a YA protagonist lectured that shoplifting is naughty will not have the same effect of a YA protagonist shoplifting, and facing the police afterwards. It'll also give you a chance how the character handles themselves in panicky scenarios.

It happens to the best of characters, I suppose

2. WE DO NOT WANT A MENTION OF SOME EXTREMELY OLD FIGURE IN MEDIA. Yes, it is nice to know about that one legend that existed in the 60's...but if every celebrity, musician, actor your characters talk about require either a quick trip to Google, Wikipedia or a parent, that'll just waste time readers could be spending on your story. The same with dictionary terms, too...when I was younger, there have been books when I had to have a Word Document dictionary open while I was reading. Shouldn't be necessary!

3. WE DO NOT WANT CLICHES! AGH! Are you curious by what I mean? I'm sure a lot of you have seen or heard of this, but, Joelle Anthony’s old list gives a good idea of it. Hmmm *random idea* perhaps I should make a list of my own? Anyways, there are characters and scenarios that show up in teenage...everything! Be original. And if you're going to take an idea, at least breathe your own self into it. We can't all be Megan McCafferty.

Save the teenage cliches for spoof movies!

4. WE DO NOT WANT ASSUMPTIONS! Yeah, you think you know teenagers. They all go on Myspace and obsess over that mouse-voiced Justin Beiber...Bieber? I have no idea, which is exactly my point. Just as adults are, teenagers are extremely unique, impossible to define, and unexpected. That book-smart nerd boy in your book who seems to get flawless A's, is in every honor roll program at his school, and makes his momma proud might attend "parties" on Saturdays that are very un-Harvard. The school's resident, er, "female dog", might volunteer at a shelter, and maybe dealing with that and her fellow students makes her so bitter. You never know! And trust me, there are plenty of teens who have no Myspace. Some even have FACEBOOKS!

And lastly, the one I KNOW you've heard before, but cannot be emphasized enough...

5. WE NOT WANT TO BE TREATED...LIKE INFERIORS! Today's teen readers aren't all bumbling, Disney-channel-watching fan girls. I am glad to say I have friends who devour Anne Rice and Stephen King just as much as Stephanie Meyer and Scott Westerfeld. So, slow and simple reading, elementary-school worthy vocabulary, plenty of "OMG's" and "totally!", and characters with crushes on those scary Jonas Brothers...well, they just make us think you underestimate us. That you underestimate your audience.

There was a book series I read once (will not say the name, so no one is offended) during my post-Twilight phase. The hook was very vampire and werewolf-ish, and seemed like it would be interesting. Yet, the writing...was just wretched! A little kid might have written it. The plot could be predicted at the very beginning. The dialogue seemed like a bunch of Youtube comments. And it was a series!

Teen fiction is truly an amazing thing. They are stories of people growing from kids to adults, learning all the lessons that will mean their future. And yes, it's wonderful to write for them. Just be sure to have some respect for the mind of the teenager.

NOT NECESSARY!

Thanks for reading, and a huge thanks for subscribing when it comes to some of you! I feel like jumping up and dancing every time I see a bigger number on the followers list. Of course, that would only terrify every person in the room, so I try not to.

Bye! Stay tuned next week for another segment!

#YAlitchat ... ASK A QUESTION!

2010-07-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Yay, Billy Madison's on, no better way to relax than with a Adam Sandler flick!

Well, I decided to dare myself to do this, so, to all YA authors and readers out there coming through Twitter, I ask you this...

IF YOU COULD ASK A YA/TEEN READER ANY QUESTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Why do I ask this? Well...maybe this week I can give you answers, eh? Not just me either. I'm hoping to get the help of some other Book Bloggers...:)

Any question is appreciated. And if there are people who want to contribute answers, be sure to email me via anythingbutordinary927 at yahoo dot com with your answers. Hopefully this will be a cool way to connect readers and their writers!

Thanks for reading! Be creative, be open!

WHAT TEENAGERS WANT FROM YOUR BOOKS...Writing, Publishing, and the Teenager Pt. 1

2010-07-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: HA! I thought of something to write about, maybe multi-posts, too. Cue: evil laugh. And since I'm following (and being followed) by some cool new writers on Twitter, why not?

Obviously, as a pre-published author, YA reader and YA myself, I can say that my favorite genre is pretty much exploding on the market right now. See below:

Vampires and werewolves and fallen angels, oh my!

There are not many differences between YA and adult literature, if we get honest. There is still sci-fi and romance, fantasy and mainstream, issues and conflicts. The main contrast is and will always be: the audience.

So, here is the official WHAT TEENAGERS WANT FROM YOUR BOOKS.

1. We want smart, funny dialogue. Not simplistic, short sentences that have triple spaces on page. Sarcasm may be a no-no in a lot of genres, but we can never get enough. If the narration is satirical and can generate a laugh or two, we read on.

2. We want new characters. Yes, we all know cheerleaders are evil demons living inside tanned, bleached blonde teen girls. Move onto a new monster please. (Like, Jennifer's Body...Jennifer was on the flag team, not a cheerleader). How about the chess club captain or the track star being the antagonist for once? Everyone has a motive...you just have to look deeper.

Jennifer's Body's Flag Team Villain

3. We want romance. No, this does not indicate a book chock full of declarations of love between two teenagers. This would never happen, anyways, especially in contemporary YA. "I love you" is thrown around more carelessly than ever these days. How about romance elements? Where the hero/heroine have their issues, and the boyfriend/girlfriend merely acts as a shoulder to cry on, an ally who knows how to kiss? If love is the main story at hand, then do not mirror Nicholas Sparks. Be original with your lovers and their relationship. You're a human*, so hopefully you know how humans express and feel emotion.

*If you are not a human, then you are excused.

4. We want to be shocked. We want twists at the end that make us scream "What the (insert curse word here)" and then force us to keep reading so we look for a resolve (which should also be included. If things are predictable, and I can already tell that Whatshisname will get the girl and defeat EvilVillainGuy, then you fail. However, keep the shockers to a minimum. Bringing in a demented evil twin who has yet to be mentioned at all will not shock us, it will only mean a negative review of your work.

Er...best EvilVillainGuy I could find, I guess...

5. We actually kinda want cuss words and "bad" stuff. I can remember reading "Breathing Underwater", one the required books, and the three kids in my group got all giddy because someone said a swear on the first page. I was pretty shocked; I mean, back then, I just finished a Scott Westerfeld book where it was a common, REALISTIC thing. The truth is that teenagers today are just like the shows Family Guy and South Park: perverted and yet a little intelligent when it comes down to it. We watch Shane Dawson videos and listen to Lil Wayne. It's a new generation, I guess. But, the idea of of censoring YA is beginning to thin. Just be natural!

6. We want sad stuff, in the case of the girls. I'm not speaking for myself (I sold my soul for a chocolate chip cookie two years back) but my peers seem to love books that end with people dying. A popular choice is the Outsiders, which remains one of the most beloved required readings ever. You know how many people sobbed over the ending? And dogs dying in fiction is pure tradition yet legend. Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows are classics. Yet, so are I Am Legend and Marley & Me. Tears are the best attraction.

This is all I can think of for the moment, but the post is sorta lengthy anyways. Any questions or suggestions? Perhaps I should make these multi-posts...

Thanks for reading! :)

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Review, Pt. Two - Pros and Cons

2010-07-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: What a memorable fourth of July I'm having. Female parental and loser boyfriend got in a fight, so I went with said female parental around the block, saw/heard a couple colorful explosions, and then back home it was. Fun. Still, happy Independence day to all, I suppose.

So, as promises, here is the second installment of my opinion on the third installment of the The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. (There's a tongue twister).

I decided to go with a overused tactic...PROS AND CONS OF THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE!

I never fathomed how small/short Kristen Stewart was...

Pro: Scenes like Bella and her mother, Jasper/Rosalie/Quileute stories, Bella's proposition to Edward, and the fight scene between Victoria and Edward were kept rather similar and intact to the original book.

Con: Yes, but scenes like, per say, Edward and Bella's note-passing, Jacob accidentally stabbing his hand and Bella's dangerous "fit", Alice's excitement over the wedding, and Jake ditching Forks at the end...nada.

Pro: Half the movie is not just Bella, Edward, and Jacob competing in emo staring contests *cough* Not that New Moon and Twilight were...

Con: Half the movie was instead spent flipping back and forth between short, cut scenes and never quite focusing on just one. Whatever happened to character and relationship development?

Aww...how romantic....

Pro: Pretty much any scene with the Newborns was friggin' amazing. Such as when they were making a mess with their food, or when their heads turned to dust under the grasp of an enemy.

Con: Er...why exactly did Bella CUT HERSELF in the movie? In the book she was about to, she had a jagged rock ready, but never actually CUT HERSELF. Can we say WRIST-SLITTERS!?

Pro: Werewolves forgot their shirts a lot.

Con: Vampires remembered.

Pro: There was actually a part where Bella expressed emotion (punching Jacob).

Con: Well...it didn't exactly last long.... (no offense, Stewart's awesome, just not in the the Twilight Saga).

Pro: Charlie and Jacob's lines had the entire midnight showing audience laughing their intestines out. I.E "And let's face it...you know I'm hotter than you".

Con: Plenty of corny screenwriting as well, enough to fill the bucket of greasy popcorn. I.E "I'm gonna fight for you."

And lastly...

Main Pro: The actors really got a chance to show off their skills. I suppose after their stints with Remember Me and the Runaways, Robert and Kristin at least proved they could act, and were willing to show it off. And, yeah, the fight scene was wicked cool.

Main Con: As always, the atmosphere and screenplay clashed. Honestly, the books are more light and fluffy than dark and full of angst. The first movie was depressing in both screenplay and setting. The second had a light atmosphere...but extremely depressing screenplay. And this movie had the funny screenplay it needed...but there was still some gloomy/angry performances that weren't always necessary. Hint: stop speaking in the monotone every other minute! Much thanks to Robert Pattinson for listening to that for this movie. He was nearly alone though.

Well, hope my opinion angered no one. I still loved this movie, and would recommend it first when deciding which Twilight flick to watch. Sadly, David Slade will not be directing Breaking Dawn *sob* but with Breaking Dawn being split into two films, hopefully the newbie will have common sense to do them right!

Hope you liked this post, and know what to expect of the Twilight Saga: Eclipse if you have yet to see it. Tune in tomorrow for a new post...still not entirely sure of its subject though, actually. Bye!

Yep, I Saw The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, And...

2010-06-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Um..okay, all blog posts have been postponed until now due to A) lack of internet, B) lack of connected keyboard, and C) my own procrastination. Hope no one is too displeased.

So, the theater is dark. A preview for Charlie St. Cloud plays (and doesn't look too bad), my female parental is quickly outside taking one last smoke of her cigarette, butter is pretty much pasted on my fingers, and I'm up at one o'clock in the morning to watch some romantic film called the Twilight Saga:Eclipse. Is it worth it?

...Hell yes.

Okay, so you could say this is a biased review. I mean, there's the fact that I've been part of the fandom since the first flick came out, that I'm a teenage girl, or the blueprints I have of Robert Pattinson's house (totally joking on that last part). But aren't the haters also biased? If they disliked the previous movies, there's a weight that carries onto this film. So maybe a positive review would be nice, eh?

First off, David Slade is brilliant. I only saw a half hour of 30 Days of Night (grrr, had no choice, it was on TV) but there are a couple music videos of his that I love (Stone Temple Pilot's SOUR GIRL and AFI's GIRL'S NOT GREY, to be exact). He did an above average job at bringing a more vampire-ish atmosphere and horror elements to The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Scenes - like the opening clip of newborn Riley writhing in agony on the harbor, or the fighting scene in which the Cullens and werewolf pack snap heads clear off the enemy - would have scared original director Catharine Hardwicke silly.

Isn't the Twilight Saga: Eclipse's Xavier Samuel (as Riley) fine? *cough* Um, back to the review.

I personally love how Slade gave the actors more leniency. It's brutal honesty, but in the first two movies characters were pretty one-dimensional and emotionless. Maybe Stephanie Meyer's writing style isn't flawless, but she had at least managed to create more fleshed-out characters (whether Bella is a "Mary Sue" character or not, she did have a sarcastic point-of-view sometimes, and tended to be scared easily, for instance). Robert definitely got in more time to be a rough, protective vampire (see scene below, between Edward and Jacob after Jacob steals a smooch from Bella). If anything, it was Taylor who lacked as much flavor in his one-liner deliveries, as funny as they were. Here is where Edward threatens Jacob (video is not mine):

My favorite part of this third installment was definitely the back stories, and how they played out on-screen. Eclipse is my favorite book in the series, mostly for this same reason. There are chapters that focus just on the histories of Rosalie, Jasper, and the werewolves as a whole. And while not every detail made it in, the dramatics were amazing. We got to see Rosalie take her ironic bride's revenge out on her fiance, Jasper kill newborns for Maria and how much it pained him, and the "cold ones" when they first conflicted with the "spirit warriors".

Heehee, my first funny image of Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Captions are pretty cheap though.

That said, it has its flaws. Kristin doesn't get Bella's torn feelings across that well. Not that we have enough time to see her go back and forth between Edward and Jake (though a part where Edward makes a show his kissing abilities with Bella when the dog's watching). And a lot of the funnier parts seemed to have too much intensity with them. Take the scene embed earlier; in the book, it's a funny and ironic one. Jacob immaturely kissed Bella, and she got pissed in a way only a teen girl could. and there was a string of insults that followed as she had Edward pick her up. And yeah, he got protective, but he also had a funny, CALM monologue about what he'd to Jacob should he ever harm Bella again.

This post is starting to get too long, so I'll put the review to a halt for now. Tune in tomorrow (and yes, I promise tomorrow there shall be a post!) for more pros and cons on The Twilight Saga: Eclipse ! For now, other blog posts are waiting to be read!

Oh, and a major thanks to my new followers. I don't now how to repay the fact, except for following you back! :) Hope people reading this enjoyed!

Awesome Contest for Fellow Bookworms

2010-06-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Listening to a few of the songs of the Almost Alice CD. It's the best non-soundtrack, movie soundtrack ever made.

So, while I get together a bunch of interesting stuff to write about when it comes to werewolves and the Twilight Saga movies, I found a few contests via Twitter. Here is one!

http://authortarakelly.livejournal.com/15462.html

Pretty much, she's giving away these four, amazing-looking YA books. Which books might these be, do you ask?

In HARMONIC FEEDBACK, a girl with some psychological problems (no better character flaws!) befriends a couple others who, for the first time, don't treat her like a mental case. With the trio's musicial talents and need to express themselves through it, they form a band...but not without consequences. Buy it here at: http://amzn.to/c2UDiW

In GIVE UP THE GHOST, there's another teenage girl, only she has some paranormal talent. She talks to ghosts. Instead of using it for good like Jennifer Love Hewitt, she instead uses them to get the dirty gossip on the popular kids that made her an outcast. However, when one comes to her for help with the dead, her talent backfires. Get it here at http://amzn.to/95TMma

Prize three, BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, is the tale of a third teen girl, who, after a series of events involving heroin overdoses, heartless boyfriends, cutting, and your typical family problems, is ready to get her experience out. And here's the link... http://amzn.to/A4oiY

Lastly, THE DEATHDAY LETTER, a book recently released, is the story of a world where everyone receives a friendly letter twenty-four hours before they die warning of them of what's going to happen tomorrow. So Ollie, who happens to get one of these, decides to do the one thing he's yet to accomplish: get the girl. And insert the Amazon link...here: http://amzn.to/bhL75e

That is all. They all seem pretty cool, so I guess have to cross my fingers now, eh?

I'll promise I'll write a kickass Twilight post tonight though, so hopefully it'll be up tomorrow. :) Bye, off to watch Youtube videos and finish entering the contest!

P.S. Sorry about the whole "Take a Look Inside" part of the pictures...I'm sort of horrible at copy-and-pasting sometimes. :(

SSF's TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE Volturi Post

2010-06-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Some Screaming Fangirl: TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE #1 - The Maniacal Volturi#links#links#links

TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE #1 - The Maniacal Volturi

2010-06-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: My friend and I went in hysterics during a late-night (midnight-ish, and hey, we're teenagers, we're allowed) after a fan video she made for one of the stars for Twilight was re-tweeted by the celebrity himself. So, inspiration struck!

Twilight.

What do you automatically think of when I say that? You have four options:

A) Wha-what! But I do believe it's still early afternoon!
B) AH! OMG! OMG! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOOOOOOOVE IT!
C) Ick. Really? Are we going to talk about this? F*** YOU!
D) Eh. Whatever. Not sure how I got here anyways... *quickly erases any searches for Robert Pattinson shirtless on Google History*

Okay, mostly Twilight brings to mind the subtle-plotted, somewhat dramactic blockbuster series (both book and movie series) about some bookish chick who has the hots for an immortal. However, as a fangirl there are two details about this mega-hit that I do like...1) awesome soundtrack/score songs, especially Paramore's "DECODE", some Muse songs, and Carter Burwell piano ballads to make us seem all "sophisticated". And 2) ATTRACTIVE MALES! (For a small note, people whose reaction was choice A or C will probably snort and/or make some noise of disgust at this).

For further reference, yes, I do find something appealing in those "ugly, hairy morsels" that "call themselves actors", should you be some hater. Now that we got that out of the way, let's focus on a particular breed among them...THE VOLTURI.

Okay, let's have a hasty review for those not in-the-know: the Volturi, in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, are the evil, red-eyed rulers of their kind that judge too harshly and make decisions that never really seem to better anyone (sounds like our governement - hey, who said that!...) They'd brought into the storyline after Edward (you know, Robert Pattinson, 108-year old virgin vampire, get out from under that rock you're under before you suffocate!) decides to kick his own bucket when he believes Bella (I'm not going to explain this anymore, just Google it for crying out loud) is dead. After all, only vampires can kill other vampires (except for werewolves, but totally another story) and it's not like Edward can politely ask his brothers and sisters "Oh, my ex-girlfriend who I said I'd forget is probably dead, so can one of you please, please kill me so I don't have to suffer?". Yeah, not going to happen. So, his next choice is the Volturi - break one, itty bitty rule and they come running with fangs ready. See here in one of the small cips from THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, featuring a minority of the Volturi.

To cast the Volturi, however, they brought in a wider variety of thespians to play the parts, everything from Sweeney Todd actors to child-stars-made-A-Listers. Here are the four Volturi we'll get to see in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE. All the quotes from the books are thanks to Twilighters Anonymous, since for some stupid reason I left my Twilight books at home before I came to Tucson for summer vaca. :(

DANIEL CUDMORE as FELIX. Felix is somewhat of a body-guard for the Volturi. Strong, gigantic, angry, that sort of thing. What are some other movies that you can find him in? Small parts in ARE WE THERE YET?, DRIVEN TO KILL, and ICARUS, as well as a bigger role in X-MAN: THE LAST STAND as both Peter Rasputin and Colossus.

DAKOTA FANNING as JANE. Her character is an evil, little girl, who has this creepy ability to cause extreme, mental pain with her super-duper vampire powers. She does so on Edward around the end of the Twilight Saga: New Moon. Dakota's been in way too many movies for her own good; some of her most recent work is THE RUNAWAYS, CORALINE, PUSH, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, FRAGMENTS, and CUTLASS. Those are the ones where she'll be nearest to her actual age - sixteen.

CAMERON BRIGHT as ALEC. As Jane's evil twin, he has demonic abilities of his own, only they're physical, as he can blind enemies instead of torture them. To see more of Cameron Bright, check his moderate and minor roles in flicks like AN AMERICAN AFFAIR, X-MAN: THE LAST STAND (with his castmate Daniel), and THANK YOU FOR SMOKING. He also had a small role in one of my favorites, JUNO. Sorry. Just had to include that. :)

CHARLIE BREWLEY as DEMETRI. A.K.A, the blonde hunk who caused our ruckus on Twitter last night. Demetri (who in the picture is holding back petite Alice, or Ashley Green) is another body-guard sort of character, only he has an ability of his own: tracking. As in, once he catches your scent, he can follow you like a dog wherever you may go. Charlie hasn't had much of a resume (according to my friend, he's been in a couple movies like Ectasy) but his Twilight Saga role has already changed things.

Really, I'd planned on doing just the Volturi in the Eclipse movie, so perhaps I should stop now, as this blog is already a bit lengthy. However, my schedule has changed a bit - stay tuned to SOME SCREAMING FANGIRL DOT BLOGSPOT DOT COM for a whole string of blogs until the day THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE is released! I'm sure I can find more things to talk about when it comes to this amazing series in less than two weeks' time!

So, tuning out now! Be sure to read the next couple of weeks for other Twilight-related blog posts.

Here's my friend's fan video for Charlie Brewley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BYjCo82h6g

"IF I HAD YOU"... Oh, Wait, You're Gay!

2010-06-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: After waiting a couple eons for my female parental to kick some, Kid-Rock-loving loser off our only computer, I found an email from my BFF with a link to Adam Lambert's new music video premiere. Time to discuss (and to post the video in this blog entry, of course)

So, Monday blog posts will revolve around...well, let's go ahead and say ANYTHING.

Welcome, strangers, welcome. Today is nice day for all fangirls obsessed with gay guys.... What? Why are you looking at me like that?

I'm sure that the name Adam Lambert is well-known by now Say it and half the girl population will scream *cough*. Say it and uptight, Southern folk will growl cuss words to voice their distaste. Why? Because the attractive American Idol runner-up - with vocals that reach those notes that only dogs can hear, probably - happens to like boys.

Should you go on Youtube and watch any performance and/or music video of Lambert's, yeah, you're bound to see a million comments debating about this fact. Personally, I don't see what is so wrong with it. If anyone had been paying attention to our media for the past - oh, century or so - they would have noticed that gay and lesbian entertainment has been something of custom in our media. As an author, I see lots of genres that are just for this (I'm not saying I write it or anything, I'm saying that it's an option). Just look at our media these days! Not only musicians, but actors, TV hosts, models, they're everywhere. As a Christian, I am proud to say that God to tells us to love everybody, no matter who or what they are.

So, for now, as people continue to pretend that our world is still the same as it was when horses were vehicles and taxes weren't horror stories, and people stuck to the opposite sex. Just because he likes makeup doesn't mean that Adam Lambert can't sing like angel, right? And his being angel is fine by me, as long as he doesn't too much glitter on his wings (be subtle, Adam, SUBTLE).

So, here's his newest video for IF I HAD YOU, the third single off his debut album, in all its post-disco dance vibe. P.S. This videos does NOT belong to me, obviously, think more VH1, Adam Lambert, and his record label. Copyright is all theirs.

VH1 TV Shows Music Videos Celebrity Photos News & Gossip

Checking out now. Tuning out of blogger and back to rock/pop musician Avril Lavigne, who, thankfully, is perfectly straight (though I'm still wary in her taste of guys - I mean, Brody Jenner? Really?) Do try to tune in for my blogs this weekend about THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE and its cast.

RANDOM Loony Lovegood

2010-06-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

Quick Update: Recent outbreak of bug bites finally healing. They weren't kiddin when they said "don't let the bed bugs bite...or reproduce eerily under your mattress..."

So, Monday blog posts will revolve around...well, let's go ahead and say ANYTHING.

What about those fictional characters, eh? We all have our favorites. Guy geeks idolize a hobbit's every move, and girls fawn over sparkly, de-bloused immortals. Made-up people are just likeable. If your best friend suddenly starting eating humans alive and then asked for mercy, you'd forget them. If Hannibel Lector started eating humans alive and then asked for mercy, you'd curiously listen to his story. It just happens.

Personally, my favorite fictional character of all time is LUNA LOVEGOOD, via J.K. Rowling's legendary Harry Potter books.

Readers recognize Luna as the odd, anti-conspiracist yet clever Ravenclaw student, who tends to wear necklaces of cork caps and talk about things that just aren't there. Movie-goers kind of know her as Evanna Lynch's blonde, airy-voiced character, with a dead mother and MIA shoes, for reasons beyond us.

J.K Rowling is obviously known for her characterization. They're all different, with personalities and backstories that could probably make J.K wealthy for three lifetimes if she were to publisht hem. You can rely on Hermione for book smarts, the twins for rebellious trouble-making, Snape for some...um, scaring tactics. Luna was sadly a bit player, but whenever she did come to bat, it was for something big. In HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, her words helped Harry accept the truth of people dying and moving on. In HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, she accompanied Harry to a party, allowing him to overhear a certain converse there. And of course in the final book, she was held hostage. That's sort of major.

She was a character that everyone felt sympathy for though. How dare those Hogwarts students tease her, steal her shoes, and leave her convinced she's friendless because she believes every fairy-tale her father writes in the newspaper? Her mother died when she nine for crying out loud! Luna's also likeable, and looking out for people, especially Harry and Ginny.

Kudos to J.K, and kudos to Luna "Loony" Lovegood!

Hello, Complete and Utter Strangers

2010-05-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

First, let us get one thing straight. This blog is in the perspective of - what else? - a fangirl.

No, not quite the passed-out wannabe with braces and posters. I follow Twilight, occasionally, but wish to ax-murder the entire cast of Hannah Montanah. I can quote some Harry Potter from heart, and true, have dressed up as Hermione before, but laugh myself stupid at Justin Bieber songs. I suppose fangirls vary in types?

Sophisticated Fangirl: Someone who likes the music of an alternative band more than the band themselves (though they are indeed fine, as my mother would say) and actually reads the books a franchise is based on. Most SF's occupy themselves with A) sequels and spin-off books, or B) watching and memorizing every move of the guitarist in a music video and analyzing what it has to do with either the song lyrics or just his looks.

Um...Not-So-Sophisticated Fangirl: Someone who cannot name one song title from that uber-sexy but talented band, and might get the books on CD (but why read it when there's a special edition DVD?) Most NSF's spend their time A) at Hot Topic, wasting their precious parents' cash, or B) making new signs for the next live performance of which band or singer they choose.

Relax, my internet audience, I fall in the former category. Us SF's are judged too harshly. So, yeah, we have seen movies JUST because Johnny starred in it, and maybe we have a Robert Pattinson calendar or two...*clears throat*. Well, I'd have to say my goal through this blog is to highlight the minority, and make them shine! Okay, not shine. Gleam, maybe? Ah well.

So how will I do that? By talking about the random things I love, of course! Music, movies, books, attractive males, the usual. If anyone would like to reccommend something, I'll gladly take suggestions. Unless whoever you suggest is awful. Then maybe not.