Celebrating My Three-Year Blogaversary, featuring Guest Poster Mia "Awesome" Hayson

#DailyWings: "Whatever you desire is already connected in some way to who you are and what you now have. Find that way, follow the connection." -Ralph Marston

I'm incredibly proud to announce that today is the blog's official Three-Year Blogaversary! *cheer* To those of you who have been with me since the very beginning (yes, I know who you are), THANK YOU. And, of course, thanks to ALL of you for sticking with me, no matter how long! Your comments and encouragement always keep me going. It's wonderful to know that there are people out there who identify with the things I write, that my musings and observations of daily life resonate. Isn't a human connection, after all, one of the many things we constantly strive for? 

As part of the celebration, I have the lovely Mia Hayson from My Literary Jam and Toast as a guest blogger. HOORAY! Mia is an incredible individual and never fails to make me smile/laugh/feel fuzzy. A writer from Scotland, Mia blogs about the art of writing, delicious novels, fun blogfests and the occasional zombie. Today, she will be talking about the fear of writing. 

Let's talk about gut-wrenching fear for a moment. The last time I was really scared out of my wits was when I watched "The Shining" (1980), a psychological horror movie based on the book by Stephen King, in my film analysis class. I hadn't heard about it before, and our professor didn't tell us that it was a scary movie (admittedly, I should have done the research beforehand). 

For those who have yet to see "The Shining," the film is about how the caretaker of a secluded hotel, Jack, becomes possessed by spirits and is driven to kill his wife and son. Conveniently, the wife's name is Wendy. Not to mention Jack Nicholson does an impeccable job of portraying a normal family man who gradually turns into a human monster. At one point, Jack's smiling on one side of the bathroom door and holding an ax aimed at Wendy's head. During that scene, I felt the kind of fear that creeps up on you and has you petrified and holding on for dear life. Yeesh. I'm getting chills just thinking about this movie! 

I was like this the whole time: 

The scariest moment of our lives

But there's another kind of fear that's more latent. You feel it at one point or another -- when you want to pitch a story idea but think it's stupid, when you want to tell someone how we feel but have a fear of rejection, when you want to take a risk but don't want to face failure. This fear simmers underneath at all times, feeding off of your dreams until it takes over your decisions and ultimately your life. 

Here's a secret: being alive in part means facing your fears. In some twisted way, I'd never been more aware of my racing heart and cold fingers than when I was watching "The Shining." Facing your fears doesn't mean ignoring them or pretending they don't exist. It means acknowledging their presence, "tucking them in a jar" and jumping at the chance to pursue what we want anyway. If we always let fear get in the way, we'll always be stuck in the same position -- stagnant. We won't move forward in our lives. We won't learn from our mistakes. 

A few weeks ago, I wrote a poem that illustrates what it's like to face the fear of speaking out -- whether that means sharing your feelings for someone important in your life, standing up for what you believe in or writing down the words you've been itching to get on paper. At some point, we all need to take that chance. 

On to the fear of writing! Time to let Mia take the reins on this one!

~ ~ ~ ~ 

I'm so flattered and honoured to be able to celebrate Wendy's blogaversary here with you guys! OMG! Wendy is one of the most articulate, eloquent, and just super lovely bloggers I have ever had the good fortune to meet. This blog has kind of been a haven for Miss Lurker over here so I'm just going to try and step up with a post about fear and writing and things and then we can all wish Wendy many happy returns etc. So! A lesson in fear:

Fear manifests itself in many different ways for writers. If you can think it, somebody somewhere is losing sleep over it. Some writers wake with a start in the depths of the still night, only to start frantically checking our last email/blog/tweet/manuscript/text for typos (actually, I think maybe most of us do that one? I do anyway hehe) while others don't ever make it to bed because they're trying to establish just how edgy is too edgy in a children's book. 

The point is we all have fear. 

Just as some people are afraid of stuffed giraffes  and others afraid of toast in the shower, you get some real wackadoodle fears out there in the barren-lands of the unfinished WIP. None more so than the fear of failure. It grabs you as you pass the singing bush of querying, avoiding the hissing lake of broken words. And, if you let it, it takes hold. Recently I realised that I had been pricked with its thorns.

You see the thing about this fear is that it preys on our uncertainties. It latches onto us while we slumber, and only really begins to hurt when it's burrowed in too deep. And the thing about this fear is I let it prey on my need to please people. I don't think it makes you weak to want to please people. In fact, I think it makes me decidedly human. I want you guys to be happy and smile and for us to all enjoy things! 

Having said all that this year I decided to change something, and so far it's going just fantabulously! Having realised my apparent vice, I'm now making an effort to write what I want to and not what I think other people will love. I'm writing the stuff I want to pen. And maybe, just probably, I think there's a reasonable possibility what I'm writing is good. It's interesting. It's different. And it's absolutely me.

So! This week I put it to you, guys. Overcome those literary fears! Write something and enjoy the writing! Realise that a little fear can be productive, but a lot of fear can be creatively crippling. Remember that fear when we all started blogging/dancing/writing/ reading/walking/insert favourite activity here? Well that seems so tiny now, doesn't it? And people like Wendy make blogging so fun.

Lesson: There will always be unknowns but writing comes first.

Difficulty: Pretty to very hard, yo.

Remember: Write for yourself, you are your own reader, and things aren't so scary with friends.

What is your biggest literary fear? Congrats to Wendy and her awesomeness! Three cheers for this blog! I think having a blogaversary is a wonderful thing because it shows the world how long you've been conquering fears and writing for you.

~ ~ ~ ~ 

Wendy Lu

Thanks so much to Mia for taking the time to write this guest post for us today! Everybody should go visit My Literary Jam & Toast to give her thousands of virtual hugs and love comments. And thanks again, everyone, for coming to celebrate my third blogaversary with me! Here's to many more! Woohoo -- strawberry shortcake for everyone!

Celebrating My Three-Year Blogaversary, featuring Guest Poster Mia "Awesome" Hayson

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Crack The Shutters

#DailyWings: “Peace again! – The exquisite hour before dawn, here at my old desk–seldom have I realized so keenly, appreciated so fully, these still, dark hours.” – Edward Weston

I have always seen this blog as a window into my thoughts and my life, but lately I've kept that window closed. It's been nearly two weeks since my last post, and clicking on "New Post" today was like getting my teeth cleaned and realizing I needed a filling. I finally had to face the neglect my blog has received, but now that I am typing away again, I find myself sighing with relief. Starting is always the hardest part. 

In general, I haven't been writing lately. It's weird how you can love something so much that you're scared to touch or even go near it. Even after two years of blogging, it still takes effort to open this window into who I am, to set aside my fears and actually write stuff that means something to me. 

I sometimes tell people that I can't live without writing, and before it seemed to come out as an exaggerated joke - but I'm beginning to think it's true. These last few weeks have been tough. Lonely. Chock-full of mistakes and regrets. And busy... so terribly busy. I'm surprised I actually survived last week, when every hour was filled with this meeting or that class, and food and sleep were only distant things that existed outside my bubble. My journal was MIA, and the only writing I did consisted of interview transcriptions and class notes and feature stories. Looking back now, not doing any writing for myself was a mistake. 

The good thing is, gray days don't last forever. Long walks in the arboretum are nice. I am lucky to have some of the best friends anyone could ask for. Being busy has kept me from overthinking: Even though research and classes take over most of my waking hours, I wouldn't trade my majors -- journalism and psychology -- for any others. There is just too much fun in learning and discovering something new. And, of course, I have the best followers - my friends, even when my window stays closed for long periods of time you are still here. Lastly, thank God for music. 

Over the months, I noticed that I tend to avoid writing when I don't want to confront myself. Inside, I knew if I opened that window I would see how I was really doing - terrible. Being down in the dumps stinks, and when that realization rises above the surface, it makes the thought that much more real. But at the same time, I am slowly learning that the sun can't light up the room until you crack the shutters open wide.*

Let's just hope I am able to keep that window open from now on. 

How do you bounce back from the blues? Any thoughts on balancing writing with other aspects of your life? 

Wendy Lu

*This phrase is based on one of my favorite songs, Crack the Shutters by Snow Patrol. 

Crack The Shutters

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Happy Valentine's: Making the Best Out of a Hallmark Holiday

QOTD: What are your thoughts on V-Day? Is this a special time for everyone to tell their loved ones how much they care, or is Valentine's just another Hallmark holiday?

Happy Valentine's Day! <3 Bought myself a pretty paper rose :)

You can be sure that love was in the air today--all over campus. Students of all types of organizations were selling merchandise in the Pit: Purple-dyed carnations, candy, pink-and-red hearts, paper roses, chocolate-covered strawberries, the works. And it seemed as though there were more couples than usual holding hands and cuddling together. I even spotted one couple behind the dining hall, nuzzling against each other with their noses touching. I forgot to say "AWWW!" as I passed by. Oops...then again, they probably wouldn't have wanted me to interrupt. 

I have the biggest urge to make an "LOLOL FOREVER ALONE" joke right now but I shall refrain. Honestly, Valentine's Day really isn't that bad. I mean, if we're going to have holidays about loving our mommies and daddies and loving our presidents and loving no school presents (that's what Christmas is all about, right?), then it totally makes sense to have a holiday dedicated to love in general. And it really can be fun. It can be as fun as you make it.  

Besides, who says Valentine's is just for couples to enjoy? I bought a red paper rose this morning from one of those merchandise booths at the Pit, and you can bet I got it for myself! My mood instantly skyrocketed after that. Having the independence, the will and the money to treat myself to a small gift was so much more awesome than anxiously expecting someone else to do that for me, and I him. The thing is, before you can learn to love someone else you gotta' learn how to love yourself first. I also bought one of my great friends a pink rose, which made her really happy -- and made my day even better! 

After classes, I spent my afternoon tutoring adorable elementary and middle school-aged kids at an after-school program. We provided them with snacks (yes, candy too), a duo step show and art supplies to make Valentines for the local children's hospital. As cliche as it sounds, spending my time helping others is, I think, the most special part of this holiday for me. 

Best of all, throughout the day I have received really sweet messages from my awesome sister and friends. I am really too lucky to have these people in my life. And here I am now, letting myself enjoy a crunchy-delicious apple with Nutella before I finish off the night with a free-writing session and the latest episode of Glee. On Valentine's Day, what could be better?

Happy Valentine's: Making the Best Out of a Hallmark Holiday

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Dear, you.

QOTD: What salutation do you prefer to use and receive? 

Perhaps in my mind I am living in the Middle Ages when Old English was still the norm, but when I receive a letter or a message that begins with "Dear," I can't help but feel as though I'd just swallowed a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup or received a big bear hug from an old friend. 

Nowadays, the salutation "Dear" seems to be most often used between co-workers, in student emails to instructors, and other more professional and formal written exchanges of communication. What I love about "Dear" is not only the respect embedded within the word, but also the fact that it carries such an affectionate sense of caring, fondness and amiability. We have gotten so caught up in today's convenient "American language" and colloquialism that acknowledgments such as "Hey," "Hi," and "'Sup" have replaced more traditional ways of greeting people. 


Of course, I would be a fool as to say that I myself don't use those expressions, because I do. All the time. That being said, I will always have a soft spot for the word "dear," and try to use it when I can and when it's appropriate--even when I am just writing friends. I like to give them the sense of warm, glowing fuzziness that I tend to get when someone calls me "dear." It's just nice to hear, you know? 


Just for fun, here is one of my favorite clips that show the cast of Harry Potter speaking "American." Hilarious. 

What do you think about the progression of the American language over the years? Should the degree of respect and formality in salutations really matter? Is it really that important to use greetings at the beginning of an email or a chat session on Facebook? 

Dear, you.

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Design a Book Cover Contest: "Breathless"

Hope you all are having a wonderful week so far! Today marks the Design a Book Cover Contest, hosted by Teralyn Rose Pilgram over at A Writer's Journey. Check out the other entries below, and vote on your favorites! 

Below, you can see my entry: 

What do you guys think? :) The background of the book cover is part of a photo that I took of a stained glass window in one of the chapels back home. I think there are many different ways you can interpret what you see on cover...whether it's a certain shape created by the different pieces of glass or a deeper, more subtle and emotional abstraction embedded within the image itself. 

Breathless is a writing project that I may be working on during National Novel Writing Month, which is honestly the most awesome and craziest writing event you could EVER have the insanity to participate in (if you didn't already dive in last year and figure that out yourself). 

I really, really loved working on my entry for the contest solely because it gave me even more inspiration to continue the project (I will stay very ambiguous about "the project" because no writer is supposed to actually talk about what they are working on, right? Therefore, I am going to keep this in "hush-hush mode") and sparked that kind of initial fiery interest and passion I had felt when I first started it. 

Creating the book cover also made me realize that I REALLY enjoy the art of making book covers....thinking about what colors and images to use, how to arrange the text, and--most importantly--pondering over what a book cover should (and shouldn't) reveal and depict about the story inside. 

I think I found my new procrastination hobby. ;)

Design a Book Cover Contest: "Breathless"

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19th Birthday Blogfest: The Favorite Book Challenge

Question of the Day: What is your favorite type of cake? Describe the perfect slice...include any toppings or fruit or flavors :) I want to hear about the yummiest, sweetest, most divine cakes you can imagine!!!

Yayyy I am officially 19 years old, as of 9:15am this morning! *does happy dance* I'll be pretty busy for the rest of the day but I had to post and share my happiness with you all. I don't quite feel 19 yet but I'm sure it will hit me soon at some point--probably right before I dig into the birthday cake that is anxiously waiting for me in the fridge. *nom, nom*

Speaking of cake, be sure to tell me what is your favorite kind of cake and what your ideal cake would be! Everyone loves a good cake fantasy. :) In my next post I'll share with you photos of my own cake as well as other visuals of my festivities! Also I'd like to take a moment to thank all of my family and friends for always being there for me and for making today so amazing already--and it's not even the afternoon yet!

Since I already hosted my 100-Followers Inanimation Blogfest not too long ago, I decided instead to participate in a blogfest myself! And just in time...

Today is the last day to participate in Teralyn Rose Pilgrim's Favorite Book Challenge Blogfest over at A Writer's Journey (click the previous link to see the other entries)! The idea is to choose my top five favorite books of all time (this is a challenge, indeed), and for each book write two lines on what it's about and why I like it so much. So here goes!

1) My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult--This is a novel about two sisters; one of them has leukemia and the other was conceived by her parents solely for the purpose of saving her sister throughout their lives by constantly donating granulocytes, bone marrow, and other cells that are crucial for survival. Reading this compelling novel made me aware that many families must struggle and go through difficult situations and I must remember to feel grateful for all the good things in my life.

2) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini--Amir is a Sunni Muslim who is living in Kabul as a child, and befriends Hassan, the son of his dad's Hazara servant. I loved this book because not only did I learn so much about the contemporary history of Afghanistan, but I was also engrossed into a story that is filled with prose that highlights the sins, the tragedies, the beauties and the truths about what natives of certain Middle Eastern countries go through.

3) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott--Follow along with Jo, Amy, Meg and Beth in this book filled with their stories of growing up in the midst of America's civil war, from small skits to marriages to school troubles to sisterly quarrels. Having a sister of my own, I know how strong the connection between sisters can be and easily relate to all of these March girls in some way or another; plus, Alcott's writing is amazing.

4) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling--In this third book in Rowling's epic series of the magical world, Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts hear about his godfather, Sirius Black, for the first time and find out if he really is a menace or if there's something else about Harry's tragic past that we have yet to discover. I'm not sure why I like this book the most, but it's probably because we learn more about Harry than just the sad story of his parents' death that we already know of, and Remus Lupin is AWESOME (seriously, I wish I had him for a high school teacher).

5) A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle--Ahh, it is hard to explain this book but I will try my best: a science fantasy novel, A Wrinkle In Time follows the Murray kids as they set out on an adventure to find their father and discover the truth about what happened to him when he went missing during his mission to learn about time travel. This book indirectly shows its readers what it means to be courageous, put your family first, and have hope in the face of dark times.

19th Birthday Blogfest: The Favorite Book Challenge

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30-Day Challenge 24: "Why I Write YA" Blogfest

Question of the Day: Why do YOU write (or read) YA?

Day 24: What are five things you like about yourself?

1) I am extremely compassionate and empathetic towards people who are struggling through difficult situations, especially if they are health-related.

2) I like having a quirky obsession with Smallville, Superman, and comics in general; I actually don't know many girls who enjoy comics and superheroes.

3) My love for writing makes me feel happy and purposeful every single day; why wouldn't I like a trait that makes me happy?

4) I think that my ability to be extremely self-aware prevents me from going insane on a daily basis; I'm glad that I can keep up with my thoughts and feelings, compartmentalize them in my mind, and take control over them before they take over me

5) Family and the people I care about are number one. Because I have met some extremely appalling people in my life who don't really practice the good habit of putting themselves in others' shoes, the kind and genuine individuals whom have I had the good fortune to meet, befriend and now love are very important to me. I do and would do anything for them.

Today, Gabi at Iggi and Gabi is hosting a really neat blogfest as part of the YA Cafe Friday Specials. The reason I decided to participate is because YA literature is increasingly becoming prevalent in today's society and it's not a topic I have touched base with before on my blog. Also, despite the fact that YA is one of my favorite genres to read and write, when I first read the blogfest name my answer was blank, which really puzzled me since I would've thought it'd come to me immediately, being the YA lover I am.

So after pondering all day (hence, the reason why I am late in writing my entry--sorry about that! Better be fashionably late than never show up, eh?), I decided on my answer:

The reason I write Young Adult is because...

1) The age of adolescence/young adulthood is one of the most transforming stages in a lifetime. Think about it, a lot happens--the want and need for independence, struggle to maintain healthy relationships with significant others/friends/family, the search for one's place in a social setting as well as in the world, and the beginning of the search for one's identity. It's a time of trial and error. There are the most physical, mental and emotional changes in this period, which makes it so darn intriguing to write about.

2) Young adulthood is linked with so many experimental firsts, such as first love, first taste of rebellion, first change in physicality, and first brush with the bitter truths about responsibility and mistakes. All young adults go through these, but every young adult experiences these things differently. In observing adolescents that I interact with or pass by down the street, I see the way young adults react and the affects that certain situations have on them--and something about those observations compel me to create characters based on them. If I take these characters and put them in, say, a motorcycle accident (which was brought upon from that first taste of rebellion), how would they react? How would this affect every single aspect of their lives as young adults?

3) Young adulthood is controversial and paradoxical. As a young adult, you get to be risky and wild, but you also understand what it means to be serious and in what circumstances is it essential to behave seriously. You have the ability to appreciate even life's littlest things, but you also capture the big picture as well. You have enough intelligence to understand even the most complicated and abstract concepts, and yet you still have so, so much to learn. You are teeming with emotions and adrenaline (thanks, hormones!) and passion and overwhelming thoughts and experiences from a unique perspective. That makes for a zesty, identifiable character and one hell of a fascinating story.

Thanks Gabi for hosting such a great blogfest! Be sure to check out the rest of the entries here.

30-Day Challenge 24: "Why I Write YA" Blogfest

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30-Day Challenge 21: "Easy A" Movie Review

QOTD: Have you ever seen a movie that was loved by most but hated by you?

Day 21: A picture of something that makes you happy.

Why, do you ask, does this picture make me happy? Well for one, it's FOOD. More specifically, it's p-a-s-t-a, probably my favorite foods of all time (besides chocolate, of course hehe). But this particular dish makes me smile because this was the result of my very first independent cooking lesson. Using a simple recipe from my SparkRecipes BlackBerry phone app, I concocted this delicious lunch for myself last week. Reaction? Quite truthfully, it was one of the best pasta I've ever eaten--and that's saying A LOT! Two hours of squinting at the labels on ingredients and praying that I wouldn't burn anything was totally worth it.

So a couple nights ago I decided to have a break from Smallville re-runs (the series finale aired last week!!), and have a movie night! I decided on Easy A because I'm always in the mood for a good laugh and it's been a while since I've seen a chick flick.

I was really not planning on saying this about the movie because I'd had pretty high hopes for it, but the truth is, I have to give Easy A a D- for being one of the worst movies I have ever seen. It wasn't the acting or even the crazy sex jokes....it was the unrealistic, raunchy script that had me burying my face with my hands and groaning with embarrassment for the writers.

It could've been an okay film if it didn't have so much exaggeration in EVERYTHING. Plus, I couldn't help but think of it as a mix between Mean Girls and A Cinderella Story during the whole thing--except those two movies are way better than Easy A.

Note: I try not to include any big spoilers or give away really important information--I don't see myself as a party pooper! :) So read away.

Short Summary: This comedy takes place in high school and follows Olive, a usually sharp "good girl" with a clean record who starts to believe that perhaps having a bad reputation is better than having no reputation at all--and thus begins to lie about her relationship status and virginity. It's a modern tale of the classic novel, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (which I read in high school and have to say is very good).

Story: To me, the story of a movie is the world that it was set up in (for example: "Harry Potter" set in the Wizarding World, "Pearl Harbor" set in WWII era, etc.). There's not really much to say about this category since the movie's reality is, well, pretty realistic--it's set up in the dramatic, over-the-top world of high school in today's age. In terms of the cliques, teaching staff, and student body portrayed in the story, everything was pretty accurate. Rating: 5/5

Plot: The plot equals the problem and is the whole reason why there's a movie in the first place. I think it was really interesting and clever how the film creators were able to produce a modern-day Scarlet Letter tale...it was based along the same lines but included its own twists along the way that made it unique. However, like everything else, it was a bit exaggerated and I don't know if anything like that would happen in real life. I can't actually imagine something like that occurring at my own high school. *rolls eyes* Rating: 4/5

Characterization: Eh, this was half and half I suppose. I did enjoy Olive's character, she was easy to like and easy to identify with. Without giving too much away, even though she made some bad choices, we as the audience know her intentions were good. I also enjoyed getting to know the other high school students who were represented in the movie--they were funny, realistic, unique in their own way, and all-around interesting to watch as they interacted with Olive. The main problem I have is how the adults who play active roles in teens' lives are made out to be irresponsible and immature, act practically like kids themselves, and lack morals that educators/parents such as themselves ought to have. Perhaps their characterizations were meant to be humorous, but I personally disliked those characters who should have served as role models in the end, not older versions of "juvenile delinquents." Rating: 3/5

Costumes: Well the characters mainly wore normal "high school" outfits, with the exception of Olive's infamous "Scarlet Letter" costumes (yes, she had more than one!). I thought that they were beyond cute, well-made, and did a great job singling her out amongst her peers as the "scandalous" one. Rating: 5/5

Acting: It's really sad...some of Hollywood's most well-known actors (including Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Lisa Kudrow, Alyson Michalka and Stanley Tucci) were brought together to create a hilarious teen comedy that could've been really great had it not been blown out of proportion. The acting was terrible--it was ish. It was what the filmmakers wanted the actors to say and do that was bad and made them come across as, well, outrageous. I do have to say that Olive was a charm. She was a very likable main character and was played by a great actress. Rating: 3/5

Script: I cannot fully express my disappointment over how awful the script was. It was overly excessive most of the time and constant repetition of the same humorous jokes just totally sucked the funny out of everything. Several times I wanted to look away, cover my ears and yell, "Stop! STOP! That's enough!" I feel so bad that such a wonderful cast had to work with such a catastrophic script. One major downfall that completely turned me off was that it tantalizes and makes fun of Christianity in ways that are extremely not cool. And this wasn't just lighthearted, appropriate jesting, but rather mocking and condescending banter. Bad, bad. Rating: 2/5

Action/Drama: There was a ton of drama in the movie--how could there not be when the setting takes place in high school? A lot of it was pretty funny, but only when the situations weren't highly exaggerated or unnecessarily complicated by unrealistic turning points (see how I'm trying to be vague so as not to give anything too much away?). I know a comedy is a comedy, but still. Way too much is more than enough. Rating: 3/5

Digital Design: Not much was used here (unlike in movies such as Avatar and Inception) I did like how zooms and slow motion were used to show passage of time and communication between students when the rumors were being spread around the school. Free pass. Rating: 5/5

Direction/Production: The direction itself wasn't too bad...I thought that the webcast that Olive publicized online and used to tell her story was pretty clever, and I liked how things were angled so that it was constantly in Olive's perspective. The scenes flowed together well--I didn't think anything was missing or too choppy. But it could've been better. Rating: 3/5

Overall Quality: While this movie had some aspects of ingenuity, to me its cons outweigh the pros. Above anything, this movie is a satire of the craziness that is high school culture--hmm, perhaps I didn't find it amusing enough because it was only a few months ago when I myself was a part of that jungle? Anyhow, the filmmakers (especially the writers) tried way too hard to make it seem funny and witty, when the result was just very strained, weak, and rather embarrassing humor. I feel sorry for the Hollywood stars who played in this movie and had to use their remarkable acting skills to pull off stupid, over-the-top lines and outlandish, unrealistic behavior. I also didn't feel like the ending was well-handled....a lot of issues brought up in this movie are pretty significant and prominent when it comes to adolescence, and the overall message was there, but it just didn't seem like there was a strong enough closure.

Overall Rating: 3.7/5

All that being said, I do think that there is a movie out there for someone. What I may think is absolutely ridiculous may just be your perfect Blockbuster. :)

30-Day Challenge 21: "Easy A" Movie Review

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Let's See That "Inanimation"!

QOTD: If you could be any inanimate object, what would you choose to be and why?

YAYY!!! I have been dreaming of this moment every single night for exactly thirty-seven days (total exaggeration is required to emphasize the excitement boiling inside of me right now).

It's finally time for "Inanimation"!!! Let's create our own Toy Stories, breathe life into those lost and forgotten dusty pieces of old furniture in our attics, and make kitchen utensils dance and sing as they make your favorite chicken pot pie!

As a short recap, here is the blogfest task:

The idea is to write an entry of NO MORE THAN 1000 words that somehow incorporates the personification of inanimate objects. It can be a poem, a short short, a letter (perhaps to your favorite childhood toy?), a fairytale, a scene from a dream, or even a song--anything you want! It can be something you've written in the past or it could be totally brand new...it's all up to you!

AAaaaand here are the lovely participants!!! Once you have posted your own Inanimation entry, be sure to go around and visit everyone else's. Get ready for the liveliest ride ever!!!

1) .:The Red Angel:.

2) Tessa Conte

3) Begin anywhere!

4) Stephen Smith

5) Trisha @ WORD+STUFF

6) Colorless Landscape

7) Mia Hayson

8) Francine Howarth

9) Loralie Hall

10) World of Wendy Lu

11) The Golden Eagle

12) WRITING IN THE CROSSHAIRS

13) CatchyTips for Writers

14) Donna Hole

15) Kelsey Leigh

16) roh morgon

17) Writing on Writing: Amlokiblogs

"The Keeper of the Keys"

The day she came back was the day I woke from the dead. It had been eight long, miserable months--or had it been even longer than that?--since I'd even seen her at all. Back in January, the father had begun to redecorate the house, or rather, throw out old pieces of furniture and buy new ones. He'd already trashed two dressers, an entire bed, and even the mini side table that had lived right across from me in the same room for over six years and had dutifully held the vase of flowers that was replenished every week. The vase was also discarded. I remember being so afraid that, at any moment, he was surely going to wheel me from the living room and throw me out too.

But the furniture spree began and ended, and still here I was. And yet, she--my owner, the keeper-- still didn't come back. It wasn't until May that she returned to the house, looking a little bit taller and older and, well, more serious. Every day following her return, I waited eagerly for the moment when she'd waltz into the living room, open me up, and touch my keys. Each day that passed by, I was ignored--just like I had been for the past eight months. She was no longer the little ballerina who would waltz around her home like she was on Broadway. I gave up hope of ever coming to life again.

My keeper spent most of her hours cooped up in her bedroom on that ridiculous plaything that I heard was called a laptop. I spent hours listening to her punching those keys as fast as she could, the keys that could never play as beautifully as mine did. Why, then, did she so obviously prefer those keys over mine? It got to the point where I began to wish that the father had simply just trashed me with all of their other old stuff. What was the point of me taking up space when nobody wanted to dance, play, sing with me? I was aging, and fast--cobwebs began to intertwine around my legs and dust gathered between my keys. It was pretty itchy, but I eventually got used to it. After a while, I began to forget that I even existed.

Then, my life changed during one cold, rainy afternoon. I'd slipped into hibernation--what else was there for me to do but sleep nowadays? No sound was heard except for my owner click-clacking away at her laptop, the father watching television upstairs and the constant pit-pat-pit-pat of cloud tears outside. An occasional crack of thunder interrupted the rain's poetry.

Someone cracked opened my lid and I was suddenly exposed. I shivered, not used to the air and wide open space, and couldn't help but sneeze a little as dust flew from between keys. It felt good to get a breath of fresh air, but what was going on? It had been years since I was last tuned, and if I was about to be thrown out there'd be no need to open my fallboard.

After a moment, three fingertips touched me and pressed down each key, do re mi, one by one. Vibrations quivered around the hammers in my body and, for the first time in months, I laughed. I was flying through Fur Elise now, singing as loud as I could. The air was thick with music, and I knew it was my owner. Her movements were all too familiar, and nobody else knew how to play Fur Elise like she did. As her fingers flew across the board, she seemed to be saying to me, oh--there you are, I missed you, and I felt happier and more awake than I'd been in a long while.

It was like we'd never parted in the first place. It didn't matter to me anymore that she'd abandoned me for so long...her coming back made me realize that she hadn't forgotten me at all. She was the keeper of the keys, and always would be. And in that very moment, all I wanted was for her to play my music.

~~~

This is based on the relationship between me and my piano, but the excerpt above is embellished with fiction. I hope you enjoyed!

Let's See That "Inanimation"!

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Reflections On My First Year of College

As I try to think back to the person I was right before my freshman year of college began, it’s hard to remember. It’s not as cut-and-dry as I want it to be, and I can’t compare and contrast as if these two Wendys are totally distinct opposites. They’re not…I guess I’m just trying to distinguish between what changes I have gone through and what of me still remains the same.

These past eight months have been nothing but trial and error. As much as I want to think of myself as an adult, the truth is that I don’t know what I’m doing at all. I have made so many mistakes this year…things I wish I could take back and redo, things that seem totally and utterly stupid now when I reflect on them. When I think about those mistakes, those are the moments when I cringe at the memories, curl up like a clam and wish that I could dig a hole to bury myself in and simply forget. I have learned so much from being a college student—and the lessons don’t stop there. I still have three more years left to stumble over rocks and beat my head on the wall afterwards.

The one thing that has stood out to me this year and is something I have had to struggle with is the truth about forgiveness. I’ve listened to and read so many stories about how forgiveness is one of the most important lessons in life, but until now I never truly understood why. Over the past few months, there have been so many people, so many things, that I have had to let go of: people whom I care very deeply about, things that I have been used to all my life, experiences that I never wanted to end or that I wish had never happened. But no matter how hard I try to pretend that the regrets I have don’t exist or that certain things can last forever, in my heart I know better. Even now, I am still learning that sometimes all you can do is learn to admit things for the way they are, and instead of wishing things away, just accept and forgive yourself. Only when you know from the inside out that you are okay with what is can you move on. Only then can you be really, truly ready to say goodbye.

Lessons I’ve Learned This Year (some of them the hard way):

*Everything happens for a reason, and everything is somehow connected to each other. I used to struggle with this concept, but now I believe it.

*No matter how invincible you think you are, procrastination doesn’t work.

*You need to take care of yourself before you take care of others.

*Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Be yourself, and that should be enough for those who matter.

*You have your own thoughts and opinions, and you shouldn’t be afraid to share them.

*If you try hard enough, you can end up believing that anything can be possible and true (which, ironically, isn’t always a good thing).

*In order to move on from past mistakes, you must learn to forgive yourself first.

*Do the best you can, but that’s all you can do. Mistakes are a part of being human, and being human is beautiful.

*No matter how hard you wish for it to be so, time can’t be stopped.

*Tell the people you love the truth. You never know how much longer you have until you no longer have the chance.

*It is okay to believe in yourself and to believe in what you have to offer to the world.

Reflections On My First Year of College

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30-Day Challenge 13: An Un-Hoppy Easter Break

Question of the Day: Share your tips on studying and doing your best on tests with us students who are in the smack middle of examination week!

Day 13: A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.

I'm back. *sigh* As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. So true. So true.

30-Day Challenge 13: An Un-Hoppy Easter Break

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30-Day Challenge 7: The Broken Hearts Blogfest

Question of the Day: If today was your last day on Earth, how would you spend it?

Day 07: A picture of something that has the biggest impact on you.

Because of books, I have discovered my love for writing. Because of books, I am able to escape the real world and discover the millions of best friends that I have found within the characters of Jo March, Huckleberry Finn, Anna Fitzgerald, and so many more. Because of books, I know what is to become of me and what I want to do with my life.

Today is The Broken Hearts Blogfest day!

This blogfest is hosted by Dawn Embers at It's In the Book. The idea is pretty straightforward... an entry with the theme of broken hearts. It's not too late to sign up--the whole thing lasts from today 'til Tuesday!

I decided to share with you an excerpt from my novel, Sophie. It may be a bit over 1,000 words but much of it is dialogue. I have slightly altered it for you to better understand the context. Please enjoy!

“So, what is it you want to talk about?” Excitement was whirring inside of me like pressure of gas inside a car that was getting ready to accelerate forward. This was it. It had to be.

“How have the last couple of years been for you, Sophie?” Paul finally asked. He’s making sure that my time with him has really meant something to me before he asks The Question, I thought to myself. The car within me roared to life.

“These years have been really great, Paul,” I said as softly and gently as I could, even though I was exploding on the inside. “Really. The time I’ve had with you has been spectacular. I’m so glad to have you in my life, I really am.”

Paul laughed, but his laugh sounded off. Like it had been forced out.

“I’m glad to hear that.” He shifted his position on the picnic towel. “I’ve enjoyed them too.”

Seconds ticked by, and the stillness drifted between us like a blanket of white fog.

“Remember when you met my parents last Christmas?” Paul asked. How strange...it wasn't like him to change the subject. He had always been so straightforward, to the point.

“Yes,” I said automatically. “It was awesome…I was so excited when your mom hugged me after dinner…I remember being so worried that they wouldn’t like me.” I giggled at the memory.

“Listen—Sophie…” Paul began, and then stopped. He looked at me blankly. “I’d like to…to…suggest something,” he said slowly, carefully.

“You think we should get married?” The words tumbled out.

I had no idea what made me say it; one minute I was waiting excitedly and anxiously for Paul to just come out and say it, and in the next moment I had said it myself.

The longest, quietest silence I had ever encountered drifted between us. I could hear the rustling of leaves on our maple tree as the wind began to pick up. Out of the corner of my eye, the ants on our picnic towel were taking advantage of the peace to intrude our picnic and retrieve the remains of banana peel and sandwich crumbs that lay neglected on the cloth.

“I don’t think that’s a very good idea, Sophie,” Paul said quietly.

The elation I had felt just moments before disappeared, and the impelling car inside of me screeched to a halt.

“You what?” My voice was barely audible; I wasn’t even sure I had said anything.

“Sophie…I don’t think it’s a good idea if we get married,” Paul said again, this time a little louder. Every word punctured a little more of me until I was as feeble and helpless as a dummy.

“Why?” Suddenly, I had a desire to laugh. Maybe Paul was frightened and wanted to back out because he thought I wouldn’t want to be with him because of his job and hectic schedule.

“I mean, you know I love you and I’m pretty sure you love me too. It doesn’t matter to me what your job is as long as you’re happy. Any difficulties you and I encounter, we can overcome them. And—” My last few words failed me as I looked into Paul’s face and realized it was no good. Realization dawned on me, but I refused to comprehend with it.

“Are you breaking up with me?” I whispered, not understanding the words I spoke. It was like trying to speak another language.

“You matter to me, Sophie,” Paul tried to explain. “You really do. But Mother and Father need me to be with a woman who is willing to go into the same field as me, so we can work together.”

“But—but you said your mom and dad loved me when…when I first met them. You told me before that they think my job is ‘lovely’ and—and whatever I did should make me happy, regardless of what it is.”

“Things change.”

“Is this because we never get to have time on our own?” I asked Paul. “Because if it is, we can work things out, we can rearrange our schedules so we’ll have enough time to—to be together …”

“You know, it’s kind of hard to be a surgeon and rearrange patients’ schedules according to my own,” Paul said. Was it my imagination, or was there an edge of ice in Paul’s voice?

“But—but Paul…” I fought back tears that were fighting to escape from my dignity. “I—I’m willing to do anything for you. I want to be with you.”

“Are you willing to give up your job as a teacher, go back to school and get a medical degree?” Paul was looking at me intensely. His electrical blue eyes felt like lightning blinding my gray ones. It hurt.

I didn’t understand why Paul was asking me of this; he knew how much I loved to teach, how much it meant to me every time a child’s look of understanding burst its way through after I’d explained a mathematical term or the spelling of a word, when moments before there stood a look of blank incomprehension.

“You…you know I can’t do that,” I said, hardly surprised to find my voice shaking tremendously. “This is my very first year of teaching. I’ve waited six years to be where I am now. I’ve just started my dream and you know that...”

“In which you should know that since you’re just starting and you’re not completely delved into a real teaching career yet, you have time to leave and back out now.”

“You…you want me to give up what I love to do, just so…” I felt incredulous.

“Just so we can be together,” Paul finished.

“You said you loved me,” I argued.

“You said you were willing to do anything,” Paul reminded me. “You said you wanted to be with me.”

“But I do!” I said loudly. “I do want to be with you! But…every time I imagine us married, living our lives together…it involved us being happy and both of us doing what we want to do.”

“What my parents want is for me to live my life with someone whom I can be partners with, career-wise,” Paul said. “They don’t think teaching is a good enough job to keep food on the table and tuition money for my kids’ future college experiences.”

“You’re leaving me because I don’t meet your parents’ requirements?” I asked, disbelieving.

Paul considered. “Yeah. Something like that.”

The rain was finally coming. Big, heavy drops of rainwater poured over us; the tree we were sitting under was no longer a wonderful protection, no match against the force of the angry clouds above us.

I bowed my head, hair covering my face in shame. I realized then that the tears I’d been fighting back had won the battle. Salty wetness trickled down my cheeks and was now pouring down my face like a waterfall. I was sobbing. But then, another feeling began to overshadow the repentance. I slowly looked up, trembling with fury.

“You’re a coward,” I told Paul. Clouds were progressing even faster, and the rain got heavier. “You’re a grown man, and even now you can’t do what you want without having to listen to your parents. This is your life and you need to live it the way you want.”

Paul gazed at me with his blank stare. Before I knew it, he had stood up and was now walking away from our picnic.

“You’re a coward!” I screamed at Paul. The back of his white shirt was soaked and his skin was visible against the material. The nostalgia of his strong, secure body against mine, a feeling that seemed to have been felt a long, long time ago, made me angrier and sadder with every second that flew by.

“Fine, leave me!” I yelled, as the other, the better, the much greater half of me continued to walk away from my life, step by step. “You’re a coward! You won’t even be with me because of my job! You’re a coward, Paul Reynor!”

You’re a coward…you’re a coward…you’re a coward…

30-Day Challenge 7: The Broken Hearts Blogfest

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30-Day Challenge 5: Giveaways Update

Question of the Day: If you could live with only television or only music...which one would you pick? Why?

Day 05: A picture of somewhere you've been to.

I have had the privilege of visiting many beautiful locations during my youth, including Germany, Japan, Spain, the U.K., and of course....China. One of my most memorable vacations, however, took place in our very own country, America. During the year of 2007, we went to Waikiki and Big Island in Hawaii. That state is one of the most gorgeous areas I have ever been to in my entire life. There were exotic plants and foods that I had never seen before. Mongooses (I confirmed with Google that mongooses is correct, as opposed to mongeese) roamed the streets as often as squirrels do in North Carolina. I hope to return there some day.

(c) The Red Angel

A couple days ago, I found a wonderful surprise waiting cozily inside my mailbox! It was....

Last Sacrifice by the amazing Richelle Mead! I received this from Frankie Diane Mallis's Last Sacrifice Giveaway. Frankie is a young adult author, belly dancer, teacher and blogger! She always seems to be doing something and is a wonderful inspiration to many people. Be sure to check out her blog.

....Aaaand the book was signed by none other than Richelle Mead herself! :D I remember being soooo excited when it was announced that I was the winner, thank you SO much, Frankie! :) As it is spring break for me now, I can't wait to start reading!!

In other blogfest news, Tessa over at Tessa's Blurb and Laura B Diamond of Diamond--Yup, Like the Stone are hosting "The Nature of Magic Blogfest" together. The idea is to write an entry between 250 and 1000 words showing the nature of magic. This takes place on March 26th, be sure to sign up and participate!

Another awesome blogfest that is taking place in March is "The Broken Hearts Blogfest" at It's in the Book. This is taking place from March 13th-15th and pretty much self-explanatory. Looking forward to reading everyone's entries!

As for me, I am planning to host my own blogfest once I reach 100 followers! :) Let's make it happen by April, shall we??

30-Day Challenge 5: Giveaways Update

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