Since I am in a WWII obsession that is very deep, I decided I'd share some of the music that's been getting me 'In the Mood'. Reference intended.
First off we have some songs from the soundtrack of a video game called Medal of Honor, done by the great and wonderful Michael Giacchino.
#1: Taking out the Railgun
Very heroic. Love this one.
#2: We do need the main theme, do we not?
Which, this does get me amused, as it reminds me of my younger brother's GI Joe Lukas Baker.
I suppose I'll do two songs every post.
What are some songs that get you into the writing mood for your genre? Care to share?
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Friday, February 12, 2016
Stretching the Boundaries in Writing
Today, I’m going to do some inspiring using my current interests.
I have started a new novel that I call ‘The Crow’. It’s in a world based off of World War Two/1940s (my current obsession). In the novel, the regions of the Western and Northern people have gone to war with the Eastern people.
Taking inspiration from Eastern Europe (specifically Ukraine and Romania) from the end of World War One to the start of World War Two, I began creating my world. The Eastern region is a war-torn land filled with communist revolutionaries, aristocratic tyrants, and the people living in poverty caught up in the terror.
And out of it, scientific experiments arise and soon a plague is tearing through the East. With refugees carrying the illness trying to flee for other countries, and Northern and Western politicians demanding the East to halt the experiments, war is looming on the horizon.
It was something I had never tried before. I had written a few novels of WWII, which, of course, were garbage. But this–making a fantasy world based in the 1930s/1940s, and mixing it with non-futuristic science fiction elements–this was something I was doing differently. Of course, I had tried science fiction before, but it was the classic cliché futuristic, dystopian paradise city where the hero finds out what’s wrong.
So, one thing I’ve taught myself:
Don’t be afraid to try genres and elements of stories that you had never even taken into consideration.
I’m writing in a different style of POV as well. The four main characters–Martin, Toby, Alik, and a mysterious entity known as The Number–tell the story. But I couldn’t decide if I should do third person. I feel most comfortable in first person, but how would I manage that with four main characters?
Once again, I pushed myself to do something I had never done before: I switched POV in different sections. I’m stretching my boundaries by doing something I normally would have scoffed at. Also, I’m trying it in present-tense.
Hopefully I will come through with a novel that is unusual and not like anything anyone’s ever read.
So do what must be done–think outside the box. Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Stretch those boundaries until you have conquered the world of fiction.
Do you ever browse the library and wonder, ‘all these books are the same’? Do you feel depressed and annoyed that nothing suits your interest? Then write them! Write something the world has never read before!
I have started a new novel that I call ‘The Crow’. It’s in a world based off of World War Two/1940s (my current obsession). In the novel, the regions of the Western and Northern people have gone to war with the Eastern people.
Taking inspiration from Eastern Europe (specifically Ukraine and Romania) from the end of World War One to the start of World War Two, I began creating my world. The Eastern region is a war-torn land filled with communist revolutionaries, aristocratic tyrants, and the people living in poverty caught up in the terror.
And out of it, scientific experiments arise and soon a plague is tearing through the East. With refugees carrying the illness trying to flee for other countries, and Northern and Western politicians demanding the East to halt the experiments, war is looming on the horizon.
It was something I had never tried before. I had written a few novels of WWII, which, of course, were garbage. But this–making a fantasy world based in the 1930s/1940s, and mixing it with non-futuristic science fiction elements–this was something I was doing differently. Of course, I had tried science fiction before, but it was the classic cliché futuristic, dystopian paradise city where the hero finds out what’s wrong.
So, one thing I’ve taught myself:
Don’t be afraid to try genres and elements of stories that you had never even taken into consideration.
I’m writing in a different style of POV as well. The four main characters–Martin, Toby, Alik, and a mysterious entity known as The Number–tell the story. But I couldn’t decide if I should do third person. I feel most comfortable in first person, but how would I manage that with four main characters?
Once again, I pushed myself to do something I had never done before: I switched POV in different sections. I’m stretching my boundaries by doing something I normally would have scoffed at. Also, I’m trying it in present-tense.
Hopefully I will come through with a novel that is unusual and not like anything anyone’s ever read.
So do what must be done–think outside the box. Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Stretch those boundaries until you have conquered the world of fiction.
Do you ever browse the library and wonder, ‘all these books are the same’? Do you feel depressed and annoyed that nothing suits your interest? Then write them! Write something the world has never read before!
YouTube Channel
Hello again! Here’s the link to my YouTube channel, if you are all interested.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4FLZ5uZPx_C9SKCt8pLYqA
I make silly little action figure movies.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4FLZ5uZPx_C9SKCt8pLYqA
I make silly little action figure movies.
Why Do You Write?
Honestly, this is a question we all must ask ourselves.
Why do I write?
For most authors, we write because we have these amazing ideas we just have to get out of ourselves. We want the world to see how creative we can be, or we simply like to share with friends. We write just for ourselves; it gives us something to think about when we’re bored.
Or do you have other reasons?
#1: Some authors simply write to make money. They don’t have an actual talent; they only think about their story when they sit down at the computer.
#2: Then there are those who write because they want to show their friends and family just how creative they can be. They make up massive worlds to impress other people.
#3: There are the lonesome authors, who live an introverted life, have no friends, and write to take up time that otherwise would be wasted. I’m kind of one of them. They write because their characters are their friends, and the story they come up with is one that they can escape to.
#4: Then we have the ones who are hit with a story like it’s a brick being flung like a tornado. They have this wonderful idea, straight out of the blue, and they drop all they are doing to go and write as much about it as they can. And then they realize they can’t go a day without writing. These are the writers who write because they have to, not because they want to. It’s just not part of them to not write.
I’m a mixture of numbers three and four. I write because it’s in my blood (don’t know where I got it), and I write because a lot of times I like to forget the world I live in and dwell with my friends: my characters.
Did I miss any types? What kind of writer are you, or why do you write? I’d love to hear back from you all!
Why do I write?
For most authors, we write because we have these amazing ideas we just have to get out of ourselves. We want the world to see how creative we can be, or we simply like to share with friends. We write just for ourselves; it gives us something to think about when we’re bored.
Or do you have other reasons?
#1: Some authors simply write to make money. They don’t have an actual talent; they only think about their story when they sit down at the computer.
#2: Then there are those who write because they want to show their friends and family just how creative they can be. They make up massive worlds to impress other people.
#3: There are the lonesome authors, who live an introverted life, have no friends, and write to take up time that otherwise would be wasted. I’m kind of one of them. They write because their characters are their friends, and the story they come up with is one that they can escape to.
#4: Then we have the ones who are hit with a story like it’s a brick being flung like a tornado. They have this wonderful idea, straight out of the blue, and they drop all they are doing to go and write as much about it as they can. And then they realize they can’t go a day without writing. These are the writers who write because they have to, not because they want to. It’s just not part of them to not write.
I’m a mixture of numbers three and four. I write because it’s in my blood (don’t know where I got it), and I write because a lot of times I like to forget the world I live in and dwell with my friends: my characters.
Did I miss any types? What kind of writer are you, or why do you write? I’d love to hear back from you all!
On How I Started Writing and Why I Write
A good thing to discuss! I have read on why authors write and how they started, so I thought I might as well write about it.
How it all started: I first discovered my talent when I was right around three or four. My inspiration was from the old BBC TV movies of the Chronicles of Narnia. I was obsessed with them, and I loved fantasy so much that I wanted to make up my own. I had no idea that I would become an author. So I wrote a book that took place in old time England, before there were humans. It was about a unicorn named James, who was the leader of a herd of unicorns. There was an evil dragon murdering other unicorns, and some of the dead unicorns' souls were being trapped in limbo; among them was James' sister, Lizabeth. So James went on a vengeance mission and had an epic battle with the dragon. There were illustrations, the grammar and spelling was atrocious, but I had such a good time. It took me a week to write it. I stapled the pieces of copy paper together and showed my parents. Dad read it and said, 'where the heck did you learn how to write like this?'
As the years progressed, I delved deeper into my exciting newfound talent. I wrote a series of adventures about a man named Andy and his magic purple dog, Wally. I wrote fanfictions on 'The Last Airbender', 'SpongeBob SquarePants', 'The Chronicles of Narnia', and 'The Lord of the Rings'. It wasn't until I was eight that I started writing a hard-core fantasy that involved much use of magic, a girl with strange powers, a grumpy wizard who looked like George Peppard, lost kings, a dragon, and an evil sorceress who manipulated people. That was also when I realized I had talent with poetry. I was seen writing it at the old school I went to during recess rather than playing with the other kids. I was mocked by the other kids of writing, saying 'only people like J.K. Rowling can write books, you'll never go anywhere'. I was accused of copying my poetry from other people's works by my teachers. I was told not to hope to get a book published; I'd never make anything from it. So for almost four years, I stopped writing.
I progressed into my preteen years. I got depressed a lot, and started writing a diary. Then I made things up. I came up with a story, and I began writing it. I realized I was depressed because I wasn't writing. I wrote whenever I could: on drives, even when I got headaches; at night, when I was supposed to be asleep; waiting at the dentist's or the doctor's office; climbing a tree at my grandparent's house to get away from company so I could write in private. My older brother mocked me and said I'd end up committing suicide because I'd never get a book published; he said I would die penniless and depressed. I did get depressed, so I ignored him and wrote. And wrote. And wrote.
I once started writing a book about another male unicorn named Apollo (I eventually got a doll unicorn and named him Apollo; most of my books were about animals) when I was eleven. I brought it, in its notebook, to my grandmother's house, and left it on the sofa to go to the bathroom. When I came back, it was gone, and I began to panic. I found my grandmother reading it. With a yelp, I rather rudely snatched it from her hands (I had learned that showing someone a rough draft is like standing in front of them naked). But my grandmother smiled and said it was one of the most creative books she had ever been reading, and she gave me a pen to continue writing it. Man. I liked that pen.
When I was twelve I got into historical fiction, specifically WWII. I failed mostly, though. So I reverted back to fanfictions, and realized I hated them with a burning passion. I burned all the fanfictions I ever wrote. I don't regret it.
My older brother continued to mock me. He once stole one of my notebooks and started reading the story aloud in front of the rest of my siblings. I remember punching him and then getting in trouble. He never got punished.
When I was twelve I realized I had possible talent with drawing. I started with Manga, which was my stepping stool. Or course, I was terrible, but then I realized: I could draw how I see my characters. That got me excited; it was a great way to promote my stories! It helped me get excited to write more.
I could always confide in my sister; she helped me, and still does. I can tell her my writing woes, passions, excitements...anything. She's a great friend and helper.
So often, I go around with my head down because I think so hard about what to write. People think I'm moping all the time. I once bumped into my dad because I was thinking so hard that I didn't realize where I was going. He thought I was trying to shove him. I tried to explain that I didn't do that, but I mean, how silly would it sound if I answered 'sorry, one of my characters is going to die and I'm planning on his death'?. So I try as hard as I can to avoid situations like that. I don't think a lot of people understand the writing life and the deep recesses of the author's complex mind....yeah.
Why I write:
#1 Reason: I write to stay alive. It kills me when I can't write. I get moody and depressed when I have writer's block.
#2 Reason: I feel that writing helps me cope with my realities. My characters are my friends whose problems I can share. Writing gives me something to think about when I'm on a boring drive.
#3 Reason: And damn is it fun! Hard, but fun! Creating characters, worlds, stories, problems, solving them.....
I write because it is a part of me. I write because I like connecting with my characters and sharing in everything they do (including the villains).
An additional word:
I encourage all of you writers to draw! Even if you aren't good, or you're practicing, draw your characters! Draw maps and buildings and all that. It helps your creativity leak out when you have writer's block. It sure helps me get over writer's block.
Keep on writing!
How it all started: I first discovered my talent when I was right around three or four. My inspiration was from the old BBC TV movies of the Chronicles of Narnia. I was obsessed with them, and I loved fantasy so much that I wanted to make up my own. I had no idea that I would become an author. So I wrote a book that took place in old time England, before there were humans. It was about a unicorn named James, who was the leader of a herd of unicorns. There was an evil dragon murdering other unicorns, and some of the dead unicorns' souls were being trapped in limbo; among them was James' sister, Lizabeth. So James went on a vengeance mission and had an epic battle with the dragon. There were illustrations, the grammar and spelling was atrocious, but I had such a good time. It took me a week to write it. I stapled the pieces of copy paper together and showed my parents. Dad read it and said, 'where the heck did you learn how to write like this?'
As the years progressed, I delved deeper into my exciting newfound talent. I wrote a series of adventures about a man named Andy and his magic purple dog, Wally. I wrote fanfictions on 'The Last Airbender', 'SpongeBob SquarePants', 'The Chronicles of Narnia', and 'The Lord of the Rings'. It wasn't until I was eight that I started writing a hard-core fantasy that involved much use of magic, a girl with strange powers, a grumpy wizard who looked like George Peppard, lost kings, a dragon, and an evil sorceress who manipulated people. That was also when I realized I had talent with poetry. I was seen writing it at the old school I went to during recess rather than playing with the other kids. I was mocked by the other kids of writing, saying 'only people like J.K. Rowling can write books, you'll never go anywhere'. I was accused of copying my poetry from other people's works by my teachers. I was told not to hope to get a book published; I'd never make anything from it. So for almost four years, I stopped writing.
I progressed into my preteen years. I got depressed a lot, and started writing a diary. Then I made things up. I came up with a story, and I began writing it. I realized I was depressed because I wasn't writing. I wrote whenever I could: on drives, even when I got headaches; at night, when I was supposed to be asleep; waiting at the dentist's or the doctor's office; climbing a tree at my grandparent's house to get away from company so I could write in private. My older brother mocked me and said I'd end up committing suicide because I'd never get a book published; he said I would die penniless and depressed. I did get depressed, so I ignored him and wrote. And wrote. And wrote.
I once started writing a book about another male unicorn named Apollo (I eventually got a doll unicorn and named him Apollo; most of my books were about animals) when I was eleven. I brought it, in its notebook, to my grandmother's house, and left it on the sofa to go to the bathroom. When I came back, it was gone, and I began to panic. I found my grandmother reading it. With a yelp, I rather rudely snatched it from her hands (I had learned that showing someone a rough draft is like standing in front of them naked). But my grandmother smiled and said it was one of the most creative books she had ever been reading, and she gave me a pen to continue writing it. Man. I liked that pen.
When I was twelve I got into historical fiction, specifically WWII. I failed mostly, though. So I reverted back to fanfictions, and realized I hated them with a burning passion. I burned all the fanfictions I ever wrote. I don't regret it.
My older brother continued to mock me. He once stole one of my notebooks and started reading the story aloud in front of the rest of my siblings. I remember punching him and then getting in trouble. He never got punished.
When I was twelve I realized I had possible talent with drawing. I started with Manga, which was my stepping stool. Or course, I was terrible, but then I realized: I could draw how I see my characters. That got me excited; it was a great way to promote my stories! It helped me get excited to write more.
I could always confide in my sister; she helped me, and still does. I can tell her my writing woes, passions, excitements...anything. She's a great friend and helper.
So often, I go around with my head down because I think so hard about what to write. People think I'm moping all the time. I once bumped into my dad because I was thinking so hard that I didn't realize where I was going. He thought I was trying to shove him. I tried to explain that I didn't do that, but I mean, how silly would it sound if I answered 'sorry, one of my characters is going to die and I'm planning on his death'?. So I try as hard as I can to avoid situations like that. I don't think a lot of people understand the writing life and the deep recesses of the author's complex mind....yeah.
Why I write:
#1 Reason: I write to stay alive. It kills me when I can't write. I get moody and depressed when I have writer's block.
#2 Reason: I feel that writing helps me cope with my realities. My characters are my friends whose problems I can share. Writing gives me something to think about when I'm on a boring drive.
#3 Reason: And damn is it fun! Hard, but fun! Creating characters, worlds, stories, problems, solving them.....
I write because it is a part of me. I write because I like connecting with my characters and sharing in everything they do (including the villains).
An additional word:
I encourage all of you writers to draw! Even if you aren't good, or you're practicing, draw your characters! Draw maps and buildings and all that. It helps your creativity leak out when you have writer's block. It sure helps me get over writer's block.
Keep on writing!
Book Rave
Hello! My name is Myra Wilton, or Spyro. This blog will feature many
different things, among them excerpts from my original stories, my
artwork, book reviews, and writing advice!
As a starter, I will have a book rave!
Some of the books I love because of their awesomeness (In no particular order)
The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Ranger’s Apprentice (the entire series) by John Flanagan
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques
Ripper by Stefan Petrucha
Chalice by Robin McKinley
The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
The Monstrumologist Series by Rick Yancey
Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician’s Nephew; Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World by Henry Clark
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Shadow of the Canyon by Tracie Peterson
The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman; The Angel’s Command by Brian Jacques
The City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau
Infinite Kung Fu by Kagan McLeod
East by Edith Pattou
Some of the books I like because of whatever
The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
The Secret of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong
The Ravenmaster’s Secret: Escape from the Tower of London by Elvira Woodruff
Some of the books I don’t like
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
The Sight by David Clement Davies
The Silver Chair; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
Some of the books I hate
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques
Voyage of Slaves by Brian Jacques
Pigs Might Fly by Dick King Smith
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Books I couldn’t even get through
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (too dark)
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (too oogie)
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Deception’s Princess by Esther Friesner (too typical, fast-paced, and just all-out BAD Mary Sue)
Pegasus by Robin McKinley (too slow-paced)
Witch and Wizard by James Patterson (really….er…dumb.)
What are you favorite novels/books? Care to share them?
As a starter, I will have a book rave!
Some of the books I love because of their awesomeness (In no particular order)
The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Ranger’s Apprentice (the entire series) by John Flanagan
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques
Ripper by Stefan Petrucha
Chalice by Robin McKinley
The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
The Monstrumologist Series by Rick Yancey
Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician’s Nephew; Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World by Henry Clark
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Shadow of the Canyon by Tracie Peterson
The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman; The Angel’s Command by Brian Jacques
The City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau
Infinite Kung Fu by Kagan McLeod
East by Edith Pattou
Some of the books I like because of whatever
The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
The Secret of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong
The Ravenmaster’s Secret: Escape from the Tower of London by Elvira Woodruff
Some of the books I don’t like
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
The Sight by David Clement Davies
The Silver Chair; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
Some of the books I hate
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques
Voyage of Slaves by Brian Jacques
Pigs Might Fly by Dick King Smith
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Books I couldn’t even get through
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (too dark)
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (too oogie)
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Deception’s Princess by Esther Friesner (too typical, fast-paced, and just all-out BAD Mary Sue)
Pegasus by Robin McKinley (too slow-paced)
Witch and Wizard by James Patterson (really….er…dumb.)
What are you favorite novels/books? Care to share them?
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