Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Report 128: Land of Stories


Report 128: Land of Stories


News:

I went to chapter on the 17 and got the Land of Stories by Chris Colfer ( I check only 3 days later and I'm still the only one who bought it. Sad).  There was a lot of special and was lucky enough and didn't buy like...everything. I  was holding myself back, cause really I don't even have place to put the books I bought. I got Artemis Fowl: the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer (5$!!) and a huge fairy tale book ( 10$). More books to place on my reading list. But I made a promise to my boyfriend and myself really, that I will read Games of Throne in one go, and when I will finish it we can watch the TV show base on the book. Scott love the TV show and wants me to watch it with him, so It will make him happy.

except for that I played Minecraft with a add on that I can capture pokemon and they help me battle monsters, its totally fun. I wrote and prepare for the 7 portal project, I got a bit more to write before I start scanning and get the first step ready for posting. I have like close to 20 pages already. I have to explain how I work, and how everyone will be different in the just gathering information stage.

Ho that remind me, talking about my story, Scott is a 3D modeler, a environmental 3D modeler, so I convince him ( and if he wants), to use my world, the world the story will be in, as practice for his portfolio, so I will have really 3D Image for my world :D I give him The White forest first, since its the one I have most detailed.

That's all for the news!

Progress:

I actually did a lot more progress this week. I have written at least 3/4 of the story. But you can see for the start that I was trying to keep the story from when I was a kid, but the  more I moved forward in the story the more the character aged, the more the danger became more... terrifying. There is still some elements of when I saw the story when I was a kid. It just evolve to make more sense. I only  have trouble with the villain. He is just...never there. But I keep in mine that the character is always risking your life with flesh eating mermaids, giant frost monsters, ear piercing screeching wolf, and others.

Books:

Land of Stories by Chris Colfer. I read it in 2 days. I'm actually surprised it last that long. I'm actually surprised that I read it at all!When I got it on the day of its release ( yesterday 17 of July) It was like a dream. I could really believe it. Even before I got to bed I had it in my hand and I just... It felt like a dream, like any minute now I would wake up and I would still be in college living with my best friend, instead of being here, waiting for University to start, with Chris fucking Colfer book in my hand.

Chris Colfer is one of my biggest inspiration, my roll model and idol. He is a great men, sweet with full of passion for what he do and love. Which just happen that what he do is what he love the most. I bought the book to support him, I read the book because I'm geniousely curious of his writing, and I enjoyed every single second of it.

for the right start I could feel the characters pain, their emotion. Every little secret that he reviel to the character and us, made me want to read more, to never let go ( which you know I did, If it where for me I would have finish it yesterday but I had to go to bed in normal hours since I work today), the question poping in my head and I just wanted to know the truth, why. Who is he, what are they, how its going to fold out.

And its not until I finish the book that all the question got answers. and it surprised me soo much, it wasn't what I expected at all, and I love that. He was able to hide the truth from us until the very end. He was able to grab us with his word and witty characters until the very beginning.

I can usually know how a story will end because thing start to became predictable, but Chris Colfer surprised me, it made me cry in emotion ( making my boyfriend looking at me weirdly). I enjoy the book, and would recommended to anyone. Its a very well made book.

What book, you where so sure you knew the answers, but got so surprised at the end?

Friday, July 13, 2012

Report 127 International Blogging


Report 127: International Blogging

News:

 I start taking the class by Jeff Goins called International Blogging, basically it's a 12 week course to help build a blog and get lots of traffic. (If interest for the free class click here , yes it is 100% FREE)

I'm only only at the second lesson right now and he ask me ( us) to brainstorm a subject, something we are passionate about, something we can do for hours end and never get bored or sick of it. When I read that, the first thing that pop out in my mind was Imagination. Not writing like I though it would be the right answer, but the source off all writing, Imagining the story in place first. I love just lying down and see a epic journey behind my eyelid. I love daydreaming ( huge source of nearly failing school, oupss), I love trying to remember in detail my dreams to write it down. I love to watch movies for the their story, or just engross in a novel for the journey.

For hours on end I love to do nothing but imagine stories.

Now He ask us question trying to find the focus on what we want to bring to our blog, what we want our blog to be really. But I got a blank, I don't really understand how I get to one part to the other. How can I divided Imagination in sub group? I love doing it, but writing about it? How can you write a process on Imagination? really.

I used this blog for 3 years now as a source for me to lay down my though and find what I want to do in my life. But I still don't know. Or well I'm not sure. If it was up to me I would be a house wife. But I don't like doing chores much.I like writing, I really do, but to be honest, It been months I didn't touch my revision and I didn't even start the 7 portal project. Its in my mind and I feel guilty every time I put it aside to do something else, it's like... I feel like its not my priority at all. I tried to work on my laptop, I usually do a lot of work on my laptop, but its dying, it took just like 10 minute to open the word document, and every time I was writing 3 to 5 words it would freeze up and I kept getting panic attacks wondering if I would be losing my work or if it was going to crash. So I stop working on my laptop, trying to think of a way to fix it, but its in the back of my head for now, my focus is trying to find what motivate me to write, to stop dreaming about doing it, and actually doing it.

Wow that sounds a lot like lesson 1 of How to Think Sideways. I should dig this up, may help me.

Its really frustrating because I really, really want to work but I freeze up every time my hand are near the keyboard( Took me 3 days to write THIS report!).

The Four THINKING Barriers ( all right to Holly Lisle)
SAFE never starts,
PERFECT never finishes,
VICTIM never acts,
FEEL never thinks.

And here is my problem, safe and victim ( thank you Holly). I'm going to read through the lesson tonight and get my shit together like that tomorrow I will be able to work on my projects.

/crack neck and roll shoulders/ Lets do this.

Wish me luck!

Progress:

I got the idea for the 7 portals story, I just have to get my shit together and work on it. I was able to devided and figure out my process on how I bring a idea to full fruition then write it. I was able to make it in small 7 steps ( small HA).

Books:

I visit the Chapters in the town I live now ( HO GOD THEY HAVE A CHAPTERRRS sooo happpy) and was able to find The element of style by William Strunk jr, and E.B. White. I'm taking my time to read and understand the process of writing. Its a great little book, I am really happy that I bought it. It was recommended to me many time but I just didn't want to buy it online, I though that if I find it someday I would take it. And I am happy about my decision. Would it have help me earlier? Perhaps. But probably not, its only now that I am in the mind set of really wanting to understand and learn. If I would have got it earlier it probably be lost in my book shelves and I wouldn't be thinking of it now.

I am taking notes of it, in a little green book that I bought. Its purse size so I'm caring it with me at all time. I'm learning slowly,more like, I'm understanding. I only have it for a few days and I'm not very far through it but thats okay because I want to understand, I dont want to skim it and try to remember later.

Would I recommended? Yes, total yes.

If you see it in the reference section, take it, its worth the 10 buck.

What book did, surprisingly, help you? What subject?


for me:

Writing:
  • The Element of Style by William Strunk jr and E/B White.
  • How to Revise your Novel by Holly Lisle ( all courses now sold on Amazon)
  • No plot? No problem! by Chris Baty
Anxiety attacks:
  • The Secret to Teen Power by Paul Harrington (better explication)
  • Happiness project by Gretchen Rubin
  • Little ways to KEEP CALM and CARRY ON by Mark A. Reinecke, PH.D.