Writing Contest

I've been off this blog for some time, but that's mainly due to my schedule.  It doesn't really allot to a writing time, or time to think about more than a few small scenes here and there.  The thing is, recently, my Community Coordinator, sent out an email about a writing contest that actually wants some short stories.  I have to explain why I chose to write that particular short story, but writers like talking about their craft, so I should be fine.  In an exciting twist, I am going to write the follow up series to Rebirth, or otherwise the second section to the Rebirth series, because I can't think of a name that could fit it as nicely as Rebirth has continued to explain my first series.  That said, I'm really excited.  The only people who have read my stories have been my friends and family, and maybe a few teachers, but how do I know they aren't just being nice?  That is the eternal question for me, so I am entering this contest.  This morning I have already written four pages, which isn't that much, but for the contest the max is ten, so I have to make sure I get to the point.

Wish me luck, and hey, maybe I'll get some good feedback,  maybe even enough to push me during November to finally complete a Nanowrimo event.  I need to finish a book sometime in my life.  Wishing myself, and everyone else the best in life.  May we all reach some of our dreams.

Listening to:
-Gundam soundtracks (It's anime, so beware, it's in Japanese): Ash like snow, Daybreak's Bell
-Last One Standing by Simple Plan
-Front lines by Pillar
-Anywhere But Here by Safetysuit
-Evangelion soundtracks (Also Anime): Carnage, The final decision we must all take, Betrayal, the Ultimate Soldier, God's Gift

Ignite Talk

Linked below is the last project I did for my College English course, and hopefully it was a great conclusion to one of the best English courses I have taken so far, in terms of creative thinking.  I hope this idea of limitless creativity doesn't go away in the rest of my college experience, but here's the video of my presentation.  Enjoy, and ignore the constant whacking of my leg with my hand.  I had no clue I did that until now, I don't even remember doing it during my presentation.

Publication- The Force of Fiction

Force of Fiction Magazine

One of the things I worked on recently was a magazine where all the call to papers that were sent to my group were all put together.  I was surprised at how good it looked, and how it came out.  We only had to put all the Call to Papers in it, but I decided that was too boring for me, so I slid in two fun articles into the front portion.  The link is above the picture, and the fun articles are called "The Console Wars", and "Star Wars Returns".  Both got really good feedback, and were really fun to write.  I guess they came from my growing obsession with the xbox one, which came out on Nov. 22nd.  I wanted to watch the countdown, but I'm not much of a midnight release kind of person.  I wouldn't be able to stay up that late, unless I had been lying around a couch all day long, and since it was a school day (thursday) that wasn't happening.  I think my family is judging me, because when I said I wanted one, I was immediately questioned if I would rather have the Playstation 4.  That's how bad the representation of the new xbox was.  How could they mess up the presentation of the only thing they have been working on for years?!  

Anyway, with thanksgiving just a few days away, the semester is coming to a close, and with that said, I'm trying to show everything that I have done this semester.  The only problem is that there was so much done, that I don't even remember doing.  This could be a long process.  Down below I'm linking the publications where I sent my own call to papers.  Read them, and support the groups while you're at it.  I'm only linking two, because one of the papers was sent to my own publication linked all the way at the top of the page.

Warfare and technology (mine is under the super weapon category)

Warfare and Technology Publication

Progressing Technology

Progressing Technology Publication

Nanowrimo Week Two

They don't lie when they say that week two is the worst.  I took the weekend to go ahead and plot out my characters, and even made a timeline, but I still feel like there are moments where I doubt how much of this I can take.  I type whenever I can, and for me right now that is an amazing feat.  The thing is that I want to see this book through to the end.  Come Friday I am supposed to have around 25,000 words.  To some of you it would be a little bit of a random number to take so much pride, but considering that the goal is 50,000 words, I am ecstatic.  Last year I only made it to around 11,000 words, so with my current word count being at 20,000 this year has already surpassed my expectations from last year.  To those of you who have encouraged me with writing this novel, thank you.  Maybe I can actually finish this book for once?

Revisions I made to my Drafts

                                             Revisions to Progress of Technology

I used the midst of action intro for my actual introduction for the paper.

If you can't read it, it is mostly my alternate introductions, a midst of action introduction, and an outline of the major points of the paper.

The Force of Fiction Revision

Didn't use any of the introductions I wrote, but this helped me decide that I actually liked how my paper started.

Tech and Warfare Revision

This one was shorter, so the midst of action introduction made up the entire draft, though I think in the end I'll add more before it's due.

Nanowrimo Days Seven and Eight

First week is almost down, and I think I'm starting to realize how much more planning I need for this story.  I learned last year that you don't jump into a story without proper planning, it ends in misery and defeat.  And I will say this, being told you failed Nanowrimo is a harrowing experience, it kills your motivation on writing for a while.  The miracle?  The weekend is almost here, and with it comes more oppurtunity to write, which means catching up.  Nanowrimo is going to have a marathon on Saturday, but I probably won't be fully on track with that.  Friday I might sit, and use a white board to do more brainstorming, so I can hopefully carry on with this 50,000 word goal.

Right now, I am at around the 10,000 word mark, a little behind, but slowly trying to catch up.  I may end up looking for more motivational tools soon, but I think I can stick this out, and still make good grades in school.  A writer can dream.