Well, I haven't said anything in awhile and it's about high time I came back to this virtual world to tell everyone what is new and happening with my life in the most encouraging way I can.
I'm on my sophomore year of college now, about to be a junior. People keep telling me that I have all the time in the world but, as the semesters pass, my opportunities become less and less.
So this semester as well as last semester, I applied to study abroad. I applied to study in Manchester, England for a little over a month during the summer and I applied to study in Belfast, Ireland this coming fall. And let me just tell you... I made alternate for England. The girl in front of me would have to fall off a cliff before I could go. It tortured me being so close to something that people dangled the hope of, "Well, there's still a chance," over my head. Then... a few days ago, I got news from Belfast. I have been placed on the reserve list. Another alternate position with more hope dangled over my head. I keep telling my family that I would be happier if they both just said 'no'! I don't like them giving me this hope that I know won't come to fruition.
But... then I got accepted into an English honor society. My professor said it was a big deal. We get a pin and a plaque and we never have to do anything. However, I wanted it to be more than that. I like writing! Give me something to do with this! And so I explored the website I was sent in my congratulations email. I have the ability to speak at seminars, share my work, win awards... and enter for internships...
Now, I have always dreamed big and, to be honest, I dream bigger than I am. But under internships on that page is a single internship for Penguin Random House... Which I can apply to Summer, Fall, and Spring until I graduate.
I've been down and out lately. I've had a few good days of things just going wrong. I no longer have a job. I have a slight (but very slight) chance of still going to Belfast. And it just seems like I always build myself up to be let down.
But, if you think I won't be applying for this internship every semester until I graduate, you are sorely mistaken. Sure, I have a slim chance. There are over 800 chapters of this honor society and one publically broadcast internship for a very sought after company. But hey. If I never take such wild chances, I'll never have the wild chance of being successful. And I have one more shot at Belfast, if it turns out I don't make it.
Shit happens.
You get turned down more than you get accepted.
That's life.
What happens after is whether you choose to let it keep you down or if you choose to stand back up.
Keep fighting.
With Love,
SKW
Showing posts with label teens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teens. Show all posts
Friday, March 23, 2018
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
It'll Be Okay
Honestly, the hardest thing about writing is just the self-doubt and the pressure (guilt) of it. I feel awful every day that I don't write or read because of all of those authors who stare you down with their quotes and tell you that you'll never be an author if you don't do both EACH and EVERY day. And if I don't do that then, along with the guilt, I begin to wonder if I am a writer after all. To be completely honest, I think a lot of authors are liars and do a lot more damage to people's confidence than actually boosting it. If it took J.K. Rowling 17 years to write one novel, do you believe she wrote or read EVERY SINGLE DAY? It is such an unachievable committment when you're in school or have a full time job or both! Your brain hurts by the end of the day and sometimes you just cannot commit to it.
I believe in individual people not in rules or circumstance. I believe that if someone wants to write they will... in their own time and in their own way. I believe in PEOPLE. Some writers say follow the rules- read every day and write every day, while others tell you there are no secret rules of success to writing. I'm the latter. We are individuals for a reason. If the same thing were possible and worked for all of us, then we would probably lack all originality and everyone would probably be a writer. And well... completing two books in three years isn't bad. Three? Four? We can't all be a James Patterson *eye roll*.
So if you're going to take advice from a writer, take it from me. Ignore them. There is no reason to take their words for gospel when you are attempting to be your own kind of writer with your own individual voice. I'm a creative writing major with a minor in business and public policy. Many people have asked me my major and after I told them what it was would go, "Oh." Oh? Most of them wouldn't ask anymore question and would drop the topic completely, while some pursue an argument. Listen, in this day and age, everyone and their dead relatives has an opinion to force down your throat. It's best to look them in the eyes and say, "I want to be that person who, ten years from now, can honestly say that I have never worked a day in my life because I love my job so much."
The lesson here is- do whatever the heck makes you happy. Life can either be about making enough money to live on or being happy enough that you've actually LIVED and THRIVED instead of just sustaining yourself. Life can be so many things, you might as well go through it doing what you love.
With Love,
SKW
I believe in individual people not in rules or circumstance. I believe that if someone wants to write they will... in their own time and in their own way. I believe in PEOPLE. Some writers say follow the rules- read every day and write every day, while others tell you there are no secret rules of success to writing. I'm the latter. We are individuals for a reason. If the same thing were possible and worked for all of us, then we would probably lack all originality and everyone would probably be a writer. And well... completing two books in three years isn't bad. Three? Four? We can't all be a James Patterson *eye roll*.
So if you're going to take advice from a writer, take it from me. Ignore them. There is no reason to take their words for gospel when you are attempting to be your own kind of writer with your own individual voice. I'm a creative writing major with a minor in business and public policy. Many people have asked me my major and after I told them what it was would go, "Oh." Oh? Most of them wouldn't ask anymore question and would drop the topic completely, while some pursue an argument. Listen, in this day and age, everyone and their dead relatives has an opinion to force down your throat. It's best to look them in the eyes and say, "I want to be that person who, ten years from now, can honestly say that I have never worked a day in my life because I love my job so much."
The lesson here is- do whatever the heck makes you happy. Life can either be about making enough money to live on or being happy enough that you've actually LIVED and THRIVED instead of just sustaining yourself. Life can be so many things, you might as well go through it doing what you love.
With Love,
SKW
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Waiting on the End to Start a New Beginning
My first year of college is almost to a close and I'm more than ready for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm sad that my first year of college flew by so fast, however, I'm ready to write what I want to again. I plan on writing all summer and, hopefully finishing something before returning for sophomore year. I miss it, you know? In college, you hardly have time to read what you want much less write what you want. And, to be honest, I'm excited for my next adventure. I want to try something new and see how it goes. Many of you would judge me because I haven't even gotten a success novel out but I want to be able to write anything I want to write and to do that I need to practice writing other things besides novels. I'll eventually return to it, of course, but I want to see if I can't finish something over the summer.
As a writer, it isn't how successful you are with getting things published but WRITING. And I want to try my hand at something else. Many people frown upon me for being a creative writing major because, let's be honest, people think if you want to write that you're going to live in a box under a bridge. I cannot even begin to recount the times people have made rude comments over my choice of major. However, it is MY major and not theirs but I will continue to explain. My explanation to myself and everyone else is I want the ability to write whatever I want to. I want to be able to write screenplays, dramas, novels, or business documents. I want the knowledge and the confidence to accomplish whatever I desire. Most people around me want to be nurses or in the medical field and ask why I'm not going into it to. There are two answers to that question: One- because it gives me anxiety to be responsible for someone and Two- because that's not where my heart is. Everything in life makes people anxious but writing is the one place I feel pretty confident in (except for this semester in English when this teacher destroyed my ego because of all the stuff I was never taught).
Anyways, the gist of this is that what other people say doesn't matter. Maybe on occasion an ear can be lent to the critics but, more often than not, it is better to ignore them and do what you feel drawn to do. Think big things. Do big things. It's okay to be nervous, but never be afraid.
With Love,
SKW
As a writer, it isn't how successful you are with getting things published but WRITING. And I want to try my hand at something else. Many people frown upon me for being a creative writing major because, let's be honest, people think if you want to write that you're going to live in a box under a bridge. I cannot even begin to recount the times people have made rude comments over my choice of major. However, it is MY major and not theirs but I will continue to explain. My explanation to myself and everyone else is I want the ability to write whatever I want to. I want to be able to write screenplays, dramas, novels, or business documents. I want the knowledge and the confidence to accomplish whatever I desire. Most people around me want to be nurses or in the medical field and ask why I'm not going into it to. There are two answers to that question: One- because it gives me anxiety to be responsible for someone and Two- because that's not where my heart is. Everything in life makes people anxious but writing is the one place I feel pretty confident in (except for this semester in English when this teacher destroyed my ego because of all the stuff I was never taught).
Anyways, the gist of this is that what other people say doesn't matter. Maybe on occasion an ear can be lent to the critics but, more often than not, it is better to ignore them and do what you feel drawn to do. Think big things. Do big things. It's okay to be nervous, but never be afraid.
With Love,
SKW
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Life Lessons
I've been in college almost a full academic year now, which isn't really a long time. However, I've had a slew of teachers in my life considering elementary school up through Freshman year of college. That being said I've never had a more frustrating teacher... except maybe in math, but never in English. Call me sensitive or lazy, whatever names seem to fit, but I cannot agree with this professor's methods.
She believes in the concept of "simple is best". I have never had a teach tell me to remove words from my sentences because they are too "wordy" or "awkward". Additionally, she believes in a restriction on the verbs that I am allowed to include in my papers such as nothing with the endings -tion, -ence, or -ment. Whenever I have attempted to impress my teachers, I have read or listened to Pride and Prejudice, gotten myself into that voice, and written my papers to sound what I would consider "proper". Long words are what dazzle right? That's what I've learned up until this semester. Always expand my vocabulary to include big words and write in a way I know how is what I have been taught my entire life. That is until today.
If I were turning in this blog post, I would have to go through and remove every "the", "that", and any other word that isn't "necessary". However harmless that may seem, it is a censor on my unique writing voice. Taking out words that aren't "vital" and changing others into a different word with the same meaning is taking my voice and warping it into my professors. I came to college to further my writing skills and I understand that my writing is not perfect. Correct my commas and apostrophes, I won't mind. Correct my grammar or tell me that there is a stronger way to phrase something, but allow me to keep my voice.
I am sounding spiteful, but hear me out. I'm not here to please her. I've gotten passed that since becoming a writer. Write what you want to write is an author's mantra as well as never change for your audience. I am supposed to write to please myself which I usually do and I'm okay for writing for school. I've been doing it most of my life, but I cannot allow myself to be okay with a teacher who represses my voice in favor of her own. It is no longer teaching me how to write, but teaching me how to project someone else's voice and ideas onto my paper.
I've been insulted almost every day this week with comments such as, "Have you learned how to write now?" I rolled my eyes at that and she caught me saying, "SKW says she didn't."
You might be asking yourself what is the lesson in this, SKW? That you can't write? That she's wrong and you know everything? No, nothing like that actually. I could be wrong. She could be wrong. Maybe we're both wrong. The lesson in this is... I wanted out of her class. I wanted to transfer. I don't understand her methods. I don't agree with them and I don't think they count as composition. However... I've decided to stay in her class, not because I can't transfer, but because maybe I'll learn something from her rubbish. Maybe I'll learn there is a deeper meaning to her madness or maybe I'll learn what I already know. What I don't want to do is be that quitter who one day gets up in front of a crowd and tells them the story of the English class that was too hard. What kind of writer would I be to shy away from a challenge? Sure, I may despise her, but the greatest victory would be a battle won with the odds not in my favor.
So that is the lesson... know your limits, but don't shy away from a challenge even when it goes against everything you know. Everything in life is a lesson even if the lesson is hard learned. One day I want to get up in front of a crowd and talk about how nuts this teacher was, but that I survived and so did my writing. It's always fight or flight, guys, and I'm tired of running (plus... I hate running. It's a gross pastime).
Keep your ground my lovelies.
With Love,
SKW
She believes in the concept of "simple is best". I have never had a teach tell me to remove words from my sentences because they are too "wordy" or "awkward". Additionally, she believes in a restriction on the verbs that I am allowed to include in my papers such as nothing with the endings -tion, -ence, or -ment. Whenever I have attempted to impress my teachers, I have read or listened to Pride and Prejudice, gotten myself into that voice, and written my papers to sound what I would consider "proper". Long words are what dazzle right? That's what I've learned up until this semester. Always expand my vocabulary to include big words and write in a way I know how is what I have been taught my entire life. That is until today.
If I were turning in this blog post, I would have to go through and remove every "the", "that", and any other word that isn't "necessary". However harmless that may seem, it is a censor on my unique writing voice. Taking out words that aren't "vital" and changing others into a different word with the same meaning is taking my voice and warping it into my professors. I came to college to further my writing skills and I understand that my writing is not perfect. Correct my commas and apostrophes, I won't mind. Correct my grammar or tell me that there is a stronger way to phrase something, but allow me to keep my voice.
I am sounding spiteful, but hear me out. I'm not here to please her. I've gotten passed that since becoming a writer. Write what you want to write is an author's mantra as well as never change for your audience. I am supposed to write to please myself which I usually do and I'm okay for writing for school. I've been doing it most of my life, but I cannot allow myself to be okay with a teacher who represses my voice in favor of her own. It is no longer teaching me how to write, but teaching me how to project someone else's voice and ideas onto my paper.
I've been insulted almost every day this week with comments such as, "Have you learned how to write now?" I rolled my eyes at that and she caught me saying, "SKW says she didn't."
You might be asking yourself what is the lesson in this, SKW? That you can't write? That she's wrong and you know everything? No, nothing like that actually. I could be wrong. She could be wrong. Maybe we're both wrong. The lesson in this is... I wanted out of her class. I wanted to transfer. I don't understand her methods. I don't agree with them and I don't think they count as composition. However... I've decided to stay in her class, not because I can't transfer, but because maybe I'll learn something from her rubbish. Maybe I'll learn there is a deeper meaning to her madness or maybe I'll learn what I already know. What I don't want to do is be that quitter who one day gets up in front of a crowd and tells them the story of the English class that was too hard. What kind of writer would I be to shy away from a challenge? Sure, I may despise her, but the greatest victory would be a battle won with the odds not in my favor.
So that is the lesson... know your limits, but don't shy away from a challenge even when it goes against everything you know. Everything in life is a lesson even if the lesson is hard learned. One day I want to get up in front of a crowd and talk about how nuts this teacher was, but that I survived and so did my writing. It's always fight or flight, guys, and I'm tired of running (plus... I hate running. It's a gross pastime).
Keep your ground my lovelies.
With Love,
SKW
Friday, August 26, 2016
I'm a GREAT Writer
I read somewhere once that when asked what she does this girl hesitated then replied, "I'm a GREAT writer." The reason for her saying that, it said, was because maybe she didn't believe it now, but if she said it enough and worked hard enough that one day it would become true. And in a way, I believe that to be true. Everyone always tells you that words have power, so why not? It's also a wonderful way to boost your self-esteem because, admit it, most authors feel horrible about their work. And it's okay to feel that way! It's just that urge to make your work the best you can make it. That's never a bad thing, just remember nothing can ever be perfect. Know when enough is enough.
Anyways as I embark towards my Creative Writing degree, I understand that I still have a long ways to go to get there, but I also understand that this degree cannot make me into a writer. It can only broaden horizons that are already there. It's like how college still can't get me to enjoy or understand math. (I can learn math well, but only if I have a certain type of teacher). A girl here asked me what I am planning to do after college and I said, "Live in a box under a bridge." To be honest, I can be many things with this degree. I could be a play writer, screen writer, speech writer, or a novelist.
Who knows?
I can't tell the future.
All I know...
Is that I'm a GREAT writer.
Keep being GREAT.
-With Love,
SKW
Anyways as I embark towards my Creative Writing degree, I understand that I still have a long ways to go to get there, but I also understand that this degree cannot make me into a writer. It can only broaden horizons that are already there. It's like how college still can't get me to enjoy or understand math. (I can learn math well, but only if I have a certain type of teacher). A girl here asked me what I am planning to do after college and I said, "Live in a box under a bridge." To be honest, I can be many things with this degree. I could be a play writer, screen writer, speech writer, or a novelist.
Who knows?
I can't tell the future.
All I know...
Is that I'm a GREAT writer.
Keep being GREAT.
-With Love,
SKW
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
I Crack Myself Up
The picture above is what I drew as an idea for the cover of Emerald Forest (Kind of looks like Baymax)
This one below was my draft cover of Obsidian Night. They thought the silhouette looked like an elephant and had to call me to ask what it was. It may not look so impressive... but that...
Things don't always start out pretty, but that doesn't mean much. Change does exist and it has the potential to be amazing. If Emerald Forest make a transformation like Obsidian Night did, then I will have a good lookin' second book. Amber Falls cover is going to be difficult... but I'll paint another elephant and figure something out.
The lesson of this post is puberty is real.
With Love,
SKW
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Moving Forward
As I begin to embark on my next adventure, one more real and terrifying, I feel nostalgic for the coming years. Life is difficult at times, but the thought of my happy place across the sea keeps my spirits up. I can't help, but hope that one day I'll be over there with my little mud room and a library, maybe even an office for writing. I've fallen in love with the U.K. Ireland, Scotland, and Britain. I could live in any of them and be happy. It's been my plan B for years.
As for college, I am terrified. I'm pursing a degree in Creative Writing and possibly business or teaching. Either way, I don't want to end up living in a box under a bridge. I'll be attending a place 5 hours from my home. I have lived in this town my entire life and am excited to get away. This is not where I want to live out my life, but the south has a way of keeping you. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice place. I just have a bit of wanderlust that's all.
Furthermore, no one I know will be attending this college which is also a nice thing. I get to meet a lot of new people and live in a climate where it snows. I'm hoping to study abroad in Ireland or Britain during one of my spring semesters.
All in all it is a terrifying experience. Who knows if anything will become of my writing or my business degree? Who knows if I'll ever get my little stone house with my mud room and library? Who knows if I'll study abroad? All I know is that I have to try. If I don't try, I'll never know just how much I can accomplish.
Times can be hard.
Just never forget that you have the power to make it better.
Always.
Never give up.
-SKW
As for college, I am terrified. I'm pursing a degree in Creative Writing and possibly business or teaching. Either way, I don't want to end up living in a box under a bridge. I'll be attending a place 5 hours from my home. I have lived in this town my entire life and am excited to get away. This is not where I want to live out my life, but the south has a way of keeping you. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice place. I just have a bit of wanderlust that's all.
Furthermore, no one I know will be attending this college which is also a nice thing. I get to meet a lot of new people and live in a climate where it snows. I'm hoping to study abroad in Ireland or Britain during one of my spring semesters.
All in all it is a terrifying experience. Who knows if anything will become of my writing or my business degree? Who knows if I'll ever get my little stone house with my mud room and library? Who knows if I'll study abroad? All I know is that I have to try. If I don't try, I'll never know just how much I can accomplish.
Times can be hard.
Just never forget that you have the power to make it better.
Always.
Never give up.
-SKW
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Against My Better Judgment
As the title suggest I have managed to make a decision against my better judgement. I have begun a piece I have been contemplating for over a year and, while it may not seem such a surprise, I have put on hold The Dark Divides series. It is something I plan to return to, but as of right now I want to see what I can make of this new project. It's a new style and a new genre, but I'm excited to see where I can take it. The first paragraph actually got a 12 readability on the Hemingway App which excites me considering the highest I have gotten so far on Emerald Forest is an 8.
I don't want to give too much away about what my new project is, but I will say that I completely adore the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. There are so many prevalent problems in our society today and I wish to capture them and show them to the world. It shall be like a horrible mirror.
I'm not quite sure if there is a lesson in this post or not. I suppose it could encourage the writer to step out of their usual comfort zones such as I have. I am attempting to write in third person while also attempting a dystopian novel, neither of which I have done before. I'm not sure whether it will work out or whether it will be as wonderful as I imagine, but that is the drug of the writer! The fantastic unknown. The risk. The hope. The DREAMS. My number one dream is to have a novel that is first on the NY Times Bestselling Authors list. My second dream is to be traditionally published.
However, I don't know if I, for certain, will achieve either of them, but it's worth a shot. Heck, I'm planning to major in creative writing. Nothing is certain about that degree. I could end up in a box under a bridge, but you know what? I'm shooting for it. If I don't make it, at least I can tell myself that I gave it my absolute best shot. Plus, writing a hit book isn't a dream with a time limit. My winning novel could be written when I'm 90. But who knows what would be, if I don't try?
There is the lesson. Risk it. If it's your dream, then go for it. You won't know if you can, if you don't try. Have faith; in yourself or other and you can go far.
I've procrastinated enough. I'm going to go write my novel.
Keep dreaming.
With Love,
SKW
I don't want to give too much away about what my new project is, but I will say that I completely adore the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. There are so many prevalent problems in our society today and I wish to capture them and show them to the world. It shall be like a horrible mirror.
I'm not quite sure if there is a lesson in this post or not. I suppose it could encourage the writer to step out of their usual comfort zones such as I have. I am attempting to write in third person while also attempting a dystopian novel, neither of which I have done before. I'm not sure whether it will work out or whether it will be as wonderful as I imagine, but that is the drug of the writer! The fantastic unknown. The risk. The hope. The DREAMS. My number one dream is to have a novel that is first on the NY Times Bestselling Authors list. My second dream is to be traditionally published.
However, I don't know if I, for certain, will achieve either of them, but it's worth a shot. Heck, I'm planning to major in creative writing. Nothing is certain about that degree. I could end up in a box under a bridge, but you know what? I'm shooting for it. If I don't make it, at least I can tell myself that I gave it my absolute best shot. Plus, writing a hit book isn't a dream with a time limit. My winning novel could be written when I'm 90. But who knows what would be, if I don't try?
There is the lesson. Risk it. If it's your dream, then go for it. You won't know if you can, if you don't try. Have faith; in yourself or other and you can go far.
I've procrastinated enough. I'm going to go write my novel.
Keep dreaming.
With Love,
SKW
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Rewriting and Rejection
After half a year now, I am finally starting to rewrite Emerald Forest for the first time. I know what you're thinking. Wow, half a year? That's a long time filled with nothing. Well, you're wrong. I and a group of my friends edited the book when we read through it. It was helpful to me, considering I had forgotten half of the plot. It has an interesting plot, just a little... catawompus.
However, I am more than antsy to move on to Amber Falls, which, I may or may not have already started on... *cough*. Either way, I have returned to polish off my work and publish it as well as polish up Obsidian Night for I know I have made plot mistakes and I also know the writing could improve drastically. I'm determined to clean up the both of them into proud pieces of art.
Furthermore, I'll be entering college in the fall. I have not discovered yet whether that will give me more or less time to write, but I am excited to become a Creative Writing Major. But what will you do with that degree? Well, wonderful audience, I have absolutely no idea. I might just end up living under a bridge writing on soggy pieces of paper with mud. All I know is that writing is something I enjoy doing and I'm not half bad at it. Plus, I believe faith can get you a long way, be it faith in yourself or a deity. I happen to have faith in both and a long term goal of being a New York Times Bestselling author. I don't know if I'll achieve that goal but, hey, it's worth a shot.
On another topic, let us talk about failure. As you all don't know, I've applied to colleges. Two actually.. not very many, just my first and second choice. My second choice (a liberal arts college) accepted me and gave me a $14,000 Deans Scholarship. That's great, right? Well, I learned yesterday that my first choice rejected me. I had already sent in a payment to the liberal arts school to secure the scholarship so I don't know why the rejection of the first school hit so hard. Maybe it was going on social media and seeing others who had been accepted or maybe it was my family's belief that I would get in that made my stomach sink. I'm not one to get accepted to a lot as was seen when I tried to get a publisher for Obsidian Night. It didn't bother me then because I always new eventually someone would say yes. So I got over the college rejection. They didn't have what I wanted anyways. I don't want an English Major. I want a Creative Writing Major and that's how the rejection has worked out for the best.
Therefore, the lesson in this post is that sometimes rejection isn't to be seen as the end. Sometimes rejection is for the better. It sends you in a different direction, mixes up the plan, and gives you a fresh way to look at things. We don't want it, but sometimes it isn't what we want. It's what is best for us.
Savor the Rejection.
With Love,
SKW
However, I am more than antsy to move on to Amber Falls, which, I may or may not have already started on... *cough*. Either way, I have returned to polish off my work and publish it as well as polish up Obsidian Night for I know I have made plot mistakes and I also know the writing could improve drastically. I'm determined to clean up the both of them into proud pieces of art.
Furthermore, I'll be entering college in the fall. I have not discovered yet whether that will give me more or less time to write, but I am excited to become a Creative Writing Major. But what will you do with that degree? Well, wonderful audience, I have absolutely no idea. I might just end up living under a bridge writing on soggy pieces of paper with mud. All I know is that writing is something I enjoy doing and I'm not half bad at it. Plus, I believe faith can get you a long way, be it faith in yourself or a deity. I happen to have faith in both and a long term goal of being a New York Times Bestselling author. I don't know if I'll achieve that goal but, hey, it's worth a shot.
On another topic, let us talk about failure. As you all don't know, I've applied to colleges. Two actually.. not very many, just my first and second choice. My second choice (a liberal arts college) accepted me and gave me a $14,000 Deans Scholarship. That's great, right? Well, I learned yesterday that my first choice rejected me. I had already sent in a payment to the liberal arts school to secure the scholarship so I don't know why the rejection of the first school hit so hard. Maybe it was going on social media and seeing others who had been accepted or maybe it was my family's belief that I would get in that made my stomach sink. I'm not one to get accepted to a lot as was seen when I tried to get a publisher for Obsidian Night. It didn't bother me then because I always new eventually someone would say yes. So I got over the college rejection. They didn't have what I wanted anyways. I don't want an English Major. I want a Creative Writing Major and that's how the rejection has worked out for the best.
Therefore, the lesson in this post is that sometimes rejection isn't to be seen as the end. Sometimes rejection is for the better. It sends you in a different direction, mixes up the plan, and gives you a fresh way to look at things. We don't want it, but sometimes it isn't what we want. It's what is best for us.
Savor the Rejection.
With Love,
SKW
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
The Right Thing to Say
Well... Here's the topic of today— I never say the right things. Most of the time I have no idea what to say, because nothing sounds right.
People like to come to me and tell me their troubles and, most of the time, I want to reply "I'm sorry" (because I am sorry that that happened to them) or "It'll be okay" (because in the end, it most likely will be). The problem is saying "It'll be okay" would make me angry if anyone ever said it to me when I am mad or upset, therefore it makes me not want to say it out of fear people get mad just like me. Along with that is the meaningless "I'm sorry" statement, because a lot of the time it just sounds like you don't give a crap. It's difficult.
Furthermore, I have a hard time sympathizing with people. I'm more empathetic especially with anger. It's not an easy thing for me, but I guess I'm the type of person that draws a lot of people to trust me enough to tell me what's going on in their life. Don't get me wrong. I don't particularly hate that people feel comfortable talking to me. I just hate that I'm not good at consolation through words. I'd rather do some shopping therapy.
When my friends grandmother died, it was easier just buying her a coffee and siting silently in a Starbucks then trying to push my beliefs on her or bully her into not feeling anything. (Yeah... maybe I have issues). I could write something sentimental as well. My vocal chords apparently have a pride problem.
Oh and let's get personal for a minute. As you could probably guess, I'm a pretty independent person. I've learned to build whatever I need built and do whatever I need done. I recently just got into the longest relationship I've ever been in with the best guy ever. He told me he loves me. (Trust me this has to do with the topic). Anyways, I didn't say it back. Not because I don't love him. It's not that at all. It's just... I have a problem with people leaving and I need more time. I need more time than others for a lot of things. I'm not one of those people where I say I need time and it never happens, I just... it takes me longer to get used to things. You know? To get used to guy actually staying around. To get used to a guy actually wanting to hangout with me. It's different. It hasn't happened before and it's going to take time for me to completely let go of everything. (Pride and such). It applies to the subject because I didn't say the right thing. But one day I will.
The lesson of this post is that the right words come eventually, not right away. When your heart, head, and mouth, align, the right words begin to spill out. For some, it's easy. For others, it'll take some time to open up and allow yourself to be vulnerable and that's okay. Everything will be okay.
Stay open to things.
With love,
SKW
People like to come to me and tell me their troubles and, most of the time, I want to reply "I'm sorry" (because I am sorry that that happened to them) or "It'll be okay" (because in the end, it most likely will be). The problem is saying "It'll be okay" would make me angry if anyone ever said it to me when I am mad or upset, therefore it makes me not want to say it out of fear people get mad just like me. Along with that is the meaningless "I'm sorry" statement, because a lot of the time it just sounds like you don't give a crap. It's difficult.
Furthermore, I have a hard time sympathizing with people. I'm more empathetic especially with anger. It's not an easy thing for me, but I guess I'm the type of person that draws a lot of people to trust me enough to tell me what's going on in their life. Don't get me wrong. I don't particularly hate that people feel comfortable talking to me. I just hate that I'm not good at consolation through words. I'd rather do some shopping therapy.
When my friends grandmother died, it was easier just buying her a coffee and siting silently in a Starbucks then trying to push my beliefs on her or bully her into not feeling anything. (Yeah... maybe I have issues). I could write something sentimental as well. My vocal chords apparently have a pride problem.
Oh and let's get personal for a minute. As you could probably guess, I'm a pretty independent person. I've learned to build whatever I need built and do whatever I need done. I recently just got into the longest relationship I've ever been in with the best guy ever. He told me he loves me. (Trust me this has to do with the topic). Anyways, I didn't say it back. Not because I don't love him. It's not that at all. It's just... I have a problem with people leaving and I need more time. I need more time than others for a lot of things. I'm not one of those people where I say I need time and it never happens, I just... it takes me longer to get used to things. You know? To get used to guy actually staying around. To get used to a guy actually wanting to hangout with me. It's different. It hasn't happened before and it's going to take time for me to completely let go of everything. (Pride and such). It applies to the subject because I didn't say the right thing. But one day I will.
The lesson of this post is that the right words come eventually, not right away. When your heart, head, and mouth, align, the right words begin to spill out. For some, it's easy. For others, it'll take some time to open up and allow yourself to be vulnerable and that's okay. Everything will be okay.
Stay open to things.
With love,
SKW
Friday, October 9, 2015
Encouragement
I was scrolling through the free On-Demand movies (because I'm cheap) and came across old Disney Channel movies. Since I hadn't seen it in a long time, I decided to watch Read it and Weep. For those of you who don't know, this movie is about a freshman girl in high school accidentally publishing her diary and getting nation-wide recognition for it, while also managing to destroy her social life. Anyways, the movie depressed me. It's unrealistic, but it hurts to think that after one shot at something this character was able to get a publishing deal and a publicist. All while I'm here with my self-published book feeling a tad ashamed of myself. I mean, come on, anyone can self-publish a book. A person could be illiterate and still get their book self-published. It doesn't matter how well you write, because you are literally paying the people to publish your work. Depressing, right?
Well, I walk up stairs dejected at thinking all of this through and turn on the radio. It's tuned in to Kicks 99.5 (a country station) and what comes out of the speakers catches my attention. Maddie and Tae are singing their song Fly (it doesn't matter if you've heard it or not because I'm about to put the lyrics up). And after that horrible feeling of failure this is what I hear—
Baby blue staring in the window
Pane just counting drops of rain
Wondering if she's got the guts to
Take it.
Running down her dream in a dirty
dress, now her heart's a mess
Praying she will find a way to make it.
So keep on climbing, though the
Ground might shake
Just keep on reaching though the
Limb might break
We've come this far. don't you be
Scared now
Cause you can learn to fly on the
Way down.
Call it what you want. Call it coincidence or call it divine intervention. Heck, call it encouragement from the Fates or nothing at all. The only thing I know for sure is that I never want to stop writing. I just want to get to that level of skill that will allow me to accomplish tradition publishing. I don't care if I succeed economically. My only goal is to be good enough, to write good enough, to be that person that deserves what they get. No, I don't want it to come without a struggle, but the fight to get there is a draining one that leaves me with many unanswered questions. This is an up hill battle and I'm at the bottom.
Yes, I'll complain and whine and rant about how unfair it seems sometimes, but...in a way... I don't think I would have it any different. It's teaching me things that I don't think every author gets taught. It's teaching me patience, building me a back bone, and showing me how to be my own teacher. This is an experience I wish more authors went through.
Stay strong, my loves, the sun rises just before the dawn.
SKW
Well, I walk up stairs dejected at thinking all of this through and turn on the radio. It's tuned in to Kicks 99.5 (a country station) and what comes out of the speakers catches my attention. Maddie and Tae are singing their song Fly (it doesn't matter if you've heard it or not because I'm about to put the lyrics up). And after that horrible feeling of failure this is what I hear—
Baby blue staring in the window
Pane just counting drops of rain
Wondering if she's got the guts to
Take it.
Running down her dream in a dirty
dress, now her heart's a mess
Praying she will find a way to make it.
So keep on climbing, though the
Ground might shake
Just keep on reaching though the
Limb might break
We've come this far. don't you be
Scared now
Cause you can learn to fly on the
Way down.
Call it what you want. Call it coincidence or call it divine intervention. Heck, call it encouragement from the Fates or nothing at all. The only thing I know for sure is that I never want to stop writing. I just want to get to that level of skill that will allow me to accomplish tradition publishing. I don't care if I succeed economically. My only goal is to be good enough, to write good enough, to be that person that deserves what they get. No, I don't want it to come without a struggle, but the fight to get there is a draining one that leaves me with many unanswered questions. This is an up hill battle and I'm at the bottom.
Yes, I'll complain and whine and rant about how unfair it seems sometimes, but...in a way... I don't think I would have it any different. It's teaching me things that I don't think every author gets taught. It's teaching me patience, building me a back bone, and showing me how to be my own teacher. This is an experience I wish more authors went through.
Stay strong, my loves, the sun rises just before the dawn.
SKW
Monday, October 5, 2015
Passenger and Coffee
Sometimes it's hard to keep up. I applaud those writers/readers who find time to write/read. This year is starting off like a race. I can't seem to get ahead, only manage to barely keep up. I have finished Emerald Forest in the sense that the story is complete, as for the revising and editing... well... Like I said, I'm struggling with time.
I'm prouder of this book than I am of Obsidian Night. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my books to death, but it is easy to see my writing improving from the first book to the second. I have found that, though I'm busy, taking time to sit in my room with the lights off with a candle lit and Passenger singing in the background with a cup of coffee beside me is like coming home. No feeling can replace that of doing something that puts you back into your element. There is nothing like it. All of my stress and worries disappears the longer I type, the longer I listen, the longer I drink coffee. Life shouldn't have to be one big ball of stress and worry, deadlines and due dates. Life should be that feeling of coming home to something. When I open my laptop and see Emerald Forest or Amber Falls waiting to be written, it's a lovely feeling. All of the characters are frozen in time, waiting to move on with their story as I'm ready to move on with mine.
This is why I started writing. Escape. Family life was bad and I wanted somewhere else to go, so I left and dove into a story that fulfilled my desires. School stresses me, so I write to relax, to laugh and squeal and cry over my characters to avoid thinking of all the things that are waiting to be done.
And I know the stress of a writer! I know every other author's advice is to spend ALL of your time reading or ALL of your time writing, but that isn't an option. If I could, maybe I would, but the point of being an author is write down the secrets of life. What you see, hear, smell, experience! Reading can't teach you how to love or fight or FEEL. Reading can't make you experience things in real life for yourself. Yes, I'll be that one author that goes against EVERYTHING ANYONE has ever told you. But, in my opinion, it's a good thing to make your own progress, to write your own success story. Sure, reading and writing 24/7 may make someone famous, but it's not the secret of writing. There is no secret except for these few:
1) LIVE!
2) Question. Question everything. Question these rules! Question why the heck you have to read every minute of every day and be the absolute best in literature in school.
3) Do what you like. Like writing? Write.
4) Don't compare. Don't compare yourself to other authors. Don't compare your work to theirs. How will you ever stand out if you become the cliche over used everyday somebody? Be whoever you're comfortable being. Write whatever the heck you want! Even if your parents discourage it. You know what writing is? Art. So don't you ever let anyone tell you how to write your Mona Lisa.
5) Take it or leave it. These aren't the secrets. I don't control you. Do whatever the heck works. Print off these "secrets" and rip them up. Because YOU do it how YOU do it.
End of my rant. =)
Stay Rebellious
SKW
I'm prouder of this book than I am of Obsidian Night. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my books to death, but it is easy to see my writing improving from the first book to the second. I have found that, though I'm busy, taking time to sit in my room with the lights off with a candle lit and Passenger singing in the background with a cup of coffee beside me is like coming home. No feeling can replace that of doing something that puts you back into your element. There is nothing like it. All of my stress and worries disappears the longer I type, the longer I listen, the longer I drink coffee. Life shouldn't have to be one big ball of stress and worry, deadlines and due dates. Life should be that feeling of coming home to something. When I open my laptop and see Emerald Forest or Amber Falls waiting to be written, it's a lovely feeling. All of the characters are frozen in time, waiting to move on with their story as I'm ready to move on with mine.
This is why I started writing. Escape. Family life was bad and I wanted somewhere else to go, so I left and dove into a story that fulfilled my desires. School stresses me, so I write to relax, to laugh and squeal and cry over my characters to avoid thinking of all the things that are waiting to be done.
And I know the stress of a writer! I know every other author's advice is to spend ALL of your time reading or ALL of your time writing, but that isn't an option. If I could, maybe I would, but the point of being an author is write down the secrets of life. What you see, hear, smell, experience! Reading can't teach you how to love or fight or FEEL. Reading can't make you experience things in real life for yourself. Yes, I'll be that one author that goes against EVERYTHING ANYONE has ever told you. But, in my opinion, it's a good thing to make your own progress, to write your own success story. Sure, reading and writing 24/7 may make someone famous, but it's not the secret of writing. There is no secret except for these few:
1) LIVE!
2) Question. Question everything. Question these rules! Question why the heck you have to read every minute of every day and be the absolute best in literature in school.
3) Do what you like. Like writing? Write.
4) Don't compare. Don't compare yourself to other authors. Don't compare your work to theirs. How will you ever stand out if you become the cliche over used everyday somebody? Be whoever you're comfortable being. Write whatever the heck you want! Even if your parents discourage it. You know what writing is? Art. So don't you ever let anyone tell you how to write your Mona Lisa.
5) Take it or leave it. These aren't the secrets. I don't control you. Do whatever the heck works. Print off these "secrets" and rip them up. Because YOU do it how YOU do it.
End of my rant. =)
Stay Rebellious
SKW
Monday, July 6, 2015
Book Update Because I Can
This summer as been crazy busy! I've only had up to four days between trips and more than enough writers block. My only goal for this summer was to finish Emerald Forest, but it seems never ending, and to top that off, I still have to edit and revise the entire thing. I am so glad I have some help with that, but really only I can revise it the way I want it (excluding some help from my Brain). Anyways I am back on track!
I have 4 new CDs and a real determination to avoid the beach today, therefore it gives me renewed creative thought. Haha! Right! Yeah, no....I'm fighting the writers block. It's just this one scene. When I get past it, then I should be able to continue on without a problem. And this is just another way to avoid writing. Hehe.
Word Count: 88,053
Page Count: 224
Close to the End: It never seems like it.
Keep your chins up Duckies!
With Love, SKW
P.S. In the mean time enjoy this GIF of an awesome quote.
I have 4 new CDs and a real determination to avoid the beach today, therefore it gives me renewed creative thought. Haha! Right! Yeah, no....I'm fighting the writers block. It's just this one scene. When I get past it, then I should be able to continue on without a problem. And this is just another way to avoid writing. Hehe.
Word Count: 88,053
Page Count: 224
Close to the End: It never seems like it.
Keep your chins up Duckies!
With Love, SKW
P.S. In the mean time enjoy this GIF of an awesome quote.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Only if you Wanna but you don't Gotta
I wanted to post this real fast. If any of you want to get in touch with me, my email is authora.m.luther@gmail.com
You can write inquiries. Questions. Nicely put comments and concerns. I'm really a decent person, so if you just want to talk that's fine as well. But I prefer you use this email for anything pertaining to writing or my book or me.
Thanks doll faces!
With Love, SKW or A. M. Luther haha
You can write inquiries. Questions. Nicely put comments and concerns. I'm really a decent person, so if you just want to talk that's fine as well. But I prefer you use this email for anything pertaining to writing or my book or me.
Thanks doll faces!
With Love, SKW or A. M. Luther haha
Friday, June 19, 2015
There and Back
I have returned from my trip to the U.K. in one piece, which is surprising. I hit my head on almost everything over there. I hit my head on Blarney Castle, on the bus, on a church. On MANY things. And no, it did not knock any sense into me.
On my trip, I encountered many interesting parts of history that are not so far behind us. The castles still protect, the palaces still rule, and the churches still preach. There was stories of violence and valor, friendship and treachery. It was all quite interesting and has helped build a world for a future setting while giving stories that might one day be a plot line.
There are two very important things this trip has taught me above all others: 1-How to eat fast. 2-How to be alone while surrounded by people. Now the whole "eating fast" thing is hard for me. I can make one cup of coffee last four hours. So, you can imagine my discomfort when I had to chug half a Starbucks before going into Mary Kings Close. I felt sick.
Now on to the "how to be alone while surrounded by people" bit. It's not that I felt left out, but that I would have preferred to be on my own rather than forced on to people who obviously had no interest in me. It was difficult. I felt like I couldn't speak freely, because no one cared to listen or took what I said the wrong way. It got frustrating and I began to miss writing more and more. I missed my alone time and my thoughts. But I did survive the two weeks there! Even though I didn't think I would at times.
The point of this post is to admit, that it's okay to not be a socialite, to WANT to be alone because it's better than FEELING alone. Not all writers or artists need to be people persons. It's alright to be an introvert or feel awkward in social situations. Don't pay attention to misplaced importance on being at the center of conversations or events. Everyone functions differently. Everyone's creative process is different.
Be free to be your own person.
With Love, SKW
On my trip, I encountered many interesting parts of history that are not so far behind us. The castles still protect, the palaces still rule, and the churches still preach. There was stories of violence and valor, friendship and treachery. It was all quite interesting and has helped build a world for a future setting while giving stories that might one day be a plot line.
There are two very important things this trip has taught me above all others: 1-How to eat fast. 2-How to be alone while surrounded by people. Now the whole "eating fast" thing is hard for me. I can make one cup of coffee last four hours. So, you can imagine my discomfort when I had to chug half a Starbucks before going into Mary Kings Close. I felt sick.
Now on to the "how to be alone while surrounded by people" bit. It's not that I felt left out, but that I would have preferred to be on my own rather than forced on to people who obviously had no interest in me. It was difficult. I felt like I couldn't speak freely, because no one cared to listen or took what I said the wrong way. It got frustrating and I began to miss writing more and more. I missed my alone time and my thoughts. But I did survive the two weeks there! Even though I didn't think I would at times.
The point of this post is to admit, that it's okay to not be a socialite, to WANT to be alone because it's better than FEELING alone. Not all writers or artists need to be people persons. It's alright to be an introvert or feel awkward in social situations. Don't pay attention to misplaced importance on being at the center of conversations or events. Everyone functions differently. Everyone's creative process is different.
Be free to be your own person.
With Love, SKW
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Stress Gives Me Pimples
The count down has begun until I leave for the UK June 1st. Things here are quiet. Parents are at work. Siblings are always gone and I've got no where to go until Monday. It gets sort of dull just sitting around the house with the dog watching Botched. But as the days bleed away before the trip, I feel my stomach tightening at the thought of getting on a plane for Ireland. My biggest worry is the credit card situation. What if it doesn't work? My teachers already said they aren't helping. Everyone else is worried about me losing the card or the passport, while I'm worried about what I WON'T have. *sigh* Always a pessimist.
As an update on Emerald Forest I will say that it is longer than I originally planned it to be. As of right now it is 84,000 words, give a hundred or so. I can't say that I'm not excited for its end (mostly because of the reactions I hope to elicit from people). But I am also excited for the third book, Amber Falls. Shane will get a lot more face time and his past will be opened up like a large, grotesque blister. Poor thing. I'll keep ya'll updated on that.
As of my writer friend, she is actually coming along quite well with her novel. I have full belief that when she's done she'll get traditionally published, because of how unique the plot line is (*cough* Team Tate *cough*).
I have to add that it is difficult doing what we're doing at our age. There's just too much to fit into one day. We have school and family and events. We have the struggle between reading or writing every day, because there's almost never time for both. I have a dog that climbs across my laptop whenever I whip it out and impedes my writing. Plus, vacations that stress us out (hey, it's summer and I love winter). But I will promise, this book will be out before school starts again. I'll be disappointed in myself if it isn't.
Passenger and Gabrielle Aplin calm me down. They have such beautiful voices.
Be calm and carry on.
With Love, SKW
As an update on Emerald Forest I will say that it is longer than I originally planned it to be. As of right now it is 84,000 words, give a hundred or so. I can't say that I'm not excited for its end (mostly because of the reactions I hope to elicit from people). But I am also excited for the third book, Amber Falls. Shane will get a lot more face time and his past will be opened up like a large, grotesque blister. Poor thing. I'll keep ya'll updated on that.
As of my writer friend, she is actually coming along quite well with her novel. I have full belief that when she's done she'll get traditionally published, because of how unique the plot line is (*cough* Team Tate *cough*).
I have to add that it is difficult doing what we're doing at our age. There's just too much to fit into one day. We have school and family and events. We have the struggle between reading or writing every day, because there's almost never time for both. I have a dog that climbs across my laptop whenever I whip it out and impedes my writing. Plus, vacations that stress us out (hey, it's summer and I love winter). But I will promise, this book will be out before school starts again. I'll be disappointed in myself if it isn't.
Passenger and Gabrielle Aplin calm me down. They have such beautiful voices.
Be calm and carry on.
With Love, SKW
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Time Flies And I'm Trying To Catch Up
Emerald Forest is coming to it's end. I have 8,000 words to go or so I believe. It might end up being more considering I feel like I still have a lot of plot to write. All in all, I am excited. So many people are looking forward to this book and I can't wait to hear the tortured comments about the ending. Hehehe =D They will, of course, begin to beg for the third book which is going to be an all new experience for me and my readers. I look forward to it.
But what this post/rant is really supposed to be about is the time shortage. I have exactly 35 days to finish the entire first draft of Emerald Forest. Why, my invisible audience may ask? What a wonderful question! It's because I won Nanowrimo and my five free books code expires June 1st which is the day I leave for the UK. I enjoy getting those, because it acts as a manuscript. This way I can pass out my book to my friends and they can help me correct it for the final publish ready copy. It's harder staring at a computer screen trying to find problems. And I have learned from my mistakes. Self-editing is a failure. I cannot catch my problems because I wrote it and I'll skip over the errors. This year I have three people volunteering to help me edit (only because they want an advance copy to read).
I'm super worried about the dead line though. These next few weeks are filled with projects and tests and I only really get time to write on the weekends when I'm trying to catch up on my word count. Yesterday I wrote around 1,300 words? On a good working day I can manage around 2,000, but I only have about 3 weekends left. I'm going to need to cram. Cram in school. Cram in writing. Talk about stress. I'm worried I won't make it.
Let's see... what is the lesson of this post...
How about a quote instead?
"I don't think there is any truth. There are only points of view" - Ginsberg
Good enough, right? =)
With Love, SKW
But what this post/rant is really supposed to be about is the time shortage. I have exactly 35 days to finish the entire first draft of Emerald Forest. Why, my invisible audience may ask? What a wonderful question! It's because I won Nanowrimo and my five free books code expires June 1st which is the day I leave for the UK. I enjoy getting those, because it acts as a manuscript. This way I can pass out my book to my friends and they can help me correct it for the final publish ready copy. It's harder staring at a computer screen trying to find problems. And I have learned from my mistakes. Self-editing is a failure. I cannot catch my problems because I wrote it and I'll skip over the errors. This year I have three people volunteering to help me edit (only because they want an advance copy to read).
I'm super worried about the dead line though. These next few weeks are filled with projects and tests and I only really get time to write on the weekends when I'm trying to catch up on my word count. Yesterday I wrote around 1,300 words? On a good working day I can manage around 2,000, but I only have about 3 weekends left. I'm going to need to cram. Cram in school. Cram in writing. Talk about stress. I'm worried I won't make it.
Let's see... what is the lesson of this post...
How about a quote instead?
"I don't think there is any truth. There are only points of view" - Ginsberg
Good enough, right? =)
With Love, SKW
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Encouragement is Food for the Writer
Around August of last year a few of my teachers wanted to read my book, so two of them bought a copy and one... kind of borrowed one...but hasn't given it back or mentioned it since. Anyways back to the point that I will eventually make. I brought a copy of my book to school today to reread some parts so as not to screw up the second installment and I guess it jogged my science teachers (she bought the book) memory, because she said, "I read your book! It was WONDERFUL!" (she gets enthusiastic sometimes and enunciates some words). She said she could not wait for the second installment... before asking if there WAS a second installment. And there is! But it just surprises me, because last week my great aunt Linda (Aunt? Great aunt? She's my grandfather's sister) brought up the subject as well. She was just as enthusiastic about it and mention another woman she knew that wrote a book and it was about her life relating to the Bible. Aunt Linda continued to say, "There are feel good books, like hers, and then there are thrilling, exciting books like yours. I personally kind of preferred the thrill."
It is encouraging to me as a writer and as a young adult to see even the fewest of people excited for my trilogy. I keep telling my mom that they're probably just being nice, but the more people who comment nice things, the more belief I have that maybe it's not so bad.
Another thing I was happy about was when I was talking to my Aunt Linda she asked how I come up with the story.
"Do you just look at people and places, just how-how do you come up with this stuff?"
If you're a fellow writer, you know how hard it is to explain yourself without sounding weird or creepy. Some people I DO look at and think, wow, that guy would be a hot fictional character. But mostly it's the "how" and the "what if" that inspire the written word. The questions are the driving force behind every story. Then again, people watching inspires me too. Haha. Way to be creepy, huh?
But I do have to give credit where it is do... Writing is a hard thing to keep up and when people get excited about your writing, it gets you excited as well.
So if you are a fellow author:
Come on! You can get it done! If you think no one will read it, you're wrong! Because I want to read it.
If you're a pedestrian:
Encourage the written word! Always compliment! If you want them to work harder, critique, but do it in a complimental way.
Together... we got this guys.
With Love, SKW
It is encouraging to me as a writer and as a young adult to see even the fewest of people excited for my trilogy. I keep telling my mom that they're probably just being nice, but the more people who comment nice things, the more belief I have that maybe it's not so bad.
Another thing I was happy about was when I was talking to my Aunt Linda she asked how I come up with the story.
"Do you just look at people and places, just how-how do you come up with this stuff?"
If you're a fellow writer, you know how hard it is to explain yourself without sounding weird or creepy. Some people I DO look at and think, wow, that guy would be a hot fictional character. But mostly it's the "how" and the "what if" that inspire the written word. The questions are the driving force behind every story. Then again, people watching inspires me too. Haha. Way to be creepy, huh?
But I do have to give credit where it is do... Writing is a hard thing to keep up and when people get excited about your writing, it gets you excited as well.
So if you are a fellow author:
Come on! You can get it done! If you think no one will read it, you're wrong! Because I want to read it.
If you're a pedestrian:
Encourage the written word! Always compliment! If you want them to work harder, critique, but do it in a complimental way.
Together... we got this guys.
With Love, SKW
Saturday, March 28, 2015
On the Way to the End
Emerald Forest is coming along swimmingly. I am 70,000 words in and I hope to get to about 85,000. I've learned 80,000 and above is a good word count aim for people who want a small to medium sized novel. It depends the dimensions of the actual book.
Writing is a huge struggle especially at this time in my life. School takes priority and after 8 hours of it and homework, I'm too tired to get on my laptop for the 30 minutes before bed. If I cared to have a life, that would take up more time as well. Writing is a constant struggle with time and brain activity and location. I often write easier when I'm supposed to be doing something or I'm someplace different than my room.
Another struggle is finding time to read. It is a battle every day to choose between whether I should read during my free time or write. Both are important and necessary for the other. I've fallen back on reading, which is terrible since I have a stack of new books. School is for reading. Nights are for writing. And summer is for publishing and planning for the third novel.
I sometimes get bitter, because I'm stuck finishing this trilogy while other ideas keep popping up. I want to start on them or write both at once, but I can't. I have a one track mind and I know if I start on another one while trying to finish this series then I will neglect it. Have no fear though. The Dark Divides will see its end. And in the mean time maybe I can find a treat for yall and get my friend done with her novel ;)
If you guys ever want to talk, I am always up for a discussion. I just enjoy spilling my entire world to you guys and don't want to sound too much like a whiner. =)
Stay motivated.
With Love, SKW
Writing is a huge struggle especially at this time in my life. School takes priority and after 8 hours of it and homework, I'm too tired to get on my laptop for the 30 minutes before bed. If I cared to have a life, that would take up more time as well. Writing is a constant struggle with time and brain activity and location. I often write easier when I'm supposed to be doing something or I'm someplace different than my room.
Another struggle is finding time to read. It is a battle every day to choose between whether I should read during my free time or write. Both are important and necessary for the other. I've fallen back on reading, which is terrible since I have a stack of new books. School is for reading. Nights are for writing. And summer is for publishing and planning for the third novel.
I sometimes get bitter, because I'm stuck finishing this trilogy while other ideas keep popping up. I want to start on them or write both at once, but I can't. I have a one track mind and I know if I start on another one while trying to finish this series then I will neglect it. Have no fear though. The Dark Divides will see its end. And in the mean time maybe I can find a treat for yall and get my friend done with her novel ;)
If you guys ever want to talk, I am always up for a discussion. I just enjoy spilling my entire world to you guys and don't want to sound too much like a whiner. =)
Stay motivated.
With Love, SKW
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
A Writer's /Introverts Problems
People found out yet AGAIN in another of my classes that I have written a book. The hard part about being a writer (or for me) is that you're proud of your book, but you don't like discussing it. It was the very end of class and it became a class discussion. I'm not ashamed of it, I'm just self-conscious. I don't want to sound like a self-absorbed or arrogant person by bringing it up. I am somewhat ashamed of how it was published because to me self-publishing seems like cheating. Also, one of the main questions people ask is "how much have you made". Sometimes I want to respond with "Oh yeah! Writing is a get rich quick career move! You should try it and tell me how it goes". I don't do this for the money. People who write would be CRAZY to think they can do it for the sole purpose of getting income. It takes a miracle to become a John Green or Veronica Roth.
Back to my point... I blush like people are singing 'Happy Birthday' to me when people bring up my book, because it's like... what are you supposed to do? Smile like an idiot and give short answers or go on a rant about how amazing it is and turn the opportunity into a marketing situation. My mom is always telling me to tell them to "go read it". Maybe that is the correct answer, but I'm so unused to the attention that it feels somewhat uncomfortable.
My advice is this- Love your work, be proud of what you've done that few can do. If you're a good speaker, then great! Rock that! If you love the attention, then great! Soak it in! But remember (This is the key guys), always remember to stay humble. Know that you are still human. Know that only a few months or years before no one cared what you did with your time. Just because you get "big", does not mean you have to act the part. Keep being you even when people make you feel special. Return the favor. No one is famous without their fans and no one is famous when they treat those fans with distaste.
That one bit of advice will take you farther than you could ever imagine.
Braggers end up Baggers ;)
-With Love, SKW
Back to my point... I blush like people are singing 'Happy Birthday' to me when people bring up my book, because it's like... what are you supposed to do? Smile like an idiot and give short answers or go on a rant about how amazing it is and turn the opportunity into a marketing situation. My mom is always telling me to tell them to "go read it". Maybe that is the correct answer, but I'm so unused to the attention that it feels somewhat uncomfortable.
My advice is this- Love your work, be proud of what you've done that few can do. If you're a good speaker, then great! Rock that! If you love the attention, then great! Soak it in! But remember (This is the key guys), always remember to stay humble. Know that you are still human. Know that only a few months or years before no one cared what you did with your time. Just because you get "big", does not mean you have to act the part. Keep being you even when people make you feel special. Return the favor. No one is famous without their fans and no one is famous when they treat those fans with distaste.
That one bit of advice will take you farther than you could ever imagine.
Braggers end up Baggers ;)
-With Love, SKW
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