Hi, anyone who's bothering to read this blog post! As I've had this blog for a little while now, I've decided to post a little about me post, in hopes that you guys are interested in knowing a little more about the girl behind the blog. Enjoy!
1. Are you named after someone?
Yes! My first name is actually the surname of an explorer.
2. When was the last time you cried?
Probably a couple a days ago. I am a very sensitive person and will cry because I'm happy, sad, or don't know what I'm feeling!
3. Do you have kids?
I'm 17, and no.
4. If you were another person, would you be friends with yourself?
I think so! I like to think that I'm a fairly good friend; I'm very supportive and try to be as nice as I can.
5. Do you have a guilty pleasure?
I'm never guilty about the things that make me happy. :P
6. Do you like handwriting?
I generally prefer typing to handwriting because I can type faster! However, it is fun to try and do fancy handwriting--normally mine is pretty messy.
7. What is your favorite cereal?
Honey Bunches of Oats, the honey roasted clusters kind.
8. What is the first thing you notice about people?
I tend to notice their hair or appearance--personality-wise, I notice the way that they speak. Is it short and rude or is it sweet and nurturing? That tends to color my perception.
9. What color are your eyes?
Brown. Interesting, I know. :P
10. Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings all the way--scary movies guarantee that I won't sleep at night. Or that I'll have nightmares, and I'm not sure which is worse!
11. Favorite TV shows?
Soooo many. I'm actually planning on making a post on what I think are some of the best TV shows. My top three shows are Firefly, Buffy, and The 100, though I enjoy many others as well.
12. Summer or winter?
Winter, I just like the mood and loooove snow. However, I'm definitely an autumn girl overall.
13. Hugs or kisses?
I'm a hugely affectionate person in general--so both!
14. What's the furthest you've been from home?
I've been to southern China + Hong Kong, approximately 7,000 miles away from home!
15. Do you have special talents?
I'm a pretty alright writer and pretty alright violinist. I also have keen fashion sense!
16. Where were you born?
In the Midwest United States. :)
17. What are your hobbies?
I write, play violin, watch TV shows, and generally try to keep my life moderately together.
18. Do you have any pets?
I have two black cats, Hiwa and Xiao Hei.
19. Favorite movie?
The Fifth Element! Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich ftw <3
20. What color is your car?
My parent's car is light blue.
21. What did/do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be an author when I grow up--which is soon...we'll see how it goes. If that doesn't work out, I would be interested in working as a college professor, travel writer, or staff writer for some form of interesting company. Fingers crossed!
Well, there you have it! Me, in a nutshell. If you have any other questions about me or questions about my responses, feel free to let me know in the comments section, and I'll get back to you, I promise! I will hopefully have another post up in the next few days--next week is busy, but after that I'm on Christmas break and should be free to write much more.
Kekai
Friday, December 11, 2015
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Book Review: #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Recently, I was watching the Youtuber Jenn Im talk about her monthly favorites, and in the video, she talked about the book #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso. I've always admired Amoruso's clothing site Nasty Gal from afar; as a teenage girl with no source of income, her clothes are a little out of my price range! However, a book is something I'm always very willing to splurge on--though my boyfriend did in fact buy this for me, always happy to support me becoming even more badass than I already am. :P
#GIRLBOSS is an autobiography/memoir/how-to by Sophia Amoruso, the CEO of the million-dollar fashion company Nasty Gal. In it, she chronicles how she grew from a hitchhiking hipster with a shoplifting issue to being in charge of a high-powered company--in only 8 years! If that's not inspirational, I don't know what is.
For me, #GIRLBOSS was incredibly motivating. The way Amoruso writes is highly relatable and fun to read. She talks a lot about her experiences and how the mistakes she made helped her grow into the person she is today. I have a lot of trouble being confident in my skills and getting started on things, and Amoruso does a really good job encouraging the reader to go out and achieve their dreams of being a girlboss without becoming too heavy-handed. The book seems to be a little bit more geared towards other women who are working in business, but I found it to be applicable to things that I was interested as well!
I would highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a inspirational, feminist, and fun nonfiction book to read over the coming holidays!
-Kekai
I would highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a inspirational, feminist, and fun nonfiction book to read over the coming holidays!
-Kekai
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Welcome to Hell: School and Stress
Hey everyone! I'm here writing to you all today sitting at home--on a Tuesday? (Ended up finishing and posting this on a Sunday. Woe is me!) Why? Well, I'm taking what I like to call a mental health day, something that I think should be quite a bit more socially accepted than it is now. I figured that I'd talk a bit about something that is very important to me and a lot of my friends: school, and the stress, anxiety, and pitfalls that come with it.
I'm a high school junior, which means they're hammering us hard with things about college, SAT, and our futures on the whole. However, the stress didn't start this year: it's been a constant since sixth grade, when homework started getting more and more intense. It's only gotten worse since then, and I finally started going to a counselor last year when I stopped being able to sleep because of prolonged anxiety attacks.
One of my best friends described it well to me last year. She said it's like we're running a race, and we're all running and running and can't stop, but some us just can't keep going and fall over from exhaustion, and the rest of us that are still running are seeing them fall and wish we could too, but we have to aim for the finish line. Another friend said it was like running a race as well, except that there were tall brick walls on either side of you, and the finish line kept getting further and further away. The same friend also described it like trying to catch a bunch of balloons as they float upwards, and only being able to catch a couple. What I'm trying to say here is that all kids are experiencing this stress, and most kids know that it's not healthy.
Here's what I think is the root of the issue: we live in a world that is highly competitive. Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to get a good job, have a happy home life, and get into a good college. However, instead of pushing us to do our best in a healthy way, the American school system uses scare tactics to make us feel like if we don't give our absolute all, we're going to fail miserably. I've been watching PowerPoints and presentations on how to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life since middle school! I've been thinking about college since then too. I just think it's crazy that we're asking the same kids who have to get permission to go to the bathroom to make the weighty decision of what they want to spend the rest of their lives doing!
I digress. I'm getting a little ranty here, so I think I'll separate the rest of my conversation into a couple different sections. Hopefully you all will find it a little less cumbersome to read!
1. Homework and Grade Stress
I would generally consider myself to be about an A student, save the stray B that gets thrown in for a particularly tough class. I'm not going to lie, I'm a smart kid. However, grades still stress me out a ton. Schools have started to make us think that an 'A' is really what everyone should be getting, a 'B' is only okay, and a 'C' or below is as good as saying you're a failure. I think this is really dumb, because (at least in the American school system), an A is a 100-90%, a B is an 89-80%, and a C is a 79-70%! That means you're getting about 3/4ths of the content, which is a HUGE accomplishment. However, when I look at my grades, if I get anything lower than a B, I stress about getting my grade back up to an A or B, and if someone gets even a percentage point higher or lower than me, I feel worse or better, respectively. School administrators also seem to push this idea that you need a 4.0 to get into college, which is highly stressful, because most people don't have a 4.0! If we focused a lot more on improvement and actually learning things, rather than fact memorization and a grading scale, I feel like kids would actually be doing a lot better in school.
2. College/Future Stress
As aforementioned, I've been taking career quizzes through my school since 7th grade. I've always known that I want to be an author, but many kids have no idea what they want to do, or are down to a couple options and trying to decide between stability and passion. Junior year especially, all teachers can seem to talk about is college. I've had teachers say that my career goals should match my financial goals, otherwise I need to re-evaluate whether I want to do that career. I've had teachers say that if I don't get good grades, I won't get into a good college, and I won't have a job that I want. I think that it's just silly that they're asking us to decide what we want to do for the REST OF OUR LIFE over the course of a few years--a few years where our wants and needs are changing drastically and constantly!
I used to be so incredibly sure that I could make it as a writer. I used to think 'yeah, it's hard, but I'll work hard and get published in no time'. Now, because of all the talk of the crazy costs of college and the need for financial stability, I worry that I'm never going to be able to make it. I'm trying to come up with something consistent that I can fall back on, in case I'm not published before I graduate college. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to give up my dream in order to support myself, like so many others have had to.
3. Extracurricular Stress
Not only does school expect me to get perfect grades, but it also expects me to spend time doing things like sports or music outside of school. I'm sure you've heard people say that it takes more than grades to get into college--you need to show that you're well-rounded by participating in at least one (or, even better/worse, multiple) extracurriculars! If you don't, colleges won't even look at you!
I'm 100% for kids exploring their passions outside of academia. However, the issue occurs when school is already piling on so much homework that your extracurriculars become a burden and stressful.
Take me for example: my current extracurriculars are violin and yoga. I go to a two-hour orchestra rehearsal on Monday nights, the night I get most homework. I also have a private lesson for 45 minutes once a week. Not to mention the time I have to put in for practicing and concerts! Yoga is once a week, but honestly I should be working out more. I also love writing, but between everything else, it's difficult to make time. In the spring, I participate in Speech & Debate, which often takes up at least two Saturdays a month, a practice a week, and outside practicing. I would like to get tutored in my math and science, cook more, and write, draw, or just relax. But I have to prioritize.
I love all these things, but every time I have to go and do them it feels like a burden--I have so little time, that I wish that I could just stay home and relax. But I feel like I have to do everything, otherwise I won't amount to anything. I have to be a jack of all trades, or I'm worthless.
So What Do You Do?
I'm still trying to figure out how to handle the anxiety that school gives me, so I'm not sure I'm qualified to give very much advice. Here are a few things that I can think of:
I'm a high school junior, which means they're hammering us hard with things about college, SAT, and our futures on the whole. However, the stress didn't start this year: it's been a constant since sixth grade, when homework started getting more and more intense. It's only gotten worse since then, and I finally started going to a counselor last year when I stopped being able to sleep because of prolonged anxiety attacks.
One of my best friends described it well to me last year. She said it's like we're running a race, and we're all running and running and can't stop, but some us just can't keep going and fall over from exhaustion, and the rest of us that are still running are seeing them fall and wish we could too, but we have to aim for the finish line. Another friend said it was like running a race as well, except that there were tall brick walls on either side of you, and the finish line kept getting further and further away. The same friend also described it like trying to catch a bunch of balloons as they float upwards, and only being able to catch a couple. What I'm trying to say here is that all kids are experiencing this stress, and most kids know that it's not healthy.
Here's what I think is the root of the issue: we live in a world that is highly competitive. Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to get a good job, have a happy home life, and get into a good college. However, instead of pushing us to do our best in a healthy way, the American school system uses scare tactics to make us feel like if we don't give our absolute all, we're going to fail miserably. I've been watching PowerPoints and presentations on how to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life since middle school! I've been thinking about college since then too. I just think it's crazy that we're asking the same kids who have to get permission to go to the bathroom to make the weighty decision of what they want to spend the rest of their lives doing!
I digress. I'm getting a little ranty here, so I think I'll separate the rest of my conversation into a couple different sections. Hopefully you all will find it a little less cumbersome to read!
1. Homework and Grade Stress
I would generally consider myself to be about an A student, save the stray B that gets thrown in for a particularly tough class. I'm not going to lie, I'm a smart kid. However, grades still stress me out a ton. Schools have started to make us think that an 'A' is really what everyone should be getting, a 'B' is only okay, and a 'C' or below is as good as saying you're a failure. I think this is really dumb, because (at least in the American school system), an A is a 100-90%, a B is an 89-80%, and a C is a 79-70%! That means you're getting about 3/4ths of the content, which is a HUGE accomplishment. However, when I look at my grades, if I get anything lower than a B, I stress about getting my grade back up to an A or B, and if someone gets even a percentage point higher or lower than me, I feel worse or better, respectively. School administrators also seem to push this idea that you need a 4.0 to get into college, which is highly stressful, because most people don't have a 4.0! If we focused a lot more on improvement and actually learning things, rather than fact memorization and a grading scale, I feel like kids would actually be doing a lot better in school.
2. College/Future Stress
As aforementioned, I've been taking career quizzes through my school since 7th grade. I've always known that I want to be an author, but many kids have no idea what they want to do, or are down to a couple options and trying to decide between stability and passion. Junior year especially, all teachers can seem to talk about is college. I've had teachers say that my career goals should match my financial goals, otherwise I need to re-evaluate whether I want to do that career. I've had teachers say that if I don't get good grades, I won't get into a good college, and I won't have a job that I want. I think that it's just silly that they're asking us to decide what we want to do for the REST OF OUR LIFE over the course of a few years--a few years where our wants and needs are changing drastically and constantly!
I used to be so incredibly sure that I could make it as a writer. I used to think 'yeah, it's hard, but I'll work hard and get published in no time'. Now, because of all the talk of the crazy costs of college and the need for financial stability, I worry that I'm never going to be able to make it. I'm trying to come up with something consistent that I can fall back on, in case I'm not published before I graduate college. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to give up my dream in order to support myself, like so many others have had to.
3. Extracurricular Stress
Not only does school expect me to get perfect grades, but it also expects me to spend time doing things like sports or music outside of school. I'm sure you've heard people say that it takes more than grades to get into college--you need to show that you're well-rounded by participating in at least one (or, even better/worse, multiple) extracurriculars! If you don't, colleges won't even look at you!
I'm 100% for kids exploring their passions outside of academia. However, the issue occurs when school is already piling on so much homework that your extracurriculars become a burden and stressful.
Take me for example: my current extracurriculars are violin and yoga. I go to a two-hour orchestra rehearsal on Monday nights, the night I get most homework. I also have a private lesson for 45 minutes once a week. Not to mention the time I have to put in for practicing and concerts! Yoga is once a week, but honestly I should be working out more. I also love writing, but between everything else, it's difficult to make time. In the spring, I participate in Speech & Debate, which often takes up at least two Saturdays a month, a practice a week, and outside practicing. I would like to get tutored in my math and science, cook more, and write, draw, or just relax. But I have to prioritize.
I love all these things, but every time I have to go and do them it feels like a burden--I have so little time, that I wish that I could just stay home and relax. But I feel like I have to do everything, otherwise I won't amount to anything. I have to be a jack of all trades, or I'm worthless.
So What Do You Do?
I'm still trying to figure out how to handle the anxiety that school gives me, so I'm not sure I'm qualified to give very much advice. Here are a few things that I can think of:
- Get a counselor--I know it's one more thing, but I meet with my counselor once every two weeks, and it's so helpful to have an unbiased professional listening to me. She helps me come up with reasonable solutions to all my problems. It can take a little time to find a counselor that works, but I got lucky and found her on my first try though my doctor's office.
- Come up with coping mechanisms--I have a list in my bullet journal of things to do when I get anxious or stressed and need time to calm down. It's also good to make time where you're alone to just relax and do something fun and creative.
- Follow your heart--spend time reflecting on what you feel like you want out of life. You don't have to decide right now, and they can be as specific or general as you want. Writing in a journal can be really effective for this.
So, that's all I've got for you today. I hope school isn't as stressful for you as it is for me, and I hope that we can help our school systems become a less stressful place for everyone. How do you cope with stress and anxiety related to school? How have you experienced it? Let me know in the comments.
Thank you,
Kekai
Kekai
Monday, October 26, 2015
Why You Should Do Speech & Debate in High School
Ever since middle school, I've participated in Speech & Debate, also called Forensics. 5 years later, I'm so glad that I chose to do this extracurricular. But what is it, really?
Forensics is a high school (and sometimes college) extracurricular club, focused on oral presentation in varying forms. There are generally two sides: people who interpret a previously written work, and people who create and perform some form of original content (be it their own poetry, radio show, or debate). I personally participate in poetry, where I pick out a group of similar poems, and then interpret and perform them.
When I started forensics in seventh grade, I was incredibly shy--I was a smart kid, but I wasn't bold enough to ever really express my opinions! For the first two years or so in forensics, I was constantly being told to be louder. It is very apparent to me that being in an extracurricular that teaches me how to speak helped me not only with being more outgoing, but also with school projects and being a leader in groups!
You'd also be quite surprised how many kids do forensics; my school is one of the smallest teams in the state, with about 8-10 kids who regularly perform during the season. However, there are some schools that are huge, with like, 40-80 kids on any given team! I'm not the most personable while at meets, but if you're the type of person who likes to talk and meet people, forensics definitely has lots of people who are like-minded!
I have also found forensics a really creative way to express my thoughts and opinions. In poetry especially, people often perform about things that they care about--things like feminism, patriotism, politics. People in debate can talk about current events. People in informational can talk about a topic they're passionate about. Basically, if you want to talk about a subject you really care about, forensics is a really easy place to do that!
All in all, I wouldn't trade my forensics experience for anything. Even though our team is small, we really are a family, and being in forensics has taught me so much, recreationally, personally, and professionally! If you're looking for a fun extracurricular (maybe even just one to put on your college apps), this one is definitely a great and exciting options! If you've done forensics ever before, feel free to post in the comments telling me how it was for you!
Kekai
Forensics is a high school (and sometimes college) extracurricular club, focused on oral presentation in varying forms. There are generally two sides: people who interpret a previously written work, and people who create and perform some form of original content (be it their own poetry, radio show, or debate). I personally participate in poetry, where I pick out a group of similar poems, and then interpret and perform them.
When I started forensics in seventh grade, I was incredibly shy--I was a smart kid, but I wasn't bold enough to ever really express my opinions! For the first two years or so in forensics, I was constantly being told to be louder. It is very apparent to me that being in an extracurricular that teaches me how to speak helped me not only with being more outgoing, but also with school projects and being a leader in groups!
You'd also be quite surprised how many kids do forensics; my school is one of the smallest teams in the state, with about 8-10 kids who regularly perform during the season. However, there are some schools that are huge, with like, 40-80 kids on any given team! I'm not the most personable while at meets, but if you're the type of person who likes to talk and meet people, forensics definitely has lots of people who are like-minded!
I have also found forensics a really creative way to express my thoughts and opinions. In poetry especially, people often perform about things that they care about--things like feminism, patriotism, politics. People in debate can talk about current events. People in informational can talk about a topic they're passionate about. Basically, if you want to talk about a subject you really care about, forensics is a really easy place to do that!
All in all, I wouldn't trade my forensics experience for anything. Even though our team is small, we really are a family, and being in forensics has taught me so much, recreationally, personally, and professionally! If you're looking for a fun extracurricular (maybe even just one to put on your college apps), this one is definitely a great and exciting options! If you've done forensics ever before, feel free to post in the comments telling me how it was for you!
Kekai
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Best Apps and Websites for Motivation, Inspiration, and Self-Help
Hi, my friends! Today I'm back again, this time with a couple specific sites and apps that I use to help me stay motivated, inspired, or productive. For me, productivity has been a real challenge (maybe I'll talk a little bit about that in a different post sometime!), but I've found that a combination of things have really helped me on the way to improvement, including quite a lot of websites and apps! Here are the ones that I've found most helpful. They're in no particular order. :)
1. Vent
Vent is a social network app that's basically made for VENTing about things that are upsetting or frustrating you. I've been using this app for a couple months, and found it extremely helpful for when I'm upset but feel like there's no one I can turn to at the time. The community there is very supportive, and it's easy to reach out to people about their problems or yours. The pretty aesthetic doesn't hurt, either!
2. Studyblr Tumblr
For those of you who don't know, there is a sizeable community on Tumblr made up of studyblrs, which are blogs dedicated to learning and studying. People who run studyblrs post pretty pictures of office supplies and notes, helpful masterposts, and generally support each other in the quest to be productive academically. Studyblrs are actually what initially inspired me to start being more productive--their pretty pictures make me want to work harder! I started my own studyblr myself a month or so ago: it's princessclassics, if you're interested in giving me a follow!
3. Stop, Breathe & Think
Stop, Breath & Think is an amazing meditation app that I just got recently. I've been interested in meditation for a long time; as someone with anxiety, I thought it might help me to ground when I'm stressed. With the help of Stop, Breath & Think, I've gotten started. SBT is highly comprehensive, with many guided meditations that you can access for free, all tailored towards your needs (I know there are extra meditation packs for paying customers too). They also have a self-meditation timer, so you can track un-guided meditation. SBT tracks your progress, awarding you with stickers and encouraging you to create a streak of meditating daily. It also keeps track of your total time using the app for meditation, which I find highly motivating. Meditation can be helpful for anyone--it helps you collect your thoughts and calm yourself down.
4. Habitica
5. Lifestyle Youtube
In my quest to be motivated and productive, I've found myself drawn more and more into Youtubers--not only is the site a place where I can relax and watch funny things, but I can also watch videos that motivate and inspire me to do good things. I also keep a running bookmarks page of videos about being happy or that make me happy. A couple of my favorite Youtubers that inspire me are Aspyn Ovard, Anna Akana, Jenn Im, and Bethany Mota!
Well, there you have it! There are my top five apps and websites for motivation, inspiration, and self-help. If you try any of them out, or use any of them already, feel free to leave a comment telling me which ones you like best! Feel free to share this post with anyone you think might find it helpful!
Thanks guys!
Kekai
Total Word Count: 14,036
1. Vent
2. Studyblr Tumblr
For those of you who don't know, there is a sizeable community on Tumblr made up of studyblrs, which are blogs dedicated to learning and studying. People who run studyblrs post pretty pictures of office supplies and notes, helpful masterposts, and generally support each other in the quest to be productive academically. Studyblrs are actually what initially inspired me to start being more productive--their pretty pictures make me want to work harder! I started my own studyblr myself a month or so ago: it's princessclassics, if you're interested in giving me a follow!
3. Stop, Breathe & Think
4. Habitica
Habitica is an app that is self-described as "Your Life the Role Playing Game". Basically, Habitica uses the style of an RPG to get you enthused about starting and ending good and bad habits. As you level up, you can accessorize, add people to a party, and do many other traditionally RPG activities. You level up by completing habits and gaining mana! I find myself looking forward to completing tasks, so that I can level up.
5. Lifestyle Youtube
In my quest to be motivated and productive, I've found myself drawn more and more into Youtubers--not only is the site a place where I can relax and watch funny things, but I can also watch videos that motivate and inspire me to do good things. I also keep a running bookmarks page of videos about being happy or that make me happy. A couple of my favorite Youtubers that inspire me are Aspyn Ovard, Anna Akana, Jenn Im, and Bethany Mota!
Well, there you have it! There are my top five apps and websites for motivation, inspiration, and self-help. If you try any of them out, or use any of them already, feel free to leave a comment telling me which ones you like best! Feel free to share this post with anyone you think might find it helpful!
Thanks guys!
Kekai
Total Word Count: 14,036
Monday, October 12, 2015
How to Be Productive on Long Plane Rides
Hey everyone! Kekai here, sorry about the long time between postings. Anyways, I'm here today to talk about something that's difficult even for the best of us: being productive on long plane rides--or any plane ride, for that matter. I've definitely been in situations where I've said, "Oh, I'll get that done on the plane ride there/back/in between!" and nothing's gotten done. Whether you're completing some homework, writing a novel, or whatever it is you need to complete, hopefully these tips will help you.
Be sure to be well-rested before your plane ride.
When I'm on a plane, the first thing I want to do is sleep--the whoooole time. When I went to Iceland and England last summer, I was planning on getting some writing done. I just slept instead! If you make sure you get plenty of sleep before the plane ride, and fuel yourself with food or caffeine once you're on the plane, it will be a lot easier for you to feel ready to get some work done once you've boarded.
Start as soon as you're in the air.
Seriously! The longer you wait to start your work, the more likely you are to drift off to sleep or do something else that's off-task. The sooner you get started, the sooner your work will be done; that's true in every instance, not just on plane rides.
Play some inspiring music (in your headphones).
Be sure to make a study/work/productivity playlist of some songs that motivate you before you get on the plane, or ensure that you have access to one that someone else has made. I've found that listening to music on a plane can feel kind of surreal, in a sense that you feel above it all and inspired. Whether it's New World Symphony or Anaconda, plug in to something that pumps you up!
Keep the window open.
That is, if your neighbors don't mind! Having the natural light filtering into your space can often help you feel more awake. On top of that, being able to see the clouds or sweeping landscapes below you can be a huge motivator. (I highly suggest just closing your window and sleeping on a red-eye...those are always the most difficult to work on--if you can do it, I applaud you!)
If you know them, ask your seatmate to hold you accountable.
Having someone else who's aware of all the work you have to do can really help you get it done. They can reward you with snacks if you complete your task(s), and they can equally punish you by withholding your phone, coffee, or neck pillow until you accomplish your goal!
Well, there they are! I highly suggest trying to get some things done while you're on a plane--it's a fixed place with no internet, so you really don't have much else to do but the things you really need to complete! I hope you all find these tips helpful. :)
Happy travels,
Kekai
Be sure to be well-rested before your plane ride.
When I'm on a plane, the first thing I want to do is sleep--the whoooole time. When I went to Iceland and England last summer, I was planning on getting some writing done. I just slept instead! If you make sure you get plenty of sleep before the plane ride, and fuel yourself with food or caffeine once you're on the plane, it will be a lot easier for you to feel ready to get some work done once you've boarded.
Start as soon as you're in the air.
Seriously! The longer you wait to start your work, the more likely you are to drift off to sleep or do something else that's off-task. The sooner you get started, the sooner your work will be done; that's true in every instance, not just on plane rides.
Play some inspiring music (in your headphones).
Be sure to make a study/work/productivity playlist of some songs that motivate you before you get on the plane, or ensure that you have access to one that someone else has made. I've found that listening to music on a plane can feel kind of surreal, in a sense that you feel above it all and inspired. Whether it's New World Symphony or Anaconda, plug in to something that pumps you up!
Keep the window open.
That is, if your neighbors don't mind! Having the natural light filtering into your space can often help you feel more awake. On top of that, being able to see the clouds or sweeping landscapes below you can be a huge motivator. (I highly suggest just closing your window and sleeping on a red-eye...those are always the most difficult to work on--if you can do it, I applaud you!)
If you know them, ask your seatmate to hold you accountable.
Having someone else who's aware of all the work you have to do can really help you get it done. They can reward you with snacks if you complete your task(s), and they can equally punish you by withholding your phone, coffee, or neck pillow until you accomplish your goal!
Well, there they are! I highly suggest trying to get some things done while you're on a plane--it's a fixed place with no internet, so you really don't have much else to do but the things you really need to complete! I hope you all find these tips helpful. :)
Happy travels,
Kekai
Friday, October 2, 2015
How to Keep Motivated and Inspired
Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of blog posts as of late, totally my fault, but the first month of school has been super hectic. It's not like a ton of people are reading this, but I feel bad anyway. :P I'll try my best to update once a week; I have a long list of posts that I can make now, too!
Nonetheless, I thought that today I might talk about something that I know is difficult for all of us: keeping motivated and inspired. I think one of the hardest things while writing is coming up with ideas, sticking to an idea, and actually putting your idea into action. So, what do? I've separated my list into those three sections.
Coming Up with Ideas
1. Dedicate a Pinterest board or a Tumblr tag to writing inspiration, and post anything that could possibly inspire you there. When you're hankering to write something but don't know what to write, check there.
2. Listen to a song you enjoy, or a song you've never heard before, and try to come up with a story related to it.
3. Create an "inspirational" playlist, and listen to it while you brainstorm ideas.
4. Just START WRITING, sometimes the best way to get ideas is just to begin the process--then at least you KNOW your brain is in a writing mood.
Sticking to an Idea
1. Dedicate a Pinterest board or a Tumblr tag TO ONLY YOUR NOVEL. Continually update this page with things that remind you of your story, characters, or your story's setting. I find that doing something like this keeps me super inspired about my story all the time, because I'm always seeing things that show me a new facet of my story.
2. Set a time that you're going to write. Stick to it.
Putting Your Ideas into Action
1. If this helps, outline your story or create a character sheet or character map. Use a bubble map to brainstorm your idea in more detail.
2. Start writing! Write every day. Write as much as you can, but if you really can only get a sentence or two on the page, that's better than nothing.
3. Don't give up! You came up with this idea, you've worked so hard to get it going, and it's going to be worth it when your novel is complete!
I hope that these tips helped at least a little bit. I find things like pictures, quotes, and music very inspiring and motivating to me, so I thought I'd share those ideas and a few more with you. Feel free to comment telling me what you do to stay inspired, or if any of these ideas help. I'll write you all next week! Thanks for reading!
Happy writing,
Kekai
Sorcera Word Count: 13,860
Nonetheless, I thought that today I might talk about something that I know is difficult for all of us: keeping motivated and inspired. I think one of the hardest things while writing is coming up with ideas, sticking to an idea, and actually putting your idea into action. So, what do? I've separated my list into those three sections.
Coming Up with Ideas
1. Dedicate a Pinterest board or a Tumblr tag to writing inspiration, and post anything that could possibly inspire you there. When you're hankering to write something but don't know what to write, check there.
2. Listen to a song you enjoy, or a song you've never heard before, and try to come up with a story related to it.
3. Create an "inspirational" playlist, and listen to it while you brainstorm ideas.
4. Just START WRITING, sometimes the best way to get ideas is just to begin the process--then at least you KNOW your brain is in a writing mood.
Sticking to an Idea
1. Dedicate a Pinterest board or a Tumblr tag TO ONLY YOUR NOVEL. Continually update this page with things that remind you of your story, characters, or your story's setting. I find that doing something like this keeps me super inspired about my story all the time, because I'm always seeing things that show me a new facet of my story.
2. Set a time that you're going to write. Stick to it.
Putting Your Ideas into Action
1. If this helps, outline your story or create a character sheet or character map. Use a bubble map to brainstorm your idea in more detail.
2. Start writing! Write every day. Write as much as you can, but if you really can only get a sentence or two on the page, that's better than nothing.
3. Don't give up! You came up with this idea, you've worked so hard to get it going, and it's going to be worth it when your novel is complete!
I hope that these tips helped at least a little bit. I find things like pictures, quotes, and music very inspiring and motivating to me, so I thought I'd share those ideas and a few more with you. Feel free to comment telling me what you do to stay inspired, or if any of these ideas help. I'll write you all next week! Thanks for reading!
Happy writing,
Kekai
Sorcera Word Count: 13,860
Thursday, September 10, 2015
My Writing Goals
I've been a writer for a long time. A loooooong time. As soon as I could hold a pencil and read a book, I realized that I wanted to pen the stories I so avidly enjoyed. My goals as a writer have fluctuated and changed over time, though the main, overarching plan as remained the same: make a living writing what I love. Nonetheless, here is a list of my goals, curated here for your (hopefully!) enjoyment.
Short Term:
Since I was rejected from Iowa Young Writer's Studio last year, I've been filled with a burning fire that's causing me to work harder on completing goals and improving my skills now so that I can get to where I want to go later. Here are my short term goals, in no particular order:
Long Term:
I will admit that my long term goals are quite a bit more vague than my short term ones--though I'm sure they'll get a lot more clear as I get closer to where I'm holding this long view!
Short Term:
Since I was rejected from Iowa Young Writer's Studio last year, I've been filled with a burning fire that's causing me to work harder on completing goals and improving my skills now so that I can get to where I want to go later. Here are my short term goals, in no particular order:
- Submit more work (be it excerpts, short fiction, essays, poetry, whatever) to magazines for young writers and all writers...maybe get accepted once or twice!
- Participate in National Novel Writing Month, either to complete Sorcera or get started on my new project (working title Girls and Galaxies); this year's NaNo will probably be more lowkey than previous years thanks to hardcore schoolwork
- Complete my second rewrite of Sorcera, and let it sit for a month or so before rereading again (hoping to be finished by/in December)
- Apply not only to Iowa, but also to other workshops, like Interlochen's Novel Writing Institute, Alpha, and Kenyon Writer's Workshop
- Begin work on a rewrite of Rita and the Afterlife, the novel I wrote the first time I won NaNo!
These goals all range in scope from now to about mid-spring, but the schedule will definitely fluctuate as things go. I hope to come up with a "submissions" schedule that I use to accumulate all my various deadlines!
Long Term:
I will admit that my long term goals are quite a bit more vague than my short term ones--though I'm sure they'll get a lot more clear as I get closer to where I'm holding this long view!
- Complete Sorcera to a professional level and begin sending query letters to agents
- Continue to revise Rita and the Afterlife to a publishable level
- Do freelance work with magazines of various types
- Get one of your novels published, hopefully sooner rather than later!
- Pay the bills...maybe
Well, there they are? Do you think they're achievable? Or are they crazy?
Good luck all,
Kekai
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Role Models
As a teenage girl on the internet, I often find myself being bombarded by thousands of opinions. Sometimes it's hard to figure out which ones are good, and which ones are complete trash. Through my years on the internet (and there have been a few too many, I assure you), I have managed to curate a list of people that I look up to and often take time to investigate when I'm upset. I decided, why not share these people and why I find them inspirational here!
Anna Akana
First on the list is Anna Akana, a Youtuber, writer, director, actress, and standup comedian. The first video I watched of hers was Things Every Girl Should Know, and from then on I was hooked. She has lots of short, cute videos that make you think, interesting short films, and more than a few meaningful videos as well. She's hilarious, poignant, and smart--she often inspires me to work hard to achieve my goals, just like she has. A couple of my favorite videos are here, here, and here.
Nicki Minaj
I am feeling instantly defensive putting my queen on this list, because I know how much everyone seems to hate Nicki Minaj. Well, you shouldn't. Not only is Ms. Minaj a feminist, but she advocates for women in povery, as well as sex positivity. One of my favorite quotes of hers is, "There's nothing wrong with speaking my mind as long as when the song cuts off I'm still a businesswoman and I still respect myself. Women should be allowed to be as hardcore and sexual as they want, because men do it all the time." Nicki worked hard to be where she is today, and I love that she isn't afraid to call out anyone who dares to imply that she did anything but write her own lyrics and be her own person to do so.
Gail Carson Levine
It's true that, at 16, I rarely pick up Gail Carson Levine's younger-aimed books anymore, but they still sit in a loving place on my shelf. Ella Enchanted is, to this day, one of my favorite books, and when I read Writing Magic in elementary school, it truly inspired me to continue to write. I still remember some of her rules of the road, like not deleting anything you write because it might give you an idea later! I just got her other writer's advice book, Writer to Writer, and I'm so excited to start reading it.
Amy Poehler
I first got to know Amy Poehler in her TV show Parks and Recreation, which I love so much because it's able to be funny without being negative! Since then, I've started to read more and more about her; Amy is funny and smart, and she even runs Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, which inspires girls to be clever and open-minded in all things. I also just picked up her autobiography/memoir Yes Please, and am super pumped to get to know more about my new fave.
Marina Diamandis
Marina Diamandis, better known as her stage name Marina and the Diamonds, is a Welsh singer/songwriter. Also a self-proclaimed feminist, the majority of Marina's music is relateable and clever. Not only does she make me wanna dance and sing, but she also inspires me to be who I want to be with reckless abandon. Her fashion sense is on point, and I find myself watching ever interview of hers that I come across--she's inspirational and genuine.
Carrie Hope Fletcher
I started following Carrie on her Youtube channel It's Way Past My Bedtime quite a few years ago, but I read her book All I Know Now this summer. She's sweet, funny, and I find her story to success incredibly lovely! She was young Eponine on West End as a child, and now plays adult Eponine! Her book is hilarious and makes you feel like you're not so alone in all the silly things you end up doing, on purpose or on accident. She is incredibly compassionate and I feel like I could open up to her about everything.
Malala Yousafzai
I have followed Malala's incredible story from the beginning, and I read her book I Am Malala almost as soon as it came out. The fact that Malala still manages to be empathetic and understanding even in the face of such hatred and adversity makes me feel like it should be easy for me to also be loving in my quite easy, day-to-day experiences! Her work to improve education for women and girl's has been incredible to watch, and every time I see her on my Facebook feed, Youtube subscriptions or Tumblr dashboard, I either find a smile on my face or tears in my eyes. She now runs The Malala Fund, a non-profit helping girls get education.
Well, there they are! I'm sure you've noticed a pattern here--strong, smart women who have worked hard in order to achieve there goals. There are plenty of women who inspire me, people I know in real life and even fictional characters, but I thought this list of successful women would be enough for now. I think it's important to find people we relate to in our lives, people we can look to for inspiration when we sometimes think we'll never make it to their level.
So who are your role models? Who motivates you to keep going, keep working, and keep being the best you you can be?
Lots of love,
Kekai
Anna Akana
First on the list is Anna Akana, a Youtuber, writer, director, actress, and standup comedian. The first video I watched of hers was Things Every Girl Should Know, and from then on I was hooked. She has lots of short, cute videos that make you think, interesting short films, and more than a few meaningful videos as well. She's hilarious, poignant, and smart--she often inspires me to work hard to achieve my goals, just like she has. A couple of my favorite videos are here, here, and here.
Nicki Minaj
I am feeling instantly defensive putting my queen on this list, because I know how much everyone seems to hate Nicki Minaj. Well, you shouldn't. Not only is Ms. Minaj a feminist, but she advocates for women in povery, as well as sex positivity. One of my favorite quotes of hers is, "There's nothing wrong with speaking my mind as long as when the song cuts off I'm still a businesswoman and I still respect myself. Women should be allowed to be as hardcore and sexual as they want, because men do it all the time." Nicki worked hard to be where she is today, and I love that she isn't afraid to call out anyone who dares to imply that she did anything but write her own lyrics and be her own person to do so.
Gail Carson Levine
It's true that, at 16, I rarely pick up Gail Carson Levine's younger-aimed books anymore, but they still sit in a loving place on my shelf. Ella Enchanted is, to this day, one of my favorite books, and when I read Writing Magic in elementary school, it truly inspired me to continue to write. I still remember some of her rules of the road, like not deleting anything you write because it might give you an idea later! I just got her other writer's advice book, Writer to Writer, and I'm so excited to start reading it.
Amy Poehler
I first got to know Amy Poehler in her TV show Parks and Recreation, which I love so much because it's able to be funny without being negative! Since then, I've started to read more and more about her; Amy is funny and smart, and she even runs Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, which inspires girls to be clever and open-minded in all things. I also just picked up her autobiography/memoir Yes Please, and am super pumped to get to know more about my new fave.
Marina Diamandis
Marina Diamandis, better known as her stage name Marina and the Diamonds, is a Welsh singer/songwriter. Also a self-proclaimed feminist, the majority of Marina's music is relateable and clever. Not only does she make me wanna dance and sing, but she also inspires me to be who I want to be with reckless abandon. Her fashion sense is on point, and I find myself watching ever interview of hers that I come across--she's inspirational and genuine.
Carrie Hope Fletcher
I started following Carrie on her Youtube channel It's Way Past My Bedtime quite a few years ago, but I read her book All I Know Now this summer. She's sweet, funny, and I find her story to success incredibly lovely! She was young Eponine on West End as a child, and now plays adult Eponine! Her book is hilarious and makes you feel like you're not so alone in all the silly things you end up doing, on purpose or on accident. She is incredibly compassionate and I feel like I could open up to her about everything.
Malala Yousafzai
I have followed Malala's incredible story from the beginning, and I read her book I Am Malala almost as soon as it came out. The fact that Malala still manages to be empathetic and understanding even in the face of such hatred and adversity makes me feel like it should be easy for me to also be loving in my quite easy, day-to-day experiences! Her work to improve education for women and girl's has been incredible to watch, and every time I see her on my Facebook feed, Youtube subscriptions or Tumblr dashboard, I either find a smile on my face or tears in my eyes. She now runs The Malala Fund, a non-profit helping girls get education.
Well, there they are! I'm sure you've noticed a pattern here--strong, smart women who have worked hard in order to achieve there goals. There are plenty of women who inspire me, people I know in real life and even fictional characters, but I thought this list of successful women would be enough for now. I think it's important to find people we relate to in our lives, people we can look to for inspiration when we sometimes think we'll never make it to their level.
So who are your role models? Who motivates you to keep going, keep working, and keep being the best you you can be?
Lots of love,
Kekai
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
We Need Diverse Books: Here's Why
Have you ever felt the ping of recognition when you realize you share a trait with a character? The happiness as you realize that you and her both wear glasses, or you and him both stutter when you're nervous? The thrill as you realize you're the same height, and the two of you have frizzy, blonde hair?
Imagine never feeling that. Or imagine feeling that only once or twice, when you've read hundreds and hundreds of books about people who don't look, talk, or act like you. This is how it is for many people of color, people with disabilities, people of varying sexualities, people with unique genders, and many other people who aren't white, able-bodied, cisgender, and straight.
There are many kids and teens in the world who think that there's something wrong with them. Black girls who think their beautiful curls are ugly. Trans people who think they're freaks. People with disabilities who feel invisible to the rest of the world. I think one of the biggest reasons for that is a lack of representation in popular media. If our favorite books all had characters that represent us, we would feel a lot better about ourselves as a whole!
There's this wonderful initiative called We Need Diverse Books that advocates diversity in the literature community, mostly aimed towards children's books, as children are the ones that are most affected by representation (or lack of it) in their media. There are lots of ways you can get involved with WNDB, or you can just show your support by following them on Tumblr and the like! They even have a page geared towards writers here.I'm really glad there's an organization like them out there; there really should be more!
In a nutshell, this is why I work to try and include diversity of all sorts in my novels. One of my characters, Bambi, is a pansexual black girl, who is incredibly curvy. Another character is a hispanic lesbian. I work hard to ensure that these characters, and my other diverse characters, aren't just props of diversity, but real characters that people can relate to. As a white-passing person, I get the chance to relate to so many characters in literature. It's just unfair that so many other people don't get that chance! Let's make it happen, shall we?
Kekai
Imagine never feeling that. Or imagine feeling that only once or twice, when you've read hundreds and hundreds of books about people who don't look, talk, or act like you. This is how it is for many people of color, people with disabilities, people of varying sexualities, people with unique genders, and many other people who aren't white, able-bodied, cisgender, and straight.
There are many kids and teens in the world who think that there's something wrong with them. Black girls who think their beautiful curls are ugly. Trans people who think they're freaks. People with disabilities who feel invisible to the rest of the world. I think one of the biggest reasons for that is a lack of representation in popular media. If our favorite books all had characters that represent us, we would feel a lot better about ourselves as a whole!
There's this wonderful initiative called We Need Diverse Books that advocates diversity in the literature community, mostly aimed towards children's books, as children are the ones that are most affected by representation (or lack of it) in their media. There are lots of ways you can get involved with WNDB, or you can just show your support by following them on Tumblr and the like! They even have a page geared towards writers here.I'm really glad there's an organization like them out there; there really should be more!
In a nutshell, this is why I work to try and include diversity of all sorts in my novels. One of my characters, Bambi, is a pansexual black girl, who is incredibly curvy. Another character is a hispanic lesbian. I work hard to ensure that these characters, and my other diverse characters, aren't just props of diversity, but real characters that people can relate to. As a white-passing person, I get the chance to relate to so many characters in literature. It's just unfair that so many other people don't get that chance! Let's make it happen, shall we?
Kekai
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Potato Chip Sorcery (or, My Current Writing Project)
When I first came up with the idea for Sorcera, it probably would have been a better sitcom than a novel. The concept was this: a coven of young witches living in an old, abandoned library, trying to support themselves on minimum wage jobs, but mostly just messing around with their powers. The first time I put my pen to paper about this concept, I wrote a short work called "Potato Chip Sorcery", where two of my characters threw potato chips at each other using telekinesis.
Needless to say, the story has changed in tone and style quite a bit since than. I am currently in my first revision of the novel--my first draft was so bad that I was already planning the revision as I was finishing it up! Since the crappy storylines and flat characters of the first draft don't really matter anymore, for now I'll be gushing about how excited I am for my second draft--I'm currently about 13,500 words in.
In the world I've created, witches exist alongside people--some humans know about them, some don't, it's all pretty chill in that department (the president probably knows, for public safety and all). There are four elements, and each witch is tied to one of them. Each element has powers that correspond to it, and if witches combine their powers, they can often get some pretty interesting results.
The witch world is governed by various councils in various countries, but all witches bow to the Complete, a coven that has one air witch, one water witch, one earth witch, and one fire witch. It is impossible for you to cultivate a coven with this combination unless it is fated, at which point, you rise to power in the witch community. However, there's a catch. In order to remain dominant in this world, you have to kill the other Complete--otherwise, they'll kill you. And probably a lot of other people on their way to you. This is based off the idea of the dynastic cycle; power corrupts, and by the time one of the Complete is corrupt, a new one rises to take its place.
My four main characters are who really propel the story--originally based off me and three of my friends (cliche and awful, I know), they've developed into fully-fleshed characters of their own. Nicole, Malone, Adele, and Bambi are all witches, and each corresponds to one of the four elements.I'm a huge fan of character-driven novels, and so it only makes sense that these four are my favorite parts of writing Sorcera. I enjoy seeing how they interact together, learning to work as a team as they become the next Complete, forced to stand against Storm, a group of veteran witches known for their ruthlessness and power.
I could go on for ages about Sorcera, but there's plenty of time for that! You'll no doubt be hearing more about it from me soon. For now, feel free to tell me what you think of the story based on the plot summary! Thank you!
Talk to you soon,
Kekai
Needless to say, the story has changed in tone and style quite a bit since than. I am currently in my first revision of the novel--my first draft was so bad that I was already planning the revision as I was finishing it up! Since the crappy storylines and flat characters of the first draft don't really matter anymore, for now I'll be gushing about how excited I am for my second draft--I'm currently about 13,500 words in.
In the world I've created, witches exist alongside people--some humans know about them, some don't, it's all pretty chill in that department (the president probably knows, for public safety and all). There are four elements, and each witch is tied to one of them. Each element has powers that correspond to it, and if witches combine their powers, they can often get some pretty interesting results.
The witch world is governed by various councils in various countries, but all witches bow to the Complete, a coven that has one air witch, one water witch, one earth witch, and one fire witch. It is impossible for you to cultivate a coven with this combination unless it is fated, at which point, you rise to power in the witch community. However, there's a catch. In order to remain dominant in this world, you have to kill the other Complete--otherwise, they'll kill you. And probably a lot of other people on their way to you. This is based off the idea of the dynastic cycle; power corrupts, and by the time one of the Complete is corrupt, a new one rises to take its place.
My four main characters are who really propel the story--originally based off me and three of my friends (cliche and awful, I know), they've developed into fully-fleshed characters of their own. Nicole, Malone, Adele, and Bambi are all witches, and each corresponds to one of the four elements.I'm a huge fan of character-driven novels, and so it only makes sense that these four are my favorite parts of writing Sorcera. I enjoy seeing how they interact together, learning to work as a team as they become the next Complete, forced to stand against Storm, a group of veteran witches known for their ruthlessness and power.
I could go on for ages about Sorcera, but there's plenty of time for that! You'll no doubt be hearing more about it from me soon. For now, feel free to tell me what you think of the story based on the plot summary! Thank you!
Talk to you soon,
Kekai
The Most Important Question in the World
What Hogwarts house are you in?
When I first get to know people, this is often the question that I find myself wondering time and time again, until I finally manage to ask this new acquaintance to answer for themselves--I wouldn't say that I judge people on their answer, but it certainly does affect the way I think of them.
Oh, I'm definitely a Gryffindor! They're the coolest.
Ravenclaw, I'm such a nerd.
Slytherin of course, couldn't you tell?
I don't know, but definitely not Hufflepuff. I hate Hufflepuffs.
If someone answers with the last example, I tend to run for the hills: "I'm sorry but my mom said I have to leave right now immediately." How can anyone hate the sweet, loyal, hard workers of the wizarding world never ceases to amaze me!
Anyways, what I'm getting at here is this: often, people find it difficult to describe themselves. I find it difficult to describe myself. Asking people what Hogwarts house they're in not only gives us a common link in our love for Harry Potter, but it also tells me a lot about them.
So, which Hogwarts house am I in? I generally consider myself to be a Hufflepuff, with strong Slytherin tendencies. I'm kind of the den mother of my group of friends, always wanting to help out and give people advice. I also have a strong moral compass, and don't like seeing anyone wronged! The Slytherin comes in with my intense ambition and goal-oriented nature. There was a time when I would have been aghast at the thought of being sorted into the snake house, but now I love it.
What else is there to know about me? I'm a sixteen-year-old girl, and I've been writing since the single-digits, so I've vastly improved in the many years I've been practicing, to say the least. (That "eye on the prize" nature? Veeeeery Slytherin.) Not only do I write, but I'm also involved in violin, speech & debate, musical theater, and various other extracurriculars. (Being a jack of all trades? Veeeeery Hufflepuff.) I'm very passionate about issues I care about, and do consider myself to be an intersectional feminist--that will probably seep into my writings here time and time again. (Caring a lot about a changing world? Veeeeeery Hogwarts!)
Let's talk about my writing a little bit more, if you don't mind. Like I said, I've been doing this a while. Ever since I could first hold a book, I was infatuated with them, and of course I wanted to learn how to write my own eventually. I've been writing for about a decade now, and honestly I'm surprised I'm still so passionate about it--not that I'm complaining! My tastes have changed and evolved over the years, but I do quite love speculative fiction, mostly of the YA variety (though I'll read anything you put in front of me that seems vaguely interesting).
In recent years, two goals have become very clear in all my writing: 1) Combat cliches. More and more in fiction for young people, I'm noticing that we keep the same tropes going. It's boring, and honestly, we deserve better than that! (Am I sensing a little Slytherin need to prove people wrong here?) And then 2) Promote diversity. We live in an ever-evolving world filled with people of different races, creeds, sexualities, genders, ages, cultures, experiences and even more qualifying factors. The fact that only a small portion of our world is represented in most mainstream fiction is mind-boggling and silly. More and more, I am working to fill my writing with people who modern literature doesn't do a very good job of representing, and I'm working to make these characters realistic and respectful. (Is this some more Hufflepuff-ness shining through?)
I'll definitely be addressing these and many more topics on this blog, as well as hopefully sharing writing samples and more interesting content! If you took the time to read through this whole damn post, thank you so much! I cannot tell you how much it means to me. If you'd like, comment with your Hogwarts house and what it means about your personality! I'd love to hear about it.
Best wishes,
Kekai
When I first get to know people, this is often the question that I find myself wondering time and time again, until I finally manage to ask this new acquaintance to answer for themselves--I wouldn't say that I judge people on their answer, but it certainly does affect the way I think of them.
Oh, I'm definitely a Gryffindor! They're the coolest.
Ravenclaw, I'm such a nerd.
Slytherin of course, couldn't you tell?
I don't know, but definitely not Hufflepuff. I hate Hufflepuffs.
If someone answers with the last example, I tend to run for the hills: "I'm sorry but my mom said I have to leave right now immediately." How can anyone hate the sweet, loyal, hard workers of the wizarding world never ceases to amaze me!
Anyways, what I'm getting at here is this: often, people find it difficult to describe themselves. I find it difficult to describe myself. Asking people what Hogwarts house they're in not only gives us a common link in our love for Harry Potter, but it also tells me a lot about them.
So, which Hogwarts house am I in? I generally consider myself to be a Hufflepuff, with strong Slytherin tendencies. I'm kind of the den mother of my group of friends, always wanting to help out and give people advice. I also have a strong moral compass, and don't like seeing anyone wronged! The Slytherin comes in with my intense ambition and goal-oriented nature. There was a time when I would have been aghast at the thought of being sorted into the snake house, but now I love it.
What else is there to know about me? I'm a sixteen-year-old girl, and I've been writing since the single-digits, so I've vastly improved in the many years I've been practicing, to say the least. (That "eye on the prize" nature? Veeeeery Slytherin.) Not only do I write, but I'm also involved in violin, speech & debate, musical theater, and various other extracurriculars. (Being a jack of all trades? Veeeeery Hufflepuff.) I'm very passionate about issues I care about, and do consider myself to be an intersectional feminist--that will probably seep into my writings here time and time again. (Caring a lot about a changing world? Veeeeeery Hogwarts!)
Let's talk about my writing a little bit more, if you don't mind. Like I said, I've been doing this a while. Ever since I could first hold a book, I was infatuated with them, and of course I wanted to learn how to write my own eventually. I've been writing for about a decade now, and honestly I'm surprised I'm still so passionate about it--not that I'm complaining! My tastes have changed and evolved over the years, but I do quite love speculative fiction, mostly of the YA variety (though I'll read anything you put in front of me that seems vaguely interesting).
In recent years, two goals have become very clear in all my writing: 1) Combat cliches. More and more in fiction for young people, I'm noticing that we keep the same tropes going. It's boring, and honestly, we deserve better than that! (Am I sensing a little Slytherin need to prove people wrong here?) And then 2) Promote diversity. We live in an ever-evolving world filled with people of different races, creeds, sexualities, genders, ages, cultures, experiences and even more qualifying factors. The fact that only a small portion of our world is represented in most mainstream fiction is mind-boggling and silly. More and more, I am working to fill my writing with people who modern literature doesn't do a very good job of representing, and I'm working to make these characters realistic and respectful. (Is this some more Hufflepuff-ness shining through?)
I'll definitely be addressing these and many more topics on this blog, as well as hopefully sharing writing samples and more interesting content! If you took the time to read through this whole damn post, thank you so much! I cannot tell you how much it means to me. If you'd like, comment with your Hogwarts house and what it means about your personality! I'd love to hear about it.
Best wishes,
Kekai
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