Sorcera's Sucky First Draft

First drafts suck. And it's okay.
The first draft of Sorcera sucked, and that's okay.
I think it's really important to make things that aren't amazing. Actually, the act of making thing at all, even if it's shit, is pretty amazing. To make something that doesn't suck is even better. But at some point, all of us kind of suck, and for me, that was the first draft of Sorcera (and many other first drafts, but we can get into that later, maybe). So now, I want to share with you the shitshow that was the first draft of Sorcera, and laugh about it together. Just cuz that makes me happy.

1. The coven lived in a giant magical library in NYC, similar to Grimmauld Place.

Okay, Sorcera did start out as a 9th grader's magical fantasy, so it's kind of okay. But it was an obvious ripoff of Harry Potter, and I never even explained how they'd gotten the place. It was huge, but the hugeness was useless, as things only ever really happened in the lobby, kitchen, and bedrooms. Characters could go hide somewhere if they were mad. And the library wasn't even magic itself; it was just a regular, big building with marble walls. Which is pretty. But useless. Especially when a large space like that would be expensive and/or useless in NYC.

2. Nicole was a total asshole.

One of my main characters, Nicole, was meant to be the leader of the group. However, other than her saying she was the leader a lot, she never acted like one. And she yelled at people all the time. Originally she was based off me, so I'm really distressed about how she turned out that way. Check out this quick excerpt:
Nicole stepped backwards at the words, grimacing.
“What do you mean, we’re next? We don’t even know you!” She argued. 
Why so aggressive, Nicole? Why so annoying, all the time? She was constantly defensive, two-dimensional, and just plain boring. Luckily, I managed to fix her up in future drafts.

3. Miles existed.

If you read the first draft of Sorcera, you'd be surprised to meet a character named Miles, an entirely bland shop owner who provided Sorcera with tips and tricks for surviving Storm. Not only was Miles uninteresting, everyone who read the story kind of hated him. He also was a love interest for a character who is about as into men as cats like dogs--their relationship did not work. 

4. The villains were two-dimensional.

I had a big problem in my first draft: the coven Sorcera faces, Storm, was filled with the exact same character. A weird, twisted, but beautiful villainess who liked to tease the heroes. It was excruciating to reread, and just plain confusing when they all talked together. In my second draft, I've worked to make them more like individuals, and they've been much more fun to write. 

I decided to mention all of these because I think it's important to realize what things work and what things don't, and it's also important to be able to laugh at yourself sometimes! It was good work for where I was then, but now I've improved immensely. I like looking back and seeing how far I've come.

So what do you think of your first draft of your current work in progress? What have you changed? 

How to Write a Killer 5-Paragraph Essay

While I do have plenty of things to work on as a student, and of course I can always improve, I do consider myself to be quite a good essay writer–all my teachers have tended to give me quite good marks on them. So I thought that I might share some tips and techniques with you all! Under the cut you will find my method for writing essays, as well as some tricks I use to get better grades on them. :P This format works especially well for persuasive essays, literary analysis, and generally any essay you would write 5-paragraph form, though of course you can adjust my setup in a way that works for you. Hope this is helpful!

Step One: Outlining

Before writing any essay, I write a highly detailed outline. This outline might as well be the actual essay–this means that writing my essay will be incredibly easy once it comes to that. I start out with this skeleton:

1. Introduction
1. Thesis:
2. Paragraph 1: [Topic/Content]
3. Paragraph 2: [Topic/Content]
4. Paragraph 3: [Topic/Content]
5. Conclusion
1. Thesis:

I find it helpful to be able to see a complete outline of how my essay will look, like this, before I begin. Next, I fill out topics and thesis. In general, it’s not a great idea to decide a thesis until you’ve accumulated enough data/information/textual evidence, but sometimes I like to have a preliminary thesis that I can revise later.

1. Introduction
1. Thesis: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an incredible show because of its realistic characters, suspenseful writing, and use of the supernatural to represent and resolve real-life problems.
2. Paragraph 1: Realistic Characters
3. Paragraph 2: Suspenseful Writing
4. Paragraph 3: Use of the Supernatural
5. Conclusion
1. Thesis: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an incredible show because of its realistic characters, suspenseful writing, and use of the supernatural to represent and resolve real-life problems.

From here, I begin to write any relevant information on all three of my main topics under paragraphs one, two, and three. Your informational bullets can be full sentences or just phrases and words that will jog your memory as you’re writing your essay–whatever works for you! You can also fill your conclusion and introduction sections with things like your introductory and concluding transitions and sentences.

Part Two: First Draft

I don’t have much to say on this topic other than use your outline! It’s okay to revise and cut things from your outline now and then to see if it makes it more readable. Don’t stress about how long or short your first draft is, since it’s a first draft. Just write!

Part Three: Second/Third/Fourth Draft

After you have a rough draft to work with, you can revise your essay to your liking. Here are some quick tips on how to revise–they’re tried and true!

1. Read your essay paragraph by paragraph from the end to the beginning–you’re more likely to catch mistakes.
2. Print out your essay and read it. Use a red pen!
3. Have someone else read your essay.
4. Read your essay out loud.
5. Put your essay through Hemingyway App, an app that picks up long or confusing sentences and helps you fix them!
6. Use PaperRater’s free paper grader.

Be sure to look over your work at least ONCE before turning it into your teacher or prof. However, also be sure not to over-analyze or over-edit! 

Welp, that’s all I have to say for now! If you have any questions, or if this helped you at all, feel free to comment below. Good luck!

NaNo is a GO

So,  after much deliberation, I've decided to do NaNoWriMo this year. Life is a mess and I'm constantly stressed,  but I've realized something. Doing things I love (like writing) helps my depression. So I should be doing those things--and writing 1,667 words per day sounds like a pretty good way to keep me happy, creative, and getting things done.
Writing-wise, here's where I'm at. Sorcara's second draft is done and currently being read for critique (I wanted to start editing it in early October, but obviously that didn't happen). I've written about 1,500 words of my new WIP, Girls and Galaxies. The next logical step is to use Girls and Galaxies for NaNo, yes? Yes!
I have no idea how I'm going to pull it off. Then again, I guess that's always been part of the fun of NaNoWriMo! It's risky, it's busy, and it's so SO exciting!
Here's a synopsis of Girls and Galaxies, for anyone interested:
Kalani Paoa's grandmother was the one who first made extraterrestrial contact, after a school dance in Kalapana, Hawaii. Now Kalani, graduating high school, has to rethink her life goals when she's placed on a commercial space cruise liner instead of an exploratory vessel for her internship position. On the ship she finds worlds she could never imagine, friends she never would have befriended, and an intergalactic love with a certified space alien princess.
Sound exciting? I hope so, because I'm really thrilled about this story! I know it's going to be a wild ride that I'll really enjoy taking!
If anyone wants to add me as a writing buddy, click here. I'm happy to chat about our novels and cheer each other on! Happy writing!

5 Book Genre Outfits for Fall

Hey everyone! I've been quite busy lately, but I wanted to do something fun and a little different for the blog today. So I decided to come up with 5 different casual-wear outfits for anyone who wants to dress like their favorite book genre! These are all made with polyvore. Without further ado, let's get started!

1. Romance

2. Science Fiction

3. Historical Fiction

4. Fantasy

5. Horror

I hope these are cute! They're all a little fall inspired too. Which one would you wear? And what's your favorite genre! Comment below!

Keeping Her Secret: Review

Hi everyone! I heard about Keeping Her Secret by Sarah Nicolas on Twitter, and knew I had to pick it up because it had two of my favorite things: girls in love, AND summer camp stories! Two days later, I bought it on my kindle, and finished it in one whirlwind of a night.
Keeping Her Secret tells the story of two girls, Riya and Courtney, who used to be best friends. After a kiss between the two, followed by Riya moving away, their friendship falls apart--until they reunite at summer camp years later. Riya, openly bisexual and working hard for a volleyball scholarship, is surprised to see that Courtney is the camp heart-breaker, who is still pushing aside her dreams to please her parents. Starting with a rousing prank war between the two, their friendship (and possibly relationship?) begin to grow again. But will Courtney be able to accept her attraction to Riya, and learn how to follow her dreams? Or will Riya be left heartbroken once again?
It's always a testament to a book when I finish it in one night--I am usually exhausted when bedtime comes around, so staying up until midnight to finish a book is huge! But I just couldn't put Keeping Her Secret down. First of all, I strongly related to Riya; she's a strong, smart, openly bi girl who is determined to follow her dreams. I love her perspective. I also love how she has her own flaws to work with throughout the story. Courtney herself is delightfully infuriating--you understand her struggles, but also wish she would JUST KISS RIYA, DAMMIT! The two girls have a chemistry that pops off the page, keeping you interested.
The side characters are also fun and interesting in their own rights. Riya's best friend and Courtney's brother are also exciting to watch, and have their own sweet little storylines. Every character in Keeping Her Secret is a sweet cinnamon roll that you want to protect at all costs!
I also love how the book tackles the girlxgirl relationship in this book gently and with awareness. Early on, Courtney doesn't know what bisexuality is, and it's gently explained to her (and the myths are busted!) by Riya and one of her friends. When Riya is angry at Courtney for not coming out, she's reminded of how difficult coming out can be for many people. Courtney's brother is always sweet and understanding--the fact of Courtney liking girls, especially Riya, has never been an issue for him. I love when books aren't afraid of LGBT issues. It's important for YA to keep being diverse and loving, showing kids who read them that they're valid.
All in all, I give Keeping Her Secret 5 stars. It's a light, frothy read that makes you smile--I felt like I should have been reading it out on the beach with some ice cream in my other hand! Next time you want a sweet love story to devour, pick up Keeping Her Secret.

Wildness: The Magic of Walden Day

Wildness exists. We see it in the scorching sun, the changing leaves, the torrential rains coming down in voluminous, grey sheets. We hear it in the hiss of snakes, the crack of thunder, in our own voices when we are angry, upset, joyous. We taste it in fresh water, crisp autumn air, in a home-cooked recipe passed down for generations. There is wildness in everything, in all of us. Take a moment; breathe. The wildness is still inside you. Let it stretch. Let it survive. Let it sing. 

I wrote the above in the woods today, when me and the rest of our small, introspective senior class went to a nearby pond for the day. Today was "Walden Day", a senior celebration that has been happening at my school for over a decade, inspired by the experiences and writings of Henry David Thoreau. We go, we read quotes from the book Walden, and we write responses to questions that Thoreau himself seemed to be asking when he wrote the book. The question I was meditating on above was: "Does wildness still exist?" Here's the end of the passage I wrote.

Do not smother wildness in fear that it will overtake you. We are easily overtaken creatures. Embrace it. We are too fond of lines and structure. Let yourselves be messy, and hurt, and excited. It's not quite as scary out here as you think. It is wild, but you are wild too. There is where we all belong.

I went to a poetry reading last night (something I'll also write a blog post on soon!), so I was feeling quite lyrical when writing. It was very powerful to be able to sit with myself in nature and think, then let the words spill out onto the page. It sometimes felt that the whole of the forest was pausing in contemplation with me. Here is my answer to the question, "To what extent do we find only the world we look for?" My answer is kind of meandering; I apologize in advance.

We have tunnel vision. Wake, eat, work, eat, work, eat, sleep. Each day is exhausting, so we push forward to the next exhausting day. We hardly think of the roses, the water, the earth beneath our feet and between our toes.  For us, it is forward, forward, forward. We lament our lack of time, space, and contentedness. If we stop and look around, we can see it's all there, waiting for us. Breathe. Walk around in it. It is yours to move in: the curiosity, the unseen. 

After each writing time, we would come back together and read. It was great to hear that many of my classmates were feeling the same way I was, often responding to the questions similarly but with insights I had not thought about before. It made me realize how much I truly appreciate my senior class. I'm very lucky to be graduating with the people I'm graduating with! The final question was a hard one, and one that was especially relevant to us, since we're all graduating in seven months. "How will you live deliberately?"

Stop. Breathe. Go. It is not as simple as you think. At the same time, it is exactly as simple as you think. You are more than the sum of your parts: you're a body, a soul, and a heart. I'm here, and I will not go gently. I will not allow my anxieties to keep my from my dreams. I will not let distractions hurt my confidence. If I want to love, I will love. If I want to travel, I will travel. If I want to write, I will write until the words no longer sing to me. I promise to be true to my feelings, to listen more, to spend more time in the moment. Here. Right now. I can feel my wildness. 

Blessed Be: How Witchcraft Helps Calm My Mental Illness

About a year ago, I learned that witchcraft is actually a thing that people do. Like, in real life. People create spells and potions and sigils, they bless and craft and curse, they live in a reality where magic truly is real. As a person who has always loved the more whimsical side of life, I delved into research right away, and found that witchcraft was actually a great meditative form by which you could use your energy to influence your life. So after a while of research and thought, I started doing it. And the results were awesome.
I only do little things--I stir my tea clockwise to attract positivity, I meditate and ground when I'm upset. I do "bubbling" when I'm anxious and need to tune out the world. I bless whoever's hurt when I hear sirens in the streets. I create productivity sigils and draw them on my notebooks. I read my tarot. However, these little, intentional changes in my life have made a world of a difference.
I live with anxiety and depression, and they often cloud my mind, making it near impossible to do the things I want to, to get my life to a space where I feel together and healthy. I take meds, I go to therapy, I have coping mechanisms--but witchcraft is becoming one of the most helpful coping mechanisms I have.
Because witchcraft is intentional thinking. Witchcraft is a space I can go into where I can trust the universe will listen to me. You know how people say to visualize the first day of school if you're worried about it? That's basically what witchcraft does for my mind--it makes me feel confident and excited about life in a way things rarely do these days.
Witchcraft makes me feel happy, special, and productive, even if all I do is send positive energy towards everyone at school. Even if all I do is put a protective bubble around me and my loved ones. Because with witchcraft, I become the person I want to be: someone who even on their worst days can do a little good in the world, or do a little good for themselves.
And I think that's pretty magical.

Opinion: Why Nicki Minaj is a Positive Role Model

Everyone has an opinion on Nicki Minaj. Some people think she's awesome and fun, some people think she's a disrespectful idiot, some people think she's a "slut", and some people even think she's part of the Illuminati. Me? I think she's an awesome, feminist role model. Here's why. 

The first time I ever heard about Nicki was watching her performance of Roman Holiday at the 2012 Grammy's. It was loud, theatrical, over-the-top, and totally wild. For young me, it just honestly freaked me out. Her shocking, abrasive style has created controversy and divisiveness among music fans all over. Often people wonder, with such rapping, singing, and acting skills as she has, she feels the need to dress in tight, revealing clothing, wear loud makeup, and dye her hair different colors. Here's what it is: Nicki Minaj has never, and never will, bend to the male gaze. 

As a female rapper, almost unarguably the best in the game, Nicki Minaj didn't get to where she is today by doing what people want her to do. She could sing beautiful ballads and always rap about romance, keep her hair its natural color and pose in classy lingerie, she could film music videos where she's rolling around on a bed being filmed with a soft-focus filter, she could never rap about sex and never swear. But to do that would be to sacrifice who she is as a performer, and who she is as a performer is someone who is going to be completely, unapologetically herself.

Nicki never says she's something she's not. She never says that her music is made to have some deep, higher meaning (though much of it is poignant, inspiring and powerful). She often talks about how her music is made to have fun. She is a strong advocate for the idea that (as seen above), women can party and have fun, as long as they put in their daily grind.

And Nicki Minaj has always put in the grind. Read any interview with her, and you know she micromanages her brand to no end. Nothing goes without her say, and if it does, you know someone's going to pay for their mistake of not running it by her. Her image is something she curates herself, and it is something so unapologetically genuine in its wild exaggeration that you almost can't help but feel confident, because her confidence is so palpable. 

Nicki doesn't stand against women and feminism either. She's described herself as a feminist, which is more than you can say for many female celebrities in this day and age. Her songs often talk about being a powerful woman with an empire. At concerts, you hear her calling out, "Where all my independent women? Scream if you're a woman who don't depend on a man for nothing!" She tells her younger fans how important it is to go and get an education, and not to worry about men. She speaks openly about her experience with abortion and her childhood with a difficult father. She doesn't take shit from people who patronize her. She calls out people when it comes to issues she cares about, like racism and body-shaming. 

You can be a feminist and wear sexy, revealing clothing. You can be a feminist and rap about sexual situations. Nicki Minaj is such a great role model because she is exercising the right women have to wear and be whoever they want--you don't need to be "acceptable" to society's fashion, sexual, and musical norms to have your voice heard. You can just be unapologetically you. 

I could go on about how awesome Nicki is forever. Her raps are well-crafted and creative. Her fashion is groundbreaking. Her online persona is incredible and genuine. Often, her music is a subversive spoof of whatever we think it is (contrary to popular belief, Anaconda is an incredible middle finger to the male gaze and what we think women should be). Her empire is self-made and so interesting to read about. 

So yeah. She swears. You can see her boobs and butt. She makes you uncomfortable. Keep being uncomfortable; she's enjoying every second of it, and educating women on how to be confident badasses in the process. 

I'm Past Patiently Waiting: The Most Motivational Hamilton Quotes

If you don't live under a rock on a deserted island in the middle of a different dimension, you've probably heard of Hamilton: the Musical. A transformative performance about America's history, Hamilton follows the life of our first treasury secretary--with rap music. It's become the musical of a generation, getting kids excited about history, diversity, and music.
Every time I listen to Hamilton, my heart soars in a way that it rarely does. The music is inspiring and motivational--it makes you feel like you can do anything you set your mind to. Hamilton's story is one of facing adversity openly and aggressively, with a determination to achieve your goals no matter the cost. Each character faces their own struggles; there's someone for everyone to relate to! No matter who you are, Hamilton makes you want to create.
Today, I've decided to curate a master list of inspiring Hamilton quotes: print them out and place them in your place of work. Be your own community's Hamilton!

1. You could never back down; you never learned to take your time.

2. He looked at me like I was stupid--I'm not stupid!

3. I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal trying to reach my goal; my power of speech: unimpeachable!

4. Don't be shocked when your history book mentions me.

5. I am not throwing away my shot.

6. I'm past patiently waiting! I'm passionately smashing every expectation every action's an act of creation. I'm laughing in the face of casualties and sorrow--for the first time I'm thinking past tomorrow.

7. 'Cause I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine; some men say that I'm intense or insane; you want a revolution? I want a revelation, so listen to my declaration.

8. Dying is easy, young man. Living is harder.

9. I will never be satisfied.

10. Love doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints; it takes and it takes and it takes; and we keep loving anyway; we laugh and we cry and we break and we make our mistakes. 

10. Death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints; it takes and it takes; and we keep living anyway: we laugh and we cry and we break and we make our mistakes; and if there's a reason I'm still alive when everyone who loves me has died, I'm willing to wait for it.

11. I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable, I am an original. I'm not falling behind or running late. I'm not standing still I'm lying in wait.

12. Don't do a thing. History will prove him wrong.

13. My name's been through a lot; I can take it.

14. Look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now.

15. Oh, let me be a part of the narrative of the story they will write someday. 

16. History has its eyes on you.

17. You have no control: who lives, who dies, who tells your story. 

18. Immigrants--we get the job done!

19. When you knock me down I get the f-ck back up again!

20. You'll blow us all away.

21. Man, the man is non-stop!

22. Why do you write like you're running out of time? Write day and night like you're running out of time? Everyday you fight like you're running out of time!

23. How do you write like tomorrow won't arrive? How do you write like you need it to survive? How do you write every second you're alive?

24. There is no more status quo; but the sun comes up and the world still spins.

25. You can write rhymes but you can't write mine!

26. When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game--but you don't get a win unless you play in the game. You get love for it, you get hate for it, you get nothing if you wait for it. 

27. If you stand for nothing, what'll you fall for?

28. I've got to be in the room where it happens.

29. We'll teach them how to say goodbye, you and I.

30. I wrote my way out.

31. When my prayers to God were met with indifference, I picked up a pen, I wrote my own deliverance.

32. You and your words flooded my senses; your sentences left me defenseless; you built me palaces out of paragraphs; you built cathedrals.

33. I'm not afraid; I know who I married; just let me stay here by your side--that would be enough.

34. I will not equivocate on my opinion; I have always worn it on my sleeve.

35. What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.

36. I ask myself, "What would you do if you had more time?"

The Wrath and The Dawn: Review

“So you would have me throw Shazi to the wolves?”
“Shazi?” Jalal’s grin widened. “Honestly, I pity the wolves.” 

In The Wrath and the Dawn, a strong young woman named Shahrzad al-Khayzuran volunteers to exact vengeance. In a kingdom trapped in gruesome tradition, the king, Khalid, takes a wife every night only to kill them in the morning. After Shahrzad's best friend is taken, she sacrifices herself, and weaves stories to distract Khalid until morning. Her life becomes a game of irony and survival--how will she exact vengeance when she is falling for the man who killed her best friend and holds her life in his hands?

I had bought The Wrath and The Dawn a couple months ago while on vacation, but hadn't gotten to reading it until the first week of school, when I needed something to distract myself with. I'd picked up the book first because it had a woman of color on the cover, and second because the story, based on 1,001 Arabian Nights, was interesting and unique to the other things I saw on the shelves. 

Once I started reading, the novel did not disappoint. It hooked me from the start--women protecting women? What's not to love about that? Shahrzad's internal monologue is interesting and complex. You instantly empathize with her, and continue to do so throughout the novel. She is a fun and dynamic protagonist, and not just a strong badass that shuns femininity like a lot of characters I see. She's real, raw, and alluring. 

It makes sense, then, that she and Khalid's romance is an interesting one. I'm always a sucker for those "forbidden", difficult romances with lots of angst and spark. I spent practically the whole book praying they'd show their true feelings! They have so many problems and them struggling together is heartening and difficult at the same time. 

I loved almost everything about this book. I only had two real issues, but they weren't that big at all. 1) I had wished there were a couple more female characters involved. I loved all the characters there were, and the female characters were great--that's exactly why I wanted more! If Jalal or Shahrzad's grandfather's genders had been flipped, I would have loved it even more! 2) This was probably just me, but I loved all the scenes with Shahrzad, and found the scenes without her or Khalid slow or less interesting--I often skimmed them. Tariq was cool enough, but he was so genuinely good that I couldn't find his scenes as fun as the romance and action of Shahrzad and Khalid's scenes.

All in all though, this was a great book! The main character was dynamic, the love interest was interesting and mysterious, and their romance was intense to say the least! Not to mention the culturally diverse setting! 

I rate this book a must-read if you love romance, intrigue, and magic!

I am now currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Review will come upon completion!

How to Survive School Emotionally

Hey everyone! Hope summer has been good to all of you. Some of you may already be in school, and some of you, like me, may only be going back now. School can often be a huge stress--I know that it is for me. With both anxiety and depression, I have had to learn how to survive what can often be a grueling and tiresome process. For my benefit as well as yours, I have decided to make a post on some tips on how to survive school emotionally--some of these are academic, and some of them are not. No matter what, I hope they help!
Let me know in the comments if you have any tips!

1. Keep a calendar.

This can be on your phone, or in a planner. As someone who gets very anxious scheduling my time, I have a couple different calendars--I use google calendars to share my events with others, and a planner to schedule my schoolwork. Your planner can be anywhere from neat and color-coded, to so messy only you can understand it. As long as it keeps you organized, you'll feel a lot of stress taken off your shoulders.

2. Set aside alone time.

This is one of the hardest for me. Between school, extracurriculars, and wanting to hang out with friends, it can often be difficult to find time for yourself. Nonetheless, it doesn't have to be much. Make a list of relaxing things you enjoy, and do one of those a day. You can draw, write in your journal, take a bath, listen to music, and so much more! It can be as much as an hour or as little as ten minutes. I find this time is often best placed right when I get home.
3. Make an emergency list of things you can do at school to feel better.

I have one of these in the notes on my phone. Sometimes, anxiety or depression hits at the most inconvenient times, and with no game plan, it can be even more overwhelming than it already is. My list includes things like, "wash hands with cold water", "leave the room", "get a hug", and "doodle in notebook". Whatever you can do, no matter how little, can really help you release that negative energy.

4. Keep snacks in your locker/backpack.

This goes along with number three! Things sometimes suck. Those things will suck even more if you're hungry, and many of us can agree that school lunches aren't great. Packing a bunch of granola bars, and maybe some applesauce or fruit, can be a lifesaver on those days when you're close to meltdown. Along with this, I often keep a survival kit in my locker, with deodorant, tampons and pads, ibuprofen, and extras of my medication. Maybe even an umbrella or a change of clothes!

5. Stay on top of your work.

Ah, the dreaded one...don't procrastinate! This is an ongoing struggle for me in all pursuits, but if you can get your work done by when you're supposed to, DO IT. Having late work is NOT fun, and often makes you more stressed than you would have been doing it when it was due. Not only this, but if you have a mentally difficult day and you can't finish your work, your teacher will be more lenient if you have a good track record of doing good work on time.

6. Find study buddies or tutors.

These don't have to be people you pay. If you struggle in a subject, find a friend whose good at it, and stay after school or FaceTime. Don't let your work get the the best of you! Things will be easier later on if you understand. You can even make it fun--do it with people you like!

7. Get good sleep. 

This one is always difficult. Don't stay up until 3am playing Legend of Zelda, even though it makes you feel good! Pick a reasonable time (even midnight!) to go to bed, and try your best to stick you it. Create a sleep routine you can stick to, like drinking tea and reading your favorite book. If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor--they can prescribe medication. When I struggled with insomnia, I ended up taking melatonin, a natural medication that really made a difference.

8. Make a School-Fighting Superteam!

What's going to work? TEAAAM WORK! Chances are, your friends are stressed about school as well. Make study groups! Hold each other to your deadlines! Encourage each other to sleep well and practice self-love! Recently, me and my friend were frustrated with college application essays, so we made a google document called "Essay Editing Squad" and looked over each other's essays, giving encouragement and constructive criticism. Having people you can vent to and get help from can be a lifesaver when you feel down or overwhelmed.

9. Stock up on hot chocolate, tea, or beverage of choice.

I don't know what it is, but drinking something while working always makes me feel like an aesthetically-lovely, productive studyblr blogger. And in turn, this helps me get my work done! On top of that, many teas are made to help calm you down. You can even bring a drink to school if it helps relax you!

10. Bring headphones.

Sometimes, the hustle and bustle of the school hallways can be too much. Don't plug into headphones in class, but once you reach the hallway, music is fair game. Listen to your favorite pump-up tracks if you need a pick-me-up, or calming things if you're feeling stressed. Music can be so helpful!

SORCERA: THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

Hello, everyone! I hope you've all had a lovely summer! Today I'd like to share with you something I thought would be fun. When I get writer's block, I often take the characters from my current novel, Sorcera, and rewrite them into a different story. It's very exciting--like I'm writing fanfiction for my own book.
Here is a little Road Trip AU that I wrote for my characters. They are a few short, sweet moments I wanted to capture. Let me know what you think!

[POV: Nicole]

The van is hot, and we are a sweltering mess of sweat and snark. I’m in the driver’s seat, as usual, and Adele is next to me; she has the window rolled down, and one hand hanging out.

“You’re going to get your arm snapped off.” I say. She uses her free hand to tip her sunglasses down her nose and grin, then replies, “Gotta live on the edge, Nicole.”

There are two rows of seats in the back, but Malone and Bambi are both shoved into the one nearest to us; the row furthest back is crowded with sustenance and supplies.

“Are you sure the air conditioner is on?” Bambi is sprawled out, her legs over Malone’s lap; he seems disgruntled but doesn’t move--he has previously stated that movement just makes the heat worse.

“I’m sure, Bambi. You’ve asked me to check about seven times.” I glance at the dial on the dashboard anyway though; wishful thinking. The van’s air conditioning is weak and doing nothing to help with the humidity. “Drink some more water.”

“How far are we from the campground?” Malone groans. I sigh, looking exasperatedly at Adele; Malone and Bambi are the king and queen of ‘Are we there yet?’.

“It can’t be long now.” Adele sighs, looking at the map. “We’ve been driving for hours. I’m guessing another two.”

“Nicole…” Bambi pulls her hair into a knot on top of her head and pauses to chug from a plastic water bottle. “Can’t you drive any faster?”

“Any faster and I’ll be breaking the law.”

“Maybe Adele should drive.”

“Maybe I should,” Adele chuckles. “I’d break the law for you, Bambi dearest. I swear on my driver’s license.”

“Don’t go ganging up on Nicole now, she’s doing her best.” Malone muttered. “I don’t trust Adele behind the wheel.”

“Hey, fuck you!” Adele turns and points accusingly at Malone. “Not like you’re doing anything useful!”

“I organized the supplies and stuff, remember?” Malone gestures to the incredibly messy pile of shit in the seat behind him. There’s a pause before we all start to laugh.

“Okay but seriously Nicole, pull over. You drive like a grandma.” Adele grins at me, and I groan but comply.

“Don’t blame me when you get us all killed.”

“I’ll be sure to apologize when I see you at the pearly gates.”

The cloudless blue sky has changed to a dark night, stars twinkling above the open desert road; it is cooler now, and they’re the only ones on the road. There are mountains in the distance, and there should be a town coming up, but now they’re just happy to be driving.

Adele is in the driver’s seat; she likes to drive at night, because she can go at whatever speed she wants. Bambi is next to her, curled up in a ball and listening to music; it’s something uplifting and hopeful, Bastille or Edward Sharpe or The Wombats. It’s a miracle she has yet to fall asleep, but Adele is sure it will happen within the hour.

In the backseat, Malone and Nicole are curled up together. It’s obvious that Nicole had pretended not to want to cuddle with her boyfriend, but gave in to the impulse when she was too tired to continue to be stubborn. She is now leaning against his chest, and his arms are around her. Malone’s oversized jacket is being used as a blanket, not that they really need it; the temperature is perfect for sleep.

Adele keeps driving, but knows she’ll probably pull over soon and get her own rest. They have another day of adventure ahead, and it could bring anything.

There it is! Just a couple small, unfiltered things that I wanted to share. See you all next week!

-Tasman

20 Writing Prompts

Well folks, welcome to the wonderful world of masterlists! I thought that today I would help us all get the creative juices flowing and share a ton of writing prompts with you. I've come up with these myself, though I'm sure you could find some of them other places as well. Below are a mixture of sentence prompts, word prompts, and question prompts, for all different types of writing! Pick one you love, and write it! I DARE YOU!

1. Your character comes across a magic wand on their walk home from school/work/etc. They feel inexplicably drawn to it and pick it up. What does it do? What does it look like? How does your character use it?
2. Describe in detail the item sitting to your left, without saying its name.
3. Pick your favorite flower and incorporate it into a horror story.
4. Use pillows + pamphlets in a story.
5. Write about a dragon, but don't place it in a fantasy setting. It could be a western, a sci-fi, a romance, you name it. Have fun!
6. Take your favorite pop culture characters and have them meet. There's a bomb in the room and they have to diffuse it.
7. Use shadows + photographs in a story.
8. Gays...in SPACE!
9. Your main character in your current project runs into themselves from the future.
10. What's your comfort food? Tell us why and describe the way it makes you feel.
11. "Her midsection had managed to miss the blade, but her t-shirt had not. She'd never quite liked crop tops."
12. A ghost wants to come back and help their slacker best friend graduate college.
13. While picking up their kid from school, a parent spots a younger version of themselves leaving the school building. How do they respond?
14. Use cash + college in a story.
15. Search your name on google images. Write a story about whatever comes up first.
16. Ask your friend for two random words. Write a story incorporating them.
17. Describe your favorite place. Set a story there.
18. What happened to the second half of the pair of shoes?
19. What if your pet could talk?
20. Come up with the wildest clickbait title you can. Then, write something 2x as wild as the original clickbait title.

My Writing Role Models

Hello everyone! Sorry for the crazy sporadic posting schedule--school is absolutely insane, I hope I can post more regularly more often. Summer is coming up, so that will probably be easier soon. Either way, I decided to share with you four of my author role models: authors who inspire me to keep doing what I love.

Neil Gaiman

I read Coraline for the first time when I was in elementary school, and I haven't been the same ever since. Now, I follow Mr. Gaiman on Twitter and Tumblr. His social media outreach is very admirable and something I'd like to work on as an author myself, and when he talks about writing I always feel validated, included, and motivated. His awesome book American Gods is also being made into a TV show with two of my favorite actors, Ricky Whittle and Emily Browning! He also has a freaking awesome wife, Amanda Palmer, who is an innovator in her own right.

J.K. Rowling

Now, what up and coming author hasn't been inspired by good ol' JK? Some of my earliest fanfictions, where I learned the ins and outs of writing creatively, were about Harry Potter, and I am still a Potterhead. Whenever I get worried about that whole "starving artist" thing and think I'm going to be poor forever, I think about how Rowling herself didn't have much when she was writing Harry Potter--you never know where your creative journey will take you, so you have to keep following the path.

Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld has been one of my favorite authors for a very long time, and I've read many, many of his books. Something about the way he writes and his concepts never ceases to enrapture me in the world of the story, and I often wish I'd come up with his ideas myself! He executes them all to a T--I've never been disappointed, and I want people to feel the same way about my books someday.

Sara B. Elfgren

I read Ms. Elfgren's collaboration with Mats Strandberg, The Circle, a couple summers ago, and I've loved Ms. Elfgren ever since. Not only is she a great writer with lots of vision, she has an active Tumblr and follows me on it!!! I asked her her advice on a class project I was working on a year ago, and she was sweet enough to respond with fabulous insight on how to improve my writing skills. It's moments like that, thanks to social media, that I feel at home in the writing community, and know it's the place that I belong.

Well, I could go on and on, but there are a few people that inspire me. I want to give thanks for all the teachers in my life that inspire me to keep aspiring to my dreams. Comment down below who your writing role models (or motivators) are! See you next week!

Kekai

Why I Love Fanfic

If you know me or have been keeping up with this blog, then you probably know that I've written my fair share of fanfiction in my short lifetime. In fact, it was one of the ways I started learning how to write a real narrative--even in second and third grade, I was writing in my notebook about the Warriors book series...yes, I was literally writing fanfic about cats. I quickly moved on to Harry Potter, writing multi-chapter fics and reading colossal, 60k stories on fanfiction.net. For years in elementary and middle school, I wrote fic about nearly everything--Disney shows, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, even some anime. And I still write fanfiction even now, albeit less often. It's stuck with me for what I would guess is maybe a little less than a decade, and I consider fanfic and fandom to be one of the most important parts of pop culture and my own journey as a writer.

Anyone who has tried to write a story knows that it's incredibly hard to build a narrative, especially if you're trying to create a sci-fi and fantasy story. As a young writer, it was so much easier for me to start with a world that had already been developed so well, like that in Harry Potter. I already knew that world like the back of my hand, so being able to create a story became that much easier--I didn't have to slave over every little logistic detail, and could instead have fun with characters and plot. It's a good way to start out--it's like a playground for people who don't quite know how to create powerful characters and logical scenery. By now, I've graduated to forming my own worlds and characters (even the dreaded Mary-Sue helped me learn about that), but playing with Harry, Ron, and Hermione as a child helped me get a hang of things that much faster.

Not only did writing fanfiction help me, reading it did as well. A lot of people seem to think fanfiction is just filled with people writing fantasies and pornos, but that's no the case at all. I've read incredibly well-written fanfiction in many different fandoms. All of us know how it feels to love a book, movie or TV show so much that we want it to go on forever--with fanfiction, it does, and for us young writers, it's a good place for us to learn how to write and how not to write. Authors would take the stories in such unique and fun directions that I was surprised the original author hadn't thought to do so!

For me, fanfiction has also always been a very communal experience. Back on fanfiction.net, and now on Archive of Our Own, people are usually incredibly lovely and give positive feedback and constructive criticism. I remember there was once someone who would always comment on my Neville/Luna multi-chapter fic and give me incredible feedback on how the story made them feel and what I could do to improve it. Not only was I encouraged by the feedback online, but I also learned from it. Being able to share my creativity with people other than those I thought would just lie to please me, like people I knew in real live, helped jumpstart my confidence and excitement to write.

Now, fandom is a large part of pop culture, but when I was starting out in it, it still wasn't this mainstream or accepted. I'm happy that fanfiction is more popular nowadays, because it means it's instilling a love of writing and creativity in fans everywhere, no matter their age, gender, or occupation. Anyone can write fanfic, and that's extremely empowering. I can say without a doubt I wouldn't be where I am with my craft without the wonderful world of fanfiction. If you've ever felt the desire to write about something you've read, I highly encourage you to do it. Pick up a pen or open your computer. Start writing. You'll be surprised by how empowered you feel.

Kekai

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray: Book Review

I recently finished a lovely book recommended to me on Tumblr: Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray! When I heard that it was a female version of Lord of the Flies (a book I want to read but have never been able to slog through), I just had to jump for it!
I was certainly not disappointed.

Here's the premise: a group of beauty queens land on a "deserted" island. They learn to work together and move from bickering competitors to determined friends. Plot twist: there's a secret government organization on the island. People want to kill them. How will these lovely and empowered women escape the island with their lives?

First, I want you to know how funny this entire book is. I was constantly sending quotes to my friends, and at one point my mom had to tell me to quiet down about it. It makes fun of stereotypes and is just hilarious in general, I was legitimately laughing out loud. Despite this, the book does manage to deal with some serious issues. Some of the characters have rough histories, and many of them are having trouble coming to terms with who they are or what the world is like. While it is funny, I sympathize with and care for the characters, and hope they succeed.

The amount of diversity in this book is also incredibly refreshing. As someone who wishes books were as diverse as the world, Beauty Queens does not disappoint. There are many characters from different backgrounds and their backgrounds are blatantly addressed and dealt with. Some characters even learn about different identities, which is a great way for the reader to be educated as well!

The plot for this book was a wild ride. I honestly had no idea what to expect from it, and had no idea how it was going to end. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized how tight and exciting it was to read--everything came together and tied up nicely.

Well, what are you waiting for? Read it! If you already have, let me know what you think. 

Happy reading,

Kekai

Writing Prompt of the Month #1

Hey everyone! So I thought that I'd start a new segment: writing prompt of the month! Here, I'll share a writing prompt (a picture, sentence, a couple words) for all of us to use as we will, and I'll include my own short take on the writing prompt next month! I thought it might be a fun way for you all to get to know my writing, and to jump start your own motivation. This week's writing prompt is...(drum roll please...)

Outer Space, Cats + Love

Origin Story: How Sorcera was Conceived

I've been writing for a long time, and when I first began writing, my stories were always based off me and my friends--cliche and silly, I know, but it was an easy way for an elementary-school student to create characters, and even now I wish me and my friends could kick ass off in some far-away galaxy or alternate universe. As I began to get more serious about my writing, I drifted away from that, but returned to it in my first draft of Sorcera. So yes, folks, originally, the four main characters were based off of me and three of my best friends.
Now, of course, these characters are more "dedicated" to my friends--they react to situations differently and are definitely their own people in their world. Nonetheless, Sorcera originated as a way for me to write about my friends having fun.
The first draft of Sorcera actually had very little plot at all. My idea had been to write about a group of quirky witches who lived in a gigantic, magical library, and got into all sorts of shenanigans in New York City together--there were no villains and no true underlying story at all. Just cute, fun witches. Indeed, I have written short stories all about them just having fun! When I decided to start writing it, I realized I needed more plot than singular chapters about them messing around, so I created Storm and the prophecy of the Complete.
So there you have it, folks. Before there was Sorcera, there was shameless self-insert fanfiction written by yours truly. And then there was cute witches who didn't have any cares in the world. Hope this was at least mildly interesting--I think it just goes to show that ideas can really come from anywhere, you just have to start writing.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current work-in-progress?

Kekai

Website Review: Young Writer's Society

Hi everyone! This week I'll be talking to you all about a site that I used to use for writing: Young Writer's Society. It's what you might expect: young authors use it to share their writing and get good feedback. Today I'll be going over what I liked, and what I didn't like about this platform!

Part 1: The Bad

On the whole, there isn't much to complain about when it comes to YWS. One thing I would say, however, is that there are definitely ways that the interface could become more streamlined as a whole. My favorite sites operate easily and efficiently, and there were times that YWS didn't do this. I know there's a huge privacy aspect, which I like, but the permanence of things like usernames didn't sit very well with me. I like to make my profiles more customized and personal to me. However, this could definitely be a personal preference.

Part 2: The Good

There's a lot of great things I could say about YWS. I actually consider it one of the best writing communities I've ever been involved with. First and foremost, it is SO EASY to get feedback on your work. People have to write a certain amount in each review, and it's in your best interest to review other work. There are periodic review-writing competitions where people are put on teams to see who can review the most work. It makes reading other people's work fun, and your work gets plenty of reviews in the process. YWS also has a great forum system ran by a lot of different people, where you can talk about basically anything under the sun. It's very easy to make friends on YWS. People there are kind and really honest, they want to give you the best feedback they can.

Overall I'd say this is a great website if you're looking for more feedback as a young author. Try it out!

Kekai 

My Favorite Writing Playlists

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been a long time, school has been ABSOLUTE HELL the past few weeks. Sometime soon, I'll write a bunch of posts and queue them, so that you guys have something fresh every week at least. :) For now, here is a quick, fun little post!
I don't know about you all, but I really love writing to music. Today, I thought I'd share with you my favorite writing playlists, all from 8tracks. Please feel free to leave me comments with your own favorite playlists, or what you think of these!

1. Apotheosis by Alchemiist
Ominous, dark, and urgent, this playlist is exactly what you need for your most intense scenes.

2. MAD LOVE; by lilirabe
A perfect squad anthem, this has helped me often while writing Sorcera--coven unity is important!

3. Classical Fury by emma.cat
A great violin-centric mix that works really well with keeping you focused.

4. the battle in me by stewardssons
I love this mix for it's centering on heroines. Perfect!

5. Labyrinthine. by pratyushinhaa
Chill and dark, Labyrinthine is great background for working, especially late at night.

6. get shit done by radtastic
This was my first favorite writing playlist, with a mix of popular scores that are still super inspirational. It relaly does inspire me to get shit done!

Well, there you have it! I hope you all enjoy these playlists. :) See you next week!

Happy listening,
Kekai

How to Survive Valentine's Day as a Writer

Ah, Valentine's. A time of year that splits society down the middle: do you love it or hate it? Either way, I've compiled below a masterlist of how to enjoy (or at least survive) Valentine's Day!

1. If you're single, go out with other single friends. I've always considered Valentine's to be a day for all sorts of love--appreciate all the other great relationships you have in your life!

2. If you're in a relationship, write a romantic short story. Hopefully, after Valentine's you'll have all sorts of inspiration flowing!

3. If you're single, write a romantic short story. Wallow.

4. If you're single, stay in bed as long as possible. Get yourself yummy food for breakfast and write in your journal or write a story by hand. Start your day creatively.

5. If you're in a relationship, convince your significant other to watch your favorite Jane Austen movie, or read a few passages from your favorite novel together.

6. If you're single, get together with a single writer friend and work with them on your stories while eating something delicious and extravagant. You may not have a significant other, but that doesn't mean you aren't going places in life.

7. If you're in a relationship, buy a lot of candy. Write a story while eating said candy.

8. If you're single, buy a lot of candy. Write a story while eating said candy.

Well, there you have it friends! I tried a little bit to be humorous, but in general, these are some pretty legit suggestions. I'm not a cynic when it comes to Valentine's Day. It really is a day for all sorts of love: romantic love, platonic love, familial love, and self-love! Make the most of the day, whether dating or single!

Much love,
Kekai

3 Easy, Comfy Winter Writing Looks

Hey everyone! If you know me in real life, you know that not only do I love writing, but I also love fashion. I tend to take pride in my skills, And as a writer who loves fashion, I know the importance of wearing something chic but comfortable when you're writing. Here are three looks that I wear on a regular basis!

For Days When You Have to Go Out: Dress + Earrings + Leggings + Bun

I love wearing dresses because they're (mostly) comfortable and take little effort to put on, but instantly make you look like you put a huge amount of effort into your look! The bun means your 2nd-day hair won't be as noticeable, and a scarf pulls the whole look together.

For Days When You're Writing In: Sweatshirt + Jeans + High Ponytail

I was very lucky to find a picture on Brandy Melville that perfectly encompassed the look I'm going for here! Effortless and comfy, the high ponytail makes this whole outfit look more put together than it actually is. The sweatshirt can be found here.

For Days When You're Doing a Bit of Both: T-Shirt + Leather Jacket + Skinny Jeans + Braid

Ah, the power of the leather jacket. It can manage to make even the most basic outfit look presentable! The addition of the braid also makes it look like you tried. This outfit will surely help you give a chic and effortless vibe, and transitions well from a casual day to a more dressy evening (when you let your hair down and add some makeup)!The t-shirt can be found here. The jacket can be found here. It seems the skinny jeans aren't available anymore, but they were from Closet Candy!

I hope you enjoyed these--honestly, these are my go-to outfit combinations! Please tweet me @m_kekai if you try one of these, or comment and tell me which is your favorite!

Comfy writing,
Kekai

The Cast of Sorcera: Part I (+ Their Hogwarts Houses!)

Welcome! I was thinking that this might be a good time to introduce you all to some of my characters from my currently-being-rewritten (on my second draft) novel, Sorcera, which I have previously mentioned in this blog post.

For those of you who may not know, Sorcera is a young adult/urban fantasy novel about a coven of witches named Sorcera (what a surprise!). This coven is made up of 3 young adults living in New York--however, their world is turned upside down when their coven is made "Complete" by a fourth fire witch, and they're thrown into a highly-public battle against another coven, prompted by an archaic prophecy.

As you might expect, I have 4 main characters. If you would like me to tell you about my four antagonists, or any of my other characters, I would be happy to--just let me know!

Character 1: Rebellious Hot (:P) Fire Witch: Adele Esperanza!

First up is Adele, the fire witch who turns the rest of the coven's world upside down by showing up in New York City at the worst possible time. I loved Adele from first write because she manages to have attitude without being a total dick to people. She likes to pretend she's aloof and dangerous, but deep down she's just a sweetheart looking for a girlfriend. Definitely a Gryffindor!

Character 2: Mama Spock: Nicole Kwon!

Next is Nicole--initially seeming cold and rational, Nicole has strong motherly instincts and is incredibly loyal. She loves learning, and the other witches most often find her with her nose in a book. Nicole sometimes has trouble admitting she's wrong, and hates messing up in any way. She is through and through a Ravenclaw.

Character 3: Down-to-Earth Mediator: Malone Vaccaro!

Malone is the moral heart of the group, always working for everyone else's well-being and trying to steer the coven in the right direction. He's definitely a people person, and inherently cares about everyone--however, his trust sometimes leads him in the wrong directions. Obviously, Hufflepuff!

Character 4: Shy Ditzy Air Witch: Bambi Lachapelle! 

Bambi is the baby of the group; not only is she the youngest, but she's also incredibly introverted and deals with anxiety. Bambi is scared of her powers, and tends not to use them unless she absolutely has to. She loves video games, TV shows, animals, and generally anything but magic. Despite her shyness, everyone loves Bambi--she has an inherent goodness rarely found in the witch community. Once again, she's a Hufflepuff!

I've been working with these characters for about two years ago, and my love for them grows every time I sit down to write--I feel like they're my family! By far, my favorite part of Sorcera, a character-driven story from the get-go, is writing these four characters and their interactions with each other. How many of you also love writing character interactions?

There's my little post for the day, I hope it entertained you a little bit! Let me know which character seems most interesting to you. Maybe I'll do little focus pieces on each of them in the future!

Kekai