Just A Note To Everyone

Date Written: March 30^th, 2012
Date Posted: March 30^th, 2012
Currently Listening To: Avril Lavigne – Complicated

Just a note to everyone:

Don’t read Nathan Bransford’s blog before bed. If you’re anything like me, you’ll start querying in your sleep.

(Though I don’t recall any rhetorical questions in them, so I guess it wasn’t too bad.)

See you next Friday!

-          May :)

It's Just Me Killing Time

Date Written: March 29^th, 2012
Date Posted: March 30^th, 2012
Currently Listening To: The Spill Canvas – All Hail The Heartbreaker, The Spill Canvas – All Over You, The Spill Canvas – Our Song, The Spill Canvas – Low Fidelity

Hello, all of you darling, lovely people. It’s 10:47 AM and I’m typing a blog post, even though on any regular day I would be in second period, anxiously counting down the last few minutes of class.

But I’m not, because there’s no school, and I feel absolutely wonderful because today I’m going to be doing one of two things (or maybe I’ll do both?):

1 – Work on my checklist. As I stated in my last post, I now have a deadline for which I will finish my novel. And to get there, I have a bunch of things I need to work on so I know what to write and when to write it. (I’m a plotter to the core.) I have twelve things on said checklist (the last one being my favourite, because it’s “Make an actual plot”) and as of yesterday, I have checked off one. (Considering I thought I wouldn’t finish any of it until maybe mid-April at earliest… I feel proud. And I haven’t even had this checklist a week yet, either.) So I could spend today working on that, or…

2 – Reread The Hunger Games. Well, reread the first one. I haven’t read the second or third yet, but my cousin now has them and I shall be stealing them from her as soon as she gets through Catching Fire. Anyway, I’m going to see the movie on Sunday. And since it’s been two years since I’ve read it, I decided I need a refresher. I saw a picture of Seneca Crane and while I was looking at it, I was struggling to remember who he was. (As you can see, I need that refresher. I totally would’ve done that over March Break, but my cousin had it.)

So, number 2 is probably the option I’m going with, but who knows? Maybe I’ll get through them both yet. And for anyone who’s seen the movie… I’ve heard a lot of good reviews from people who have read the books, so I’m hopeful. What did you think? I’d love to know.

-          May :)

Novels and Deadlines and Pressure, Oh My

Date Written: March 25^th, 2012 (finished March 26^th, 2012)
Date Posted: March 30^th, 2012
Currently Listening To: The Killers – Change Your Mind, These Kids Wear Crowns – Oceans

So, tomorrow, I have a plot test on another book I haven’t read, but will hopefully finish by today. And I decide I’m going to do the same thing with this as I did with A Separate Peace.

I’m going to sit down on my bed with my door closed and listen to a bunch of music and read. I won’t chart my progress, but I will make sure to finish it by the end of tonight. It worked last Sunday, right?

So I’m in the middle of picking out my playlist to which I will read Her Fearful Symmetry to, when suddenly, it hits me.

I need deadlines.

(I find this absolutely hilarious, because I am a procrastinator extraordinaire.)

Deadlines give me something to work towards. Without them, I feel like there’s no pressure, and the thing is – I like pressure. Pressure also means something to work towards. It means that there is an expectation to do better and if you get it done, you can show off the fact that you can handle pressure when it’s thrown at you and if you get it done creatively, even better. And as long as the deadlines are doable, I generally get them done.

(With the exception of reading English novels, obviously, because I’ve had A Separate Peace and Her Fearful Symmetry since the beginning of February and I’ve only started within the last two weeks. But I still get them done… hopefully.)

So, ladies and gentlemen and other lovely creatures who inhabit the universe that are reading this:

I have a deadline.

I want to finish a(n approximately) 200,000 word novel by June 26^th, 2012.

I am now a man with a plan… well, girl with a plan… no, girl with a mission. There we go.

I’m a girl with a mission.

-          May :)

(P.S. I finished Her Fearful Symmetry in time for my test. Can I get a boo-yeah?!)

My Wing Tips Waltz Across Naive

Date Written: March 23^rd, 2012
Date Posted: March 23^rd, 2012
Currently Listening To: Panic! At The Disco – The Ballad of Mona Lisa, Panic! At The Disco – Nails For Breakfast, Tacks For Snacks, Panic! At The Disco – Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met…), Panic! At The Disco – Time To Dance, The Band Perry – If I Die Young

Guess what I realized?

When it comes to my blog, I don’t talk to people. I talk at people. I don’t generate any conversation. So I thought about it and decided something.

I want to know: what do you guys want to hear (read?) me talk about?

Partially because I’m still getting used to this blogging thing and really don’t know what to write and partially because I do want to hear about what you guys want to see, I was hoping you guys could give me ideas.

Also, I was hoping you guys could give me a reading list.
For a writer, I’m not that avid a reader (which I know is terrible). But I’ve got $70 worth of gift cards to Chapters that I have yet to put to use, and I was hoping of compiling a giant list for when I do. (Also, I need a job so I can pay off my library fines and actually use my library card.)

So if there are any recommendations, I’d love to hear them.

And lastly, I would like to point out that this is approximately half a page. Ha – I don’t rant all the time!
See you next Friday!

-          May :)

How I Spent This Week

Date Written: March 16^th, 1012
Date Posted: March 16^th, 2012
Currently Listening To: Marianas Trench – Fix Me album, The Fray – Run For Your Life

Well, well, well. I have to ask myself – what exactly did I accomplish this week? (In terms of… anything, really.)

The answer to that is: something. Not a lot, but I accomplished something.

(Sadly, that short list of accomplishments doesn’t include finishing either of the novels I need to read for English… one of which I have a test for on Monday. After this, I am coming for you, A Separate Peace.)

On my wonderful laptop, Alchemy, there’s a sticky note function. I used that to organize all the story ideas in my head.

Also, the song I chose for my WC assignment is…

The Fray – Run For Your Life

Of course I would end up choosing a song by The Fray. But I’m glad that’s settled. Yet, for some reason, I have not yet actually written the darn thing. Oh well, I’ve got five days. I’m sure I’ll pull it together by then.

And in terms of my actual writing – I didn’t really write anything for my story. But I spent a whole day developing my characters for my Current Main Focus, which is awesome because I feel like I actually understand them now (especially since three of them were so similar. I have individualized them). Also, I’ve decided that I have a daily goal starting Monday: write three hundred words a day. It’s not much, but I feel like I need to write something so I don’t feel as though I’m slipping behind.

So – I guess it wasn’t as productive a week as I’d hoped in terms of my writing, but it was a good week and that’s all I really have to say on it. See you next Friday!

-          May :)

Freedom For A Week!

Written: March 9^th, 2012
Posted: March 9^th, 2012
Currently Listening To: These Kids Wear Crowns – Oceans

So I survived today.

(This means I survived two tests and a summative assignment today.)

I. SAY. WE. CHEER!

Also, yesterday was the day I had my parent-teacher interviews in which I learned my English teacher does not hate me and in fact, is genuinely very excited to see how I do in the course because I came out with a 77 (a B+) on the first piece of writing the class submitted. Since it was a comparative paragraph, which is something we were just learning, my teacher said it was really great to see that I had seemingly grasped the structure and the concept so easily and that all I needed to work on were strengthening my actual arguments in the paragraph.

So in summary; my English teacher seems as excited to have me in her class as I am to be in her class.

(Apparently she’s one of the harder marking teachers in the school, which already has a more difficult English program than other schools in the area. It gives me a challenge – can I get an 80 in her class like I’ve gotten in English the last two years?)

It could also very drastically help or hurt my grades that, in the two seconds I wasn’t there for the interview, my mom told her I wanted to do an English major in university. Mommy told me that she seemed happy about that because not many people in our school want to do an English major, apparently. Therefore, she could either mark me easier or harder than the rest of the class because of that. (To be honest, I see it being the latter if she does decide to mark subjectively like that.) With that mentality, I came home last night and flipped through Shakespeare’s Othello like a madwoman trying to find comparisons of how

[SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t read Othello and plan on reading it and don’t know anything about it]

Iago manipulates Roderigo and Cassio.

[END SPOILER ALERT so it’s safe to read the rest]

I also got like… two pages of notes and scribbles and topic sentence ideas and comparisons and other highlighted nonsense that was somehow relevant for the summative (none of which I could actually use during the time, sadly), so I think I did well.

Also, for parent-teacher interviews, my parents met my Law teacher who showered me in praise (so my parents now realize I do actually do my homework and don’t spend the entirety of my time in my room writing and/or the other random nonsense they think I do. Mommy, I know you tell me that you’re glad that I’m always so responsible when it comes to my schoolwork, but I’m sure you wondered. THERE IS NOW PROOF) and then today, after our unit test, gave me and my friend chocolate cheesecake. She is now my favourite teacher this semester.

Sorry to my other teachers, but she gave me food for the mere reason that my friend and I were bored and went back to talk to her instead of stand around in our school foyer.

(Key part of that sentence: she gave me food.)

Anyways – because this is a writing blog and I should say something related to writing:

MARCH BREAK IS HERE. That means a ton of writing, re-writing, and revising one of the books I’m working on.

Y A Y ! :D

Also, for Writer’s Club, the assignment I mentioned in my last post is to just choose a song and write a story on our interpretation of it. It’s totally non-mandatory and (I personally think) it’s easy. I just wanted to get a feel of how it’d be like to give an assignment for the club, since Sonia and I’ve never really done that kind of thing and probably never will again.

Anyways, I’ve narrowed down the songs I want to use for my assignment to:

These Kids Wear Crowns – Oceans
Train – Drops of Jupiter

Which one do you guys think I should do?

(Please note: I am very open to other ideas and am totally going to change that list a million times before I actually write the thing, so please feel free to give me any songs that you think would be good for the assignment.)

So yeah – that’s all to report this week. See you next Friday!

-          May :)

Breaking Hearts Has Never Looked So Cool

Written: March 7^th, 2012
Posted: March 9^th, 2012
Currently Listening To: Fall Out Boy – Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do Today

I’m like… a whole bunch of wild, crazy, frenzied emotions right now.

(I’m also a very dramatic person, if you haven’t noticed.)

But yeah; firstly, I’m sad.

On Saturday, I wrote an e-mail to the person who first inspired me to write. Now, I’d e-mailed her before, when I was ten. And I did it again when I was thirteen. Both times, I checked my e-mail the next day to see if she replied and she had.

It’s been four days.

NO REPLY.

Two of my friends both asked me if she was dead, which freaks me out because ohmygosh what is she is?! Or what if she doesn’t remember who I am and thinks I’m crazy or what if she does remember and is majorly creeped out by me and hates me AND OHMYGOSH WHAT IF SHE’S A MIX OF ALL THESE THINGS AND

*Hyperventilates like [name shall be inserted when I know what to refer to him]*

So yeah – that’s made me sad.

Secondly, I have news.

On Tuesday, Sonia mentioned I hadn’t posted since last Friday, and my friend with the YouTube addiction (who shall be referred to as “The Notorious One”… or Nova, because that’s okay with her as well, since it kind of reminds us all of “supernova” and really… there’s only so many times I’d want to write The Notorious One before I decide to never mention her again. But yeah, Nova…) said that maybe I should do a very regular blog-posting schedule. I’d already considered this, and we’d both said I should do it every Friday so –

Expect a post every Friday. :)

(I’ve also decided that when I can’t think of a creative or even remotely clever title, I’m going to just use a lyric from what I’m currently listening to. That sounds like a plan!)

Thirdly, I’m excited.

This is because in Writer’s Club (which is the club of pure amazing and is just so cool that it’s highly exclusive and there’s like, this giant waiting list of people who want to join but will never be able to because they’re just not worthy enough of possessing that sort of awesomeness), we’re going to do our first assignment! … I doubt anyone but Kiryn AKA Supernatural Shadow and I are going to do it, but I can hope. (But, you know, I do liked to be surprised… hint hint to members who may be reading this.)

Lastly – OESIG LIE <SEIKGTSDUFYKGJ<FHO:EAL >R<EALIT<KG :RTAILNKF

MARCH BREAK IS COMING, WHICH MEANS WRITING, WRITING, WRITING.

(Speaking of writing, I wrote six hundred words from Sunday to Tuesday. It’s not all that impressive, but it’s something, and I think it was quite a well-written page.)

So really, that’s all there is to report right now. It’s shorter than last time! I’m getting better with the length of my posts!

-          May :)

(P.S. for anyone who’s wondering – [name shall be inserted when I know what to refer to him] is a friend of mine and that part will be edited it out when I know what to call him over the internet. Don’t think it’s some random person who actually had that name or something...)

Welcome, Welcome!

Written: March 2^nd, 2012
Posted: March 2^nd, 2012
Currently Listening To: All Time Low – Guts; All Time Low – The Beach; All Time Low – Poppin’ (Champagne); All Time Low – Stay Awake

Hello. I see you’ve found my little blog, and I’d like to be the first to warmly say, “Welcome, welcome, welcome!” Thank you for joining me.

(Gosh, I feel like the witch from Hansel and Gretel after that. New approach…)

Hey there! Thanks for coming and reading my blog! I really appreciate it!

(No… it feels too preppy… and has too many exclamation points. Trying again…)

Hi. You’re reading my blog, which kind of blows my mind on a million different levels. And poke around, if you wish, even though there’s really not much to poke at. But yes – thank you for reading this. It’s actually really awesome that you are.

(… Meh. That’s sadly the best I can come up with. But I am thankful you’re here and haven’t left yet. Though I can’t guarantee you will be by the end.)

So, as the little column thing on the side that gives you the “About Me” of the blogger whose blog you’re viewing says… I’m May. Okay, well, honestly that’s my internet name because my parents don’t like me giving out my real name. And yes – I do get my parent’s permission for everything. And I’m talking about calling up my mom at work and asking her if I can buy food because I forgot my lunch. (Even though I’ve recently been smart about that and now must have at least four granola bars at a time in my backpack.)

So, a little about me that will find its way into the “About Me” section once I figure out how to actually work it (and everything else on this site):

I’m a female sixteen-year-old high school student in Canada. Also, as I’m sure you can tell by the “currently listening to” line – I like All Time Low. I like brackets and bolding and underlining and italicizing (but there probably won’t be any of that in this post because I have no idea how to work it yet. Just wait for the next post, though). I’m generally very organized, and I usually have to have a list of what I’m going to say, otherwise I forget something and become sad. In fact, I had such a cool idea planned out for this entire thing and now I’m totally blanking out on it and it’s kind of driving me crazy.

What was it? The world may never know.

I’m also far more sarcastic and witty on the internet. Therefore, if you ever meet me in person, don’t be surprised by the fact that I may be quite socially awkward around you. Well, that or I’ll talk your ear off with random nonsense and you’ll probably avoid me forever afterwards.

I’m also a very symbolic person. I guess that’s important because today is symbolic to me.

(No, it’s not my birthday. I’m disappointed as well.)

I’ve officially wanted to be a writer for six years today.

That, dear people who are following my blog (who are probably only going to be my friends, I swear. Though, if you’re not, it’s very nice to meet you! Or… well, the internet “you-actually-read-my-blog” equivalent of meeting, that is) – that is the most important because this is the blog of an aspiring author.

Wow… Typing that felt kind of weird, actually. Not because it’s not true, but because I’ve never actually called myself “aspiring.” I’ve always just said, “I want to be a writer.” Aspiring sounds so official.

Um… so, really the point of me starting this blog was kind of to just have a release where I can talk about my writing and what I want to write without forcing it on people.

(Cough cough Mom/Dad/Other family/Friends/Random teacher who taught me a couple of years ago and doesn’t even remember my name cough cough.)

(No, seriously, that last one actually happened… just today, in fact. My grade nine French teacher was covering a class so I talked to her about all the stuff I’m about to mention. I could tell the entire conversation she was just thinking, “What is this girl’s name?”)

But yeah – I’ve wanted to be an author for six years now, and writing’s just always been this thing I liked to do, but I never would’ve wanted to do it if it weren’t for my grade five teacher making me realize, “Wow. I’m kind of good at this and I actually like doing it.”

I don’t think my grade five teacher intended to get me borderline-obsessed with it. Oh well.

Also, I use borderline because it’s be scientifically proven that I’m not obsessed, I’m merely borderline-obsessed. (And by scientifically proven, I mean my friends did a project on passions and obsessions for their Anthropology/Psychology/Sociology course and I was determined borderline-obsessed. I even beat out one of my friend’s YouTube addiction – err, passion. I must say – I felt as though that was an impressive feat.)

So – I know this should be shorter for a little intro, but I do talk a lot, so bear with me here because I have a little bit more to talk about. Thanks and congratulations on getting this far, by the way!

Anyways, I am currently looking to get published, but I don’t have anything finished or iron clad done or anything yet, so I guess you’ll all read a little bit about that along the way. My goal is to get published by the end of high school. Or at least have a book deal… or an agent. Yeah, the main goal is to get an agent within the next sixteen months. I’m currently doing a lot of research on the publishing industry as well, because I’m kind of a newbie at… everything. So I’m trying to get a feel of how everything works.

Wow. This is so much longer than I intended it to be. I was hoping it’d be like… half a page. I guess not, since it’s two full pages. So, the last thing I wanted to say:

Welcome to my blog.

-          May :)