tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64903293045730381702024-03-05T12:17:41.341-08:00Writer SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-60772801924655034452015-03-24T17:38:00.000-07:002015-03-24T17:38:13.867-07:00Reintroductions Writing this feels awkward.<br />
<br />
Like replying to a text from a year ago with "Sorry, my phone died. What's up?".<br />
<br />
Except it's been almost <i>two</i> years since I last wrote on this blog. It feels like bumping into an old friend from high school while picking up a bottle of wine at the liquor store, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure what to say.<br />
<br />
This last November, after many attempts in the years prior, I finally finished my rough draft of <i>Fearless</i> and won NaNoWriMo. It was a long time coming, but I'm ecstatic to have finally completed it, even if it's a terrible mess to edit. <br />
<br />
So now that I'm in revisions for this book I've been working on for years, I decided I ought to check back in here.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how often I'll write here, and I'd hate to make promises I cannot keep. Perhaps you'll see a handful of updates about how the edits are coming along, or a post or two about my process, or even just a couple musings about writing in general.<br />
<br />
But I hope to be able to check in here often.<br />
<br />
I've missed this quiet sanctuary. Thank you for all of your support since I started this blog, and thank you for bearing with me in the rough times. I sincerely appreciate your kindness and patience.<br />
<br />
Happy Editing, Friends!<br />
<br />
SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-82129861858113300792013-10-18T00:33:00.000-07:002013-10-18T00:33:45.796-07:00One year later.I don't think I really forgot about this blog. I just put it to the side for a while. <br />
<br />
I won't say that this year has been particularly eventful, though there are a few highlights.<br />
<br />
Since we've last spoken, I've graduated high school.<br />
<br />
I
made the decision to step away from college for a year. Smell the
roses, taste and see what God has in store for me. Take some "me" time. <br />
<br />
In a couple months, I have the privilege of walking down the aisle as maid-of-honor in one of my best friend's wedding. I'm so happy for her and the new life she'll be beginning soon.<br />
<br />
I've closed doors in my life that were open for much too long.<br />
<br />
I've learned.<br />
<br />
I've grown.<br />
<br />
I'm learning.<br />
<br />
I'm growing.<br />
<br />
I can't tell where this year will take me. I'm not sure if I'm here to stay on this blog. I won't make empty promises about how often I'll update this blog.<br />
<br />
All I can say is....<br />
<br />
I've missed this place and I hope I can visit often.<br />
<br />
Happy Writing,<br />
SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-27278422027824388242012-11-28T13:55:00.000-08:002012-11-28T13:55:49.870-08:00The Curious Case of my NaNoWriMo CurseAhh, I see a pattern forming here.<br />
<br />
Only a month ago, I remember being so excited for NaNoWriMo, being eager to finish this dang novel if it killed me, wanting to finally give my heart rest.<br />
<br />
And then...and then....and then...<br />
<br />
I lost momentum. That's ok. Everyone loses momentum. I was going to catch up after my busy week came to an end. I would make up the words. My writing buddies would Word War fearlessly alongside me. It would be ok!<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how long ago (I lost track of time), but maybe it was a couple weeks. Yeah, that sounds about right. My computer crashed.<br />
<br />
Dead.<br />
<br />
I went into a state of shock. I've got at least three full chapters that could be gone forever. I've been somewhat useless without my computer. (I'm pathetic, but it's true.)<br />
<br />
The diagnosis seems to be that I need to somehow back up all of my important files, and then completely reboot my little electronic buddy. I'll have to start on a clean slate. Hopefully find all my old internet bookmarks. Restart.<br />
<br />
It seems like November just doesn't want me to write, which is funny. November is the perfect time for me to write! I'm an autumn/winter girl by nature, and nothing inspires me more than being snuggled up in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and a story in my head.<br />
<br />
Yet.<br />
<br />
Every November something comes up, be it the emotional turmoil of a friend, or a litter of puppies to care for. Something always keeps me from my goal.<br />
<br />
This isn't me quitting. It's not. I love this story too much to quit.<br />
<br />
But NaNoWriMo is definitely an impossibility at this point.<br />
<br />
Instead, I welcome DecNoWriMo with open, hopeful arms.<br />
<br />
Happy Writing, Friends.<br />
Savvy<br />
<br />
<u>Let me know in the comments how your NaNo project is coming, or if you're a renegade who wants to accompany me and my friends as we take December by force and finish these goshdarn stories! </u>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-76394235305173478652012-10-25T22:01:00.000-07:002012-10-25T22:01:20.347-07:00Prepping for NaNoWriMo: A PreludeIf you play an active role (or even a passive role, really) in the online writer community, you probably know a little something about <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/dashboard">NaNoWriMo</a>.<br />
<br />
For those who have no clue what I'm talking about, I'll be brief: (Feel free to skip this next section if you're a NaNo veteran.) <br />
<br /><a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/dashboard">NaNoWriMo</a> (short for National Novel Writing Month), is an annual, month-long event in which writers all over the world are challenged to write a WHOPPING 50,000 words in 30 days.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there prizes?</b> No.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Unless you count pride. You probably don't though.)</span><br />
<br />
<b>Can you write the same word 50,000 times and still win?</b> Yes, but that kind of just defeats the purpose, and you'd be kind of a troll.<br />
<br />
<b>Do they read my words when they count them?</b> Not at all! You're words are calculated, not read. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(You're not the only paranoid writer out there. Trust me. *Points at self*) </span><br />
<br />
<b>Why should I participate?</b> <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/all-ages-coffee-house">Camaraderie</a>! <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forum_comments/1880727">Write-Ins</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Find Write-Ins for your region on the site)</span>!<a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nanowrimo-ate-my-soul/threads/69664"> Lack of sleep</a>! The pride of knowing you wrote whole novel! <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/61938">Survival Kits</a>! <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/70667">Coffee</a>! Awesomeness! <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/games-diversions-and-other-exciting-forms-of-procrastination">Procrastination</a>! <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/word-wars-prompts-sprints">Word Wars</a>! <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/61121">Traveling Shovel of Death</a>! <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I really don't know what I'm saying anymore...)</span><br />
<br />
<b>Can I add you as a Writing Buddy?</b> Umm heck yes! You can click the link in the upper right hand corner for my NaNo page, or just search for <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/savvythewritergirl">savvythewritergirl</a>.<br />
<br />
Now that we got that out of the way, I'm going to do something that you're all much accustomed to on my blog. I'm about to make a promise that I will probably not be able to keep. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Honestly, I could probably be a politician with all of the promises I break on this blog. Ugh.)</span><br />
<br />
This November, I hope to blog throughout NaNoWriMo, at least on a weekly basis. I'll probably start out cheery and epiphanic for the the first week or so, and then the posts here will become more whiny and less frequent.<br />
<br />
For the time being, however, we're going to be optimistic.<br />
<br />
As it stands, we have less than a week before the caffeine-sponsored activities commence, but NaNoPrepMo *cough* October *cough* is almost to its end. For those of you who really can't live without inspiration/advice/procrastination/whathaveyou, my goal is to include links to some awesome posts and forum threads I stumble across each week, followed by a song that helps me write, or something of the like. <br />
<br />
This series of NaNo posts will begin later this week, hopefully.<br />
<br />
Here's to a great month of writing and learning and laughing <strike>(but no sleeping)</strike>. <br />
<br />
Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-45412569143413350532012-10-17T12:05:00.000-07:002012-10-17T12:05:10.653-07:00It's Almost Here...NaNoWriMo '12<a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2012/10/road-trip-wednesday-152-are-you-going.html">YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday</a> this week is:<br />
<br />
<u><b>Are you doing NaNoWriMo, or have you ever? Does having a deadline inspire you? </b></u><br />
<br />
You can bet your bottom dollar I'll be doing NaNoWriMo again this year! I've been counting the days, browsing the forums, and just generally prepping myself physically and mentally (and maybe even emotionally).<br />
<br />
This will be my third year attempting NaNo, and though I've never won, I'm anxious to give it another shot. It's such a tremendous experience and it gets me all excited to write and connect with other writers!<br />
<br />
I used to despise deadlines with a fiery passion. It always required pacing myself and getting things done (which, as a procrastinator, was never fun).<br />
<br />
And then my friends start challenging me. Early this summer, a friend of mine told me I had to give him a new chapter every single week so he could read it. It felt awesome! Suddenly, I was motivated to do things, write faster, than I had once thought possible.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, I signed up for Go Teen Writers' 100 for 100 Challenge, where we are challenged to write 100 words a day, no excuses. My friends and I have been actively participating in word wars throughout the week and inspiring each other on Facebook. Really, deadlines kind of ROCK!<br />
<br />
So, yeah. I'm excited for NaNo. My project this year is to finish my WIP, Fearless. I know it's not a traditional NaNo project, seeing as I've already begun my novel, but I'll be completely fair with my word count and will only be using the words I write from November 1st-30th, of course. I just need to finish this baby before I tackle any other projects. :)<br />
<br />
Who else is participating in NaNo this year? Let me know if this is your first year giving it a shot or if you're a returning NaNo veteran in the comments!<br />
<br />
Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-50099024280686529862012-10-10T17:36:00.000-07:002012-10-10T17:36:35.105-07:00What's my Game Plan?<a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2012/10/road-trip-wednesday-151-what-will-you.html">YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday</a> this week is:<br />
<br />
<b><u>What do you hope to be writing in one year? Three? Five?</u></b><br />
<br />
I think the key word in this question is "hope", because, honestly, I'm not even prepared to guess where I'll be at in my writing by that time. The best I can do is <i>hope</i>. <br />
<br />
In one year, I hope to be wrapping up edits on my longstanding WIP, the first installment in a four-part series. This book, as most of you may know, is my baby. I've been working and reworking, writing and rewriting this story for four years now, which is a little frustrating sometimes, but it's also a little reassuring. I've started tons of stories, and I've always given up on them because they just weren't good enough. The fact that after four long years I'm still madly in love with this WIP...that's a little reassuring to me.<br />
<br />
In three years, I hope to be working on the sequel, maybe even plotting out the third book more thoroughly. In three years, I like to hope that book one is published and that we've got the ball rolling.<br />
<br />
In five years, I hope I've begun writing the last book of the series. This will be the gut-wrenching year for me. I don't ever want to finish the last pages of my baby, but it'll have to be done.<br />
<br />
For now, all I can do is hope. And write.<br />
<br />
Happy Writing,<br />
SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-58521882805529577822012-08-22T21:35:00.001-07:002012-08-22T21:35:54.727-07:00A Love List, Some Pictures, and Getting Published??This summer, adventure took over my life.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty proud of that. <br />
<br />
But before we get to the pretty picture summary of my summer, I'm going to participate in <a href="http://www.yahighway.com/">YA Highway's</a> <a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2012/08/road-trip-wednesday-144-wip-love-list.html">Road Trip Wednesday</a>, where they asked, "<b><span style="text-align: center;">Inspired by </span><a href="http://betweenfactandfiction.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-writers-society-love-lists-by.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Stephanie Perkins' post on Natalie Whipple's blog</a></b><span style="text-align: center;"><b>, what is your novel's 'Love List'?</b>" </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">What's a Love List? It's a list of all of the things you LOVE about your story. It's a list of all of the reasons why the grueling task of writing is actually worth it in the end. It's a list to remind us that, even when we feel like our story sucks, there was a reason we started it in the beginning, and there's a reason we'll finish it. Because, believe it or not, there are a whole lot of awesome things in our story. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">So, without further ado, my Love List (minus all of the spoilery stuff):</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Feuding sisters</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Dyslexia</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Disguises</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~A sharp-witted best friend</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Alchemy</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Capes (a WHOLE LOT of capes!)</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~A family reunion</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Royalty and rebellion</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Bedtime stories & campfire tales</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Pranks</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Blooming romance</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Mysterious murders</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~A traitor</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~A grumpy old veteran who secretly is a softy</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Boys behaving like...well...<i>boys</i></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~A secret alcove</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Forests and mountain weather</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~A sadistic villain</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Gross camp food</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">~Swords</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Maybe that can give you a little taste of what my story is about. It's kind of crazy, a little dysfunctional, but I really do love it. :)</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Now, PICTURES! </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">This summer, my sister and I had the incredible privilege of visiting our grandparents in Montana (which, if you were wondering, is an INCREDIBLY beautiful place). Not convinced? Take a look.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDpJvT6tS0VY-1qjtQECqfEdg3R-vbWhhttLtu1GHcN7fTy2fQCxnBR5GWAEAPg7ROfBFXjQe3q4_rSkPC3CsGyVHf2psOQa_L-fK4uO9CBoACf9Mg6qz-MGjiviqAWwypDIebVYsLDE/s1600/503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDpJvT6tS0VY-1qjtQECqfEdg3R-vbWhhttLtu1GHcN7fTy2fQCxnBR5GWAEAPg7ROfBFXjQe3q4_rSkPC3CsGyVHf2psOQa_L-fK4uO9CBoACf9Mg6qz-MGjiviqAWwypDIebVYsLDE/s320/503.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kootenai River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVjepk0DjzC5V0kuwlK5Tb7K_rmZnNPrIClQU2wXziKQ1Idx3wIBdII1w-Q-BmMJa7T_xDIiikgzuEQGFzMq2xqtuh-4NMUCl9z6YteY93ALrpAFUP1PLbjpXn6Rbi8VwmkI0ZPEmo2w/s1600/553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVjepk0DjzC5V0kuwlK5Tb7K_rmZnNPrIClQU2wXziKQ1Idx3wIBdII1w-Q-BmMJa7T_xDIiikgzuEQGFzMq2xqtuh-4NMUCl9z6YteY93ALrpAFUP1PLbjpXn6Rbi8VwmkI0ZPEmo2w/s320/553.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what backyards look like in Montana. BACKYARDS. You know what my backyard looks like? Dirt. Dirt and weeds.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-XlfUx616T1EI6yhrBxOH1PBeXFJh33DMPMU7WHcPRxYXPCjmeMXqgFQq2k51rOQXUUS6YY9jwkOiu86fwEpgWx2D5VWXki8kyvETnfhPmEuB8m3R0XOwiJCSoLzhero0FlT6kzcqUs/s1600/500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-XlfUx616T1EI6yhrBxOH1PBeXFJh33DMPMU7WHcPRxYXPCjmeMXqgFQq2k51rOQXUUS6YY9jwkOiu86fwEpgWx2D5VWXki8kyvETnfhPmEuB8m3R0XOwiJCSoLzhero0FlT6kzcqUs/s320/500.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister and I on the swinging bridge over the Kootenai. Don't let this picture fool you, it was PETRIFYING. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1tjkN2rIBTgdF6GBmjObgrZXhHvP-h6TbhNLIAbkJn-jsRA8jdhCRfbHhbFAaoWKhOwK4v5eJ33F3Z_kMIGXounbAB6fqQdKFT-mbvTSYCJrRYDDwJnu-Ml_xVwxaLFoqY7833-Vp0E/s1600/935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1tjkN2rIBTgdF6GBmjObgrZXhHvP-h6TbhNLIAbkJn-jsRA8jdhCRfbHhbFAaoWKhOwK4v5eJ33F3Z_kMIGXounbAB6fqQdKFT-mbvTSYCJrRYDDwJnu-Ml_xVwxaLFoqY7833-Vp0E/s320/935.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like, how can this be a backyard. How? <b><u><i>HOW?!?!?!</i></u></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIWGTN01YD4aJEel_lsNqubdGcmAZZf7UkXmGnryhikiIQw5ywPaedbehgyPtx8VKKeFJwkP7JyQSRyJ19Pexxy3YkYeg8U37yS0cSE3XyS3E45YvCsdyPNqicSSvh0UZYBOCe6HTd88/s1600/1047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIWGTN01YD4aJEel_lsNqubdGcmAZZf7UkXmGnryhikiIQw5ywPaedbehgyPtx8VKKeFJwkP7JyQSRyJ19Pexxy3YkYeg8U37yS0cSE3XyS3E45YvCsdyPNqicSSvh0UZYBOCe6HTd88/s320/1047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir30iA50pi8nu1GEP7oBJCf2-7iRRM5X9udJkfQuXx-PMz0Sst-iTG3vRfLyJqZWetJZRhXbwXM5PqxA42o8dBV1JQANM3PWWLyOiaYt5QdOt1z6dFF_-ZjePe47nE4_udNvgbKljMF9s/s1600/1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir30iA50pi8nu1GEP7oBJCf2-7iRRM5X9udJkfQuXx-PMz0Sst-iTG3vRfLyJqZWetJZRhXbwXM5PqxA42o8dBV1JQANM3PWWLyOiaYt5QdOt1z6dFF_-ZjePe47nE4_udNvgbKljMF9s/s320/1076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good gosh! It's as big as my head!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBd0jlELlsf0JTkyW8LxYrbHNnN8KDJlZKVYQoK01mlBzFT80lVcvcGtTTAix7Ul63hdWcg2KQHwrlbXgPIxSHIPi0In9Wm1FLMW6albScNumkn4ca0a9ygmnst39CE_A5aacre3FVcc/s1600/1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBd0jlELlsf0JTkyW8LxYrbHNnN8KDJlZKVYQoK01mlBzFT80lVcvcGtTTAix7Ul63hdWcg2KQHwrlbXgPIxSHIPi0In9Wm1FLMW6albScNumkn4ca0a9ygmnst39CE_A5aacre3FVcc/s320/1095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These, my friends, are "Choke Cherries", and, despite having an extremely deterring name, are apparently NOT poisonous. We found them and immediately thought of Nightlock. Obvious photo op.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTJvsHPwpLVGKW8LAWgvBYQrBP9aSVBsrkN_QJMAJnXJcleaQWMtmXTWg-bvwE0yb0iXdHqiJLsDy9vhmZ1IWc0cDiNIFvOYIg2h-PPYj-3UJcF2aBfs6jP4g6azt201a1yrk9iQyrbE/s1600/1096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTJvsHPwpLVGKW8LAWgvBYQrBP9aSVBsrkN_QJMAJnXJcleaQWMtmXTWg-bvwE0yb0iXdHqiJLsDy9vhmZ1IWc0cDiNIFvOYIg2h-PPYj-3UJcF2aBfs6jP4g6azt201a1yrk9iQyrbE/s320/1096.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"On three?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCuUulpqUKsMEGdVDYpYiBzWsE0Rs4DZIHeo2cYhya7xiRVBKM65S5SMx_EE9KgNUpMlNFxDhThnGiJcYJvhzFDpsPGGfqUDHtc9mJD_ZtMF_jyJvX59-rAauRZnKxHm6gkOeqGcqyug/s1600/1108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCuUulpqUKsMEGdVDYpYiBzWsE0Rs4DZIHeo2cYhya7xiRVBKM65S5SMx_EE9KgNUpMlNFxDhThnGiJcYJvhzFDpsPGGfqUDHtc9mJD_ZtMF_jyJvX59-rAauRZnKxHm6gkOeqGcqyug/s320/1108.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I freaking love tall grass!!!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9ctd2BnzWBuQUI9uJKrBPgc7YFvGTH8aACIOgDO5_TgxsVOkqNBhU3MXnsNuESQgrm7koOviRxnsCSfThnq7IKFea4IM0INTjLnbaIEWw8fQNjGQ9ynwqZoNQ5MgHy9ZkzDcJv1atgo/s1600/815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9ctd2BnzWBuQUI9uJKrBPgc7YFvGTH8aACIOgDO5_TgxsVOkqNBhU3MXnsNuESQgrm7koOviRxnsCSfThnq7IKFea4IM0INTjLnbaIEWw8fQNjGQ9ynwqZoNQ5MgHy9ZkzDcJv1atgo/s320/815.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ever horseback ride. This picture does not accurately capture my euphoric joy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjaUrPkA88pP7yACBko_59TC2fZZS9Av1ak4INkAj1sSmlb8mAp_zB0kG5qWRdmlObkqCpGf2lK3upTOD6313uFFcjYpme-DlsUfC0UQLNudKgJypsuUldwcPw2CmhgXvakHTta2Bcjo/s1600/855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjaUrPkA88pP7yACBko_59TC2fZZS9Av1ak4INkAj1sSmlb8mAp_zB0kG5qWRdmlObkqCpGf2lK3upTOD6313uFFcjYpme-DlsUfC0UQLNudKgJypsuUldwcPw2CmhgXvakHTta2Bcjo/s320/855.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Murals like this were EVERYWHERE in Libby. I swear, every building had one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6dTrqB-aLXffbUAno9MEAibQBqVn4e3BhWqu9yuqzbIij_0UJxcXSjQDOE6JRUz4g2WZmCMIVw9IBKdxV3IFEPWllngDmeCmQ2xsY_dhSbaUY9qIvHqDUjkCoe2xlguRzk48HdFdx7Q/s1600/875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6dTrqB-aLXffbUAno9MEAibQBqVn4e3BhWqu9yuqzbIij_0UJxcXSjQDOE6JRUz4g2WZmCMIVw9IBKdxV3IFEPWllngDmeCmQ2xsY_dhSbaUY9qIvHqDUjkCoe2xlguRzk48HdFdx7Q/s320/875.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shakespeare and ice cream...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj45LxKZCyJL1F8LQY33LPGLA5RCs1YdQUzFgpJYBRf7j7UsVlLJRxqcK3qV_XZYEqjUfJJsdNvjGxU1HcFwS8f_zYkV6q0H8UzXL09pqLKqGhS1_PUyFZKZfB7XHFnKIqmuDNH0WWzSg/s1600/877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj45LxKZCyJL1F8LQY33LPGLA5RCs1YdQUzFgpJYBRf7j7UsVlLJRxqcK3qV_XZYEqjUfJJsdNvjGxU1HcFwS8f_zYkV6q0H8UzXL09pqLKqGhS1_PUyFZKZfB7XHFnKIqmuDNH0WWzSg/s320/877.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know how we do.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre4ZSzZ49UNWLPsDMptUU9fdwNTLaxZ4Rwz-4gHiqh7015rbgIPEQnm9GZJCtZ0NN4Gb3z6lym2BIZCpjdyjZ2f2fe3NATmknvR2z_-Rb4EQWh60TEFsbM4C6kZvkhUh_h0wi-dMl0DI/s1600/994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre4ZSzZ49UNWLPsDMptUU9fdwNTLaxZ4Rwz-4gHiqh7015rbgIPEQnm9GZJCtZ0NN4Gb3z6lym2BIZCpjdyjZ2f2fe3NATmknvR2z_-Rb4EQWh60TEFsbM4C6kZvkhUh_h0wi-dMl0DI/s320/994.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was really happening before this picture: "Alright, Maddie, I'm gonna crouch down and you have TWO seconds to take a good picture. Ready? Ok..." *crouches down* "ASDFERGRGBEWGASD THAT WAS A TICK! THERE WAS A TICK ON MY FOOT!!!! I AM OUT OF HERE!!"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">And that's what happened in beautiful Montana. Then, when I got home, I found THIS on my desk...</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGyL-KsQ42ZyUkFaqVGLK5B2Y8Y8nF4qwEeQ-m9EXi4oG84WmBwMYM6qkiBcK2tMYZafTNkEpwlBNvm1E-YdmMJobHE8-SBIH9JxCDn-hsYdS9s1QS8jDtD1_dvfKC-dU7YIrDgOR3Dg/s1600/1st+pub+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGyL-KsQ42ZyUkFaqVGLK5B2Y8Y8nF4qwEeQ-m9EXi4oG84WmBwMYM6qkiBcK2tMYZafTNkEpwlBNvm1E-YdmMJobHE8-SBIH9JxCDn-hsYdS9s1QS8jDtD1_dvfKC-dU7YIrDgOR3Dg/s320/1st+pub+003.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ACSI Creative Writing Festival Selected Superior Works :)</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">That? Oh, that's just my first ever publication. Ever. :) Sure, it's just a short story in a book of other short stories, and you can't go out and buy it...but still. It's a milestone, and I'm ecstatic! </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">I hope you all had an equally incredible summer this year, and I look forward to some serious writing with you all this fall. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Happy Living, Friends!</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Savvy</span>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-23618757854076892002012-07-07T17:51:00.003-07:002012-07-07T17:51:40.660-07:00I WILL WRITE THIS NOVEL GOSHDARNIT! (Part 2)Alright guys, I don't want to jinx this....but I do believe I'm currently on a roll.<br />
<br />
In four days, I cracked out two chapters (one was 13 pages, guys!) and I'm almost done with a third this week.<br />
<br />
So what's gotten me in such a productive mood? Actually, a deadline.<br />
<br />
See, I've got this friend who's constantly encouraging me to finish this draft. At first, I didn't really care if I finished a chapter or two just to appease him, because my mom's been pushing me to finish this book for the last couple years, and it hasn't really made much of a difference in productivity. But this friend of mine decided to give me a deadline--a really reasonable one, too.<br />
<br />
And then it was like my fingers couldn't type fast enough! Because I knew I <i>could</i> do it if I really tried. It <i>was</i> possible.<br />
<br />
Four days later, I handed him the epically heavy stack of paper at a party and began outlining the next few chapters during dinner that night. It was a wonderful feeling. :)<br />
<br />
Also, for any of you curious about my writing progress, I have a word meter in the upper right corner of this blog. I'll update it again when I finish this next chapter!<br />
<br />
Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-72497780647025302572012-06-28T12:25:00.000-07:002012-06-28T12:25:12.945-07:003 Ways I Get Around Writer's BlockLast night, while I was feverishly trying to finish this one goshdarn chapter of my WIP, I had a sort of epiphany. The kind of epiphany one has during crunch time at 3 AM.<br />
<br />
See, I was in a pretty bad rut. I realized I had no idea what I wanted my characters to do in this scene. Sure, I knew what I wanted as an end result, but I had no clue at all how I was going to get there.<br />
<br />
So what did I do?<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<u><b>1.) Seek Out Some Inspiration </b></u></div>
<br />
In retrospect, five hours on <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> probably wasn't the <b><i>best</i></b> use of my down time. (In fact, I only ended up finding novel-related pins within the last hour of my pinning spree. Guys, I'm ashamed.) But Pinterest really has its appeal when it comes to writing. It's a great place to organize ideas for story boards and other fun things.<br />
<br />
Another place I like to waste my life is on <a href="http://weheartit.com/">WeHeartIt</a>.* Looking for thousands of pages of pictures that are always being updated? This is the place to go. The downside is that you quickly become addicted and might have to sift through hundreds of One Direction and Justin Bieber pictures in the process of finding some good inspiration. Unless you don't mind the deluge of fandom.<br />
<br />
Music (and I don't necessarily mean lyric-free music, either) is also a great place to give your soul a refill. I've got a couple <a href="http://www.pandora.com/">Pandora</a> stations for various reasons (all cleverly titled, mind you) so that I have a constant stream of both new and favorite music around me at all times. I know music isn't usually for every writer, but I find that a few lines of really captivating lyrics can turn a bad writing mood into something exciting.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<u><b>2.) Give Your Characters More Reasons to Argue</b></u></div>
<br />
I've got this one character, one of my favorites, who's a bit of a neat freak. She's got this very particular way of doing things, setting things up, that drives her up the wall if it gets tweaked in any way. I guess you could call her OCD.<br />
<br />
What do you think would really irk her? If someone were to start tinkering with things in her room, maybe? If they dropped something of hers on the dirty floor?<br />
<br />
So...if I were to make one of my characters a really absentminded, touchy, clumsy person and throw them into a room together, what would I get?<br />
<br />
I would get an exciting scene, that's what!<br />
<br />
If you've got a character who's very particular, throw in some chaos. Give them a reason to butt heads and see where it goes from there.<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<u><b>3.) Don't Be Afraid to Make Some Changes</b></u></div>
<br />
Most of the time, I get writer's block when I've taken a step in the wrong direction. Writing, to me, is very much like walking through a maze. It's very easy to hit a dead end and have to back track, but don't let it discourage you from trying again.<br />
<br />
When a scene is going nowhere, step back and analyze it. What in this scene <i>has</i> to stay? What's crucial and what's holding me back?<br />
<br />
Sometimes you're gonna have to cut a paragraph, and sometimes it'll be a whole chapter. But it's for the better, I promise. It's like unclogging a drain! (Just make sure not to mass delete your work. Sometimes good ideas are just stifled by laziness and lack of inspiration. Believe me, I know!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>If you've got any tips or tricks for banishing writer's block, let me know in the comments! </b><br />
<br />
Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
Savvy<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <b>*DISCLAIMER</b>: WeHeartIt occasionally features some inappropriate material that may not be suitable for children. Talk to your parent(s)/guardian before checking it out!</span><br />Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-3848028468562058882012-06-20T17:31:00.003-07:002012-06-20T17:31:44.633-07:00I WILL WRITE THIS NOVEL GOSHDARNIT! (Part 1)Alright, first of all, HI! I've missed blogging so very much, but I've been busier than ever lately (finishing a show, cast parties, grad parties, prom, life, anxiety, dogs, church, friends, more grad parties...) and I haven't gotten a chance to do much of anything.<br />
<br />
In fact, I've read a grand whopping total of ONE BOOK over the last month and a half. (In related new, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9917938-blood-red-road">Moira Young's Blood Red Road</a> is AMAZING GO BUY IT NOW OHMYFLIPPINGGOSH!!)<br />
<br />
Guess how much writing I've done.<br />
<br />
Go ahead, any guess will do!<br />
<br />
What's that? Four pages?<br />
Nope! Try again.<br />
<br />
Three?<br />
Ha! Nope.<br />
<br />
Let me just cut to the chase before I start to lose my dignity here...<br />
<br />
<strike>Two paragraphs.</strike> Nothing. <br />
<br />
The thing is...I REALLY LOVE THIS STORY. (See <a href="http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2012/05/book-of-my-heart.html">Beth Revis's incredible post</a> about "the book of her heart".) THIS is how I feel about this stupid novel I'm writing. It's my baby.<br />
<br />
So......I'm going to finish it. I will. I have to. Just the first draft, and then I can breathe.<br />
<br />
Last night, I stayed up into the wee hours in the morning, writing (distraction-free) for a whole page! Unfortunately, that amount of work is what I consider a successful night.<br />
<br />From here on out, I'm going to shoot for writing this much EVERY night. Every stinking night this summer. And you'll hear about it all right! I'll vent here, I'll celebrate here. <strike>I might even cry or rage a little.</strike> <br />
<br />
So hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen, because this is going to be a SUPER productive summer (Lord willing!).<br />
<br />
Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
Savvy<br />
<br />
<u><b>PS. Does anyone know any good widgets I can use to keep track of my word count?? Let me know in the comments!! :)</b></u>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-59769177251114652532012-04-30T14:15:00.000-07:002012-04-30T14:15:22.002-07:00Living Life and Not ApologizingLong time no see, friends! If you haven't noticed, I haven't posted anything in....a month? More? At this point, I'm still not sure.<br />
<br />
But I haven't forgotten about you all! In fact, everyday that I haven't posted on my blog I've started to feel sick with guilt, which is kind of what I'd like to talk about today.<br />
<br />
The fact is this: I'm alive. (Spoiler much?)<br />
<br />
Ok, OBVIOUSLY, I am alive. Duh. <br />
<br />
No, what I mean is that -- while I absolutely LOVE to blog and to talk about writing and reading -- I'm not always going to get that free hour and a half to type up a full-length blog post, reread it, edit it, post it, tweet it, etc.. It even kind of stresses me out to a certain point, thinking that I'm letting my followers down by not posting a new, exciting blog post about the latest and greatest tips and tricks in the writing world.<br />
<br />
(Not to mention, I really need to start being more honest and raw in these posts. No more of this "no worries, I've got this novel under control" stuff. From now on, I'm going to tell you the honest truth about how much it SUCKS to be in high school while juggling a novel, theater, church stuff and friend drama.)<br />
<br />
I guess what I'm saying is that I can't let myself feel guilty about living my life; about learning who my true friends are, loving people, hating people, interacting with people, going to Prom with people (WOOHOO!!), getting slapped in the face and stabbed in the back by people, learning how to get defend myself from people... This is life, and I don't feel comfortable apologizing for letting it get in the way of my blogging schedule.<br />
<br />
If I lose followers, I'm okay with that.<br />
<br />
If I don't, great!<br />
<br />
But I'm no longer going to guilt myself into writing up another mundane post to fill a quota. You lovely people deserve better than that.<br />
<br />
<i>Savvy</i>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-706421802431723102012-04-04T20:13:00.000-07:002012-04-04T20:13:30.259-07:00Why I Keep my Old Stories.I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!<br />
<br />
Today, I feel like talking about old stories, which (oh boy!) can be extremely cringe-worthy. So let's begin.<br />
<br />
I've been writing ever since I was in fourth grade, which means I have an awfully large collection of stories that I'm less than enthusiastic to share with my friends and family. In fact, I have over a dozen spiral notebooks containing <i>well</i> over a dozen uncompleted stories and novels-to-be, none of which I'll be sharing with anyone, because...well...<br />
<br />
they suck. <br />
<br />
No, this isn't a pity party. It's a fact. When you first start any new thing (hobby, job, sport, etc.) you're not going to be the best. In the future, once you've learned the craft some more, there will be times when you look back to your very first attempt and cringe. We learn from our mistakes and move on toward something better; a better first draft, a better use of description, a better opening scene, better character development, etc..<br />
<br />
But sometimes it's good to look back at the beginning. Sometimes we surprise ourselves with how much talent we had in the beginning. <br />
<br />
Yesterday, I peeked at the first draft of my current novel. <br />
<br />
Let me give you some perspective here: my WIP is my baby. I've been writing this thing since 8th grade (four years ago, for those curious). Since it's conception, my WIP has come a long way and now is unrecognizable from it's sketchy beginnings. <br />
<br />
The first thing I noticed about the first draft was how ridiculous the characters were, both in dialogue and action. My protagonist also had this really dramatic way of narrating, throwing Old English in the mix at the most random times, then turning Valley Girl faster than you can say "awkward".<br />
<br />
Long story short: it was a wreck. The storyline took FOR-FREAKIN'-EVER to go anywhere. In 80 pages (which is where I finally stopped <i>writing</i> and started <i>rethinking </i>my little train wreck) my MC wasn't even moderately close to reaching the incitement to action. At. All. <br />
<br />
I had no idea what drastic changes were to come, but I vaguely remember <strike>thinking</strike> knowing my story was the worst thing I had ever read. <br />
<br />
But here's where things begin to look up, because I noticed something that I did unusually well in my first draft that I've lost in my newer writing. <br />
<br />
Description.<br />
<br />
No joke, I'm the worst at describing now. Settings are the worst for me. I rarely ever enjoy my character description because it always sounds too forced and awkward. <br />
<br />
But apparently I kind of ROCKED at description. Maybe I had a more creative mind, maybe I just saw people and places differently, but it sure as heck impacted my writing in a good way. I used sensory details I didn't even know existed! While I was reading my first draft, I started to see that I've been compromising one good quality for another. Instead of focusing on describing things in a magical kind of way, I've adopted tips and tricks from blogs, authors, and books and abandoned a talent.<br />
<br />
Now is the matter of reclaiming my old ability and incorporating it into my WIP, which can both be tedious, and exciting.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Question time!</b></u></div><b>Have you ever been brave enough to peek at your old writings? And if so, did you notice anything special about it? Let me know in the comments! :) </b><br />
<br />
Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
<br />
<i>Savvy</i>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-74340363072290730782012-03-27T13:44:00.000-07:002012-03-27T13:44:27.296-07:00Quick Update!I'm going to try and keep this short and sweet, but I thought I should let you all know that, although I've been trying, I haven't finished a post in forever, mainly because my whole family got hit with a really REALLY bad cold and it's been hard to see straight, let alone walk to my desk and compile a blog-worthy post for you all.<br />
<br />
As it is, I think I'm on the mend, but I wanted to apologize for my absence and assure you that I <i>will</i> be back soon. :) Hopefully we can get to talking about the new Hunger Games Movie, or other nerdy stuff.<br />
<br />
Happy Reading, Friends!<br />
<br />
SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-10191487400316714492012-02-25T16:51:00.000-08:002012-02-25T16:51:35.361-08:00A Character Dilemma: Unnecessary-nessI have a problem.<br />
<br />
Actually, I have a few problems, but today we'll just stick with one of them.<br />
<br />
I'm coming to the conclusion that I have a few characters in my novel that are...<br />
<br />
*shudder*<br />
<br />
unnecessary. <br />
<br />
Eww. I hate that word. It's not a word I like to throw around all willy-nilly, especially when it comes to my beloved characters. It's a scary word, but I can't ignore it any longer.<br />
<br />
Earlier this week, while I was outlining my entire novel on Scrivener (which is totally worth the money, people!), and a thought suddenly popped into my head: "I wonder what would happen if I combined these two characters!"<br />
<br />
An innocent idea, yes. But now I haven't been able to get the idea out of my head and it's killing me!<br />
<br />
Here's the thing: I'm a sentimentalist. I haven't parted ways with a box of dinosaurs I've had since I was 2...and I'm nearly 17! It's a problem, I get it. But these characters just CAN'T be morphed into one. It...it would mean rearranging the entire plot, a secondary character's romance, AND the relationship my MC has with at LEAST 5 different characters.<br />
<br />
Not to mention, I absolutely adore one of those boys. "Hunter", as I affectionately nicknamed him when he showed distaste for his original name, has been with me from the first draft, quietly waiting his turn to shine in the story. He's put up with my antics for a good 3 years now, enthusiastically running headfirst into any obstacle I've thrown his way and never once complaining. He's that guy who takes what you give him and rolls with it. He's <i>awesome</i>.<br />
<br />
The problem with "Hunter" is that he <i>doesn't</i> shine like the rest of the cast. In fact, I'd say he lets others take center stage 80% of the time. Generous little brat.<br />
<br />
Because of this, he doesn't play a pivotal role in the story, which make him *cringe* <i>unnecessary</i>. Worse yet is the fact that I might have to have another character absorb all of his awesomeness, leaving no trace of him in the manuscript. It's a disturbing concept, considering that Hunter has put up with me for 3 years, only to be outstaged by a character I only recently came up with. <br />
<br />
As it stands, I have 3 options:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Reinvent Hunter</b></span><br />
I can make him more standout-ish this way AND get to keep him in the story. I like this idea, but it will take a lot of tweaking because he already resembles another character too much. More flaws, more dialogue, more humor (because that's already his strong point). Dramatically separate Hunter from that Other Guy. Nothing will crossover between the two of them. I can do this.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Send Hunter through the crack in the Universe</b></span><br />
(<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bonus points to whoever got that Dr. Who reference</span>.)<br />
I can make him disappear completely from the story and have his relationship with his girl go to that Other Guy. I hate this idea. Hate it. Letting Hunter get swallowed up by another, less-awesome character is a crime. Ugh. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Love Triangle</b></span><br />
Thirdly, I have an alternative to this little issue I have with Hunter, his girl, and that Other Guy. If I can't completely end the chemistry between the Other Guy and Hunter's girl that's inevitably materializing out of NOWHERE, I may have to add a love triangle somewhere in the story. This could very well be an interesting path to take, considering I have never read a book where the love triangle is existing in the secondary characters' love lives, not the MC's. <br />
<br />
<br />
Let's hope I make the right choice!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question Time:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Have you ever had a character dilemma like this? Any thoughts on my choices? Hate the Love Triangle idea? Let me know in the comments below! :)</b></span></div><br />
Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
SavvySavannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-75382511792937774822012-02-06T20:30:00.000-08:002012-02-06T20:30:00.606-08:00A Personal Look at the 5 Stages of Grief - Part TwoYesterday I wrote about the first 3 phases of Grief: Denial, Anger, and Bargaining. I drew from the personal experience of losing a beloved dog. <br />
<br />
Today, I'm going to finish off this analysis with the final 2 phases.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Depression</span></b></div><br />
Depression is the most recognized of all 5 stages of Grief. Depression is, quite simply, succumbing to hopelessness and sorrow. When Denial was debunked, Anger passed, and Bargaining didn't change what happened, Depression was the only alternative.<br />
<br />
The tricky thing about Depression is that there's no <i>moment</i> when you feel the shift into the next phase. You can feel Depression come, but you don't notice it leave. <br />
<br />
Depression makes the world feel slower. Painstaking. Depression taints every good memory.<br />
<br />
When my dog died, I specifically remember crying over the idea that I would never take another funny picture of my dog while she slept. I couldn't look through my pictures because the sight of my dog made me burst into tears.<br />
<br />
Something particularly draining was the fact that our dog had just given birth to three puppies only two days before her death, meaning that everyone in my family had to pitch in to keep three tiny little pups alive. I couldn't feed one of the puppies without sobbing, but I had to be close to them. They were all that was left of their mother and they were helpless. <br />
<br />
Depression changes your perspective on the situation. It becomes something that underlines your every thought. It's like you just can't figure out how to feel better. You're scared of holding on to something that's gone forever, but you're scared of forgetting it.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Acceptance </b></span></div><br />
One day, when your heart has been set right and good things have begun to fill the void in your heart, you wake up and nothing hurts. I'm not sure if this is Acceptance, but it's the last phase I remember. Acceptance is life continuing and pain being alleviated. <br />
<br />
Acceptance wasn't a sunny day after a long, steady storm for me. Acceptance was me getting off my butt and going to theater rehearsal and letting myself go in a place that I loved. Acceptance required me finding joy in something else. I didn't feel Depression peel its icy fingers away from me, but I felt Acceptance like a tap on the shoulder and a kind smile.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now that we've covered the 5 stages, I'm going to briefly touch on the physical and mental effects of Grief.<br />
<br />
<b>Physical:</b><br />
<br />
Somewhere between Anger and Bargaining I started to seriously lose my balance. At one point I wound up on the floor, not even knowing how I got there. I've heard of people fainting at tragic news, but keep in mind that it happens less frequently than people assume.<br />
<br />
Also, I found it extremely difficult to grab hold of anything to help me back onto my feet. It felt like I couldn't make a fist, which is something that happens a lot under extreme emotions of any kind for me.<br />
<br />
Another thing to keep in mind when writing about a character struggling with grief is that excessive sobbing can make it difficult to breathe and can end up contracting the abdominal muscles so tightly that you feel like you might throw up. Your face also begins to feel sore when contorted so tightly for so long.<br />
<br />
<b>Mental:</b><br />
<br />
One of the effects of grief in my mind was the constant trapped feeling I had. There was no way to turn to escape the painful situation. It was like hitting a dead end at every turn in my head.<br />
<br />
Another effect was that grief drastically limited my spectrum of thought. The only thing I could think about was the situation at hand. I couldn't think of Winter Formal, or my friends' dating lives. Nothing in the world seemed to be happening while I was struggling to maintain a grip on reality. <br />
<br />
<br />
I hope these posts have helped any of you get a better idea of the reality of Grief. Something to keep in mind is that Grief comes in less obvious forms than death. It could come as easily as misplacing an important item. Keep your characters real and dynamic. When you give them something to overcome, make sure that they overcome it (or don't!) like real, dynamic people. <br />
<br />
Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #a64d79;">Savvy</i>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-47762501966067484922012-02-05T21:23:00.000-08:002012-02-05T21:23:00.311-08:00A Personal Look at the 5 Stages of Grief - Part One<strike>Alternative title: Good Grief!</strike> <strike>No?</strike> <strike>Too soon?</strike><br />
<br />
As morbid as it may sound, I'm kind of fascinated by the 5 stages of grief. In fact, when my dog died back in 2010, I analyzed my grievous behavior, pinpointing the exact moments when I hit a new stage of grief. (I'm an actor and a writer. Observing and interpreting human behavior is my thing.)<br />
<br />
[I also did this after I finished reading Mockingjay, but that's another (embarrassing) story for another day.] <br />
<br />
Here's the deal: grief is a tough subject for a lot of people. Grief is real and tangible. As writers, we need to convey this emotion as accurately and thoroughly as we can in our own characters. Just like any emotion (like love, hatred, vulnerability, etc.), we need to give a real life depiction of the emotional arc someone experiences.<br />
<br />
In order to write about grief, you have to know the stages of grief, so I've decided to analyze my own experience with losing my dog to give you a clearer and more personal example to refer to.<br />
<br />
[NOTE: I'm completely, entirely, 100% recovered from the loss of my dog, so you don't need to get teary-eyed for me or offer any condolences.]<br />
<br />
Without further ado, a personal analysis of Grief. <br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Denial</span></b></div><br />
This stage is the initial coping mechanism of the mind. Denial refuses to accept that this bad thing could have happened.<br />
"No, you must not have heard correctly."<br />
"That couldn't have happened. It's impossible."<br />
<br />
Denial grasps at straws. It rationalizes the irrational. When my parents came home from the vet's at two in the morning without our beloved pet, my instant thought was:<br />
"The vet's are keeping her overnight. She's fine."<br />
This, of course, was Denial. My heart was hammering in my chest. I knew something was wrong from the look on my parents' faces, but I refused reality. I made excuses.<br />
<br />
When my dad gave me the news, I still refused to believe it. My dad jokes about some very un-funny things sometimes. I figured this was another joke.<br />
"You're joking!" I said. If you heard me, you could tell I didn't believe what I was saying. "This is just another one of your jokes!"<br />
<br />
My mom confirmed he wasn't lying. My mom never goes along with my dad's jokes. She rolls her eyes and laughs. Now she was crying and shaking her head. Our dog was gone.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Anger</span></b></div><br />
Anger, for whatever reason, always follows Denial. It's swift, violent, and irrational.<br />
"How could you let this happen?!"<br />
<br />
I'm not exactly sure what I was saying when Anger hit. It might have had to do with how much I hated my dad's jokes, because I never knew when I could take him seriously. I was blaming everyone. Everyone had caused this tragedy. Everyone but me.<br />
"How could you let the vet put her to sleep?"<br />
"Why couldn't you at least take her back home so we could say goodbye to her?"<br />
<br />
In retrospect, Anger was a very selfish phase for me. It was all about MY loss, not about our dog's dwindling health. At some point, I wound up sprawled across the floor, unable to stand.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Bargaining/Begging</span></b></div><br />
Of all the stages, Bargaining is the most humbling to its victims. If Denial is grasping at straws, Bargaining is praying for a time-machine.<br />
"Please, there has to be something we can do!"<br />
<br />
Bargaining is the most futile. Bargaining consists of repeating "please" a hundred-thousand-million times without any actual hope. I prayed, begged God, for anything to fix this.<br />
"Please, bring my dog back to life!" I prayed for a miracle.<br />
"Please, let this be a dream!" I prayed along the same lines of Denial. <br />
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Part Two of my Grief Analysis tomorrow, where I'll finish off the last two stages of grief and also discuss the mental and physical side of grief.<br />
<br />
Write what's real, Friends!<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #a64d79;">Savvy</i>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-42324865833368178442012-02-02T00:38:00.000-08:002012-02-02T00:38:10.378-08:00Write What's Fun, Not What's Not.Contrary to popular belief, the beginning of your novel is not the prime place to dump all back story, setting, and character descriptions. Actually, it's the <i>worst</i> place to do this. Your first chapters are your only shot to grab the reader's attention. When you start out with "My name is Blah, and I live in a town called Blah, and when I was growing up I did blah, blah, blah, and ended up blahhing..." your reader shuts the book and moves on to the next one, which probably has a cooler looking cover and doesn't start out with the lineage of your protagonist's boring family. <br />
<br />
"But my protagonist's family isn't boring! They're actually an ancient race of centaurs that used to hunt mermaids and dragons and their lineage is very important to the story!" you might say.<br />
<br />
Yes, that's probably true. But your potential reader doesn't know that and won't care how important that lineage is to the story when they already don't care enough about the story to finish that first paragraph. You're reader has zoned out like I do in History class. (Social Science, or whatever people are calling it nowadays.) <br />
<br />
For the longest time, I honestly thought that every stinkin' scene/chapter needed to be set-up and explained before I could write the fun parts. The classics never start out with the fun parts. I need to be more sophisticated and write about the weather, and the interior of my protagonist's bedroom, and the trees outside. Poetic things like that. The first two pages of any chapter/scene <i>must</i> be devoted to the description of something unrelated to the story, right? <br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You're cheating yourself as a writer when you waste time writing things that you don't desperately want to write. You open up your document every morning and blink at the boring block-of-a-paragraph in front of you (you're only output since you started writing three weeks ago), and maybe contribute another seven-word sentence on a good day. Then you delete it because it's just not good enough.<br />
<br />
If you aren't having fun writing a novel, you're doing it wrong.<br />
<br />
Have you ever wondered what <i>novel</i> means? Sometimes, I like to imagine that <i>novel</i> is short for <i>novelty</i> -- something you buy simply to be enjoyed. Sometimes I like to assume that books are synonymous with happiness and escape.<br />
<br />
When you force yourself to write what bores you, you're defeating the purpose. If you're trying to write something boring to please potential readers, you're not writing for yourself, and you won't enjoy the process at all.<br />
<br />
If that paragraph you just wrote about the inventory of you're MCs closet bores you to death, it'll have the same effect on your reader. <br />
<br />
Start out with a BANG!<br />
<br />
...then get to the point.<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #a64d79;">Savvy</i>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-5759854129968816612012-01-05T15:05:00.000-08:002012-01-05T15:05:36.777-08:00Sister Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle HodkinMan, I haven't done a review in a LONG time. <br />
<br />
Why? Because it seemed like every book I opened was boring. Like I was losing my grip on reading and not <i>enjoying</i> books. Nothing was captivating enough to get past the first three chapters. <br />
<br />
Until now. <br />
<br />
<i>The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer</i> had me within the first page. Not only was it a mystery, but it was a mystery done right. Even my sister (my non-reading little sister) picked up the book and had me read a couple chapters to her before she snatched it from me and read the rest herself.<br />
<br />
So without further ado, our co-review! (that rhymed)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcgU87LDguzQajq1t4LR7HiiRqYJGFFvRNwFLQ4AKo4gw8oE_cFsfRqfLtHcL_gyNKt7Goxzijdw7xHAsxR391ngCpQ8ZF2HtnhYpp87Y2wdMEqC-0IY5gxqLo1YEV9jgSOuCRAaBUmw/s1600/book+blog+stuff+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcgU87LDguzQajq1t4LR7HiiRqYJGFFvRNwFLQ4AKo4gw8oE_cFsfRqfLtHcL_gyNKt7Goxzijdw7xHAsxR391ngCpQ8ZF2HtnhYpp87Y2wdMEqC-0IY5gxqLo1YEV9jgSOuCRAaBUmw/s320/book+blog+stuff+014.jpg" width="213" /></a></div> <i>Title:</i> The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer<br />
<i>Author:</i> Michelle Hodkin<br />
<i>Publisher:</i> Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing<br />
<i>Published:</i> September 27, 2011<br />
<br />
<b>How long did it take before you really got pulled into the story? </b><br />
<br />
Maddie: The letter in the very beginning got me going, but when she meets Noah in the end of chapter 4 I knew I was hooked! <br />
<br />
Savvy: Well, I knew I was in for a ride with the letter, and it just kept getting better with each passing page. The end of Chapter 1 was definitely the point where my jaw dropped.<br />
<br />
<b>What was something you wish you could have gotten more/less of in the book?</b><br />
<br />
Maddie: More of Joseph. And more suspense in certain areas of the book. My sister and I have different views of what's "OMG CRAZY" in books/movies. Sometimes she'd be like "Ohgosh! This is where it gets good!" and then I'd read it and would have a different reaction. <br />
<br />
Savvy: Maybe less description when it comes to Noah's hair. Not that I don't LOVE him and his bedhead, but talk of his disheveled hair came up quite a lot in the book. <br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Character? </b><br />
<br />
Maddie: Out of all the characters, it'd have to be a toss-up between Jaime and Joseph. Noah, too. <br />
<br />
Savvy: Noah. Noah. Noah, Noah, Noah, Noah, Noah.<br />
And Daniel. <br />
<br />
<b>Scale of 1-10 (1 being poor; 10 being AMAZINGLYAWESOME) what would you rate the book overall? Why? </b><br />
<br />
Maddie: 10. I don't read, at all, mostly because books aren't usually interesting enough to keep me reading. But I actually really wanted to read this book. I sat down and read until I was done with it. Eating breaks were not an option. (Would the day when Madison turns down a BLT to finish reading a book!)<br />
<br />
Savvy: There's no way I could give it any less than a 10. It was brilliant, jaw-dropping, and exciting. I literally had no idea what to expect when I opened the book, and I was so pleasantly surprised by how masterfully crafted it was.<br />
<br />
<b>What age would you recommend this book to?</b><br />
<br />
Maddie: I guess it depends on what you like. I don't like the things most 14 year olds like. Both my best friends are 3-4 years older than me. So I guess I would suggest it to the average 16 year old and older. <br />
<br />
Savvy: Considering the brief language and physical content, I'd suggest it to older teens. I think, to get the full benefit of reading it, older teens in high school will connect with it better than, say, middle schoolers, simply because of all that occurs in the book. I think even adults can really appreciate the wild ride of this book. :)<br />
<br />
<b>Excited for the next book?</b><br />
<br />
Maddie & Savvy: YES!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy Reading, Friends!<br />
<br />
<i>Savvy?</i>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-20422322357544323632011-12-27T14:22:00.000-08:002011-12-27T14:22:00.526-08:00Character Analysis: In Emergencies "There's always that ONE guy."Two points of business today.<br />
<br />
1. I hope you all had a LOVELY Christmas, or whichever holiday you celebrate at this time of year. I hope you all ate until your bellies were full, and I hope you all laughed with your families and friends about how quickly this year flew by and how next year you swear to do something crazy.<br />
<br />
And I hope I did too, because I'm writing this Christmas Eve, and I have a hankering for some yummy green bean casserole. Mmm...<br />
<br />
2. I want to talk about this little trick I have to getting to know my characters better. Honestly, I didn't even realize this until a couple weeks ago when my friend and I were discussing the various roles people take in emergency situations. In my family, we double up on roles, depending on who is in trouble. I'll explain a little...<br />
<br />
At my house, when someone is sick EVERYONE pitches in. It's a team effort. For instance, when I'm down with a cold or the dreaded 24-hour stomach flu, everyone in my family acquires different action roles to get me feeling better. However, when my mom, dad, or sister is down for the count, the roles change a bit, depending on our relationship. You can see this in basically any group of people. Be it friends, family, acquaintances, strangers, the basic roles of operation are going to be filled pretty quickly.<br />
<br />
Let's look at some of the basic roles...<br />
<br />
<ul><li><b>Golden Retriever:</b> This person gets the easy way out, of sorts. They don't have to see the damage full on and get to do a lot of running and quick thinking. Golden Retriever can be compared to a nurse, handing the surgeon each and every surgical tool he asks for. The only difference is that the Golden Retriever won't always have experience in emergencies and will probably be shaking and frantic while raiding the cupboards for gauze and towels for the gunshot victim on the living room floor. This depends on the character and his/her relationship to the person in need or the person giving them orders. </li>
<li><b>Action Taker:</b> This is the person who jumps on the opportunity to take control of the situation. Must work well under pressure. If someone is puking their guts out, the action taker hold the bucket under their chin and snaps orders at everyone around them. This is the person who places their hands in the gaping wound to stop the blood. Represses shock until after the situation settles down. Gets the job done. Not always sure of what to do, but braves it out to save someone's life. </li>
<li><b>The Messenger:</b> This job won't apply to every situation, but when someone is too sick to go anywhere, to see anyone, plans must be canceled. This is the job of the Messenger. The Messenger will whip out the nearest cell phone and call in sick to school or work. It's an easy job for those who aren't terrified of phone calls.... </li>
<li><b>Nurturer:</b> This is the kind of person who definitely puts others before him/herself. Not only does the Nurturer risk their own health in some cases by being too close and comforting to a victim of a viral flu, but this person has to be the rock for the group. When the Action Taker is taking his role too seriously and is red in the face, when the Golden Retriever is on the verge of tears because she can't find the bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide and the Ibuprofen, when someone faints at the sight of blood, when the the victim is convulsing on the floor, the Nurturer is the voice of reason and calm. She holds the victim's hair back as another round of puking begins. She holds the hand of the victim as the bullet is being extracted from the wound. She sings and rubs the victim's back when their in pain. She places a gentle hand on the Action Taker's shoulder when he's losing his sanity. She explains to the Golden Retriever that the Ibuprofen is located in the other bathroom on the lowest shelf of the cupboard closest to the toilet. In short, she keeps calm and carries on. </li>
<li><b>Mr. Clean: </b>Definitely not the choice role, but it must be filled by someone, squeamish or otherwise. Mr. Clean has the roughest job, aside from the victim himself. Mr. Clean gets the honor of cleaning the bucket, post-upchuck. Mr. Clean gets to rinse out bloody washcloths. Mr. Clean gets to pick up snot-riddled tissues. Mr. Clean gets to bring out the trash. Mr. Clean is a glorified janitor. Bonus points if your Mr. Clean is a germaphobe. </li>
</ul>As you can see, there are five distinct roles for characters to fill, aside from the coveted role of Victim. The key in emergency situations is to analyze the exact circumstances, pre-emergency. By this, I mean look at relationships. If your MC's love interest is dying on the floor in a bloody heap of convulsions, is your MC going to go into shock and blink for hours instead of leaping into action. Or is he going to take on one of the distinct roles above. Then consider why.<br />
Is a secondary character going to step up to the plate and get the job done, play the Action Taker role?<br />
Or will your MC take charge, a la Jack Shepard from LOST?<br />
Will there be a battle between two action takers?<br />
Who is going to keel under pressure?<br />
Who will faint? <br />
Who will be eager to help, and who will resist getting into the action?<br />
Who's going to scream curse words at the top of their lungs when the victim's health starts spiraling out of control?<br />
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Think about your world, too. Consider the society you've created. Are strangers willing to leap to action to help someone on the street, much like in older times? Or is everyone isolated from the rest of the world in a utopian world where nothing bad ever happens? How would people like that react to someone fighting for their life?<br />
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Also consider that the five roles above can be filled by one or two people. Double up the roles. Triple 'em up if you have to! Teh Action Taker and the Nuturer can be the same person. The Messenger, the Golden Retriever and Mr. Clean can all be one person. Two people can be Golden Retrievers.<br />
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Roles can clash.<br />
People can fight.<br />
Outrage and chaos can ensue.<br />
Your victim can die. <br />
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Play with it. Be evil. Be genius.<br />
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Savvy?Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-64819306039121927782011-12-24T14:22:00.000-08:002011-12-24T14:22:28.155-08:00Character Analysis: On Stealing Bits.There's an unwritten rule amongst the actors in any theater production. The Golden Rule of actors, if you will: "Do NOT, under ANY circumstances, steal another actor's bit."<br />
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A "bit" is anything the original actor has conjured up through his/her character work in order to bring their role to life on stage. This can be a quirk, a tick, a weird vocal thing that ONLY your character can do, because it actually makes sense with all the character work you've done.<br />
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Some actors let it slide a couple times, but when you have a maximum of 3 lines and that "bit" you thought up is the single most important thing you can do to make sure the audience remembers you...well, I think you can understand the outrage. <br />
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Of course, it always happens. It shouldn't, but it does. And an actor who "steals" your bit isn't necessarily a bad person, either. I know the sweetest people who occasionally steal bits that I or my fellow actors have ingeniously thought up over the course of rehearsals. It doesn't make you a bad person, but it does make you a lazy actor. <br />
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Think of it like this: a kid is running late to class and still has a chunk of their essay on WWII to finish. Instead of admitting to the teacher that he/she didn't do their work, they copy and paste something from Wikipedia or from their older sister's previous essay, therefore plagiarizing. Yes, it's wrong, and the culprit might not even get caught for stealing someone else's work, but that doesn't make the kid a horrible person, it just makes him/her lazy. It's just like this in theater, although I've never seen a director EVER call someone out for "bit stealing". <br />
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Where am I going with this? Oh, yeah...<br />
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Believe it or not, you might be letting your characters steal each others' "bits".<br />
<br />
What?! How could I possibly do that?!<br />
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Simple. You're not distinguishing between character qualities. You might think of this GREAT idea for one of your secondary characters -- maybe an accent that they have, or a nervous tick, or a weird hobby they have -- but you're letting the other main characters (Dang you, protagonist. Dang you!!) snatch up all the good qualities, leaving that once-dazzling, three-dimensional secondary character a withered, ashy pile of two-dimensional negativity. <br />
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In short, you need to remind your characters (especially that dang protagonist) that your novel is a TEAM effort. You can't have two strong characters and a plethora of weak, unnecessary characters if you want your book to grab people by the throat and growl "READ ME". A book is a team effort, both in the real world and on the pages.<br />
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So before you add yet another good quality to your protagonist, her love interest, and her best friend, consider giving the annoying cousin the spotlight. Or maybe the creepy old man who lives across the street. Or maybe the dog.<br />
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Savvy?Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-57046810075357490992011-11-19T23:31:00.000-08:002011-11-19T23:31:24.166-08:00Day 19. Broken Promises.I really do apologize for the lack of posting....and writing.<br />
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Here's what's up: I'm moving. I'm a high school junior. There's not much time in between for NaNoing, blogging, and working out.<br />
<br />
Ugh. It's like the failed New Year's resolutions all over again!<br />
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I'm debating with myself whether or not to continue my NaNo. As it stands, I'm 12K where I need to be at 31K. The stats are making me nauseous.<br />
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I need to decide whether to finish this book off, horribly, in the next 10 days, or to wait until I've moved in December.<br />
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Decisions, decisions...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Savvy</i></span>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-29127268093394107812011-11-11T23:57:00.000-08:002011-11-11T23:57:32.266-08:00Days 10and11. When you wish upon a clock...A day like today will only come around once every 100 years. Today was 11-11-11, which, if you're not aware, is the glorious coming of the MEGA WISH.<br />
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Today, I was really ashamed of myself for missing the first 11:11. I'm not a morning person.<br />
Anyway, I did manage to snag a wish at 11:11 PM, not because I wanted my wish to come true, but because I wanted the pride of knowing I made the MEGA WISH in my lifetime.<br />
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Now, in much more important news, today is also Veterans Day for us in the US. I would like to just take a moment right now to thank all of the brave men and women fighting for our country to keep us all safe. We thank you so much for risking your lives for us and protecting us from harm. We owe you our lives.<br />
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Day 11 word count goal: 18,337<br />
Word count currently: 10,694 (working on it!)<br />
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I hope you all had a fantastic day, friends!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Savvy</i></span>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-81435310556217186522011-11-09T23:40:00.000-08:002011-11-09T23:40:46.538-08:00Day 9. I dreamed a dream of writing time gone by...Today I did nothing. I stalked the NaNo forums, procrastinated, dreamed of writing a DECENT blog post for once this month, dreamed about writing my other novel, dreamed about...everything. I dreamed about finishing this dang novel.<br />
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But, I'm reminded of a very well known quote from a book series I have not actually read or watched.<br />
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"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." ~ Albus Dumbledore (right?)<br />
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The point is, as long as I'm dreaming about what this novel will look like when it's done, it will never BE DONE! A book cannot write itself, although that would be much easier.<br />
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I need to get off my lazy butt and write already.<br />
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Word count goal: 15,003<br />
Word count currently: 9051<br />
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Come on, brain. IMAGINE!<br />
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Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Savvy</i></span>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-90697569481190516322011-11-08T23:49:00.000-08:002011-11-08T23:49:51.913-08:00Days 7and8. The fact is this...I. Am. Stumped.<br />
<br />
And lazy, but that's beside the point.<br />
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See, I ran headfirst into this novel, abandoning outlines and character charts and WINGING it, expecting it to soar. But, ironically, "winging it" isn't taking off.<br />
Get it? That was a pun.<br />
<br />
*Sigh* Even I'M not laughing at that pun. Lame pun. Ugh.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I see that not outlining was a BAD idea, but it's a little too late for that miraculous revelation. Instead, I have to grin and bear it and hope I can squeeze enough words out of my dry plot and pray it reaches 50K by the end of this month. I'm already dreading the prospect of editing this thing.<br />
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You know what? November is proving to be a REALLY lame novel writing month for me. I'm moving, and it's becoming very clear that I won't have a great deal of writing time for the next two weeks, which is alright, because I cannot WAIT to finally be settled in to my new room, and I think a change of scenery is exactly what I need to dig me out of this rut I've written myself into. But, still. More time--alone, quiet, focused time--would be desirable.<br />
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Not to mention I now have to write 51K because of yesterday's missed post. Grrrr...<br />
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Word count goal: 13,336<br />
Word count currently: 8755<br />
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Things aren't looking good.<br />
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Happy Writing, Friends<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Savvy</span></i>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490329304573038170.post-60015007249979308362011-11-06T23:32:00.000-08:002011-11-06T23:32:06.997-08:00Day 6. Word War HighSCORE!I'd like to keep this one short and sweet, and I don't like to brag much, but...<br />
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Well, my friend and I were WordWarring and I...might have....written 801 words in 20 minutes. I'm sure that's a horribly small number to most of you NaNoers, but to me (who usually gets....100 in 15 minutes) THIS IS LIKE A BIGFOOT SIGHTING!!<br />
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In other news, my spelling and grammar have taken on a nasty habit of disappearing during these wars, so I have quite a bit of editing to do December. Ugh, oh well.<br />
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Word count GOAL: 10,002<br />
Current word count: 8749<br />
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Umm, WOOT?!<br />
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Happy Writing, Friends!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Savvy</i></span>Savannah Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06562859812451513471noreply@blogger.com0