New Website!

Hi all!

In case anyone still checks in on here, I wanted to let you know I've made an official author website, that I will now be using instead of this blog. Check it out here.

You can also find me on Twitter @MilesMcGWrites, and Goodreads here.

Thanks again for reading! The journey continues!

-Miles

Taking a (Possibly Permanent) Break

So, this is sort of a weird post to write.  I'm not quite sure where to begin.  I suppose I'll just get right to it.

I'd just like to say that, for the moment, I'm retiring the blog.  That's absolutely not to say I won't return--in fact, I'd love to return--but the way life is going, blogging is sadly not my priority at the moment.    

In case anybody still reads my blog, firstly I'd like to say thank you.  I'm very glad you stopped by to check out the journey, be it for a moment or through all my posts.  :)  (And believe me--the titular author's quest is still going; I'm still writing, still reading…still being a bookish nerd.)  Secondly, I'd like to point out this post is twofold: 1) so you, any readers, can know there will likely no longer be anymore posts, and 2) for me, to tie things up.  See, I often remember I have a blog I'm supposed to be writing, then remember I honestly just do not have the time; this post will help in closing things down.  I just do not want to disappoint anyone, and have anyone continue to think I'm blogging (again, I may return, but I'm not entirely sure that'll happen).      

Again, I'd like to thank you all, for commenting and being joyful fellow bloggers.  I've loved this blog.  It's fun to look back through posts, see where I've been, and also look forward, and hope I'll reach my dream of publication one day (I hope the same for all of you, too, in case you haven't reached it!).    

So, perhaps for the last time, I simply have one thing to say:  

Write on.  

-Miles    

We Are Writers

This writing business is no piece of cake.

In all actuality, it's pretty brutal.  

But, you know what?  That's why I love it.  

There are no easy routes.  

No easy answers.  

All it boils down to is you and your writing.  

In the end, you are your own worst enemy, own worst critic, own best reader and best understander of your work.  You are the reason things are created and slashed and rebuilt and destroyed.  You are the one who is bringing a story to life, from your mind to the page.  

You are the reason.  I am the reason.  

We are writers.  

We will write on.  

Here, There, and Everywhere

So I'm here, and I'm writing, and I'm reading multiple novels right now (why do I do this to myself?)...but most importantly, I'm here, and I'm writing.  And not writing a novel or poem or muse-induced what-have-you, but a personal, right-here-right-now blog post.  I truly apologize to each of you for the enormous gap between blog posts as of, oh, probably 2011, especially the post you're reading now and the previous one. There's no excuse for the decline, and I'm truly trying to get better.  

But I'm here, and I'm writing.  :)  And while I can say with certainty my life is about to get pretty hectic come a week or two from now, while I can say with certainty I'm about to be here, there, and everywhere, I can assure you I'll continue writing.  On here, hopefully.  On here, especially.  

So...was there really a point to this post?  Not really.  Other than to note I'm still here.  I'll hopefully update this much more than I have in the past, which is an atrociously small amount.  

Let's end with a random fun fact, shall we?  

In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator.  (http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~bingbin/)  

As always, write on!  

Random Factoids!

Let me first say this is for no particular reason, save for my current boredom and my attempt to keep up with my blog and get back into the "swing of things."  Basically, I wanted to spice things up and do something fun.  Enjoy! 

In no particular order... 

1. I really REALLY want to learn how to play the piano.  It's my favorite instrument.  Sometimes I just sit and blast Beethoven and Mozart, among others, when I need inspiration or a good jolt of stunning talent. 
2. Today is apparently the Oreo cookie's 100th birthday!  Happy Birthday Oreo!  :)  
3. I've recently found myself stalking the twitters of celebrities.  
4. My favorite season is summer!  :)  
5. I used to watch American Idol, but after Simon left I basically stopped watching it (I'll catch a few episodes here and there).  
6. I think it'd be so cool to be in an animated movie.  
7. I'm SO EXCITED for THE HUNGER GAMES!  March 23rd is coming quick!  Woohoo!  =D  
8. You should all play Rummikub, the board game that's not really a board game, but it's in a board game box, so I call it a board game.  
9. And, on that note, Catch Phrase.  
10. The show Impractical Jokers is hilarious!  Check it out if you haven't.  

And that's all.  Have a fantastic day, and write on!  :)   

Prose vs. Verse

I'm here, and I'm writing.  :)  Writing this post, of course, and loads of other works tucked away (poetry, prose, short stories and verse novels, among seemingly a million other things I just can't shake away or write fast enough).  Which is a definite blessing, and also a bit of an obstacle.  Now, I know there's no excuse for not updating the blog as regularly as I should be, and honestly, these hi-I'm-here-and-apologizing-yet-making-excuses-of-why-I'm-not-blogging-as-often-as-I-should-be posts are probably starting to annoy you just as much as they're annoying me.  But, of course, I'd rather be writing and plowing away at my dreams than updating you all on my menial life, which I assure you nobody would want to read about.  That and I'm at a loss for new posts...   

...Until now!  *cue applause and balloons releasing into the air*

Prose vs. verse. 

Which do you prefer?  Do you guys even prefer one over the other?  I like prose better, and like writing prose better (I feel you have to know how to write poetry--and thus verse novels--rather than just jump into them; essentially, I feel it's an inherent skill), but have no problem reading verse and occasionally attempting it.  Now, I know I'm no Shakespeare or Hopkins (yes, those two authors are very much in the same sentence, because they're both brilliant in their own ways and are both well-known poets), but can still have fun trying to put words together in succinct and flowing ways. 

I guess it's all just a matter of opinion.

So, do you guys like to read one or the other?  Don't mind?  In all honesty, I didn't even know verse novels existed until a few years ago, when I saw someone reading Ellen Hopkins's BURNED.  I fell in love with the cover and quickly got myself a copy--only to open it up and see the words in this bizarre new format (fantastic book, by the way). 

Hmmm. 

I suppose
the debate
will forever
go on.   

HAPPY NEW YEAR (And Other News)

Well, yeah.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  =D 

I simply cannot believe it's 2012 already.  Really can't.  But, hey, I'm always up for a new year, with new people, new things, new craziness, new books, new writings, new chances... 

The list goes on and on. 

I simply wanted to wish each and every one of you the best of luck in 2012, with whatever it is that you do.  I sincerely hope you all can achieve your dreams and push forward with whatever it is you want.  I give you all a cyber thumbs up and a pat on the back!  :) 

In other news, I just finished Khaled Hosseini's THE KITE RUNNER.  And man.  WOW. 

What a stunner.  Like, honestly, one of the most moving books I've ever read.  I just finished it a few hours ago, but I'm still thinking about it.  Every character, every event...  I'm not joking when I tell you to read this astonishing novel.  I've really never been so touched by a book, and hope to one day write something as spellbinding as this. 

Wow. 

So, again, a big warm HAPPY NEW YEAR; my sincerest wishes to each of you, hoping we all achieve our dreams in 2012 and find comfort and love (and good writing within ourselves!) and, above all, happiness. 

From An Author's Quest to you, I bid farewell (until next time; maybe that was a teensy bit overdramatic...). 

Write on!