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!

Torn

So, I'm torn between reading two different books: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 

Any ideas?  I've heard great things about both, and I've really wanted to read both for a long, long time.  But now it's come down to me choosing one at the moment.  And me, being arguably the most indecisive person ever, can't decide which.  Sometimes I feel I should read one, but then it changes within the hour. 

Basically, I need help.  Any.   

So.  Anything?   

On a sidenote, I started writing a romance, a full romance, a good six or more months ago--but then I put it off to the side since that's not something I typically write (I certainly include romances within my novels, but never have I embarked on a total romance novel).  I love my characters in it though, and though it's romance, and typically happy and, yes, turbulent at times, I feel I've really pushed the boundaries with this one and come up with a killer plot.  I think, after posting this, I'll go check up on it (since you're supposed to put your work away for a bit then go look at again, with "fresh" eyes).  So, yep.  Just felt like sharing.  Maybe something will come of this one.  :)

So, that's it.  As always, write on!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo = Good Stuff

So, as many of you know, the American version of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hits theaters the 21st of this month, in...(hang on while I count)...8 days!  (Well, 7, if you don't count the day it comes out.)  To say I'm excited would be a terrific understatement; I was so wholly captivated by the first novel, so flabbergasted by (most notably) one of the two main characters, Lisbeth Salander (look her name up; it'll be quite interesting), that I simply was ecstatic when I heard David Fincher was taking on this incredible Swedish thriller.  I recently purchased the sequel, so I'm hoping to get around to that as soon as possible.   

For those of you who don't know what it's about, I'll surmise it here (perhaps this'll help me hone my hook skills).  A recently convicted journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, and a computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, work together to piece together the puzzle of a girl who disappeared more than forty years ago. 

Sounds wonderful, no?  So, if you're into thrillers, mysteries, fascinating characters (I warn you, there are some heavily revolting scenes both in the book and, according to what the movie is rated R for, in the movie as well), and twists around every corner, pick up The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and prepare for the movie on the 21st.  Already read it?  Let's wait together!  (I'll start counting down on my fingers.) 

And remember: Evil shall with evil be expelled.  (Seriously one of my favorite movie taglines ever!)   

Write on!

A Bit O' Inspiration

I'd like to take this moment and say sorry for not keeping up with the blog (since my last post was what, August???).  Though I'm certain you all have vastly interesting lives, and actual things to do other than read my blog, for the times you did drop in to see if a new post was up, I firstly want to thank you, and also extend my apologies for not having posted in quite some time and not having anything up for you to read.  I always tell myself I'll get better, I'll post more...but alas.  Perhaps some of you have good ways to avoid procrastination?  (Though the obvious, most blatant tip is JUST DO IT.)  Because seriously, I'll take anything.

Ahem. 

Moving away from the somberness of the above paragraph, I thought I'd post a link to a video I found SO funny, SO inspirational...just so APPLICABLE to us dedicated, can't-do-anything-but-write writers out there, editing, writing, thinking...just going through the process of writing the book. 

It's from the amazing, the sprightly, the fabulous K.M. Walton, whose debut contemporary novel CRACKED hits stores January 3rd, 2012!  She did a parody of the song "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars--with a writer twist--and it's just downright, hilariously incredible (not to mention heaps of inspirational). 

Here's the link: http://skateorbate.blogspot.com/2011/10/billionaire-parody-for-writers.html.  Enjoy!  And remember, never give up! 

Write on! 

In Which I Blab About Harry Potter

So, anyone else terrifically excited for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2?  I know I am!  And I'm like, SO very excited, because, for the first time, I'm going to the midnight premiere!  I'm completely psyched, and cannot wait!  The movie's going to be completely EPIC (I mean, did you see the trailer???).   

So, anyone else been to a Harry Potter midnight premiere?  I'm a little unsure of what time to get there.  We were thinking 9 but that seems almost too late to me...I've looked it up on Google, and a lot of people were saying to get to your theater at 2 or 3, or sometimes even earlier (unless you live in a small town...which, we don't).  So, if anyone could give any suggestions, that'd be great.  :)  Also, do people dress up?  I suppose if you're a true Potter fan you do, but I'm not so sure I want to (and I don't even know who I'd go as!).  =P  I guess we'll see...

Well, that's about it.  On a random note, I'm like completely in love with Stephen King's stuff.  I'm only about halfway through my first novel of his, and I've already bought another...and I'm just totally blown away.  No wonder everyone praises him so much.  :)  Certainly a writer all aspiring writers should look up to...

And now, I post one of the trailers for the amazing, the epic, the LAST of them all: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (can't believe this is it already--sob face) and watch it a trillion times and get all jittery and crazy...  =D 

SO EXCITED!!!

Why the Book Hate?

Ugh.  I'm a little angry right now...  One of our friends was over a few hours ago, and--for whatever reason--said she hates books.  Just hates 'em.  I kept my curious composure after she'd said it, and just sat there (shaking my head inside) as my brother showed her a few of our books, trying to convice her to read at least two before summer's end.     

She agreed, though I remained suspicious, and then, five seconds later, decided she didn't want to read them anymore.  She said, expressionless, "I hate books."  And, don't get me wrong, I'm not just pointing her out...because, sadly, I've heard this more times than I can recall. 

It greatly angers me when I hear that, and saddens me.  Books can do so much for someone, for anyone...and even if you're not into that whole intellectual aspect of them, they're still most definitely a source of incredible entertainment.  I honestly don't know why people say this.  In fact--perhaps there are others--I can really only think of one reason, and it's unfortunate.  That reason--the only real thing I can attribute it to--is school.  Because we are given required books we (most of the time) don't like, or barely even read (or just don't read at all) through our years of school, I suppose a bad taste is put in our mouths about books, and thus makes various people "hate" them as a whole.     

I still don't understand, though.  Go ahead.  Don't read whatever you're being "forced" to read.  Fail your test.  Whatever.  But don't say you hate all books because of that. 

Yes, there have been numerous things I've read in school that I haven't liked much.  I haven't hated them completely, but I've certainly disliked them.  But so what?  Everyone has books they don't like.  On the other end of the spectrum, though, there have been other books that---had it not been for school--I probably never would've heard of, never read, and never fallen in love with.  "School," to me, seems like a sorry excuse for hating books, yet it's unfortunately the only one I hear every time I ask why, and that's the truth.   

So, that's my little angry rant for the day.  I can't figure out how you can hate an object that's done nothing to you, something so glorious as a book, no less.  You don't have to like reading, but don't just hate all books because of one experience or what you're being told.

So, what do you think?  Is the reason I run into so many kids and teenagers who "hate" books school?  Do you know anybody who hates them as well?  Maybe there are other contributing factors...?