Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009


Tonight marks 2010. The past ten years have seen me start school, make friends, lose friends, move from California to small but lovable hickville, learn to read and learn to write, get my heart broken and grow a strong addiction to glitter.
Example A--Well, just look up.
2009 was an especially lovely year.
It came with these:
http://eplteen.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/catching-fire.jpghttp://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/4400000/THE-LAST-OLYMPIAN-percy-jackson-and-the-olympians-books-4412157-800-1228.gifhttp://karinlibrarian.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/clare_glass.jpg
All of which are now on my favorite book list.
It came with these:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e308/creamgirl23/E_POSTER_NEW_MOON_.jpghttp://blog1.ebates.com/ebates/Harry%20Potter%20Merchandise.jpghttp://static.reelmovienews.com/images/gallery/avatar-movie-poster_353x529.jpg
And for me personally, it came with the end of my first year of highschool, the start of my querying agents, and this:
http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/122/898/787/r7xm.jpg
As you know, a girl's purse is her best friend. A purse that can fit book? Well, that's a true BFF.
Anyway. 2009 was a good year. It's weird and strange that we're now entering the double digits. My entire life seems to be in the last decade. It was when the towers fell in 2001, when America entered a war, when the last Harry Potter came out and the start of a really cool cell phone.
However, 2010 isn't looking too shabby either. I mean with this stuff all coming out;http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5700000/Eclipse-Poster-eclipse-movie-5727411-280-410.jpghttp://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/images/cvrCatchingFire.jpghttp://jacketupload.macmillanusa.com/jackets/high_res/jpgs/9780312606169.jpg
2010 is bound to be good.
Anyway, this will be my last post of 2009. Happy New Years! Oh, and as a farewell present, I offer you this . . .
http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/jjr/headlines/2008/11/taylor-lautner-tire-swing.jpg
Because what would the end of the year be without a tribute to my shallow side?
Happy 2010, everyone.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Slowly becoming human again

NIn case you are not aware, high school can be very draining. Finals are particularly sapping. After several days of winter break, I'm suddenly feeling human though. I blame a huge bag of starburst and several seasons of Gilmore Girls for this reemergence into the species.
http://www.desktopexchange.com/gallery/albums/Television-Wallpapers/Gilmore_Girls.jpg
It's freakishly obsessive. Anyway, I apologize for post delays, AGAIN. I shall do better, promise.
My Christmas was good; I didn't post anything (blame this anti human streak. It's a very please-god-let-me-ace-my-finals way of life and doesn't leave much time for anything other than studying and the occasional working on my stories) but my Xmas was lovely. To quote Ron Weasely, it was good haul, plus I got to hang out with my family.
I also got this:


Which was very good. I got a lot of others, too, but that's the only one I'm actually finished with. Now it's my mission to steal Battle Royale from my sister.
So far, we have had snow several times here. It's great; we had a white Christmas. Well, the driving in snow part wasn't so great, but it was pretty. My dad, sister and I went to see Avatar a couple of days ago . . .
http://www.treehugger.com/avatar-navi-blue-photo2.jpg
For a movie about ten foot tall blue people, I found it amazing. It was pretty, it was deep and hey, there were even dragons.
Look! Dragons!
http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/zz7c491fa4-550x278.jpg
It was the kind of plot that you read about, actually, but think would never get translated to movie. Too controversial, maybe. Boring, perhaps. No one but nerds would go see it.
Well, I am a Class A nerd, but I have friends who aren't (shocker) who have loved it as well. The special effects, perhaps? Or--
Oh, I know.
The ten foot tall blue people.
More later.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Wow, okay, I'm jealous

http://thespectacleblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/dead_tossed_waves.jpg
What an awesome cover.
I mean. . . That's really all I can say.
Wait, not all I can say.
When I get a book published, I want a cover like this. I don't know why, but I find it particularly amazing.
Wow.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

All I want for Xmas is a big, fat, book

This has been an interesting few weeks.
First of all, my computer keeps freaking out. That's partly why posting is so sporadic; every time I seem to log on, it kicks me off. Cursed creature.
Second, there are some lovely teachers that are piling their students with homework. Reason number two.
And third, I was just kind of angry with the whole agent search thing after the 'Fifteen year olds are not responsible.'
But I am over that. Now is the time for holidays. Yay!http://www3.telus.net/public/kstam/images/menorah-med.jpg
Sadly, I don't know many other holiday symbols. If I left yours out, I'm sorry!
Personally, we celebrate Christmas. I'm excited; every year we get tons of books. This year, I'm asking for these;
http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n66/n330675.jpghttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_pCHDD7t20Jc/SseT2bzQJWI/AAAAAAAAAwo/H-xu1jRBo5o/Fallen%20by%20Lauren%20Kate%5B7%5D.jpghttp://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/assets/product/9780547223995.gif
These are the ones that I've seen that look good. (Oh wait. Magic Under Glass won't come out on time, but it still looks good.) Any other suggestions? Of course, I'm also asking for this;
http://imstars.aufeminin.com/stars/fan/alex-pettyfer/alex-pettyfer-20080708-434325.jpg
But I don't think they supply those at my local Target. Or my high school. Pity.
Anyway.
I just finished this;
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuvgcqEzT0P6tbmchHOtuoyrvMvWAqGSVXoOt5oAM4zKFarTww6_6Q2D4zT8nehYjJBrC14Ae0-JbYi4305M9KajeJOP-PumYl3eX0I4LwH6IToEWF_tF-jBoeGxEJ0EgPBdLG2S1woIk/s400/crashed.JPG
And I would suggest it. It's robots and science and treachery galore, plus it was blurbed by Scott Westerfeld. It's the sequel to Skinned, which I enjoyed, but didn't adore. Crashed, however, was one of those books that I hide under my desk when the teacher is talking and then stare longingly at instead of doing my assignment. It built well, it ended well; it was just a very good book.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Check

So. There are certain things teenagers are expected to do.
Such as-
Get your heart broken by a guy. Check.
Lay on the floor with friends reading magazines. Check.
Sing with the windows down in a car. Check.
Get braces. Check.
Get braces off. Check(as of two hours ago.)
Watch mindless television. Check.
Get angry at family. Check.
Avoid doing homework and go to mindless movie about vampires instead. ...reluctantly, check.
So yes. I get it. Most teens can be somewhat stereotyped.
Then there's a little different list.
Write book. Check.
Spend hours revising book. Check.
Spend more hours. Check.
Send in book. Check.
Get back review and revisions. Check.
Spend more hours revising. Check.
More hours.
More hours.
More hours.
Lie to friends about why you refuse to pick up phone or go watch brainless television and keep revising. Check.
Send back in. Check.
Get email two days later about how
'We love the story, but it is with our greatest regrets we'll have to turn this down. It's simply that most teenagers are not responsible enough to sign.'
Or some such. I kind of deleted the rejection.
(Fine, not the most mature thing.)
But still. I'm not responsible?! After all of the hours put into it, I think I'm responsible enough.
Heavy Sigh.
Heavy Sigh Again.
Oh well. There's more agents out there. That was just kind of a slap in the face.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Why books beat movies

This is not high school.
http://www.aolcdn.com/ch_kids/high-school-musical-300a101106.jpg
On the other hand, neither is this.

It's funny. With all the movies, commericials, articles, about high school students, you'd think that more of the average kid's life would get covered. But it really isn't.
For instance, I have yet to see my cafeteria break out in renditions of 'Status Quo.' In fact, there isn't even really a status quo at school-at all. Yet look at most movies about teenagers, and there will be the hated 'Clique.'
That's why I love books so much more. Authors like Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, Maureen Johnson, and so many more, will catch a kid's view way better than a lot of movies. (I'm talking mostly realistic*ish* fiction.) Granted, there is the occasional patronizing book that comes to mind (one in particular is sitting on my floor, where I happened to throw it out of sheer annoyance) but in general, books do a better job of catching point of view.
A movie is not going to catch the unrequited crush that turns out to be a jerk. It isn't going to show you how much it hurts to lose a friend, or how much we stress out about grades. It won't teach you about long, rambling emails, or how much stupid, little stuff hurts. Books have all of that.
What brought on the monologue? I heard some girls complaining about how no one understands teenagers. It's a kind of common whine around high school, and on some level, sure, I agree. Of course, no one really understands anyone, regardless of age. Books are those lovely little creatures that let us see into other people for a little while. I don't think it matters how old you are.
This is a key example of why books will always, always be better than movies.
(Though admittably some, like the one below, come pretty dang close.)
http://www.impawards.com/2007/posters/stardust.jpg

Monday, November 2, 2009

Epic moments all around

http://static.open.salon.com/files/national_novel_writing_month1254850340.jpg
I'm not even going into that, other than to say, yes, I am participating. Kind of. But I think everyone knows the rules and the excitement. I think it's great. I do kind of find myself wincing on behalf of the agents and editors out there (I imagine they're about to be bombarded with hundreds and thousands of manuscripts) but it is great. Epic, even.
(Agh, just googled Epic to find a picture. Yuck.)
Halloween is over, which is sad. I'm kind of a sugar bug, so I'm fond of that holiday. The only problem is the ferocity of trick or treating children. They're very forceful.
For instance:
Me- "Oh, that's a cute costume."
Little blonde creature- "What am I?"
I look her up and down and recognize the S and W on her blue and red outfit. "You're Superwoman."
Blonde creature- "No, I'm Super Girl. Get it right!"
And she tromps off, candy in tow. I resisted the urge to take back the Snickers bars. This is my effort of spreading holiday cheer-not smacking children and withholding candy.
Oh, wait, that's Christmas
On a random note, I just finished this book;
http://www.pambachorz.com/storage/Candor_cover_FINAL.jpg

It's very good. Creepy with an aggravating ending, but very good all the same.
The book trailer is even better. And no, that's not just because the guy's kind of cute.
That's only some of it.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Best time of year

http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/fall-of-autumn-leaves-wallpaper.jpg
This is seriously what my back yard looks like. All of it. It's beautiful. I love the trees, and I love the rain we have.
I just sent off a partial request. Fingers crossed. (Or they would be, if I could get my stomach to calm down.)
So. I'm reading Leviathan, by Scott Westerfield. It's very good. This is it's cover.
http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/leviathanusfinalsmall.jpg
This is what came up when I googled 'Leviathan.'
http://i.neoseeker.com/mgv/327781-Remino52/781/45/leviathan_display.jpg
Anyway. I found that remarkably cool.
*shrugs.*
This would be longer, but my friend is having a bonfire and I have to go get ready. YAY! Bon fire! Smores! Fire! Lots of loud, insane people! And . . . chocolate strawberries? Yes, those too, because she is just that cool.
http://www.freefoto.com/images/33/15/33_15_57---Fire-Flame-Textures_web.jpg
http://api.ning.com/files/bd25fj9ckWM539qn-eYaPOXtCHjQdPpN6KvMQRpaPUc_/chocolate_strawberry.jpg

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Not fond of this sick thing

I admit it. I've been kind of blase about the whole swine flu thing. And yeah, I probably don't have that. (Note that the doctor's said probably. I didn't even think about it until she said something like 96% chance not. Thank you for that four percent chance.)
But holy monkeys, the normal flu this year? It is bad.
On one hand, though, I've been working on revisions a LOT. I thought it would be easy. Cut, chop, be done.
No.
Very wrong. Everything ties so well together that by cutting three chapters, I have to add in other place, and cut in other places, and basically sew it together.
I do like it better now, though.
I'm cutting long, long wordy passages, and it kind of hurts. They're pretty, but they're boring. Kind of like some celebrities. I don't want my book to be a boring celebrity. I want it to be a Miley Cyrus.
http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/jj1//2009/02/cyrus-oscars/miley-cyrus-2009-oscars-03.jpg
Either you love her, or you hate her, but very rarely to people just give up bored. Also, she's remarkably pretty, and sparkly.
(Random note. It was kind of hard to find a good picture with clothes on, and no mean comments added.)
So, anyway. That's my two cents. Being sick stinks, and books should be like Miley Cyrus.
I think I'm on too much medication.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Revisions are my life

Delete Chapter One.
Delete Chapter Two.
Delete Chapter Three.
Rewrite one through four.
Delete bits of revision.
Rewrite.
Add an explosion.
Splice Chapter Five, Six and Seven together.
Chapter Eight is now Chapter Five.
Revisions are my new life.
Sigh.
But I think they might be done by Sunday, if I write like a maniac.
(Note the maniac part in particular.)
The one good thing? I am watching so much less television.
Now, because it's a short post....

Because this is a television show I make time for. (Vampire Diaries.) Because the actors are remarkably good for a vampire television show, and because I am way jealous of that dress and those shoes. And the hair. Oh, and the boyfriend. And....You get the picture.
I'm off to sleep....in seven hours I must wake up.....

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Like Heaven, except less guys

My local Borders long ago lost my respect when I realized the religion section was three times as large as the young adult, twice as big as the science fiction, and only about half as small as the romance. (Possibly this might be a bit exaggerating.) However, it has gained it back.
How?
By becoming Young Adult reader heaven.
Don't I wish.
Well, it's almost that good. I bought four different YA books; no doubt I'll blog about them later. I don't want to put them here in case they end up being something I dislike. It was seriously beautiful though-five huge bookshelves filled, with something other than Twilight and the Pendragon series. While I like both, I get a bit sick of them.
On another, more random note;

Isn't it cool? You can find them here. They're from Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series. If they weren't over fifty bucks, I would probably have one. However, I'm a teenager and have decided to save my money after realizing that all the colleges I like are 50 grand a year.
(Enter image of me choking.)
Then, there's this-Scrivener.
It's a writing software that looks supremely cool. I'm asking for a new program for Christmas. Unfortunately, that one only runs on Macs, because it's by far the coolest I've seen. It does digital sticky notes, snapshots, all sorts of interesting, awesome things. I love my Dell computer, though.
Off to finish Chapter Ten now . . . Or read . . . . Or research college.
I'm going to chose reading or writing, actually. If I do that, then I won't have to go crawl into a corner of emo.
:D

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

A teenager's take

My high school doesn't ban books. In fact, we've got 'Read a banned book' posters ALL over the walls at school. Now, I live in a town with probably less than 30,000 people. I think the little census signs say 12,000. (But that's way, way off.) Regardless, we're kind of small, and my town probably does have some close minded people. In fact, we weren't allowed to watch the president's speech a couple weeks ago because so many people complained.
Yet we don't ban books. Why? Quite frankly?
It's stupid and pointless. Yet it happens.
Ever read this series?

(It's the old cover.)
This series used to be pretty popular. I've read them. They're good.
Ahem. 'The book was pulled from the middle school library recommended list because of concerns that the book deals with the occult.'
It's not funny, yet I find myself laughing . . .
It is called FICTION. I'm a teenager and I'm writing a story about demons. Does that make me a witch? No. (Do I want to be a witch? Most definitely. I mean, just look;
Sigh. Don't I wish. Those books were banned-or at least challenged-too. What a crime . . .)
Anyway, back to the point. If I write about demons, that doesn't make me a demon worshiper. If it deals with the supernatural, it isn't the occult; at least not the creepy, let's kill the world and drink blood kind.
Yes, I do feel the urge to put a picture of a vampire. I'm abstaining. This is how serious I am. You have no idea how much it hurts.
Then there's this book.

Banned because: 'objected to the novel’s depiction of how blacks are treated by members of a racist white community.'
Um, that's the point of the book. It's American culture, as sad as that is. It just makes no sense. This happens in schools. Primarily high schools. As a kid, my take on it is a little different. Yes, it's terrible that it infringes our rights. However, I think the hypocrisy is worse.
Banning a high school student from reading insinuates that we're idiots. It is as if we can't handle what we are reading. If you can trust us with a car, then you can trust us with a book. If you can trust us to get up, go to school, make our dinner, feed the dog, do all of that and more, then I just don't see the point in banning a book. I promise--even if we read stories about the occult, it will not be nearly as traumatizing as some of the movies I've seen, or the jokes made by some of my guy friends.
Ugh. Yeah, I think some of those jokes are about twelve hundred times worse than anything I've ever read.
Now, because I refrained earlier, because my mind is now scarred from remembering those strange and terrible jokes, and because these books are ALSO banned . . .

Yup. Banned for pornographic images.
Come on, America. Just get over it.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

It's kind of like cinema heaven

Note the kind of. If it was true cinema heaven, there would be more Tom Felton. I'd put a picture of him, but I think you all know what he looks like. (If not, just scroll down. I'm sure you'll find one.)
However. With the news of this--


--becoming a movie, my world has brightened. (This is the Italian cover of City of Glass. I'm using it as silent proof of foreign countries abilities to produce awesome covers.) Granted, it's an American movie and the first book being optioned, but still. YAY!
Second, there is this.
Yes, pure awesome. The Olympian series by Rick Riordan is becoming a movie. However, the guy playing Percy is seventeen...good for teenage girls. Sad for those who wanted an exact copy of the book. Still, though, I think it'll be really good.
Okay, that makes me sound less like a squealing little girl than I am. Truthfully? I really did start squealing when I saw the commerical.
Sigh. What I can I say? I love these books, have been reading 'em since they came out. I even have the original cover on Lightning Thief.
Third, there's the fact that the Uglies movie is set for 2011. Yes, Uglies by Scott Westerfield.

That's the full shot of the girl upon Uglies cover. Now, I don't know about most people...but if I looked like that? Well, I sure as heck wouldn't be calling myself ugly. Pft.
Then, there's apparently a Hunger Games movie coming out in the same year!!! Hunger Games!! Movie!! Loud, wild screaming, please? Yes, indeed. It will probably be majorly violent, and I don't care. It's a teen movie so it can't be THAT bad.
Seriously. How awesome is that?
Then, finally . . . There's this . . .

....Pretty....
That is, Dakota Fanning's dress. What else would I have meant?

Friday, September 18, 2009

What's wrong with mature?

People that like to write--especially the like to write fiction--don't tend to be boring. It's kind of hard to have 'no imagination' when you spend all day writing about imagined worlds.
Yet for the past three weeks, I have been fending off comments about being 'too mature' 'too sensible' and 'just way unimaginative'.
Yes, because I don't turn my mind to dream up new 'Your Face' jokes, I now have no imagination.
Gah. I've never been told maturity is a bad thing, and yet now I've got a friend who, to quote, thinks I was born thirty and grow more middle aged every day; who says I don't take risks.
I have fun. I enjoy myself; I go to parties, I hang out with friends, I dream about selling my sister to the circus and I spend all Geometry talking about cute boys. (You may notice a recurring pattern. I don't speak math.)
Bleh. I don't understand why being mature and not wanting to lie and act stupid ALL THE TIME is a bad thing.
My apologies. So, I know this has nothing to do about writing, and that's what I meant this blog for . . . but quite honestly, it's bugging me and I was interested to see if anyone else had opinions.
Mature is bad, now? Not just bad, but utterly taboo?


See? Look how mature the baby panda is, petting its mom. Or whatever it's doing. No one tells HER(Him? It?) that she/he/it is too sensible . . .

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

A high power existance

So, with school out, rain pouring down and being home alone, I have lost my motivation.
I don't know where it went. I wish I did. But instead of doing my homework, I find myself obsessively editing and checking my email. Editing entertains me, so I don't count it as work.
Seriously. This has been my afternoon thus far.
Sit. Stare.
Click onto internet.
Check Yahoo account. Nothing.
Sit. Stare. Read a few pages of Catching Fire. Edit a chapter from my most recent story.
Click mouse.
Check AOL account. Notifications from Facebook.
Sit. Stare. Edit some more.
Click on to internet.
Check Yahoo and OMG THERE IS SOMETHING THERE IS, THERE IS-
There is a notification from Piknic about their process of touching up pictures.
Sit. Scream.
Sit. Stare. Look down at my Honors Geometry homework. Decide that Geometry will never be used in the real world, so doing the homework this very instant isn't necessary.
Edit some more, write a few paragraphs.
Sit. Stare. Click. Repeat.
Yes. This is the life of the modern teenager.
What a hopeful future we have, America. What a hopeful future indeed.
....
Ok. Going to go do something productive now....
Yeah. Sure.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Eight years ago today

I was in second grade when the planes hit.
Second grade.
But I can remember.
I was so scared. My mom was crying. The news showed nothing but image after image, and in my mind it was almost like a game. Surely those weren't, like, people. Surely not. I told a mom at school what had happened and she laughed at me. Laughed, because she couldn't believe it was true.
I'm mentioning it here because it seems quite honestly as if so many others forgot. I know that we have to move on. While we're still in the midst of a war that (supposedly) was started by these attacks, though, I think we should remember.
It's been eight years. Eight years, and that's a long time. But I don't think we should forget. Yeah, it's depressing. It seems like we're dishonoring those that died, though, by just forgetting; by just not mentioning it.
I don't know. It really bothered me all day, though. It was too terrible to brush away, even after eight years . . . We didn't even have a moment of silence at school. (At least not in the Spanish Hallway, where the intercom doesn't work.)
It just seems like those people deserve better.