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.

Why books beat movies

This is not high school.

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.)

Epic moments all around

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;


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.