Finally finished Crystal's story last night.
Phew. Finished one day before the deadline.
I don't think anyone could understand it though unless they read through Crystal's notes and already had a decent understanding of her world. But then again, it's only a fragment of a whole.
I thought it would be more frustrating trying to link the flashbacks to the present, but it ended up being an interesting sort of puzzle.
It took a lot longer than I thought though. Mainly the first part where I had to start linking everything together.
I tried doing some strange stuff with the tense of the text too. I wanted it to be another layer to losing the sense of what is real and what isn't. I hope it came out right.
Anyway, it turned out a lot better than I was afraid it would, and I worked like crazy to get the flashback stuff right. And I played around with recurring themes and symbolism stuff. So I hope you guys like it. TToTT
~*~
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Music and Voices
I have so many books piled up that I need to read (many of which are stacked in my closet since there's no room on my bookshelf. I need another bookshelf.) So I've been listening to several books on tape recently.
Most of the time, the people reading them do a good job. But there were a couple that I listened to that were just plain bad. Like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The guy had a really obnoxious nasaly voice, and he increased the obnoxious levels on several of the voices.
And then the one I just listened to was annoying too. He just sounded so smug and pleased with himself that I wanted to smack him.
Speaking of listening to things. I got the (abbreviated) soundtrack to Les Miserables. I wonder when the full soundtrack will come out. I've been listening to it over and over (editing out a few songs). It's been a very long time since I've gotten obsessed with an entire soundtrack. Selected songs from a soundtrack, yes. But not one where I go through almost the entire CD repeatedly. And now I have two to obsess over. Because I've gotten out the Wicked soundtrack too. Seeing the play made me realize that I liked a lot more of the songs than just Defying Gravity and For Good.
For Les Mis, I like all of the singers too. Which is also great, because there's often a few that I'm not crazy about. But they're pretty much all nice to listen to (and so is Elphaba!).
One Day More. Wow. That song. All the different voices and all of the melodies overlapping. It's amazing. I've played that one over and over.
And the last song... Sooo sad. TT^TT
And speaking of music, one of our new band songs tonight called for 12 percussionists. And we only have about five. There have been a couple occasions before where they needed to recruit other band members to play percussion. But this is the first time I've done it. So I'm playing bass drum for one song.
My appreciation for percussionists has gone up. If you lose your place looking at that music, there's NO WAY to find your place again. At least I don't have any 30 measure long rests. I play pretty constant.
The vibrations of the drum go up my arm make it feel all funky. Heheh.
It's fun to pound on a giant drum.
Most of the time, the people reading them do a good job. But there were a couple that I listened to that were just plain bad. Like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The guy had a really obnoxious nasaly voice, and he increased the obnoxious levels on several of the voices.
And then the one I just listened to was annoying too. He just sounded so smug and pleased with himself that I wanted to smack him.
Speaking of listening to things. I got the (abbreviated) soundtrack to Les Miserables. I wonder when the full soundtrack will come out. I've been listening to it over and over (editing out a few songs). It's been a very long time since I've gotten obsessed with an entire soundtrack. Selected songs from a soundtrack, yes. But not one where I go through almost the entire CD repeatedly. And now I have two to obsess over. Because I've gotten out the Wicked soundtrack too. Seeing the play made me realize that I liked a lot more of the songs than just Defying Gravity and For Good.
For Les Mis, I like all of the singers too. Which is also great, because there's often a few that I'm not crazy about. But they're pretty much all nice to listen to (and so is Elphaba!).
One Day More. Wow. That song. All the different voices and all of the melodies overlapping. It's amazing. I've played that one over and over.
And the last song... Sooo sad. TT^TT
And speaking of music, one of our new band songs tonight called for 12 percussionists. And we only have about five. There have been a couple occasions before where they needed to recruit other band members to play percussion. But this is the first time I've done it. So I'm playing bass drum for one song.
My appreciation for percussionists has gone up. If you lose your place looking at that music, there's NO WAY to find your place again. At least I don't have any 30 measure long rests. I play pretty constant.
The vibrations of the drum go up my arm make it feel all funky. Heheh.
It's fun to pound on a giant drum.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wicked
Saw Wicked today! Mom, Nick and I went up to watch it.
I haven't seen a live, professional musical in years. I think the last one I saw Lion King, ages ago.
And now that I've seen it in person (instead of on a fuzzy, grainy video someone took "illegally" from the audience) things make much more sense.
It's a cool plot, with the whole "scapegoat" theme. And comparing it to The Wizard of Oz movie makes it even more interesting. Some of the ways they refer to the movie were funny (some of them were kind of stupid too). And I like the characters too. I love Elphaba. And Galinda/Glinda is funny!
I've heard a rumor that they're going to make a movie of Wicked. I hope they do. And I hope it's the musical version.
My cousin (also a Wicked fan) got me a copy of the book Wicked for Christmas. I'm looking forward to reading it, but I've heard some strange things about the author's writing style.
I haven't seen a live, professional musical in years. I think the last one I saw Lion King, ages ago.
And now that I've seen it in person (instead of on a fuzzy, grainy video someone took "illegally" from the audience) things make much more sense.
It's a cool plot, with the whole "scapegoat" theme. And comparing it to The Wizard of Oz movie makes it even more interesting. Some of the ways they refer to the movie were funny (some of them were kind of stupid too). And I like the characters too. I love Elphaba. And Galinda/Glinda is funny!
I've heard a rumor that they're going to make a movie of Wicked. I hope they do. And I hope it's the musical version.
My cousin (also a Wicked fan) got me a copy of the book Wicked for Christmas. I'm looking forward to reading it, but I've heard some strange things about the author's writing style.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Meaning
I watched the video of John and Hank performing at the Carnegie hall. It's pretty amazing that they got to do a show there.
Here's the video if you want to watch it.
John talked about The Fault in Our Stars, and how it explores the meaning of life (starting at about 46 minutes into the video). When he was my age, he started trying to write with the "meaning of life" theme. But it never worked out right. As he said in another video, he was unconsciously writing these earlier versions for himself, not for the potential readers.
And it took him years to finally get that theme right right. Certain events in his life allowed him to look at life and develop that theme to the point where it is in the book.
He also mentioned the themes of his other stories. Like "you're not as special as you think you are," and "people should be seen complexly."
It makes me wonder.
There are most definitely times when I write for myself. And I tend either to keep those things limited to fanfiction, or avoid sharing them with people because no one else would care about them.
But what about my other stuff? The stuff that I want to share and get published some day? Like Katani's story. I don't think I'm writing his book for myself. I'm trying to write it for others. But I wonder if I am writing it for myself, and I just don't realize it.
And then the theme. I could list a few themes that are going on. And I think that one of them sticks out as the main theme. If it is, then I definitely need to work on it some more. And I'd have to be cautious, since it's a theme that I've seen around.
Of course in the existing version, everything's horrible because I haven't finished re-writing it. So I have plenty of time to think about these things as I edit and finish Crystal's story (and write a couple letters that have to do with one of my classes last semester. I need to finish those too...)
Here's the video if you want to watch it.
John talked about The Fault in Our Stars, and how it explores the meaning of life (starting at about 46 minutes into the video). When he was my age, he started trying to write with the "meaning of life" theme. But it never worked out right. As he said in another video, he was unconsciously writing these earlier versions for himself, not for the potential readers.
And it took him years to finally get that theme right right. Certain events in his life allowed him to look at life and develop that theme to the point where it is in the book.
He also mentioned the themes of his other stories. Like "you're not as special as you think you are," and "people should be seen complexly."
It makes me wonder.
There are most definitely times when I write for myself. And I tend either to keep those things limited to fanfiction, or avoid sharing them with people because no one else would care about them.
But what about my other stuff? The stuff that I want to share and get published some day? Like Katani's story. I don't think I'm writing his book for myself. I'm trying to write it for others. But I wonder if I am writing it for myself, and I just don't realize it.
And then the theme. I could list a few themes that are going on. And I think that one of them sticks out as the main theme. If it is, then I definitely need to work on it some more. And I'd have to be cautious, since it's a theme that I've seen around.
Of course in the existing version, everything's horrible because I haven't finished re-writing it. So I have plenty of time to think about these things as I edit and finish Crystal's story (and write a couple letters that have to do with one of my classes last semester. I need to finish those too...)
Monday, January 21, 2013
Les Miserables
I finally saw Les Miserables today. I've been looking forward to it for ages.
Maaaan. Never ever have I heard so much sniffling in a theater before. Nothing even close to that much.
TT^TT
(Another brief note about audiences. Last week, Dad and I went to see Monsters Inc in 3D. There was a little girl behind us who made sounds EXACTLY like Boo. It was hilarious and adorable).
I first saw the play Les Miserables either at the end of middle school or beginning of high school. My friend was a background character. I remember that he was one of the kids during the revolution. And he was also a drunk guy in the bar scene. And it was absolutely hilarious to watch him sloshing his mug around and singing and swaying drunkenly.
Then I saw the first movie (the non-musical one). And I liked that too. But I'd forgotten how much I liked it, until I saw it on TV a couple months ago.
So I was excited to hear that they were releasing a film of the musical. I wish there were more musical films. Because if you can't make it to Broadway, it's kind of impossible to find good quality versions of these plays to watch (like Wicked). And even if the play is playing near you, it's well over $100 to see it (But we're going to see Wicked this weeeeek! Wooohoo! I shall report on it). I guess they're afraid no one will pay that much to see a play if there's a film version available.
From when I first saw the play, I liked Jean Valjean a lot. And in the first movie too. He's a great character.
And then before the movie came out, I discovered that the author of the original book (which I need to read) is the author of Hunchback of Notre Dame. I listened to that book on tape last semester. Gotta say. Nooooooothiing like the Disney cartoon. I warn you. This next sentence contains spoilers. Everyone good dies. EVERYONE. Except the goat. Seriously. And Esmerelda is really stupid... Phoebus should have died, if anyone.
So when I discovered that he wrote Les Miserables, I got very scared. Did they kill even more people in the book? I went and looked up a summary. And sure enough (Spoilers unless you've read the book or seen this movie, because it's not in the first movie. I don't think it's in the play either). Jean Valjean dies.
What?! Noooooooooooo!!! How could you kill him! Stupid author. He's such a great charater! Stop killing everybody!
TT^TT
The little girl Cosette was amazing. And Eponine was great too. I didn't remember her at all, since she's not in the movie and it was so long ago that I saw the play. But I liked her.
And I'd seen the actor that did Marius too. I didn't actually like the series he was in. But I liked his character a lot. At first, when he was a kid. I stopped caring about him after he got older though. But I'd like to see him in more stuff. Except that may be because I realized something today. The actor kind of reminds me of Arith. If Arith were older. Heheh.
Maaaan. Never ever have I heard so much sniffling in a theater before. Nothing even close to that much.
TT^TT
(Another brief note about audiences. Last week, Dad and I went to see Monsters Inc in 3D. There was a little girl behind us who made sounds EXACTLY like Boo. It was hilarious and adorable).
I first saw the play Les Miserables either at the end of middle school or beginning of high school. My friend was a background character. I remember that he was one of the kids during the revolution. And he was also a drunk guy in the bar scene. And it was absolutely hilarious to watch him sloshing his mug around and singing and swaying drunkenly.
Then I saw the first movie (the non-musical one). And I liked that too. But I'd forgotten how much I liked it, until I saw it on TV a couple months ago.
So I was excited to hear that they were releasing a film of the musical. I wish there were more musical films. Because if you can't make it to Broadway, it's kind of impossible to find good quality versions of these plays to watch (like Wicked). And even if the play is playing near you, it's well over $100 to see it (But we're going to see Wicked this weeeeek! Wooohoo! I shall report on it). I guess they're afraid no one will pay that much to see a play if there's a film version available.
From when I first saw the play, I liked Jean Valjean a lot. And in the first movie too. He's a great character.
And then before the movie came out, I discovered that the author of the original book (which I need to read) is the author of Hunchback of Notre Dame. I listened to that book on tape last semester. Gotta say. Nooooooothiing like the Disney cartoon. I warn you. This next sentence contains spoilers. Everyone good dies. EVERYONE. Except the goat. Seriously. And Esmerelda is really stupid... Phoebus should have died, if anyone.
So when I discovered that he wrote Les Miserables, I got very scared. Did they kill even more people in the book? I went and looked up a summary. And sure enough (Spoilers unless you've read the book or seen this movie, because it's not in the first movie. I don't think it's in the play either). Jean Valjean dies.
What?! Noooooooooooo!!! How could you kill him! Stupid author. He's such a great charater! Stop killing everybody!
TT^TT
The little girl Cosette was amazing. And Eponine was great too. I didn't remember her at all, since she's not in the movie and it was so long ago that I saw the play. But I liked her.
And I'd seen the actor that did Marius too. I didn't actually like the series he was in. But I liked his character a lot. At first, when he was a kid. I stopped caring about him after he got older though. But I'd like to see him in more stuff. Except that may be because I realized something today. The actor kind of reminds me of Arith. If Arith were older. Heheh.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Apple Juice
I finished my short story for Ellen.
Maybe I'll post it on the blog eventually, if she doesn't mind. Since I rarely post my writing.
It was fun to do. And I used it as an exercise for getting into the character's head. I keep having trouble with that for Katani. Maybe this will have helped.
Off to continue working on Crystal's story.
Maybe I'll post it on the blog eventually, if she doesn't mind. Since I rarely post my writing.
It was fun to do. And I used it as an exercise for getting into the character's head. I keep having trouble with that for Katani. Maybe this will have helped.
Off to continue working on Crystal's story.
Monday, January 14, 2013
God vs Evil, Inside
I got Nicole to watch the first couple episodes of Once Upon a Time. And I saw the new episode last night.
Belle! Noooo! Come back! TT^TT
So I will take this opportunity to talk about something I love in this series.
The two antagonists, Regina and Rumpelstiltskin.
I love they way they're done! Specifically the way that battle is constantly raging within them - the battle between good and evil. They're both pretty far gone down the "evil path." But because of the people they care about, they desperately want to try to be good people. To overcome that lure of power that magic provides. I love watching as they try to be better people. And then sometimes fail, but then try again. Even though almost everyone else still hates them. And then I feel sorry for them and want people to be nice to them. Except I can't blame that at all for being mean either.
Gaaah! I love it!
It's like Waka, in a way. Throughout Okami, Waka's position never actually changes. But since you have no idea what his motives are, you keep changing your opinion whether he's actually on your side, or if he's another bad guy.
Gaaah! This stuff is awesome. Some day, in one of my stories, I want to have a lot of fun with this. Like Once Upon a Time does.
Nicole, get hooked on it so I can geek out about it with you!
Belle! Noooo! Come back! TT^TT
So I will take this opportunity to talk about something I love in this series.
The two antagonists, Regina and Rumpelstiltskin.
I love they way they're done! Specifically the way that battle is constantly raging within them - the battle between good and evil. They're both pretty far gone down the "evil path." But because of the people they care about, they desperately want to try to be good people. To overcome that lure of power that magic provides. I love watching as they try to be better people. And then sometimes fail, but then try again. Even though almost everyone else still hates them. And then I feel sorry for them and want people to be nice to them. Except I can't blame that at all for being mean either.
Gaaah! I love it!
It's like Waka, in a way. Throughout Okami, Waka's position never actually changes. But since you have no idea what his motives are, you keep changing your opinion whether he's actually on your side, or if he's another bad guy.
Gaaah! This stuff is awesome. Some day, in one of my stories, I want to have a lot of fun with this. Like Once Upon a Time does.
Nicole, get hooked on it so I can geek out about it with you!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Rurouni Kenshin Live Action
I just watched the Rurouni Kenshin live action movie a little while ago.
It was really good!
It was one of those things where I hoped it would be awesome, but I was afraid it could also be bad. But it was goooood!
It was awesome to see real-life versions of all the characters. And each time someone I recognized was introduced, I got very excited.
Yahiko was funny. "Feed a poor orphan boy!" Heheh.
And the guy that did Kenshin did a good job tooo! I was telling Nicole that I'm very picky about my Kenshin. The one from the manga is my favorite character. Not the one from the anime (well, he's pretty good in parts of it. I guess it's the fillers that bug me). In the anime, he's a combination of a little too goofy with his friends, and a bit too perfect in fights. I just finished watching the Shishio arc, but from the fillers I've seen, they need to give him handicaps to fight now, because all their filler villains are so obviously outmatched. Obvious handicaps. Now that I'm one episode beyond the Shishio arc, I'll no doubt be hip-deep in fillers from now on. But the Kenshin from the anime is okay compared to the Kenshin from the OVA episodes. They took away everything funny about him and just made him depressed. How dare they ruin Kenshin!
I kind of want to go back and look at the new Kenshin chapters the guy wrote recently. I think they're based off of the movie. But Kenshin never makes his "oro" face in them!
I laughed so hard when the live action Kenshin actor said "oro." He obviously couldn't duplicate the face from the anime, so I'm not sure why I found it so hilarious.
For the plot, they blended the first few arcs. They did a pretty good job of blending them too. They meshed them together so that they fit without feeling forced. For someone who knows all the plots, it was cool to see how they were blended. But if someone watched it who doesn't know the books/anime, it would probably be pretty confusing. Because of all the characters and different things going on.
Yaaaaaaaaaayy~~
It was really good!
It was one of those things where I hoped it would be awesome, but I was afraid it could also be bad. But it was goooood!
It was awesome to see real-life versions of all the characters. And each time someone I recognized was introduced, I got very excited.
Yahiko was funny. "Feed a poor orphan boy!" Heheh.
And the guy that did Kenshin did a good job tooo! I was telling Nicole that I'm very picky about my Kenshin. The one from the manga is my favorite character. Not the one from the anime (well, he's pretty good in parts of it. I guess it's the fillers that bug me). In the anime, he's a combination of a little too goofy with his friends, and a bit too perfect in fights. I just finished watching the Shishio arc, but from the fillers I've seen, they need to give him handicaps to fight now, because all their filler villains are so obviously outmatched. Obvious handicaps. Now that I'm one episode beyond the Shishio arc, I'll no doubt be hip-deep in fillers from now on. But the Kenshin from the anime is okay compared to the Kenshin from the OVA episodes. They took away everything funny about him and just made him depressed. How dare they ruin Kenshin!
I kind of want to go back and look at the new Kenshin chapters the guy wrote recently. I think they're based off of the movie. But Kenshin never makes his "oro" face in them!
I laughed so hard when the live action Kenshin actor said "oro." He obviously couldn't duplicate the face from the anime, so I'm not sure why I found it so hilarious.
For the plot, they blended the first few arcs. They did a pretty good job of blending them too. They meshed them together so that they fit without feeling forced. For someone who knows all the plots, it was cool to see how they were blended. But if someone watched it who doesn't know the books/anime, it would probably be pretty confusing. Because of all the characters and different things going on.
Yaaaaaaaaaayy~~
Monday, January 7, 2013
Chapter 1
Sigh. The first chapter of Katani's story is annoying to edit. What I should probably do is just re-write the whole thing. Though I guess I am re-writing almost all of it...
I've got chapters 4 and 5 done pretty good though. I finished 5 while I was up in Portland.
Maybe it's just because there's too many things to juggle that I'm having trouble with the first chapter... Or maybe it's because it's the first chapter, so I want to make it as good as possible.
I wonder if chapters 2 and 3 will be this annoying. Probably, because I have to add an entire character. And I need to make the first scene with Katani and his friends as good as possible.
I guess I'd better focus on the story exchange before I work more on chapter 1. Ellen just finished both of her pieces.
I've got chapters 4 and 5 done pretty good though. I finished 5 while I was up in Portland.
Maybe it's just because there's too many things to juggle that I'm having trouble with the first chapter... Or maybe it's because it's the first chapter, so I want to make it as good as possible.
I wonder if chapters 2 and 3 will be this annoying. Probably, because I have to add an entire character. And I need to make the first scene with Katani and his friends as good as possible.
I guess I'd better focus on the story exchange before I work more on chapter 1. Ellen just finished both of her pieces.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!
Happy new year, everyone!
This is the beginning of the sixth year here at the Dragon's Pen! (One year behind the Vlogbrothers, though I didn't know they existed back then) Wow, that's crazy to believe. A helluvalot has happened since then. Like finishing my last semester of college and completing 4 1/2 years of college.
Now that I'll have (at least) one semester of freedom, I'll have to see what I can do with that time. Hopefully write a LOOOT. And make some more plushies too. But I definitely want to experiment with new things instead of only ponies. At least they're getting easier to make since I've made so many of them. And I want to draw too. Get better with colored pencils and photoshop.
I'm up at Portland right now, visiting family. I have my laptop. I've been wanting to write a bunch, but I only got a couple paragraphs done yesterday. Because there was so much action going on I couldn't focus on anything. My youngest cousin loves to play with me, but she does not get tired. Even at 10:00 at night. And while I like playing with her, I can't keep at it all day. Even after her bed time, my other cousin was watching some crime TV show, so still not able to focus.
I wish I could have celebrated New Years with my friends. TT^TT Law and Order isn't how I expected to end my year. And I had to go to sleep directly after (we left home at 5:00 in the morning to get up here).
But it's great to see my aunt/uncle/cousins again. And today I got to meet the new baby in the family. He's only about ten days old, I think.
Maybe things will quite down a bit now. Sera's school starts tomorrow. We'll see if I have time to write. But at least I've been doing a tone of research, so it's helping.
Why is it so hard to find time to actually write? TT^TT
This is the beginning of the sixth year here at the Dragon's Pen! (One year behind the Vlogbrothers, though I didn't know they existed back then) Wow, that's crazy to believe. A helluvalot has happened since then. Like finishing my last semester of college and completing 4 1/2 years of college.
Now that I'll have (at least) one semester of freedom, I'll have to see what I can do with that time. Hopefully write a LOOOT. And make some more plushies too. But I definitely want to experiment with new things instead of only ponies. At least they're getting easier to make since I've made so many of them. And I want to draw too. Get better with colored pencils and photoshop.
I'm up at Portland right now, visiting family. I have my laptop. I've been wanting to write a bunch, but I only got a couple paragraphs done yesterday. Because there was so much action going on I couldn't focus on anything. My youngest cousin loves to play with me, but she does not get tired. Even at 10:00 at night. And while I like playing with her, I can't keep at it all day. Even after her bed time, my other cousin was watching some crime TV show, so still not able to focus.
I wish I could have celebrated New Years with my friends. TT^TT Law and Order isn't how I expected to end my year. And I had to go to sleep directly after (we left home at 5:00 in the morning to get up here).
But it's great to see my aunt/uncle/cousins again. And today I got to meet the new baby in the family. He's only about ten days old, I think.
Maybe things will quite down a bit now. Sera's school starts tomorrow. We'll see if I have time to write. But at least I've been doing a tone of research, so it's helping.
Why is it so hard to find time to actually write? TT^TT
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