Starting Sparks: The Call of Waking

 

So do any of you remember The Good Dream Maker and The Cycle of Yesterdays? Well, I thought I'd give you some resolution. :)

Also, I'd thought I'd join in Music Monday, hosted by Lauren @ Always Me. 

Here's an awesome guitar instrumental of Here Comes the Sun. I might be a little jealous.

Okay, so because it's part of The Good Dream Maker, this piece is a little. . . experimental. So, yes, the changing verb tense is intentional.

 

[So sorry, but I've taken this story off the blog. Blame my dragon moods or poor planning skills. Sorry again.]

I *might* have memories tied to this song.

There's still one day left if you want to join Starting Sparks this month!

Beautiful People: Rayne

Hello, hello! I'm linking up again with Beautiful People hosted by Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In.

Today, I thought we'd talk with Rayne from the weird idea. [the weird idea is a WIP and there's a summary of it here.]

1. Do they want to get married and have children? Why or why not?

I've never really considered this. Things are a too turbulent to plan the future as if it could be a stable possibility.

2. What is their weapon of choice?

Hand-to-hand combat, unless, of course I'm up against something like super strength or some other. . . power. I do know my way around a gun if necessary.

I've been informed that my words cut a little deeper though. I have no idea what that person was talking about.

3. What is the nicest thing they've done for someone else and why did they do it?

 I'm not given to random acts of niceness. Unless I'm friends with a person. Or relate to their situation. I do go on voluntary rescue missions if that amounts.

4. Have they ever been physically violent with someone, and what instigated it?

Um, yes. Often. Usually, it's out of self-preservation. Or I was on a rescue mission. Or on a mission in general. I've never counted the times, and I don't care to start.

5. Are they a rule-follower or a rebel?

A rebel. Although I am using your definition of 'rebel.' The word will mean something different by my time.

6. Are they organized or messy?

I don't own much to keep organized. But in my mind, I have to keep everything tidy or else my memories will bombarded me 24/7. Everything is were it belongs in my 'mind palace' as you would most likely call it.

[Rayne has a photographic memory.] 

7. What makes them feel loved and who was the last person to make them feel that way?

When a person knows everything about you, the good and the bad, and they still don't leave. When you can trust them and they can trust you. When you don't even need words.

 I refuse further answers to this question.

8. What [inserts did] they eat for breakfast?

 Six impossible things. I run on impossibility.

But really?

Stale peanut butter on half burnt toast. The coffee though was excellent. Two sugars and just enough cream. Quite the luxury to have cream.

9. Have they ever lost someone close to them? What happened?

Yes. And again I use my right to refuse answers.

10. What's their treat of choice? (and if not food, then how do they reward themselves?)

 

I do love Alice in Wonderland. Anytime I can read some Lewis Carroll is nice. Or The Princess Bride. Any leisure time I get to read or watch old books or movies is a treat. As for food? Savannah has kind of hooked me on take-out. But honestly, anything that isn't stale or hasn't come out of a can will do. 

 

Have you written a Beautiful People post?

from my brain to your computer screen // How I Write a Blogpost

Well, if that isn't an awkward title. . .

Awkward though it may be, it's also fairly self-explanatory. So who cares about introductions? Let's dive right in!

1. Lightbulb!

I have to have an idea. Obviously. 

I get inspiration from different realms. Sometimes books. Sometimes writing. Sometimes pinterest, movies, mealtimes (don't underestimate mealtime inspiration)

Most of the time though, I get inspired by you all. What are you discussing on your blogs? What are you discussing with me on mine? One thing leads to another and the gears crank out a bunch of scattered thoughts.

2. Let's Sleep on It

"Sleep on it" really means, "Let me think about this for another long dragon sleep before ever typing a word."

I *might* type out a few points so I don't forget them. Normally though I'll let my thoughts simmer together before I touch the keyboard. It's not exactly the best habit.

3. Write the Thing

I write the post.

 Apparently, to be a dragon writer, you have to a) write and b) be a dragon. Who would've thunk!
 When I write it though, often times it's a muddled mess of thoughts that make no coherent sense whatsoever.

I express things inadequately. Or I write five different ways to say the same thing so I can choose the best later. The points I make loop back together. And so forth.

4. OFF WITH THAT SENTENCE!

The editing phase usually consists of me incinerating the word count in half. I always first draft huge and burn down later. Also, since my first drafts frolic from topic to topic, there are no transitions to speak of.

 My brain jumps from thought to thought, so my writing does the same. I have to take a hard look to find where the ideas connect. I KNOW they connect - I can feel it - but where, exactly?

 I can copy and paste the same paragraph several times in different places before I finally find where it fits. I often have to add transitional words. But in my efforts to not be lengthy and/or fluffy, I end up cutting some of the transitions I've added.

 

Editing is always a frustrating exchange of building up and burning down. What is too much? What is too little? The world may never know.

5. Take Another Nap

I always have to step back from my work, sometimes before editing, sometimes after, other times I alternate them. Consistency is not my strongest point, okay?

Depending on when I need to publish it, I can leave a post buried for months. For instance, I have a post on backfile titled "Muffins That You Care About," and it's probably been there since April. I have at least five posts titled, "the tag that [insert fellow blogger's name here] tagged you for" and some are from December. (Sorry guys!)

If I don't distance myself enough, I won't be able to edit properly. I won't see the typos. I won't see what is unnecessary drivel. I won't see how this thought doesn't correlate with another thought.

The part when I'm not working on a post is usually the most important part of writing the post. Oh, the paradoxes.

6. The Hunt

I will take an equally long amount of time finding the perfect gif or snapping photos of books. I have a really hard time settling for second best. If I don't find what I want I usually don't compromise by using something I consider less than what I had in mind. Instead I don't use anything at all.

The same goes for blogposts. If I don't think a post is ready to go up, unless I'm on some kind of schedule, I just won't post anything.

7. Click the Orange Button
(If you're on Blogger, you know what I mean )

It's hard to believe, but after the long wait, I do actually publish a post. I usually take a look at the published form. This is when I spot those elusive typos, or it finally strikes me why that sentence seemed off. But sometimes weird things happen to the formatting of my posts if I try to edit them after they've been set in stone. So I edit only if I see a lot of typos or big mistakes. Or if it keeps me up at night. . .

So yeah, that's my long process.

How do you go about writing your blog posts?

Oh, hey, bad poetry // and unrelated pinterest junk

So hi. I actually commented to all your precious comments! 

And here's a post! 

I am soooo productive today! That is a complete lie.
Believe what you will.

One day, I don't know what did it, but I was in a poetry mood. You know, I bet it was reading The Dream Thieves. That did. *nods* 

Anyhow, I was thinking about packing for university, not that I actually packed anything that day. So here's what came of:

 

packing for university

fear, excitement, anxiety

folded together

like a sushi roll

here's to life

eat it whole

Don't ask where the sushi came from. I probably had a sushi craving (seriously though, one never refuses sushi, craving or no). Also, the sushi was something tangible to play with visually. My dad always tells me to eat a sushi in one bite. . . so there's your last line.

I have no idea what to title it as. I was poking fun at myself (as I regularly do, I'm good-natured like that) and I would come up with all these weird variations like Sushi of Emotions, or Emotional Sushi. 

The funniest was Emotions, the Sushi of Life. 

Which is wholly absurd because we all want sushi, but emotions? Why, emotions? Do you have to be so weird and demanding?

So the next day, I was driving. I kinda love/hate driving. I really enjoy driving alone, especially long drives with the windows down and the music up. But sometimes driving scares me, like keeps-me-up-at-night kind of scared. *cough*

That's all completely irrelevant to the poem I thought up while driving. 

Spacing out

Awake at night

Thoughts ongoing

Changing gears

Ideas, what if, humanity

Keep me driving, driving

Down this road

With the moon hung low

And the music loud

That keeps me thinking

Thoughts ongoing

Spacing out 

Awake at night

I guess, I could call it Thoughts Ongoing. 

It's *supposed* to make a correlation with a restless mind and driving and how both may happen when you're supposed to be sleeping.  Or something like that. . . 

Although the music part is a vague reference to how I like to listen to music that makes me think. 

Anyhow, that's all I have for you today. Sorry. 

Do you write poetry? Do you love long drives? Or SUSHI?! Because sushi is life.

One Lovely Blog Award // all the Sherlock things

 Liz @ Out of Mind, Out of Coffee tagged me with the The One Lovely Blog Award.

Why is there a "One" in the title? There seems to be many "One Lovely Blog"s. Yes. I am questioning blogging social norms. (Because that's what books have taught me.)

Back to topic, I'm supposed to tell you seven things about myself. You know the rules so they go without saying. Also, I've realized that the last few posts have a dramatic lack of Sherlock gifs.





I know. You're all rightfully irked by this aberration. So today I shall make it up to you.

1. I've decided that I want to know all things Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps it's a strange ambition? 

 

But I have decided and I will not waver! This year I hope to read all the original stories. Perhaps some retellings (Any recs?) And I'll have to put myself through some non-fic about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which will hopefully not be too dull. Although, I did watch a documentary about how Doyle's stories inspired the creation of modern day forensics and it talked about Doyle too. Apparently, (but obviously) he was a bit of a Holmes himself. People write him letters about their problems and he often used deduction and/or forensics to solve them.

The books I have read are:

A Study in Scarlet

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

The Sign of Four

The Valley of Fear

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

My favorites so far are The Valley of Fear and the short story A Scandal in Bohemia. There's also one about a carbuncle that's rather amusing too. And of course, The Final Problem which features Professor Moriarty.

I just started The Hound of the Baskervilles.

I'm still looking for a Sherlock story with dragons though. Because everybody knows dragons make everything better. (We're good luck, you know.)

2. From these books, I've noticed that any time America or Americans are mentioned they're associated  with secret societies and Wild West murderers. During Doyle's time, America was still in its Wild West stage. So yeah, there was quite a lot of lawlessness going around (and a crying absence of dragons). But in Doyle's books, the American is almost always the bad guy.

 

Or was a villain in his past. Or is deceitful, or uncivil in some manner. 

I do wonder if Doyle believed that all Americans were cultists who loved murder and guns blazing? Or was that the American stereotype as seen in Britain during Doyle's time? (Yes, I call him Doyle; his full name makes me feel like gargling pebbles. Apologies, Sir Doyle.)

Of course, I've not read all of his works. Maybe there are some more diverse Americans in his other works. If not. . . I find his views very hilarious. Honestly.

I am reading the Hound of the Baskervilles at present and Henry Baskerville is an Englishman who has spent most of his life in America. So far, his only fault is having a hot temper. But then, he's not really American so. . . does he count?

3. To ease your mind, I am not a part of a cult. Nor have I murdered anyone.

Nor have I ever been cast in one of Doyle's books.

4. I find it ironic that Gatiss and Moffat basically gave the fandom murder for Christmas.

 

But of course they would.

5. I'm going to pretend like I'm mature enough to acknowledge that other things beside Sherlock exist. (Is it really true!?)

 Because cinnamon rolls.

Cinnamon rolls exists too.You know, the kind that come in a pressured tube. You pop it open, stick it in the oven, and they come out ginormous and soft. You can unroll them and enjoy their gooey goodness.

Those are the kind I like (unhealthy preservatives and all), and I'm don't need that much frosting. Some people want more frosting than cinnamon roll. But I'll take the cinnamon roll, thank you.

I've considered baking homemade ones. Then the whole lair would smell of cinnamon roll! But I'm too lazy. . .

So basically, if you gave me a warm cinnamon roll, you would be my new best friend for life. Perhaps that sounds impulsive? But it isn't like just anybody hands me cinnamon rolls. People don't give cinnamon rolls as random gifts (why not?!); otherwise I'd have more friends.

6. I'm more of a movie crier than a book crier. (Dragons have hearts and tear ducts too, alright?)

Books that've made me cry:

all The Hunger Games
(this trilogy is like eating three pain burritos; don't tell me that's not a thing)

The Book Thief

(*sobs*)

The Giver
(THEY DON'T HAVE MUSIC?! WHAT AWFUL REALM IS THIS?!)

almost Allegiant

(I was in shock, okay?)

Movies that've made me cry:

all The Hunger Games

(watching THG is like being slayed by a malicious knight)

Wreck-It-Ralph 

Lilo and Stitch 2/ Stitch has a Glitch

(*sniffles* my Stitch!)

The Iron Giant

(every time; that movie is so underrated)

Jurassic World

(the iconic T-Rex almost died, okay?! He's a near cousin and part of my childhood.)

almost Tangled 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

(*weeps*)

Rigoletto 

Big Hero 6 

(cartoons these days are traumatic)

How to Train Your Dragon 2

(I'm too young for this stuff)

When I was a dragonling, cartoons didn't have plot (pfft, what even) and nobody ever DIED. They engaged in epic chases, threw anvils at each other, and blew things up for kicks (it's a wonder nobody died).

7. I talk to the other drivers on the road. Er, I mean, dragons in the sky.

No. I don't have road rage. And you're probably thinking,



 


 I simply recognize bad flying driving when I see it, as I am sure you do. I don't get angry about it. Bad driving is not worth puffing smoke fumes over. I just verbally react to idiots with mild-mannered sarcasm. 

I shall nominate:

Skye @ Ink Castles
Carly @ Books and Etc.
Victoria @ The Endless Oceans of My Mind
Emily @ Ink, Inc.

Are you a movie or book crier? OH! And Sherlock. Have you read any of the books? Any retelling recs? Or what is your favorite Sherlock film/episode?

Popcorn Reviews: guitars, pajamas, and clockworks

Mini reviews! They're like 'fun-sized' candy. It's more fun when there are more than one.

I have no idea who this guy is, but he has popcorn.

Guitar Notes

 Tripp uses the guitar in the music practice room on odd days while Lila practices her cello in the same room on even days. When Tripp leaves his trash on the first day, Lyla writes him a note addressing the school's rules about throwing trash. And so commences a long exchange of notes and snarky comments from Mr. Odd and Ms. Even.

 I spied this at a Half Price Books and thought I'd give it a go. "It could either be cute or meh." It's a quick easy read, barely over 200 pages. It's kinda cute in an MG manner, despite being a little cheesy.

I always pick up books about musicians and guitarists hoping I'll find a good one. They always end up on the DNF list. I guess I'm just not looking at the right ones? But I was determined to finish Guitar Notes and I'm glad I did. Like I said, it was a cute read.

I relate to Lyla's problem of letting people walk on her. She had difficulty telling people what she wanted and speaking her mind. I had difficulty with that for a while and occasionally still do. (Irl life people don't like it when I start speaking my mind XD) I also love Tripp. His personality was sarcastic, funny, and nervous. Although he does get angsty. . . Seriously though, his mom took his guitar away. Who wouldn't get angsty? She wanted him to make more friends, but why doesn't she try to find some other guitarists his age to befriend?

Overall, though if you can overlook stiff narration and a touch of cheesy (but funny) dialogue and you want something quick, this is a good choice. I really liked the concept best, note exchanging between two musicians from different musical spheres.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas

Bruno has to move because his father has gotten a big important job. He doesn't want to leave his friends and his grandparents and their perfect house behind. Besides their new house is so small and there are no people nearby. Well, except for the people on the other side of the fence. Who are they? He might just go adventuring to answer his questions.

Wow. This book. I looked it up at the library a long, long time ago, and they didn't have it. But recently I was wandering the shelves, as I'm apt to do, and stumbled upon it. Of course I snatched it up. It's about a boy in Germany and his father is in charge of a prison camp for Jews. Bruno eventually befriends one of the boys from the camp.

"If you ask me, we're all in the same boat. And it's leaking." -- Bruno

But this book is told completely from the story of a nine year old boy. He has no idea what is truly going on around him. He can't even pronounce half the places and names properly. He is innocence in the cruel world of society and boxes.

Again, this is another quick read. You could probably read it in one sitting, which I would suggest if possible. I highly recommend this one. Just wow. Go read it! Goodreads

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Hugo runs the train station clocks alone. Ever since his father died, his uncle took him in. But now his uncle's disappeared too, and unless Hugo wants to be taken away to an orphanage, he must keep the clocks running as if his uncle was still here. He finds the machine he and his father had committed to fixing and perhaps if he studies his father's notebook he can fix on his own. When the toymaker Hugo's been stealing parts from takes his father's notebook, Hugo is sure he'll never be able to fix the machine. But what is wrong with the toymaker? And the girl who stops by the toy shop with her books?

This book was a delightful surprise. I loved the movie. When I found out it was based on a book, I've always wanted to read it. Again, this was another serendipity find. It is so thick though! I had borrowed it from the library with a huge stack of other books and procrastinated reading Hugo. Eventually, I made myself look through it to see if it was worth renewing. I didn't even realize it was illustrated. It was thick for a reason. The book weaves a story with a blend of both words and illustrations. And I loved the illustrations. It was like a silent film. The format of the text is a little odd. Sometimes there'll be a short paragraph on one page, or a single sentence with a lot of white space. Other times a few pages will be filled at a time without an illustration to break it apart.

The story is that of a filmmaker and magician. It's about a boy who fixes things with nimble fingers. It's about a girl who runs fast and loves books. It's about secrets and mysteries. It's about words and images. It's about a train station in Paris, France and the ghost who kept the clocks running.

I would definitely recommend this book. It's not a heavy read like The Boy in the Pajamas, but it is very sweet and the ingenuity of it is fun and intriguing. Goodreads

Have you read any of these? What have you been reading lately? And do you have any good recs with musicians?

Starting Sparks July: the awkward conversationlists

So I hope you all are having a good summer?

But today I am not here to discuss pleasantries. I am here because I am BURDENED WITH GLORIOUS PURPOSE!

Ahem, and that purpose is to give you the new prompt for July's Starting Sparks.

*crickets*

Okay, so perhaps it wasn't as glorious a purpose as might be expected. But I am working my way up, okay? Start small. Start sparks. As I, er, they say.

Anyhow, you know the drill and if you don't, well, this is a link up. Co-hosted by Emily @ Ink Inc. and me @ I'd think you know where. The details are here.

Here's the button.

The PROMPT!

 

*rubs hands together maliciously* There's so much I could do with a prompt like that. 

Write like a fiend!