Authorly Bucket List

Deborah @ The Road of a Writer ambiguously tagged me for the Authorly Bucket List. Thanks Deborah! Okay, actually I stole the tag. . . but who's talking technicalities?

All you do is list 3-7 things that you're really bad at in writing and then 3-7 things that you want to try in writing. Easy, right?

Ahem. So we'll see.

What I stink at

(because let's just rub it in)

1. Romance

Okay, so I will admit, I'm probably a little better than when I first started. What am I talking about? Everybody should be better at writing than when they first started! Unless you just started an hour ago. . . Even then you have more words written than you did an hour ago, and, sincerely, that is SOMETHING.

But how do you write a kissing scene? Seriously? Just how- Why- I don't understand. I don't think I'll ever do it. Just leave the scene in ambiguity while they're still gazing into each others' eyes or something cheesy like that.

Besides, Oddball would hate me forever if I ever let anybody see him kissing someone. I think he had me sign a privacy contract or something. . .

If I were a character, I'd make my author sign a privacy contract. Ain't nobody going catch me smooching another character. 

source

2. Spelling

Without spell check I'm rather lost, and it doesn't help that I'm a terrible typist. So sometimes I spell things wrong without even meaning to. I can actually spell my own name wrong (isn't that something to brag about).

3. Organization

When I get an idea, what do I do? I skitter around and grab the first thing available and write. Sometimes it's a good thing. . . . other times, yeah, it's pretty bad.

Sometimes it's my hand and a pen. Then I wash my hand later. You see where this is going, right?

This is the sum of it:

"I know I wrote that scene down somewhere. Now where is it?"

"How could I have lost that guy's name? It was perfect too!"

"Maybe I didn't write that scene after all? Maybe I just mental wrote it while trying to sleep last night."

I mourn even more when I lose a good title idea, because:

4. Titles

Most of my books/ideas are named after the protagonist like Oddball or Sandy. But then there's things like the weird idea, fairytale, the allegory thing. Thing? What? I'm supposed to be an intelligent *cough* wordsmith and I title my book idea "thing"?  

source

I've written a first draft, but you know something? I don't even have chapters. It's just a bunch of scenes. I would love for my chapters to have titles, but maybe there needs to be chapters first. Yeah, I would say yes.

5. What does this guy look like anyways?

Describing characters kind of goes out the window. I just forget about it unless it's moves the plot. . . or I need a beat in the dialogue and I finally remember "Hey, why not tell the reader what the character looks like?!" So then the reader gets something like:

"Her brown hair fell into her face."

Great description that.

source

Once a writer friend and I sat beside each other at a seminar. The speaker addressed this particular question and said to never use the mirror trick to describe your protagonist. Because it's cheating (pfft, whatever). We both looked at each other. Oops. So maybe, we had read each others' mirror tricks.

I only had a vague description of Oddball in the book until someone pressed me and really wanted to know what he looked like besides possessing a mess of light brown hair. Hence the mirror. I find the scene quite funny and it shows a different side of Oddball. Personality-wise. So I might keep it. But since then there are now more POV characters who do the job nicely. . . when I think about it.

What I want to try

(now this is the good stuff!)

1. Retellings

Yes so much! I've been thinking of a fantasy realm where all the retellings should take place. What would also be cool is a retelling mash-up. Like two different tales mixed together.

I have been thinking up, maybe, possibly, a Phantom of the Opera retelling. But I don't know when I'll get to it. And- And- I wanted it to be fantasy. But so far it has stubbornly attached itself to the present day setting. It won't let go! Grr.

2. Superpowers

This would be the weird idea series that I mentioned earlier. It's kind of complex. It grew and grew, until it became so big.

I don't know if I'm worthy to write that. My skills- They fall short.

3. Break cliches

I take advantage of blog reading in this. I hear people bemoaning tropes while they review books and I realize that they're right. This particular portrayal/trope is overdone. Why are all these stereotypes running around?

source

Let's just say I schemed up some plans. *rubs hands together*

So you know, if there's anything out there you think is cliched, let me know.

4. Diversity

I want to write a gothic character. And I want to write him/her properly and realistically. Not the way most people see gothic people.

But I don't know anyone gothic. I could do all the research in the world and still get this character wrong. So maybe I just need to befriend a gothic person.  Except I think I've only seen a gothic person maybe once in my life and that was ages ago.

5. Mental illnesses in fantasy

I want to do this. I don't know how.

That is all.

6. Fantasy mystery series

Come on, just try to tell me that doesn't sound cool.

It would be the best thing ever! It's fantasy and it's mystery. ALL IN ONE! Mystery would be so amazing with dragons and swords and- 

source

IT SHALL BE AMAZING!

(I use that word far too much.)

So I'm actually going to tag a few people, because I never tag people. 

Emily @ Emily Etc. 

Anne Marie @ AM Station 

Carmel @ CARMEL

Skye @ Ink Castles

Rachel @ Secret Scribblings

If I didn't tag you, but you want to do it, go for it! It's a ton of fun. It also helped me reassess what I need to work on and where some of my goals are.

So now, what are some writing ambitions of yours? And what are some book cliches/tropes that drive you crazy?

The Fellowship of the Four: a late Beautiful People

Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In do this awesome character link up. So I missed last month's link up. But I'm doing it anyways. 

Because. . . I'm a rebel. I guess. 

You get to meet the whole Oddball foursome today! I'm unsure if I should call you lucky or warn you.

Oddball

Rocky

Skyler

Peril

1. How long have they known each other and how close are they?

Rocky: *looks at Oddball* About a year?

Oddball: Yeah, something like that.

Rocky: And I've known Peril about the same time. *grins at Skyler* What you think?

Skyler *shrugs* Oh, I don't know. It's been too long. Does it matter?

 

2. What's their earliest memory of being best friends?

Rocky: Oddball helped Skyler and me get Bolt out of a collasping building.

Skyler: Yeah, it was rather wild.

 

 Oddball: Peril tried to chop off our heads.

Peril: Did not!

Skyler: That's not how I met Peril.

Rocky: How did that happen exactly?

Skyler: Books.

Peril: *grins* Yeah, books.

3. Do they fight? How long do they typically fight for?

 Peril: We fight off villains! *raises sword*

Oddball: *rolls eyes* That's not what the question meant.

Peril: But it's true.

Rocky: I guess, Oddball and I have had a few words. But those two.

Oddball and Peril glance at each other and make innocent faces.

Rocky: *shakes head* One day they might kill each other. 

Skyler: Wait, does that mean Oddball's the troublemaker?

Oddball: What? I don't make trouble.

Skyler: But you're the one involved in both situations. 

Oddball: But that- That doesn't mean anything. *looks around* Does it?

Peril: *laughs* And you say I cause all the trouble!

Oddball: *sighs* It's not my fault I have to put up with you two. But I will say that Skyler gets along with all of us.

Rocky: Yeah, Sky's the most easy going.

4. Are their personalities similar or do they compliment each other?

 Peril: Similar? What is that supposed to mean?

Oddball: Just say no. 

Skyler: *laughs* Yeah, there's not many connections here.

 

5. Who is the leader of their friendship (if anyone)?

*all look at Rocky*

Rocky: What. . . Oh. *waves* Yeah, that's me, I guess.

6. Do they have any secrets from each other?

Oddball: *fidgets*

Skyler: *studies the ground*

Peril: *looks over shoulder* Hey, what's that over there?

Rocky: *rubs back of neck*

me: *whispers* Are you kidding me?! Secrets MAKE the second book. If they didn't keep secrets, we'd have a well wrapped-up stand alone. But, no, these guys had to make it difficult.

7. How well do they know each others' quirks and habits?

Peril: Oddball is always SO moody.

Rocky: That's actually well known, Peril.

Skyler: Yeah, it's not really a quirk for him, more like a state of being.

Oddball: Whatever. Rocky always insists on, on making noise.

Rocky: It's called singing!

Skyler: Uh, yeah. Oddball's kind of right.

Peril: He's not a morning person either.

Rocky: I tried to introduce Oddball to a comb. But they don't get along.

Oddball: Brushing your hair is not all it's cracked up to be, okay?

Peril: *raises hand* What is this COMB you speak of? I want to know!

Skyler: Yeah, no comb and no shoes, for either of them.

Peril: I don't think Skyler has quirks.

Rocky: *smirks* She smells like a dragon. 

Skyler: That can't count as a quirk if I'm around dragons.

Oddball: But your best friend is a dragon. And I think we'll all agree that's rather quirky. Also, Peril is a Shamdram.

Peril: That's not a quirk! That's my kingdom.

Oddball: Quirk enough for anyone.

8. What kind of things do they like to do together?

Rocky: Oh, you know. The usual.

Skyler: Flying dragons?

Rocky: You're the only one who does that. I was thinking more like rock climbing. Mountaineering. Stuff like that?

Peril: Saving people's lives!

Skyler: Going against Jaykin's "don't list'?

Oddball: Meaning, narrowly escaping death. Every. Time.

Peril: Yay!

 

9. Describe each characters' fashion (use pictures if you like!). How are their styles different/similar?

Oddball: Did I say Peril was a Shamdram? I distinctly remember-

Rocky: Oddball thinks mud is a fashion statement.

Oddball: Fashion, what?

Skyler: It's okay. Rocky thinks his leather jacket goes with everything.

Rocky: What? You don't like it?

Skyler: Well, when you wear it 24/7 so that it never gets washed. . .

Rocky: You can't wash the luck out of it?!

Me: 'Scuse me. *clears throat* As this lot seems incompetent at the moment, I'll probably do my own post for you guys on this later. I'll make it fun. Promise.

10. How would their lives be different without each other?

Me again, I'll just answer this one. It would be impossible to get a real answer out of them anyhow. Bunch of kidders. 

Rocky would be. . . in trouble. He really would. He would be a mess of volatile anger with no direction. He'd be getting himself into a lot of fights.

Skyler would be silent. When she and Rocky met, she didn't speak. To anyone. She would be afraid. She would shut out the whole world and live inside herself and never come out again.

Peril would be running and alone and angry and bitter (seriously, she a wreck and I don't know if I can completely clear her up by the end of it all). She would be so, so tired of always running. She would have no one to be herself with. She would be forever misunderstood. She would have no one in the world at all. She would be making inside jokes to herself for the rest of her life.

Oddball would be alone. He would be sad. He'd almost never laugh or smile. He'd have little reason. He would never have a home. He wouldn't belong anywhere.

So was that thoroughly confusing? Did the highlighting help at all or did it make it worse? Also, one last question:

This month's BP, I'm going to do it on time. Who do you want to read about? Should the next BP be about:

Oddball

Rocky

Skyler

or

Peril

?

Let me know in the comments!

Hardcore vs. Softheart: book covers

So recently I bought some books. You know, the past times of a bookworm. I was presented with the decision of: 

*insert booming voice*

Hardcover vs. Paperback

To be honest, it was a smallish decision for me. Some people take great pains to match their trilogies and own the best edition of a collector's hardcover. I will admit I adore a beautiful cover. But I care most about what's inside. So when it comes to "get a hardcover" or "save two extra bucks for the next book" I go with the latter choice.

All the same though, I wonder. What are the True and Honest Pros and Cons of Hardcovers and Paperbacks?

I'm loving capitals and bold here. Bear with me. This could get cheesier.

source

hardcovers have their own defense system

The hardcover obviously is stronger than a paperback. It has a little extra protection from spills and "handlers" (well meaning family, friends, or the occasional *gasps* stranger) who aren't all that careful.

Plus, hardcovers have even more protection as they come with a jacket. You know, for the cold winter weather. ;)

source

paperbacks are open to the elements

*sighs* I say elements. . . 

The paperback is the most sensitive of the book kind. All you have to do is open the poor thing and its cover gets all bent out of wack. Its spine wrinkles. Its pages are rumpled when stuffed in a bag with pencils and other books (books like day trips with friends too, okay?). We won't go on about the coffee/tea stains.

source

you can't have paperbacks without hardcovers

How in the world are you going to straighten out that paperback? Calm its quavering cover? The only way to get it back to normal is, you guessed it, flatten it with a couple hardcovers.

There are many variations to this trick. You can lay one hardcover over the paperback for a prolonged period of time. Or you could go for the dramatic variation which only differs by stack many hardcovers protectively atop the paperback. Others prefer the sandwich method. In the most extreme and dire cases though, the "shelf it" therapy is used. In said case, the paperback is squeezed in between two hardcovers on an already tight-packed shelf.

paperbacks take less room

So you want to take your books with you? You'll fit more paperbacks than hardcovers in your bag.

Hardcovers tend to be larger than paperbacks. They're clunky. And so conspicuous. For all their strong defenses, they scream, "Here I am!"

source

I prefer to be an unseen bookworm. The less attention I draw to myself the better. Paperbacks are subtle and quiet. They're easier to carry around and pack. Paperbacks reign here! 

paperbacks are less expense

 

I'm sure you know the price of books.

Hardcovers are distrusting sorts of books. They are guarded, what with their own built-in security system and all.

Naturally being more open, paperbacks are easily acquired. Their trust is worth much, but sometimes one could earn two paperbacks for one hardcover.

source

Not that means anything about how valuable a paperback is. I don't know about the hardcover. It's always got something up its sleeve. But a paperback will never leave you. It'll stick by you until the end.

I know because:

paperbacks tell stories

No, I don't mean the stories written on the page. Yes, those are there. But I mean the wear and tear that happens over time to these sensitive souls. Everything a paperback goes through, it wears on it's cover (no sleeves here, those are for hardcovers).

You know a well loved paperback when you see one. You know it was a true, unwavering friend. You know one that's been neglected and needs a good read. A paperback's history is written all over its face. The wrinkles. The tears. The curls. The faded edges.

source

It's a beautiful story. All those things the paperback has seen. All those people it has comforted and helped and excited and calmed. Everything it's been through.

Clearly, I'm as unbiased as the evening news.

  

So what about you? Do you prefer the hard defenses of the beloved hardcover? Or do you like the unassuming and free spirit of the paperback?