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?