I'm Too Lazy To Think Of A Good Movie Pun...

...So Here's My Word Count Wednesday!

What I'm Working On
I'm definitely still working on my Spectra series, have no fear! It has not been abandoned yet. I just don't want to put out my next installment for a little bit because it's a bit risky right now. I might end up having to go back and change something later, so to spare you the confusion, I'm putting the installments on pause for a few days until I have a solid idea of where I want the story to go right now.

Word Count: 3500

How I Feel About The Process
Oh my god, it's slow going. I'm in the process of switching jobs, so most of my time has been dedicated to balancing them both while I wait for my two weeks to be up. I haven't been able to write much at all, but I get a few hundred words in here and there.

What I'm Reading Right Now
I was reading The Rule Of Thought by James Dashner, but I was an idiot and left my book someplace while I was out and now I can't find it. Oh well, good thing the local library has a couple copies! So I switched books, and I'm now reading A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L'Engle.

IM DYING
-dead

DA-NUHNUHNUHNUHNUH

WORD COUNT!

What I'm Working On
I just finished up a ten-minute play that I ACTUALLY KIND OF LIKE?? That was a lot of fun, seeing as I haven't written anything in play format for a couple of years. My last play was VERY bad. I might share it on here one of these days if I manage to dig it up and retype it :)
I'm continuing to work on my Spectra installments, and they're going relatively well!
Poems here and there, but nothing crazy.

Word Count: 2513

How I Feel About The Process
It's slow-going, but I think I've been more productive these last couple weeks than I have in a long time. Viva la inspiration!

What I'm Reading Right Now
Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. What an honor to meet such a stunning lady and talented author. I'm loving it so far! I'll definitely be reading Crank and Impulse in the near future.

Chill Out
     -Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr.Freeze

Count. Word Count.

... on a bond-worthy Thursday night.

What I'm Working On
I've started a new narrative!!! "Oh but Sarah, aren't you working on your really rad angel vs. demon trilogy???" Why, yes I am, young bibliophile! I just sprouted a little idea-bud in class on Wednesday during one of Bradford's beautiful lessons and decided to roll with it... and personally I'm having a lot more fun writing this one. Spectra, my new narrative, is based around a sub-class of humans who can hear colors. It get's all political and gorey, but you'll see as the story progresses. I've decided to post it in installments, just like my Satanica narrative. I hope you all like it! I'll probably be posting installments every week or so :)

Word Count: 2132

How I Feel About The Process
I'm having SO MUCH FUN writing this piece. I'm aiming for roughly 150-200 pages. It's a lot of fun because I get to show off my nerdy science prowess and my love of dialogue and story-telling! (Not to mention I get to throw in some romance, comedy, and subliminal political subtext).

What I'm Reading Right Now
Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things by Martina McAtee. I'M. IN. LOVE. Talk to me about it in class, why don't you? I'd love to turn some people on to the supernatural/LGBTQ friendly/burton-esque fantasy world McAtee creates <3

Shaken, Not Stirred
         - Golden-Eye 007

Frankly, My Dear, I Don't Give A Damn...

...But I do give a Word Count Wednesday!!

What I'm Working On

I think I just came up with a pretty okay plot for a short story/novella (epic poem???). I'm very excited to write about it, as it's definitely out of my comfort zone. It's actually going to pertain to Bradford's experiment #6, so I hope I'll actually be able to use it toward my portfolio in its totality. I'm going to begin doing a small bit of drafting tonight, and then hopefully my word count won't be so meager. I've written a couple poems this week (as I usually do), so that accounts for what little words I have composed. I'm also quite interested in experiment #7, assigned to us over spring break. The master plot I was given to work with was "Metamorphosis". After reading through the chapter, I can quite honestly say that I have never in my life even considered writing anything along these lines, but I will stew over it the next couple of days, and I'll update as my progress... progresses. Also looking forward to writing critiques for my peers' wonderful narratives!

Word Count: 245

How I Feel About The Process

It doesn't happen often that I think of something so ingenious... so innovative... so revolutionary... that I have to actually write down the plot in the middle of Bradford's life-changing lectures. That's where my mind had wandered today, however, and I am happy to say that I have conquered my short bout of writer's block. I am going to take a break from writing my book, and in the meantime, I will digress with this nice little narrative idea. 

What I'm Reading Right Now

The Time Keeper by Mitch Alborn. I LOVE IT. Tuesdays With Morrie is one of my all time favorite one-act plays, and I have to say, The Time Keeper is most likely going to end up being my favorite work of his. I love his overall structure; it's so unique and intriguing. I am ready to read more over the break!

After All, Tomorrow is Another Day,

           -Scarlett O'Sarah

I'll Be Back...

...with another Word Count!

What I've Been Working On

I've just been working on plotting out my new book! I'm very excited. I'm estimating it's going to be roughly 200 pages, give or take a few dozen. I'm very excited to start writing it, however, I don't usually plot like this. I'm totally a pantser - and to be honest, I think it's my ultimate downfall. I dig my characters (and subsequently, myself) into problems I can't work out. So having a solid, pre-existing base (in this case, the Bible) is a great catalyst for me. If I get stuck, I can literally just ask myself the good ol' WWJD. 

Word Count: 647

How I Feel About The Process

To be completely honest, I don't know if this book is going to come to complete fruition, but I'll be doing my best. I think I'm going to start posting installments every now and then on my blog for you all to read. A fan-fiction-esque upload schedule. I'd love to get feedback from all of you, and I'll do my best to keep the story alive this time. I'll let you all know if I decide to abandon it, but I'm sincerely hoping it doesn't come to that. I honestly don't get that many great ideas when it comes to my own writing, and this is one of the few that I can actually roll with. 

What I'm Reading Right Now

Brida by Paulo Coelho. Paulo has been my favorite author since I originally read The Alchemist in my junior year of high school, and I always pick up his books when I'm meandering the aisles of long-forgotten paperbacks in back-alley thrift stores. I love Paulo for his ingenuity and humility. He has such a metaphysical, philosophical air about him - it's coupled brilliantly by his down-to-earth story-telling and anecdotes. He is my ideal author. He definitely writes for his audience. I was introduced to him via a lucky find in a thrift shop. It was an unmarked book with gorgeous velvet embellishments on the spine. I bought it without even opening the front cover. Lo and behold, The Alchemist spurred my love for Paulo. It was further reinforced by my boyfriends grandmother, who hails from Brazil herself. Being Portuguese, she's experienced Paulo's work untranslated and pure, and she utterly loves him! He is her favorite author as well, and I found it nice that we had something in common with one another, given our language barrier (with which my boyfriend and his mother were very politely accommodating).

Hasta la Vista, Baby

     -Turdinator

I Would Have Gotten Away With It Too...

... If It Weren't For You Meddling Word Count!!

What I'm Working On?

     The honest to God truth? Absolutely nothing. And I LOVE IT. Now, now, before you get your literary knickers in a metaphorical twist, I have to tell you all that I have been TIRED. I know what you're thinking; "Well of course you're tired, Sarah. That's every college student." Yes, but tired is a very relative term. Tired can mean anything from "I'm fed up with this particular situation" to "I'm literally about to pass out because I haven't been able to shut my brain off for the past two months straight". I'm erring on the side of the latter.

     But no worries! I've already completed my narrative, and I'm ready to share it with my fellow Glowdarkians and my comrades, the Zenfadenites, on the 22nd! There are just a couple more revisions I need to make, but aside from that, I'm more than comfortable allotting a little bit of time to recuperate. 

Word Count: 154

How I Feel About The Process?

    FUCKING. AMAZING.

         ...zzz zzz zzz

What Am I Reading Right Now?

     The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I saw our main man, Stephen, recommended we take a look at his work and observe his writing techniques. Ironically enough, I started reading The Road about a day before I read King's entry. I honestly thought I would hate The Road. In the beginning, I couldn't really get behind his style - not once does he use a single quotation mark - but I actually ended up finding this stylistic nuance quite interesting. It makes for a poetic, flowery narrative complimented by a dark and dismal arc. I kind of love it so far! I'm about 100 pages in and I'm eager to continue!

     Looking for Scooby Snacks,

           - A Meddling Kid

It's a Word Count, My Dear Watson.

     ... and it's quite elementary!

What I've Been Working On
      Well, let me tell you, friends. I've actually written a little bit of something! Vague, I know, but I think it'll turn out to be something worth showing you guys. I already shared my idea with my fellow Glowdarkians today, and they were very encouraging, and consequently, inspiring. I am officially three pages into something not so terrible! I will have something of substance to turn in on the 22nd.

Word Count: 621

How I Feel About The Process
     Like I've reiterated time and time again to you guys via blog, I have been scarily busy balancing school and work. The process has been slow-going, but I fit in the time to write here and there, during lunch breaks or when astronomy homework gets too out-of-this-world. Luckily, I feel like I might be getting a workload reprieve here in a couple weeks, so I'll be able to crank out ALL of the words once I have enough storage space freed up in the brain.

What Am I Reading Right Now?
     Besides "On Writing" by Stephen King, I haven't had much time to start a new book. I'm still deciding at the moment. I have tons of books on my TBR list, just waiting to be revived from my dusty bookshelf. I'm sure I'll work around to that soon. I sincerely miss my relationship with my books. It's honestly my lifeblood. I finished up "Sharp Objects" by Gillian Flynn last week, and I was very happy with it overall. The ending seemed a little rushed, but hey, I can relate. I get a little too excited to finish something as monumental as a book as well. Other than that, however, the book was just fine. I gave it a 7/10*.

     This Porridge is Just Right, Watson

             -Sherlilocks Holmes

*I've never given a book a 10/10, and I'm very sparing with my 9s

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a...

... word count!

     ... or rather, lack thereof. 

What I've Been Working On

     I'm going to be honest, guys, I've been doing my best to actually get something down on paper, but I'm having a really hard time managing my schedule without flipping over on my underbelly and floating to the top of the mental-health fish tank. What I will tell you, though, is I finally figured out what I'm going to submit to the Moorpark Review!

     I'm also planning on beginning my narrative for the class sometime this weekend. Whether or not I'll have a finished first draft by the time I come in on Wednesday is questionable, but I have an idea of what I want to write, and I will accomplish as much as I can, given my schedule and workload management. 

     Word Count: 0

How Do I Feel About The Process?

     Definitely not terrible. Yet. I mean, I don't know if what I come up with is going to be quite up to par with my peers, but hey, I guess I won't feel too bad about that. I'm more of a reader - an appreciator, if you will. I have always had an interest in writing, but never the discipline to finish anything I've started, with the exceptions of my poetry and a couple one-act plays. I have the voice, I know. I have the ideas, yes. But the discipline... it is my greatest artistic downfall.

What Am I Reading Right Now?

     I'm just about finished with Gillian Flynn's "Sharp Objects". I am very happy with it thus far, and I might go as far to say as it's one of the best books I've ready this year (seeing as I only read 3 books in January). It's definitely not as boring as the back cover makes it out to be.
     I'm also quite excited to read Stephen King's "On Writing". I'm not a huge Stephen King fan. To be completely honest, I haven't read a single book that I've truly liked of his. His writing style is witty and "user-friendly", and he's quite intellectual and cerebral. I can appreciate that. My problem lies with the story-telling aspect. His stories never quite make enough sense to me. They're not as coherent as I would typically hope for in books; although, given he is such a renown and talented writer, I am excited to take a deeper look into his writing processes and motives. He is quite the interesting character, and getting some insight and intention might actually be the thing I need to start reading his books in a more understanding, transparent light.

     Just keep swimming,

              -A Fish Somewhere Near The Top

Wyrd-Count Wednesday!

...or rather... Untimely Thursday.

     I'm sorry to inform you all that my laptop has taken an inevitable, irretrievable voyage to the shitter. While I work on scrounging up student discounts and coupons for a new one, I'll be using my boyfriend's for the time being. What a sweetheart, amiright?

     Anyway, shall we begin our counting, my bibliophile phriends?

What Am I Working On?
      So I've decided I'm going to begin my journey along the path of narrative. Yes, I'm going to begin brainstorming the first few pages of a story in media res, as good ol' Bradford suggested we do. I have a great idea a'brewing already, and I'm excited to share it with all of you.
      In other news, I'm working on a poem or two for the MPC Literary Magazine (I can hear Dan cheering in the back as I write). I plan on submitting quite a few works, but to be completely honest, I'm not quite confident enough to send it in. I'm hoping running it by a willing few might up my ante, if you know what I mean.

How Do I Feel About The Process?
     To put it bluntly: I am incapable of predicting how this is going to turn out, as of yet. This could be pure literary gold... but more than likely, this is going to do fuck-all for my portfolio. ... My confidence is bursting!

What Am I Reading Now?
       My current read is "Sharp Objects" by Gillian Flynn. It's actually the first book I've ever read of hers (don't gawk, I completely understand how ludicrous that is). I'm enjoying it so far. She's practically the epitome of what I look for in an author. Maturity, brevity, humility, and kick-assity. I'm not usually one for murder-mysteries, but she is KILLIN' IT.

     More updates to come as my laptop situation rectifies. I regret to inform you all that I will not be present in class on Monday to share my progress, but I will return on Wednesday with a (hopefully) thrilling narrative!

     Adieu,
              -A Fellow Bibliophile

I'm Not Dead Yet!!

     Look, I get it. You're disappointed.

     "You've had this blog up for a week and you haven't posted a single thing, Sarah."

     I know, I know, you don't have to tell me twice. Slap me on the wrist with a ruler if it makes you feel better, but I don't regret a thing. Don't get me wrong; I want to post, but I haven't had a single lick of time since I created this mess of an online journal. And no, this isn't just a lame excuse to abandon my blogging endeavors in pursuit of laziness and binge-watching Netflix originals. Maintaining four college courses, and a long-term, long-distance relationship, while working forty hours a week is challenging for anyone.

     Wade Bradford, my Creative Writing professor at Moorpark College, has given us the interesting opportunity to experiment with various writing techniques and projects. Recently, he suggested we create a picture book of roughly 30 or so pages. I have personally never written for a young audience, but it's not something I would completely dismiss. I had a really good idea rolling around: a kind of elementary spin on Edgar Allan Poe's short stories and poems. Unfortunately, this idea has not yet come to fruition as my schedule has been about as hectic and confusing as a lactose-intolerant Wisconsonite at a cheese curd festival. Excuses aside, I still plan to partake in this experiment as it does sound quite interesting. I might even go as far as providing my own illustrations (as this is just an experiment for me), and work with it from there.

     Today, however, Wade suggested we write a song. Now, poetry is a bit further up my babbling and somewhat treacherous brook of literature expertise. I've written quite a few songs in the past, some of which I've composed music for, and others I've shipped off to the deep recesses of my recycling bin. But let me tell you this, my fellow writers: I will not fail you now. I will write the best damned song I can procure from the bowels of my brain - within the 5 days provided, that is.

     Bis Dann,

                -A Cheese Curd Enthusiast

Blog Wars: A New Hope

     After cleaning out the collection of angsty, pre-pubescent poems and utterly embarrassing attempts at being "edgy", I think it's safe to assume my blog is ready to be revived!

     This blog began with a relatively successful post (still available to read and be cringed at, mind you), but like many modern trends, it eventually dissolved into the deepest recesses of cyberspace. Although, this loss of following was greatly due to my inability to maintain timely postings and interact with my followers - I figure I was much too young to honestly motivate myself toward its' upkeep. 

     "But why now?" You must be thinking to yourself, "My god! Leave the dead to rest!"

     If it weren't for the recent circumstances with which I've found myself, I would have agreed with you, my brutally honest correspondent! And yet, I have returned... and with a purpose!

EXPLORATION OF THE MIND

     Yes, I'm about to brave the new frontier of my cerebral state. Manifest destiny of my left parietal lobe. Circumnavigate the vast expanse of the viscous, ooey-gooeyness that is my brain! (Finals really took a toll on me last semester, lemme tell ya.)

    "Christ alive, woman! We get it! What are you going on about?"

     I'm glad you asked, my bellicose friend! This semester, I have decided it fitting for myself to take a course in Creative Writing, and I am actually required to maintain a blog as an ongoing assignment for the class. There! I have my motivation!

     I, an English Literature major, am an analyst. I pick apart stories, isolate ideas, and create meaning where there was originally none. I can pump out a five page argumentative/persuasive essay in an hour and still have time to spell check. I can beat a horse deader than a Black Eyed Peas concert. I read, too. Kinda comes with the whole analyzing thing, y'know? Writing, though, in a creative sense... it's a whole other story (pun totally intended). This is a whole new ballgame for me. I mean, I've written plays in the past, those of which have never seen the world outside of my office recycling bin. Poems are a bit more common in my literary repertoire; however, I'm not banking on my ability to form a slant rhyme. This is going to be TOUGH. NOODLES. (Shout out to my main man, Josh Peck, for articulating my feelings so cogently.) 

    Nevertheless, I will endeavor to persevere, just like my other main man, Lincoln, once said. You never know... maybe I'll enjoy this creative writing blog thing enough to actually keep it up once I graduate!

                                                                        (Ah, gotta love that situational irony, hmm?). 

      Fair winds, my feisty friends! Until we blog again!

       -An Analyst