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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Writer's Tip #11

Hello readers. Sorry for being a day late, but yours truly was busy with internship hunting and studying for upcoming midterms.

No news on the writing front (though said internship I'm seeking will be for a publishing house), so I guess we'll go straight for the tip, which is DO.
NOT.
PLAGIARIZE!
Common sense, people. You wouldn't steal cash or jewels or cars ala Grand Theft Auto (and shame on you if you do), so why steal someone's work? It's a lose-lose situation; you get discovered, and your reputation, your writing career, and people's trust in you goes down the toilet, perhaps never to be regained again. Not that I know that this happens, 'cause like a good writer I don't steal someone's work. I admit, when I have trouble writing a scene out, I read other books to see how they play similar situations, but I don't take word for word. And neither should you!

Now Weekly (Dis)Likes.

Like 1: Trip to Chicago on Thursday. In taking art classes, I am eligible to go on the field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago the the whole art department goes on yearly. Hang around, look at art, listen to teachers, and maybe even get some shopping time. Yay!

Like 2: I-Fair. It's this yearly celebration in January at my college where we basically celebrate the world. Our international students make foreign food for lunch and there's a talent show. Wonderful as always.

Like 3: Say I Love You. Comic book series I just discovered, and I love it. Hope to get ahold of first volume soon.

Dislike 1: upcoming midterms. I really only have one, in Art History, but it's a written test and I AM NOT looking forward to it. :P

And quote!
 
When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." -Author Unknown

So long,
Colleen

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Writer's Tip #10

Good day, boys and girls!

After the action-packed week of last, I have pretty much nothing to report this time. I did finish the interview for Megan McDade; I don't know if she's posted it, but check last week post for the link to her blog.

Writer's Tip for this week is to embrace criticism about your writing. Believe it or not, everything you first write can use some improvements/changes. Even the professionals go through many drafts before coming to the final manuscript (as a professional, I would know). Criticism doesn't mean your work is bad; nothing is unless you want it to be bad. Think of it like a dentist appointment: by yourself you take good care of your teeth, but you always see a professional to get their opinion. Same with writing, and really any type of work. You're going to receive criticism in life no matter what, so you might as well learn to deal with it.

Weekly (Dis)Likes:

Like 1: Cheeze-Its. Yum.
Like 2: My job. I got it back. Basically I watch over the student lounge and rent out gaming equipment. Only work three hours a week, but it's easy cash.
Dislike 1: Falling asleep while doing my homework. Any tips to prevent that?

And weekly quote.
"In times of trouble, adversity, and pain, you may well find to your amazement that you are braver than you know, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” A. A. Milne

Bye,
Colleen

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Radio Reports

Jeez, it's really been a month since I last blogged? So sorry about the lack of posts! Between my finals at St. Andrews, no computer, then lousy internet access, not to mention celebrating the holidays with my family and moving back to my regular college, I've been Busy with a capital B. But I'm back, with lots of news to share.

First, the last few months I was writing the story summery for my second novel manuscript, BURN IN LIGHT, and I've finished. It's now in Leticia's hands, and sooner of later she's going to start selling it out to publishers.

Second, I'm doing a written interview. Megan McDade of the blog Reading Away the Days is interviewing me about SA. It'll be posted on January 17th, so mark your calenders and click this on that day: http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com

Third, I was on the radio last Wednesday! Not a big channel, though; I was on my school's radio, on a one hour show hosted by one of my friends. It's a interview and music show where my friend the host plays indie music and interviews students about their art and writing. I was interviewed about SA, and hopefully there were some listeners! For those who didn't hear and want to, click this link. The livestream is currently down, but hopefully it'll be back up soon: http://www.knox.edu/student-life/organizations-and-clubs/wvkc-907-fm.html

That's the news! Now to the chunky Months' (Dis)Likes:

Like 1: I'm home, and back at my beloved school!

Like 2: The classes I'm taking: Poetry Workshop, Art History II, and Printmaking I

Like 3: Christmas vacation! The whole family, including grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins all went to Florida! We stayed in an awesome hotel (though it had horrible internet access), spent a lot of time at the beach, went seashell hunting, went kayaking, and just basically had a good time.

Like 4: my trip to France. I was still recovering from the flu and we might've stayed in Tours longer than we should've, but me and my sister had a good time in France. Saw the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, one of France's many chateau's, and celebrated Mass in Notre Dame.

Like 5: Christmas presents! Among my favorite is Kingdom Heart 3D for my Nintendo 3DS, a quilted skirt from my aunt, $100 dollar giftcard to Barnes and Noble, and my new pair of black boots. Thanks everybody!

Dislike 1: The trip back home from Scotland. It was AWFUL. Not only did I not get any sleep, I had to get on another plane four hours after I got home to get to Florida.

Dislike 2: The trip to Florida. Some idiot held our plane back long enough that we missed one of our connecting flights in Florida. Thankfully we did get to where we were going.

Dislike 3: Sandy Hook and Newtown, Connecticut. I was in Paris when I actually heard the news, and though I couldn't understand what the news lady was saying, the pictures were enough. I didn't want it to be true but calling my mother confirmed it. They were kids! Six year olds! Who could kill a six year old!? I hate this. I hate guns, I hate violence, and I absolutely hate this country's treatment of guns laws and the mentally ill. Crazies should not get ahold of assult rifles. Those are meant for the army in the first place, not for Walmart to sell. I don't care if it goes against the 2nd Amendment, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. Look what happened when nothing was: innocent little kids were killed. Click here to do something about it: http://www.demandaplan.org/Newtown-sc/ckg-srch?gclid=CMTKhPHq47QCFYpFMgod1ikA7A

Sigh. What a month it's been. To cheer you up and inspire, a month's worth of quotes:

"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it." -French Proverb

"Peace over anger. Honor over hate. Strength over fear." -The Jedi Code, STAR WARS

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable." -GK Chesterton

Ciao!

Colleen