Music

I adore music. Any kind (almost) and any band. The thing with music is it is passion. When you're listening to music, you're getting a glimpse into another person's thoughts, into how they feel. It's absolutely beautiful.

I listen to a lot of music. I go a little crazy if I have to live without music, you know? Usually my playlists have a little of eveything. Adele, Carrie Underwood, Tobymac, Taylor Swift,  For King and Country, Shonlock.

But recently, I've listened to a lot of different songs. Not meaning variety but unique.

Observe.

Wake up/ Kill Your Heroes/ Soul Wars/ Sail by Awolnation. (They may not be for everyone but I love these songs.)

Fire and Fury/ My Religion/ Circus for a Psycho/ Sick of It by Skillet. (Go listen to them! They are awesome!)

So you see, my music tastes have been different recently. I don't know why but I rather like it.

What are your favorite bands and songs? 

A Few of My Favorite Things

Oh blogglings, how I love the little things in life! It doesn't take much to please me. So today, (because yesterday was a bit of a...disappointment on the happy level) I want to tell you about a few of my favorite things. *Que Julie Andrews*

1. Number one is the reason I had the idea for this post. My sister went to the library and came home with a book I've been dying to read. DIVERGENT! I know this book has tons of fans so I am so excited to join them! But the thing that makes me most happy is holding a new book in my hands. The thickness, the new worlds yet to be explored, the characters I may fall in love with. It just makes me so happy. :)

2. Music. I've been one a huge "different" music kick. I've been listening to a lot of music that has a totally different sound than my usual. Awolnation, switchfoot, that type. It's kinda awesome.

3. I just love pickles. Their taste is just epic. I suspect the vinegar. Which sounds crazy now that I say it...most people don't like vinegar...I must be quite a bit more different than I thought...anywho. *clears throat*

4. Penguins. They're so cute and awesome. :)

5. Blogs. I adore blogs and blogging. It's so fun to connect with people this way. It's refreshing to me. I don't ever want to stop.

6. French fries. Especially from McDonalds and B-Bops. Yum! (I haven't eaten at all today so really,  any food would probably taste good to me. But especially french fries.)

7. Being alone. I'm an introvert through and through.  I've mentioned that to my friends and they all get really confused. Almost all of them said they don't see me as an introvert at all. But I assure you. I crave solitude more than anything sometimes. I could be a hermit! I wonder if it would pay very well?

8. Rereading books. There's not much better than visiting an old friend. And that's always how it feels to reread a book I love.

9. Smiles. When people smile, really smile, I feel like I'm getting a glimpse into their soul. Especially if there's eye contact as well. It's simply stunning.

10. Rasberry tea. My friend and I are obsessed with tea. If we go out to eat with our friends, they know Joe and Beth will order some kind of tea. Most likely with no ice. It's pretty fun. :)

11. History. Im a sucker for history. History books, documentaries, pictures. I just adore learning about people long past. It's quite beautiful.

12. Sparkles. I can't help it. If it's shiny, lit up, colorful, or sparkly, I can't help but grin. A little bit of my A.D.D. side showing I guess.

13. Words. The way they roll off your tongue.  The way they sound, the way they look, the way they cut you to the core of your being or make you feel like you could sprout wings and fly. Poetry, prose, music. Whatever it is, it's absolutely stunning.

14. Pinterest. Yeup. I addicted. But usually, it doesn't feel like a bad thing. I just love it.

What are your favorite things? I would love to hear them! But instead of just commenting them, you could make your own blog post listing them, then comment here with the link!  (You could just comment them, but where's the fun in that? ;) I can't wait to see what you all say!

Week Two to Actually Finishing Something!

Ah! One week has past since the Actually Finishing Something In July challenge started! I have very little to show for it but I love having motivation! :) Here's week two's questions and my answers! I would encourage you to join this challenge and maybe answer the questions on your own blog! You can find the original post here to link to it. 

1) How time flies! Did you reach your weekly goal?

Alas, I did not...My goal has actually changed a lot since last week. On the lovely Notebook Sisters blog they had a contest to win a 10,000 word critique! Me being fabulous at thinking ahead, entered. I really didn't think I was going to win so when I did win, I first had a party!!! But then I was stumped. My first 10,000 words are not typed up. So I have decided to change my actually finishing something in July goal to typing/rewriting the first half of my novel for that. Which is fine with me! I'm very stuck!

2) Is this challenge pushing and encouraging you to write more often?

It actually is! Except for right now when I should be writing and I'm not...

3) Did you accomplish most of your writing in the morning, afternoon, evening, or at random intervals during your busy day (i.e. waiting for your neighbors to go inside so you can jump on the trampoline without disturbing them)?

Mostly at night. This might be afternoons though. We will see.

4) Any particular musical tracks inspiring your prose?

Lord of the Rings! And Press Play. Which is a really weird combination if you think about it...

5) Share a snippet (or two) of your writing!

Ria scowled at him. "Im perfectly able to take care of myself thank you very much." 
Cooper hid a grin, not very well, and said, "Oh yes of course. My apologies."
Ria shot him an angry look and tried to stand up again. But it was still to soon. Her legs wobbled. She thought for sure she was going to fall again. But just before she did, Ria felt Cooper's arm go around her waist to keep her up. This time she didnt try to argue. She knew she would need a moment before she could stand alone.
Ria flushed. 
"Are you sure about that princess?" Cooper asked. 
Ria glanced up at him. He was grinning from ear to ear. 
"Oh be quiet." She muttered.

6) Share your three favorite bits of dialogue.

There's not much at this point actually. Sorry about that...

7) How are you going to move forward in this challenge? Are you changing your word-count goal, or other such battle plans this week?

Im going to try to write at any possible moment! ("Not every moment, but any moment!")

A Poem About Music To Make Up For My Failure

Hello my friends! I regret to tell you I don't have the sequel to my unicorn story. Because I fail hardcore. But I have a poem of mine that I can share instead! 

Here it is! (Maybe I'll share the story tomorrow if I get it written by then?) 

Music. 

Beautiful

Haunting

A string of words

Happy, heartwrenching. 

Angry. 

Powerful. 

Gentle. Soft. 

Echoes of a long lost love

A far away memory

A recent loss. 

Music is meaningful. 

It can do anything. 

Change a life?

Check. 

No lyrics? No problem! 

A wordless melody

Beautiful. 

Emotional. 

The orchestra creates pain,

Sadness, fear, joy. 

A wonderful thing. 

How could we live without it? 

So many kinds. 

Classical, jazz, hip hop. 

Country, pop, rock and roll. 

Endless possibilities

Endless singers. 

Composers, artists, guitarists, 

All masters. 

Creators of feelings. 

Music can bring life. 

Beauty. 

Pain. 

Joy. 

It can create pictures

With no more than piano and cello. 

It's spinners are intriguing. 

Magicians. 

Spinning tales. Emotions. 

What is life without it? 

Nothing. It would be nothing. 

Music is life. 

Hope you enjoyed it! (and aren't too disappointed in my failure...;)

Writing: Third and Fourth Drafts?

When I write, I try to write as fast as possible. I don't worry about what I'm writing so much as, I'm writing. 

It sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. 

For instance, if I'm listening to a soundtrack as opposed to a playlist with lyrics, I tend to get things down faster and I think more clearly. But not always. It just depends on the day sometimes. 

One of the things I constantly see when I'm reading writing tips is this; revise revise revise. 

They say sometimes you need to write up to four drafts of your piece. Maybe even more. 

In the words of a very wise and applauded woman of our day and age..."Ain't nobody got time fo dat!" 

I hate revising. A lot. It's not at all my cup of tea. I can do the proof reading. That part is easy. But changing the words I've worked hard on? That's tough. 

Usually, I only have two, sometimes three drafts. The first draft is obvious. It's sometimes good, sometimes not. 

The second is my proof reading. Spelling errors? Grammatical? Did I a word out? Does that paragraph need to stay? Do I need to expand on that point? How can I improve the flow? 

These questions are forefront in my mind when I edit. 

I also add things here and there. Maybe I missed a point or I need to rewrite something to clarify it, but that's usually in the second draft as well. 

After that though, I don't do much. I re-read like crazy. Sometimes I wonder why I'm reading it this many times over, but I do it anyway. 

I think it's my way of being insecure about my work. I'm constantly trying to read it from the eyes of my potential reader. 

But I don't really do much more in the revising department. I don't know if that's a lack of insight, or if I'm just too prideful about my work. I just KNOW it's perfect. It doesn't need anymore help. 

But what do I know? Usually, the author is the harshest critic. But in my case, I think I give my work too much credit. 

Pride. My fatal flaw at times. (Other times I don't even have an inkling of regard for my work, much less pride for it. I flip flop.)

This post was written in just two drafts. How do you think I did?