20 Things I've Learned Watching Doctor Who

It's 6:00am folks. A sure sign that if I'm up, bad things have gone down.

What's wrong? Well...I was watching Doctor Who all afternoon yesterday and now I'm scared to death. I cant sleep because in the time it takes to stop what I'm doing and fall asleep, I'll freak myself out again. Cause I'm that smart. *sigh* (And for all you "early to bed, early to rise"rs, no. I didn't go to sleep until 12:30-1:00.)

Anyway, to occupy my terrified brain, I give you, 20 Things I Learned From Watching Doctor Who.

1. Above all, fear Moffat. He has the power to kill any of your favorite characters. And he probably will. Or he'll think up a fate worse than death. And he'll make sure it's filmed in a way that will rip your heart in two.

2. Wilfred is the best old man of all time.

3. Jackie Tyler is the most annoying fictional character EVER!

4. Don't eat carrots on Mars. Just please... (enter: this ep is the root of my fear. I've got my ears involuntarily trained to detect any noise. Which is why I woke up when my dad went to work. Please help me.)

5. Don't blink. Don't look away, don't turn your back, and whatever you do, don't blink. Good luck.  (Okay, this is probably part of it too.)

6. Sally Sparrow would be an epic companion!

7. Copycats are the freakiest things ever. If you ever start repeating what I say, I'll either a.) Run for my life. Or b.) Slap you and proceed to chew you out. Either way...

8. Allons-y Alonzo! :)

9. The master is kind of awesome. Like, I'm supposed to hate him but...I just can't. Although, him being all insane in the warehouse thing, most disturbing thing ever. Insane people are the scariest.

10. I love Scotland.

11. Cybermen are annoying.

12. Mickey is the stupidest television character of ALL time. Hands down. No contest.

13. I should stop thinking about the Waters of Mars before I literally go insane...

14. Matt Smith is adorable.

15. River. Freaking. Song.

16. Mixing genres is awesome. Dinosaurs on a spaceship? Totally works!

17. More men should wear bowties and converse. :)

18. I forget what I was going to write for this one...

19. I need a guy like Rory. Or maybe like the Doctor. Either one works.

20. "Hi! I'm captain Jack Harkness." *heart melts* 

Note: All the pictures I got from pinterest. I don't know how to make it say that underneath them so I'll say it here!  

Writing Characters Who Are Your Opposites

How DO the bad girls think?

A few days ago, I was stuck on this question. This was my free write from that day:

"I've been stuck on this question for about 45 minutes. Im trying to write a character summary for the bad girl in my new WIP but I can't seem to empathize with her at all.

I'm a homeschooled quiet girl. (Not a "homeschoolER" mind you, just quiet.) So the brain of a rebellious girl who's always putting others down and chasing the hot boys is foreign to me.

I don't even have friends even remotely like this.

It's quite the problem. I know I need to write this summary so I can understand this character and so she isn't a boring shell of a person but I just can't get into her mindset.

I've been asking myself; "Why does she do these things?" "What are her dreams? " "What keeps her from these dreams?" But it's not working too well."

After I wrote the last sentence, my brain kind of exploded. I knew a girl who used to be a little like this. She wasn't mean or anything, just dark. She didn't chase boys either but that's beside the point. All of a sudden I had ideas. I felt like I'd just broken the surface of the water and could breathe.

The character summary isn't quite what I had hoped. It's lacking in a happy ending. I dont feel that bad for her, but I think I understand her better.

The secret was looking at WHY she's like that. (Ana's her name by the way.) Why does she chase boys? Her dad died when she was little and she's starving for male attention in her life. Why is she mean to others? No one is ever nice to her. Her mom was distant and now she's dying. Ana doesn't know what to do. She's at her wits end and the only way she knows how to deal with it is take it out on other people.

As simple as that. But I couldn't figure any of that out until I found someone I had met who I could sympathize with. If I don't have even just an inkling of sympathy for my charries, they end up flat.

And the only way I found that sympathy was free writing. So next time you're blocked,  try free writing. Maybe it'll open a new point of view for you like it did for me.

How do you write characters who are the opposite of you?

Every Good Word-A Link-Up Quiz

If you follow me, I'm sure you've noticed how often I do link ups. I'm kind of obsessed with them. They're a great way to interact with other blogs and bloggers.

This link up is from a blog I discovered only today. But I already adore it. The design is superb and the girl behind it (Meghan) is awesome. From what I gather, the blog is pretty new. She's hosting a party with giveaways and all kinds of stuff so be sure to go check it out!  It's called Every Good Word and is dedicated to writers and helping them in their craft.

Anyway, on to the link up questions!

What was your first-ever piece of writing? When I was about twelve-ish I wrote the beginnings of a story about a boy and a girl who had lived in the woods ever since their mother had been killed by the evil king. They were the rightful heirs to the throne and the evil king had captured, not killed, their family. I had about half the novel thought out but with my young writing "skills" I got most of the book done in twenty pages or so. It was pitiful but I'm thinking of altering the plot and adopting it again.

How old were you when you first began writing? About twelve I think.

Name two writing goals. One short term & one long term. For the short term I really want to finish "To Save The Lost" before November. I decided the reason I got so sick of it was just a lack of knowing what should happen next. I wrote myself into a corner and had no where to go. So I'm going to start over and plot it, writing scenes out and whatnot. For long term, I really would like to get something published and maybe go to college for a  communications major.

Do you write fiction or non-fiction? Both. I write for this blog and I have two fiction WIPs. I think it would be so fun to write an e-book as well! I've been mulling that over quite a bit actually.

Bouncing off of question 4, what's your favorite genre to write in? I love fantasy but I think my favorite is modern stuff. What would you call that? YA Contemporary perhaps?

One writing lesson you've learned since 2013 began. "Don't be a writer, be writing." I don't remember who said this or I would give them the credit. But it has helped me to remember to actually write.

Favorite author, off the top of your head! Rick Riordan. I know, of all the wonderful classics and amazing ly deep authors, I pick him. But I adore his style and humor.

Three current favorite books. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Forest Born by Shannon Hale, and Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery.

Biggest influence on your writing {person}: Person that I know? Hmm...probably my mom. If she didn't love books so much,  I wouldn't love them as much, and I wouldn't have been motivated to write.

What's your go-to writing music? It's a mix. Usually Lord of The Rings or Narnia soundtracks but lately I've just been listening to popular songs like from the radio. I've only been plotting though. Not writing. But you'll hear about those adventures some other time. ;)

List three to five writing quirks of your's! Little habits, must-haves as you write, etc. My characters all want to be incredibly creative and talented people, all the boys want to look just like Logan Lerman, and they're all nice people. I can't do snotty people very well.

What, in three sentences or less, does your writing mean to you? Writing is my escape from reality or my lenses to see reality better. I'm constantly wishing it was possible for me to have a million projects at once so I could chase the fanciful plots and characters that skip through my mind. And without it, I'd be starved for a way to express myself. 

Head over to Every Good Word and add your own post or just check it out! :)

Forever at Odds

Dear Writers Block,

I know you seem to like me. I mean, you won't leave me alone so that says something. But unfortunately for you, the feeling is not mutual.
You're annoying, selfish, and you won't let me do anything I enjoy. You're barely letting me write you this letter and that's not supportive. It's not good for a relationship.
Our relationship has been rocky. I yell, you sulk. You don't give me space, I indulge you before resorting to yelling again. But it's come to the last straw. 
I know when I have the urge to deep clean my room that you've gone way too far. How could you do this to me?
So we have to part ways. It's the only solution. I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, but this is goodbye. Hopefully forever.

Sincerely, 
Beth

P.S. Please don't take out your frustration with me out on some other poor writer. Just go get a job at McDonald's or something.

A Sunday Quote

"I find television to be very educating.  Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book.”

— Groucho Marx

(Sorry this is so late, I was busy helping my friend move into college! Fun! But better late than never I've heard!)