30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Thirty

Day 30: Your highs and lows for the month. 

I’ll start with the lows, and finish with the highs. There’s an obvious choice to start with, for all college students, finals. Those six letters drive terror into all students, big and small. The trials of studying, sleeping, snacking, studying more, and panicking. Then the weeks of studying and panic culminate in just a few short tests, for which there is never enough time or preparation.

Another low for me actually was part of the lead up to Christmas. I usually put a lot of thought into the gifts I give, and this year I was worried that I wouldn’t have enough time or money to finish buying the gifts that I wanted to get for everybody. I also don’t like how busy everything is right before the holidays. Everything is packed, from the roads to the stores, and all pervaded by blaring Christmas tunes. Don’t get me wrong, I really do enjoy the holidays, but only during the actual week before the holidays, not a long time before that. I prefer to enjoy the holidays at home too, surrounded by my friends and family rather than the crowds of people out and about.

A high, then. Christmas itself. I really enjoyed Christmas, including my own preparations. I loved giving the gifts I picked out. I even used my “copy and paste” drawing to personalize plain white bags with different anime and video game characters. They were really cute! I also enjoyed the celebrations at home, first with my father and cats, and then my sister and I joined our mother and her boyfriend Christmas Day. The food was so good, and soporific. I loved the thoughtful and useful gifts I received as well as spending quality time with my family.

Another high is the time after school finals are over. This time is so much more relaxing. There’s no studying, no homework. Aah. I get to sleep in and wake up snuggling my cat. I can eat whenever I want, so long as there’s food in the house. I am super lazy at heart, so I love having this time off. Maybe I can use it to quit procrastinating and keep up on my blog too. Although, admittedly, I’m going to take a break from the writing challenges for the moment, considering how badly I messed this one up. I will be posting regularly though, just not to ongoing prompts like this one. I need a breather on here too I suppose.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twenty Nine

Day 29: What are your goals for the next 30 days? 

I have quite a few goals over the next thirty days. Mostly though, I’d like to concentrate on my writing and drawing. It’s been awhile since I devoted a good chunk of my time towards those endeavors, and I’ll be out of school for the next thirty days, so now is a good time to do so.

I’m also hoping to do a little better at home. My history of chore completion leaves a little to be desired. Hopefully I can kick into high gear and stay ahead, or at least on time, with my chores. Hehe, we’ll see how that goes…

I’d also like to start working out. I make this resolution every year, and always vow to stick with it. The problem is, I have a hard time finding an exercise routine that works. I’m just trying to tone up, but doing toning focused exercises that I’ve found online doesn’t seem to make a difference. I spent a lot of time for no apparent gain, so I ended up quitting. Maybe this year I can actually find a different routine that works, but only time will tell.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twenty Eight

Day 28: Post five things that make you laugh-out-loud. 

1. My kitten's sleep habits. She sleeps in the most unusual and adorable positions. 
   
2. The interactions between my cat and my kitten. Alternately they chase each other around the room, scare each other, or groom/bite each other. 
3. My kitten's cries. My kitten has the most pitiful squeaky meow, especially when she follows me around, begging for attention. 
4. My friend Mei's emoji use. She likes to use emojis from the Japanese keyboard, especially a little one that throws sparkles. *･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ​▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*
5. When my friends and I all start singing along to some nerdy music, because we know all the words. 

- This may make me seem like a crazy cat lady, but I'm okay with that. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twenty Seven

Day 27: Conversely, write about something that's kicking ass right now. 

Writing. Writing is kicking ass right now… sometimes mine. Haha. Seriously though, since I’ve been out of school I’ve had a lot more time to write. Previously my creativity was just a nagging buzz in my mind which I needed to suppress while studying. Now I’m free to let it out. At the moment, that creativity is pinballing its way through my many stories. My mind can’t quite focus on one story or another.

I’m happy to be writing so much though, so I’m okay with the scatter brained nature of the writing. Sometimes, that’s when the best creations happen. It’s nice to both create new stories and revisit old stories which had gone stagnant. Suddenly breathing new life into dust collecting relics is as invigorating as the birth of a new story. All in all, might be rather directionless and untamed at the moment, but it is definitely kicking ass!

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twenty Six

Day 26: Write about an area in your life that you'd like to improve. 

Oh, there are a lot. Aren't there always a lot of things to improve? Personally, I'd like to improve my drawing. I am most certainly a writer by nature, but I used to draw as well. Only lately have I gotten back into drawing after a long hiatus. I took up a drawing pencil again because I am, in truth, a very visual person. Whenever I write, I see that story myself, but sometimes it's easier to explain what I mean if I can show that vision to others as well.

Just recently though, I started drawing more seriously. I've gotten fairly good at what I refer to as "copy and paste" drawing. If I look at a picture, I can copy it really well, and in good detail. I still prefer to do that in pencil though, black and white. Now I'm trying to work on "freehand" drawing. I'm also trying to work with pen and color, in the form of colored pencil. This process overall happens more slowly than I would like.

My goal is to eventually get to the level where I can produce my own stories through a new medium, comics. Lately I've been really into web comics, and I really respects the writers, artists, and writer-artists behind them. The art, as well as the stories, are beautiful. I'm absolutely amazed by the artwork sometimes. I really would be lucky if I could draw like that, so I'm putting in the effort on my end.

- At some point in the near future I'm likely to create a separate post discussing my recent obsession with comics.

30 Day writing Challenge: Day Twenty Five

Day 25: Think of any word. Search it on google images. Write something inspired by the 11th image. 

I thought for awhile about what word to choose, but I eventually settled on "magic." Here's the eleventh image I found:

https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/ky-magic-fx04

Darkness. All I see is darkness. Silence surrounds me. I wrap my arms around myself protectively, reassuringly. I shiver, and goosebumps race up my arms. I'm not certain whether they are caused by the cold, or the darkness,

Suddenly, my ears pick something up. A quiet murmur, a low muttering. As the noise gets louder, comes closer, I can hear the repetition. The chanting closes in around me. Though I can hear the pattern of the words, I cannot make out the language itself, it is unfamiliar to me.

I hold my position, uncertain as to my whereabouts, and to the intent of the group amassing. Suddenly, I'm blinded by light. In a flash as quick as it appeared, it vanishes. I rub my eyes, trying to clear them. I spin around, hunting for another spark.

With a hum another burst of light appears. I make my way over the uneven ground to the glowing, spinning rune. Nodes of light float up, and I reach my hand out to touch them. I jerk away from the burning sensation in my palm, but the pain recedes to leave behind a feeling of power that blows my long hair back.

I look up as the feeling diminishes. Another circular rune appears, and then another. Each is different from the last, and each emits a unique tone. I gaze around in wonder at the different magics, for surely that must be what they are. One releases almost a pillar of light, while another shines bright. Yet another projects a moving image above it.

What is this? What have I stumbled into? Cloaked figures form a semicircle around me, around the runes. They seem to take no notice of my presence, chanting endlessly. Somehow I get the feeling that I shouldn't be here, that I've happened upon something ancient, something sacred. Though even with this feeling as a hard knot inside my stomach, I can't bring myself to leave.

The image comes from a website which I posted up below the picture itself. On the site it looks like this is a picture of an actual effects package: KY Magic FX 04 by Kakky. How Cool! I don't know anything about how it works, but it seemed really neat to me. I really love your image, Kakky! No copyright infringement is intended. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twenty Four

Day 24: Write about a lesson you've learned the hard way.

Do not procrastinate. I'm not sure if I can truly claimed to have learned this one. It is my fatal flaw. I'm taught not to procrastinate on a frequent basis though. Whether it's sleeping in, and subsequently running late, or waiting too late to study and not spending enough time doing so. In any case, procrastination is not good. Particularly I noticed that with something else recently... my blog.

My full schedule and resultant exhaustion led me to fall asleep early during that week before Christmas. I put off posting, though I really did try to stay awake, and it was not good for me. The past few days I've been trying to catch up, but I haven't made as much headway as I would've liked. Now I'm in mad scramble mode as I try to catch up before the thirty days of my thirty day challenge are up. That's tomorrow. Last day of the year, last day of the challenge, foolproof plan, right? Ha. Not so much.

- I am working to finish this up. Let's see if I can pull it off!

30 Day Challenge: Day Twenty Three

Day 23: A letter to someone, anyone. 

Dear Characters,

I have a couple things to say to you. You may live inside my mind, but you haven't been there as long as I have, so stop trying to control me. Every time another of you pops up or one of you gets bored, you start to bother me. Sometimes, I don't want to be bothered. There are times when I want to talk to you, but where are you then? Usually, those are the times I can't reach any of you. That's just a tiny bit frustrating when I know exactly where you are. I am not a fan of the silent treatment.

Also, you all like to have parties a lot. These parties seem to happen a lot when I'm busy. Are they a sort of rebellion perhaps? You get loud and invite unknown guests who try to demand my attention when I need to focus on something else. Whether that's editing, doodling, homework, or chores, you invade all the same. Exam studies quickly turn into an internal war to keep you and your noise at bay, prohibiting my work.

Despite these complaints about your qualities as tenants, you are really excellent friends. With you, I can leave my world to explore yours, strange and new. We can go on adventures no one else could dream of. Within the sanctity of my own mind, I can wield magic and daggers, swords and bows. I can be the hero, create miracles, save the world. When I'm with you, I can do anything. So for that I have to thank you.

Sincerely,
Your writer and friend,
Leandra Joselyn Gantzer

-This one was pretty fun! I mean, what writer doesn't want to talk to their characters?

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twenty Two

Day 22: Put your music on shuffle and post the first ten songs.

This could be interesting... I have gathered quite a bit of music over the years.

1. Beauty and a Beat (Acoustic Version) - Runaground 
2. Immortals - Fall Out Boy
3. Good Feeling - Flo Rida
4. EP 4 Score - The First Step, Pt. 1 - Jeff Williams (from RWBY Vol.1)
5. Field Trip - Alex Abraham, Steve Goldshein, & Jeff Williams (from RWBY Vol.2)
6. Finale/Reprise - Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, & The Citizens of Halloween (from The Nightmare Before Christmas)
7. Realize - Colbie Caillat
8. Party Rock Anthem - Party Rocker
9. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson
10. Animal I have Become - Three Days Grace

I didn't skip any, promise. Although in my defense, I got some of those quite a long time ago, and the last one is my sister's. Pretty much none of these songs are on my current playlists though so it's kind of funny to be reminded of them. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twenty One

Day 21: What three lessons do you want your children to learn from you? 

1. Don't procrastinate. This is certainly my greatest flaw so hopefully my children can learn from my mistakes. Procrastination is a pain to deal with so I hope they'll be better about avoiding it than I am. 
2. Don't be a bully. Bullies stink. I was bullied as a child so I want to make sure my kids don't turn into bullies. I'd much rather have them help the kids who are bullied than be bullies themselves. 
3. Be true to yourself. Whether you're a nerd, a jock, a farmer, or something else. Never let anybody crush your creativity or halt your ingenuity. Be confident in who you are and never let anyone take that away from you. 

This one was difficult to decide on, but these three are definitely lessons I would want my kids to learn. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twenty

Day 20: Post about three celebrity crushes.

Well, just like I haven't truly been in love with anyone, I haven't truly had a celebrity crush. I just can't really picture having a crush on someone I don't know. I do get "writer crushes" though, when I'm in love with someone's work. So for this post I'll discuss three of my writer crushes instead. 

1. J.K. Rowling. She is one of my first and strongest writer loves. I absolutely adore her wizarding world. She used writing to create true magic, and a world I've wished to be a part of since childhood. Her characters are multifaceted and develop beautifully throughout the series. I definitely respect the sheer creativity it took for her to create all of the magical elements and different creatures that live in the wizarding world. 
2. Christopher Paolini. Paolini's books frequently ended up on my birthday or Christmas lists and thankfully I got them. Paolini as well creates a magical realm populated by humans, dwarves, and elves, along with the occasional dragon and its rider. Paolini's characters explored not only the magical aspects of their realm, but the social implications of living under a tyrant, rebelling, or living just outside of his reach. His characters had plenty of personality and dimension, and I always felt the strength of his characters' emotions. 
3. Quinn Loftis. Loftis is my most recent writing love. Her books, while incorporating many supernatural elements and characters, tend to be on the more romantic side. As a result I've only come to read and appreciate her books in the past few years. Loftis's books suck me in every time, whether it be to visit the werewolves, or to root for the newest budding relationship. Her books are full of comedy as well as action and plot. Around all of that, love flows throughout each of her books. I always have the most tangible and emotional reactions while reading Loftis's works. 

I love reading and writing, and these are only three of the writers I respect. I would strongly recommend reading anything they've written. These authors are amazing!

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Nineteen

Day 19: Discuss your first love.

I feel her warmth before I see her, buried beneath the covers as I am. She steps toward me slowly, on dainty feet. Grace may be hers by nature, though not in the morning. I free myself from my cocoon to see her laying on her side. Blearily she gazes back at me with her wide and stunning eyes. Her small mouth stretches open in a tiny yawn. I smile back as she curls in towards me. She stretches long as I wrap my arm around her. She nestles close, tickling my pale skin with small hairs.

As she wrinkles her nose, her whiskers graze my arm, eliciting the rise of minuscule mountains. Triangular ears twitch, and paws reach out. Stripes and spots ripple across her downy fur. Pinpricks take me by surprise when claws briefly emerge. I rub her gently and she rolls onto her back. The corners of my mouth turn up at the vision of innocence. A squeak erupts as she yawns. "Good morning, Lulu," I reply.

I haven't actually been in love before with anyone, only crushes at most. This scene is a different kind of love, between my kitten and I.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Eighteen

Day 18: Post 30 facts about yourself. 

Oh, boy. Well, here we go!

1. I have five pets: one rabbit, two cats, an anole, and a treefrog.
2. I am a fan of Star Wars, Star Trek, and Star Gate. 
3. I am a loner.
4. I love learning about different cultures and languages. 
5. For a nerd, I've only been to one Comic-con. 
6. I love to read web comics, as well as books. 
7. I go through "story withdrawal" after I finish a good book or series. 
8. I prefer to watch foreign films or television shows with English subtitles but the original audio. 
9. I talk with my hands a lot. 
10. I love my sodas, especially when they're packed with caffeine. 
11. I don't really drink tea or coffee. 
12. I am a night owl by nature. 
13. I prefer to write on a computer, but draw with a pencil. 
14. My favorite type of food is comfort food, namely meat and potatoes, and mac and cheese. 
15. I'm the only one in my immediate family who doesn't need glasses. 
16. I like both DC and Marvel comics. 
17. I became a truer lover of fantasy fiction when my school libraries ran low on science fiction. 
18. I waited for my letter from Hogwarts until I was thirteen. No luck, unfortunately. 
19. The celebrities I've looked up to have always been writers. 
20. I'm always cold, so I love blankets.
21. I'm a cat and dog person, because I love all animals. 
22. Reading and writing are by far my favorite pastimes. 
23. I generally prefer rainy weather to sunny weather. 
24. I like to read via the Kindle app, but there's nothing like a paper book.
25. I used to collect coins. 
26. I was always a Pokémon fan, but I just learned how to play Yugioh. 
27. One of my all time favorite games is Tetris. 
28. My favorite holiday is Halloween.
29. I love Twilight Zone marathons. 
30. I learned how to play a few instruments. 

I tried to keep these brief but make them interesting as well. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Seventeen

Day 17: Post about your zodiac sign, and whether or not it fits you. 

My zodiac sign is Virgo. Now I don't normally pay attention to my horoscope or take much interest in my zodiac sign, so I did some research for this one. Here's some of what I found from browsing around.

I found out that Virgos are supposed to be fans or organization and precision. Personally, I would say my life is pretty chaotic. However, when it comes to details I can be very particular. I like to organize smaller items by color or size, and sometimes I can get swept in a bit of a frenzy when I start to rearrange or reorder something. I can spend a lot of time redoing something small, but I like how it looks when I'm done.

I also found that Virgos tend to be better with speech or writing. Obviously, I am a writer. Sometimes my vocabulary affects the way I talk as well. On the other hand though, I hate speaking in front of people. Frequently I literally shake with little tremors when I give presentations, despite my attempts not to. I'd much rather write a speech than give one.

Virgos are also supposed to be humble and hardworking, willing to serve. I can't exactly be an impartial judge on that front, so I'll just leave that to the people who know me.

Some aspects of my zodiac sign fit better than others, but I don't believe that a zodiac sign is a one size fits all model for people born within a specific period of time. People aren't defined by when they were born, but by their thoughts and actions.

My First Comic Con!

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to go to my very first comic convention with my friend Mei, and it was awesome! I had such a fun time! Of course the morning started with both of us running late, and a thirty minute hunt within the city for the right building, but it was definitely worth it! There was so much to see and do, and so many people to talk to. I was amazed by the amount of sheer nerdiness packed into that one building. All of the vendors and artists were extremely nice as well, and Mei and I talked to almost everyone. It was so amazing and fun!

We met a lot of new and cool people, partly due to the fact that we cosplayed. I went as Umbreon and Mei went as Espeon. I'd heard before that a lot of times people will come up to cosplayers for pictures and conversations, but this was my first time experiencing that firsthand. It was a truly unique experience for me. At comic con we were surrounded by people with similar interests, amazingly talented artists, and truly invested cosplayers.

Perhaps my most memorable experience at comic con though was the discussion we had with Greg LaRoque, the artist for Stargate and The Flash. If my talent is the written word, Mei's is the spoken word. The three of us carried on a lovely conversation, talking about the titles he's worked on and other topics alike. He was an extremely down to earth person and I really enjoyed the conversation we had. By the end of it, Mei and I each left with a signed print of his gorgeous artistry. We protected those prints as we protected nothing else that day.

All in all, First State Comic-Con was a great event. It was my first con and I'm sure it will always be memorable despite my plans to go to many more conventions in the future. I'm so thankful for the people who organized and participated in the convention. They made it an amazing event, and for me what will always be a great memory. I can't wait to go to more conventions in the future!

- I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I was completely exhausted after the convention, and this past week was a little hectic with the upcoming holiday. I'll be working to get back on schedule with the writing challenge as well as outside posts like this one. I hope everyone had a happy holiday!

Also, for pictures from the convention, follow me on twitter.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Sixteen

Day 16: Something that you miss. 

I miss being a child. Now that I'm a young adult, I can really appreciate the luxuries of being a kid. Children have so few obligations. There were no bills, less homework, no worries about the future. When I was a kid I was fully encouraged to embrace and use my imagination. To this day my mother does not have cable tv. Nope, for me it was mostly books. I developed a huge passion for reading, and such a respect for authors. If I got in trouble for anything when I was a child, it was usually because I read too much, or too late.

I got into drawing, because at that point writing and I were not friends. I just didn't like it. I did love to draw though. I won't speak to the quality of my early artwork, but I certainly created a lot of it. I drew extensively through sixth grade. Now I'm just finally getting back into a hobby I once thought I wouldn't be able to take with me past childhood.

Kids have boundless imagination, and that's allowed. Imaginary friends, doodles, and toys are unquestioned. Growing up, children set aside books and crayons, creativity, for productivity. Suddenly wands are ripped from their hands, replaced by pens and calculators. School becomes the most important, then work. Errant thoughts are occupied by homework and bills. Concerns of the real world crowd in, forcing out any ideas of possibilities and impossibilities alike.

Children have freedoms which they often take for granted, until they're adults and it's too late. That was certainly the case for me. I miss the unbridled creativity that all children are afforded. Now there are so many other things I need to do, other worries, that they can limit me at times. I'm not giving it up though. I'll fight to keep my creativity alive. Believe me, my characters wouldn't leave me alone even if I didn't.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Fifteen

Day 15: Bullet-point your whole day. 

• No school, so I slept in. 
• I snuggled with my kitten and read comics.
• I got up and took a shower. 
• I ate a chimichanga and hung out with my sister. 
• My sister and I watched some television. 
• My dad came down and joined us. 
• We ate some really good salmon with steamed vegetables, courtesy of my father. 
• I watched some more television with my father and read some comics. 
• My sister and I talked to our best friend on the phone. 
• I read more comics and rejoined my dad. 
• Now I'm working on this blog post. 

Okay, I guess I've had a pretty lazy today. I should feel more guilty about that, but it's my first day of winter break, so I'm really not. Ha ha. I really will be working more on my writing, I promise. I'm back on time for today's blog post at least. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Fourteen

Day 14: Post your favorite movies that you never get tired of watching.

1. Avatar. Avatar is a beautifully done movie. I love the whole world it created. I love everything from the bioluminescence to the connections between all living things. The story is intriguing and I can never get bored of seeing that world. Avatar is a movie where I can find a new detail to be amazed by each time I watch it.

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas. I absolutely love this movie. The Nightmare Before Christmas uses claymation to bring three different stylized worlds to screen. The combination of Halloween and Christmas is an interesting concept to begin with, and then it's brought to life by Danny Elfman's music and Tim Burton's stylized characters.

3. Deadpool. This is the movie I watch when I need a laugh. This movie is really witty, and is packed with so many jokes that it's easy to be taken by surprise, even when I know the jokes are coming. I know people tend to like rom-coms when they need a movie to make them emotional, but personally I prefer using Deadpool to make me laugh.

Well, these are the three top movies I came up with that I don't ever get tired of watching. There's not much similar about them is there? Except of course that they're all excellent, and three of my favorites.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Thirteen

Day 13: What are you excited about? 

I just had my last final earlier today. Woo-hoo! I'm so excited for winter break! That means sleeping in, spending time with friends and family, and writing. Also I plan to spend some time drawing too. I used to be pretty good at it, but I put down my drawing pencil about the same time I picked up my writing pen. Recently I just picked it up again and I've been trying to practice. Unfortunately, my progress has been pretty slow. I suppose I'll always be a writer first.

I certainly don't mind that, and I'm really looking forward to having more time to write. I want to focus on the second book of my main series. (No, the first one isn't published yet. Sorry about that.) Book two and I haven't been great friends lately, because its plot has changed pretty drastically since its initial conception. I just recently decided to scrap my ninety thousand words and start anew, so I have a lot of catching up to do.

Also, now that finals are over I plan to get back on schedule with my blog posts. I'm sorry about the recent tardiness of my posts. My schedule has been a little crazy this week, but I'm working to catch up.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Twelve

Day Twelve: Write about five blessings in your life.

1. My family. They always support me, despite the occasional verbal jousting. I grew up in a science fiction and fantasy loving family, and one that loves to read. From a young age I learned to appreciate interests and hobbies that led to my current writing passion. Telling your parents that you want become a novelist doesn't always go over well, I'm sure, but my family is supportive of my dream.

2. My friends. I have two best friends, who are basically my sisters. They stick with me through thick and thin. We share a lot of unusual interests, but most importantly, we support each other's interests. We like to hang out, even if we just talk, play videogames, or watch videos on Youtube. It's always relaxing and refreshing to spend time with them.

3. My cat, Koko, and my kitten, Lulu. I've always loved cats, but I was allergic to them as a kid. Just under two years ago we got our cat, Koko. He is really energetic, and is known to "gallop" around the room. He's also talkative, and plays fetch. Lulu came into my life just about a month ago, but I loved her from the moment I saw her. She's full of energy, but she likes to be a lap cat too. She sleeps with me and loves everyone. The two of them are great siblings, and play and sleep together.

4. Writing. I have to include it as a blessing, because it defines so much of who I am. I always wanted superpowers and a fantastic plot in the story of my life. So far though, I haven't gained any super human abilities. The one thing I have however, is writing. Through my writing I can create and experience other worlds. It's a great gift.

5. Music. I listen to music all the time. I think it improves almost any situation. I like to imagine that the music I'm listening to is a soundtrack to my life. Music helps me focus, wake up, fall asleep, and relax. Those might seem contradictory, but they're all true nonetheless. I grew up with a lot of music at home, so I can really appreciate it.

Another shorter term blessing of mine is that finals are almost over. Yay!

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Eleven

Day 11: Something you always think "What if..." about. 

There's one "what if" that I think about a lot. That is, of course, my dream. I often think, "what if I was a successful writer?" At least for my dream future, being a successful writer has a few qualifiers. I define a successful writing career as one I can make a reasonable living at. As a young adult, I'm all too aware of the unfortunate necessity of the dollar. Possibly even more important than the financial side though, is the distribution of my book. An important part of writing is sharing my stories with others. I love to write them, and I want other people to be able to enjoy them as well.

For me, this is the biggest "what if" in my life, because becoming a successful writer is my ultimate goal. Writing is my passion, and to make it my profession is my dream. I want the freedom to be able to write all the time. I have so many ideas just waiting for the opportunity to burst forth, some less patiently than others. I really want to set them free, so that they can inspire others, like they've inspired me.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Ten

Day 10: Write about something for which you feel strongly. 

Well, I have to write about writing for this one. Sometimes I hate it, sometimes I love it, but I always feel strongly about writing. Writing is, at this point, an institution in my life. I come up with stories and characters on a daily basis. Although, despite the onslaught of new characters and plots, some of my longstanding characters like to take vacations. They seem to do this more frequently when I'm actually trying to work on their stories. Funny how that works.

I do love writing though. Writing lets me explore a vast number of worlds and possibilities. Writer's block may be a nuisance, but writing is the absolute opposite. Writing is a thrill and a joy, it's a passion. As much as I can ever hate it, I love it twice as much. It's a part of me, and I'm glad for that. Before writing I had a passion for reading, and that passion gave me a deep respect for writers, and writing, even when I find myself at odds with it.

Writing is an undeniable part of who I am, and creates some of the strongest feelings I have. Whether those feelings are love or hate, that depends on the moment.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Nine

Day 9: Post some words of wisdom that speak to you. 

"Defeat is only temporary, giving up is what makes it permanent." - Marilyn vos Savant

This is my all time favorite quote. Since I found it some years ago, I've used as my mantra anytime I'm feeling down. When I face a failure, mistake, or obstacle, I tend to wallow in it. To pull myself out of that mood I tell myself that life goes on, and that one incident didn't define my life. I used those words to remind myself that one defeat didn't mean the end, that it couldn't, unless I gave up. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Eight

Day 8: Share something you struggle with.

Mornings. All mornings. I have honestly tried to train my brain to at least tolerate mornings, but it doesn't work. I see rays of sunlight and bury my head under the covers. It's so hard to wake up and leave my warm, cozy nest. I wake up best sometime between noon and two in the afternoon, and my preferred time to go to bed would be between one and five in the morning. I am not kidding about that. That's just how my body would naturally function, given the opportunity. 

I come by it honestly though, I suppose. My mom worked night shift for years, and my dad is musician, so his gigs are at night. That combination led to an absolute detest for mornings, named Leandra. Somehow they also created my sister, a little glowing ball of morning happiness. There are times when she wakes up when I'm going to bed. I usually just shake my head, roll onto my side, and fall asleep. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Seven

Day 7: List 10 songs that you're loving right now. 

1. Lost Girls by Lindsey Stirling. My cousin introduced me to Lindsey Stirling a few years ago, and I love listening to her music while I'm writing.

2. In the End by Linkin Park. I like the lyrics of this song, and I use it to visualize different aspects of stories I'm working on.

3. This is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Halloween is my favorite holiday and the Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my all time favorite movies. I listen to both the movie version of this song as well as the version done by Marilyn Manson.

4. Unravel by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure. Unravel is the opening for the anime Tokyo Ghoul. I really like the sound and lyrics of the song itself, and I still listen to it regularly despite finishing the anime quite awhile ago.

5. This Game by Konomi Suzuki. This Game is another anime opening, this time for one I finished more recently, No Game No Life. It's a gorgeous anime with an equally beautiful opening.

6. It's Different - Pokemon Ü featuring Broderick Jones. This is a remix of the Pokémon theme song. I grew up with Pokémon, and I found this gem in a trap mix my friend suggested. It's the perfect combination of nerdy and a beat.

7. All the Way - Jacksepticeye Songify Remix by Schmoyoho. This one is hilarious! I love singing along to this with my friends. It's so ridiculously nerdy that we crack up every time.

8. Stand in the Rain by Superchick. I love the lyrics to this song. I also really love the different moods in the song created by the softer rain like piano parts and the louder stormier parts with a much stronger rock feel.

9. Good Boy by G-Dragon and Taeyang. This one is all Mei's fault. This is really good song though and I love the feel of it even though my Korean is practically nonexistent. It's really fun to play loudly in the summer with the car windows rolled down. I've managed to confuse some people, I'm sure.

10. Star Wars - Imperial March, Goblins from Mars Trap Remix. This one has it all, the beat, the nerdiness, and the history. Coming from a science fiction loving family, I grew up with Star Wars and Star Trek, so I was super excited to play this for them after I found it. I honestly thought it might bug me to listen to the imperial march as a part of my everyday playlist, but this remix is too good for that.

So those are ten songs I'm loving at the moment. It's pretty obvious just from the small sample above that I don't have a particular genre, or even a particular language, that I listen to when it comes to music. I really love music though and I listen to my strange conglomerate playlists all the time.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Six

Day 6: Five ways to win your heart.

1. Give me hugs. I do not appreciate hugs from people I don’t know, however I love getting them from people I know and trust. Also, it’s winter and I’m really cold so I use hugs to leach body heat.

2. Watch and/or read nerdy things with me. My nerdy interests are scattered amongst fantasy, science fiction, and anime, and I would really love to share those with someone. Even if my significant other didn’t truly enjoy some things, I would appreciate the fact that they read or watched it for me.

3. Love my animals. I’ve already said that I’m a huge animal lover, so to me it’s touching for a significant other to value my pets the way I do. 

4. Surprise me. I don't mean by sneaking up and attacking me from behind, that's creepy. I mean spontaneity. I'd like to be surprised by little romantic gestures from time to time. 

5. Listen to my ramblings. I may be a quiet person in general, but when I start talking about things I like, it can be hard to stop. I ramble the most about my writing, and even if it doesn't always make sense, it's always nice to have someone I can talk to about it. 

Wow, that was harder than expected. The truth is, on the inside I'm a mushy gushy romantic. Although, in the way of romance, the most important factor for me is the thought a person puts into the gesture. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Five

Day 5: List five places you want to visit.

1. Hawaii. I've been to Hawaii once on a family vacation and I absolutely loved it. I've always loved the tropics, at least the idea of them anyway. Hawaii also had its own unique feel, and I loved the relaxed vibe it had. There were so many beautiful things to see too, and everything was very different from the continental U.S. I'm familiar with. All in all, it was a great trip and a great location. I would love to see it again.

2. Japan. My friend Mei and I are huge otakus, and we share a love for culture, especially Japanese culture. I'm not one for cities, but I would love to see Tokyo. The culture is very different there and everything I've learned about it has intrigued me. Japan is also a apart of my family's history. my grandparents got married in Japan and they showed me pictures of the gorgeous countryside, At some point, I'd like to see that with my own eyes.

3. New Zealand. I've always heard that New Zealand is beautiful, and has many different types of ecosystems. I already love islands and the tropics, and the variety of different terrains is unusual, but would allow me to explore vastly different habitats during my visit.

4. Ireland. Of the many countries in Europe, I think I'd like to visit Ireland. My mother's family is from there, at least in part, and my grandparents visited. I never went with them, but I remember seeing pictures that they brought back. I always smile when I think about the times we set up the projector and flipped through the photos. I know that was always special for my mother too. She always wanted to visit Ireland, so I'd love to take her there.

5. Alaska. I've only seen Alaska through a television screen, but I was immediately awestruck by its beauty. Alaska is uniquely untouched in some areas. It's wild and untamed, a fact I love about Alaska. I'm not a big fan of the cold though, so I would definitely need to visit in the summer.

This one was particularly fun for me today. I love traveling, although I haven't had a chance to do much of it yet. These are just a few of the places I'd like to visit, really I'd like to travel the world someday.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Four

Day 4: Write about someone who inspires you. 

Hmm... Who to pick? I could write about my parents, as anyone could. Truly, they do have inspirational qualities. There's my mother's perseverance, and my father's devotion to his music. This time however, I want to write about my grandfather.

I haven't had the closest relationship with my grandparents; six hundred or so miles can do that. I've always admired my grandparents though. They have always been fiercely in love with each other. I've always thought, "They have a romance that most people don't believe in. That's the type of love I want to share with someone." Back when I was a kid though, I didn't realize just how strong their love was, just how far they would go for each other.

My family doesn't have the best track record when it comes to health, and my grandfather went through the gambit. We thought we were going to lose him more than a few times, but he always bounced back. Even at the end, when he dealt with a whole host of medical problems, he continued to outlast them, far longer than expected. He clung to life with a passionate ferocity. Why? Why did he keep going for so long when he dealt with so much pain? He kept going for his wife. He loved her so much that he stayed, for her.

In movies and books they say that true love can break curses, but it seems that in reality, we can seldom find it. I saw it though; I watched love sustain life. When I saw my grandparents holding hands, supporting and loving each other through each new obstacle, I saw real magic. I saw my grandfather's strength and the strength of their love, and it inspired me. It inspires me to be as strong as that, and to love as strongly as they did.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Three

Day 3: What are your top three pet peeves?

1. Bad Driving. I drive a lot, and to me, driving is mostly a means to get from one place to another. Sure I love listening to music, singing along with it, and dancing in my seat, but if I get in my car, it's because I need to get from point a to point b. There are a lot of things that bug me when I'm driving, but usually it's when people disregard the rules of the road. 

2. Chewing with an open mouth. When people chew with their mouth open it really grates on my nerves. It's one of those things I can't really explain or mitigate, it just bothers me. 

3. Talking too loud. I'm often a mumbler myself, so I'm naturally on the quiet side. Some people are on the opposite side of the scale though. If I'm two feet away, I don't need someone to use enough volume I could hear them from twenty feet away. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day Two

Day 2: Write something that someone told you about yourself that you never forgot. 

"Your hair is pretty." - My best friend, Mei

Okay, now she and I can't remember the exact wording, but this statement led to one of the best friendships. My friend and I met in ninth grade. She was new to the district after attending private school. At the time I was still very quiet and reserved. She said she liked my hair, and asked if she could braid it. It was an unusual request, but I didn't see any reason to deny it. So we sat, mostly quiet, and she braided my hair into unique and interesting designs. As time went on, we realized how similar we were. We both loved reading, and we were both amateur writers each working on our own books. We became best friends, and it was all because Mei decided to sit down and start braiding my hair.

My First Writing Challenge ~ 30 Day Writing Challenge: Day One

So, my friend sent me a writing challenge she found on Pinterest: 

and I've decided to do it. So here I go!

Day 1: List 10 things that make you really happy.

1. Writing, obviously. 

2. Sleeping. I absolutely love to sleep. zzzZ

3. Eating. I have a high metabolism and unending appetite. 

4. Nature. I'm a big environmentalist and I love spending time outdoors. 

5. Animals. I have always been a huge animal lover, and even thought about being a veterinarian. 

6. My Family. As all families do, we can grate on each other's nerves, but at the end of the day, we all truly love each other. 

7. My Friends. My best friends basically are family. 

8. Books. I am a huge bibliophile, and I have been for as long as I can remember. 

9. Blankets. I am always cold, so I love my blankets. 

10. Nerdy Stuff. I'm lumping a few things together for this last one, but I have many nerdy interests, from fantasy to anime, and from science to science fiction. 

Well, there it is, Day One of the 30 Day Writing Challenge. 

I had a difficult time tracking down the original source. I found it in an article on the "Sunglow and Me" blog, which cited it from another blog, but that blog didn't actually have any posts when I checked so I couldn't verify that. Thank you to whoever originally posted this challenge and no infringement was intended. 

Beginnings

Why I Write

Writing is not a hobby, not to me. Writing is my life. At the core of everything, writing is there, whether it's there to help me, to bother me, to distract me, or just to occupy me. Despite how central writing has become, and is, in my life, it hasn't always been welcome. I actually used to hate writing. Believe me, I don't mean the love-hate relationship all writers have, but an all-out detest. 

In school, I was always an academic, for better or worse, but there was one subject I did not do well in. While exceeding expectations in other areas, I fell below them in writing. I happened to be an avid reader, and I had an exceptional vocabulary; I just didn't like writing. Even though I didn't write unless forced to, I always had a lot going on in my head. I found it hard to focus in class, constantly reading books hidden under my desk. After getting caught too many times I resorted to doodling, and even simple origami. 

It wasn't until fifth grade that I started to think about writing of my own volition. My teacher gave me some great encouragement, so I started writing short stories. They weren't any good, but hey, it was a start. I kept writing, along with my doodles, throughout sixth grade. At that time I still hated writing in school, but I was actually working to improve my recreational writing. 

My biggest break in my writing came during the summer between sixth and seventh grade. That summer I had a crazy dream that just happened to lead to my first long story, a plot I could carry beyond the length of a short  story. That was the main story I developed over the next few years. My short stories waned along with my drawing, only to be replaced by new story ideas. 

At some point, it simply stopped being just a hobby, just a distraction. Writing invaded my life, with new characters and plots appearing around every corner. I can't say exactly when that happened, when writing morphed from hated chore to a "normal" part of my daily life. I have to admit though, I wouldn't change it back. Now it seems so obvious for this to be the direction my life has gone, and at this point, it's become my normal. Writing is my passion, and hopefully I can one day make it my career as well.