ISWG: Fourth Edition

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If you read my post from a couple weeks ago, you'll know I brought up how I lost my desire to write there for a while. Well, to be honest, I almost quit the whole writing thing altogether. The thought of continuing with my dream made me literally ill, like I wanted to crawl into a hole and die a brutal death rather than going through the writing process again. Yep, it sucked. Bad. And I became rather depressed due to the situation.

I had to give myself a break, and even shelf a project for a bit to distance and detach myself from the dreaded burden that was weighing me down. It literally felt like I was dragging a couple hundred horses behind me who were galloping the other direction at the same time. Ugh! I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

One night, I had a cathartic event that helped me, even just a tiny bit, to dig myself out of my deep hole of writing despair. I decided to start plotting out an idea for a new project, which I have started working on. I thought that if I started with something fresh and new that I'd whip myself into shape. You know what? It worked. IT WORKED! Hallelujah and jump up and down and twirl in circles like a giddy little girl!

So what I'm saying here on this #ISWG Wednesday is:

1. If you need to, take a break
2. Shelf a project for a while to distance yourself from it, to breath again
3. Work on a different project to get your writing blood boiling again

Writing is not easy for sure, but in the end it is WORTH IT!

What are your tips to get you writing again? How have you overcome wanting to quit?

Writing. Jewels.

Emotional Scenes

Oops, this was supposed to post tomorrow. My human error for not scheduling it. haha Anyway, I'm obsessed with the SYFY show, Warehouse 13. I've watched up to the current episode in the 4th season. So, if you like sci-fi stuff, you'll definitely like this show. One of the closing scenes in an episode sure incited some major emotion in me. For one, I'm way attached to the characters and plot line. Also, the closing scene has a song in it called "Running Up That Hill" performed by Placebo (originally by Kate Bush). Here's a clip from the episode. Beware: If you haven't finished the third season of Warehouse 13, YOU DO NOT WANT TO WATCH THIS!!! *Spoilers*



Anyway, the music at the end of this episode made it an emotional rollor coaster for me. I almost cried. I think I stopped breathing. And the world stopped spinning for a few minutes (at least for me).

Well, here's a list of book scenes that have incited intense emotions in me, be it laughter or crying (Warning: There may be spoilers):

• These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner. One of the end scenes that has to do with Jack. I cried all the moisture out of my body because of it. My nose was dripping snot, too *gross*
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The part where all the toilets are placed on a certain person's front lawn
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver. The super-I-growled-at-the-book-for-at-least-30-minutes cliffhanger ending. Super Grrr!
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: The end of course, but the part where Liesel and Rudy make the food delivery boy's bike slip on the ice and they steal the food. I couldn't stop laughing. At all
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Katniss singing when Rue dies
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. The troll farting scene in the first book. I was listening to the audio book while driving and almost had to pull over because I was crying so hard from laughing. Almost peed my pants, too. Oh, you know you want to read this book now, huh?
• The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale. When a certain person dies. I'm not going to spoil this one too much
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Fred and George making their amazing departure when they decided to leave Hogwarts for good. Hilarious with all the magic tricks and fireworks they conjure up
• And of course, when Harry Potter dies (uh...Dobby, too. Probably more so than Harry)

So, what movie/TV/book scenes have incited intense emotions in you? What's your favorite TV show as of late? Is there a song that's been played in a TV show/movie that has made it all the more amazing for you?

Writing. Jewels.

Success is in the Squiggles

Take a look at this picture--another one of my Instagram creations.

The following question was posed in a class I attended the other day: Which line represents success?

So, which one do you think represents success? The straight line or the squiggly one? I suggest it's the squiggly one. Why? Because success comes from a tricky process of trial and error, failure, mistakes, ups and downs, and the list goes on and on. Anyway, what I'm getting at is writing is a process of squiggles--that is what produces success in this industry. 

I've got to be honest. The whole writing thing has been rather difficult lately. I lost my mojo to write there for a while. There was absolutely NO motivation to write in my soul, bones, fingers. Yet, over the last few days, it has been coming back. I want to write. I want to be in the thick of my words again. I have to create! But the fact is that I have to open up Word and type. And I will!

Lately, my journey has been stuck in one of the curves of the squiggles. It has been very hard. But this is just one of the twists is in the process. Embrace the curves. Success is at the end of the rainbow with the pot o' gold glistening a shinny gold. Uh, pardon my cliche usage.

I hope my difficult time can help you get through your squiggly road. That's what we are here for--to support and help each other. Keep going strong!

How has your road to success been? Is it squiggly for you? Have you ever lost the desire to write? How have you overcome it? 

Writing. Jewels. 

Settings

Instagram Pic by Julia King

When I was eighteen, I traveled by chartered bus with a group for three weeks across country and back again. During that time, I hit up seventeen U.S. states. Supercool. And way fun! I enjoyed the entire trip, however, there was one city that stuck out to me the most: Boston, Massachusetts.

The strange thing is that I spent all of maybe four hours there. But, the essence of the New England state penetrated my soul in a way that has drawn my heart back there ever since. Yes, for twelve years, I've been itching to get back there but have yet to make my pilgrimage back. I'd love to live there. The thing is I'm too practical to up and move without securing a job. I'm a planner, you see. I've got to make sure I can survive. :D But the adventure is so desirable to me. And, of course, scary too!

Anyway, because of this intense pull to this beautiful area of the United States, I set my second book, BOUND, in a city near Boston called Wrentham. There is a scene that takes place in Boston, and the beginning and end takes place outside of Dublin, Ireland. Intrigued yet? You better be!

Although I spent a brief period of time in Boston, I didn't know anything about it other than I know it's gorgeous. I spent a a fare amount of time researching Wrentham and Boston. I don't know what I'd do without the internet. Sheesh, I'd be lost. Luckily, I've been to Dublin, Ireland, so I didn't have much of a problem there. Plus, the scenes set in Ireland are supernatural by nature, so I used my creative license to build the setting/world there.

Anyway, have you ever set a book in a city you've never been to? Or one in which you've only spent a short period of time there? How do you go about researching your setting? Internet? Library? Actually going there?

Writing. Jewels.

PS: Happy Wednesday!

Caved. Cracked. Instagram.

I've finally caved or cracked or whatever and signed up for Instagram. I did this for good reason too. I read on a blog the other day about using images/pictures found on the internet as a part of blog posts. If I remember correctly, the post was linked on a blog I follow. I can't remember which one, though. Sorry! The topic piqued my interest, so I bounced on over to check out what it said.

Anyway, posts look so darn pretty when accompanied by pictures. However, as the post suggested, if you're not careful, you could get in trouble with copyrights. I've decided not to use Google images anymore on my posts to keep my butt safe. I might be a little paranoid, but it's better to be safe than sorry, right?

This is where Instagram comes into play. I'm going to take my own pictures, via Instagram. I'll try to be creative, as shown below. Hopefully, they can add a little flare of life to my posts and keep me safe in the process. :D

So here's the first one of many (Paperclips + Julia = Instagram):

Are you an Instagramer? Do you take photos of the food you eat and post it on Instagram? What pics do you commonly post on Instagram? Nature, friends, family, pets? And what are your thoughts about using internet images/pictures on blogs?

Writing. Jewels.

PS: If you want to follow me on Instagram, my profile name is "writingjewels".

Month of August Goals

Ok, folks... The month of July was bar-none the hardest flippin' month of my life. Alright, I've been through worse, of course, but this is so fresh on my mind that it feels all the more difficult. You know how bad/good things happen in threes? Well, that has been the case for me. I won't bore you with the goary details but, for all intents and purposes, let's just say that the things that happened weren't good. Anyway, because of this, my month of July goals didn't pan out very well.
Sigh!

I will review them quickly, though.

• Beta a couple books I beta'd one friend's book. That's good, huh?
• Start reading Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull Uh... I had no desire to read for the life of me. Super sad, huh?
• Continue exercising three days a week I did fulfill this part of my goals. Woot Woot!
• Only have one treat a week on Fridays Did I say that I had a really tough month? Well, that should tell you how I did on this goal. haha
• Start the first draft of BOUND's sequel. I so can't wait No work done here. Shoot. I did have to do another edit on my first book, though. When will the insanity end?

Anyway, my month of August goals are going to be pretty light. I need a break, my friends. If I don't relax a bit, I might end up in a white padded room with a straight jacket on.

So, here are some simple goals:

• Move on August 18 and get settled into my new place
• Read Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull
• Edit a bit of my own works
• Enjoy me some Netflix and time with loved ones
• Beta a tweeps book if she needs my help

Have you ever had a month where you wonder what's the next thing that's going to go wrong? How do you get through tough times? I do a great deal of praying, talking to family and friends, and trying not to eat too many sweets. Two weeks ago, I even got out of dodge to spend some time with a some good friends as well as my mom.

Anyway, dear followers, thanks for stopping by. And what are your month of August goals?

Writing. Jewels.