Basic Needs for Writing!

I am writing my own book (Well, attempting to...) and I know the struggle of creating your own ideas, creating characters, your plot, ect.  I'll tell you what I do, and I'll give you all the websites I use to help write!

1.  Character names: I love to base my character names off of the meaning behind them.  I love to use a baby names website to help me find the meaning of names I like, which you can find here. I know it's a little weird to use a baby names website, but hey, it helps.  If you want a strong character, think of a name that means strong.  Or a warrior character, find a name that means warrior.  It not only helps you find a name, but will give your character a unique meaningful name.

2. Need advice or writing prompts to kickstart your imagination? You should view my favorite writing blog of all time, which is located here.  This website helps me out SO much and I absolutely love their writing prompts and advice!

3. Inspiration is very important, and I find the most inspiration in music.  Whenever I listen to some songs, I can perfectly envision my characters in a specific scene I would like to have, and BOOM inspiration.  Maybe I will post some of the songs I like to listen to while writing at a later date. (Probably sometime this week.)

4. Get to know your characters.  If you don't know your characters, your readers won't be able to understand them.  If you see a certain outfit, or listen to a certain song, and don't think of your characters or if they would love it- YOU DON'T KNOW THEM ENOUGH! These characters will be a part of you for the rest of your writing career, make them your best friends.  Your characters can never be too complex or planned out, you have to make them real, so real you almost find yourself wanting to talk to them through the page!

5. Writing schedule.  This is very crucial to your writing journey.  Don't have one? Well, neither do I!  I'm trying very hard to get on track, but I find that very hard to do.  I can only write when I have a good idea, or want to work on my characters some more. Whether that be at 2am when I have to type it into the notes on my phone, barely awake, or in the middle of history class when I have to jot down a few notes on the side of my paper.  This summer, I really will try to get a solid writing schedule going, because I have nothing else to do all summer!  I will keep you informed on how I will manage with this and if it works out....

6. Organization.  This may seem like a very hard thing to do, but I promise that it isn't all that hard! You just have to find what you like.  Catherine likes to write on her computer.  I find that very hard to do, and I'd rather hold a pencil in my hand and write my beloved words onto paper.  I have a binder with all my plot and character developments, and plans for my chapters.  I have a notebook in which I write my chapters down- just the first drafts of course! These haven't been edited yet.  I then have two accordion folders where I keep all of my notes about writing (How to use metaphors, double negatives, how to make dialogue sound real, ect.)  My other is for all of my drafts that I'm not sure I like, but might still be useful for latter on.  I will then continue to write all my chapters in order, once I finish the first draft of the book, and edit it during that stage.  Then I plan to type it up in my final stage of editing.  Until then, I will be with my lovely pencil and notebook.

7.  Have fun.  If you are not having fun with your writing, just take a step back and reevaluate where you went wrong.  Are you unhappy with your characters? Do you not like your plot? Do you feel as though you are not organized or don't have enough time to write?  Find out what might be the problem, and try to fix it.  Writing should be fun, not something you feel bad doing.  Writing is apart of you if you do it write! (Hahaha, funny pun.  Okay, it's not that funny but I thought it was clever.)

And those are some of the basics, but I will post more about writing latter on as I continue my jouney with my books. I hope this helps!

~Kate

Book+Movie Review Mashup: The Spectacular Now

SUTTER KEELY. HE’S the guy you want at your party. He’ll get everyone dancing. He’ ll get everyone in your parents’ pool. Okay, so he’s not exactly a shining academic star. He has no plans for college and will probably end up folding men’s shirts for a living. But there are plenty of ladies in town, and with the help of Dean Martin and Seagram’s V.O., life’s pretty fabuloso, actually.

Until the morning he wakes up on a random front lawn, and he meets Aimee. Aimee’s clueless. Aimee is a social disaster. Aimee needs help, and it’s up to the Sutterman to show Aimee a splendiferous time and then let her go forth and prosper. But Aimee’s not like other girls, and before long he’s in way over his head. For the first time in his life, he has the power to make a difference in someone else’s life—or ruin it forever.

FAQ:  You're barley a teenager, why do you enjoy reading coming of age novels?

A: It prepares me for what is to come.  It also helps me to relate to what my siblings speak of and say, "You don't understand."

So now that that's cleared up, book review time!

I found this story relatable in a way that I didn't feel like it was me but I did.  I feel like an Aimee who was just now discovering alcohol.  I feel like a Sutter who skips school.  I don't feel like a Sutter who has sex with everyone in his class by his senior year.  Sex, if you're uncomfortable with sex... THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR YOU.  If you're trying to teach your children about substance abuse, this is a decent novel to use as support.  Sutter struggles with his addiction to alcohol.  At a certain point in the book, he attempts to give up alcohol.  (he may or may not fail) 

Overall, this book is great if you need a light hearted, pain filled, different contemporary novel.

☆☆☆☆

A hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl."

(this review is a q&a)

Q: Why is this movie rated R?

A: This movie contains sex, the first scene is shirtless people, oh well, but the second you see a condom and such.

Q: What age do you suggest I should allow my child to watch this at?

A: It depends on the maturity level of your child.  If you're child is either still going through their "perverted age" or hasn't even reached it yet, don't let them.  If you feel your child is mature enough to see sex scenes, no harm should be done.

Q: Do you feel as if the movie did Tim Tharp's novel justice?

A: I do believe that the movie did Tharp's novel justice.  If you've read the novel, you know how sad the end is.  In the movie the director, James Ponsoldt, changed the end to make if a bit more happy.

☆☆☆☆☆

Have a nice evening and, happy reading!

-Catherine

Book Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same? 
The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. 
Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. 
But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

Let's state the facts quickly, this is your typical dystopian.  This book has a somewhat interesting world, but it is not original.  I felt as if I was reliving The Hunger Games.  The second half (I believe, I read it in January) is just like the Hunger Games. The separation of people into different areas felt like districts.  The "hey come kill people when you're still young" thingy mabob felt very Hunger Games-ey.  The one thing that this book is good for..... If you're in a reading slump, and you L O V E dystopian novels, read it. Plus the cover is gorgeous.  

Happy reading.  Bye.

-Catherine