Man, what a vacation. Of course, I haven't kept a lot of my promises so rigidly. I've managed to read quite a few books (pretty good ones too) and I have not been able to fully resist checking my dashboard for new posters. I'm still caught up with all my blogger friends, reading and commenting their new stuff. And I've posted on my book blog a few times, but I told myself it doesn't really count, because it's just about the books I read.
If you haven't seen by now, Jacoby, I also posted on your Picture Perfect blog. I hope you like it. We should post more on that one.
I am very excited about J. N. writing his hundredth post. I can not imagine what he has in store for us with this riddle game of his. 100 clues all over the Internet. That will be a constant head-scratcher for me until he releases it. Then I'll have to scratch my head some more, no doubt.You know, it's a little bit of a coincidence that he's announced this clue thingy when I've just started reading The 39 Clues by Rick Riordan. I think I like it a bit better than his Olympian series. Well, 39 seems tough enough, but J.N.'s going for 100. I wish you the best of luck on you project, Future Author.
In other news, I haven't exactly been writing in my Imazian story a lot, but I have been writing a lot of other stuff. I've picked up this writing book by Gail Carson Levine (ever heard of her? Ella Enchanted?) called Writing Magic. I think it's really good. I talked a bit about it in my book blog. It's got all these neat creative exercises that I'm actually trying out. I don't often do that. It's as if a cork has popped out of me and has unleashed these new story ideas that I believe show some potential. See, Gail's first exercise, right from the first chapter, says to pick at least one of the 10 following random story beginning lines:
1 ~ I have one green eye and one brown eye. The green eye sees truth, but the brown eye sees much, much more.
2 ~ The ghost was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
3 ~ "Be nice," my father said. "After all, he's your brother."
4 ~ I am the most famous twelve-year-old in the United States.
5 ~ Jason had never felt so foolish before, and he hoped he'd never feel so foolish again.
6 ~ If somebody didn't do something soon, they were going to have a catastrophe on their hands.
7 ~ Alison was the runt of the family, born small and ill-favored, and by the time she was thirteen, she was still small and ill-favored.
8 ~ It was a witchy house: the low-slung roof; that quiet gray paint; those squinting, shuttered windows; and the empty porch rocker that rocked, rocked, rocked day and night.
9 ~ The first time I saw Stephen, he painted a hex sign on my right arm, and I couldn't move my fingers for 3 hours.
10 ~ Ms. Fleming's wig had gone missing.
And then you write a story from it. You're supposed to write for at least 20 minutes. I want to write all 10, and I've done the top 6 so far. I'd like very much to show you what I've written, but that would be much too long. Just know that my favorite works start with the lines from #4 and #6. If you're interested in them, tell me. But before you do, I urge you to try out one of the starting lines. Then maybe we could trade off.
Now, speaking of Imazia, you wouldn't believe this. Just the other day, I get an email that reads:
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Can you guys believe this? Somewhere out in the world, there is a person with the same exact spelling of a name I invented 3 years ago as the name for my magical setting! Well, I simply couldn't believe it. I haven't replied this person yet. I don't think I'd know what to say. Should I say something back?
Anyway, I hope you guys are pleased to hear from me again. I look forward to writing here more often. Oh, and BTW, I would very much appreciate it if someone commented on a few of my book posts. I don't think anyone has for half a dozen posts. I don't mean to make any of you feel guilty, but I'd be very cheered up if you took some time for them.
Also, I hate bringing this up, but J.N.? Remember the prologue? I hope your project doesn't make you too busy to keep an old promise.
In other news, I haven't exactly been writing in my Imazian story a lot, but I have been writing a lot of other stuff. I've picked up this writing book by Gail Carson Levine (ever heard of her? Ella Enchanted?) called Writing Magic. I think it's really good. I talked a bit about it in my book blog. It's got all these neat creative exercises that I'm actually trying out. I don't often do that. It's as if a cork has popped out of me and has unleashed these new story ideas that I believe show some potential. See, Gail's first exercise, right from the first chapter, says to pick at least one of the 10 following random story beginning lines:
1 ~ I have one green eye and one brown eye. The green eye sees truth, but the brown eye sees much, much more.
2 ~ The ghost was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
3 ~ "Be nice," my father said. "After all, he's your brother."
4 ~ I am the most famous twelve-year-old in the United States.
5 ~ Jason had never felt so foolish before, and he hoped he'd never feel so foolish again.
6 ~ If somebody didn't do something soon, they were going to have a catastrophe on their hands.
7 ~ Alison was the runt of the family, born small and ill-favored, and by the time she was thirteen, she was still small and ill-favored.
8 ~ It was a witchy house: the low-slung roof; that quiet gray paint; those squinting, shuttered windows; and the empty porch rocker that rocked, rocked, rocked day and night.
9 ~ The first time I saw Stephen, he painted a hex sign on my right arm, and I couldn't move my fingers for 3 hours.
10 ~ Ms. Fleming's wig had gone missing.
And then you write a story from it. You're supposed to write for at least 20 minutes. I want to write all 10, and I've done the top 6 so far. I'd like very much to show you what I've written, but that would be much too long. Just know that my favorite works start with the lines from #4 and #6. If you're interested in them, tell me. But before you do, I urge you to try out one of the starting lines. Then maybe we could trade off.
Now, speaking of Imazia, you wouldn't believe this. Just the other day, I get an email that reads:
-----------------------
Dear Ms. Bettina Levy:
I recently googled my name and noticed your blog. I am a recording artist in the US and the UK and I just HAVE TO ask where you got the name, (My name), "IMAZIA" ? I've never seen or heard my name anywhere else, nor seen it spelled that way. I have a DBA under my name, so I am just curious :) . Hope you have a wonderful day. Good luck with your book!!
Sincerely, Imazia
-----------------------Can you guys believe this? Somewhere out in the world, there is a person with the same exact spelling of a name I invented 3 years ago as the name for my magical setting! Well, I simply couldn't believe it. I haven't replied this person yet. I don't think I'd know what to say. Should I say something back?
Anyway, I hope you guys are pleased to hear from me again. I look forward to writing here more often. Oh, and BTW, I would very much appreciate it if someone commented on a few of my book posts. I don't think anyone has for half a dozen posts. I don't mean to make any of you feel guilty, but I'd be very cheered up if you took some time for them.
Also, I hate bringing this up, but J.N.? Remember the prologue? I hope your project doesn't make you too busy to keep an old promise.
6 comments:
^.^ yay! you are back again! ^.^
Wow, another Imazia in the world! how cool is that!
I think #1 would be a really fun one to write! ^.^
I still feel guilty for not getting you the prologue! maybe I should go and look for my computer again...the paperwork is taking far too long! you have to go back through a 7 year history and write down everything you have ever done - like leadership and stuff. the hard part is I have to have date for it. but if i don't know them i was told to make them up. but if I make them up wrong, and someone knows they are wrong, it gets delayed another month! its so irritating...
but I want you to read it so badly! maybe I will show you chapter one of the Dialunra story! that is still on paper, so I can easily just type it and email it to you ^.^
Wow! Who'd have thought that someone would have the same name as your world.
Hmmm... I'd really like to get that book. I'm gonna look it up on Amazon.
We're glad to have you back, Bettina!
Wow, I just left a comment on your blog post. How funny is that?
Thanks for commenting. I had a feeling you'd be the first. Also, I much appreciate you commenting Pendragon. I hope I didn't guilt you into it. I can't wait for #10!!!
Dialunra would be awesome, I'll bet! If you'll email Chapter 1 + Story Starter #1, that would be soooo cool. Of course, you could leave off the Story Starter for later. That would be fine too.
Good luck on your Eagle. Hope you finish it soon.
Oh, thanks for popping up too, Brian. I didn't see you there. ^,^
Both you guys are the greatest.
Of course you should reply! You should let Imazia know you recieved the email, at least.
I've read Writing Magic before, it was really helpful. I never heard of Imazia before, it's a nice name, and very unique. Hope your book turns out well.
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