books

Book Blurring

Posted on by Lady CAS

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I love to read! There is nothing like picking up a good physical book and cracking it open and smelling the paper and feeling the crisp smooth pages and knowing there is something exciting and new waiting there for you. Something that if you have a vivid imagination could make you feel like you are living the story even.

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However, I tend to read a lot of books that have are set in specific areas like London or have similar themes and so sometimes when I finish a book and start a new one they tend to bleed right into another one. I have to remember that a certain character was not part of a particular book or when I am reading a series that certain situation was part of another book or series, LOL.

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I know this would probably be reduced if I slowed down or took small breaks between books and did not literally finish a book and pick up a new one within 2 minutes after finishing the last one but I just cannot help it sometimes. Moreover, when you borrow books from the library it can be hard to take a break when you reserve a book and it comes early or on time and you have to get it before they expire and there is usually pretty good/ long wait list.

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So I rush to read it so people don’t feel like I the the picture above when I’m waiting for it! LOL Though when I am waiting for a book and I see the number getting closer to one I get giddy and I’m like

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The funny part is it made me take a break from writing my book because I began to worry if some of my ideas for my books and writing may be ‘tainted’ from reading some of the books as I felt I could not trust my memories or imagination. After reading one of my books and recalling it, one guy sort of plagiarized without meaning too from parts and pieces of his memory of past blurbs of things he read in the past. I mean I will start back up but during my research I just want to make sure that I have defined what it is that I am researching, what my clear goals are for what I want and how I want to approach this thing. I want it to be a mix of fun and work not just work or it will not work.

For now though I will try remember that the Maze Runner series and the Mortality Doctrine Series is not all one big continuation, LOL.  But oh if James Dashner found a way to link them how I would love to read that crossover book too. Though this does not just happen with a single author who would obviously have a similar writing style. It can be totally different authors altogether.

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Am I the only one with this reading issue?

Creating Book Characters and Research

Posted on by Lady CAS

So I am learning that when creating characters, you really have to know how big a role you want your characters to play to decide how in depth you go with them. If you want the character to be a main character, when then you need to give them a full name (at least a first and last name) and a full description both in personality and physical nature. You also need to be able to give them a bit of background work and/or context as to what you want to readers to know that is important about them that will help readers know why they are so important or why they should care so much about. How will they become invested.

Are you going to give a bit of background information about how they grew up before you begin the meat and potatoes? Then with your minor characters, how will you present them, will they be given any background? Some may need just a bit some will not. If they show up enough, they will definitely need some sort of background at some point, but maybe not right away or sometimes even in that book they could have a spin off (I have seen this done and it’s pretty cool). Sista Souljah did it with Winter’s younger sister (Porsche) who was not as major a character.

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Then you have to make sure the time lines match up. This has always been tricky for me when writing on my own but now with this software I can stay on top of it because it shows it to me in both the character sections, the events, and the the whole book. I feel pretty confident about keeping my dates and events in order while making a these characters and what they do especially as I plan on moving forward to create a series/ spin offs based on the main characters.

More so, I am doing a great amount of research looking at the formats of books I have enjoyed. I am researching the content that must go into my book. Every author researches certain facts that they put into their books or events. They make sure that destinations exist or do not, they ensure information is not copied so they are not plagiarizing, they research names/ places so they can state they mean what they believe them to mean (unless they are making it up), or that information is accurate before posting it in their books. This can take a great deal of time. BELIEVE ME!

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I almost feel like I am in school again with all the research, but it feels good when it gives way to a few paragraphs or pages of new material of written work. I can triumph in knowing that I ave something solid and I hold on to that reference with my dear life just like when I was in school and post it in my writeitnow 5 software so if it’s needed later for me or the editor I have it.  They won’t catch me slipping.

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Write it Now 5 Demo…

Posted on by Lady CAS

So I still have not officially bought the software yet but there is a downloadable demo that you can interact with and try and I have been using it and I have started my first book. I am excited. Usually I am amazing at coming up with a title and small things like that and letting it guide me but that part is still a bit hazy. I have a makeshift one for now that is okay. The Happy Healthy Kiwi asked me for more info on this software and as I have started writing here it is.

The book that I have started writing is different than what I had first expected to begin writing. It may change a few more times before I land on exactly what I want it to be. But that’s ok to. I truly want to create a book that is a series so that people can become invested in the characters and are interested in what happens to them. So I have to be creative and careful not ot make too many definitive ‘ENDS’ in my book. I am so used to writing things that have an ending and here my goal is to leave things somewhat open for so that there is more story to tell later on.

I am enjoying the depth of the Write It Now program and the demo definitely has quite a bit to explore and play with. They offer it at $59.95 to buy it and download immediately or $69.95 for those interested so that you can get the CD version with the 300 page manual. If you download the demo you can upgrade to the full version by buying it online and it will unlock on the features once you enter the unlock codes that will be emailed to you since you have literally downloaded the actual thing and features are actually just locked. It’s really cool so far. I’m enjoying it what I can so far. Moreover, you can use it on multiple PC’s. It has a FAQ section so get you read on. It is awesome so far! Even the demo has me speechless!

 

I Have Found It! Author coming soon!

Posted on by Lady CAS

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So I have finally found the software needed to begin writing my book and paired with my dragon voice software I can easily begin talking in one document and import it into my book writing software and begin making novels. I am excited. I have 2 or 3 different ideas to begin with but the first step was to find the right software for me. I have found that now and it happens to be reasonably priced. It’s 2016’s top pick too. I am stocked!

I know that all of us who are bloggers are authors and if you do not believe you are, you are lying to yourself. You may not be the most famous one, but you are an author. You are either creative in your storytelling writing poetry and painting beautiful portraits in our minds that may be horrific, twisted and gorgeous, or plain and simple. You may even be just speaking the truth as it happened giving us the news or an autobiographical account of your life. It makes you no less of an author. You still evoke a feel of emotional distress or eustress from your readers and have them coming back for more and gaining more readers in the process.

I’ve wanted to write a book since I was in middle school perhaps even earlier about my life. So much had already happened to me, even at such a young age. SO you can imagine the stories I have now to fill it up with. I have always intentionally gone out of my way to be different but in doing so I have actually always naturally been different when not even trying to the point that it was comical. I intentionally tried to choose subjects, places, and activities that others would not because I did not dare to be stereotyped. I did not liked to be defined I wanted to keep people guessing at what I may do next. Would I do something wild eccentric or calm and mellow. I went with my moods and the vibe I was getting from my surroundings.

As I am aging and enjoying life and my books I want to write more than just my poetry which I have actually been neglecting for quite some time. I want to write a fantasy novel. I spend so much time in that ‘world’ while reading and then when I am daydreaming that I feel that I could truly write a really awesome fiction fantasy book. I mean between James Dashner and Rick Riordan I am so enthralled I can hardly contain myself on which route to go there! Though I love real word and plain fiction like Robert Galbraith ( AKA JK Rowling) I just am not sure if I want to get into any thriller books yet because some of my biggest fans (meaning the ones I WANT to read it –MY MOM, LOL–, not just who read my blog and WOULD/MAY read it) are too squeamish for such things. That may have to come later on. I want them to be able to enjoy one book and preferably the first one! I don’t need mom to have nightmares or never speak to me again because she read a uber gross line and it made her faint or sick, especially while she was eating.

Now the only thing left for me to do is buy it! I will probably wait another week or 2…it’s tax time and I just bought a ton of stuff recently. Then again…who knows…lol. I get overexcited sometimes and with these ideas who can keep me down! I may just have to rearrange some things so I can start this engine up. No offense to my fellow bloggers who put their books/novels on here, but I only plan on putting a small short story here that will not be the one I am publishing for the big time!!!

It will be a simultaneous tester perhaps, but I have to go big. I have faith and hope that’s what this imagination station runs on along with an infinite amount of creative spice!

 

My Mouth is Drunk, But I’m SOBER

Posted on by Lady CAS

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When you have Myasthenia Gravis there are things you just do not always have control over and even when you are stable and have taken all your medications, when you are really tired and have and exacerbation (have over exerted yourself) your body will tell on you. For me the first thing that usually tells on me is my mouth or more specifically my speech.

I will be talking to people and my voice begins to sound nasally to me and when I mention others will swear they don’t notice it. But I know I know it’s coming. Then by the time they notice it it’s far too late I am about to sound like a drunken loon. My tongue speech slurs and then my tongue just gives up altogether along with the soft palate of my mouth and they just die all at once.

When they die they I just have to let them recover. There is nothing I can do. I cannot eat, drink, or anything. I can barely swallow until they recover. I have to just wait it out. Sometimes it comes back in a matter of minutes, sometimes it takes hours. If it takes longer than that…Well then I am usually in crisis and need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The funny part is when it happens in the middle of a conversation and people are looking at me like I am having a stroke…Or when I explicitly warned them that I was getting nasal and they said they didn’t hear it then my speech slurs and becomes incomprehensible and it is uncomfortable for both us because now I am stuck trying to finish saying something important that I was trying to tell them should have been left for another time when I was stronger to talk about the subject or could have emailed to them.

People are just hard-headed. I mean i get phone calls from people who do not understand my disorder at all because they refuse to take the time to understand it, people in my own family and then look at me confused when I will not speak to them. No I will not talk to you if I have to keep explaining my disorder to you and you are not mentally disabled and you claim to want to be so highly esteemed in my life…NOPE.

The funniest thing is that I use the dragon technology thanks to my mom and her brilliance and it understands me when my speech becomes incomprehensible. However when I speak normal it has no idea who I am. So I had to create two profiles and train it twice. That was hilarious. I have two completely different speech patterns. They are truly that distinct! I recorded myself and I honestly sound like a person who is deaf and who has never really heard speech before perhaps a bit more stunted when my speech goes. I find it truly amazing. I do not like speaking to people when I get like this, expect for my doctor who I do not mind letting him and his school and students study me (I love letting others learn, especially if it helps find a cure).

My parents are great about it! My husband takes it in stride. He doesn’t miss a beat when my voice goes, he doesn’t even acknowledge it though I know he hears it. I just have to remind him when he hears it that it means I will have trouble eating certain things because he forgets that.  He knows I usually need rest and now without even missing a beat he is usually trying to get me comfortable checking one me asking if I’m ok or if I need something because he sort of knows something is not right if I am slurring so badly. But all in all I usually just tell people I am ok, I am not drunk or intoxicated though sometimes I wish I were but my mouth has a mind of it’s own and may be!

Hippy Drippy Wanderings

Posted on by Lady CAS

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OMG being on too many medications can be a hazard to one’s stability in the real world and grip on reality. Then again it can be one of the best experiences into your own series of day dreams ever. I had so  many wonderful day dreams in in the past few hours I could have sworn I have been on some illegal or highly narcotic pain killers. I mean I have not tripped like this in quite some time. The last time was the the spinal I had for my kidney stent (cath) when I had a kidney stone. I mean I tell ya I went all out then.

But today my mind has been on full ROAR. I have not been able to focus on work only wander on fantasy. I finally decided that if I do not have fully written how to instructions on what needs to be done, things will not get accomplished today.

I was in the middle of trying to get a report done, looked up and realized over 30 minutes had passed. How did I notice that if I was daydreaming? When I first looked up a certain show on t.v. was on and a member was yelling at her friend they had to do their workout for 30 minutes, and then when I looked up then next show in the line up had started and they were gone and in the locker room and I was still in la la land. I had been thinking about one of the books I had been reading and the fact that people were hung up on the fact that God was not ‘real’ in the book and instead of them focusing on the cleverness of the book the focused pn all the bad of it. Whether the author was an atheist or not I have no idea but the creatures they created and the concept and the philosophy behind it took a great deal of research and it poses a lot of thought and discussion yet people are so simple minded they can only see the one aspect and clung to it.

Then My min wandered further and I posed what it would be like to have a soul outside of my body inside of an animal and what that animal’s form would settle on as I became an adult. And I was pretty certain mine would be some partial marine life of some sort. I am just too fond of water but not completely marine because I would still want to ‘walk’ the earth. So something like snake, polar bear, crocodile, or even loons and pelicans. I just want to be close to the water and land. I am not afraid of air I just feel like I am flying when I am stilled in water and I prefer water, it has always felt safer and more natural to me.

My thoughts wandered even further…I began thinking about my mannerisms and how they would come off to people and children that watch them. Do I look fascinating? Do I look mysterious? Could I give off an heir of foreboding if I desire with just a look in my eye or tilt of the head? These are the things I need to pay attention to more closely to write my book but also to if ever to consult on if I were to turn a book into a movie. You want them to adequately cast your characters and setting in your vision. I may be getting ahead of myself but my mind was spinning. I was excited. I was thinking about writing books about magic, mystery, and with a hint of detective work within it. I mean we all have to have that moment of who did it? That’s always fun. My target audience are the young adults and kids because these are the ones I want to make sure are our literally inclined, lol. I mean yes as we get older we gain more responsibilities and reading gets pushed off but hopefully at some point it comes back full circle again. It has for me. I definitely want my books to be a series so that people get to know my characters and get invested in them to have a chance to fully get into the background of all the amazing things each of them have to offer.

I am starting to get an idea of what I want to write about more clearly and how I want to compose it so now I need to find that software to begin my writing and drafting more clearly and get all my ideas and things into one place. I don’t want to lose any of these great scribblings. They are all mixing together in a wonderful kaleidoscope of images and colors and small little skits in my mind.

BOOKS A PLENTY…

Posted on by Lady CAS

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I love my books! Lately I have been reading A legend series by Marie Lu. The first of the series is called Legend and the second is Prodigy. They are set in futuristic post apocalyptic U.S. or what’s left of it. The book is told from the view point of two very different people with two very different lifestyles when suddenly their worlds collide in a fatal way circumstance. There is adventure/ action galore, mystery, and plot twists you just cannot fathom. I loved it.

Another series that has caught my eye is the fantasy fiction Time series by Madeleine L’Engle. So far I have read the first three volumes: A wrinkle in time, A wind in the door, and A swiftly Tilting Planet. I can say just as you think you are about to possibly lose interest she knows just how to draw you back in with a new twist that will make you wonder why you are still up 2 hours past your bedtime. I laugh because people say it’s a child’s book but when you have imagination all books fall into that category to me because I can imagine them just as vividly. I want to make the possible movie in my head and if a movie comes out I always like saying, ‘that’s exactly how I envisioned that person or that place to look”. The characters in this series are so charming they are centered around a family that are scholars and a bit odd in a community that sees them as out of place due to it being a working class town. What’s more is that they tend to have extraordinary adventures due to their scholarly skills and comprehension. There also seems to be a lot of underlying Christian themes throughout her books which was surprising and draws me in even more.

Another series I adore, though now I think it’s anything Rick Riordan put out, is the Kane Chronicles and I’ve read Red Pyramid. I thought it was great but it did have it’s lulls. I enjoyed the change of pace from reading about the Gods all the time but still seeing the connections. It was fun because I love history and mythology (GEEK ALERT). But I also enjoyed the plot twists and not always knowing who to trust in the book. That was fun. Seeing how the characters are connected to ancient Egyptian Gods and how their powers come about takes them on a great journey and I’m telling you I enjoyed every bit.

I also read the Wolf Gift Series By Anne Rice. Both the Wolf Gift and Wolves of midwinter were pretty good. I found the first better than the second but still it was a great book to bring me into an area I was not as familiar with. I have never really read about wolves or this form of werewolf. It was very different and I love the way she gave the characters a righteous edge.

His Dark Materials is the final series I will review today, and I have read the Golden Compass (which was made into a movie and they never made the others due to controversy) and the subtle knife and started on the the amber spyglass. So far it is great to me. I understand the controversy is supposed to be about the discrepancy about Christianity and the Power of God/ Church and how the they destroy what they do not understand and so on. Many people did not feel this was an appropriate movie/ value to teach children. However, the movie did not really go there and the book went way deeper than this. So you are faced with a dilemma. The movie was overly sugarcoated and the book was heavily detailed and maybe could have been seen more as a young adult or adult story than a child’s book. Moreover, we see horror books and such all the time so maybe they should have marketed this as something different due to the nature of the book because of that very topic. I love the series but obviously others did not because they were so stuck on that one aspect. I will say I love the Lord but I also can read about art and be abstract about someone’s opinion while reading/ viewing their art to see the bigger picture. The characters are so unique and the connection of souls being inside of an animal that is seen outside of the body to accompany the human is pretty neat. Though different things manifest in different ways in other worlds in the following books. I enjoyed the fantasy.

Though I am reading many other series right now this is all I will review for now.

 

 

Broken Underwear and books

Posted on by Lady CAS

 

Did I get your attention, I thought so! My Monday started off as one of those days. I would not say a bad day because I do not believe just because it is a Monday that it is a bad day. However, I will say that I was in a rather unfavorable mood for a few reasons. The first was because for the first time EVER I had to return library books to the library that I did not get to read because I was unable to renew them online since people had already requested them and I am a VERY courteous person. I believe in making sure my books are back on time so that the next person can read them. I know how I feel when I am excited about a book and ready to read it, especially when they are like these books are part of a series.

It all happened because I they came earlier than I expected when I put a hold on them and instead of putting them on my ‘to read’ list in my library account I placed them on hold to be next in line to get them sent to my nearest library to be picked up when they were returned to read. The funny part was about 8 books came back at once. I burned through about 4 of them quickly but then I had one that was not as enjoyable as the rest and took me longer than I anticipated. Then I also got busier than anticipated.

I renewed all the books that did not have wait lists and tried to prioritize like usual and still had those 2 books left and not enough time. So as soon as I dropped them off today I placed them back on hold along with a third book and I will not add any other books in case they all come up at once again. I can read about 3 books in a week with no problem but not 4. So I am good to go. I also have one that I checked out today on ebook that I am reading now in the mean time to keep me satiated.

Another reason this day went sideways is that I am still sick so you know how that goes. Though I am getting better I am still feeling sluggish and not all there so I am not on top of my game and I feel like it takes me twice as long to get myself together and make lists and complete them.

Then my house is a mess and I don’t like that. I have to make sure that I get that under control I cannot stand to see this much longer. So I decided to take a 1/.2 day tomorrow to get that in order a bit and run a few errands and get things back in order. I also took Friday off so that I can rest more and just get myself back together. I have to get things back right!

And the cope de grace (finishing blow) was going to the bathroom and not knowing my own strength. I was not rushing just not really paying attention and while using one hand to lock the door and the other to pull my pants and panties down simultaneously (b/c I had on yoga pants) I broke the band on the side of my panties. I mean all the way off. I look at this in sheer amazement. How in the world does one break their underwear, these were not cheap by any means as I stopped investing in cheap panties back in high school/ undergrad because I like quality! I kept thinking about it and shaking my head, this was not ‘torn’ this was BROKEN it was ridiculous and ridiculously funny and trying to stifle my laughter in the bathroom made it even worse.

All I could do at this point was laugh! All I had was one leg in and the seat to my panties! Welp, Commando it was! Many people go commando and not just when they workout. I found that to be an interesting survey by the way. However, that was not my plan today and I rather like wearing underwear unless I am doing spin cus I like the added protection that if my pants split (which has happened on numerous occasions) or my pants slip down (which has not really happened thankfully) that there are underwear to prevent a complete catastrophe. Otherwise I would be commando every time I taught class, lol.

I am at a point right now that I wish I could go back to sleep and start this day all over again and with my usual spare pair of clothes in my pack. Why did I take those out last week and forget to put them back after I washed them? Really wishing I had those spares right now.

The funny part is that I even took the time to sew up the pants the I have on this morning because I had ripped them on the inner thigh and STILL did not think to check my back pack for my spare clothes!!! WHAT A DAY, and it wasn’t over yet, I could pray for normal but who am I kidding normal does not happen to me!

 

Bucket List Heros

Posted on by Lady CAS

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So recently others have been seeing my bucket list and apparently they have made comments about it and found it just as interesting. My younger brother made the comment that I was too young to have a bucket list. He was not aware of the more trendy phenomenon of people creating them just to be sure that they live life to the fullest so that they have no regrets. It’t no just for those of us who are sick and have chronic illnesses. I know when I first told him it alarmed him though because I do have a chronic illness and he probably thought the worst. But I explained that people with MG live LONG healthy lives and that I created my list to ensure that I do not allow myself to sit and wallow in my disorder. Bucket list are meant to inspire you to do these things not just before you DIE but just to get out and do something more than get up, go to work, come home, repeat!

SO with that said I have a master bucket list that will not change but will slowly grow over time as I see fit an accomplish things and I have an annual list that I will create around the 3rd quarter of each year and have from that time to the end of the following year to complete. It will give me great joy to complete the list because I enjoy creating to do list and crossing items off of them as I tackle them. I also enjoy planning and organizing events.

Anyways, I have been enjoying finding new ways to tackle the list and when I can get them done. Some of them have been harder than others due to time management. I have found that I am not the only one who wants to see me accomplish these goals and that feels great too. I always tell people I do not want anything for Christmas or my birthday. It’s not because I do not feel worthy or I feel people cannot afford it, it is because I honestly feel blessed enough and would rather give than receive. I also feel that my family has given me so much already that I could want/need for anything. However, my dad saw my bucket list and he decided to scratch one of the items off of it for me and I even more grateful.

My dad bought me my go pro. I can take it with me on my adventures now. I am ecstatic. My mom said he was really looking for it. I’m proud of him because he really went above and beyond. Usually he defects to my moms for what all of us want for different events and this time he knew. Handy detecting dad, lol. I shall call it my PRECIOUS. Can’t wait til our trip overseas!

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Annual Bucket List: 2016

Do a local bike race
get yoga mat/basic training
Visit wizarding world of Harry Potter
Read 50 books — at 22 books almost halfway
Buy a Go Pro
Go Sky Diving
Go to a State I have not been to before
Go to 5th Cirque Du Soliel Performance
Paint Pottery
Throw Pottery (as in make my on pottery)
Decorate my house for fall
Decorate my house for Christmas
Take a romantic trip with my husband
Volunteer with a charity monthly
Take a culinary class
Go swimming (you would be amazed that since being diagnosed with MG I have not swam once because I have started to have fear that it would become over exterted and not be able to get out of the water….says the former lifeguard and scuba certified person)
Be sling shot (it a weird bungee course thing that looks like a giant sling shot)
Go to Canada

Master Bucket List

Write a book
Have a baby/ adopt a child
Create a Charity
Run a business
Travel overseas like a nomad (England, France, Italy, etc)
Go to Disneyland
Go to a bioluminscent bay
Have my music music produced and perform it
Help Find a Cure for MG
Go to Alaska- see the Northern Lights
Pose for a sexy calendar

 

Writing A Book…

Posted on by Lady CAS

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I have been told by several people now that I should write a book. People from all walks of life and I really have been wanting to for quite some time. I have thought about it from several angles. I wanted to do several types of books but have ultimately that while I would love to write a book based on my adventures in life I do not want to write anything so closely related to my life that my family or friends feel in danger of me putting their personal lives out in the open. So I have decided that a book very loosely based on my me with outlandish characters and adventures would definitely be the way to go. This way I can go in direction I dare to go.

My other dilemma is fear of length and intensity of the book. I had to write a something much like a thesis for my master’s project in school and it was about 80 pages when it was all said and done. Needless to say it was the longest and hardest thing I had ever done. It took the better part of a year. Obviously you need someone to give you financial backing and believe in you and your idea enough to think it will indeed go BIG.

I worry that something like this will not only take just as long if not longer but the stress will be insurmountable. Writers are always saying that though they enjoy what they do, it is not without it’s flaws. I do not want to be that person holed up in my house for months without anything flowing. Now if things are constantly or almost constantly flowing then fine…so be it. Then I will be ok with that. I will be fine with constant mutterings and pages upon pages of material. I would prefer to have to try and cut my material than having to draw it out. Though yes it will be tough as I will undoubtedly grow a strong bond for all my characters and their stories I know this can be done (even if I have to make a book centered around just that character later, hehehe).

My last problem is finding a central theme and focusing on it and staying focused on it through out the entire book. I also know that I would like to write a book that is a series. I want people to grow with my characters and hunger for what happens to them next in the next book. I love books like this. Where you become invested in the characters and they grow, age, love, and make mistakes and such. It’s fun! I am excited but now I have to research so that I can find out what avenues I can find to do these things.

I am will do this but if you guys know any helpful tools and such lay it on me! I am all eyes and ears!