Thursday's Inspirational Message

No matter the obstacle, you can overcome it even if it is not in a way you imagined.

I just made that up. I'm sure some famous person has probably said something along those lines in better terms, but those are my words for it. 

You can overcome anything. 

Never forget. 

Thursday with a Real Thoughts

Plot Twist: The guy actually noticing the girl
Wait a second. That is only a plot twist in real life.
In book world, guy's thoughts revolve around "she's beautiful. *insert girly adjectives*. We should get married as teenagers since we have true love."
BOYS PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AFFENSE. THIS IS A JOKE. In real life, guy's thoughts are more like "oh you exist. sorry didn't notice you were alive let alone a girl. I think your apparent lack of boobage has something to do with that. I'm gonna talk to that hot person over there."
I know those are both extreme exaggerations, but it is something to pay attention to. Please don't over fluff boy thoughts because it sounds romantic. I don't think any guy has ever looked at me at thought what my imaginary book boy thought. If he did, it's kinda weird. Personally, I like to know a person beside how attractive they are before thinking about the lovey dovey stuff.
Guys please note the same thing.
In boy book world, girls think "I'm going to screw with you head, make out with you, then ignore you. On the bright side you will totally fall in love with me even thought I am just screwing with your head. LET'S MAKE OUT! Never mind I was just messing with you."
In real world, girls think "omg should I text him. Does he think I am annoying? I am so annoying him with all these texts. MUST NOT TEXT. Why won't he just text me first? Does he find me that repulsive that I don't even warrant a text? Why are guys so confusing? *Bangs head on table*"
Again more extreme exaggerations. I read a guys WIP, and the girl was constantly screwing with the guys head. Most girls I know don't intentionally mess with guys (there are exceptions).
Anyways real life thoughts are much more interesting and help the reader gain a more personal connection with your POVs/ actions.
Be real people.

Thursday with the Anti-Bucket List

Skip this part if you don't want to read my lame apology
Sorry for the radio silence... again. This semester has been crazy both in school and my personal life.  That's besides the point. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving for our American people. If you live elsewhere, I hope you had a wonderful Thursday (without the Turkey bloating us Americans are dealing with).

Start here for the lame intro 
One of the neat character brainstorming things I've seen lately are character Bucket Lists: the things your character wants to do before they die. I have my own bucket list with little things (publishing is on that list).

I've never written a bucket list for my characters because my characters aren't the type to make bucket lists. Most of my characters face things when they come or do things now (instead of hoping they happen).

Now the awesome, fun part
Let's to the opposite of a bucket list. I want to write a list of things my characters hope never to do in their life... then make those things happen in their story. This is especially useful if you have trouble putting your characters tough stuff.

There are obvious things not to include in this list unless the fit your premise. For example, even though I would never want to die of the black plague, it is kinda unlikely since I don't live in the Middle Ages (wasn't there a House episode where a kid caught the Black Plague?). I am a slightly paranoid health freak, so I hope to never get a nasty disease, cancer or anything that would put my in the hospital.

I'm kinda glad I don't have an evil writer writing my life or else I might be in the hospital right slowly dying before writing my literary masterpiece that resides somewhere in my mind.

I hope this exercise is helpful :)

Wednesday on How to Choose College in Five Steps

I've decided to make another helpful list for you today. I just visited Villanova University last weekend and I was thinking about what I'm going to consider when looking at colleges. It might seem like a daunting process, but it's really pretty easy to narrow it down. Here is a handy survey to help you decide if the college you're considering is the right one.

1. Does your college look like Hogwarts? Yes/No.

For an example of an appropriate amount  Hogwarts-ness, see University of Chicago (above) or Kenyon College.

2. Does the college have cute sweatshirts and/or do their colors look good on you? Yes/No.

Exhibit A: William & Mary sweatshirt in green and gold.

 

3.  Does the college have a good library? Yes/No. And let's be clear-- it has to look like a library and have pretty windows and stuff too. And a coffee shop downstairs wouldn't hurt.

Cough, cough, Johns Hopkins. Drooling over this picture.

4. Is the college's mascot stupid. Yes/No?

Stupid mascots

any type of insect

gophers

donkey

Scottie dog (sorry, Carnegie Mellon, it's just a little weird)

a Buckeye (why would you base your mascot off a type of nut?)

an orange

a tree (lol, Stanford)

a pilgrim (lol, Harvard)

Good mascots

Phoenix

Gryffin 

Tiger

Eagle

maybe other things that aren't stupid

5.  Are there more than ten course offered that would require you to read books you like and do fun things? Yes/No?

 (in other words, does their course catalogue sound like a christmas list or a homework planner?)

If you answered no to any of the above questions, you may want to reconsider your college options. Or just move to Paris and become a cat lady. That's my back-up plan,

 if anyone would like to join me.

Now that you have college figured out, you can relax. 

You're welcome.

Caroline 

Friday NaNo VLOGS!

Hellllllloooooooo!

I made a vlog tonight! Hopefully I'm not too boring.

NaNo username = thatwritergirl1189

Wednesday Says People Should Buy Writers Nice Things

Writers should get nice things. With the holidays approaching, I decided to compile a list to point hapless relative/friends in the right direction for gift shopping.

1. Anything from Out of Print Clothing. They have shirts, journals, tote bags, journals, and ebook covers featuring the cover designs of classic books (I own the Gatsby sweatshirt, which I wear approximately once a week. It's the warmest thing ever). Check them out here.
2. The Writer's Toolbox, by Jamie Cat Callan. Comes complete with first lines like "It wasn't so much that I had been blind to the truth, but that I had seen the truth differently," and more weird prompts. The Amazon page.
3. Novel Teas. English Breakfast tea bags with quotes from T.S. Eliot, Dr. Suess, and others on the tags. Perfect to consume while reading or writing. Caffeine can be found here.
4. Demeter Fragance's paperback perfume. I don't care if it's silly. Books smell like heaven. http://www.demeterfragrance.com
5. A personal library kit. This way you can lend your books to others complete with card catalogue and due date stamp. Go buy it for me.
6. Journals/notebooks. One of my personal obsessions. Barnes and Noble usually has really nice ones.
7. BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS (obviously).

The internet has more ideas for you here: http://pinterest.com/mental_floss/gift-guide-bibliophiles/

Caroline