How Can I Avoid Selfishness?

A report I wrote at 15.

Selfishness is the root of both hatred and the love of money. Jesus once said that “The love of money is the root of all evil.” That makes Selfishness a deadly trap to fall into. Therefore it is of utmost importance to avoid it. The question is, how?
There is the acronym JOY. It stands for Jesus then Others then You. This is the recipe for selflessness, which is the opposite of selfishness.  The best way to avoid any bad habit is to identify its opposite, then replace the bad with it.
Whatever situation you might be in, your reaction should not be “How can I benefit me?” but, “What can I do that is pleasing to Jesus,” and then, “How can I benefit others?”
Most people think that being served is the key to happiness. However, those who know would tell you that it is those who are being served are the most miserable. They have nothing to do that is constructive, and therefore are most often bored. The servants, however, if they are not grudging, are most often the happiest.
If you grudge service, that’s being selfish. One way to become selfless is to make a conscious decision to serve, and do it with a happy and willing heart. Whenever you catch yourself being selfish, stop, and make a conscious decision to change your attitude.
Don’t, however, don’t delude yourself that you can do this all by yourself. No one can. Selfishness is a trait of Self. Self cannot be conquered alone. You must have God’s help to conquer Self.
Therefore you must ask God’s help to avoid selfishness. Even if you use all the tricks in the book, you can never overcome selfishness without God’s help. You must ask him for his help and ask it daily, hourly, or even minutely if you need it. And you must earnestly seek your goal, don’t play two-face, and hold back parts; that’s being selfish, too.

Algae

A fellow Blogger recently acquired a new laptop ... and named it.

Okay, let me back up here. I'm the type of person who names her bikes, her scarfs, and her giraffe figurines ...

But I never named my computer! The most important non-living object in my life and I didn't give it the dignity of a name!!! 

Luckily, that is something easily solvable. I gave it some thought and soon chanced upon the perfect name.

drumroll please ....

Algebra Black Clickety-clack!

Why that, you ask?

Must I give you my reasoning?

Fine ... I will.

Clickety-clack because that's the sound her keys make when I type. (and clack rhymes with black)

Black because that's her color ...

And Algebra because ... because ... because that's the word my eyes fell upon when I glanced about the room. I sit next to the bookshelf that holds our textbooks ...

I'm going to call her Algae for short.

This egg is in honor  of my dead computer.

Connia and Enna

Connia via Pinterest

Enna via Pinterest

Today I once more introduce two characters, the princesses of Refrence. Princess Constance Coraline Diansae, and Princess Enaline Xialla Pia, commonly known as Connia and Enna. Connia is the eldest sister at nearly twenty, Enna is the baby of the family at fifteen. There's a pair of twin brothers between them, but I'll get to them in their own post.

You may be wondering if they fell asleep with Sleeping Beauty ... You betcha they did! They wouldn't have missed Sleeping Beauty's party for Bookania! She's their cousin.

You also may be wondering what the two girl's gifts are. Connia's is the ability to know which book she needs to read to find the info she needs. Enna's is the ability to remember anything she has ever read. Pretty cool right?

One more thing before I go that you may find interesting. Connia is actually already married, and has a young son. Those characters won't get their own post, though, so I'll just go ahead and list their names. 

Husband: Lord Benjamin

Son: Joseph.

Connia and Enna aren't very important to the book, despite being Sleeping Beauty's cousins. Indeed, I do believe that I edited out the one mention of the names of Connia's husband and son ... I'll put them in somewhere else, don't worry. It was just that the place where I listed their names was a horrid info dump that would have bored all of you.

The Flying Trunk

To read without my commentary, click here.

There was once a merchant who was so rich that he could have paved the whole street, and perhaps even a little side-street besides, with silver. But he did not do that; he knew another way of spending his money. If he spent a shilling he got back a florin-such an excellent merchant he was till he died.

Ah, what a beginning, introduce a guy and kill him off in the first paragraph. Watch, this will be about his son - Fairy Tales where a man dies in the first paragraph are almost always about the guy's son!

Now his son inherited all this money. He lived very merrily; he went every night to the theatre, made paper kites out of five-pound notes, and played ducks and drakes with sovereigns instead of stones. In this way the money was likely to come soon to an end, and so it did.

And I was right! Hmmm ... this reminds me of the prodigal son ... except there's no father for him to return to ...

At last he had nothing left but four shillings, and he had no clothes except a pair of slippers and an old dressing-gown.

I love his options when it comes to clothing. He could have saved something practical ... but, no, he chose the dressing gown and slippers. Of course, maybe no one wanted to buy them off of him.

His friends did not trouble themselves any more about him; they would not even walk down the street with him.

As it was with the prodigal son.

But one of them who was rather good-natured sent him an old trunk with the message, 'Pack up!" That was all very well, but he had nothing to pack up, so he got into the trunk himself.

That line amuses me. I don't know why.

It was an enchanted trunk, for as soon as the lock was pressed it could fly. He pressed it, and away he flew in it up the chimney, high into the clouds, further and further away. But whenever the bottom gave a little creak he was in terror lest the trunk should go to pieces, for then he would have turned a dreadful somersault-just think of it!

Whoa whoa whoa ... an enchanted trunk! Wow! I want one! 

In this way he arrived at the land of the Turks. He hid the trunk in a wood under some dry leaves, and then walked into the town. He could do that quite well, for all the Turks were dressed just as he was-in a dressing-gown and slippers.

And thus his clothing comes in handy. He would have looked quite out of place if he had kept his proper clothing.

He met a nurse with a little child.

What! Not a pretty princess?

'Halloa! you Turkish nurse,' said he, 'what is that great castle there close to the town? The one with the windows so high up?'

Well, at least he has the sense to ask about the castle.

'The sultan's daughter lives there,' she replied. 'It is prophesied that she will be very unlucky in her husband, and so no one is allowed to see her except when the sultan and sultana are by.'

Oooooo sultan's daughter! That's almost as good as a princess ... and she has an unlucky prophecy!

'Thank you,' said the merchant's son, and he went into the wood, sat himself in his trunk, flew on to the roof, and crept through the window into the princess's room.

Well, he doesn't waste time going after what interests him.

She was lying on the sofa asleep, and was so beautiful that the young merchant had to kiss her. Then she woke up and was very much frightened, but he said he was a Turkish god who had come through the air to see her, and that pleased her very much.

Okay ... that's an interesting introduction ... but it pleaseth the lady.

They sat close to each other, and he told her a story about her eyes. They were beautiful dark lakes in which her thoughts swam about like mermaids. And her forehead was a snowy mountain, grand and shining. These were lovely stories.

Praise of a beautiful woman in the form of stories always makes for lovely stories.

Then he asked the princess to marry him, and she said yes at once.

Of course she would, no one else has been allowed to ask her. And he tells her such lovely stories.

'But you must come here on Saturday,' she said, 'for then the sultan and the sultana are coming to tea with me. They will be indeed proud that I receive the god of the Turks. But mind you have a really good story ready, for my parents like them immensely. My mother likes something rather moral and high-flown, and my father likes something merry to make him laugh.'

Wow. That's a tall order.

'Yes, I shall only bring a fairy story for my dowry,' said he, and so they parted. But the princess gave him a sabre set with gold pieces which he could use.

But, then, it's not much to ask of a god. And she gives him money.

Then he flew away, bought himself a new dressing-gown, and sat down in the wood and began to make up a story, for it had to be ready by Saturday, and that was no easy matter.

So little time to write a story. I feel for him, I really do. But, then, he was the one who went into a princess's bedroom without invitation.

When he had it ready it was Saturday.

Whew! He just made it!

The sultan, the sultana, and the whole court were at tea with the princess.

As long as they were not in the tea. That would have been messy ... oh, nevermind.

He was most graciously received.

Really, I would have kicked him out!

'Will you tell us a story?' said the sultana; 'one that is thoughtful and instructive?'

"Okay ... once upon a time there was a wise man who did nothing but think on great things ..."

'But something that we can laugh at,' said the sultan.

"Um ... okay ... there once was a clown named Fido. He had a dog named Peter ..."

Maybe I'll just let the young man tell the story.

'Oh, certainly,' he replied, and began: 'Now, listen attentively. There was once a box of matches which lay between a tinder-box and an old iron pot, and they told the story of their youth.

Really ... what a strange place for them to be!

'"We used to be on the green fir-boughs. Every morning and evening we had diamond-tea, which was the dew, and the whole day long we had sunshine, and the little birds used to tell us stories. We were very rich, because the other trees only dressed in summer, but we had green dresses in summer and in winter. Then the woodcutter came, and our family was split up. We have now the task of making light for the lowest people. That is why we grand people are in the kitchen."

Ah, what a lovely history! 

'"My fate was quite different," said the iron pot, near which the matches lay.

Well, I can imagine. One's a box of matches. The other is an iron pot. There's very little that matches and pots having common other than the fact that they both require fire to be truly useful.

'"Since I came into the world I have been many times scoured, and have cooked much. My only pleasure is to have a good chat with my companions when I am lying nice and clean in my place after dinner."

Ah, but how did it come into the world? It didn't say that!

'"Now you are talking too fast," spluttered the fire.

He ought to talk. The fire is the fastest talking person in the kitchen.

'"Yes, let us decide who is the grandest!" said the matches.

They think they are.

'"No, I don't like talking about myself," said the pot.

But he's the one who said the most about himself.

'"Let us arrange an evening's entertainment. I will tell the story of my life.

As I said ...

'"On the Baltic by the Danish shore-"

As if people know where the Danish shore is in Turkey. Well, never mind.

'What a beautiful beginning!" said all the plates. "That's a story that will please us all."

Obviously, the plates are easily pleased. Just like the princess.

'And the end was just as good as the beginning. All the plates clattered for joy.

And were lucky that they didn't break.

'"Now I will dance," said the tongs, and she danced. Oh! how high she could kick!

She was the only one there who could kick.

'The old chair-cover in the corner split when he saw her.

Because he tried to kick, but couldn't due to lack of legs.

'The urn would have sung but she said she had a cold; she could not sing unless she boiled.

The poor urn. I hope she gets better ...

'In the window was an old quill pen. There was nothing remarkable about her except that she had been dipped too deeply into the ink. But she was very proud of that.

Well, everyone has to have something to be proud of. Even if it is only being dipped too deeply in ink.

'"If the urn will not sing," said she, "outside the door hangs a nightingale in a cage who will sing."

That's all fine and good, but I don't think they'll be able to get through the door to get the bird.

'"I don't think it's proper," said the kettle, "that such a foreign bird should be heard."

In so many words. Excuses, excuses.

'"Oh, let us have some acting," said everyone. "Do let us!"

Oooh ... I like acting!

'Suddenly the door opened and the maid came in. Everyone was quite quiet. There was not a sound. But each pot knew what he might have done, and how grand he was.

And what might he have done? Squished everything?

'The maid took the matches and lit the fire with them. How they spluttered and flamed, to be sure! "Now everyone can see," they thought, "that we are the grandest! How we sparkle! What a light-"

They're still very conceited.

'But here they were burnt out.'

Pride cometh before destruction, they say.

'That was a delightful story!' said the sultana. 'I quite feel myself in the kitchen with the matches. Yes, now you shall marry our daughter.'

Well, I'm glad she approved. It did have a pretty good moral, there at the end.

'Yes, indeed,' said the sultan, 'you shall marry our daughter on Monday.' And they treated the young man as one of the family.

And it was absolutely hilarious. Well, I'm glad they consider him good enough for their daughter. He is a god, after all ...

The wedding was arranged, and the night before the whole town was illuminated.

Turks know how to throw a party.

Biscuits and gingerbreads were thrown among the people, the street boys stood on tiptoe crying hurrahs and whistling through their fingers. It was all splendid.

See the above.

'Now I must also give them a treat,' thought the merchant's son. And so he bought rockets, crackers, and all the kinds of fireworks you can think of, put them in his trunk, and flew up with them into the air.

He didn't want to be outdone by the turks.

Whirr-r-r, how they fizzed and blazed!

And he wasn't, after all.

All the Turks jumped so high that their slippers flew above their heads; such a splendid glitter they had never seen before.

I'm glad they're impressed.

Now they could quite well understand that it was the god of the Turks himself who was to marry the princess.

And that he can keep up his charade. But it's sure to come to an end sooner or later.

As soon as the young merchant came down again into the wood with his trunk he thought, 'Now I will just go into the town to see how the show has taken.'

He wanted to hear his praises.

And it was quite natural that he should want to do this.

In other words.

Oh! what stories the people had to tell!

They were impressed, you see.

Each one whom he asked had seen it differently, but they had all found it beautiful.

But that's to be expected. Everyone knows beauty when they see it, but beauty is defined by the eye of the beholder.

'I saw the Turkish god himself,' said one. 'He had eyes like glittering stars, and a beard like foaming water.'

That does sound impressive.

'He flew away in a cloak of fire,' said another. They were splendid things that he heard, and the next day was to be his wedding day.

He's quite pleased with himself.

Then he went back into the wood to sit in his trunk; but what had become of it? The trunk had been burnt. A spark of the fireworks had set it alight, and the trunk was in ashes. He could no longer fly, and could never reach his bride.

And it all comes crashing down on him and his bride. Ah, well, the prophecy comes true after all. It was good while it lasted. Maybe he'll be more careful from now on.

She stood the whole day long on the roof and waited; perhaps she is waiting there still.

She ought to have married a real prince. The "turkish god" was a fake, afterall. But, anyways, how was she to know that?

But he wandered through the world and told stories; though they are not so merry as the one he told about the matches.

It was his own folly. But, anyways, I think storytelling is a far nobler occupation than that of a turkish god any old day.

I need Advice.

Okay, folks, I'm planning a scene where I use animals to represent the personalities of various characters. I have pegged almost all of the characters, but two remain. I need ideas for them.

For character 1: I want an animal that is commonly perceived as dangerous, but really isn't.
For character 2: An animal that is commonly perceived as safe, but is really quite dangerous.

Try as my might, I'm still scratching my head with those two characters. No, I'm not telling you who they are, though. He. He.


........................................


Also, lots of other blogs that I've seen have these things called buttons. You know, those things that your fans can steal and brag to the world that they follow you? Free advertising?

Well, I'd like one ... and I have a pretty good idea of what I want, but I'm not sure how to manipulate blogger into putting in those little text boxes for people to highlight and copy/past, nor am I quite sure how to do something that small. A large header was one thing, but a small button is another. If anyone is interested in helping with that, could you please send me an email? Thanks!

Tips From a Young Writer - "The Leaves are Purple!"

Last week I talked about celestial changes. Today, I'm going to be a bit more down to earth, and talk about changes to that - the earth itself. Not what shape it is, but what it's made of and what grows on it.

Okay, so maybe (probably) your world is not called Earth, in fact it probably. isn't. But that's beside the point.

So, what are you going to do about the natural world of the world you built?

Of course, you could have things exactly the way they are on earth. That's the easy way. Follow all the rules of our own good-old terra cotta. Color the sky blue, the trees green, and use the good old official periodic table.

Easy as pie.

But you didn't come here to learn the easy way, did you? No, you didn't.

So how do you mess around with nature in your world. Well, let's break it down.

~The first thing to mess with are elements. You know, the periodic table. Are you going to use good old Helium, hydrogen, sulfur, Carbon, oxygen and all that good stuff? Or will you go back to the four elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth? How about you make something up? Like ... everything's made of pillians! (don't ask me what a pillian is, I just typed what my fingers came up with.) Options are things to be explored!

~Once you've settled on what your basic elements are, the rest is easy. Now you need to determine what the water is like! Colors ... smell ... medicinal properties ... you can keep it the way it is now ... but hey, if we're changing things, we might as well change it all. Maybe water is safe to drink if it's blue, poisonous if it's green ... and turns you into a mermaid if it's purple!

You Can see inside this Egg

~ Color of Leaves. This is a fun one! Sure, we can stick with the color green ... but how better to make your characters go "WHERE ARE WE????!!!!" than for them to walk into a place where leaves are all a delicate shade of pink? The trick here is consistency. In our world, leaves are green because of (anyone? anyone?) chlorophyll, so, if you turn your leaves pink, you'll have to come up with a new chemical that turns them pink (maybe Pinkophyyl?).

~ Animal life. Oooh, this one's fun! Are you going to use normal horses, dogs, and cats ... or are you going to tap into mythology and pull out pegasi, jackalopes and chimeras? Or, perhaps, you want to come up with something completely different ... like a bird that looks like a flamingo, except it has cat ears! Even if you do use real and mythological beasts, that doesn't mean you have to keep the normal names! Call a horse an Equaq ... or a duck a Kakker ... have fun!

~ Climate. Is it always cold? Does it rain a lot? Do they live on the mountains? In the jungle? Does it snow? Is it a desert? Maybe it oobleks!

~ Appearance of intelligent life. You could use normal humans. Or ... you could do elves! Or FAIRIES! Do they have wings? What color is their hair/skin/eyes? How tall are they on average? An inch? A mile? How good is their vision? How smart are they on average?

Right now, that's all I can think of. If I think of more, I'll be sure to come back and add it.

I have been AWARDED.

I've been awarded the Artsy Award by Kiri Liz! Danke! Thou art too kind!

Will ya'll excuse me while I go and scream into my pillow in excitement over receiving my first award?

Okay, I'm back. Let's get down to business


Rules
1. Normally this is where it says "thank the person who gave you the award and leave a link to their blog etc. etc." Well, you can do that if you want. I mean, if you like the award and you're glad you got it and you can do that. Or you can just copy this and have people listen to me rambling. :)

2. Answer the five questions set out for you and make the next five questions for the people that you nominate. 

3. OK, so usually there's a "NO TAGBACKS" rule. I'm here to say that in #3 of this award you can tag or not tag or whatever you want to do. Agreed? Agreed. ;)

So ... The questions Kiri asked me:


1.) Peaches or pineapple? Pineapple. Peaches are good when there's nothing else ... but nothing compares to the flavor of pineapple. Unfortunately, my mom's allergic to pineapple, so we don't get it terribly often.

2.) Piano or violin? I really don't have an opinion regarding those two instruments. They both make beautiful music, and my sister plays both ... but I personally prefer the harp.

3.) What famous literary character do you think you're most like? My mom says I'm Alice. I'm always running after bunnies, having magical adventures, and coming home to tell everyone about them. Either that or Lucy from Narnia.

4.) Where do you see yourself ten years from now? A famous author with everyone begging for an autographed copy of my book (um ... yeah. A girl can dream can't she?) ... or in heaven singing God's praises while the tribulation is happening. If neither of those happen ... I'll just trust that God knows what he's doing.

5.) What is your main goal in writing? (if you don't write, pretend you do ;) To make people laugh and to make people think. Preferably both.

My questions:

1.) What is your opinion of Grape flavored Candy?
2.) What is your second favorite color?
3.) Which is more important? A good plot or good characters?
4.) You just found out that your neighbors are from Mars and that they have a device that removes your plot ideas out of your head and they're publishing them. What are you going to do about it? (If you don't write ... then how about the artwork you're planning to do?)
5.) Do you enjoy being random.

And those who receive the reward from me will be as follows:

V. Kathie Ardnek
Rhoswen Faerie Wrose
Mikkie
calicogwen
Jessica

Adelaide

Via Pinterest

I had been going to draw Adelaide like I have done all the others ... but I just couldn't quite capture her. But then I found this picture on Pinterest (yup, I'm on pinterest) and knew I needed to look no further. Despite the fact that the book is set in summer, and I'm not sure what the feather is for (making notes perhaps?) everything else fits.

Books and Adelaide are inseparable. Her gifts from her Fairy Godmother was a love of reading and a book satchel that summons any book she wants to read. She's fourteen years old, and Kimberley is her best friend. She summons plant books for Kimberley. Kimberley keeps her from running into anything while she's walking and reading at the same time - which is often.

She's not a very important character for book 2, but she'll be more important later on.

My Personal Love Chapter

This was a school assignment to personalize 1 Corinthians 13. I wrote it at 15.

.......

Though I am skilled with my hands, and make scarves and hats with ease, and give them away without a thought as to money, if I do it out of pride and not love, it profits me nothing.

Though I write the best stories in the world, and donate all the money I make off of them to charity, if I don’t do it out of love, it’s worthless.

Though I have a very high IQ and know all sorts of odd facts, and teach them to others whenever possible, if I do not love, I am just a bag of hot air.

Love is long suffering, and always is doing nice thing for others, love is not jealous of the things of others, love is not prideful.

Love does not make scenes of itself, does not seek to benefit itself, does not get angry easily, and does not think that which does not please God.

Does not take joy in sin, but in that which is true,

Forbears in all things, has faith in all things, expects all things, perseveres in all things.

Love never is driven out of course, unlike predictions, which will be rendered completely useless, or languages, that end, or science, which will come to nothing.

Our understanding is incomplete, as is what we foretell.

They will be done away with when perfection comes.

Once I was a child, and I did childish things, now I’m growing up and begin to do womanish things instead.

Right now, we don’t see things completely, as if through a glass, but someday I will know as I am known.

There are three great traits, unshakable belief in God, expectation is God’s grace, and love. Love is the greatest

Don't you just love eggs?

How Does God Want us to Treat the Earth?

I wrote this at the age of 15.

How does God want us to treat the earth? That question is debated all over the place. Does one have to sell everything they have and go into the woods and live on nuts and berries? Does one have to go to all sorts of rallies and such and leave a ton of trash at the Washington Memorial grounds?

And I’m not being silly with that second one, as that seems to be the environmentalists’ normal mode of function. I’m making a point. Some of the so said most concerned people about the earth, really care the least.

Pretty eggs ...

So how should we treat the earth? What of the first option I gave? In actuality, while I don’t believe it would really hurt, it isn’t necessary. You can help take care of the earth just as well in a house as in the woods.

A first suggestion for taking care of the earth is to conserve and reduce. Don’t use more than you have to. Buy things that have as little packaging as possible. Keep your heating and cooling as close to the outdoor temps as possible. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Turn off water when you don’t need it. Don’t use your refrigerator as an extra air conditioner. Walk or ride bikes over riding in a car when possible. I’m sure you can be creative enough to come up with more ideas.

A second suggestion is to reuse and repurpose. Coffee cans and cereal boxes make great beginnings for craft projects for kids. Buy things, like shampoo and cleaners, you can take the bottles and containers back for refills whenever possible. Make things last as long as you can.

A third suggestion is to recycle. For some people this is the simplest, for others, the most difficult. This is because of where they live, usually. Some places and communities provide you with special recycling bins, and send out recycling trucks to take your recycling away. All you have to do is sort your trash. In other places and communities, all you can recycle are aluminum cans—and even that’s a hassle.

Another suggestion is to watch where you throw your trash. No, the side of the road might be convenient, but it is not an appropriate option. Throw your trash in designated trash cans and recycling bins. On top of that, if you see trash on the ground, pick it up and put it in a designated trash can or recycling bin.

Don’t trash the earth, but you don’t have to go live in the woods either.

Autumn

Today is the first day of Autumn, my favorite season of the year.

For some odd reason, I like to think of the four seasons as four sisters with vastly different appearances and personalities.

Let me introduce you to my personification of Autumn.

Autumn is a tall woman with thick, curly red-brown hair that falls just past her shoulders. Her eyes are reddish brown, which a ring of green around the pupil. There is a proud elegance to her bearing.

Autumn is the prepared one among her sisters. She carefully counts her stores of food, and instructs people and animals to do the same when she has the rule. She dissaproves of Summer's thrill for fun, of Winter's cruelness. The only sister she can even begin to approve is Spring, though she thinks her too soft-hearted. 

A thingy where I answer questions about What I'm Writing.

I was reading around the back posts on Anne-Girl's Blog (wanted to know more about one of the books she is writing) and discovered this tag thing. Hmmmm ... I thought. Sounded like fun.

I'm going to answer questions about the four stories that are bugging me right now ... Do You Take This Quest?; Infiltration; Water Princess, Fire Prince; and The Ankulen. 

1. What’s your word count?

DYTTQ: Around 43,500 words at the moment.
I: 32,433
WPFP: The computer version is 17,855 words ... however, I'm estimating the notebook version to be somewhere over 50,000.
TA: 43,338

2. How long until you finish? 

DYTTQ: Writing part is done, editing will, I hope, be done before Christmas.
I: It needs rewritten. Don't know when I'll get around to it.
WPFP: No clue. Probably will finish the notebook version first, though ...
TA: Writing is done, is waiting for me to get to editing it.


3. If you have finished, how long did it take you? 

DYTTQ: From the time that I started the version that I ended up finishing, about six months (I'm estimating)
I: This was a NaNo ... of course, it took about a month after that before I was finally able to summon up the brain power to write the last 1,500 or so words.
TA: Six months if I remember right ...

4. Do you have an outline?

DYTTQ: I had a summary ... didn't completely follow it though, because I had written it before Arthur.
I: No.
WPFP: That's what the notebook version is for, right?
TA: Nope.

5. Do you have a plot?

More or less on all of them. I would say that the DYTTQ was the best plotted, while I was the worst.

6. How many words do you typically write a day? 

500-1000

7. What was your greatest word count in one day? 

Hmmm ... 4,000, if I remember right.

8. What was your least impressive word count in one day?

When I actually wrote something? 1.

9. What inspired you to write?

DYTTQ: Needed a sequel to Sew. 
I: My sister and I came up with Elvings when we were little. I wanted to write about them.
WPFP: One night, when I had a headache, I stepped into the shower and wondered what it would be like if I were to be suddenly under a waterfall in a Narnia-like world, and was declared the Waterfall Princess.
TA: A play my cousin and I were trying to write.

10. Does your novel have a theme song?

DYTTQ: Here comes the Bride ...
I: Bring the light! The Blessed Gospel light ...
WPFP: Don't think so ...
TA: Same here.

11. Assign each of your major characters a theme song.

Madeleine: Hmmm ... She has a song written about her ... "Oh, for the gaze ..." Nevermind. She's already beat red.
Arthur: I don't know ...
Tiger: This is my Father's World.
Snap: Amazing Grace
Clara: Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting!
Andrew: The Periodic Table set to music?
Jen: First I close my eyes and dream it ... (from Blues Clues)

12. Which character is most like you?

DYTTQ: I'll go with Madeleine. We look a lot a like.
I: Tiger. Tiger was based on me.
WPFP: Clara, maybe. We both prefer books to movies.
TA: Jen. We both love to make up things.

13. Which character would you most likely be friends with? 

DYTTQ: Madeleine, probably.
I: Tiger. She'd teach me about herbs.
WPFP: Jasmine. I'm better with younger kids.
TA: Jen. We'd make up stories together!

These Eggs are for eating!

14. Do you have a Gary-Stu or Mary Sue character?

DYTTQ: I hope not.
I: No.
WPFP: Clara teetered on that edge for a while.
TA: You can say the Tisha and Chris are ... but they aren't perfect. A five to six year old came up with them.

15. Who is your favorite character in your novel?

DYTTQ: Madeleine
I: Snap.
WPFP: 'Tis close between Clara and Jasmine.
TA: Jen.

16. Have your characters ever done something completely unexpected? 

DYTTQ: Madeleine got embarrassed before I was ready for her to, and ran for cover of a curtain.
I: Snap and Tiger discovered my existence.
WPFP: Knowing Clara, probably.
TA: One character suddenly decided to be heroic on me.

17. Have you based any of your novel directly on personal experiences?

There are scenes in all of them drawn directly from life. None of them, however, are my life. (I comes closest though ...)

18. Do you believe in plot bunnies ?

If they take me somewhere good.

19. Is there magic in your novel?

Yes. All of them. It's more like Narnia or Middle Earth magic, though.

20. Are any holidays celebrated in your novel?

DYTTQ: Ummm ... there's a wedding. Does that count?
I: The Day of Remembrance and the Month of Blessings
WPFP: 'Tis likely one will happen. Haven't had one yet, though.
TA: There's Jen has returned day. (in so many words)

21. Does anyone die? 

DYTTQ: Nah, I'm saving that for book 3.
I: Four characters. Two of which at the very end. Actually, more characters die, but I'm not acquainted with them.
WPFP: 'Tis likely. There's a war.
TA: The monster.

22. How many cups of coffee/tea have you consumed during your writing experience?

Only what my mom and sister have forced down my throat.

23. What is the latest you have stayed up writing?

Four in the morning, I believe. I was on a roll that night.

24. What is the best line? 

DYTTQ: . “Yes, I’m fine,” she said, then smiled ruefully. “I just forgot that I have to move my feet in order to go anywhere.”
I: “SNAP!” exclaimed Magnol. “We were supposed to only destroy it with permission!” “Well, he was trying to destroy us without permission!” retorted Snap.
WPFP: “Oh,” said the girl. “Well, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone!” Then she added under her breath, “Just wait ‘till Mable hears this one!” “I thought you said you wouldn’t tell anyone,” said Clara. “Oh,” said the girl, “Mable isn’t anyone. She’s my dog.”
TA: “Well, if you haven’t written anything, how can you call it writing?”

25. What is the saddest line?

DYTTQ: All Madeleine could do was watch, and remember. Remember the day that her own twin brother had ridden off and she had been unable to follow.
I: He didn’t have a Ring, and he had taken his own life.
WPFP: One of the lines where Andrew talks about his mother. I don't have the notebook at the moment, and I haven't gotten there on the computer.
TA: “See,” said Tisha, noticing my shaking head. “She doesn’t even remember the Ankulen. She’s forgotten everything.”

26. Have you dreamed about your novel or its characters?

DYTTQ: I dreamed about it four times I believe in the aftermath of writing Book1 for Nano two years ago.
I: No, I don't remember ever doing so. I might have a long, long time ago, though.
WPFP: I once dreamed about writing the series. I'm serious! I found a desk, opened the drawer, found the notebooks, and started writing.
TA: Nope

27. Does your novel rely heavily on allegory?

DYTTQ: Nope.
I: Yep.
WPFP: Somewhat. Not so much as book 2 will.
TA: Yep.

28. Summarize your novel in under fifteen words.

DYTTQ: Finding allies and getting home for the wedding.
I: Infiltrating the Rowa, bringing good news to Limbo.
WPFP: Fall into strange world, fight the dragon, become rulers.
TA: A girl's quest to restore her lost imagination.

29. Do you love all your characters? 

Pretty much. I don't like the creature that's eating Jen's imagination, though.

30. Have you done something sadistic or cruel to your characters specifically to increase your word count?

It's quite possible, especially during my early writing.

31. What was the last thing your main character ate?  

DYTTQ: Wedding feast
I: Wedding feast.
WPFP: Royal banquet.
TA: Spaghetti

32. Describe your main character in three words. 

Madeleine: Tease. Artist. Older.
Arthur: Young displaced heir.
Tiger: Herbs. Rowan. Innocent.
Snap: Infiltrator. Confused. Loyal.
Clara: Catlike. Classics. Unexpected.
Andrew: Steady. Science. Organized.
Jen: Searching. Confused. Playful.

33. What would your antagonist dress up as for Halloween?

They don't celebrate Halloween, any of them. Amber would be a dragon, though.

34. Does anyone in your story go to a place of worship?

DYTTQ: Umm ... marriage in the castle chapel, but other than that, no.
I: There really isn't any specific place that the Rowans worship.
WPFP: Frequently.
TA: Not in the book, but Jen does attend church regularly.

35. How many romantic relationships take place in your novel?

DYTTQ: Do I have to count them?
I: Three.
WPFP: Two and a half.
TA: Two. One's an old one, the other's a new one. Both are between characters in Jen's Imagination.

36. Are there any explosions in your novel?

DYTTQ: Please do not give Vernon any ideas. Please?
I: One.
WPFP: 'Tis Likely.
TA: Nope.

 37. Is there an apocalypse in your novel?

DYTTQ: There is no end to Bookania.
I: Nah, they're still a good ways away from theirs. Not 'til Tiger's an old woman.
WPFP: That's book 7.
TA: Almost.

38. Does your novel take place in a post-apocalyptic world?

DYTTQ: No.
I: In a way, yes. The elves came from a destroyed world.
WPFP: No.
TA: No.

39. Are there zombies, vampires or werewolves in your novel?

No.

40. Are there witches, wizards or mythological creatures/figures in your novel?

DYTTQ: There are Sand Witches, Fairies and Cloud Sprites.
I: Elvings are half elf.
WPFP: Elves.
TA: Flower fairies.

41. Is anyone reincarnated?

No.

42. Is anyone physically ailed?

No, I don't think so. Tiger's an herbalist, though, so she treats ailments.

43. Is anyone mentally ill?

Many people think that the old man is. Jen has a creature eating her imagination.

44. Does anyone have swine flu?

No.

45. Who has pets in your novel and what are they?

Pretty much everyone has a horse in DYTTQ, but other than that, no.

46. Are there angels, demons, or any religious references/figures in your novel? 

There are in TA.

47. How about political figures?

DYTTQ: It revolves around Royalty.
I: Um ... I don't think so. Politics doesn't really come into play in the book.
WPFP: Plenty of Royalty.
TA: Not really.

48. Is there incessant drinking?

No.

49. Are there board games? If so, which ones? 

Chess in DYTTQ. Don't remember any in the others, though.

50. Are there any dream sequences?

A few in TA, and one in WPFP.

51. Is there humor?

I cannot write without humor

52. Is there tragedy?

Some. Especially I.

53. Does anyone have a temper tantrum?

Shira throws a few tantrums. Clara probably will as well, if I push her over the edge.

54. How many characters end up married at the end of your novel?

DYTTQ: There's a double wedding at the end.
I: A double wedding, and then a single wedding.
WPFP: None. But two characters are tied, which is almost the same thing.
TA: A double wedding.

I like double weddings for some odd reason.

55. Is anyone in your novel adopted?

DYTTQ: One character is, but doesn't know it. He suspects it at this point, but he doesn't know it.
I: Snap is, in a way.
WPFP: No, but Andrew's dad had been an orphan.
TA: Yes. Four of the characters. It's an essential part of the plot.

56. Does anyone in your novel wear glasses? 

DYTTQ: No, but one character needs them.
I: It is likely that one of the Limboians does.
WPFP: Nope. Unless it's Andrew's dad.
TA: The Main Character. And then I forgot all about them ...

57. Has your novel provided insight about your life?

I don't know. Probably.

58. Your personality?

Same as above.

59. Has your novel inspired anyone?

Not any of these. Sew has, however.

60. How many people have asked to read your novel?

I don't know.

61. Have you drawn any of your characters?

Plenty of times. Only way I can nail down my character's faces. I'm a horrid artist though.

62. Has anyone drawn your characters for you
  
Two of my cousins drew Eric

63. Does anyone vomit in your novels?


DYTTQ: No.
I: Possible.
WPFP: I think Andrew did ... but I'm not sure.
TA: No.


64. Does anyone bleed in your novel?


DYTTQ: No.
I: Yep. Tiger put Spider web on the wound.
WPFP: Yep.
TA: Yep.


65. Do any of your characters watch TV?


DYTTQ: There is no TV in Bookania
I: Snap used to.
WPFP: Clara despises TV. Andrew watches the educational channels.
TA: Nope. It exists, but they don't own one.


66. What size shoe does your main character wear?


I honestly don't know. Tiger doesn't wear shoes. That's all I know.


67. Do any of the characters in your novel use a computer?


DYTTQ: Nope.
I: Snap does
WPFP: More or less.
TA: There is referrence to a computer at the end


68. How would you react if your novel was erased entirely?


DYTTQ: Panic.
I: Shrug. I needed to start over anyways.
WPFP: I wasn't too far in. I can just start over.
TA: Panic


69. Did you cry at killing off any of your characters?


Not really, I was sad though. (I don't really cry for any reason.)


70. Did you cheer when killing off one of your characters?

The creature that was eating the imagination, yes.

71. What advice would you give to a fellow writer.

Type as fast as you can. It's right behind you.

72. Describe your ending in three words.


DYTTQ: Happily Ever after
I: Bitter Sweet. Hope
WPFP: Home again. Changed.
TA: True ever after


73. Are there any love triangles, squares, hexagons, etc.?

There are echos of some. They're not bad, though.

74. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being the least stressful, 10 being the most) how does your stress rank?

5-6. But, except when it comes to the editing of DYTTQ, it's mostly from other things.

75. Was it worth it?

Of course.


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To read more about the stories, see my WIP page.