readingxwriting

[readingxwriting]

Spelling Matters!

Here's why:

"I love you too!"

vs

"I love you two!"

Now, do you see the difference?

[readingxwriting]

What kinds of endings do you like (to write or to read is both fine)

[readingxwriting]

Writing stories = being creative

Most of the time, I write stories - logical ones. However, sometimes, I just needed to write one that can make me feel... free.

Sometimes, a writer can be pressured by the readers to write in a certain way. For example, some of their friends or readers they know want them to write realistic fiction in a certain way. Sometimes, this can limit their creativity. As a "free" writer and a reader, I think this can lead to writers only writing books using the SAME formula. When that happens, books would be boring to read.

Every writer has a right to use their creativity to create thousands of strange and weird things as long as they can. Just try to keep in mind who is reading it and use common sense to make it understandable and non-biased.

I consider writing a time when I am a creator of a world. I love the feeling of being allowed to control every piece on the board and knowing that I'm creating something for others to enjoy - in their own way.

A lot of people had asked me similar questions like: "Why is this character like this?" or "Why did you make these two fall in love?"

And sometimes, all I needed to say was: "Because I can!"

Remember: all writers are creative in their own way.

[readingxwriting]

Tips

To keep track of each character (for writing a major book), I sketched out a family tree (including who loves who and who they're married to). For some of the major characters, I made a page on that document/slideshow to note important information about them (and how it will affect the plot). I also used symbols like [😃/face emojis] to show their mood, [👑/clothing or job emojis] to show their role in the book, and [⚰️ or ❤️] to show if they're going to be alive or deceased at some point in the book.

*If possible, I also sketch out a portrait of the major characters to understand better

*This is for the writer's eyes only, so don't worry if it gets messy. However, if you're a perfectionist at these kinds of things, I recommend doing it digitally.

[readingxwriting]

Things that makes a book the best for you

[readingxwriting]

How to make the readers go mad/want to kill the author/sad?

[readingxwriting]

Update on Character planning

From the last Post "What Should I Write Next?"

Character (Male): Theodore Arthur Kingsley was a Nobel. Son of Sir Louise Arthur Kingsley and Madame Isabella Regina Kingsley. A Nobel should always show perfection. Every day, Theodore would wake up at sunrise, get dressed in his finest outfit, walk the Evergreen Gardens, sip his morning tea, and do all the Nobel stuff. “You must always act regal and imperial, or you will be considered a low-class Poor,” his mother always taunted him. Theodore was taught that Poors are evil, dirty, disorganized, and low-lived. Their clothes were tattered, and they stink. Their houses are made of dirt and mud. They drink from disgusting rivers and are always fighting like animals. Their lives simply evolve around poverty. He heard stories about the ones who were taught to act like good Poors and used to serve the Nobles.

Theodore could never wrap his mind around the idea. “Humans as slaves?” Theodore asked one of his tutors. “They have no feelings,” his Tudor answered, “you just need to feed and water them, probably find them a place to sleep. Then, they’ll be an obedient servant.” Theodore just nodded, dumbfounded. Deep down inside, he knew that this was wrong. However, being the good boy son of a Nobel he was, Theodore never dared to open his mouth about this topic. Was it really fair that just because he was the son of a Nobel, he was considered and valued like a high-class person? What makes a Nobel a Nobel and a Poor a Poor anyway? Deep down inside, he wanted to do something. Theodore had heard stories about kingdoms far to the east where everyone was treated fairly. No boundary walls, no slavery, and definitely no “Nobels” and “Poors”. Theodore wanted to see equality in his city. All this injustice, Theodore couldn’t stand it. Theodore had a plan. But he was a good boy, a perfect example of a good Nobel. Everyone had looked up to him. Everywhere he went, Theodore would see crowds of people coming to see him - like he was some kind of star - they would praise him, admire him, all that stuff. Every time, Theodore wished he could curl into a ball and hide. Most of his city sees him as a future leader, an example to show their kids. Yet, what will happen if they know? What if they found out about the truth behind all the perfection. He wasn’t the future leader they think he is. He was just a teenage boy who ended up being born into a high-class Nobel family. He just wanted to live, to walk the beach with - if possible - a beautiful and charming girl who stole his heart. He just wanted to live a normal life, just like the other boys. But Theodore was a good boy. He couldn’t say all that. He has to raise his chin high and claim, “I am a proud Nobel.” And he has to do it every day…

Check out my last character update post

This is me thinking I should make Theodore good, but do you think I should make him bad?

[readingxwriting]

Really Readers?!

Guys, hear me out.

I realized a problem about readers (and sometimes writers). It is:

Whenever you readers see a character that is suffering you say: "Why are you doing that!" or "Stop! You are so evil for torturing this character!" and blah blah blah (etc, etc)

But whenever we don't include a character suffering scene, you readers be like: "Where is the fun?!" or "This book is so boring!" and blah blah blah (etc, etc).

SO WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT THE WRITERS MAKE THE CHARACTERS DO???!!!

Can any writers relate with me?

[readingxwriting]

A short story - P1

Shall we begin the tale?

She wandered down the broken, damaged path that used to lead to her lively town. Who knew over a night, so much could have changed. Broken doors lay burnt on the side of houses - or what was remained of them. She picked her way through piles of shattered window glass and hanging window-frames. Smoke billowed up from somewhere close. Not killer-smoke, but the smoke that billowed up from flames that would promise a pleasant breakfast. That was where She was headed. Another step. Thump! A decaying creature landed in her path. Flies flew off in frantic movements as the creature hit the ground. The stench made her cover her nose. So, this was what her town had become. Broken. Burnt. Lifeless. Dead. So much changed over a night. She staggered at the thought. Her brain buzzed. The dead creature had triggered a memory - one that just happened last night. The night everything went up-side down.

I am not going to write a P2, so go on and create your own stories.

Also, tell me about what would happen next in your version of the story in the comments. Any comments of how to create better ones are welcomed too.

[readingxwriting]

What should I write next

So, I came up with 2 characters.

Foxy (Fox) was a girl who spent almost her entire life on the streets. Ever since she was young, she learnt the hard way that life isn’t fair. She was born and classified as a “Poor”. Poors are “liars”, “thieves”, and they must be eliminated from the prestige, clean, and rich Nobels. According to the Nobels, just looking or talking to a Poor is considered a defilement. Which in Fox’s mind, was completely unfair! Fox was told by the older Poors (the ones who had seen the torture and labor the Nobels and force on them), to stay far away from the barrier walls. “Once you irritate a Nobel, they have all the right to enslave you, or worse, kill you,” said Raven, a woman who had took pity on Fox and raised her as one of her own. Fox was only 8 then, and still curious about the world beyond the barrier walls, “But Raven, can’t we fight back? We have more people than them.” Raven had shook her head and sighed, “We don’t get a choice, they have weapons that are too advanced for our clubs and sling-shots.” Raven had taught Fox how to pick a lock, untie herself from ropes, climb trees, start a fire, those kinds of stuff. By the age of 13, Fox was a clever and savage street girl that most others don’t want to mess with. She even made some friends on the streets. Ryan was her bestie, in other words, partner in crime. Everyday, she would try to seek out new targets to Ryan to make their lives worth living. Fox had witness many Poors acting like aimless ghosts. No goal to reach, no place that would accept them, no way to escape their fate. Well… there was one way, and many had chosen that path. Death. Many believe, death was the only thing that might give them peace. Fox didn’t agree to that particular idea. She walked by bodies with tattered clothes, lying in a crooked position, some with eyes open. Their mouth gaping at the sky, saliva dripped slowly down their chin. Some with blood, a lot of blood, pooling around their bodies like a miniature lake. They attracted many flies as well. Bugs and other unknown creatures would also come to taste the bodies before leaving. Fox tried to stay away from the bodies. It was a horrifying thing to watch. It got worse when she knew some of them. There was the old man that used to sit on the far side of Raven’s hut. A woman and a child she met in the makeshift market was found holding on to each other with a knife wound in their guts. One of the most traumatic bodies she found was Ryan’s mother and older brother. Both died of poison. Fox hated the fate the Nobels had woven for them. She knew that when her people on the Poor side of the barrier walls are dying of hunger and thirst, the Nobels, in their rich, fancy gowns were partying and chewing up expensively rare food. Fox wanted to knock the wine glasses out of their fingers and choke them with their own food. She hated the Nobels, for their everything. Fox sore to herself, that if she could, she was going to find a way to bring a better life for her people. 

MMC: Theodore Arthur Kingsley was a Nobel. Son of Sir Louise Arthur Kingsley and Madame Isabella Regina Kingsley. A Nobel should always show perfection. Everyday, Theodore would wake up at sunrise, get dressed in his finest outfit, walk the Evergreen Gardens, sip his morning tea, and do all the Nobel stuff. “You must always act regal and imperial, or you will be considered a low class Poor,” his mother always taunted him. Theodore was taught that Poors are evil, dirty, disorganise, low-lives. Their clothes were tattered and they stink. Their houses are made of dirt and mud. They drink from disgusting rivers and are always fighting like animals. Their lives simply evolve around poverty. He heard stories about the ones who were taught to act like a good Poor and used to serve the Nobels. Theodore could never wrap his mind around the idea. “Humans as slaves?” Theodore asked one of his tudors. “They have no feelings,” his Tudor answered, “you just need to feed and water them, probably find them a place to sleep. Then, they’ll be an obedient servant.” Theodore found this rather amusing and usefull information. His city was prospering, if they could use such obedient servants, then no one would have to do the dirty works anymore. Ever since Theodore was young, he had been the star of the family. He was his parent’s good boy and proud son. Theodore loved his life. He was proud to be a Nobel.

Btw: this is 1st draft.

So tell me, how should I develop this story?

[readingxwriting]

Random thought about HOO

Nico di Angelo is Italian, we know that even after his dip in the river lethe, he still remembers his "childhood" language. Also, he a Greek demigod. However, most words in the Italian language is derived from ... Latin, and many cultural practices and legal traditions have Roman roots. So does that makes him a little more ... Roman? (Not to mention, he did spend some time in New Rome)

There is really no evidence that Nico is older than Hazel, she just strait up called him her "older brother": So we know Hazel and her brother are kids born in a time where there are little to no gender equality. Hazel is also a little bit "out-dated" too. So, does this "brother" thing has something to do with her "past trauma" due to the environment that she was raised in (experiences with racism and gender inequality in the 1940s), or she did just wanted to? ... Like, she can just demand to call him little brother and it would have been fine.

Hazel is biologically older than Nico

Leo resurrection at the end of BOO might have had something to do with Jason's death in The Burning Maze (TOA)

Piper can control others with her voice, but Uncle Rick decided that he would make her more like a damsel in distress and let Jason Grace (or any of the other boys) do the "honors"

Leo's, Piper's, and Jason's relationship was kinda made from a lie (if you know what I mean...)