#the craft room is all tidied up and my computer is ready for writing and frankly i have no excuses left to avoid making stuff LOL

[eleventhcircle]

do i attempt the writing challenge this year. or do i do slowtember

[karajaynetoday]

everybody's got their demons, even wide awake or dreaming | part one

Photo credit: Jess Gleeson 

Hello friends! Hope you’re having a lovely day wherever you are in the world. Thank you to everyone who voted in my little Google form thing on what they’d like to see me write next. Here’s Part One of my 5SOS x music journalist story. It’s a little angsty, and as the first chapter this is a lot of introduction to the OC and her story, but I hope you like it! It’s the first time I’ve written an OC into a fic, so I’d love to know your thoughts and if you’re interested in reading more about Lizzie and her adventures interviewing 5SOS.

Shout outs to @wheniminouterspace and @calumrose​ for helping me sense-check this concept, and @spicycal for giving me feedback on it in its draft stages. You’re all gems! 

Word count: 5.1k

Warnings: Fem!OC, minor swearing

More writing here | send thoughts/feedback/suggestions here | if you’d like to be on my taglist go here

Lizzie Lawson was having a bit of a day. Her train had been late, she dropped her coffee moments after receiving it from the cute barista downstairs (and broke her favourite keep cup in the process), and her work computer had decided to run updates the moment she sat down at her desk. Maybe she shouldn’t have bothered to get out of bed this morning.

Her colleagues were tapping away at their keyboards, answering phone calls, and discussing upcoming story ideas with each other - the usual tasks, especially for a Monday morning. Lizzie, computerless and caffeine deprived, had to settle for a cup of instant coffee from the kitchenette, and had taken to tidying up her desk while her computer was restarting over and over again but still somehow not ready for use. She was on the floor, sorting through the snacks in her bottom desk drawer (crackers that were two months’ past their expiry date, some gummy worms, and what seemed like hundreds of cans of tuna) when James, the music editor, stuck his head out of his office and called for her.

“Lawson! Where are you?” James sounded confused. He could’ve sworn he’d seen Lizzie at her desk moments ago, and then suddenly she popped her head up like a meerkat.

“Jimbo! Here. What’s crack-a-lackin?” Lizzie responded, standing up and brushing herself off as she headed towards where James was standing in his office doorway.

“Got a pitch for ya. Step into my office, if you’re finished with your spring clean.” James chuckled as he stepped back inside and sat down on the couch opposite his desk. 

A number of journalism awards were displayed on the shelf above the couch, and the floor to ceiling window overlooked Sydney’s CBD and its tall, grey buildings, with a glimpse of the harbour ocean in the distance. Lizzie had to admit she’d imagined herself in James’ desk chair more than a few times; the music editor of one of Australia’s leading youth and pop culture publishing companies, regularly travelling the world to interview award-winning artists, and assigning and guiding well-crafted investigative pieces on the entertainment industry and those within in. 

But, in reality, Lizzie had only recently worked her way up to being in the music department, after a couple of years on the news desk and a series of casual internships at different publications around the place. But music journalism, and the passion she had for live performances and watching artists grow and develop their sounds and aesthetics over their careers, was where Lizzie had always wanted her career to go. She was grateful to James for having her on the team, but she also knew that he didn’t recruit just anyone - so her writing must’ve been strong enough to get her here. James was a good boss, salt of the earth, always had his team’s back, but he was also a little mysterious, and this morning’s meeting was one of those where his face was giving absolutely nothing away as Lizzie joined him on the couch in the office. 

“So, what’s up?” Lizzie said, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.

“Well, Lawson. You’ve only been on deck for a few months, but turns out my gut instinct about you has paid off. That profile you did on the 1975 last month has gotten some good feedback and traction out and about.” James spoke in a measured tone, pulling his laptop off the coffee table and opening it.

“Oh! Well, that’s… good, right?” Lizzie still couldn’t figure out exactly why she was in James’ office. Or why she was so nervous. 

“Correct, it is good. It’s been great to see you come into your own a little bit, and develop your interview style. I also really appreciated you stepping in to cover the Matt Corby interview for Hannah the other day, when she had that stomach bug.” James continued, seemingly searching for an email or something on his laptop as he spoke. 

“No worries! Hannah’s notes were really thorough, plus I definitely had a Matt Corby phase when he was on Australian Idol back in 2006! Oof, that fringe, you know?” Lizzie cringed internally when she heard herself starting to babble. 

James snorted, before clearing his throat. “I’m sure Matt was glad the 2006 hairstyle didn’t take up too many words in the final profile piece. He was pretty happy with it though, and his management were too, according to the label. So happy, in fact, that they’re requested you to profile another one of their artists.”

James had Lizzie’s full attention now, and she still couldn’t read his expression. “Really? Me? Who’s the artist?” She asked, trying not to get too excited too soon.

“Yes, indeed, you. 5 Seconds of Summer, or 5SOS. They’ve got a new album due out in a month or so, and their publicist is keen to fly you out to LA for a few weeks to follow them around while they wrap things up in the studio, and do a profile piece on their journey to date. Are you familiar with their stuff? They’re offering us an exclusive, something about the album being linked to their homeland or something, so they wanted to go with an Australian media outlet first.” James set his laptop back down on the coffee table and angled it so Lizzie could see an email on the screen that had a few lines of text and a photo of a band onstage.

5SOS. Was Lizzie familiar? Oh yes, she was familiar. Lizzie Lawson hailed from the western suburbs, and 5SOS was the area’s biggest success story. Aussie boys made good, with millions of albums sold, billions of song streams, thousands of concerts played all around the world, that was their career to date. But for Lizzie, 5SOS were always a bit closer to home. She’d attended the same high school as three of the band members, and Michael Clifford was someone she called her best friend, once upon a time. Ashton had also befriended Lizzie’s older brother Lachlan when they’d worked together at KFC. That was years ago now, and they’d all fallen out of touch, because sometimes that’s just the way the universe works. You grow up and you move on and you don’t keep the same friends, because sometimes they move to the other side of the world and get super famous as successful musicians. Or something like that. Even if they know your deepest secrets, or biggest fears, or hopes and dreams, or you trust them more than anything, sometimes they still leave you. 

Lizzie’s previous state of intrigue quickly became panic, because what if she wasn’t actually being chosen based on the merit of her work? What if the 5SOS team knew about her connection to the band, and were going to use it to manipulate her writing in some way? What if it was all a ploy to get her and Michael in the same room so he could finally call her out on what had gone down between them all those years ago? What if - 

“Lawson! You on planet earth still, or wait?” James snapped his fingers in front of Lizzie’s face to get her attention. She shook her head to clear it, and wrung her hands together in her lap.

“Yep, I’m familiar with their work. A little fuzzy on the most recent work, but I have a bit of knowledge on a lot of their early stuff. And Youngblood, of course. Everyone knows Youngblood. ARIA song of the year, a billion streams, etc etc.” Lizzie spoke, meeting James’ gaze as he cocked his head at her curiously. He knew Lizzie had a tendency to get a little nervous when she was put on the spot, but there was something about her right now that was a little more unsettled than usual that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

“Good. Well, if you’re down, the label will cover three weeks accommodation in Los Angeles. Labels don’t usually do that kind of thing, but their manager is super keen for you to get enough quality time with the band to build up a solid profile piece. We’ll cover your daily expenses, I’ll send you instructions for the claiming app, and then we just need your passport to get the flights booked. Sound okay?” 

“Y-yep. Yes. Okay. Right. When would I be leaving?” Lizzie pinched her thigh through her jeans to double check that she wasn’t dreaming, and that yes, this was actually happening. 

“Friday midday. We’ll put some feelers out in LA, and see if there’s any other interviews you can do while you’re there, but your focus will be on 5SOS because they’re picking up the bill for your stay. But that being said, don’t let that sway what you write. They’ve requested you because they like your deep, detailed, open style of profiling, so don’t be afraid to ask some curly questions to get the answers that will craft the right piece, you know?” James spoke firmly, looking pointedly at Lizzie who quickly nodded in response.

“Right, well, I’ll cc you into this email chain with their publicist and manager, and we’ll go from there. You can hand over your other pieces to Hannah, you’ll need to spend the next few days prepping for LA and doing whatever research you need to feel ready. You’ve got this, Lizzie. I know you can do a great job.” James was trying to be encouraging, as he stood up and opened the door to his office, but Lizzie’s heart was pounding with nerves and she barely hear his words. 

She walked back to her desk in a daze, and Hannah had to literally poke Lizzie in her side to get her attention and ask what James had said in the meeting. A few excited squeals and a bear hug later, Hannah was off and running talking about lists of things Lizzie needed to organise before her international adventure was due to begin in a few days’ time. Lizzie, on the other hand, still couldn’t believe it. What the fuck was happening?

--

The next few days flew by in a haze of emails, life admin, last minute shopping trips and a lot of deep breathing on Lizzie’s part, and before she knew it, she was wrangling her suitcase out of an Uber and into the international terminal at Sydney Airport. Lizzie, as a generally anxious person, had arrived the full three hours early for her flight, but her parents had treated her to a flight lounge guest pass (because they wanted her to know they were proud), so she was able to deal with her nerves by eating far too many complimentary croissants and hash browns. 

Soon enough, the time to board the plane arrived, and Lizzie was grateful that she ended up in an empty row of seats, by some miracle. Praise be to the airline gods, or whichever higher power had decided she’d be able to at least try and get some sleep in the next fourteen hours. She’d set her phone and watch forward to Los Angeles time, so she could try and adjust her body clock accordingly, which meant that she’d have to stay up for a few hours at least.

Lizzie tried to be productive, and tapped away at her research notes on her laptop for a little while, before she found herself opening up the band’s instagram page in her browser. The four men staring back at Lizzie through the screen seemed a million miles away from the gangly, excitable teenagers she’d known all those years ago. There was an interesting intensity about them in the photograph, steely gazes and defined bodies under carefully selected clothing, but there was also a peacefulness in their poses beside one another. Like being together, in this moment captured minutes before heading onstage, was the most natural thing in the world. Lizzie found her eyes drawn towards Michael; his dirty blonde hair swept across his forehead (not dissimilar to the style he’d had in their high school days, to be honest), and it was accompanied by some scruffy facial hair and a dangly cross earring in one ear. His grey-green eyes seemed to peer right into her soul, and Lizzie involuntarily shivered at the thought of seeing him again in person in a day or so. 

She was still anxious about whether or not this entire thing was a scam, but nonetheless, she was going to try her darndest to be a consummate professional, and write the best profile story of her life. In her research, Lizzie had reviewed some previous 5SOS interviews, and she’d cringed her way through their Rolling Stone interview from many years prior. She remembered reading it at the time it was published, unable to believe some of the words attributed to the boys she’d once called her friends, and the intense aftermath that followed. Understandably, they’d avoided in-depth profile interviews since, so Lizzie was incredibly curious as to why they’d changed their mind. Why now? Why her? She closed her laptop and drifted into sleep, curled up across three airplane seats and tucked under a thin blanket. 

Lizzie’s shoulders and neck were stiff when she awoke, an hour or so before her flight was due to land. She used the in-flight wifi to check her emails quickly, and noted a new one from 5SOS’s publicist Danielle, which welcomed Lizzie to Los Angeles and explained that she should catch a taxi to her accommodation at the address listed, and that she should give her a call once she was checked in. Right. That seemed straight forward enough.

LAX customs were intimidating as ever (god, Lizzie was so nervous), but Lizzie made it through without incident and was able to quickly make her way into a cab with a driver who seemed familiar with her accommodation address. They drove her to a boutique-looking hotel, and when Lizzie checked in and made her way up to her room, she was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. A queen-sized bed, a good desk for working at, a nice view from her balcony of the Hollywood Hills, a small kitchenette with a fridge and microwave, and a glorious bathroom that had a very enticing bath tub in it (Lizzie’s shoulders and neck were already thankful for the idea of being able to soak in some nice hot water for a while). 

After checking the room for serial killers (better to be safe than sorry, right?) Lizzie had a quick shower and changed out of her travel trackies and oversized hoodie into a pair of jeans, a clean shirt and a blazer, before opening up her phone and scrolling down to Danielle’s contact. A few deep breaths were required before Lizzie built up the courage to press “call”.

“This is Danielle!” A cheery American accent answered on the other end of the line.

“H-hi Danielle, this is Lizzie, from Junkee Australia. You said in my email I should give you a call once I was all checked in, and I am, so…” Lizzie found herself giggling nervously and facepalmed.

“Lizzie, of course! How was your flight? Long and boring?”

“Yep, that about sums it up!” Danielle’s enthusiasm made Lizzie feel like she had to perk herself up a bit in conversation.

“Well, I’m sure you’re gagging for a nap, but we’ve got to get you adjusted to the timezone so we can make the most of your time here. I’m just finishing up something in the office, but I can swing by your hotel in about 45 minutes, and we can go over your story pitch and the band schedule for the next few weeks, and figure out your interview time slots and other things you can go along to observe, if that works for you?” Lizzie could hear Danielle’s keyboard clacking as she spoke.

“Sure, well, you have my number now, so just text me when you get here. I’ll try my best not to nap in the meantime.” Lizzie’s somewhat dry response got a laugh out of Danielle, who agreed and bid her farewell, ending the call.

Placing her phone down on the bedside table, Lizzie looked around the hotel room that was set to be her home away from home for the better part of the next month, and spotted a coffee machine on top of the mini fridge. If she was really going to keep her no-nap promise, caffeine was definitely in order. 

True to her word, Danielle arrived at the hotel within the hour, and soon Lizzie found herself sat beside Danielle on a fancy couch tucked in a corner of the hotel lobby. Danielle had opened up her laptop, and also pulled a plastic folder of documents out of her tote bag.

“Okay, so… I’m sure you’ve done your own research, but here’s a few hard copies of the band bio, album press release, and a few other tidbits from the label, along with a hard copy of the band schedule. It’s all confidential and coded, the electronic version I’ve emailed you will have the proper locations for everything, but I thought a print out might be handy anyway. The boys are recording some stuff at the studio Calum has at his house tomorrow, so I figured we could introduce you there and then after that figure out what else you’d like to get done. There’s an industry showcase for some of the new songs at the end of the week, and then they’re doing various promo and album prep things, finalising mixes, photoshoots, etc, so there’s a bit of variety for you. Any initial thoughts on how you want to do the interviews for your profile?” Danielle rattled off, gazing at Lizzie expectantly when she finished speaking.

Lizzie blinked at her a few times before collecting herself. “In my research, I found it really interesting to hear the band and some of the fans talking about how 5SOS has evolved into the collective effort of four individual artists, not just the band as one artistic music entity, so I was hoping, if possible, to interview them individually, as well as observing them as a group. Would.. Would that be okay, do you think?” 

Danielle pursed her lips, before breaking out into a smile. 

“I think that sounds exactly like something the band would be willing to do. Damn, Matt Emsell was right - you do know your stuff.” She chuckled, handing the folder of documents over to Lizzie and pulling out the schedule that was on top.

“So studio at Calum’s tomorrow from 10am, I’ll swing by and collect you so we can do introductions, I’ll stick around for a bit just to make sure you’re all good but otherwise I’m just going to let you do your thing. The band have been doing this for long enough now, they don’t need their publicist hovering.”

The curiosity was killing Lizzie. She couldn’t not ask. 

“Danielle, I’ve got to ask this, sorry. Do the band… know me? Know that I’m the one coming to interview them?” Lizzie managed to get out, avoiding eye contact.

“What do you mean?” Danielle cocked her head to one side, clearly confused at the question. “I sent them the Matt Corby piece you did, and they liked that, so that was one of the reasons we asked you out here. So they’re familiar with your work, if that’s what you’re asking?”

“No, um… oh god, I’ve made this super awkward now.” Lizzie laughed dryly, wringing her hands together. “I mean, I know them. Personally. Or at least I used to. I’m from Sydney, and I went to school with Luke, and Calum, and… Michael. So I was just wondering,  um, if they realised that it was me and that was part of why I was asked to come to LA for this…Not really sure why that would make them choose me, but I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page before tomorrow.” Lizzie finally dared to look up at Danielle, whose expression was unreadable.

“Hmm, well, that is interesting. As far as I know, that wasn’t a factor at all. We all genuinely liked your writing style, so whether or not the boys made the connection, I have no idea. They’re not super keen on any irrelevant personal life stuff making it into this piece though, so if this is going to be a problem for you, we should deal with it now.” Her tone was slightly less warm than before, and Lizzie could sense the protective publicist side of Danielle kicking in.

“Definitely not a problem. I entirely intend to be fully professional, and like you said, my writing will speak for itself. Just wanted to put it all out there. Not a problem for me.” Lizzie spoke up, willing herself to sound more confident than she felt.

“Good. We have no problems here then. I’ve got to run, but text me with any questions, otherwise I’ll see you at 9.30am tomorrow for the drive to Calum’s!” Danielle’s tone was nice and bright again, as she shut her laptop and gathered her belongings, patting Lizzie’s shoulder in what she assumed was some sort of attempt at calming her nerves.

It didn’t work though. Not a problem for Lizzie? Bullshit. Not a problem for 5SOS, and Michael in particular? Seemed unlikely. 

--

Lizzie was worried she’d have a restless night’s sleep because of her overwhelming anxiety about the next day’s reunion, but the exhaustion from her travelling overtook her and she almost slept through her alarm. A quick shower and a shot of espresso later and Lizzie was downstairs waiting for Danielle to pick her up to head over to meet the band.

“Morning! How’d you sleep?” Danielle chirped as she rolled into the car park, her car window down. 

“Very deeply, thank you! The room is really comfortable. Thanks again for organising.” Lizzie mentally urged herself to keep up the small talk as a way of hiding her nerves.

The car ride over was mostly quiet, but when they pulled up outside of what Lizzie assumed was Calum’s house, she definitely felt like she was about to vomit.

“Just so you know, I flagged our conversation last night with the band. About your pitch around the individual interviews, and also about your little… connection to them. Ashton didn’t seem to think it was a problem, so it should all be fine.” Danielle mused, as she opened her car door and hopped out. All Lizzie could do was nod, because her throat was dry and she was starting to panic. She blindly followed Danielle through the front gate and around the side of the house to a building in the backyard, Lizzie strained to hear what sounded like raised, male voices floating towards them as they approached. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but it didn’t entirely sound positive.

Danielle knocked loudly on the door and shot Lizzie a reassuring smile, before the shouting subsided and it swung open. Calum Hood stood in the doorway, and Lizzie sucked in a breath. It’d been eight years, maybe more since she’d last seen Calum, and even then, had they spoken? She couldn’t remember. 

Calum smiled at Danielle, and then his eyes flickered over to Lizzie, not quite carrying the same happiness, but not entirely losing it either.

“Morning, ladies. Welcome to casa di Calum, come on in.” He spoke with that scratchy, deep voice of his that Lizzie had reacquainted herself with when watching hours of interviews during her research. 

Danielle stepped passed Calum into the room, and she indicated for Lizzie to follow, which she did. Lizzie could feel Calum’s gaze on her as she brushed past him, but the minute she stepped inside, any sense of warmth or welcome she’d felt before vanished. 

Luke and Ashton were standing over by the sound recording panel, turning to look at Lizzie and Danielle as they entered. Lizzie thought she saw a hint of a smile on Luke’s face (they had survived Year 8 Maths together, after all… that had to count for something, right?), but Ashton was unreadable.

Entirely obvious, though, was the look of bitter disdain on Michael Clifford’s face when Lizzie finally spotted him hunched over on the couch along the wall. Those grey-green eyes were staring her down with a harsh glare. It had familiarity about it, Lizzie realised, but not in a good way. 

Danielle cleared her throat in the silence, and turned to Lizzie.

“Well, I believe introductions might not be required, but in the interest of professionalism and courtesy - “ Lizzie didn’t miss Danielle’s pointed glance towards Michael, who was still scowling silently towards everyone - “Lizzie Lawson from Junkee, I would like you to meet Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, Luke Hemmings and Michael Clifford, also collectively known as 5 Seconds of Summer or 5SOS.” 

Lizzie waved, and then immediately cursed herself for being so goddamn awkward.  She received a nod of recognition from Ashton, and small smiles from Luke and Calum. From Michael, more scowling. This was going to be a long three weeks. 

“So, Lizzie, why don’t you go through the pitch for the profile that we discussed yesterday? The boys already have a bit of an idea, but I’m sure they’d love to hear it from you.” Danielle was being overly encouraging, but it worked, and Lizzie took a deep breath before speaking.

“Thanks, Danielle. And thank you to you guys, honestly. I know this is a little strange for all of us -”

“Fucking oath it is.” Lizzie heard Michael mutter under his breath, but she continued, undeterred. 

“But, I’m really excited to have the opportunity to interview you and pull together this story. Especially on behalf of the Australian music media. I know they haven’t always given you the recognition you deserve, but I think this piece is a chance to overcome that. Anyway, the specific pitch I’d love to go with is reflective of you as individual artists, as well as the collective band group. If it’s suitable, it’d be great to have the chance to speak to each of you one-on-one as well as a group, to give a holistic view of your journeys as people and as musicians and what you’re trying to achieve with this album. So… yeah…” Lizzie trailed off nervously, clenching her hands at her sides.

“I love it. We’re happy you’re here, Lizzie. I really loved the Matt Corby piece Danielle sent us, and like you said, it was really important for us to have the perspective of an Australian journalist for this story and where we’re at right now.” Ashton’s calm voice broke the silence, as he nodded at Lizzie in agreeance. Luke and Calum nodded too, and Lizzie tried not to look towards Michael because no doubt he was still glaring at her.

“Great! Everyone’s on the same page. I have to dash off to a meeting, but Lizzie has my number if she needs it, otherwise all of you please behave and don’t scare her off, nor say anything that means I’ll have to destroy her tape recorder. Sound good? Good!” Danielle rattled off quickly, moving out the door and shutting it behind her. 

The tension in the air was thick, and it was all seething from Michael’s direction towards Lizzie. She closed her eyes for a moment, before reaching into her bag and pulling out her phone, notebook and pen. She spotted a chair behind her, and turned back towards Luke and Ashton.

“Well, where do you want to start? A group sit down, some general thoughts on the journey so far and what the album experience has been like?” Lizzie offered, trying to make herself sound enthusiastic, but also in control and like she knew what she was doing.

Luke, Calum and Ashton all murmured in agreeance, and moved themselves over to sit by Michael on the couch, while Lizzie dragged the chair she’d spotted over to sit facing them.

“Right. All good if I audio record this?” She asked, hitting record on her voicenotes app after three heads nodded at her.

“So, the album. Where did it begin? Did anyone or anything influence or kick off the sonic direction or the start of the exploratory process?”

The conversation was flowing quite well, Lizzie though. Ashton dominated most of the responses to her questions, but Luke and Calum chipped in their perspectives throughout. Michael didn’t say a word, even when Calum poked him in the side, and instead of glaring at Lizzie he was now staring blankly at the wall over her shoulder. An improvement, sort of, but still not ideal from a journalist and interviewee perspective, let alone when the interviewee was someone who used to be Lizzie’s best friend. 

Before she knew it, an hour had past, and Ashton stood, remembering a meeting they had scheduled with the label and their management team, and bringing the interview to a close. 

As Lizzie was packing up her equipment, she cautiously brought up the topic of the one on one interviews. 

“So, does anyone in particular have free time in the next few days, so I can start on the individual profiling part of the story?” Lizzie asked, her tone hopeful.

Michael’s response was to push straight past her and walk out of the studio, muttering to himself and slamming the door as he went. The loud noise made Lizzie flinch, and she realised her heart was racing and her hands were a little shaky. 

“I’ve got time, LL Cool J. I’ll meet you at Joan’s on Third for lunch, say 1pm?”  Lizzie smiled at the pld nickname Calum slipped into his quiet response to her question. 

“Works for me, C Dizzle Swizzle. Thanks again for your time today, I really appreciate it. Not to sound like a broken record, but I’m really excited for this piece and the chance to tell your story.” Lizzie found herself grinning like an idiot as she met Calum’s warm gaze, and noted that Ashton and Luke were also smiling at her.

“We’re excited too, Lizzie. Even if… some of us might not quite be as enthusiastic as they should be. But, don’t worry. He’ll come round.” It was Luke that spoke this time, his striking blue eyes somehow staring straight into Lizzie’s soul as he looked at her. 

“Here’s hoping.” Lizzie tried not to sound too dull in her response, but it was a challenge. 

Because honestly, how the fuck was she going to do a profile on all four members of 5 Seconds of Summer, if one of them could barely stand being in the same room as her?

Time will tell, Lizzie thought to herself as she walked out of the door to Calum’s studio and into the warm California sunlight. Time will tell. 

Taglist: @suchalonelysunflower​ @blackbutterfliescal​ @redrattlers​ @loveroflrh​ @spicycal​ @notinthesameguey​ @metalandboybands​

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[bnhco]

The Creative + The Chaos

FINDING BALANCE IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF MODERN LIFE, AND PRIORITIZING ARTISTIC PURSUITS

Creative personalities certainly prefer to spend precious time pursuing passions and mastering our craft, than to be busied with the likes of cleaning and organization. Meanwhile, the supposed real-world tasks may continue to pile up around us, and that’s ok! Finding a good balance in our daily living is significant to the creative process.

I hope to highlight a few general areas of the workflow to explore, where we may be able to tighten up our practice as artists and creators. This is where my process is currently, but even the process itself may change later on. I may have to adapt to my personal needs from day to day. Adjustments are always good to keep your awareness and skillset agile. I accept every step of the journey. I strongly encourage everyone to seek out and tune in to a system that flows best with your personal rhythm.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step…” ~ Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu

A starting point, with some semblance of a finish line is most helpful.

We must begin with the intent to win and commit to it.

DESIGNATE : SPACE

Do you have a designated space in your home where you can comfortably create? A craft corner? Garage workshop? Art studio? Is it truly your own or shared space?

There is a red wooden desk in our living room with a computer hooked up to it that mostly my son uses for online school distance learning. It used to be my desk, but I had to relocate. I found a new-to-me refurbished antique roll-top desk and set it up in the large back room of the house, with enough space to share it with the washer, dryer and folding table… and a mountain of laundry piled high. I hung an opaque curtain to divide the room in half and voila, I’ve made a private corner for myself. Works for me!

It’s important to claim a creative space as your own, so you know there is a spot just for you to freely work your magic, like a wizard behind the curtain.

Do you have a lot of clutter to dig through, burying all your supplies, making it difficult to get into a steady rhythm of productivity? How could you create an environment that is most conducive to your style or creativity? What does that look like for you?

“There’s a method to the madness, I swear!”

~  Famous Line by Any/All of Us

Let the clutter eliminate itself. The best way to get rid of the trinkets and nonsense items unnecessarily laying around, is to envision how you want your creation station set up, then arrange it as such! Think of it like staging and propping up a showroom. You are essentially creating it. You will remove the articles and particles that no longer serve a purpose in your creative space. It may be difficult to let go of the knick-knacks and bric-a-brac, I know, because I am totally guilty of possessing so many trinket treasures! Items that can be re-homed would be happily accepted at your local donation centers. It really is a good idea to refresh and tidy up your space from time to time. Reset it. Doing so clears up any dense or stagnant energy, and helps to keep the flow moving. You might even catch a glimpse of inspiration coming in.

Everything in its right place…

When you have your own creation station set up, it provides a sense of ease. It doesn’t have to be spotless and perfect, that’s not the true aim. Lived-in is still a good status.

Having all the conditions to be right or ripe is not necessary to begin creating.

If the sparks of ideas and inspiration are shooting fireworks for you, fly with it!

No question, just go!

Let’s consider that we are creating our inner landscape and mirroring that internal process outwardly to our external spheres. Whatever is going on within ourselves becomes what is projected out to the world. Why not try it the other way around? Meaning we could even try making adjustments or changing our physical surroundings — our home, office, studio space — to see if that has a good influence on our mental clarity and focus. I believe so. Finding this crossing where the mental and physical spaces meet is key in keeping a balance in all our activities. It’s a point of calibration. Be in your center, spruce it up, move things around, Fengh Shui and enjoy creating that designated space!

DEDICATE : TIME

Ask yourself if you are truly committed to honing your craft. Have you allotted the time slots in your schedule to fit your practice? Do you engage in collaborative conversations with peers, other artists? Are you dedicated to investing in yourself? What are the barriers you believe are holding you back?

If you are a dancer, dance hard! If you are a painter, splash paint! A singer, sing your heart out!

As individual artists it is important to take the time to check-in with ourselves and reflect on how we value our own work, which ultimately is most important. If thoughts of doubt or uncertainty come into the frame, it would behoove you to examine why and where that perspective could stem from. We are our personal best worst critics after all. Even so, it is good practice to assess our creations with healthy feedback.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” ~ Book of Proverbs

Being within a community of artists would certainly be valuable in gaining more insight on different disciplines, processes, and pure exposure to what wonders we all create for the world. At first it may be intimidating to open up to a new network of people for fear of judgement. Though when you do find that circle that is warm, welcoming, and feels right, the set becomes fertile soil for the artist to be able to root down, grow and eventually blossom into their own. It’s beautiful when the vibes are tuned in harmony and the hive mind arises.

How can we maximize the hours of the day to make the most with our creativity?

So the dirty dishes in the sink begin to rink a stink. The laundry is a mountain to sort through, or you are totally out of undies for today. Way to go, commando!

Of course, we would rather spend our free time doing all the things that light us up, as we damn well please and should. For some, maybe the demanding day job gets in the way. Others, a full family schedule with children, parents and partners to take care of. Or other obligations, what have you. Option D: All of the above…

We each have unique stations in life that call us to duty. It is understandable how this may lead to seemingly less and less time to be able to dig our hands deep in our creative flow. However, it isn’t impossible to accomplish all that we desire to do.

Carve out the time. Look over your calendar, morning, noon, night, anywhere in between, and work in time to practice, even when you feel uninspired or unmotivated. Build the muscle memory needed to advance your skills. This applies in any practice. All the great masters did not attain their levels without putting forth the effort and energy. Forming good habits will carry you and your craft forward and up to the next degree. Here I am stretching my rusty writing muscles to see what my baseline is at this phase. It’s been a while. After long periods of not using muscle groups, they will begin to atrophy and waste. Get the motion going and the circulation flowing.

Start at any point… the point is just start.

DRIVE : FAR OUT

“I AM THE VEHICLE FOR CHANGE.” ~ Me/YouDRIVE!

The open road is calling and ready for new adventures to be created!

…

This part is entirely up to YOU.

Your Art. …

Seeing beauty in every moment of creation is the essence of why art exists.

To authentically embody and express through art form is the pinnacle.

I desire to capture those moments caught in my perception, so I can feel like I am holding on to life much longer than it takes for it to dissipate through my senses. I aim to turn around and translate it with the tools I have on hand, hoping another being will see what I see. It is certainly worth all the trials.

Keep a journal. Document. Photograph. Record it. Commit it to memory.

There is an infinite supply of good ideas floating in the collective ether. When inspiration lands in our midst, it would be wise to court it with intent to bring the fantastic idea to life.

Connect…

DESIGNATE : SPACE DEDICATE : TIME DRIVE : FAR OUT

Sending us off with good intent, that we find our groove again. May this be a space of inspiration, growth and development, and collective regeneration. Thank You for Being Here. Peace + Love. rjx

[scifrey]

Get To Know The Writer

 Get to Know the Writer Tag

Rules (always post the rules): answer the questions given to you, write ten questions of your own, tag ten people.

@rosecorcoranwritessaid anyone who wants to do it can, and it looked interesting.

1.) Where did the title(s) of your latest project(s) come from?

 The titles for The Accidental Turn Series were sort of decided by a committee of my agent, my editor, my publisher and me. I’m rubbish at naming books, so through a series of emails a list of about a hundred throw-them-out-there titles were whittled down (mostly by Googling them and seeing if any other book had that title already) to a few themes. From there we narrowed down and named the first book (The Untold Tale, where I had been calling it That Feminist Meta Thingy), and then the other two books dominoed into place after that (The Forgotten Tale, and The Silenced Tale.)

These titles are because in book #1, the fantasy is being told from a side character who in fantasy-novel tropes is often overlooked. In book #2, other fantasy stories start vanishing, forgotten by the readers, and in book #3,someone is trying to silence the writer of these fantasy books forever.

 City By Night, one of my novellas, is also being reissued next month. Its original title was The Dark Side f the Glass, which was both an allusion to Alice Through The Looking Glass, as it’s about a woman who falls into a TV instead of through a mirror, and a tip of the head to the song of the same title from the soundtrack of one of the television shows the novella satirizes, Forever Knight. However, my agent thought the reference was too obscure, and after another big round of back-and-forth, it was decided to name the novella after the fake-TV show I made up for the story.

 The titles of the to books in The Skylark’s Saga (#1 The Skylark’s Song, and #2, The Skylark’s Sacrifice) are because I do love alliteration when I can get away with it! These are the only titles of the recent projects that I decided on my own and the rest of my team liked! Score!

2.) Do you have any rhyme or reason behind your character names?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. For the Accidental Turn Series fantasy books, I stole a lot of street names or snipped letters out of traditionally “European” names, like Kintyre, Forsyth, and Bevel to make them look suitably fantasy-esque on the page. But when the characters come to the “real world” I made a point of surrounding them with characters who had distinctly non-white, no-European names like Ahbni, Ichiro, and Juan just to really emphasize how much more diverse the “real world” is over traditional fantasy. 

In Triptych, every friend who helped me with edits got a character named after them. And in The Skylark’s Saga I got a bit silly - the Sealies all have surnames inspired by pagan gods, the Saskwayins are colors, and the Klonn are plants.

3.) What is your writing routine, if any?

When possible, I like to write at night, in silence, and with only my desk lamp on.  I try to keep my desk area very tidy, too, with only notes about the project I’m immediately working on written on my whiteboard wall. I need the only mess to be what’s in my head.

I’m more of a pantser who has, by virtue of writing series, been forced to learn how to plan. But even then, my planning is pretty rudimentary. I often do this in a notebook on transit (I tend to come up with ideas when I’m in liminal spaces), and run that by my editor. If she approves the vague outline, then I often write whatever scene is foremost in my mind - whichever has really grabbed my imagination, and allows me to figure out who my characters are, what the voice is, who the narrators are.

From there I often write chapter one, and then usually skip straight to the climax of the book and write that. This way I know where I’m aiming before I properly knock the arrow. Even if the target eventually shifts, I still have a sense of its shape and location.

From there I tend to skip all over the narrative and write whatever arrests me or I have in the front of my mind. Once that’s done, I go back to the start and begin the process of filling in the gaps. If I get another idea, I’m always happy to jump ahead and do that.

Using Scrivener has made this process a thousand times easier than when I had to scroll-scroll-scroll through Word.

When I don’t have to go to my dayjob, I try to write about 4000 words per day. When I do, I am for 500-1669, which keeps me limber for NaNoWriMo.

4.) Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever written?

I actually wracked my brains on this one, and I was going t say something like “a 400 year old house on the top of a mountain in Japan” or “in the shadow of the Great Pyramids in Giza”, but honestly, the real answer is on my BlackBerry while high off my face on morphine in the emergency room. Apparently I wrote a GREAT short story, which I emailed to all my friends, and emailed them. Without telling anyone that I was in hospital with Organ Death ™. And without remembering at all that I’d done it.

5.) Do you prefer to write by hand or type?

Typing, hands down. I type way faster than I handwrite, and I get frustrated that my pen can’t keep up with my brain. If I get an idea when I’m away from the computer, I usually only jot down enough to remember the scene/idea/mood/exchange without writing it out. I despise having to do the work twice, and that’s what transcribing from paper to computer feels like.

6.) Ideally, where would you like to see your writing take you in five years?

I’d like to break this barrier there seems between me and the Big 5. My agent and I have been working at it, but there seems to be some strange gap. Lots of editors at the Big 5 like my work, but no one seems to want to sign it. I get compliments on my voice, on my word crafting, but no contracts. It’s so frustrating to be so close to the possibility of working with a team with more resources than I have so far. 

7.) Which character is most fun to write and why?

Now that Triptych is complete and being serialized on Wattpad, any opportunity to revisit Kalp is a delight. I love looking at the world through his eyes. Olly, from The Maddening Science was a lot of fun too, again because of the way I have to shove aside my own assumptions about how and why the world works and see it through the lens of his own intelligence and lived experience. And Bevel will never not be a hoot, because there’s something just so great about getting to be that crass, and to come up with dirty jokes that fit in a fantasy world.

8.) What advice would you give writers just starting out?

Read widely outside of the genre you want to write in. If you want to write fiction, read non-fic, pop sci, and academic papers. Read the news. Read blogs. Read things that are in your wheelhouse, but then randomly grab something from the library that looks cool. You never know where the next idea will come from. Let your imagination wander.

9.) Do you have any “writing heros”? (This could be published writers or non.)

Anyone giving it a go! It’ hard, and it’s disheartening when people don’t love something you’ve put so much work and heart into. It’’s easy to give up on. Don’t.

Otherwise, I love Dianne Wynne Jones’ blatant subversion of stereotypes and tropes, which has really informed my writing, an Jane Austen’s ability to create such diverse, thoughtful, and complex characters.

I also super appreciate fanfic writers, cause they do it out of sheer love, and work for years to hone their craft. Among my faves are @bendingsignpost @sheafrotherdon, and @madlori.

10.) Tell me about your work-in-progress.

 Oh lord, is this a can of worms you really want to open?

 The Silenced Tale & The Accidental Collection  - books #3 and #4 of The Accidental Turn Series  are done. They just need to be line-edited and then the editor can lock the manuscript and it’s out of my hands and into the typesetter/designer’s. (And then of course I need to ramp up to marketing machine.)

 Book #3 is the conclusion of a trilogy of books about a secondary character in  fantasy epic who becomes self-aware and slips the pages of his book.

 The Skylark’s Saga - The two books are written, but one of the relationships is changing dramatically and I need to go in and shift that. I have no idea how much writing/rewriting this is going to entail. However, I do know that I want to get it done by the end of the year. As soon as the manuscript for The Silenced Tale is locked, I’ll be moving onto this.

 This duology is a steampunk-adventure-romance book about a girl vigilante and her ornery rocketpack who gets trapped behind enemy lines after being shot down in a dogfight.

 The Austen Hollywood AU  - I’ve written the first book of the series, and my agent is shopping it now. It’s possible that it may only get signed as a one-book deal, but ideally I’ve developed it as a six-book series (one for each of Austen’s). At some point I’d like to write the first three chapters of the remaining five books, to demonstrate what the voice and tone of each is gong to be like. (Possibly for NaNoWriMo this year??)

 These books are modern adaptations of Austen’s work, but they will all intertwine as characters from different aspects of the entertainment industry cross paths, work together,  and as they do in the originals, find love and contentment.

 The Maddening Science  - at some point I’d like to develop my short story of the same name into a full-length novel, but it would take a lot of research on my part, and a lot of buy-in on a publisher’s. I’m not quite ready to tackle this one yet, though I have pitches and synopsizes and the like written.

Henrietta - This idea is relatively new idea, born from watching a documentary and then reading the non-fic biography that inspired it (see, reading outside your genre helps!), but I think I’d really like to take a swing a writing a historical romance based on the life of a certain historical mistress, something like The Other Boleyn Girl. It would take a massive amount of research as well, but I think would be really interesting and engaging. The woman’s life was fascinating.

The Neridis - I wrote this book about four years ago and it’s been trunked. I’d like to pull it back out and give it a spit-polish and a steam-up, then self publish it sometime next year under my erotica pseudonym. It’s a time-travel lesbian romance story that can easily be punched up into erotica.

And of course, there are three other books that are sort of hovering in the back of my mind, but I’m not ready to write them, or even really a pitch for them yet. The vampire one might be a screenplay instead, I’m not sure.

 Oh, and I am looking to place a script, too - I wrote it under spec for a company that later decided not to shift from distribution into development any more, so I’m not sure what do with 228 pages of cute lesbian comic-book creators falling love over lattes and superheroes. I keep thinking that it would make a great webcomic/graphic novel, but I have no idea how to find an artist willing to commit to like a 500-page graphic novel, and more importantly, find the money to pay them.

I tag whomever wants to jump in. No pressure.

[miraculously-fangirling]

Springtime Connection - Chapter 12

[A/N: Ok, I know that I’m late. Unfortunately I cannot promise that this won’t happen again. Someone asked how often I plan to update this summer and the answer is hopefully every 7-10 days. I have virtually no routine for the coming weeks so it has become difficult to find writing time ^^;, I hope you all understand and have an awesome read :D] 

Nathalie knocked on Adrien’s door, sending the teen and his kwami into a small frenzy as Plagg quickly hid underneath a pillow. Adrien sat up from the floor and placed one of the manga into his lap.

Nathalie peeked her head in and adjusted her glasses as she examined the mess of books across the floor. She sighed before reciting the data from her clipboard. 

Adrien flopped onto his bed as soon as Nathalie left his room after telling him his schedule changes for the coming weeks. At least his father had the wherewithal to lessen Adrien’s load right before the festival.

Nathalie closed the door with a click and walked down the hall to her office to gather her things. Before she left, she took a peek into Gabriel’s office where the designer was gazing at his missing wife’s portrait. Nathalie bit her lip as she thought about Adrien alone in his room. The two of them were truly the most unfortunate, and they couldn’t talk about it at all. Nathalie wished that Mme. Agreste would return even to just stop the endless cycle of loneliness sweeping the Agreste household. Quietly, she made her way to a side lot where her car was parked and drove off for the night.

Adrien hopped off his bed as Plagg floated before Adrien’s monitors to view Adrien’s various reference photos. “Are you really going to go to school dressed like this weirdo magician?” Plagg said while nibbling on a fresh wedge of cheese.

“Yes, because he’s a hero, not a magician. Well sort of. 

“So he’s a sidekick.”

“More like a comrade. 

“Well doesn't that sound familiar.”

Adrien shot Plagg a glare. “Really, Plagg? First, we’re partners. Second, is this really the time for this?”

Plagg landed atop Adrien’s keyboard. He scarfed down the rest of his snack before wiping his mouth with the back of his paw. “Lighten up, kid.”

Adrien sighed. He knew that Plagg was just trying to help. Gabriel’s coldness wasn’t exactly what Adrien wanted and after his small respite, he felt the loneliness only more. “Fine,” Adrien said before sitting in his computer chair to stare at the plethora of screens.

Marinette transformed into Ladybug and climbed onto her terrace. The last rays of orange sun shone over the horizon as a small breeze cooled the early spring evening. She took in a deep breath.

What the hell am I getting myself into?

Her yo-yo wrapped around a far away building, and she zipped into the darkening sky. A few pedestrians pointed and took photos of the spotted heroine, but Ladybug paid them no mind. She had other things to think about.

Ladybug took the scenic route around Paris in order to ward off any followers. Apparently Alya’s fans were beginning to have their eye out for the super duo. Ladybug eventually swung into the many supports of the Eiffel Tower where she easily hid from any remaining eyes. She climbed through the steel bars until she came upon the back of the Agreste mansion. She quickly hopped into one of the grassy patches of land that bordered the property as she searched for Adrien’s window. She had only been there a few times before, and she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. The premises had the same cold atmosphere she remembered the first time she walked into the home. It felt empty with no light coming from any of the sizable windows. All except for one.

Adrien leaned into his armchair with his hands nestled behind his neck. Craft supplies were strewed across the floor, and a finished, if a bit amateur looking, mask sat on his desk atop a pile of textbooks. Everything was more or less ready. He even still had a cape from an old costume party. He thanked the heavens that the thing still fit.

Plagg continued to zip around and play around in the various supplies like ribbon and excess craft paper.

Ladybug quietly landed on the awning above Adrien’s sizable window. She took a deep breath while wrapping her yo-yo around one of the many guardrails that lined the perimeter of the mansion’s upper levels.

I’m just going to check in on him. Nothing more. Nothing less. I’m just going to check in on him.

Ladybug held onto the string tight as she hopped down the wall with her feet gently tapping against the glass. The blue glare of Adrien’s computer screen warped through the thick paned glass. Adrien’s figure was barely discernible, but she could see something else. A small, black shadow zipped around the room, creating fleeting holes in the computer’s light.

A breath hitched in Ladybug’s throat as figured what the little figure must’ve been. It had to be his kwami. Sure, she knew who Chat really was. She knew that, but actually seeing physical proof while knowing was a feeling that she was unprepared for.

Plagg’s ears perked up as a distinct tapping came into the room. Adrien zoned out in front of the monitors as the cat kwami, much to Ladybug’s surprise and dismay, went to investigate. Ladybug turned to all directions as she noticed the black shadow near. She jumped off the glass and swung, but it was too late.

Plagg pushed his face against the cool glass. His unearthly green eyes grew as Ladybug’s red suit became clear in the dim light. Plagg backed from the glass slowly with his head shaking side to side. He couldn’t figure any reason for Ladybug to be there. The heroine had nothing to do with Adrien, right? Plagg clamored behind the couch, but he knew that she saw him. Ladybug saw Plagg, and he knew it.

Plagg’s quick hiding drew Adrien out of his thoughts. “Plagg?” Adrien said while spinning his office chair around, “What are you getting in-“

Words vanished as Adrien’s eyes met Ladybug’s. Adrien’s heart skipped a beat as he slowly stood from his chair. Ladybug’s feet landed softly on the glass, eyes locked on Adrien, while her mind raced 

Adrien nearly ran to the window and unlatched the window. “L-Ladybug?” he said quietly. He rubbed his eyes as if to rid himself of any illusion, but Ladybug still stood there on the glass with a dumbfounded look.

She really hadn’t intended to be seen. She just wanted to check on him and make sure that the smiles weren’t just for school. That’s all she wanted, but there was Adrien in all his perfect glory. She raised one hand to give him a pathetic wave as she fought for through her nerves for any words. Ladybug closed her eyes for a moment. She had to calm down. She took a deep breath before locking eyes with Adrien again. Fuck, she really was smitten. “Oh, um, hi Adrien,” Ladybug said with one hand rubbing the back of her neck.

Adrien looked away as warmth creeped into his cheeks and ears. “Oh, yes. Hello,” he said, copying Ladybug with his hand wrapped behind his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, Adrien caught Plagg zip behind some of Adrien’s old fencing trophies. Right, he couldn’t let Ladybug see Plagg. Wait. He glanced at her figure in the emerging moonlight with that focused gaze of hers. “Umm, what are you doing here? Is there an akuma around?” He said, still not quite meeting her bright, blue eyes.

“Oh, you know, just in the area,” Ladybug said now looking at her hand clenched around the string. She took a moment to get a better look into the room. A suit and costume cape were laid across the couch and a white, craft paper mask was wrapped around a fencing trophy. So that was his plan. A small smile flashed over her lips. He was actually making something instead of wallowing. Ladybug couldn’t ask for anything better.

Adrien thought the whole situation was almost too good to be true. Ladybug just happened to be in the area? What were the chances? When would he ever get a chance like this ever again? “Um, do you want to come in? You can rest a bit.” 

It was Ladybug’s heart’s turn to skip as she processed the request. Adrien ‘Perfection’ Agreste was inviting her into his room. And not out of necessity this time. She bit her lip. Should she? She glanced over the door that led to the hallway. It was completely dark underneath. He seemed to be doing fine, but a little time would completely quell her worries, right? She nodded with a polite smile before swinging over the windowsill.

Adrien stepped out of the way as Ladybug hopped in and retracted her yo-yo. Ladybug’s tool of choice returned to her hip as she took a few steps into the massive room. She pretended to look at the mess for the first time. “Are you going to a party or something?” 

“Ahh, not quite,” Adrien said before scurrying around the room to tidy up. Of course he had the best luck when it came to his lady. “It’s for a school event.”

“Oh?” Ladybug said with a knowing look. “Like a play.”

Adrien turned as he put the craft supplies back into their designated bin. “No, no, no, nothing like that. It’s just a cafe. We’re doing costumes, y’know, like the ones you find in manga and anime?” Adrien’s cheeks reached a new level of pink as he realized what he just said. Had he just talked about an anime trope with Ladybug of all people? Not even Nino would sit through Adrien’s small (but rare) nerd-out sessions. Adrien put a hand behind his neck again as if he could brush away what he just said.

A small chuckle escaped Ladybug. He truly was a dork. A giant one at that. “Well that sounds fun to me.”

“Does it really?”

“Yes, i-it sounds quite lively.” 

Adrien’s lit up. “It really is. My entire class is excited,” he said while picking up the white mask, “We decided to do superheroes of all things. Isn’t that funny?”

“Superheroes?” Ladybug said, making sure to lay her ignorance act on thick.

“Yeah, that’s what we’re dressing up as.” 

“I see. Is that why there’s a mask on your desk?”

Adrien smile grew a bit. “You know it?”

“Who doesn’t?” Ladybug said with hands on hips.

“You have a point there.” 

“What made you decide on him?” 

Adrien glanced over to the computer screens covered in reference photos of the gentlemanly hero. He really picked the character out of convenience, but that didn’t seem like a good enough answer. He scratched his brain for anything sounding the least lame, but time was ticking so he just opened his mouth. “I guess I just liked his story. You know, he does what he can to help those around him without hindering them. He doesn’t have any flashy powers or anything, but he can still do so much.”

Adrien had a small glimmer in his eye as he described the masked hero. As he talked, Adrien couldn’t help but think that the hero sort of paralleled Chat. Sure, he had Cataclysm, but other than that, his main powers were physical rather than magical.

“Reminds me of someone,” Ladybug said, noticing the gleam in Adrien’s bright green eyes.

“Really?”

“Yeah, what you’re talking about reminds me of Chat.” Adrien’s heart skipped once again. He wondered if he would just drop dead from all the skipped beats. Ladybug’s cheeks reddened as Adrien’s smile only became more apparent. “I don’t know what I would ever do without him.”

Ladybug swore that Adrien’s eyes shone brighter than stars. He looked, well, elated. Ladybug went on to say the most compliments she could think of about her dorky partner. The fact that he was right next to her in his civilian self made that difficult though. But Ladybug was glad to do it. She was glad to push to through her embarrassment if it meant seeing that happy gleam flash over those sorrowful, green eyes. 

[robertheiser-blog]

Introducing: The Ultimate Guide to Home Organization

For A Self-Guided Tour:

Mudroom

Kitchen

Living Room

Dining Room

Bedroom

Bathroom

Closets

Home Office or Craft Room

Garage

Basement

As winter holidays creep up on us, time is short and precious. While it's important to keep an organized home during these busy times, home organization can also be a challenge.

Home organization is not something you can do once and hope it stays that way forever. Whether you are getting ready for those holiday guests or planning for a productive new year, now is the time to re-evaluate your organization strategy. Make some time to declutter children's toys and clothes, rethink that guest bathroom storage and prep the kitchen and pantry for all that extra food and leftovers that the holidays will ultimately bring–with the help of these ideas.

Follow us room by room as we reveal resources with simple storage solutions and organization tips for all situations so you can reclaim the clean throughout your home. Without further ado, here it is our ultimate guide to home organization.

Enter Through the Mudroom

The mudroom does some serious work. This place can be the hardest room in the house to keep orderly because everything and everyone comes through here.

For this reason, try to keep the mudroom as sparse as possible. Only store the necessities for getting out of the door as easily as possible. Consider swapping out seasonal coats and shoes from another closet in order to keep this room useful throughout the year.

For a full guide on mudroom organization, here's how to keep your entry and mudroom organized.

Often the mudroom is the first room you see coming in the door from a long day. Here's how I transformed my entryway to brighten it for my family and make it an extra functional space.

First Stop: The Kitchen

…or as some refer to it, the heart of the home. Utensils, dishware and appliances of all shapes and sizes call this room home, making organizational systems here somewhat of a challenge. This room needs to be functional and yet also attractive to cater to trending open concept designs.

When is there a time of year where the kitchen isn't the star of the show? As you start thinking about all the meals, desserts and dishes that are about to be prepped, eaten and cleaned in this space, it may be time to rethink your organization strategy.

Here are 13 tips for kitchen organization to get you started.

►Organizing Countertops

Cooking is always better in a clean space. And do not forget that dreaded junk drawer (you know you have one). A place for everything and everything in its place helps to keep counters clear. When it is time to whip up that batch of cookies or meal prep for the busy weeks ahead, no one wants to spend time cleaning off their counters. Here are five ways to organize your kitchen countertops to keep away clutter.

►Organizing the Pantry

Take this time of year to do yourself and your pantry a favor. Check, clear, clean:

Check for all expired goods or food you are not going to use.

Clear your shelves and give them a good cleaning.

Clean the items as you place them back into the pantry, reorganized and in order.

Before a big holiday dinner with the family is the perfect time to take a closer look at your pantry before cramming in all the fixings. Take some ideas from Madison at A Joyfully Mad Kitchen: 9 Ways You Can Make Your Pantry More Organized. She even includes free pantry labels to keep bins tidy!

►Tips for Small Kitchens

Do you have a quaint, cozy kitchen–otherwise known as tiny? Here are some helpful tips for maximizing your small space. 

Next Up: The Living Room

The room where you live is bound to have some chaos. This is often the room where pillows are tossed on the floor, stray toys get stuffed in the cushions and someone's clothes are left stranded somewhere.

Baskets are always a great organizing solution and the living room is no exception to the rule. Place attractive baskets next to your couch or chair to clean up some clutter fast when company stops by.

As chilly weather sets in, keep those throws from being thrown on the floor by adding a simple blanket ladder. (You can even make your own for less than $10! Here's how we did it.)

►Tips for Organizing Small Living Rooms

If you are searching for ideas on how to make the most of a small living room, these 10 tips for a more spacious living room may be helpful. Maximizing your space with these solutions can create a more clutter-free room that you will enjoy living in.

Welcome to Our Dining Room

The dining area usually doesn't require too much in terms of organization. After major dinner parties or holidays, it makes sense to freshen up linens and china and make sure everything is stored away properly.

Do you have trouble organizing your dining room? Let us know your organization problem in the comments below so we can write more on this subject to help you out!

While we may not have much to say about organization in the dining room, there are ways that you can add a little more drama to the decor. Check out these ten ideas that will change the way you see your dining room.

A Look at the Bedroom

Keeping a clutter-free bedroom could be the key to a good night's rest. A calm, inviting bedroom fosters tranquility. Clearing off piles of clothes or slipping under ill made sheets is not a good start to a night.

Do you find that instead of hanging up your clothes you are tossing them over a bedroom chair? It may be time to eliminate that chair or create a space where the chair is used properly. Learn more tips for achieving a peaceful bedroom here, or check out some ideas on how to decorate the master bedroom. Once you've established a sanctuary in your bedroom, no one would want to clutter it.

►Tips for Organizing Kids' Bedrooms

A child's bedroom stocked with toys is a recipe for a disaster zone. As Melissa from The Inspired Room points out, mixing a sleeping area with clothes and toys leads to clutter when it comes to kids. Designate children's bedrooms for sleeping and dressing. If you have the space, find a separate area for toys and crafts.

Personally, as a mother of three I know this fact too well. In order to maximize the play space in our home, my children are sharing a couple of bedrooms and a small room has been designated a play space.

If you lack that extra room, here are some creative ways to store all those toys and keep things in order, as well as some ways to organize children's clothing so that mom can keep her sanity.

If you're in a constant battle over a young child finding a matching outfit for school, read Tips For Decluttering Your Kids' Bedroom.

Read Also: 7 Steps to the Perfect Bedroom Makeover [Challenge + Printable]

Now Entering the Bathroom

If there is any space in a house where you need to make the most of every inch of empty storage it is the bathroom. Have you ever considered adding storage to the inside of cabinet doors or placing drawers in that awkward under the sink area? Try grouping bathroom supplies by use as well; all your first aid needs should be in one spot while hygiene, makeup and other items should be grouped and stored together.

These tips as well as 11 more practical bathroom organization ideas will streamline your morning routine in the bathroom.

Plus, if you have that dreaded shared kid's bath, here are some solutions to keep that room orderly.

►Tips for Organizing Small Bathrooms

What do you do when life deals you a small bathroom? You get creative. We've put together 10 small bathroom ideas that we think will change your life.

Read Also: Download this Set of 3 Free Printables for Your Kid's Bathroom

A Peek Into Our Closets

We rounded up innovative and resourceful closet storage ideas over in this article:17 Brilliant Hall Closet Organization Ideas. The before and after photos are sure to leave you feeling inspired to tackle your coat, supply and even linen closet ASAP.

Here are the basics: Every closet in a home can become a drop zone if you allow it. Organize your closets while remembering to divide items into what you use every day and what is only used every once in awhile. Keep all your everyday items very handy, and then add and store less used items higher and higher while keeping heavier item on the low shelves or the floor. Create uniformity with similar bins or baskets and use labels to keep everyone in the house in the loop.

Fan Favorite: The Bonus Room

Although creative spaces like offices and craft rooms can be super challenging to organize, they can also be the most rewarding. When scrapbooking, sewing or even blogging, beginning with a clean space makes all the difference to your output.

►Craft Room Organization

Specifically for crafting, having a spot for all your supplies and materials is imperative. Containers, drawer dividers and file folders make the organized office or craft room, so be sure the divide and conquer. Make your storage simple; the more simple, the more likely laziness won't set it when it's time to clean up your craft. Also, getting out all the supplies is easy, but it should be just as easy to put them away. Here's our recommended process for organizing your craft room, and if it's a closet you're working with, a guide to storing craft supplies in a closet.

►Home Office Design

Has this ever happened to you? You want to start that project or get to work on the computer, but you find your workspace buried under papers and supplies. Having to clean your workspace before you can get anything done inhibits productivity for obvious reasons.

If you've never officially organized your home office, it may feel too grand a task to even try. With the expert tips in our Beginner's Guide to Home Office Organization, decluttering your office doesn't have to feel like a complete overhaul. We'll help you mentally prepare for the task at hand and break it down into manageable pieces to save you some time.

Does your office double as a guest room? See how I organized mine to serve both purposes. I love how it turned out. I no longer have to shut the door to hide our spare room!

Read Also: Why and How to Make Space for a Small Home Office

A Quick Stop in the Laundry Room

Just getting the laundry together is a chore in itself. Lessening the burden of cleaning all those clothes with a bright, well-organized laundry space can make any homemaker happier. Learn how to brighten and organize your boring laundry room here.

Quick laundry room organization tips: Have we mentioned baskets before? In my laundry room, I use baskets to hide cleaning rags and corral my laundering supplies. Control some chaos with a space for all those lone socks you have lying about. Start the laundry process before you even load the washer by having pre-sorted dirty hampers. Add a simple tension rod between cabinets for extra drying storage.

Read Also: 5 Tips to Shorten Your Laundry Routine to 20 Min a Day

Heading Out to the Garage

I don't know about you, but the garage is our catch-all for extra junk. I can imagine a basement becomes the same (and for that, read on to the next section). However, I know that when this designated storage room is orderly and clean I want to keep it that way. Plus you don't want to have to be that family that never wants to open their garage for fear the neighbors will see our disaster zone.

Check out our ultimate guide to a functional garage makeover here.

Down in the Basement

If you have a basement, consider yourself lucky. Not everyone has one, and that's a whole lot of spare storage space you're living on top of. That space can be instrumental in helping you declutter the rest of your home, so you'll want to maximize it as much as you can. Here are our tips on basement organization and storage to help you take full advantage of the extra space downstairs.

Where Will You Start With Home Organization?

Creating an organized home can feel like a daunting task. Hopefully some of these resources and quick tips get the ball rolling. Remember: set small goals and move through your home tweaking what you already do and improve methods that may not have worked in the past.

Starting to declutter may take some time, but it will be well worth it. And there is no rush! Part of the fun of decorating and creating your home is in completing the task.

Do you have some home organization ideas or resources you can share? Comment below so we can add them to the list!

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