That's the Writer's Life

Writers don't get any sleep.  When they do finally turn out the light another idea hits them and they have to open the laptop back up and write it down.  They will often also wake up early in the morning because any problems with the story they had before sleeping suddenly make sense when the sun comes up and they must once again open the laptop and write it before it disappears again.  This pattern continues until:

1.  They are so tired they fall asleep with fingers on the keys
2.  They pray for divine intervention to remember their ideas in the morning
3.  Their book is finally finished

This is what's been happening to me lately.  I don't know how many times I tried to go to sleep the other night and every time I turned off my laptop and turned out my light I had to turn them both back on and keep going.  I was having terrible plot problems and nothing was coming together as it should have.  When I woke up the next morning... early... I had to open the computer again and finish working it out.  In less than 12 hours I had solved the greatest mystery to my book.  The majority of the next day was spent in my craft room writing.  I loved it.

Anyone who personally knows a writer knows that they actually never stop writing.  Something that seems completely unrelated to a story will inspire or spark something and they must write it down right then before the idea or thought leaves.  I'm often reminded of a scene in Becoming Jane.
Lady Gresham: What is she doing?
Mrs. Austen: Writing
Lady Gresham: Can anything be done about it?
No, Lady Gresham, I'm afraid nothing can be done about it.  Nor do I really want to do anything about it.  :)

Dark circles are forming around my eyes... such is my blessing and curse.  I write when I want to, when I don't want to and simply because I must. 

The Mortal Instruments

I have now finished my first book of the summer.  Oh, what a kick-off!  This one really didn't disappoint.  I had very high hopes for Clary and Jace, because I love them, and love them together!  Even if Jace did spend a great deal of the book torturing himself... There's something about him I just can't get enough of.

Now, because I know a lot of you haven't read any in this series yet, I don't want to give anything away.  This is the 4th book in the series and there would be a lot in it I could talk about that would give it away.  However, what I will talk about is how well Cassandra Clare has continued on with the story.  When I finished the original trilogy of the Mortal Instruments I suffered a serious withdrawal.  While the story had wrapped itself up nicely I just didn't want to be done with it.  I guess the author had similar feelings and decided she needed to write three more!  I had no qualms with this.  But how do you continue on with a story that you have ended?  You'll just have to find out how seamlessly she did it when you read the series.

One thing I love about Cassandra Clare's books is that she makes all of her characters matter.  I noticed that more in this book even than the others.  (Maybe that's because I already cared about these characters and wanted more of each of them.)  Every character has a place that matters, even if their story is not one of the main ones.  In fiction, every part of the story matters.  That's what makes it vibrant and full.

While there are some interesting biblical references in the plot of this story that should probably be read realizing the story is fiction, this really is a great series.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!  I just have to say it!  I LOVE JACE!

Here is the rest of the series!

 Don't forget to check out the prequel series too!

I Did It!

Never in all my days have I been so excited to finish a semester!  It was so stressful.  Save for a couple of math quarrels I'm practically a graduate!  Woohoo!  Holy cow, I don't have to take another college course if I don't want to.  But...of course I'm looking into graduate school.  What am I doing?  I'm supposed to be celebrating, not thinking about more school.  What was the first thing I did when I submitted my final paper?  I ate a celebratory cookie.  I know, your minds are all reeling with the question, "why isn't she reading yet?"  I'm getting there.

First, I must say that I'm so proud of myself for not caving one night when I couldn't sleep.  I literally reached up to grab a book of my shelf, but just before I caressed the colorful spine I recoiled at the thought of not getting my homework done in time.  You may all think I'm painfully pathetic, but the thought of reading all my new books and a whole summer of great books awaiting me propelled me through my papers.  And guess what!  I finished a whole day early!  Books are powerful tools.  Give a child a book and he/she shall accomplish great things.  Yes, I probably just referred to myself as a child.  I don't even care, I feel like skipping!

Second, I'm equally as excited to start writing again.  I'm so excited about so many stories and now I can finally unleash them.

I sense a great summer ahead of me filled with books, writing, and intense joy.  I hope the start to your summer is as great as mine feels right now.  City of Fallen Angels, here I come!  Happy Reading!

Calm Before the Storm?

Slowly, I'm whittling away at my homework.  I really don't know why it's taking me so long to get it all done.  Okay, that's probably a lie.  It's because I don't want to do it.  However, I'm finding myself more relieved today, and that scares me a bit.  I've still got a lot to do.  Maybe it's because after this weekend I will have only a test and a report to finish.  Most of the hard stuff will be out of the way.  Most of it.  I'm getting closer and closer to picking up those books!  I almost caved last night because after doing homework I felt relief and then I couldn't sleep.  Not a good combination.  But, I'm happy to report I stayed strong.  Only a week left.  If I work really hard, it could be less.

I Want to Read!

So, I'm sitting here, attempting to do my homework, and not having much success.  I think if it wasn't for the snow I wouldn't even be attempting to work.  There are so many other things I'd rather be doing.  For example, I have three, yes three, new books sitting on my bookshelf that I'm dying to read.  I promised myself that I wouldn't read any of them until the semester is over.  Really, I think I'm just looking for any excuse not to finish homework right now.  I want to read, I want to write.  I have stories floating through my head that I just want to put to paper, but I feel guilty, because that's all I will do if I start now.  Just a week and a half.  I can do it.

Infect Me

Amidst homework and many other tedious tasks, I was finally able to finish this book.  It was really good and one of those that inspires us all to think for ourselves.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver is the story of Lena.  She lives in Portland, but not the Portland we all know.  This is a time when the cure for hate, revenge, pain, and all the evils in the world you can think of has been discovered.  What is this cure?  It's a cure for love.  They've discovered that love causes pain and no one wants to suffer anymore, so, there is a procedure that cures it.  Love is considered a disease.  Precautions are taken for young people because they cannot get the cure before they are 18.  There are too many risks.  Lena is 17 and cannot wait for her procedure.  She's even counting the days.  What will she do when she finds out everyone has been lying to her?  But, what have they been lying to her about?

I really enjoyed this book.  The characters feel real and it's easy to experience what they are.  Hope you enjoy it too!  Happy reading!