Major *facepalm* & Writer Sadism

So some of you might have seen this over on Noveltee(n) already, but since it's pretty silent around here because of NaNo, I'm double-posting it. But, first...

I am a terrible person. O_O I have school, 4 exams to take in two months, a song(in Korean) to memorize, and novel to finish writing before the 30th, and guess what I go and do?! I get 8 books from the library.

Plus I can't for the life of me figure out how to make all the fonts in this post the same... O_o Today is not my brightest day, to say the least. [Maggie: Twin to the rescue! *fixes fonts*]

But I'll live. Probably.

Anyway! On to the next bit.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that writers are really just sadists.

Okay, maybe only some. But it is pretty common, when one overhears writers talking about their work, to hear the writer gleefully discussing maiming or emotionally scarring their characters, or killing people off, etc.

But I'm thinking it's not actually the hurting the characters that the writer delights in (okay, maybe a little) but rather what the hurting will lead to. As S.E. Sinkhorn says over on her blog*:

"Try it. Take away something your character loves dearly. Cut away their family. Steal their significant other. Annihilate their best friend. Destroy their freakin' world. Then let them change. Let them grow. Let them become someone with a different outlook on the same past. Let them be stronger for it. And let the story continue."

What doesn't kill your characters  make them stronger. If you kill the character's whole family, they will probably be devastated. If you throw their life in a mud puddle and stomp on it with soccer cleats, they will suffer. But they will get over it, and become better characters. Because that is what people do.

So really, it is a truth not-so-universally acknowledged, that writers love their characters so flipping much that they are willing to put them through the pain that will make them better, stronger people.

*Nooo, I didn't just choose a blog topic that would fit that link because that link is about Doctor Who, why do you ask?

Twin Moment of the Day: Well, it's not really a TM, but I did get "Between Shades of Gray" from the library.

On my Mind: Where is all my time?!

Listening to: "I Dreamed a Dream" by Ruthie Henshall from Les Miserables

Grateful for: Very little homework

Wanting to: Eat. Sleep. Read. Write. Get one of Hermione's hourglass things that makes me be in two places at once.

Writing: Defiance (NaNo novel--27k!)

Liebster Blog Award!

Well, well! Our blog has been awarded. Okay, okay, maybe it's not that big of a deal, but I'm excited in any case. This award is specifically for blogs with less than 200 followers and it's designed to help said blogs grow! A lovely idea, really.

Without further ado, I'd like to thank Amanda for awarding Twin Moment. Here's what she said:

1.) Twin Moment -- This is the recently begun, shared blog of two of my WriteOn freends, Constance & Lizzy.  They're not really twins, but they both write, they're around the same age, and by a random stroke of fate, they have the same Meyers-Briggs personality type. =)  They're both super awesome, so go check out their blog!

*pause to beam and sparkle at Amanda* Thank you! You're super awesome too. Truly.

And for the rest of you, go check out Amanda's blog! I've linked all her names just to make it extra easy for you.

According to Liebster tradition, I must now list five blogs, which is going to be SUPER easy. Trust my word that all the blogs below are awesome enough that I return to and read them more than once (for me, that' means they're awesome!).

1. I Am Writer ... Hear Me Roar! -- I don't know much about Gracie, but I know two things for certain: One, she writes. Two, she's awesome. Gracie is a sincerely creative writer, reader, and glue-gun wielder who just happens to blog. There's a great personality behind the writing, which makes it totally enjoyable to read. Trust me when I say it's worth your time!

2. Write On! -- It goes without saying that if you meet any of these criteria: writer, reader, between the ages of 13-19, like awesome people-- Write On! is for YOU. I mean it. Write On! isn't just a blog (stuffed with the awesomeness of Authoress), it's also a community. And, astoundingly, it's under 200 followers! While I don't think it'll pass the award on, I thought it deserved a shout out. (I can break the Liebster Rules, right?)

3. The Not-So-Daily Diaries of A Writer Gone Mad -- It's true. They're not-so-daily. This is the blog of my friend Mad -- writer, reader, Criminal Minds worshipper, aikidoist, and overall rockstar at whatever she choses to do (like overcoming algebra!) -- and an automatic Check This Out on my list, you're sure to enjoy a well-thought-out post... whenever she actually posts one. Maybe if she gets some new followers it will prompt her to blog more?

4. Matthew Dodwell -- Okay, Amanda totally already awarded him, but I'm going to go ahead and do so also, because Matt's worth two awards. Matt is a(n aussie!) thriller writer who blogs quite regularly. I enjoy his posts a lot and almost every time have something to say in the comments because he has a way of raising irresistible questions at the end of his posts. While I don't see an actual list of followers anymore, go check it out and comment for him!

5. My Life As A Teenage Novelist -- BRIGID! I love this girl. While I don't read her blog half as much as I should (do I see an interview with a published teen author up now!?) I know for a fact that it's a delightful blog, well worthy of MORE than 200 followers. And it only makes sense, since Brigid is truly awesome and creative and talented and all that jazz. (I happen to be reading her work right now! #proud) Consider yourself kicked in this blog's general direction. It is what the title suggests, and then some!

So there are my five. There's no pressure to award anyone else. Do so if the fancy takes you. I thought it was fun, so I did it. And besides, all these blogs earned the shout outs. (Except maybe Mad's, since it isn't really a blog, but rather a row of sad, neglected, dusty posts).

If you so choose, pass on the blog love! You might just make someone's day. Or their 200th follower.

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have bloggity-blog fun!

Yes. Have bloggity-blog... fun. That's pretty dorky.

HAVE FUN!

(Better)