Something to Hide

I've been struggling lately, to my chagrin, with writing. Yes, I've actually considered giving up because it hasn't brought me the pleasure of thrills I used to experience. Even the thought of attending my most favorite writers conference where I feel like queen, made me feel numb.

Magic Powers in your MC

Today we are writing about magic and the rules for usage. You can read what the Fantastic Friday Writers think think of this as well: Deirdra Eden Coppel, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Anastasia V. Pergakis, and J.D. Brown!

 I like free-range kinda magic. It would be as easy as doing a karate chop or a round house kick. I apply that same technique to my characters. I don't do Eragon kind of magic where the user "borrows" from their surroundings--for me, that's limiting. It's like being solar powered, there's only so much and so deep you can go on borrowed energy.

I've written 2 books that have magic in them. My high fantasy Tragic Innocence (yes, the name sounds like a soap opera, but it's just a Band Aid title), my heroine has the ultimate power once she realizes it's within her reach. All she has to do is believe in herself and the gift is hers.

In my Paranormal Romance Darkspell, Winter achieves hers when she hits 18. Not even the evil that stalks her can compare--that's why he tries to make her his queen. I do give Winter's love interest limited power as his talent will allow, but he doesn't "borrow" or deplete unless beaten like  normal person in a losing fist fight to another magic user.

I base it to real life: if you're a skilled fighter, you win, if you are wimpy, you lose. If you are skilled with magic, you win, if you're wimpy, you lose--but I have a discrepancy that separates this concept from fists. It is the ability of using your brain. So my magic users are mathematical geeks to an extent, like playing Chess.

Strategy strategy strategy.




How do you weave your magic?


Next on FFW: March 25th, on languages.




photos' from Photobucket.com

Stephenie Meyer, the mother of YA?

source

Do my books have a home? I've promised myself to keep my books clean, but then which genre would they belong?

After reading several YA books, it was like the Heavens opened. No questionable language. Violence. Or even sex.

I've been excited ever since!

I can't help but feel that ever since a single woman braved her talents and pitched them into the sea of publication, that she has opened doors for all YA possibilities. Harlequin came up with a new imprint for teens not too long ago. The YA sections are exploding with books. I've come across more writerly blogs aiming for YA than any other genre. Could it be that Stephenie Meyer created the trend of YA, even though it's always existed?

Let's say she never followed her muse to write her first novel. She never decided  to submit, or she even gave up with her first draft; would YA be as hot as it is now?

I doubt it.

I feel the same with MG. If another woman hadn't have obeyed her integrity, J.K. Rowling wouldn't have opened doors for high adventures for young kids. Would she?

If J.R. Tolkien had decided to take up sea diving instead, would we have developed our fine sense of fantasy novels?

I believe that these great authors were lead by a greater force to open the floodgates, the possibilities for the rest of us. A Renaissance for Writers, if you will.

What are your thoughts?

Comfort Zone

I've recently read Don Carey's Bumpy Landings (book review posted February 18th). It's a fantastic read about an LDS returned missionary who struggles to find his place. Why? Because of the pressures of work, home, and school. Not to mention girls!

The moral of the story is integrity. How true he had to be to himself, even if it took him out of his comfort zone. That was when he did the MOST growing.

I wonder. How many of us do everything we can to stay within our comfort zones? I know I do. But I ask myself, how much growing am I doing?

Can you think of any instances where you ventured from your comfort zone? What happened?

Super-Snooper Blogest!

Today is Alison Stevens' blogfest, thank you for the fun! We are to tell you about our character's stuff, that way you get to know him or her that way!

You can click on the button to read other participants' entries===>

Ready?


A double neck, electric guitar has recently been added to the bass, electric guitar with an old acoustic in the 1400sq bedroom. There is a waste basket filled with music sheets half written, then wadded into tight balls. Beneath the paper mess is a pile of guitar picks, all cracked between my character's teeth. A Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster,  McLaren F1, Saleen S7 Twin Turbo, Farrari Enzo, and Bugatti Veyron are just a few of the favorite things in the garage. Okay, I'll give a hint of my character's gender: would use Athena Pheromone 10X™, but the occupation takes care of it all! ;)

You can read my character's interview here!

Can you tell what my character's quirk is? What is your character's quirk?