Bluebirds and Birch trees

 It seems September is the preparatory month for a lot of things. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Inktober, Nanowrimo...  Yes, it would seem that even all the way back here in the grand ol' month of September (known to me now as either second August or first October depending on the weather) we've got people prepping for all these things that are coming up–and I'm one of them!  Halloween: yeah I kinda like to prep for this early, because ooooooh boy do I love making costumes and dressing up! That's about it, I don't always have a ton of fun trick-or-treating, but the costumes are by far my favorite part. Doubly so if I get to dress up with friends and we don't even do that much, we just kinda hang out while going down one or two streets and that's it.  Thanksgiving: I bet you that some people are already planning their Thanksgiving plans. (I am not one of them, but I bet they're out there. *not-quite-ominous music plays*)  Inktober: The newly released an...

 Day one of NaNoWriMo has come and gone, and off to a well meaning start! Even though I'm not certain the story I'm writing will need fifty thousand words to reach the end, I'm planning on counting any writing I may get done on the planning or world building for the story I didn't get done before November began.  As it stands, I wrote 1,668 words today, doing my best to not overdo day one–which has happened in previous years.  We'll see how day two goes, as well as story progression. So far I have a decent chapter one, and what I hope to be a good start on the story's main plot.  How did you do today? -Mae/Dreamer

 Hey there readers! Less than 4 hours until NaNoWriMo begins. Hard to believe isn't it?  Already, my plans for NaNoWriMo have changed since earlier this month. While I had originally planned on simply writing down my world building for several stories at once, I've opted instead to work on one solitary story that has only started to make itself at home earlier this year.  I had (once again) planned on pantsing the story (as NaNoWriMo calls it, the act of writing with no plan or outline at all). But once again, the story made itself know in the form of three characters who's names and personal stories came out of that foggy area most stories tend to shroud themselves in.  So, instead of four I'm working on one. And rather than no plan, the inkling of a plot line has decided to make itself known.  I know I don't update regularly, but throughout the month of November I'm hoping to post regular updates on either processes, or different things that happen. Ei...

 To a website near you!  It's almost that time of year again, the scent of paper, ink, and hot beverages is in the air, and that can mean only one thing–NaNoWriMo.  NaNoWriMo may be a little ways off at the moment, but it will be here before many of us realize! The prep for it is underway, or perhaps some of you–like me–have been prepping for it since the beginning of October (maybe even earlier).  Maybe this is your first year doing NaNoWriMo, or you're a returning writer, maybe you've never heard of it before, if you enjoy writing I encourage you to give it a go! That's all I did, now I'm in my fourth year! The motivation for it has largely been helped and encouraged by other fellow writers who have become my friends, and some others that are friends that have become writers!  NaNoWriMo can sound daunting to some, to others it's a fun challenge, it's all in how you approach it.  To my understanding, there are two ways of looking at NaNoWriMo: I...

Apologies for the lateness of this, but here's a thing! I've been tagged by the lovely Autumn Meadowlark from  Alpine Writer ! Thanks dearie! Here are the rules: Copy these totally amazing and spectacular rules onto your post. Smile and twirl in a circle and look at your favorite inspiring thing and take deep breaths as you prepare for my amazingness (or awkwardness perhaps in my case). Thank your gorgeous, lovely tagger. Tag five other bloggers (or more, or less, or whoever) Have fun and be honest and answer all the questions (and feel free to add some of your own!) Step one, done. Step two *does it* done! Step three, done! Step four–oop! Getting ahead of ourselves, let's answer some questions first! No. 1: What is one of the most inspiring things to you? Well... It's hard to say what is the most  inspiring thing to me. Perhaps, sitting in nature during quiet moments, or being in busy coffee shops, I think, perhaps just being is often times ...

Hopefully, you've noticed that I changed both the name and look of my blog. But fear not, it is still the same!  While it's last name was 'A Touch of Euphoria' it had actually begun to wear on me some, despite the fact that I do love the candy like appearance of the last design.  'Bluebirds and Birch trees' is a name that came to me most recently, and I decided to give it a try. I hope you enjoy it too!  So a few things to talk about in the light of the new month:   NaNoWriMo 2016 has ended. Although saddening, it has finally reached the last day, as well as the first day of the month.  Many of my friends and a few of my readers did complete the 50 thousand word goal, set upon in the early hours of November 1st. Though now, we welcome in the beginning of a new month, and a new season. December is full, full of people and editing as well as scrambling gift giving as people like me do their best to try and figure out just what to get their friends and fam...

Well. They're at least the answer in the Redwall audio book I've had playing in the background. Any of you reader's ever read Doomwyte?  While I'm going along my merry way of having changed my goal on what I'm writing for November once again, this is a goal I know I can make. One that I will do all in my power to complete as well.  I'm not prepared to write the novel I've been attempting to write for the past 15-16 days. Now, I'm writing a collection of short stories and hopefully fabulous tales to reach the 50 thousand word goal.  If anything else, I am going to teach myself commitment. Commitment is not a light word, neither in speaking terms or in meaning.  But more on that later.  I have already written one short story that is just under 5k words. And in my search for learning the basics of editing a piece of writing, I came across a website I had read before. And my personal opinion, it is a very handy piece of advice!   https://warriorwrit...

 Not being able to find a satisfactory breakfast is starting to become a bit of a habitual thing. As I am endeavoring to not eat gluten for every meal, it brings breakfast options down to one thing: eggs.  But, as I am not inclined to cook for myself every morning, I am resorting to the large cache of leftover halloween candy. This morning's choice; a package of M & M's that held 18 pieces.  Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend candy to start off the day, but chocolate does go so well with coffee.  Today marks one week for NaNoWriMo. I myself have already written plenty of words, and I do hope at least some of them are good. Because, as with all first drafts, you have to have some room to maneuver.  I've been thinking again about the Book Room Challenge. I find it very interesting at the different styles at which different writers approach the challenge. Some focus on the mood or tone of the room, describing the music you'd hear, or the types of lighting, thi...

  Today, November 1st, 2016. A massive group of writers have begun coming out of the woodwork and overloading servers, all under one conquest, one goal–NaNoWriMo.  And today, also marks the day in which many of the website's pages, servers, internet providers and data plans alike will skyrocket in numbers.  Suffice to say, we're sitting at our computers, but this time with a purpose! I include myself in that sentence there!  Hello there! Many of you know of the fabled mythological time known as "NaNoWriMo" and some of you have even participated! Well, it's begun once again. Out bright and early, some of us started writing as soon as the clock hit midnight. Others, (like me) just got up a little bit earlier. Though I do applaud those who began straight away, I myself had a full night of Halloween-ing, and crashed almost as soon as I got back. (What was your favorite thing that you got last night?)  So today, I tried out a little experiment with my writing...

 Many people struggle with many different things when they are writing. Plot holes, languages, governing systems, or just plain ol' sitting down and not being able to write.  For me it mainly deals with the successful naming of characters. Now, I have had to name so many characters for so many different things that I would hope, over time, I would come to find it less daunting. Not so however. Though, inspiration does tend to strike at odd times.  I do know, that during my first Camp NaNoWriMo I managed to write the first two or three chapters from a first person perspective, without giving a name to the main character. Mostly out of curiosity to see how long it would take me, and also to try and give me some time to actually come up with a name to give him. I did finally give him a name, and it stuck rather well. However, if I had tried to give him one at the start, it might have been an awful fit of a name, and I would have struggled even longer to try and find the r...

 So, it's that time of year again! Pumpkin! ...oh, and NaNoWriMo prep. So if you're over on NaNoWriMo, and are a teenager, do check out the forum Christian Teens Together . We're a crazy bunch, that much is true. But we're pretty lively for a writer's group, and if you need someone to talk too I can guarantee you'll find someone there who can give you some help.  The NaNoWriMo website was wiped in time for the crazy masses of writers and prep work that are now swarming the internet. I am one of those crazy writers, simply because I am.  Back to the subject; the Gates of NaNoWriMo's very own Christian Teens Together forum.  For those Chriteno's of you reading– and I know you're out there –and my other readers as well, look forward for some crazy posts that might revolve around anything from random inspiration, crazy conversations and pep talks, to ernest bouts of writing rants that could go on for ages.  I look forward to sharing another NaNo...

 As I was challenged by my friend, Rubix from over at  {The Sea Calls Us Home} , to do the Book Room Challenge. Alright then, Ruby, we'll see just where it gets us!   Rules Write three of your own books as rooms. They can be finished, works in progress, or even just ideas, but they have to be your own. Write one of your favorite books to read as a room. Tag five other people. Well then, off we go!   Coffee Rings An old and weather beaten hardwood floor, the finish long worn off from the scrapes and gouges of many dancing shoes. A tall set of glistening french doors with long and flowing curtains, opening out on to a balcony, with a swirling iron rail. A long forgotten smell is haunting around the room, aside from one thing. With a peeling side table in one corner, and a simple mirror above, a white and perfectly new vase is on the table, with several pale roses standing tall. Tall, yet alone. The room has been abandoned, and the feeling with it, for...

This is a post about---If you had three words to describe yourself (a color, a sound, a word of your choice) what would they be? As asked by Mandy, from NaNoWriMo. Mine: Lavender, Birds, Searching. It's color of my hands as I sit here and watch. The feeling that I have when I'm bundled up all soft. The feeling of the wind as it runs through my hair, it's the crisp morning air as I whisper, and ne'er. How do I look when the water turns cold, yet it's the beauty that I see when the heather is foretold. The sense that I feel when the light is not yet dawned, it's the time of the day when it is not quite beyond. The color in this place of time, that I find to be, lavender. The sound when morning is just a frond, the paleness of the plants and growing tendrils. The glittering notes that you hear just outside. It's clear, yet soft, but it's enough. To make the world sound so near. The sound of birds. Restless, yet inviting. Searching, and enticing....

  Quote of the day:  So many people struggle every day with learning to love themselves, and although I know that this statement alone is also said alongside it everyday, it tends to be ignored.  To be like a clashing cymbal or a clanging gong, to be repeated over and over again until it becomes meaningless sound, only to be ignored.  Learning to love yourself is a feat and a battle all on its own. And trust me, I know. And I still fight daily.  Who were you before the sounds of world entered into your mind? I believe that that person, is who you really were, if you haven't found them again.  I was a child, that alone is quite evident! But more than that, I created stories. Every day, it was a new one with my stuffed animals. Flying, jumping, saving others from deep and dark caverns and ravines. Swimming across tearing rapids, and getting home just in time for tea.  The world of mine that was purely ravaged by stories unending. That is w...

 Today was full of more fun than I would have given it credit for this morning. Considering I was more than just a bit peeved when I realized I wasn't told about meeting up with friends to watch my towns parade, not to mention I didn't know the parade was today. However, once we got there things improved greatly! While this was the second year I've gone to go see the parade, and only a little under a year of knowing a whole lot of my friends here, today was still full of firsts. 1) I took pictures of the parade with my film camera. 1b) Someone moved right in front of my camera right as I took a picture of a team of horses that I wanted to get a picture of. 1c) My friend and I made a lot of sarcastic comments about some of the people in the parade, mainly the ones that were on their smart phones.. seriously! You're riding horses in a parade and you're on your phone!? Who does that? 1d) Very few people wave in our parade... and I don't know why. 2) I bought...

What do you think makes a villain a villain? A question proposed by a friend over on NaNoWriMo, Leila offered a question that made me realize, that I might have a very complicated, yet possibly not all that hard to grasp, idea on what a villain actually is, and is not.  A villain needs to be lots of things all wrapped up into one, and often times not everything all at once. A villain is usually someone who has at least one keystone to their personality that either rivals, or is the protagonists fear and/or vice. For instance, two of my own characters from a novel I did in 2014.   V will be villain, P will be protagonist. V1: I am suave, I offer compliments and disguise my observations as questions to gain more information. As well as being versed in the language of the country I am in, my main goal is to operate in the shadows and go as unnoticed as possible, unless I see my spotlight waning. P1: I can do away with superfluous comments or manners, I will ask d...

Or a day in life, both are correct when you think about it.  So a number of things are already happening today, and other things being planned on getting done today. But for now, as far as things have happened already today: Tai Chi, calculated my bedroom to see if I could survive living in a Japanese sized apartment (Which I could), got excited about re-hydrating myself (constant state of dehydration, you're going down.) to the point where I've given myself a painful case of the hiccups, and looked at some old family photos.  As far as what else is planned for today: Painting, eating lunch, some school I guess if I can actually grasp any of it, and getting rid of these hiccups!!  So apparently the average size of a Japanese apartment is around 1,300 sq. ft. My bedroom is (rounded up) 259 sq. ft. Yes, I have a very large room, but to be fair I've got it essentially set up as an ultra mini apartment, and could probably very happily live in something just as big. Just...

 So much happened today, so I'll try to to this in some semblance of an order.  First off, today's excursion was a bit overshadowed by a doctor's appointment in the early afternoon, but the things leading up to it made it a little bit better by each little event, and a few others made the waiting for results far more bearable.  Things started off by going to a grocery store that my family loves, at which about five minutes into shopping, two little girls started saying. "She has a Elsa braid!" I had to look for a couple seconds before I saw them, and their mother was smiling at me and asked if I had seen the movie (Which I had). And the two girls continued to say I looked like Elsa, and every time we went past them in the store, one or both of the girls would stare at me until we were out of sight. So today, I was mistaken for a Disney Princess, and that made me feel wonderful!  Then, at the checkout of the same store, I got some free advice relating to coll...

Because I am a writer and an artist, and because these were about the same price as all the boring stuff in the store--I bought some awesome writing and art supplies. So without any more delay, the spoils of war findings from today's adventure.   Mechanical pencils with woodland creatures! Foxes, hedgehogs (I think), owls, and racoons! Not to mention refillable, that's always a nice option. Washi tape and molded erasers! If you don't know what washi tape is, go look it up an oogle at all the designs available. They vary in sizes as well, this one is 1" wide, with a carnival design, I've already put a strip across my computer for a decoration. The molded pizza erasers actually come apart, the cheese layer and then the green and red toppings! Although some people collect them, I prefer to use them as they work very well with the types of paper I use. Might as well make what I use fun! Elephant note paper, and two googly eyed push pins...

 So once again I fail to post anything relevant to writing, or work on any of my drafted posts; especially the one on villains. That one I am very excited for even though it's long, and I hope it goes over well.  It's almost April, and Camp NaNoWriMo is on it's way! I'm in a cabin with 9 others from the Christian Teens Together forum on NaNoWriMo. It's looking to be a very interesting and hopefully lively year! (For writing at least, I'm not so sure about some of the characters when it comes to the lively bit... what can you say? We're writers!) I will say this much, this novel is looking to be very different compared to many of my other stories, main thing being: I wish to break social norms.  Romance is not dead. Love is not dead. Don't mistake lust for either of the aforementioned.  I will let this spoiler out of my novel; it will not contain a love triangle. Not only do I hate it when they are introduced to a novel without any rhyme or reason, bu...