Tag Archives: story

Screenwriting Tip: Fear and How to Beat It

chit-chatting with Cat, screenwriting, Tips October 28, 2022 Leave a comment

Cue Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero song

Yesterday, I was suddenly motivated and determined to keep on writing my short film for the first time in two weeks. When I sat down with an iced coffee in front of my Macbook Air, then page to my Arc Studio Pro's project at the ready, I felt dread blooming and I thought for no apparent reason:

"I see, so that's why I haven't been writing. I still shouldn't write it because I'm afraid–"

And, I shit you not, I immediatly reacted to this thought with:

"Oh noooo, not YOU again!"

The fear!

And then I burst out laughing as I remembered the scene in Swift's music video when she opens the door and sees… herself!

I pictured the same scene with me and my fear, where she waves and smiles at me and says the brilliant lyrics:

"It's me, hi. I'm the problem, it's me."

Because, yeah, she's damn right! My fear is the problem.

My fear of succeeding, of not being good enough (or at all!), of failing, of others' mean critics, of being laughed at, of… You see?

This, this fear, is my problem in writing.

What is yours?

It can be the same as me, or it can be writer's block, lack of self-esteem, deeply-rooted negative opinions of yourself or constant exhaustion…

But if it's the fear, please keep on reading.

I then realized that whatever I'd do, no matter how hard I slammed the door to Fear's face, shouted at her, pulled at my hair, cried myself to a puddle, or–gasps!–listened to her… The Fear would always be there. She'd stay around. Like a nosy someone.

She'd hover over my shoulder, making me feel afraid and doubt myself.

But you know what?

She would win… only if I let her.

I'm the one in control.

I'm the writer.

She's only real if I let her.

Just like a story, and a bad one at that…

And so, what did I do after picturing this scene and laughing?

I took a sip of my iced coffee and kept on writing. And I made progress.

I keep on writing and making progress even now.

Okay, sure, Fear is annoying.

But now I don't let her write my story.

Instead, I suggest you do this when she shows up at your doorstep:

Open the door, and smile
Invite her in calmly
Tell her: you can sit or hover, but I've got writing to do.
Sit down and write.
When she makes you afraid, tell her you know she's there, but she's fictional, too…
Then say, proudly:

"And I'm the writer after all."

I hope this bit of life helps you!

It sure did spur me into action and yes, I do the suggestion I gave you now, and yes, I keep on writing. 🙂

She's not invincible, the fear. She just wants you to think she is.

See you next post, darlings!

Girl in Ice : A Book Review

Book Reviews May 16, 2022 Leave a comment

By Erica Ferencik

Scout Press Books

Simon & Schuster Canada

Goodreads (Add it to your TBR!)

LibraryThing

StoryGraph

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Number of pages: 320

ASIN: 9781982143039

Format: paperback, hardover, ebook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), audiobook

Publication date: March 1st, 2022

Publisher: Scout Press Books

Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Warnings: violence, suicide, addictions, murder

*I received a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Scout Press Books!*

Introduction

I’ll be honest, when came the time to choose for physical galleys with Simon & Schuster Canada, I picked Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik thanks to its intriguing but striking cover and the blurb which mentioned two things I love (the Arctic and languages). But did I truly believe I would like it, even more love it? No.

What a mistake!

Thankfully, it proved me wrong. I still feel shame about this doubt, but damn, it’s one of the best suspense/mystery books I ever read, if not my favorite.

I guess you could say me and the book had a bad start, but fell in love hard?

Best Yep GIFs | Gfycat

Wish to go explore the reasons Girl in Ice is so surprising and unique?

I bet you do!

Come on, grab my hand, and let’s thaw the coldness of doubts and warm it into love!

Blurb

Valerie “Val” Chesterfield is a linguist trained in the most esoteric of disciplines: dead Nordic languages. Despite her successful career, she leads a sheltered life and languishes in the shadow of her twin brother Andy, an accomplished climate scientist stationed on a remote island off Greenland’s barren coast. But Andy is gone: a victim of suicide, having willfully ventured unprotected into 50 degree below zero weather. Val is inconsolable—and disbelieving. She suspects foul play.

When Wyatt, Andy’s fellow researcher in the Arctic, discovers a scientific impossibility—a young girl frozen in the ice who thaws out alive, speaking a language no one understands—Val is his first call. Will she travel to the frozen North and meet this girl, try to comprehend what she is so passionately trying to communicate? Under the auspices of helping Wyatt interpret the girl’s speech, Val musters every ounce of her courage and journeys to the Artic to solve the mystery of her brother’s death.

The moment she steps off the plane, her fear threatens to overwhelm her. The landscape is fierce, and Wyatt, brilliant but difficult, is an enigma. But the girl is special, and Val’s connection with her is profound. Only something is terribly wrong; the child is sick, maybe dying, and the key to saving her lies in discovering the truth about Wyatt’s research. Can his data be trusted? And does it have anything to do with how and why Val’s brother died? With time running out, Val embarks on an incredible frozen odyssey—led by the unlikeliest of guides—to rescue the new family she has found in the most unexpected of places.

The Positive Sides

Honestly, I’m sorry but I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. So that’s a victory for it, the author, and even me who discovered such a great read!

It is so, so rare and unique for the setting to be in the Arctic, and the main character to be a linguist! And to BOTH be in the same story and so intricately intertwined. LOVE IT! As a polyglot, translator, and language teacher, I relate so much to her, I connect deeply with her thoughts and views of language and culture, and it warms my heart to see us being portrayed this faithfully (and for once!) in an amazing story. The linguist, Valerie, is a hero, too! As the author and her character Val demonstrate it cleverly in Girl in Ice :).

Furthermore, the writing and descriptions of Inuktitut words and meanings as well as their culture and perspectives are like poetry to my soul! This books is also a lot about climate change from the ice, glaciers, freezing winds, and science. A great environmental read for sure! But its strongest tie is love, truth, and language.

I love how the surroundings of the characters, their settings, aren’t static. Animals and nature are constantly in movement, the characters actually exist IN a place, not just in a spot with the environment fading in and out for the plot. It’s fun and involving.

As for the characters, Val is lovely, crippled with anxiety (believably too!), low self-esteem, the death of her brother…, yet she is brillant, stronger than she knows, kinder too, and much more compassionate than she deems herself to be. To me, she’s a heroine! A true one. I also love how she isn’t good around children, but ends up risking everything left in her life to save a little girl she came to love. 🙂 Amazing.

The villains are… irky. And I say this with much reverence and admiration. They are dangerous, changeable, both with motives that run deeper than they let on, they keep us shifting from foot to foot, wondering… and they irked me. I love it when it happens. Most “villains” in contemporary stories are… two-dimensional, if not only one-dimensional; but these are much life-like. Scarily so, too. I love to hate them, and despise when I can relate to them here and there. Wonderful job!

In terms of intrigues, the mysteries are so well-woven you catch glimpses of the answers, but never the whole image of the puzzle. And it is so rewarding at the end to see the full image solved. A real thrill to unfurl all of this alongside Val.

Lastly, the ending is beautiful, hopeful in its own way, poignant, raw; not cold at all! But quite warm, indeed. The very last sentence is so true to a linguist. Charming and evocative.

I kept reading through the climax and ending even though I had work to do. I just HAD TO KNOW how it ended. How all those mysteries, rendered believable in this intricate tale, unfolded and resolved. So, yeah, I guess that’s quite a proof it’s a book worth reading, don’t you think? It’s just that unique and great!

The Negative Sides

Sometimes the pace seems frozen (ha!), but this is more of a statement that it will happen than a real negative side. Why? Well, when this happens, the mysteries thicken subtly and the characters and their relationships unfurl even more. In the end, these slow passages are essential to this story. So, just keep wading through it like you would through snow, and you’ll soon find yourself enjoying the wild ride again.

In Conclusion

* stands up and applauds *

Such a unique, bold, and touching story! Finally, a story set in Arctic with language at its core for the plot. A lovable main character, a perfect representation of a linguist (which puts us in a hero’s shoes!!!), an amusing cast of characters, and real suspense. A thrill! Thus, I give Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik a rating of 5 out of 5.

Verohnsaht! Joy!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Facebook author page, her Twitter account, her Instagram, and Goodreads. You can also add Girl in Ice to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

A New Chapter for You to Read & And I’m Almost Finished Writing My Novel

chit-chatting with Cat, Miranda Kane (ROAH:R), My Projects May 21, 2021 Leave a comment

Hi, folks!

I've got two news for you relating to my novel Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence, a.k.a Miranda Kane (my main character).

So, I'm using Inkitt, a publishing platform similar to Wattpad, to post my novel online and land a publication contract with said platform.

Unfortunately, I've been neglecting it those last few months… BUT FEAR NOT! I am back in the ring with the 7th chapter now posted and ready for you to read!

YAY! Are you excited? I AM EXCITED! 😀

melissa benoist gifs Page 4 | WiffleGif

You can read my first 7 chapters and 2 prologues FOR FREE over at Inkitt: Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence

Please, sign up and leave a comment and/or rating. It really helps making my story known and gives me the opportunity to be offered a contract!

In addition to these news, I want to announce that:

I'M NEARLY DONE WRITING MY NOVEL! YES, FOLKS!

I've written 40 chapters out of 52 already! I'M SOON GETTING THERE!

Honestly, I'm looking at my novel like this:

Supergirl Melissa Benoist GIF - Supergirl MelissaBenoist KaraDanvers - Discover & Share GIFs

Genuine love, passion, tenderness, and awe. A bit of uncertainty, too. That's what I feel for it.

I'M SO READY!

I hope you'll give reading a try over at Inkitt, and that you'll enjoy my novel as much as I do.

Also, I made a vow to myself and you that I'd now upload a new chapter on Inkitt every two weeks. So, be prepared (*cue Scar's theme song from The Lion King here*)

Also, if you're wondering why I'm using Melissa Benoist in all my GIFs, it's because of this choice of face claims and here's a bonus graphic.

See you next post, lovelies!

Halfway Through, A Writing Tip, and A New Focus

chit-chatting with Cat, My Projects, Tips September 28, 2020 Leave a comment

WOW, guys and gals!

Guess what I reached last week? That's right, 50% of my novel Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence! I'M AT 50%!!! HALFWAY THROUGH! I might not be done with it, but I count this as a big win. It's the farthest I ever got in a novel of mine, so this is huge. But also quite motivating and humbling, since it's proof of how I can succeed at this. I'm longing for the first draft. Speaking of draft, here's a picture of my thick baby printed out (of course, it's half of it since that's what I got but still it's pretty good, right?):

Thick Book (Copyrighted by Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2020)

Honestly, this book baby of mine is ENORMOUS. It has 294 pages, imagine that! Need I remind you that's only… half of it?!

Here's the awesome cover my best friend made for me on Inkitt:

You can read the first 8 chapters here, too.

I always use Staples to print my books (or my progress at least) and I love their services. It's always ready in a day no matter how long or thick my document might be.

I prefer to print it out to edit it so I can see it better. But the truth is I hate to concentrate and narrow my eyes at the screen when revising; I prefer to hold the pages in my hands, and feel the book-in-the-making, you know? So it makes it more authentic, more real to me. But funny story is that due to its thickness, the rings for the binding I wanted weren't available; they were too small! So I had to pick my least favorite option, which is the ugly and large black plastic binding. Talk about chic… Anyways, at least I could choose a red cover. I don't know why but red always makes me think of Miranda Kane, probably because she's a boxing athlete and most boxing gloves are red. Or because she's fierce so red fits her. Either way, I'm glad I could get the red cover and the protective transparent cover.

Now, why would it need editing since it's halfway through? Well, I've noticed a few anomalies in how boxing works, mostly for students. I had a kind and generous interview with the head/director of the Fédération québécoise de boxe olympique, which is the reference in Québec. I thank him immensely for that. He informed me about how things worked and even used Miranda and her story as an example to describe her path. He was amazing and so understanding! Thanks to him, I now have essential information about the female boxing world and in general. So, due to these discrepancies, I decided to go over the half book I wrote and revised, fixing a few chapters and inconsistencies with the reality. Then, and only then, will I be able to go forth and write more realistically. Because something big is coming for Miranda Kane, and I have to be ready too, you know?

I have a strange way of writing books (which I'll make a post about), but in general, I write the story, then at a point when it feels critical and I'm moving through quicksand, I stop writing for weeks and do research instead about what's not coming qwell too me in the writing, so I do interviews and read documentaries (even watch a few!) and so on. But while I like to be familiar with the topic when I start writing, it's never to a deep point, it's on the surface. And when I can't go forward anymore, that's when I take a step back and do research. I found it helps me see more potential for a story and even gives me more excitement as I find so many new avenues for the story to go. Okay, it might cause more rewriting, of course, but overall, it doesn't bog me down in the beginning and prevent me from going ahead with the writing for fear of not knowing never never never enough. So many people stay in the research stage out of fear of committing to writing. Research is fun, don't get me wrong, I love research. But I prefer writing my stories. So I hit a compromise: write a certain percentage of the story and when I can't go on anymore because too many details elude me, then do research, and dig deep! Then with a better view of it all, come back and win!! Write it all in a fury with a deep passion like fire is after me. Because I'm so happy I get a better grip on the details and on the story world.

So, while unusual and risky, that's exactly how I do it. And so far it's going well, I went farther than any other novel I started. So I'll keep it, thank you very much.

By the way, I decided to focus my blog, Ad Librum Aeternam, more on my writing journey and writing tips because I feel I've got tips to give now being halfway through my novel, which is more than some achieve. I have two series of posts coming up as well: one is on writing comics and the second is on screenwriting. I think there's not enough free resources about these two fields and since I love them and am writing in them in my spare time, I figured we could go on these two journeys together. Of course, writing novels, short stories and flash fiction stay the main focus of my blog. Expect more writing tips along the way!

I can't wait to share with you what I learned so far!

A Flash Fiction in Spanish: Espejismo

flash fiction, languages April 22, 2020 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

As I'm perfecting my Spanish, I took a course in writing what is called "microrrelatos", a.k.a flash fiction. I enjoyed it greatly and figured out you might like reading my first story in Spanish—the first ever!

So, here goes (I'm sorry for those who can't read it, but I really wanted to share it in the hopes of a few enjoying it), y para todos mis amigos y todas mis amigas:

Espejismo

De no haber sido por ella, no hubiera viajado hasta allí. Melisina miró a su hermana y se impacientó

desde lo alto del montículo.

—¿Qué quería mostrarme, Ada? Mamá se preocupará.

—¡Mira! —dijo Ada, señalando a un animal.

Melisina volvió su mirada y vio al majestuoso león. Estaba tumbado sobre sus patas, como una esfinge. Su melena parecía suave, voluminosa y resplandeciente. El león estaba mirándolas con seriedad, como una estatua de mármol. Podría ver la arena alrededor de ellos y las pirámides. El calor fuerte sobre su piel. Melisina estiró el brazo y avanzó un paso hacia la bella bestia.

—¡Melisina! ¡Ada! Les dije que no vayáis al vecino.

Las niñas se sobresaltaron al oír la voz de su madre. Su madre estaba esperándoles en el balcón con las manos sobre sus caderas. Melisina echó un último vistazo a la criatura de su imaginación, después volvió a casa. Y la estatua de la esfinge siguió esperando al sueño de otra niña.

Digame lo que habéis pensado en ese microrrelato, por favor. 🙂 Espero que lo hubierais disfrutado.

¡Hasta la próxima, mis amigos!

Save the Cat!: The Writing Method That Saved My Novels

Tips February 18, 2020 Leave a comment

Saggy middles, plot points, pinch points… Sounds gibberish and scary? Yeah, I’ve been there. Every time I started writing a novel, I had to stop because it was going nowhere. I worked and worked, but nothing substantial came out of it. Until I stumbled upon Jami Gold’s Save the Cat! beat sheet, which led me to the book itself by Jessica Brody.

Its title, Save the Cat!, really achieved what it claims: It saved the Cat (my name’s Catherine).

The Beat Sheet (Jami Gold)

This beat sheet is marvellous! Not only does it have the titles of each important plot point, with the number of pages on which it should happen no less, it also offers short descriptions of those points! As a newcomer to this method (a year ago), I didn’t understand this jargon right away. But the descriptions, damn, did they help me! I figured out what they meant overall and started applying my story to the plot points and… magic! I had a workable, substantial storyline; not perfect, mind you, as I still had to learn the whole method, but my story could hold on its own now!

It drastically changed my plotting method. Plotting is my most hated part of writing (I love all others! Yes, even marketing), but now I see it as crucial and even pleasant to see the story form before my eyes and stand on its own. Whenever I have a new book idea, I print the beat sheet and fill it in first thing. It might take a few days, since this is plotting, but it works for me. The Save the Cat! method is a godsend to me!

You can find the beat sheet here.

The Actual Book

Now, I mentioned a book, didn’t I? Well, Jessica Brody wrote a book about novel writing using the Save the Cat! method. And guess what? I’m damn glad she did!

Here it is:

Indigo

Amazon

It is insightful, helpful and precise. There’s little fooling around, and you’ve got actionable steps, theory and a lot of examples (yes, beat sheets examples, too!) I purchased it a while ago and I cherish it. I can finally immerse myself in this technique instead of simply “guessing” like I used to do with only the beat sheet.

Really, give this book a try if you’re like me, stuck on plotting, saggy middles or don’t really know what to do with those plot and pinch points… It’ll save your novels, too. I can vouch for this!

Jessica Brody’s course

What if I told you there’s a course built around this very book? Well, there is! The author is the one offering this course (we lucky champs!) You can access it by paying a monthly membership fee ($12), and it’s full of resources, beat sheets, examples, and clear and precise explanations by the Jessica Brody herself.

If you’re interested (like I was—I am paying that membership for this course precisely), head over here.

In Conclusion

Wow, that’s a lot! Don’t you feel better and energized by finding more about the Save the Cat! method? I believe it will help you like it helps me—tremendously, every day. Now I feel confident (or at least, less afraid) about my plotting skills, and I discuss the plot of my novels with others in a straightforward way. No more stuttering and losing myself in “maybe” or “I think they’ll do this, but I’m not sure”, etc. The doubts and hesitations about plot are easier to overcome.

I encourage you to try out this proven, successful method. It’s highly rewarding.

Remember: trust your centre and have fun!

**Please note that this article contains affiliate links. I earn a percentage if you purchase said item through my links, but it doesn't cost you a cent more! It's all free for you. Thank you very much!

How to Read More Pleasantly

chit-chatting with Cat, Tips January 14, 2020 Leave a comment

Introduction

Hello, folks!

Reading in itself is already fun, but what if we could make it an even more pleasant time for ourselves? There are ways I found which can accomplish that. How about I share them with you so we can all enjoy reading even more?

Here’s what I love to do.

I hope you pick a few to try them out and find more pleasure in reading.

If you're interested in learning strategies to read more, you can find them in my article How to Read More This Year

Reading Socks

I discovered these on Indigo about a year ago. They are pricey, but so gorgeous and they look super comfortable! Since I didn’t want to pay that price, I told myself I would go on a quest to find a cheaper, but as cute and comfy pair of reading socks.

Then, I stumbled upon a cute kitty pair at Ardène and fell in love right away. They were 12$, cushioned and adorable. What’s not to love? Obviously, I took them home and tried them on with a book in hand.

(Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2020)

Let me tell you that it’s what I call bliss: a good book in hand (hopefully) and cozy reading socks! My feet were warm, and I felt all fuzzy, comfortable. I was genuinely happy and content all around.

Since then I forget that I’ve crossed the time limit I gave myself and just… read for hours. Due to my job as a translator and editor and serious health issues, I’ve got little time to read. But I swear the reading socks make me read longer! That’s how great they are.

Get a pair for your own sake!

Candles

This one is particular. I haven’t tried it yet, but I yearn for a good scented candle while I read. There are even thematic ones based on your tastes (like the scent of an old book), stories (Charles Dickens’s or Harry Potter’s), characters (Katniss Everdeen or Clary Fairchild), and so on. Seriously, I want one of those!

I’m a big fan of dinner at candlelight. Whenever we lose power, I’m so happy because I spend time under the candlelight; it imbues the air with mystery and a cozy sensation, which I crave. Hygge, here I am!

If you can, try this tip. You’ll smell a good scent and it’ll put you in good spirits to read. And bonus points if you turn off the lights and read at candlelight, all the cozier for you!

Bed/Cushions

I’ve got the habit of reading when I go to bed, either with a physical book in hand or on my Kobo. It’s the only time I found to read, so I take it!

I’ve noticed how fun and comfortable it is to read with an eReader in bed: you’re all wrapped up in your bed sheets, warm and tranquil. It brings peace of mind, or at least you’re just feeling calm and happy to read. If you read in the morning or during the day, try it a few times in bed, too. You might just enjoy it! If not, no worries, just go back to mornings and days, haha.

As for the cushions, this is a long story which I’ll make short. Whenever I read with a physical book in my bed (do you notice a reading pattern? Haha!), my back and arms hurt so damn much! So I keep changing positions until I’m so annoyed and tired I stop. It’s sad because more often than not, I stop reading not because I’m done reading, but because I’m aching all over. I found a cushion with arms I thought I could put against my bed wall and read with no aching.

(Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2020)

Fortunately for me, I received it as a Christmas gift! (Thanks, mom!) I kept complaining about how I couldn’t read as much as I wanted in bed… So, I tried this cushion with arms and joy to the world, it works! My lower back still aches a bit, BUT it’s overall very comfortable and I don’t have to switch positions anymore!

Want to hear the best part? I can read for how long as I want with this cushion, no need to stop because I’m sick and tired of the pain!

If you’re having similar issues or just want more comfort, please try such a cushion. It will either save your reading time or upgrade it.

A Clean Space

This might sound obvious, but a clean reading space will bring you more joy. If you’re stuck tight between boxes, objects and so on, you will grow annoyed and angry and will stop reading-or at least it will be miserable.

I suggest cleaning three feet around you so you feel like your personal bubble isn’t invaded and have all the space you need to settle comfortably.

I know cleaning’s not so fun, but this is a genuine trick. A messy place can ruin your pleasant time by turning it into a lame experience as you keep thinking about the mess and how squeezed you feel.

Plushy Friends and Accessories

Now, this tip is not for everyone, but I know a lot of us love cute character plushies and Pop! figurines and other merchandise of our favourite stories and characters. I’ve got a few plushies (Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Hermione, etc.) and Funko Pop! toys like Jasmine, Mr. Burns, and Aladdin. I’ve also got a big Elsa cushion.

Okay, but what does it bring us to? Well, remember the clean space I mentioned above? Clean it, then choose which accessory and plushie you want near you while reading. It’ll make your space even more personal and you’ll appreciate it even more as you read, surrounded by what you love.

It might be silly sounding, but it genuinely works and you’ll feel good, safe even.

And who doesn’t want a safe reading haven?

In Conclusion

Whether you choose a candle, cushions, reading socks, or accessories in a clean space (or all of these!), I’m sure you’ll find your reading time optimized and more pleasant.

It’s all about treating yourself well and finding things you love which make you feel at ease. That way, reading will be a breeze and you’ll wonder where time went.

I wish you a good reading!

Please leave me a comment about what other tips you find useful for better reading times. I’d love to discuss those with you.

See you next post, lovelies!

How An Authortube Video Helped Me Win Against (Severe) Writer’s Block

Tips September 19, 2019 Leave a comment

I watch YouTube a lot (guilty as charged, dang) and love to learn through tutorials and how-to videos. I didn't venture into book reviews BUT Authortube caught my eye as an aspiring author myself… And I must mention Miss Kate Cavanaugh is my new obsession (Whoa! I mean in a "I'm watching all of her videos non-stop" and not like a creep, okay? Okay!)

Most importantly, she just saved my Heaven's Army: Down to Earth series with one of her methods.

How did she contribute to saving my cherished story?

And also, why do I appreciate Kate's videos so much?

I'll first list all her qualities and what makes her videos the best, in my opinion. Then, I'll introduce you to the specific video which helped me and what I realized and what I proceeded to do. Lastly, I'll explain how it works and what's new on the horizon for me and my story as well as this seemingly innocent technique. All interspersed with images and wishing Miss Cavanaugh the best (and please, do make other awesome videos so I can binge-watch them, oki-please??)

Ready?

What About That Kate Cavanaugh?

I'll be blunt here: her videos are the best and the most inspiring I've found because

* She's hilarious both in what she says and how she edits her videos

* She's so lively it's sweet and entertaining and cannot not move you into action (talk about motivational!)

* She finds different angles to tackle the eternal struggles for writers and explores various methods

* She has an amazing series where she writes like a famous author (using their own routine!) and it's both extremely funny and useful to see what works and how you can tailor it for you!

* She's honest and kind and enthusiastic

* Kate deals with writers's problems, her own progression, tips and tricks, "I tried writing like…", honest talks about writing and money (and so on), and amusing topics like "Sh*t writers thinks // Coffee Shop Edition".

If after such compliments you still don't want to take a look at her videos, you… Who the heck are you, then?! (Just joking. Nah.)

The Life-Changing Video

There is one video that affected me more than the others in terms of resounding with me and the potential technique. If there is one thing you need to know about me before I go into explanations, it's that even though I read eBooks and own three ereaders, paper is always the best (and it smells SOOOO enchanting).

So, what video am I talking about, the one that changed the course of my problems with Down to Earth and helped me beat writer's block with this story?

Well, here it is:

And the Lightbulb Was Turned On!

As for the issue with my story, I was stuck. The plotting never seemed good enough, and I’d had terrible feedback and gratuitously mean comments. So, nothing I ever did worked (plotting and character-wise), and I was pretty hurt. So, sadness took over.

I spent months working this issue over…. Okay, I’m lying. Years. But then, a week ago I watched Kate’s video and it hit me!

I have to print the goddamn story like a book (or at least, as professional-looking as I could right now)! And I did. Like she says, it doesn’t cost much (it was $32 for me at Staples) and it looks GORGEOUS what with those white spirals, protector sheet and hmmmmm all those sheets with written words on them. My words.

While it’s beautiful, do you want to know what’s best about it?

It works!

The Innocent-Looking But Powerful Technique

It might not seem much and you’ll probably go “Well,

You just had to print it to advance.’’

But nah uh! Printing it out is only half of the issue solved. What makes it work is having it look professional and not just sheets you took out from your home printer and stapled together. The answer lies in its appearance and practicality.

Okay, sure, it’s easier to do with your home printer. But it’s less striking, and most importantly, less inspiring. And that’s the trick. You need to hold your story (completely drafted or not) and feel closer to your goal. You need to look at it and go: “Wow, I did that?!’’ With the protector, colour cover and spirals, you’ll feel it’s going somewhere and, I hope, have your confidence renewed! Desire and drive to get somewhere with that story will come at your beck and call after that!

“But what did it give you honestly?’’

Well, since you asked, I’ll answer it in the next section!

I See the Horizon!(And Glimpse at What It Holds)

I envision my completed novel, at last. The feel of just-printed pages and the smell of just-fresh ink. And at last, written in big, bold letters at the very last page: "The End".

This might be in a little while, but now it's much clearer and tangible for me. I see and feel it. I *know* I will reach that vision.

And in the end, isn't it what counts?

Thank you so very much to you for reading and to Kate Cavanaugh for inspiring me with every upload. Please go and check out her channel.

What tip have you tried and loved?

Is there any you learned through Authortube?

See you next post, lovelies!

Oh, Outline, Outline… (OLD POST)

chit-chatting with Cat, My Projects July 24, 2019 Leave a comment

As you probably have guessed from the title, I’m currently outlining my new novel in the NaNoWriMo Prep, titled The Stranger: The Rise of a Heroine. I have the beginning and the middle, but the ending has yet to be found… I’ll update you when it’s complete! For now, I’ll need a

P.S.: Dylan O’Brien is my faceclaim for my deranged Thomas Lance, one of my two main characters. I think he has his potential and energy, along with his sense of humor, which clearly show in his roles. Thank you, Dylan, for being my Thomas’ appearance and source of inspiration along with my imagination.

A Discovery of Writing Wealth

chit-chatting with Cat, Tips June 30, 2019 Leave a comment

Hello, fellow adventurers! Yesterday, I was looking for more information about the writing craft. Perhaps I was hoping to find a book that wasn't so expensive or a few online articles from trusted sources… but I hadn't expected to stumble upon podcasts.

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Now, I knew what a podcast was and I doubted listening to celebrities talk about their life and such would help me improve. What I did not know was that I had listened to the wrong podcasts a few years ago!

Let me explain: I thought podcasts were only by celebrities (from the music industry, the movie industry, etc.) and book reviewers. Why would I want to listen to that? I mean, it's good if you like this stuff as podcasts, but I don't. I was looking for something to help me improve my writing craft.

The first writing podcast I found is I Should Be Writing (ISBW) by Mur Lafferty. Since I don't have the money right now to buy her book I Should Be Writing: A Writer's Workshop, I figured I could glean some information via her podcast. And it did not disappoint! So, of course, I opened iTunes and subscribed.

Then, I looked up other writing podcasts. Just so you know, it felt like bliss because I had just found that podcasts could actually teach you important stuff instead of just wasting your precious time!

Here are the two other writing podcasts I found that are worth subscribing to:

Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland (an indie author I personally admire).
The Self Publishing Podcast by Sterling & Stone.

They have a wealth of information and tips on the writing craft and also how to be an indie author in our years. I encourage you to at least try them.

Go on, listen to one episode and see for yourself!

Did you know about writing podcasts? If so, which ones do you like to listen to?

If not, what other free writing resources do you use?

See you next post, lovelies!