Writing, Drawing and Running

What do writing, drawing and running all have in common?

Once you step away from one of them for a while, it's almost like you have to start all over again.

Due to my hectic schedule, my writing has been sporadic at best. And drawing? Well, I haven't so much as doodled in a long time. But since I am currently in the lovely throes of winter break, I've found myself bombarded with the urge to create--both words and pictures.

Too bad everything I've produced is less than stellar.

My sentences are flat, my dialogue is lackluster, and my drawings look like misshapen cartoon characters. A five year old could do better. While it is very frustrating, it made me realize that writing and drawing, while requiring a certain amount of talent, require even more practice. Without practice, talent cannot grow. In some ways, it is like learning how to run.

In January 2011, I couldn't run a mile. Now, due to hard work, dedication and, yes, practice, I am running 5Ks and training to run a 10K. I have grown as a runner because I kept at it. I might have always had a "talent" for running (okay, more of an "ability") but if I'd stopped midway through the year, I couldn't very well be running 5Ks right now, could I?

I think the same idea--dedication, hard work and practice--applies to creative arts as well. Without constantly working at it, you can't improve. At best, your talent stagnates. At worst, it reverts (as with my drawing skills).

Now, I'm not saying it's not okay to take a short break from writing, drawing or even running at times, but it's best to keep in mind that letting something go too long can only harm your goals, whatever they might be. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience here. ;)

Book Review: Entwined

Entwined by Heather Dixon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ENTWINED by Heather Dixon was like Beauty and the Beast meets Harry Potter meets Pride and Prejudice--romantic, magical and quirky.

As far as plots go, this was one of the most well-written I have read in YA literature in a long time. All the events entwined (pardon the pun) in the most beautiful, elegant and exceptional way. While I might have seen some of the "twists" coming, they came in such a way that didn't make me roll my eyes or feel like the author was treating me like someone with minimal intelligence. (Instead, I just felt very self-satisfied and smug.)

Another thing I found interesting and refreshing about this story was the way it was written: it has a Victorian feel to it. More so, I thought, than that of a fairy tale, though there were of course those elements. The writing was very polite and proper, which made the moments that weren't that much more sparkling. The descriptions were vivid and a few phrases even had me chuckling at their cleverness (the rug at the end had me laughing out loud).

The more I think about this book, the more I admire it--the humor, the imagery, the characters. It feels so FRESH in a YA world of regurgitated ideas and plot devices. I will definitely keep this author on my "to watch" list.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Wither

Wither by Lauren DeStefano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book opens with the quotation from T.S. Eliot "This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper." I felt that same quote could apply to the ending of this book. I won't reiterate a summary . . .that's easy enough to find either through goodreads.com or Amazon, so I'm going to discuss how I thought this book fell short of its potential.

All throughout Rhine's story, there are hints of dark and horrible things happening within the mansion where she is imprisoned--the unwilling bride of a rich, sheltered boy, and sister-wife to two other girls. There is Housemaster Vaughn, the House Governor Linden's father, who is obsessed with finding a cure for the virus that takes male children at 25 and female children at 20. It is hinted that he dissects and experiments on corpses of those who've succumbed to the illness, including his son's first wife, Rose. There are even hints that he is a sadistic, cruel and evil man who would stop at nothing to ensure that his son is happy, which includes making sure his wives stay compliant. When they don't, he kills them or their babies.

But that's never actually proven.

And, really, as far as villains go, Vaughn didn't scare me. Not even a little. The wives and servants were terrified of him, but I was never given a significant reason. Sure, Jenna dies prematurely. Maybe he did something to her because she was troublesome, but that's still not proven. When he discovers that Rhine has feelings for the servant Gabriel, he removes him to the basement . . .but doesn't actually do anything horrible to him. I went along with it, however, because I was so sure there was going to be a culmination of Vaughn's atrocities, where all his evil-doings were revealed and Rhine faced him in the ultimate showdown, which, upon victory, would grant her her freedom.

Pffbt. Vaughn's horrible crimes are never proven, and Rhine never faces him. Instead, she and Gabriel escape into the snowy Florida night with the help of a nameless attendant. No pursuit follows. No life-or-death scenarios. It's such a simple escape, that it makes me wonder why it was such a big deal to escape.

I get that this is a trilogy and that the possibility for a showdown with Vaughn still exists, but it annoys me when such a promising book doesn't deliver.

Granted, I liked the book. I'll even pick up the next in the trilogy just to find out what happens. But if the second book doesn't show more depth, I'll probably stop there.

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The Coolest Thing About Becoming a Secondary Education Teacher

The coolest thing about becoming a secondary education teacher: I get to read YA novels and call it "research."

I kid you not.

At a recent meeting for prospective MAT (that's Masters of Arts in Teaching) students, we were ENCOURAGED to read young adult literature because, and I quote "it's a gateway into the mind of an adolescent." I'm sure you YA writers are squeeing with excitement at this. To think, that TEACHERS are reading about love triangles and were-creatures and sparkly vampires to better understand their students.

Honestly, it makes me giddy that this was one of the suggestions to the new recruits, even if I thought, "Well, duh. All high school teachers should read YA so they know what their students are into." But then it made me realize that I never ONCE saw any of my teachers with a YA book. It's a shame, really. We might have had more to talk about. But then, back in my day (yeah, I'm ancient), I didn't really understand what YA literature was. It was just stuff I read for fun, while the teachers prattled on about how awesome Of Mice and Men and The Last of the Mohicans were.

And, call me crazy, but I seriously hope that I will be able to introduce some YA novels into the required reading and, you know, actually DISCUSS them on an intellectual level. Ah, daydreams.

Now, back to my current YA novel.

Last Day

Tuesday was my last day at the junior high where I've been volunteering.

A part of me is a little sad about this. After all, it was an interesting, informative and even enjoyable experience. It certainly taught me a lot about what to expect from teenagers in a classroom-type setting.

Another part of me is just SO glad it is over with.

Because I learned that I'm not a fan of junior high kids. They're drama-drama-drama. I hated junior high when I was IN junior high, and going back, even in a position of authority, is no different. There is still the backstabbing, the cliques, the mean girls (yes, they exist in high school, too, but not to the same extent), and the hurricane of hormones. OMG, the hormones. Girls and boys are starting to "like" each other, but it's that immature "I like her so I'm going to pull her hair" kind of like. Ugg. It can be amusing to watch, but also irritating because it constantly interferes with the lessons. Also, my chihuahua has a longer attention span than most of these kids. Jeez.

But it's over now. Now, it's all about writing a paper and turning in hours logged and then one more tutoring session with Upward Bound students (high schoolers, thank God) and I'm done for the semester. Yay!

But I think I will miss it. Even the eighth graders.

Cavemen Were Not Depressed

I don't think Cavemen had to deal with all the mental illnesses that we deal with today.

Why?

They were too busy trying to find food and, you know, being chased by saber-toothed tigers. Doesn't give much time to wallow or explore feelings. All of their energy was put into SURVIVING. And, if by some chance, one of the cavemen stopped to cry or whatever, he would have been picked off and eaten.

Just sayin'.

Do I look depressed to you?

This post was inspired by this article.

I Wanna Be More Like Her

Can I tell you a secret?

This is who I want to be . . .right now. Not when I "grow up" (seriously, 25 is too old for that), but right now.

In case you don't know (what are you, a cave man?) this is P!NK. In case you don't own a radio, she's a singer. An AWESOME singer. I first discovered her music when I was 15 with the CD Missundaztood. The song "Don't Let Me Get Me" did not describe me, but it resonated. And almost every song since has had that same resonation. Her lyrics speak to me in a primal way, awakening that dormat badass girl sleeping within.

That's why I love P!NK. She makes me feel like a sexy, powerful woman. With attitude, with sass. The kind of woman that doesn't take anyone else's bullshit.

The kind of woman I really, really want to be.

I think if I were more like P!NK, I wouldn't care as much about what people thought of me, and I sure as hell wouldn't be so sensitive. I wouldn't let people disrespect me, bully me, or talk to me like I was something on the bottom of their shoe.

I certainly wouldn't let them get away with hurting me.

So, this New Year's one of my resolutions is going to be "Be more like P!NK." But I'm going to go ahead and start right now.