Take Me Away [[A Music Tag]]

This looked like fun!

Rules:

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag 20 friends. I only have 20 followers so I tag you all!
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. No classical or Christmas music, or music in other languages.
7. Have Fun!

If someone says, "Are you okay?" You say: Undone [[Lifehouse]]

What would best describe your personality? Part of Your World [[Jodi Benson from The Little Mermaid]]

How would you describe yourself? Stand Amazed [[33 Miles]] *Oh yes. Bask in my awesomeness.*

What do you like in a guy/girl? Love Like Crazy [[Chris Rice]] *Ha!*

How do you feel today? Just Around the Riverbend [[Judy Kuhn from Pocahontas]]

 

What is your life's purpose? Superstar [[Stellar Kart]] *A personal goal of mine.*

What is your motto? Come Back Down [[Lifehouse]]

What do your friends think of you? Open Arms [[Journey]]

What do your parents think of you? When I Get Where I'm Going [[33 Miles]]

What do you think about very often? The Arrows [[Me In Motion]]

What is 2 + 2? Headphones [[Britt Nicole]] *Well, there are two of them . . .*

What do you think of your best friend? From Where You Are [[Lifehouse]]

What do you think of the person you like? Forever and Always [[Parachute]] *Accurate in ways.*

What is your life story? Tick Tock [[Chris Rice]]

What do you want to be when you grow up? Wrecking Ball [[Lifehouse]] *I want to be an inanimate object.*

What do you do when you see the person you like? Upside Down [[Jack Johnson from Curious George]]

What will you do at your wedding? Who's Crying Now? [[Journey]] *Well that would suck.*

What will they play at your funeral? Somebody Else [[Hawk Nelson]]

What is your hobby/interest? A Love Song [[Stellar Kart]] *I write them.*

What is your biggest fear? Hold On [[33 Miles]]

What is your biggest secret? Along the Way [[Aaron Tveit]] *Yes I am guilty of killing the gerbil.*

What do you want right now? Apathy for Apologies [[Everyday Sunday]]

What do you think of your friends? Princes and Frogs [[Superchick]] *Debatable.*

What is the worst thing that could happen? Life is a Highway [[Rascal Flatts]]

What is the one thing you regret? Come With Me [[33 Miles]]

What makes you laugh? There is a God [[33 Miles]] *Yes, He has a sense of humor.*

What makes you cry? Come Back Home [[Stellar Kart]]

Will you ever get married? I Can't Deny [[33 Miles]] *What is with all the 33 Miles?*

What scares you the most? Send Her Love [[Journey]]

Does anyone like you? Arms Around Me [[Hawk Nelson]]

If you could go back in time, what would you change? Amusing [[Chris Rice]]

What hurts right now? I Just Can't Wait To Be King [[Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, and Laura Williams from The Lion King]]

What would you say to the person who tagged you? I'll Be [[Boyce Avenue cover of Edwin McCain]]

What will you name this note? Take Me Away [[Chase Coy]] *Love it!*

Beautiful People: Discovering Emma (And Travis) Part Six!

1) What is his/her biggest accomplishment? Emma: Landing a job without a college education. Travis: Balancing his life of dancing, teaching dance, raising Heidi, and finding free time.
2) What is his/her strongest childhood memories? Emma: The way her dad treated her mom when he was still with them; when her Uncle Ben died; watching other girls go to ballet class. Travis: Practically growing up in The Waters School of Dance; going to shows in the city.
3) What is his/her favorite food? Emma: Mac and cheese. Travis: Chinese food.
4) Does he/she believe in love at first sight? Emma: No. She thinks it's impossible to fall in love if you don't know the person. Travis: Not love at first sight, but love at first interaction or conversation.
5) What kind of home does he/she live in? Emma: A small cottage on the edge of Travis's property that she rents from him. Travis: A nice house with lots of land in upstate New York.
6) What does he/she like to wear? Emma: Comfortable clothes that she can dance in; jeggings, sundresses, sweaters, shorts, tank tops. Travis: Cargo shorts, jeans, polos, graphic t-shirts.
7) What would he/she do if he/she discovered that he/she was dying? Emma: Move states if she had to, in order to find a dance company that would hire her. Travis: Sell The Waters School of Dance, and spend a lot more time with Heidi. Make sure he had someone he could trust to take care of her.
8) What kind of holidays or traditions does he/she celebrate? Emma: Nothing major before she moved in with Travis and Heidi. Her family would acknowledge the Christmas season but never actually "celebrate" it. Travis: Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, Independence Day, Easter, etc. He grew up in a very traditional family and wants Heidi to do the same.
9) What do your other characters have to say about him/her? Emma: Her mother and sister think she made a mistake leaving home. Her best friend thinks she is bursting with potential. Travis thinks she's incredible and has so much talent that she has to work up the courage to harness. Travis: His parents think he's grown up to be a wonderfully successful young man but are skeptical about his choice to raise Heidi without a wife. His best friend thinks he's awesome, but still teases him about his love for dance. Emma thinks he's smart and sweet and incredibly giving.
10) If he/she could change one thing in his/her world, what would it be? Emma: Divorce. Travis: The lack of self-confidence and joy that people have.

I Have A Liebster Blog

Yay! My first blog award! Lovely miss Sunny Smith gave me this award and I am beyond flattered :)

Also! For those of you who don't speak German, Liebster just means "favorite."

Here are the rules:

The goal of the Liebster Blog Award is to showcase up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The rules:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who bestowed the award on you
2. Reveal your top five picks 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
5. Have blogging-blog fun!

I award!

• Georgianna Penn at Before My Pen Has Gleaned
• Lauren at Bits and Pieces
• Helena Elise at Electric Shades of Sunshine
• Ashley Strawser at In God We Still Trust
• Sky at Further Up and Further In

Go in peace my lovelies and spread more joy!

In Which Charity Discusses Her First Day Of Junior Year

Ahem.

It was basically awesome. I got to be reunited with some of my favorite people in the whole world and decorate my locker with my giant gold star and collection of quotes. I have a great schedule, and this year is going to be fabulous.

As promised, there is a picture of my new haircut. I did gain several compliments on this today. *Fist Pump*

And basically, I *adore* being an upperclassmen. I have rights now! And respect. I am considered a "queen" in choir, I don't have to sit at the "reject table" during lunch, and I didn't get knocked down in the halls today!

I think junior year will be a grand adventure.

Gah

Okay y'all, I do apologize for the lack of updates on my life recently, but I thought I'd update you all now.

Junior year officially starts tomorrow.

*screams*

This has been the shortest Summer ever! I really don't want it to end! But at the same time, I'm ready to take the most difficult year of high school by storm. I'm excited and nervous and jumpy and psyched all at the same time. I have that feeling - the one you get right before looking at a cast list to see if you made the show - in the pit of my stomach right now and I do not like it. Not one bit.

I do, however, think this year will be a grand adventure.


Am I ready? No. And I probably never will be. This is going to be one of the most busy-homework-filled-working-toward-a-scholarship-being-president-of-a-club-and-trying-to-keep-a-social-life years of my entire high school career. And I have no choice but to seize it with both hands and ride it without regret until next May when I get to celebrate my success in New York City.


I'll probably have a mental breakdown. Or two. I might pass out and gain a few more scars and have to use tape to keep my eyes open because of the sleep deprivation that comes with being a student at TCA. But I think I'll be able to pull it off. Somehow.

That there picture is probably totally accurate to how I feel right now (except now I have a haircut. I'll show you tomorrow). My life is filled with lip-biting, chaos-inducing, insanity(slash)work(slash)unpreparedness. But I am so going to rock this.


I've got a gold star that says "Courage," a plethora of inspirational quotes, a new haircut, and my Draco! The Designer is rooting for me, and that is more than enough to inspire confidence. Junior year, here I come!

Day 15: Your Favorite Song To Write To

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . .

I CANNOT CHOOSE!!! And so, I shan't. I shall just post the playlist that I dreamed up for the Popular series (which is still a work in progress).

Please let it work!

Day 14: One Of Your Favorite Quotes About Books Or Writing

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid." ~Jane Austen

Day 13: Your Favorite Book About Writing

Uhm. Well. I haven't exactly read many . . . if I have read one at all. Come to think of it, I don't recall a single book I've read about writing. I've read books about reading and logic and how to teach someone to read. But it's not the same. I will just suggest a few I found on Google.

• On Writing by Stephen King
• Writing Screenplays That Sell by Michael Hauge
• A Writer's Coach by Jack Hatt

I cannot fully back any of these books because I haven't read them, but if you do, please tell me how they are.

Day 12: A Song About Writing Or Books

I think this one should count.

Day 11: Your Favorite Female Author

Uuuuuhhhhhhmmmmm. That was me not wanting to choose. But since I must, my absolute favorite female author is Natalie Lloyd.

You can follow her blog over here and I recommend that you do. I've read both of her books, Want More? Life and Paperdoll and they are both outstanding. Some people are just gifted at stringing words together in a way that makes you think or sigh or dream or want to write something of your own. And she is one of them. I admire her passion, her gift, and her love for God, and think that she is an incredible writer.

Day 10: Your Answer To, "The Most Important Thing I Should Know About Writing."

Well there are actually several things that you should know. But the most important one, whether you've been writing all your life, recently started writing, or want to start writing is this:

Writing is not easy.

It drives me insane when people say it is. It's not. Take it from someone who has been doing it all her life. It's frustrating. It's time-consuming. It's irritating. Sometimes when you've been working on a project for a long time and you think it's going well, you run into a ten foot high, three foot thick cement wall. And to make it even better, there's razor wire on the top.

Sometimes you try to climb the wall, only to find that it's been lubricated with fish oil and it's impossible. And so you realize that all you can do is wait for it to fall down. I hate that wall. It's commonly referred to as Writer's Block, Lack Of Inspiration, or Boredom. And trust me, if you haven't met it yet, you will very soon.

The wall is why it took me so long to finish Uritus and the Sword of Fire. It was oh-so-very determined to discourage me enough to give up on the book entirely. But I didn't. And that's why I'm warning you about it.

People drive me crazy when they say that writing is a cinch. Mostly because I know it isn't. It may be easier at times, but it is never easy. However, if you are willing to fight the wall and press on because writing is your passion and gift than go for it. And don't let anyone stand in your way.

Movie of My Life

This is a meme that I did on Tumblr but I thought it would be fun to take it to Blogger too! Just make a separate post for each of the movie aspects. You don't have to do them all in a row or anything, I finished them all today, just give it a shot if you want to. Click on the links below for my answers.

Cast:
The Main Character (You!)
Your Love Interest
Your Arch Nemesis
Your Parents
Your Siblings
Your Best Friend

Choose:
The Location
Song: Opening Credits
Song: Closing Credits
Song: Love Scene
Song: Breakup Scene
Song: Action/Adventure Scene

Have fun!

Day 9: What Is Your Current Writing Project?

I'm actually working on a few projects currently. Now that Uritus and the Sword of Fire is done I can relax a lot more, but that one is currently in the editing stages and that takes effort. I'm also writing The Bench and The Beach House, two separate novels that have nothing to do with each other. Recently, I finished book two in the Popular Series, Confessions of a Tone-Deaf Cheerleader (Lola's story) and embarked on beginning book three, Confessions of an Arrogant Soccer Jock (Carmen's story), but decided to put that one on hold. Also, I've been penning the score of my musical Red and dreaming up a plot synopsis for Miss Understood, along with whatever songs and poems that I write in my sleep (I kid you not, that is how I best write songs).

Last night I watched Clash of the Titans with my sister as my dad just bought it for my late birthday gift. Somewhere near the end I was inspired to write a sequel to Uritus and the Sword of Fire, either about his child, or another of his great adventures. But that's still debatable.

Side note: I'm going to be staying at a friend's house for the next three days while my parents go to Ouray for their 20th anniversary and I probably won't have access to the internet. That means I'll fall a bit behind on this challenge but I promise to catch up when I get home. I love you, I'll miss you, take care of my fish for me!

Day 8: A Video About Books Or Writing

Please tell me I'm not the only one who remembers this show.

Day 7: Your Favorite Genre To Write

I haven't experimented with too many genres. I've done fantasy, mystery, children's. But the one I most commonly write is chick-lit and so I have to say that is my favorite genre to write.

It's probably because chick-lit is my favorite genre to read. I like writing characters that girls can understand and relate too. I try to make sure that each protagonist has a unique personality, gifts, and dreams. That way, every girl can pick a favorite book and character depending on who she is the most like. That' probably why chick-lit is my favorite.

Day 6: Something On Your Bucket List That Has To Do With Writing

Well, the most obvious one is to get a novel published. I'm working toward that now. But isn't that every author's dream? Isn't that the reason we write? Well, that and because we love it. But really, what motivation do we have other than holding a hardback copy of something seeping with adventure and romance that just happens to have your name on the front?

Another goal is to write and produce a musical. I've two in process: Red and Miss Understood. I've written the plot synopsis for Red and am currently working on the score. Miss Understood is on the back burner till Red is done.

Day 5: Your Least Favorite Character You've Written

Okay this one might be a little difficult. I even find myself liking all the villains I write. But I have to pick so I'll go with Velup the Sorcerer.

Velup is the prime villain in Uritus and the Sword of Fire. I do like him a bit because I created him, but he's so evil and is the prime cause of all my protagonist's pain so I have to pick him. Velup is the traveling Sorcerer, and brother of Uriah the Wizard (who is good). At a young age he went mad and sett his own house on fire with his parents in it, causing him to die. He then turned to sorcery and sought out an apprentice - Ercildus, Uritus's big brother.

Basically, he's a jerk. I celebrated at his defeat. And so that is why he is my least favorite character I've written.

Day 4: A Novel or Author that has Inspired Something in Your Writing Style

I won't complain about only being able to pick one this time. Mostly because it's getting old. And you're probably getting annoyed. Anyway!

I pick Victor Hugo.

Why? Well those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time know about my love of his Les Miserables and his character Enjolras. You also know that I just recently finished my third novel, Uritus and the Sword of Fire.

What you do not know is that Uritus's inspirational speech he gives before the city goes to war, and the character of Uritus himself were heavily influenced by Enjolras and his speech. It wasn't originally this way. But after I read Les Mis and Enjolras's speech I was so taken by it (and him) that I had to bring some Enjolras-type aspects into my own book. So I did.

Uritus's character has developed so much because of the Enjolras influence that I find myself liking him even more than I did in the first place. Yes, Victor Hugo definitely had a huge part in the making of this book.

A Quicky

Just a few lovely things I thought I'd share with you.

Firstly.

This is Draco Archimedes. He's an iTouch. AND HE BELONGS TO ME!!!

Secondly.

Guess which of our  favorite Broadway superstars was voted Broadway's hottest guy of the year?

Aaron Backflipping Tveit. *Screams*

Thirdly.

I just lost the game. Not like you needed to know or anything.

Later!

Day 3: Your First Attempt At Writing

If I'm being honest, I don't really remember. I've literally been making up stories since before I knew how to spell. But I'm going to assume my first time was the Hush Puppies Series.

It was kind of lame. It was about a club that consisted of eight dogs: Dodger, Hannah, Pongo, Percy, Tito, Georgette, Scotty, and Dot Dot. I wrote about their adventures and me and my sister acted them out and everything. We got very into the Hush Puppies.

Before then I made picture books, but since this is our first attempt at writing I won't count those.

Day 2: Your Favorite Male Author

Again, this took some deliberation to decide. I *adore* Victor Hugo and Sigmund Brower. But I had to choose just one and I don't think my choice will surprise anyone.

CS Lewis.

The man is a genius. Along with writing my favorite books of all time: The Chronicles of Narnia. His imagery and his dedication to his craft are really what won him this spot. Plus he wrote my favorite paragraph that I've ever read in a book ever:

“As He spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was really the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

That is an excerpt from the final Narnia book The Last Battle and I love it with everything that is in me. Well, that's all, friends. Thanks for reading!

15 Day Writer Challenge Day 1: Your Favorite Character You've Written

Ohmylanta do I have to pick? I like them all for different reasons. I like Uritus because he's perfect, I like Emma because she's easy to relate to, I like Finn because he's sweet. Ordinarily I'd pick Charisma because she's my alter-ego. But since I *must* choose I'll go with:

She was the detective I dreamed up in fourth grade and her character has evolved very very much since then. Now she works for the FBI but I'm sure that will change soon enough. I like her because she's a lot like me: independent, spunky, doesn't take things too seriously. Yeah, Isabella Davis is definitely my favorite of the characters I've penned.