Chao- There's that saying that practice makes perfect. Does it really? Only if what you're doing is correct; otherwise, you're wasting time practicing a skill that is incorrect. And, of course, there's always the practices people choose one over the other. It's like shooting baskets: you may get a ball into the hoops sometimes, but there are better ways to increase you shots. You can always do the basics in everything you write: Correct comma usage, know the different between "there", "their", and "they're", or even keeping a person's POV different from another type of narration (I vs He/She). Here are some links that you can look if you're just starting or are looking for some advice.
Time to Write
Writers Block
Be a Writer
Writing for Fun
Photos as Writing Prompts
Chao- Another way to practice writing is to write something that is familiar already: Your life. You don't have to write a complete autobiography and have it published. You can keep a journal or a blog and write your own life, your thoughts, opinions, experiences, desires. The nice thing about blogs is that they can have entries for public, friends only, or private (depending on what website you use). But if you decide for a traditional book, here are a few articles you should consider reading before making any purchases.
Keeping a Journal
Picking a Journal
The Benefits of Journaling
Chao- Writers write for fun. If we lose what we're writing, we'll get bored and so will our readers. You don't have to place your life story into what you're writing, but when you place in something you care about it will show up better.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Picking Characters Meme 3
Choose your 12 favorite characters from any fandom in no particular order. Answer each question that corresponds with that number. No peeking ahead!
1. Danny, Cats Don't Dance
2. Yugi, Yu-Gi-Oh!
3. Phineas, Phineas and Ferb
4. Nny, JtHM
5. Yami/Atem, Yu-Gi-Oh!
6. Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb
7. Sawyer, Cats Don't Dance
8. Devi, JtHM
9. Pudge, Cats Don't Dance
10. Kaiba, Yu-Gi-Oh!
11. Candace, Phineas and Ferb
12. Squee, JtHM
1. Four (Nny) invites Three (Phineas) and Eight (Devi) to dinner at their own house. What happens?
Chao- It's a sequel to The Pessimist Man and the Optimistic Child! Nny wants company, so he goes back to Danvill and invites Phineas to a dinner party, which he happily accepts. Phineas is unaware of what happened between Devi and Nny, so Devil scolds Nny, thinking only the worse between blood and knives. She storms out after "rescuing" Phineas after Phineas thanks Nny for the meal. The end.
2. You need to stay at a friend's house for a night. Whose house, One (Danny) or Six (Dr. Doofenshmirtz)?
Chao- Hmm... In this case many would go with Doofenshmirtz and do evil deeds, but Chao will gladly go with Danny! Screw the time difference between now and 1939! Chao is gonna get that autograph and be with an awesome cartoon character! Let's go dance in traffic and on top of cars, Danny!
3. Two (Yugi) and Seven (Sawyer) are making out when Ten (Kaiba) walks in? Ten's reaction?
Chao- ... Uh, Kaiba?
Kaiba- I'm pretty sure I'm looking at something done in Photoshop. Just like what people do with me and Wheeler.
Chao- Yeah, Photoshop, sure. That makes perfect sense.
4. Three (Phineas) falls in love with Six (Dr. Doofenshmirtz). Eight (Devi) is jealous. What happens?
Chao- No worries, Devi, this ain't the work of a psycho voice as a doll; it's just some crazy fan fic. Dunno if they'er actually are Phineas/Doofenshmirtz fan fics, but that would be pretty disturbing.
5. Four (Nny) jumps you in a dark alleyway. Who rescues you, Two (Yugi), Ten (Kaiba), or Seven (Sawyer)?
Chao- No one; if Nny is the killer, anyone and everyone is screwed.
6. One (Danny) decides to start a cooking show. 15 minutes later, what happens?
Chao- Darla Dimple and Max return, so they can steal back their spotlight. They have an epic battle between dancing and fighting foods. Meanwhile Chao is in the audience, rooting for Danny and hoping that some food will be leftover to eat.
7. Three (Phineas) has to marry either Eight (Devi), Four (Nny), or Nine (Pudge). Who do they choose?
Chao- Regardless of what he chooses, Phineas would have to go into hiding if he doesn't want to face Isabella.
8. Seven (Sawyer) kidnaps Two (Yugi) and demands something from Five(Yami/Atem) for Two's (Yugi's) release. What is it?
Chao- Gosh darn it, Yami! Why'd you take Sawyer's cookie! Saywer, we need to place the tie-up Yugi above a pot of boiling lava or piranhas! We demand 100 cookies for his ransom!
9. Everyone gangs up on Three (Phineas). Does Three stand a chance?
Chao- Of course! He's proven to handle himself on boring days and robots bent on destruction. He can create a device to fight, but he'd rather invent something that everyone will enjoy. Although, no one really wants to hurt Phineas; he's such a nice guy!
10. Everyone is invited to Two (Yugi's) and Seven's (Sawyer) wedding except for Eight (Devi). How does Eight react?
Chao- She won't go if Four's (Nny) going. Yeah, it isn't that simple going to a happy event knowing someone who tried to kill you is going to be there...
11. Why is Six (Dr. Doofenshmirtz) afraid of Seven (Sawyer)?
Chao- She is one sassy cat!
12. Nine (Pudge) arrives too late for Two (Yugi's) and Seven's (Sawyer's) wedding. What happens and why were they late?
Chao- Something about One (Danny) being unhappy. Dunno, too complicated for Chao to understand.
13. Five (Yami/Atem) and Nine (Pudge) get drunk and end up at your house. What happens?
Chao- Yami! Get your butt out of this house! Go sleep in the cold streets! Pudge, you can stay.
14. Nine (Pudge) murders Two's (Yugi's) best friend. What does Two do to get back?
Chao- He tries to get Yami to send Danny to the Shadow Realm, but Chao won't let him! (cocks bazooka) No one hurts Danny!
15. Six (Doofenshmirtz) and One (Danny) are in mortal danger. Does Six save One or themselves?
Chao- Danny actually saves himself, but he helps out Doofenshmirtz because he's a great guy!
16. Eight (Devi) and Three (Phineas) go camping, but they forget food. What will they do?
Chao- Phineas builds a device that makes food. He then tries to explain to Devil about what happened in The Pessimist Man and the Optimistic Child and why he didn't mind going to that dinner party. Devi is impressed with his optimistic view, a great change from her cr@psack world.
17. Five (Yami) is in a car accident and is critically injured. What does Nine (Pudge) do?
Chao- Pudge gets Danny to help out, and he does.... But can't we just leave Yami like that?
18. The quiz is over. By the way, how did Two (Yugi) and Seven (Sawyer) end up?
Chao- Yugi couldn't handle Sawyer's sassy attitude. Wait, didn't she tie him up? Did we ever get that ransom?
1. Danny, Cats Don't Dance
2. Yugi, Yu-Gi-Oh!
3. Phineas, Phineas and Ferb
4. Nny, JtHM
5. Yami/Atem, Yu-Gi-Oh!
6. Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb
7. Sawyer, Cats Don't Dance
8. Devi, JtHM
9. Pudge, Cats Don't Dance
10. Kaiba, Yu-Gi-Oh!
11. Candace, Phineas and Ferb
12. Squee, JtHM
1. Four (Nny) invites Three (Phineas) and Eight (Devi) to dinner at their own house. What happens?
Chao- It's a sequel to The Pessimist Man and the Optimistic Child! Nny wants company, so he goes back to Danvill and invites Phineas to a dinner party, which he happily accepts. Phineas is unaware of what happened between Devi and Nny, so Devil scolds Nny, thinking only the worse between blood and knives. She storms out after "rescuing" Phineas after Phineas thanks Nny for the meal. The end.
2. You need to stay at a friend's house for a night. Whose house, One (Danny) or Six (Dr. Doofenshmirtz)?
Chao- Hmm... In this case many would go with Doofenshmirtz and do evil deeds, but Chao will gladly go with Danny! Screw the time difference between now and 1939! Chao is gonna get that autograph and be with an awesome cartoon character! Let's go dance in traffic and on top of cars, Danny!
3. Two (Yugi) and Seven (Sawyer) are making out when Ten (Kaiba) walks in? Ten's reaction?
Chao- ... Uh, Kaiba?
Kaiba- I'm pretty sure I'm looking at something done in Photoshop. Just like what people do with me and Wheeler.
Chao- Yeah, Photoshop, sure. That makes perfect sense.
4. Three (Phineas) falls in love with Six (Dr. Doofenshmirtz). Eight (Devi) is jealous. What happens?
Chao- No worries, Devi, this ain't the work of a psycho voice as a doll; it's just some crazy fan fic. Dunno if they'er actually are Phineas/Doofenshmirtz fan fics, but that would be pretty disturbing.
5. Four (Nny) jumps you in a dark alleyway. Who rescues you, Two (Yugi), Ten (Kaiba), or Seven (Sawyer)?
Chao- No one; if Nny is the killer, anyone and everyone is screwed.
6. One (Danny) decides to start a cooking show. 15 minutes later, what happens?
Chao- Darla Dimple and Max return, so they can steal back their spotlight. They have an epic battle between dancing and fighting foods. Meanwhile Chao is in the audience, rooting for Danny and hoping that some food will be leftover to eat.
7. Three (Phineas) has to marry either Eight (Devi), Four (Nny), or Nine (Pudge). Who do they choose?
Chao- Regardless of what he chooses, Phineas would have to go into hiding if he doesn't want to face Isabella.
8. Seven (Sawyer) kidnaps Two (Yugi) and demands something from Five(Yami/Atem) for Two's (Yugi's) release. What is it?
Chao- Gosh darn it, Yami! Why'd you take Sawyer's cookie! Saywer, we need to place the tie-up Yugi above a pot of boiling lava or piranhas! We demand 100 cookies for his ransom!
9. Everyone gangs up on Three (Phineas). Does Three stand a chance?
Chao- Of course! He's proven to handle himself on boring days and robots bent on destruction. He can create a device to fight, but he'd rather invent something that everyone will enjoy. Although, no one really wants to hurt Phineas; he's such a nice guy!
10. Everyone is invited to Two (Yugi's) and Seven's (Sawyer) wedding except for Eight (Devi). How does Eight react?
Chao- She won't go if Four's (Nny) going. Yeah, it isn't that simple going to a happy event knowing someone who tried to kill you is going to be there...
11. Why is Six (Dr. Doofenshmirtz) afraid of Seven (Sawyer)?
Chao- She is one sassy cat!
12. Nine (Pudge) arrives too late for Two (Yugi's) and Seven's (Sawyer's) wedding. What happens and why were they late?
Chao- Something about One (Danny) being unhappy. Dunno, too complicated for Chao to understand.
13. Five (Yami/Atem) and Nine (Pudge) get drunk and end up at your house. What happens?
Chao- Yami! Get your butt out of this house! Go sleep in the cold streets! Pudge, you can stay.
14. Nine (Pudge) murders Two's (Yugi's) best friend. What does Two do to get back?
Chao- He tries to get Yami to send Danny to the Shadow Realm, but Chao won't let him! (cocks bazooka) No one hurts Danny!
15. Six (Doofenshmirtz) and One (Danny) are in mortal danger. Does Six save One or themselves?
Chao- Danny actually saves himself, but he helps out Doofenshmirtz because he's a great guy!
16. Eight (Devi) and Three (Phineas) go camping, but they forget food. What will they do?
Chao- Phineas builds a device that makes food. He then tries to explain to Devil about what happened in The Pessimist Man and the Optimistic Child and why he didn't mind going to that dinner party. Devi is impressed with his optimistic view, a great change from her cr@psack world.
17. Five (Yami) is in a car accident and is critically injured. What does Nine (Pudge) do?
Chao- Pudge gets Danny to help out, and he does.... But can't we just leave Yami like that?
18. The quiz is over. By the way, how did Two (Yugi) and Seven (Sawyer) end up?
Chao- Yugi couldn't handle Sawyer's sassy attitude. Wait, didn't she tie him up? Did we ever get that ransom?
Friday, February 8, 2013
Breaking the Cliche: PnF Edition
(Note: This entry deals with lines, not stories as a whole.)\
Chao- It's easy to fall into clichés; they're not too hard to think, and many people are already familiar with them.
"The apple of my eye"
"Different strokes for different folks"
"As old as the hills"
Chao- What do any of these mean? Don't people write them because they hold truth? "Different strokes for different folks" means people like different stuff, like activities and interests. Why is it bad to write clichés? For one, because it's cheap writing. Stories are meant to be original!
Agent Daisy- (looks up the word original in dictionary)
Chao- Every word used must count. After all, for every cliché, there is an answer to them.
Cliché 1: The sky is the limit.
Rebuttal 1: We already made footsteps on the moon.
Chao- If you write clichés, it distracts readers from your original ideas. It's awesome to read original analogies or ideas.
Cliché 2: Criminals always return to the scene of the crime
Rebuttal 2: Not if they don't want to get caught
Chao- OBVIOUS! So how can a cliché be broken? Take this one:
Cliché 3: All hell breaks loose.
Chao- How many of us thought this was one of the coolest lines ever written when you first read this? Come on, be honest. (raises hand) Chao thought so, too, at first. After all, how exciting is it to see so much chaos and have the heroes find a way to conquer it all? Or don't succeed? But even if it is, how often have we come across this again and again and again while reading? And sometimes it's used in a very dumb way.
Agent Daisy- (thinks of scenario where a can of soda spills over and person who drinks said soda throws a tantrum)
Chao- Does that idea really fit for that line? One way to break a cliché is to understand its meaning. Once you do, it'll be easier to write the meaning in your own way.
Better: It was hard to imagine the end had begun. The wicked dictator had unleashed his robots into a new world, a new dimension. They measured people and ordered them to put on their Doof-overalls. Their minds were to be placed with fear, their voices silent. How could anyone hope to defeat the Normbots?
Chao- This is just one way. It's nice, though, because it gave readers more a feeling to a story rather than reading a single bland line.
Exception: Speech is different from narration. If a character decides to say it, it's fine because authors also allow them to speak in different dialects and phrases that are not grammatically correct. They may also be used for a theme or lesson.
Chao- Hope this helped those who are interested in improving their writing!.... Heh, the title for this entry is kinda funny. If there was a grammar show on TV, there would probably be a mock video of this to Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park.
Agent Daisy- ....?
Chao- For a kids show? Sure, just like Biz Kid$ or Bill Nye the Science Guy. Those shows rule!
Chao- It's easy to fall into clichés; they're not too hard to think, and many people are already familiar with them.
"The apple of my eye"
"Different strokes for different folks"
"As old as the hills"
Chao- What do any of these mean? Don't people write them because they hold truth? "Different strokes for different folks" means people like different stuff, like activities and interests. Why is it bad to write clichés? For one, because it's cheap writing. Stories are meant to be original!
Agent Daisy- (looks up the word original in dictionary)
Chao- Every word used must count. After all, for every cliché, there is an answer to them.
Cliché 1: The sky is the limit.
Rebuttal 1: We already made footsteps on the moon.
Chao- If you write clichés, it distracts readers from your original ideas. It's awesome to read original analogies or ideas.
Cliché 2: Criminals always return to the scene of the crime
Rebuttal 2: Not if they don't want to get caught
Chao- OBVIOUS! So how can a cliché be broken? Take this one:
Cliché 3: All hell breaks loose.
Chao- How many of us thought this was one of the coolest lines ever written when you first read this? Come on, be honest. (raises hand) Chao thought so, too, at first. After all, how exciting is it to see so much chaos and have the heroes find a way to conquer it all? Or don't succeed? But even if it is, how often have we come across this again and again and again while reading? And sometimes it's used in a very dumb way.
Agent Daisy- (thinks of scenario where a can of soda spills over and person who drinks said soda throws a tantrum)
Chao- Does that idea really fit for that line? One way to break a cliché is to understand its meaning. Once you do, it'll be easier to write the meaning in your own way.
Better: It was hard to imagine the end had begun. The wicked dictator had unleashed his robots into a new world, a new dimension. They measured people and ordered them to put on their Doof-overalls. Their minds were to be placed with fear, their voices silent. How could anyone hope to defeat the Normbots?
Chao- This is just one way. It's nice, though, because it gave readers more a feeling to a story rather than reading a single bland line.
Exception: Speech is different from narration. If a character decides to say it, it's fine because authors also allow them to speak in different dialects and phrases that are not grammatically correct. They may also be used for a theme or lesson.
Chao- Hope this helped those who are interested in improving their writing!.... Heh, the title for this entry is kinda funny. If there was a grammar show on TV, there would probably be a mock video of this to Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park.
Agent Daisy- ....?
Chao- For a kids show? Sure, just like Biz Kid$ or Bill Nye the Science Guy. Those shows rule!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Updates for February
Chao- How has the school year been going for all of you taking classes? Chao is very excited to (finally) be in a class that puts together one of the many literacy magazines for the university! It's so nice reading people's works and discussing them, seeing if we want to accept or reject them, or see if the authors are willing to polish it up before a final print. Chao will gladly share some of the process that gets done and what else goes on in case anyone reading this would like to submit something to their literacy magazine or teen magazine. Until then, here's some news about fan fics and other stuff.
YGO: Offspring of Heroes has had some major progress done. New chapters for that story will be posted soon. The mentioned sequel to Social Obligations is under progress. A new one shot, Comfort Objects, is just about done. That one is aimed to be posted in the middle of this month, possibly earlier or later.
PnF: No current fan fic news at this time. There will be future entries of writing tips using PnF characters.
CDD: No current news at this time.
Reviews for Fan Fics: With all this extra reading for that literacy magazine, writing reviews for fan fics will come as soon as possible.
Chao- Chao should probably make a list and see what has been read and what needs to be reviewed.... That's gonna be long!
Entries: A few past entries for this blog containing the label writing tips have gone under a few edits. Those entries will have a note at the beginning of it.
Chao- On a personal note, remember how Chao made a New Year's resolution for room cleaning? Got a lot accomplished! Clothes had been inspected, old school papers have been recycled, books and DVDs have been organized -- Yep, it's actually getting done! Hope those who have made resolutions are doing well, too!
YGO: Offspring of Heroes has had some major progress done. New chapters for that story will be posted soon. The mentioned sequel to Social Obligations is under progress. A new one shot, Comfort Objects, is just about done. That one is aimed to be posted in the middle of this month, possibly earlier or later.
PnF: No current fan fic news at this time. There will be future entries of writing tips using PnF characters.
CDD: No current news at this time.
Reviews for Fan Fics: With all this extra reading for that literacy magazine, writing reviews for fan fics will come as soon as possible.
Chao- Chao should probably make a list and see what has been read and what needs to be reviewed.... That's gonna be long!
Entries: A few past entries for this blog containing the label writing tips have gone under a few edits. Those entries will have a note at the beginning of it.
Chao- On a personal note, remember how Chao made a New Year's resolution for room cleaning? Got a lot accomplished! Clothes had been inspected, old school papers have been recycled, books and DVDs have been organized -- Yep, it's actually getting done! Hope those who have made resolutions are doing well, too!
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