The Art of Writing

So, on my oral communication class we're doing call to action speeches, where we're supposed to convince people to do something or motivate them. I haven't even begun to think what I'm gonna do with mine, but that's another story.
Today this guy was giving his speech and his topic the entire semester has been writing. He was talking about how writing every day makes you healthier emotionally and it even has an impact on you physically. I thought that was really cool and he did encourage us to write, but... he dissed "online writing."
He says that the art of writing is lost because now whoever can have blog (like me, heh) and just think they're experts. He said that text messaging and email take way from writing and that they are making the language lazy.
Now, I know he has a point, because I, myself, hate texting shorthand and all that... but I don't think online writing is all that bad. Maybe it's because I'm biased, since I write online every day, but I think it still has its merits. I won't lie and say that it means more when someone takes the time to send you a card than when they send you a text, but you still appreciate the gesture in both situations.
Some of my closest friends right now are online. I've never met them, and yet we've bonded over something we have in common. Truth is, if it weren't for the internet I'd be even more of a loner right now. There's something very freeing about being able to write what you're really thinking or feeling and have people appreciate you for that. Maybe they judge you just like everyone else, but you don't feel the same level of awkwardness as you "talk" to someone.
I find that saying what's on my mind here is just as valuable for me, as it would be to write it on a journal in my own handwriting. Maybe to some people it's not and I sort of get that, but I think at the end of the day the important thing is to allow yourself time to write down what you need to let out and the medium doesn't matter that much. It's still a way to get in touch with yourself and I think that's the bigger purpose and the bigger picture.
I do think writing helps. Whether it's complaining about something that's bothering you or writing a story that allows you to go places where you'd like to go or have things you really want through a character. But the important thing is to do it, not how.

Hardly working

I've sort of been under the radar the past couple of days. I really didn't have much to say, I was feeling sort of blank. At least about myself, I managed to write a ton during the last couple of days. I wrote for the ending of the collaboration fic I was doing with Mickey (which has me incredibly proud I love how it turned out.) and I even wrote for Sophie and C even tough I had told myself it was over. But all this bits and pieces keep coming to me and they won't get out of my head until I write them.
But I really haven't been able to talk much about me. It's just seems so random to me to sit here and write how I went to work or how tired I've been because I'm having trouble sleeping. I guess I just feel uninteresting. Right now I'm waiting for the last 45 min of my shift to end fast so I can go home. Needless to say, I'm happy there's not much to do.
My mom told me last night she's going to Caracas with me. I don't really know if I'm happy or not. I love my mom, but she spends so much of her time here looking after me, it's driving me a little crazy. I was hoping to spend a little time away from that. But then again when she's back home she rarely spends any time in the house so I'll probably be able to do that anyway. I hope so... I still don't know when I'm going. I wanted to be there for my sister's birthday but if my mom is leaving with me that leaves my dad alone in his birthday and that's not fair.
A couple of friends asked me if I was going to disappear of the internet for months. No I will not. My laptop is going with me. I will spend less time on msn than usual *cough*all day*cough* because I'll be looking after my niece while my sister-in-law looks after the new baby. But seriously, I could never just leave the internet for more than... let's not finish that sentence...

Boost

Pretty normal Monday. It's really cold here in Memphis, and I have this really annoying cough. I wrote like a crazy person today. I popped 3 chapters of my fic in a row. I was feeling really good about myself.
My math teacher gave the date for the exams today, and surprise I have one the day after the concert. The good thing is that he's giving 4 test and we get to drop one grade, so if I decide not to take I'll still be fine. It all depends in how me and my friend are the next day really. I'm not going to go crazy about it.
I got my travel authorization today so that means I can go to Venezuela to meet my new niece of nephew in the summer! I had to wait for the authorization because I'm in the process of getting my residency and if I just leave the whole process gets canceled, not good...

I know this is normal, but my parents are driving me insane. They're constantly checking up on me and trying to see what I'm doing. Don't they get it by now? I'm a relaxed person, I love sitting in front of my computer doing whatever and I don't really enjoy people trying to see what it is I'm doing.
I already did the whole partying and drinking back in Venezuela and it's not my thing, so if I want to just relax, it'd be nice if you just leave me alone and not keep asking me if I'm depressed or calling me anti-social for closing my door. Be thankful that I'm not one of those girls who goes out every night and ignores your calls to her cellphone.

I'm watching the Italian Job for the thousandth time. It is one of my favorite movies of all times. I love the plot, I love the entire cast, I love how it's made and the ending kicks butt! I was really happy when I learned they're doing a sequel. I hope it's good because otherwise I'll be protesting to whoever made it for ruining it for me.

Now I'm off because this cough is driving me insane!

Feels like a different day

I don't really know how I feel today. I was sort of sick on my parents today but hey, who isn't? I'm sorry but at 20 years old I don't really want a supervisor looking over everything I do, not at home anyway.

I got my muses with me today, so I was finally able to do something for the Mike birthday projekt, and I was also able to write 2 complete chapters for my fic for Mickey, who has said nothing but great things. I think I might have to go on for a while because otherwise she'll hate me for sure. It's ok, you have nothing to worry about I'm loving every minute of it. I just finished 9. I know I had most of it written, but it still surprises me that I have been written that much, I even lost count how many pages I've written, it's more a long story than a fic now.

One random question, I'm now surfing channels and there's ANOTHER Bring it on movie. I know the first one was kind of cool, but are these people ever going to stop? Yeah we get it, people like cheerleaders, you can stop making them.

By the way, I changed my mind, I decided not to cut my hair. I decided it's best to wait another week, and if it's still driving me crazy, then I'll go and chop it off. I like my hair short 'cause I don't worry too much about it, but I can't cut it too much because it's too curly and my face is too round. I don't know, I'll see how I feel a week from now.
Good news! I've lost weight. My pants are starting to fall down without belts and today I fit into a pair that I haven't worn in ages. I don't really pay much attention to my weight but I know it's better for my health and my ego! It'll do wonders for my knee too, I still have a little pain on it, but it's a lot better.

Frozen rain

Weird day. I sort of woke up on the left side of the bed and had this feeling of a bad day. The weather was freezing and walking to class was a pain.
My best friend sadly told me that she won't be going to Nashville with me. I was a bit disappointed but I understand her, it's not her fault at all. She looked really nervous about telling me, but I still love you Lex!
No news on the new job as when I went to fill out the stuff, there was no one there. This is beyond frustrating.
The when I finally got home I forgot I was bringing lunch and I had to go out by myself to get it. And you know that thing that's like frozen rain but it's not snow? Yeah that thing was falling when I walked out of my house. That did nothing to improve my mood.
I also decided that I'm sick of my hair so I'm getting cut on Sunday I think. Probably not a wise decision considering my mood today but I don't really care.

I've been writing so much today... And Mickey likes my story, so that's a big plus. She's in for a long chapter tomorrow, that one was really hard to put together man. I'm off to bed now, hopefully tomorrow's post will be more interesting.

It's a process

So, I've been sending chapters of my fic to Mickey and she's been saying great things. She's got me inspired and everything, I've been writing a lot lately. At first I thought it would be mostly editing but it actually takes me a while to put it together properly. I tend to write stuff that are not really connected and well I have to have to make some sense!
I took a piece from and old fic to show you what I've doing these couple of days. This is what you'd see after I wrote it:

Did you get into a fight? How do you know? Because you both look like you want to kill someone. Kill each other you mean. Oh, it's that bad then, what was it about? A tattoo. She wants a tattoo? Yeah 2 stars on the back of her neck. I think she told me something about that, and you didn't want her to get it. Well I just told her that I didn't like the design because it had my name on it, I mean what if we happened to break up? But then I told her that it was her body and she could do what she wanted. And she got mad you said you might break up? No, she took my name out of the design and said 'I guess we'll never be at that level'. Ouch. I know so I got mad and told her that I've never been in this level with anyone else, what does she expect? She said 'nothing, I'm happy where we are but if this make you uncomfortable I just won't do it' I don't get it, she told me herself that she thought it wasn't a good idea, what the hell happened? You happened man. Don't- oh God, she just twisted her ankle didn't she? She did. She's calling the trainer, it's bad.

It's exactly like that, no extra spaces, just like that...Who would understand that?! Now read this:

Marat was sitting on the player box as Dylan was warming up with her opponent. Her practice partner, Taylor arrived and sat next to him, with one look at his face he said: "Did you get into a fight?"
"How do you know?" Asked Marat surprised.
"Because you both look like you want to kill someone." He said noticing that Dylan was hitting particularly hard and the other girl looked a little worried.
"Kill each other you mean." Marat corrected. He had his arms folded over his chest.
"Oh, it's that bad then, what was it about?" Said Taylor curiously.
"A tattoo." Marat answered very bitterly.
"She wants a tattoo?" Asked Taylor thinking that he didn't see how that was a problem.
"Yeah 2 stars on the back of her neck."
"I think she told me something about that, and you didn't want her to get it." Remembering she had mentioned some day after practice.
"Well I just told her that I didn't like the design because it had my name on it, I mean what if we happened to break up? But then I told her that it was her body and she could do what she wanted."
"And she got mad you said you might break up?" Knowing that she had quite the temper.
"No, she took my name out of the design and said 'I guess we'll never be at that level'."
"Ouch." Said Taylor thinking that was a direct blow to the ego.
"I know so I got mad and told her that I've never been in this level with anyone else, what does she expect? She said 'nothing, I'm happy where we are but if this make you uncomfortable I just won't do it' I don't get it, she told me herself that she thought it wasn't a good idea, what the hell happened?"
"You happened man." Taylor answered simply.
"Don't-" He started to say, feeling that he knew that he was going to try to soften him up. He stopped when she tumbled down and ended up the floor. "oh God, she just twisted her ankle didn't she?" And he half-rose from his chair.
"She did". Confirmed Taylor with a very worried look on his face
"She's calling the trainer, it's bad."

There you go, that make not make sense either, but it's readable for people who are not as demented as me! Now The one Mickey is reading is not nearly as bad as this, this one was my first, and I started typing the most recent one and it had a little more description and all that, but I still have to put stuff together and that's what I've been doing lately.

Reactions...

It's weird how some news hit you isn't it? I just heard today that my sister-in-law's dad was killed when he got shot as he was arriving at his house. We don't know why, we don't know how. And I felt this sort of sadness, but mostly I was worried about Andy and I have no idea how she's feeling and I'd really like to be there to support her. I never met him, I know every little about him and yet I feel sad. But I can tell you that the feeling that hit me the most was anger. I was angry about how bad things are in terms of safety in a country that doesn't deserve it, and meanwhile the president spends his time talking crap about Bush and negotiating hostages for another country. And it makes me so sad because you never know how bad it is until it hits close to home. I feel so impotent being so far away and not being able to even try and give someone as special as her at least a comforting word or a hug. I've never dealt with death directly, and I really hope I don't have to anytime soon but I do know what it's like to be alone when things are bad and that's something I don't wish to absolutely anyone.
Believe it or not, when I heard Heath Ledger died it made me sad too. Not in the same way obviously and I didn't even like him that much but it just stuff that catches you off-guard and it's so unexpected that it has to affect you. He was so young and it's really sad, I hope he's in a better place. I hope they both are.
Sorry for the depressing tone of this post, but I had been trying to avoid the subject all day and I know if I don't get it out it'll keep bugging me for days to come.

I've been writing a lot lately. I dunno why but I've been having all these ideas running around in my head and I've felt like I need to put them down on paper. Some of it has sucked but some stuff has come up really good. I'm starting to type my oldest story and I might post it soon, but I have a lot re-writing to do because it's mostly dialog. It feels really nice to have something that really helps me relief stress and that helps me get out all the stuff that I really want to say. I'm really enjoying it, so hopefully my muses will stay with me a couple of more days, they're helping me work through some stuff that had been hiding under the surface. Like I dunno, the fact that one person claims to have feelings for you and then proceeds to ignore you the moment you turn around to pay attention. Trust me, putting it down helps you move on, it's no good to keep feelings bottled up inside.

Sleeping in saved me from shopping

Didn't have to go shopping today! Thank God for sleeping in. Since I got up so late, my mom didn't feel like going out anymore, so I was saved by own laziness! I reviewed some stuff online, and I watched a lot of tv and then I went to the movies with my bff. I saw Juno by the way, really cute nice movie, I really enjoyed it. It's a really sweet story, very moving. Also Ellen Page and Michael Cera just kill with their performances. Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman were a little disturbing though, maybe it was just me.

I also sent my fic to Mickey after a while of editing to make understandable for someone other than me. By the way I'm publicly giving you permission to hate it, it's really rough and well you know how it is. It's hard for me to see it how someone else would see it because I've had it for so long.

Now there's a possibility of ice and stuff, so I might not have class tomorrow, cross your fingers for me. How cool is this, if they cancel class, the University sends me a text, I find that completely awesome.

In tennis news, Federer won, Ferrero lost but more importantly Serena lost. Can you believe that? I seriously didn't pick Jankovic to have the slightest chance. Right now Nadal is doing what I predicted and he's beating Nieminem, which is why my tv is on a different channel tonight.

I felt a little more friendly today, but not very creative, no writing nothing for the bday projekt. I gotta get on that this week....

My muses are taking the long weekend too

Very nice, quiet day today. I tried to get inspired for the Mike bday projekt but it just wouldn't come to me (click on the banner on the right if you're curious). When I least expect it, I know it'll come to me. I didn't feel like going out today because it's been freezing here the last couple of days, if it were a little more humid we'd be having snow. So I decided to stay home and catch a couple of movies, and a little more tennis too.

Ferrero won yesterday in 3 sets and he impressed me, but he has a though match-up against another Spaniard, David Ferrer. Now that it's going to be a long match, because they're both base-linners and if I'm not mistaken Ferrer has the edge in their last couple of matches. But if Juan Carlos is playing well I think he can beat him. Federer just won and has James Blake in the next round. He was never beaten Roger and even though Fed is still not at his usual level, I still think he won't this time either.

I have the day off tomorrow, but my mom wants to go out shopping. Ugh. That's all I have to say about going out to walk around while she checks out every little single thing that comes in her way. I'm going to see how my knee feels tomorrow, I mean it felt much better today, but if hurts tomorrow I just won't go. I have to give her one thing though, we've been having fun staying up late and watching the matches. Between criticizing the outfits everyone's wearing, and her insulting every player she doesn't want to win, we've been sharing quite a few laughs.

Well after a lot of time of writing my fics for myself, Mickey convinced me to let her read one. I still have a lot of editing to do, but after she checks it out I might post it for everyone to read. I never really felt like sharing one of my stories before, and I have a lot of them, and most of them are quite long. But the thing is I don't have a clear structure in my head, I have different situations that I write down and then I try to fit them together so they don't contradict each other, so in all honesty they'd be really hard for anyone but me to understand. But this particular one is different. First of all it has a lot more description of what it was actually going on, compared to my older fics where I had mostly dialog. Also, this one I started to type right away, while my older ones are on paper and are much harder to edit. I've been writing for a long time and I've always loved it, but now I'll see if someone else can love it too, lol! If this goes well I might start typing and posting my older stories, we'll see. Even this one is going to give me a lot of work putting some sort of order to it, so other human beings can actually keep up with the story, I have a lot of blank spaces. I'll let you know how it goes.

For now, I'm off to follow Juan's match for a while before I go to bed.