Friday, August 12, 2011

Fact #5: Oklahoman Whaling

Did you know that it is illegal to whale hunt in Oklahoma. Think of how many whales will be saved in the Oklahoman Sea!!! By the way, here is a map of the U.S. incase you have no idea why this law is funny.  Oklahoma is the state That is pointing and is right above Texas.
Scources:

Random Interesting Facts and laws!: http://m00cow007.tripod.com/id3.html
No Whale Hunting in Oklahome <<One Man's Voice: http://www.robert-gonzalez.com/2009/04/01/no-whale-hunting-in-oklahoma/

How to Write a Book, Part 1: The Very Beginning

This week, we are learning how to write a book. Everyone has read a book. Today, we are writing fictional books. This means it isn't a true story. If might be realistic fiction, where is could have happened, but didn't, or historical fiction, where the events and maybe some of the people were real, but the main characters most usually were not. Sometimes it is a real person, but not usually.

First of all, think of an idea. It could just be the first few sentences of a book. You might to have an idea to begin with. Just write. I can almost guarantee to you that by the next couple of paragraphs, you will be incubating an idea in your head, fertilizing it. Soon, it will grow into an elaborate set p for your characters, situations, and ultimately, the climax.

"If you wait for inspiration to write, you're not a writer, you're a waiter."
--Dan Poynter

Also, once you have the faintest sliver of an idea in your head, you ned to make the beginning interest the reader. Later, once your idea is fully grown, you will almost have to go back and change it a bit to fit the story, but even before then, you need to figure out a first-draft way to get readers interested. Here is the first few paragraphs of an untitled book I am currently writing:




It was a morning much like last week’s in the city of Starna in the great land Grimfalia. Not too hot, not too cold. But is was too... Something. Dark? At least, that’s what Belva LeRenard thought as she got ready for Evening Day. Evening Day was when the people of Grimfalia celebrated the coming of night, which lasted one thousand years.
By now, Belva was ready. She was wearing the Red Shawl of Livetronte. The shawl depicted a raven holding six snakes and six swords in it claws. Belva was also wearing the official robe of Lockenesk. The robe was black with stars and had the raven embroidered on the front. She picked up her satchel.


Next, once you have written your first couple of paragraphs, you will have a hatching idea in your mind. Above, I had only barely created the essence of Belva. Later in the novel, though, she had taken a her own shape. She was fun loving, adventurous, and rushed head first into everything without a second thought (which she usually ended up regretting afterwards). Soon, your main character will take shape to, growing and changing in your mind. Pretty soon, control will be out of your hands in into theirs. At least for me, they do everything of their own accord, and I only write it down. (Yes, yes. It seems like I m trying to show off or something, but I'm not!)

Anyway, after you have written your first paragraphs, the story will start. The mystery, or the problem, or the situation will come into focus, come into play, or begin. These next paragraphs of my novel were the ones that began the story.

She went downstairs to say good bye to her grandmother.
“Minniline?” She called to her grandmother. “Minniline, are you in here?”
“Minnie weft,” Belva felt a tug at her gown and look down to see her brother Peter clinging to her, tears in his eyes.
“Petey, what did you say?”
“Minnie weft.”
“Where did she go?”
“There,” The five-year-old pointed to the ground.
“Peter,” she said, crouching down to look him in the eye. She grasped his shoulders. “Where did Minnie go?”
“She went down. She said, ‘No more of this. I will go now.' She said, 'Say bye-bye to Bevvie.’ And she went down.”


See, above, the mystery, the situation started. Now the readers are wondering. Where is Belva's grandmother? What does Peter mean by saying that she went 'down?' Also, if you want (all of this is only a suggestion), you can make it a bit tear-jerking. This wasn't really, but it is a bit of an example.


Peter, I-” Revelation poured over her. Minniline was dead.

A better example would be: (This isn't from my novel)

  "But where are you going?"
  "I don't know."
  "Where will you live?"
  "I don't know."
  "What DO you know?"
  "I love you. Take care of everyone. America is our last hope. Wish me luck, Eva. Goodbye," He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and a hug. Eva was too shocked to say anything.
  "Goodbye," Eva said, her voice cracking. She watched her brother walk away from her, head high, shoulders back. He is so brave. She thought. Eva had grown up with her brother. She had always looked up to him, looked to him for advice. And now he was gone, and never coming back. 
  He disappeared into the sea of bodies. Is this the last time I will ever see him?She watched him board the boat, and it began the set sail. She saw him leaning over the railing, waving to her. 
  She shook her head and turned away, failing to see her brother waving to her out of distress, signaling to help her. A man grabbed him and they disappeared.


  I don't think you will have cried, and if you did, you are a sissy. ;) Anyway, you see how I started it out where it just jumps into the story? And then you kind of start reading, because you don't know what is going on. I made it a bit tear-jerking, but not so much that it was sappy. I also thought I'd just start it out where it is all, Who grabbed him? How did he know he needed help? Why didn't he ask anyone else for help? Why just her?

  That is all we are doing for now on the beginning. In the next installment of How To Write a Book, we will learn a bit more on the beginning. In the next next one, the rising actions, and then the climax, and then the falling actions. Also, in another writing workshop, we will learn about character development. 


Questions or comments? Just click on my profile and then Send Me A Message, or email my secondary email,  ItsBumpyBackHere@Gmail.com


Thanks! (I don't bite!)

Random Chapter Writing: #1

  "But where are you going?"
  "I don't know."
  "Where will you live?"
  "I don't know."
  "What DO you know?"
  "I love you. Take care of everyone. America is our last hope. Wish me luck, Eva. Goodbye," He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and a hug. Eva was too shocked to say anything.
  "Goodbye," Eva said, her voice cracking. She watched her brother walk away from her, head high, shoulders back. He is so brave. She thought. Eva had grown up with her brother. She had always looked up to him, looked to him for advice. And now he was gone, and never coming back. 
  He disappeared into the sea of bodies. Is this the last time I will ever see him?She watched him board the boat, and it began the set sail. She saw him leaning over the railing, waving to her. 
  She shook her head and turned away, failing to see her brother waving to her out of distress, signaling to help her. A man grabbed him and they disappeared.



   Evelyn McWheedon sat on her stoop. She was waiting. Not waiting for rain, or to see her father's carriage pull up, or even for the mail. She was waiting for a pigeon. She was sitting in agonizing anticipation for her pigeon, Adéle, to show up. Six weeks ago, Evelyn had sent her to France to carry a note to her friend, Amélie. Evelyin peered into the red and purple sky, thinking of all the terrible things that could have happened, when she saw a white speck in the distance. She craned her neck to see what it was as it flew erratically over her house, and it doubled back and landed, haphazardly, next to Evelyn. It was carrying a package. What in the world?... Evelyn thought as she untied the package. Adéle flew off to her perch in the chestnut tree. 
  What Evelyn unwrapped was amazing. Terrifying, but amazing none the less. Evelyn reached gingerly in and held up a brass ring, inset with a scarlet gem the size of her knuckle. When Evelyn held it up the light, she saw a flash of green in the gem. She could feel its power surging through her fingers.
  She saw another flash of green and a twig snapped behind her. She gasped and turned around. 
  "I wondered when you would see me," A woman was standing behind her.
  "Who--"
  "I am... Someone. Names don't matter right now." 
  "But, how--"
  "That ring you're holding? Yes, that is one of the most powerful artifacts on earth, and if you let it out of your sight, you will be guilty of putting existence in danger. Do you understand?" She didn't wait for Evelyn to answer before continuing. "Either you give it to me our you hold the biggest responsibility that has ever existed."
  Evelyn stood, and looked at the ring. 
  "Good," the woman said. "Now hand it to me."
  Evelyn put the ring in her pocket and stepped backwards a few steps. "Adéle!" She called, and a white streak shot out of the tree and hovered over her. Evelyn turned and ran. She had no idea why, but she knew that this woman was bad news.

The Midnight Meeting (My One-Man Show (As Heard Of In my Script Video))

If you watched my How To Write A Script video, you will have heard of a One-Man show. Here it is! Enjoy, and remember: I used the same technique as I told you about in my other video. I scripted it myself, did the camera work myself, edited it myself, and as you can see, acted both parts myself. It wasn't easy, but I sure am happy with the results! (To see my other video, click HERE)


Did you like it? Thanks for watching. Please, give me feedback in the comments, and click on your mood after watching this video below. Thank you!

Random + Writing + Acting + Editing + Camera-Work, 
CB

Learn to Draw CB's Characters

Today we learn how to draw a few characters that CB made up! Enjoy, and bask in the AWESOME!


Did you like it? Give me feedback in the comments or email ItsBumpyBackHere@gmail.com! Thanks!

Random + Writing,
CB

Third Day Of School *UPDATE*

It was so much fun! The day went really fast, and I actually ORGANIZED my binder! Now it closes right! Woohoo! It went really fast, and Mrs Olinger is HILARIOUS! She told us stories about spiders and stuff. She is a natural story teller! Haha! I think changing classes makes the day go faster! We played a math game in math that wasn't too math-y. I walked in and saw the board numbered with dots in the middle of each line, and I was thinking, "Oh gosh. We are doing multiplication! Oh no!" But ti was just a setup for the game. :) If you haven't started changing classes yet, you will like it. If you have a good binder and all your supplies, you will do fine. No need to be nervous! Questions about changing classes? Suggestions for me? (Boy, do I need them!) Email ItsBumpyBackHere@gmail.com! Thanks!

Random +Writing,
CB

Third Day Of School

Dad is taking me this morning! Also, my ant bites don't hurt anymore, only, I think I got a splinter in my foot... :( School's gonna be awesome! (ALMOST) Can't wait!

To be Updated.

Random + Writing,
CB

P.S. Sorry about how little posts there are each day, now. Those first two days where there were a lot was when I was still out of school. Now I am in school, so I only have time for a few.... :( I am sorry RK hasn't been posting! I think she has been spending more time with her family (I am OK with that)! Good luck at school, RK, and all our readers! We love each and every one of you!