Barcelona

 

 

 

I have said in my description that this blog will be about art, photography and writing because all three are something very, very important in my life and I want to share the talent that I so often find on the internet. There are so many inspiring artists that pictures are breath taking, so many photographers whose photographs evoke immense feelings within you. I want to be a writer, I'm currently writing a book, but there is one other thing that I want to do in my life. Travel. I would love to travel the world and get pictures and share them with you. This month, I have been able to get that little step closer. Sometime this month I will be travelling to a wonderful place called Barcelona. This is a place that I have always wanted to go to, to picture, to inspire me. I haven't been anywhere abroad in my life and I believe that this would be the perfect start. For people who haven't gone and won't get the chance, this blog will be somewhere you can come and see what it looks like. I will be sharing some snaps that I take, nothing special, as I wont be taking a photography camera and I hope that this will be something exciting for anyone to see.

 

I've taken the time to show you some photos that I have found. I will be sharing my experience also so do look out for that!

 

 

 

Wattpad

 

 

 

 

First off, I'd like to say that my posts have been cut down so much and I'm sorry. Recently and at a super amazing time (not) my laptop broke down on me. However today I've managed to get onto a computer and have myself some time to write about this topic. Wattpad is something that I have only just come across and I can't believe that it has taken me so long to discover it. Where have I been? Now for you people who, like me have had no idea, Wattpad is a site where writers can put their stories, novels and poems on for people to read, comment and rate. I think that's a fantastic idea because you can really see if people like your work and if your target audience is exact. You need to know if the book your writing is going to appeal to the people you want, and this site is perfect for that.

 

The site is very easy to use and you can even upload a book cover of your choice, add your comments and make sure everything is just right, for you. Personally, I have always been a bit conscious of putting my writing up on the internet because there will always be people who think that they can use it but this site doesn't seem to have that problem. I was hesitant at first, but I over came that. Even with deviant art, it took me a long time to put something up.

 

With deviant art, I believe that you get a quicker response to your work, or at least, I do. Of course I'm talking from a personal experience, so if it is different for you, let me know. With Wattpad, you can see if people are reading your work straight away, so that works. I think this can give you confidence in your writing. If your a poet, go and put your poems on! Some on that site are just beautiful. And if your a writer, what have you got to lose?

 

As always I'm going to leave you with a few links. The main link to create a Wattpad account and just a few writers/stories on the site. I may feature some favourites in another post, so look out for that!

 

http://www.wattpad.com/user_signup?nexturl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wattpad.com%2Fgetmobile

 

http://www.wattpad.com/story/7935255-baeing-academy

 

http://www.wattpad.com/story/7982302-truly

 

http://www.wattpad.com/24835360-rose-bane

Kate Hauxwell

"A trapped thought is like containing part of your soul that yearns to be written down" - unknown

 

 

 

 

I love other writers and reading their stories. It's just a magnificent thing, seeing how another person's train of thought has created these characters and plots, created a world completely from their mind. I know that I love the feeling of doing that, it's my own world that has come from my own creativity. Tonight I was to take the time and talk about a certain writer that I love. Kate Hauxwell. Mother of two beautiful little girl's Kate Hauxwell is an inspiring and well composed writer who needs to be noticed. Her deviant art account is an array of writing that both compels and conducts thought. Just take a look at her poetry. After reading a small part of her story "Hell's Rayne" I instantly wanted to read more and find out the next part. You know that feeling of being infatuated with a story by the first chapter? That happened.

 

I will be leaving a few links below so that you can go follow and like her stuff, I know that you'll love it as much as I do. Kate writes with a wise voice, showing her experience and dedication. If you have the love for this, then you've got the will to try. There's no need to be afraid of a skill that could be heightened.

 

Here are some links for Kate Hauxwell and I'm sorry that these posts have been short lately. Go look! It's worth it, believe me.

 

http://www.wattpad.com/user/KateHauxwell

 

http://sapient-butterfly.deviantart.com/

 

 

FQ

 

Music Friday

"Music has the power to open up the heart and mind, embrace the melody train of thought" - unknown

Hey guys, I know that I've been very, very absent from this blog lately and I'm completely ashamed! This blog is important to me and I enjoy writing it so much but school has started up again and it's work, work, work. These A-levels are definitely pushing me academic wise, I feel drained. On a better note, I'm back with a small post on music to get you into the mood to paint or write. I absolutely must have some music playing when I get into the mood to write and even more so when I paint or draw. There's just something so soothing about the right tune for the right piece that I'm working on and I though I'd share. If I'm writing a fighting scene I put something with an up-beat on, if it's sad, a smoother tune and so on. It helps. A lot.

 

It's a rainy, windy, cold Friday evening. A writing kind of evening if you ask me and I think this post suits perfectly.

 

Here are a list of songs that I have been listening to while writing tonight. I've only just come across them and just, fell in love. If you take the time to really listen to some of these, the emotion that evoke within the first two is just so lovely.

 

If they're not your thing, send me some of your go to writing tunes!

 



 

Jaymes Young - Moondust    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGhes-VIC94

 

Tom Day - Who We Want To Be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVomQtrtMTM

 

The young International - Ruckus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tz_eEGBvfE

 

Florence and The Machine - Breath Of Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRMeIfN_UnE  (personal favourite, I just love this)

 

 

 

FQ

Witch Writing - taster

You don't write because you want to say something. You write because you have something to say. ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

 

 

As this is a writing/artist/travel blog I thought that maybe today I would share with you a small piece of my writing. Just a little slither as I'm not too keen on posting my work on the internet, you often get those little people who like to steal ideas and no one can help that I know. Now this is just something I wrote a while ago late at night while I was avoiding sleep. I seem to write better at that time and people have often said it's because you can let go of your day time worries. Please let me know if this is a true theory! Now, I am in no way a professional, I just carry the weight of passion and love for this type of skill and I wish to share it. I talk about books on here a lot, I talk about the stories I love so now you will get to see the type of stories I like to write. I am only going to show you a part of this small story so there will be things missing however I could always show you on another post the before and after.

                                                                              *



"Please, just, calm down!"

"There is nothing that you can say to me, to ever make this ok," as she talks her voice shakes in the thick air, the smoke around her bubbling up and rising like her anger. Her cold blue eyes widen as she feels the magic she possesses strain to rip out of her glowing purple hands. "Henry I want you to leave me alone and never, ever come back."

Henry, with his tousled black hair she once loved and smoky grey eyes she used to adore, lifts up a shaking hand in indication for her to calm down. He is scared and she can see it in his eyes and in the slight flickering to her hands every once in a while. She could already feel the power radiating from the magic within and it took every ounce of her strength to keep it that way. "Elizabeth," He reasoned, keeping his tone light but she could sense his rising hysteria. He knew that if she lost control her anger would come down on him like a storm and there would be nothing they could do. "Lizzie, you're new to this world, you're new to these powers. You need me, don't deny it. There are things you need to learn and things you need to be able to control! I can't leave you like this!"

"I don't want it," she replied savagely, her voice rising around the smoke that she had evoked around her body. The heat was unbearable. "I don't want to be a witch, I don't want to have these powers!" she stepped forward and Henry's face flashed in fear, his eyes going straight to her hands. They were sparking now, the magic fizzing and burning.

He gulped once yet still tried to reason with her. "You no longer have boundaries, you have so much power within you. What more could you want? The possibilities are endless, we have no rules!  I thought you'd want this--"

She surged forward, grasping around his dark shirt and pulling him in toward her. She almost spat her next words. "I can't control the things that I do. I can't stop the danger that I possess and this is all your fault. I killed someone! Why would I want this?!" Something inside of her seemed to snap and suddenly her hands burst with purple fire, exploding on her hands and onto Henry. He cried out as she pushed him against the wall, the fire spreading up to his shoulders. When she met his gaze her eyes were no longer her own.

The magic had taken them.




                                                                              *

So there you go, just a little taster of my own writing, I hope you enjoyed it! I will have some more book reviews coming very, very soon!

 

 

FQ

Acrylic Paint

"Nothing makes me so happy as to observe nature and to paint what I see" - Henri Rousseau

 

This is a medium that has both challenged me and made me love it. I found it extremely hard to even get a good picture going as whenever I placed a brush stroke in the wrong place, well, I panicked. After a few years of never giving up on this type of paint I eventually got used to the techniques and found that if you make a mistake, that doesn't matter, just make it work! You can layer the paint or work with the mistake made. Of course, there are times when the mistake made is irrevocable but that happens sometimes. My favourite paint is water colour but it's always good to work with variation and widen your skills and really, some pictures produced in this medium are breathtaking. Acrylic is good as thick paint or watered down and this mixes up your work into something unpredictable.  People work at it for days, months and years, perfecting their skill and it is totally worth it. There are always different styles and techniques with a type of paint and with acrylic the realistic paintings are just fantastic.

 

Now I'm not the best painter and I never will be but that doesn't stop me and it shouldn't stop you. I'll tell you the truth, I don't work in this medium often but I do look at some pictures to help me get inspired and actually try it again. I thought I'd share some with you because this type of paint is worth it!

 

 

 

 

 

My Love Lies Bleeding Review

 

"An author is one of the most beautiful story tellers" - Jerona Moore

When picking up this book for the first time I noticed two things, one, the book looked too short and two, it was definitely about vampires. Now, I like a good vampire novel like any girl in our world now, I love them even but only if the story line is good and I can keep my head in it without getting bored. I was delightedly surprised to find out that this book had both of those qualities and I started to enjoy the book. Although it is short, there are many others, so it didn't really matter as much.

 

The characters in this book all were really unique and I felt as if I knew their personalities straight away, I loved this quality and it really enabled me to picture them clearer. This book is a really, really good read and if you love vampires, twists in plots and kick-ass action, it's certainly for you. I know it's for me! This series is titled, 'The Drake Chronicles', written by Alexandra Harvey and here's the blurb, 'Solange has always known she is a vampire. And as the only female vampire ever born, not initiated, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from other vampire tribes who want to take her blood into their lineage, and from the bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her elder brother Nickolas and best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with every look - what will be her own fate if she surrenders her heart to a vampire?'

 

Now if that doesn't pull you in then I don't know what will. I love a good love story slotted into a story line and the forbidden love always gets me, two people being completely different in all ways yet somehow fitting. This book had that too. I'd just like to mention Lucy very briefly, she is by far my favourite character mainly for the fact that she's human and unafraid of these vampires and even goes to the length of hitting one of them.

 

A good read, a good book, a good author. I recommend highly.

Snow White photoshoot

 

"The camera can photograph thought."  ~Dirk Bogarde

 

 

 

Photography is something that I've come to love and respect, it's more than just taking a snap on a camera like many people think. If you have the passion and interest, the images you create are important and while learning, good quality. I'm taking a photography A level course and you learn so many things you didn't know before, including the history behind photography and where it all began. I have completed projects alone with my classmates that I have been both proud of and disappointed with. You can't be good at everything and this is something everyone needs to learn. I thought every project I did would come out the way I wanted and I was wrong. You make mistakes, just remember to learn from them!

 

So today I thought I'd share my Snow White project with you lovely people. I'm still learning so these photos are definitely not my best, but I wanted to share something personal today. These photos do not follow the typical Snow White tale and the look is completely different, but I was taking on my own style with them. The model is my friend, isn't she pretty? She was more than happy to pose for this and we spent about an hour and a half in a freezing cold English wood with not hot flask or coats to keep us warm.  My friend is a natural poser and loves her make up, so I left her to it as I told her where she needed to be and to hold still while I got her in focus. As you can see she is brown haired, but it didn't matter (not the typical Snow White pictures) and I began to edit on her skin and facial features to brighten her lips and darken around eyes.

 

I loved doing this project because it was fun and I really got to do what I wanted. The photos I produced weren't what I expected but I'm still proud. I had a wonderful model and a good location. Here are a few to look at.

         Please take note that these are my very own photos and they are for my use alone.




                                                                         FQ

 

Portsmouth

"There are places in the world that take away your breath, tell me, are you ready to see them?" - unknown

 

 

 

I wanted to put some traveling posts up on this blog as well as it is something I want to do in life, however I haven't had that chance yet. I will have a Barcelona post up this year, but for now, I have some small places I want to share. This post is about Portsmouth. I love it there, the sea, the people, the little shops and the towns. That's not just it though, walking along the beach with the dog by my side sniffing at every little rock and pouncing towards the water is perfect when you're stuck in a rut. As I walked along the rocks chatting and gazing at the flowing water, it happened to be a sunny day and I instantly felt better. Men and women were wind surfing alone the surface, boats were zigzagging across and through the wind creating ripples of turquoise water. It was picturesque!

 

If there is anywhere near you where you can just walk and feel amazing, I advise you to go. Sometimes you need to get out to get some inspiration or take a break and little places like this are perfect. I haven't worked on my book in a while and going out in the sun and watching the waves made my head begin to tell stories as I walked. I got ideas. I got inspiration.

 

It's just a short post today as I'm busy, but here are a few photos I took with my phone.

 

 

 

 

FQ

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carina Grimm

"Each brush stroke is a step towards a new masterpiece, each letter, a step towards my future" - unknown

 

I have been slacking on this blog lately but don't worry, I'm back one hundred percent! And I'm back with a post I've been wanting to do for a while now on Carina Grimm. I've been a fan of her art work for so long and as I mentioned before in one of my posts, I've decided to do a feature dedicated to Carina Grimm and her completely inspiring and unique work. Carina is a lovely person, proven from her ask.fm account (a bold move considering the amount of hate many artists get on that site) and through her face book page. There is a modesty about her that I find very charming. She could brag about her work but she does not. Links will be below. I found her first on Devient Art and found myself scrolling through each picture. It's safe to say I loved them!

 

There is something unique and dreamlike to the pieces that Carina makes, a quality within them that really makes you wonder why it was created. Take a look and see for yourself, what do you make out of them? What does it make you think about?

 

The artist has said, 'My name is Carina Grimm / Aelathen, before I was known as VikkiGothAngel I am an 19 years old dreamer living in Portugal.
In every work I create, I do it to express the feelings that I have inside me. There is no better release for me than art, even though I don't consider myself a good artist, I cant stop creating. What I try to show the most in the works I do is purity, something that is very hard to find in this world these days.' and this can be found on the Devient Art page. I won't say much else, it's up to you to click on the links to see the art work, but here are a few I love.

 

She deserves every view, comment and like!

 

 

FQ

 

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/CarinaGrimmArt/photos_stream

 

http://aelathen.deviantart.com/gallery/

 

 

Elena Kalis

 

 

 

"Don't let people tell you your dream means nothing, if you work for it, anything is possible" - unknown

 

 

 

 

 

I have been in love with this photographer for so long, her pictures are just . . . amazing. I've wanted to share her work for a while but never really knew how and now that I've got this blog, it's the perfect idea!Keeping up with the sun that we're having here in England, I got in the mood of dreaming about being on a beach, so of course her photos go well with this weather. Keep reading if you love colour, the mysteries of water and breathtaking pictures! 

 

Elena Kalis is an underwater photographer based in the Bahamas and produces a body of work that is both inspiring and unique. I find myself saying all the time, "if only I had the ability to do something like this!" because let's face it, not many people do. Kalis captured the ripples in the water, the way the light seeps down from the surface, almost dancing upon the models skin or on the ocean bed and the golden sand . . . everything is just depicted almost perfectly. Her pictures are also clear and that is vital in photography when doing these types of photos. You can have pictures out of focus, but with this, everything looks smooth, model like.

 

Kalis is becoming rapidly popular with her photos and it's no wonder why!

 

Here are some of her photos and some links!

 

Take a look

 

 

 

FQ

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/elena.kalis.underwater.photography

 

http://elenakalis.deviantart.com/

 

http://www.elenakalisphoto.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Colour

"There is nothing more satisfying than painting something from within your imagination" - unknown

 

I haven't shown any of my photography work, art work or even a piece of my writing on this blog yet and  that's because I never feel like something is ready but today, after needing to calm down and not be stressed I started painting. I love water colour, with a passion. It flows, it's smooth and it's sometimes out of your control. I like that. The way you can leave water colour to spread and you have no idea how it's going to go but you just go with it no matter what. You can alter it, but with the water making it spread, it becomes something different entirely. Now that's not all the time, I know, water colour can be controlled when there is less actual water used, but come on, who wants that? Just go crazy! So today I began using water colour over a sketch of a small doe and I just pasted on different colours here and there, not worrying about lines and where the paint was spreading to and I came out with an outcome that was ok. It's not one of my best, but this process helped to calm me down loads. I didn't want something high in quality, those things take more time. I just wanted a nice picture.

 

It was soothing to just pluck in my headphones, listen to some music and paint. No stress, no worries. And this is why I'm making this blog post. This process can help if you're an artist and you've had a bad day or your worrying over something. Just block out the world for a while and paint something. This technique also, the use of different colours over a sketch and letting the paint spread or leak, is really satisfying. It's helped me a lot, so why not just give it a go?

 

I thought I'd maybe show you my own picture and also some water colour pictures that I love from artists I love. Honestly, some of these are so, so, so great. It's worth a look!

 

 

 

 

FQ

 

 

 

 

The picture I did, still drying. As I said, not my best, but the priority here is that it was a nice process to do!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Picture done by the amazing Lora Zombie - such a good water colour artist!

 

I like the mix of media in this one, pencils and water colour and just the mere idea! Loving it.


 

Lora Zombie work again!

 

Get Some Inspiration

 

 

 

 

"There is something comforting in the feeling of inspiration being woven into your hands. It's exhilarating" - unknown

 

 

 

 

I often find myself stuck for ideas when writing short stories or working on my book and it's awful. I feel like I'm failing in what I want to do the most and I know many others feel exactly the same. So here is what I now do in order to get my inspiration and really think on my ideas.

 

I'm always on my laptop writing and I thought this was the best way but recently, I bought a small notebook to jot down my ideas in and found that it helped me so much! Instead of just little ideas I began writing actual pieces that could go into my book and it worked so well. I read it to some people and they were very intent while listening. This was a satisfying feeling that stayed with me for a while. So if you can, just go out and get one, it will be totally worth it in the end. The good thing about getting a notebook is the fact that you can write it down wherever you are. I've taken it in the car with me  and when I think of something, down it goes. It's so simple and I'm glad I bought one.  

 

The next thing I found myself doing lately was walking the dog while it's sunny or even when it's not (English weather and all!)  This allows you to really think because your on your own and around nature. There's nothing interrupting your thoughts. Nothing to distract you. I've loved doing this and have tried to go out and do it as much as I can. This won't work for everyone, I'm not saying it will, but it helped me so much and I know it can for some people.

 

When I watch a movie that I really like and it has a plot with intricate ideas woven through and little twists that you don't see, when it's finished I sit there with so many ideas running through my head. I'm so inspired and want to come up with my own ideas that would make someone else feel like I did after watching it. It's clearly not a book, but it's the same. Even when I read a book that I love it makes me feel the same. I can't wait to write and get those ideas down on paper.

 

 

So those are the few things that help me when I feel like I'm stuck when writing or can't think of anything. They truly did help me and I hope they help you too. Because this is my tenth blog post I thought I'd take my own photo when I was out. It's nothing special, I haven't got any editing software at the moment but look out for some edited photos! I'll definitely be showing my photography stuff soon.

 

 

FQ

 

 

 

The notebook that has been so helpful!

 

 

Imperial Spy Review

 

 

 

"Put tenderness into your words when you speak, for then they will fall like seeds in the warm ground. Do not use harsh words for they shatter and only rocks can take a hammering. - Anni Korpela

 

 

 

 

 

 

I read this book when I was maybe, fifteen, as a present from my nan and god did it have me excited and hanging onto it's every single word. I wanted to know what happened straight away and I'm surprised that I felt like this because I think this book is probably for an older age group than what I was. It's a book that will have you hooked and I can't stress this enough. I've recently misplaced it which has really annoyed me (I had it signed by the author, Mark Robson himself and everything! Even the other two) and I really would like to read it again.

 

First off I had never read anything about spies and assassins in this time so was really happy to get stuck in with the book. Here is a summary I found on the internet - 'Femke, a gifted and resourceful young spy, is entrusted with a vital foreign mission by the Emperor. Her adversary, Shalidar, frames Femke with responsibility for two murders while she is visiting their neighbouring court. Femke is isolated in an alien country, being pursued both by her enemies and by the authorities. Only her side-kick, Reynik, a young military trainee, can help. Together, they must outwit the evil assassin Shalidar and prove Femke’s innocence so they can complete the imperial mission. This is the first in a new series.'

 

Come on, does that not scream awesomeness?! This is exactly something that appeals to both male and female and I would like to say many ages, however I don't think  if I had read this book any younger that I would have understood everything. The plot was good paced and really makes you think about what will or can happen and overall was a gem. Mark Robson is such a good writer and he really inspired me with his books, it was books like his that made me want to be a writer. I will be forever thankful for that.

 

 

 

DQ

Lament Review

 

 

 

 

"There is no better task than making your dream become a reality" - unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

So during exam season there isn't a lot of time to read but somehow this weekend I grabbed a book from the shelf and managed to read the whole thing. This book is one that I've read before and seemed to have a lasting effect on me because it was different and wasn't overpowering and too long. Maggie Stiefvater is the author of this book and she's written books before that I've read (Shiver, Linger) and I can honestly say I love her them! So it was a sure thing I was going to love this one and I did.

 

The story revolves around Deirdre Monaghan a young girl who is exceptional at the harp. The book opens up with her feeling nervous about performing and out of the blue a guy turns up. A guy she's seen before. In her dreams! So you can see already there is a love story that will evolve (I mentioned I'm a sucker for that, right?) but there is more to it. She knows that the guy - Luke Dillon, is keeping things from her and she can't work out what or why. And here is the twist to the story, Deirdre isn't a normal girl, no. She's a cloverhand, a person who can see faeries and is under threat by the faerie Queen who wants her dead for her powers. I won't tell you her powers, I can't give everything away!

 

She is unaware of what she is until Luke Dillon comes into her life but when she overhears him speaking to someone about her she is suspicious. And here is why - Dillon is an assassin and his next target? Her.
 

 

The atmosphere to this book is what I like the most, with the flute, harp and imagery of these faeries it just reminds me of a story right from an old book. The plot was good too, not too slow and not too fast and Stiefvater pulled me in straight away. This book would more appeal to young girls and young adults and most of my reviews have been focused on this type but I have more coming up that appeal to both genders!

 

There is a second book to this that I haven't had the luxury of reading named Ballad, I'll look into getting that so I can have a review for you sorted!


 

 

                                                                         DQ

Switched review

"To write is a passion that comes from within yourself, write the stories that excite you" - unknown

Before I start this review I'd like to say a massive thank you to the artist Carina Grimm for mentioning my blog and to my friend for requesting it. I've only just started out and am amazed people are reading my stuff and I've loved every minute of this. Carina Grimm is amazing, please check her out if you haven't heard of her - http://aelathen.deviantart.com/. Maybe I'll do a post on her in the future if you guys would want to see some of her work. You won't forget it!

 

Now, onto the review. I read this book a while ago and never really forgot it. After reading I went out and got the other two (so worth it).  I've been on a fairy tale high lately (you could probably tell) and I was suddenly reminded of them. First off, I've never heard of this kind of story and it was completely original and really got me excited. The story basis around a young girl named Wendy who has never really felt like she fit in with the people around her. Her mother is in an institution for trying to kill Wendy when she was little and Wendy has never known why. When she meets a boy called Finn at her school he informs her that she really doesn't belong and that she is princess of the Trylle people and her questions begin to be answered. Trylle - don't know what I mean? I mean trolls. Yes, I wrote that right and I love the idea!

 

I won't reveal much more for the fact that this book is a read for those people who love fairy tales and a good leading story and I don't want to ruin it. I really loved the Finn character and the way that Wendy is, I believe that Amanda Hocking has presented her characters clearly and is willing you to fall for them.

 

After reading the blurb and purchasing though, I had another reason for wanting the first book and that is because of the author. She self-published this book, something many people are doing now and I thought that was amazing. I really did.

 

So there you go, if you've read it, please let me know your thoughts?

 

 

FQ

 

 

Nelleke Pieters

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."  ~ Maya Angelou

Photography is something that I've always wanted to do, editing, just creating anything enchanted in my mind. I love fairytales, that old fashioned love story. I'll be truthful, I'm a sucker for it. And this is why I go over so many edited photos of enchanting forests and pixies, princes and witches. Who doesn't love a good fairytale story? They have something for everyone. Evil, love, twists, magic and a little action. Excuse me if I go on a bit, can you tell I love them loads? I've just finished watching Once Upon a Time..

So after going through photos and sighing at my lack of skill, I came across some photos that not only inspired me to get writing last night, but made me so jealous at the skill that I started looking on editing sites to better myself. I've always wanted to create these types of photos and this is what I mean. Nelleke Pieters on deviant art's images are breathtaking and many have commented 'beautiful and magical' - something right out of a story book. Pieters has been on deviant art for six years and Is widely popular on the site. She deserved the shout out on this blog and I hope I get many of you to check her out!

It's worth it trust me, but just for a little sneak peak of what you'll be looking at, here are some images of hers.

Be confident

'Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self' - Cyril Connolly

This is something that every teenager has difficulty with, it's no lie, maybe some people hide it, but this is the truth. There are so many pressures from every corner to look nice or be a certain way but we don't have to! To be unique is something I really adore in people. Why not? Be you. No one else. So this is where what I really want to talk about comes in. And this is confidence within writing.

Every writer has a different style, they interpret things differently and as I grow as a writer and read more this is becoming so true with every day. I often find myself wondering if my stories would sound better a different way, in a different 'person' or with a different structure. This then makes me ask someone and I'm realizing that I don't need to. Your style is what makes you unique. I need to stay true to that.

It's always ok to let someone read your work to see if there are any loopholes or mistakes, if you trust them completely this is even the right thing to do. You need to know if someone is going to be interested in your story, if someone would buy your book when you reach your goal. I've found if you're having second doubts about your style, or if you're thinking it's no good. Have confidence. If you like your story someone else may.

Write your book for you.

I'm in the beginning part of my book right now and this is because I've written some before, but I lose myself. I lose my style in writing because I worry about what other people are thinking of it. I need to stop that.

I hope this post came in handy to any writers out there, I know writing this helped me loads. I've got some more tips and thoughts coming soon, look out for them!

 

FQ 

Write2liveCancerFree

              "Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself. ~ Franz Kafka"

I'm sitting at the table in the garden today, the sun is out and it's beautiful. It makes everything just that little bit prettier, the greens in the garden, the gleaming of the glass table. With my chilled glass of coke and ice and sunglasses, I'm ready to write.

 

 Anyway . . . enough of that. I'm writing today about a group on Devient Art named 'Write2liveCancerFree' where writers all over the site put their short stories into the monthly competition section and at the end of the month a few are chosen as winners. What happens next is all these pieces eventually come together to form a book for a charity in honour to Cancer. All the royalties will go to it. Cancer is a tremendously painful disease that has always been in the media because of it's utter harshness. Research is ongoing - all we want is a cure. I know the feeling of loosing someone to this, I know that pain.

 

I love the idea of this group, it's meaningful and a chance for writers to write with passion about what they chose and also get the variation in writing for this book. It's a chance for writers to get themselves noticed as well and I can't say enough how much this will mean to thousands of people when this book is published. The making of this group seems heartfelt, something extremely important with a message behind it. And this is why there is a blog post on it today.

There are already loads of unique and interesting pieces being submitted and

I now often go through and take a read whenever I have the time. You should too!

 

Admin of the group, Blake Moriarty, writes 'This group is all about writing short stories. Every month, I shall hold a contest and chose 1-2 stories from each month. At the end of the year, a book shall be published and all profit shall go to a Cancer Research Center to raise money to find a cure.' so there you have it.

Please, take the time to look up this group, it will be worth it!

 

Here is a cheeky little link to make it easier for you!

 

http://write2livecancerfree.deviantart.com/

 

 

DQ 

 

 

Jonas De Ro

"Write your first draft with your heart. Re-write with your head. ~From the movie Finding Forrester"

Devient art is a site I've been on for at least three years now to share my creative writing, but it's so great to check out new and amazing artists. Everyone has their own style or writing, their own ideas,  the site is fantastic for artists! I love exploring through picture after picture and after doing this for a few hours (while doing doing homeworkD:) I came across a certain picture that caught my eye straight away. It was the picture titled, 'Mandira' by Jonas De Ro, digital artist. This picture was exceptional, a fantasy town that looks like it's from a movie or a game. So naturally, I decided to look at his other work.

 

And all I could say is wow. His work is just a breath of creativity and you can really tell that it's his passion. The quality of the work amazed me and I truly consider checking him out. He's a concept artist for Warner Bros studios! If that doesn't scream professional, I don't know what does.

 

Take a look at some of his stuff!

 

 

 

 

DQ

 

 

 

 

Yeap, digital!



 

Mandira! the first picture I saw.

Immortal City review

“To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make.  ~Truman Capote, November 1967”

 

 

Wondering around an old English book shop I found myself reaching for this beauty, Immortal City by Scott Speer. The cover art is what brought me in straight away and of course, that caption 'When guardian angels protect for money, what happens if one saves for love?' I had never seen a book like this; never heard of this idea. And that's what I love, something new and different in the young adult book shelves that I haven't come across.

 

Now, the way Speer has described his characters and added all of those little details really had my hand turning quickly over each page. He has gone that extra mile in describing the angels clothing exactly, which is key to his characters. In this book, angels are a novelty to humans, they're celebrities and Speer has portrayed this excellently.

 

However the one thing that irked me is the few typos found in the book that I couldn't help but notice however when I was pulled into this story, this new world where angels save only people with lots of money, it didn't matter. I'm a sucker for a good love story, a twist between them and a little action - this book had it and as soon as I can, I'll be purshasing the second book.

 

Have you read it? What would you rate it?

Let me know!

DQ

Introduction

             "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth"


Many who read this blog will be thinking why exactly this blog has been made and honestly, all I can say is that I want to share my passion for writing and what it can do for you. I'm only young, I don't know what my future holds or what will happen, hell, I don't want to! But the one thing I'm sure about is that I will always be writing. The characters that I create, the plots, the scenes, everything about it excites me untill I have to have it written down. And why not? If you've got the will - go for it!

So this is my first blog post of hopefully many as I document how a young English girl is trying to acheive her dreams little by little. Everyone struggles with what they want to do in life, it's a path of winding roads that can swing you into any at whatever time. Throw you off balance untill you no longer know where you're going. Life is a rollercoaster. I know it. We know it. So why not have fun while trying to figure out who you are? That's what I'm doing and that's why I'm here.

I am currently writing my own book and will be sharing my journey into the world of publishing and contests that I may enter. There will be book reviews, artist reviews, perhaphs some do it yourself' posts and most of all, fun. I'm having fun with this blog and you're welcome to join me.