Full of possibilities

So today I will talk about my book. After I joined this cool site for writers http://www.mywriterscircle.com/ , I posted my first chapter to get feedback from other writers. After that it was apparent I needed to change my first chapter completely. Don’t get me wrong, it had some really good parts in it, parts I will add in here and there. I find the feed back helps me look at my work with a different perspective, and I love that. My first chapter was all tell and no show and no dialogue at all. Now it is much better, I like my new first chapter, and the new direction it is taking my novel. Now I’m fixing my next three chapters and tossing most of my 5th chapter. Before I was stuck, not able to write a single thing. Now I can write as I see all the possibilities for my character unfold.  I am inspired to create, my muse has returned and she is pushing me full speed ahead. I have a great idea for my next painting to, after my commission. I may use this painting as the cover for my book. The painting is going to be a fallen angle, and I was thinking that in my book after taping into her full power she gets wings but only when she taps into this power. It is a ruff idea but I think a good one. I thought I would share my new chapter with all my readers and friends so heir we go. please excuse my spelling and grammar problems, I have someone to fix that when I am all done. I would love to hear what all of you think of my new chapter.

Chapter one

My name is Sora, I was born the day the doors opened. My birthday goes unnoticed every year except by one person, my best friend Jessie, which is fine with me. I have a hard time understanding the importance of birthday celebrations, it’s only the passing of another year. This year I turn 18, no matter what happens I know I have a job to do. Take  my father’s place and lead our kind into battle for the future of all.  my uncle has kept my position until now, but he will pay for everything he has done.

A light tap on my shoulder, its Jessie. She raps her arms around my waist, I’m a lot taller then she is, she knows I’m in a bad mood. Jessie is a healer, a empath, she can read me like an open book. “Whats wrong, today is a happy day you should be smiling.”

“Thinking about my birthday, I’ll be taking over Helix from my uncle, it should have bin my father.”  My stomach terns as the music starts, and the leader of our fine city starts his speech.

This week is the festival that is thrown every year in celebration of the day the door opened, the day our thousand year imprisonment underground ended, The day I was born.   Washington city square is packed, we call it Washington city because Washington is the name on the door, the only word at all on the door. The door was everything for a long time to the people of this city. Jessie and I are siting on the stachu in the middle of the square, “with hard work and hope in our hearts we will make it through the darkness to the light.” these very words are carved in the base of the statue. Its a large willow tree, sleeping beneath its branches is a family and their two pets. The children are somber, looking more dead then sleeping, unaware of their fates. The mother and father hold them tight as they gaze into each other’s eyes, scared and yet sad. Maybe for the uncertain life ahead, knowing they would never see the sun again. The cat is curled up on the little girls lap, her hand gently laid on it’s back. The dog is curled up at his masters feet, but his head is up and ears perked, he is alert waiting for something coming out of the shadows. most people love the statue “its a cymbal of hope” they would say. To me its like a grave marker, dedicated to the world they killed. I find it to be sad, a reminder of how human kind drove themselves underground and shattered the world as they knew it.

“You have that look in your eyes again.” Jessie, she knows me all to well.

“Sorry Jessie, thinking, you know.” she knows everything, she is the only one I have trusted seance my fathers death.

“Was it about you’re uncle? We have time for that, lets just have a good time today.”

“You are right Jessie, what do you want to do when this is over?” At this point I feel a fourmilier feeling. “Rex, what is he up to now.”

“where is he?” Jessie asked me, but I haven’t pinpointed him yet.

Rex is a trouble maker, being mutants there are people who still don’t except us and he is a prime example why. He is a bully, uses his powers to pick on normal people and weaker mutants. He and I don’t get along, he doesn’t think I deserve the title of commander, but wants me to be with him, I don’t get it. My father held the position until his death, my uncle has held it until I could take over on my 18th birthday. Rex, my uncle’s pet, what are you up to?

“I found him, He is about seventy feet back and to the left of me. There are two other guys with him, and two girls. The girls are human.” I whisper all of this to Jessie. I’m taking just a moment to build up energy, just in case. He should know better by now.

“Ready?” Jessie whispers even softer then I had.

“Lets go.” we walk in his direction.

He can see us coming, looking right at me he smiles and raps his hand around one of the girl’s neck. I send out a pulse of energy as a warning and he tightened his grip. Picking up my pace I slip behind him one arm around his throat and my legs constricting his chest. I’m lighter therefore faster, and flexible two.   I take my right hand and place it on his face, I start to tern up the heat.

“You want to tell me what you think you are doing. Let go of the girl.”

“Do you know what you are doing, you aren’t commander yet, maybe never will be.” I make my grip a little tighter and he lets go of the girl, I won’t let go yet though.

“So you think you can threaten me. You don’t stand a chance against me.” His skin is turning red under my hand, soon I will burn his flesh to the point of scaring, right now it’s like a sun burn.

“There will be a time for that my beautiful and deadly woman.” He said with such lust in is voice a chill ran down my spine in disgust.   Removing my hand I flip off of his back with my hands on his shoulders to stand in front of him.

“I suggest you and you’re scum lackeys go back to you’re master and leave the humans alone.”

“One day sexy, you and I will see who is stronger.”

The girls are long gone by this point. That Rex is disgusting and a pig, He hates humans. I can’t stand to be around him, and I swear he picks some of these fights with me. I have never done a thing to make him think I feel any thing but contempt for him, still he thinks we have some kind of chemistry.

“Always impressive Sora. I can’t believe you can move like that, you must be our most skilled and capable leader. I will be proud to serve under you.” I hug her tight, she makes me feel better when I’m down. But at moments like this I know I can do it, I am capable, and I will win the war that’s coming. It was my three times grate grandfather that had a vision about the future, and formed Helix in response. It has bin told that a war would come lead by a man of grate strength and evil, he will seek to destroy all humans and any mutants that dare appose him. He will spread his evil over the new world. As commander it will be me standing in his way, as soon as we find out the who, what, and when part.

“Still want to go and do something Jessie?”

“Yeah. What do you have in mind”

“Dinner maybe.” We walk off before the gathering is over, but I have had enough, to tell the truth I don’t care and I’m ready to eat.   As we walk I feel something strange, someone I don’t know. What is that, I don’t recognize that energy signicher, its out of place here. It’s gone, just like that? Did they hide their energy, no one has bin able to do that with me. All I got was the person is strong, very strong. I will have to keep a look out for who ever that was.

Dreaming of Helix

Funny thing last night, I dreamed about my book.`I was my main character, Sora. I can’t remember most of the dream, but that isn’t the important part. What is important is what it made me feel. I woke up inspired to write, excited and eager, feeling like I had accomplished something. What I don’t know.

I do remember leaning over a table with plans in front of me, and shadowy figures all around me and the table. pointing places out, arguing with those around me we made plans to strike.

I remember a passionate kiss under the moonlight, his strong arms around me, shielding me from the cold of night. The smell of sand and dry air on the breeze hung all around us. completely alone I stared into his dark green eyes.

Then we rode out that morning on giant lizards. We made camp behind a large rock formation before dark, our small group there only for reconnaissance. During the night and during my time to keep watch I herd faint footsteps. They tried to hide there approach, but I was ready for them. Quietly and slowly I woke my companions. leaving our sleeping bags there we ducked around the opposite corner waiting for them to get closer. Coming out from our hiding place we attacked. subduing the three men quickly we tied them up to ask them a few questions.

That is it, all I can remember. It is funny how real it felt when I first woke up. I have had some strange dreams before, but didn’t think I would dream about my book. Not to mention none of this is even in my book. I can’t be the only one to dream about there book. I think some of it would make a good addition to the book, it had to be my subconscious trying to tell about my book.

So tell me what do you think about dreams, and what they can tell you?

Lets talk paint!

So for a change I’d like to talk about painting. what do you like to paint most? what kind of materials do you prefer?  Do you have a picture you can share. Even If you don’t paint feel free to share your favorite form of art you work in. From writing to sculpting what do you love?

I love to paint, I have for a long time . When I was in school Art was my best subject, the short time I spent in high school it was Art and technical design. I also joined a writers group that was short lived. From middle school on I won many awards, from 1st place to 3rd. This doesn’t mean I’m some awesome artist, I am just someone who loves all forms of art!

I painted this for my older brother and his now wife as a wedding present. (see photo at top) The colors in there wedding where the same as mine, red, black, and white, so the painting is to. I searched for the perfect close up of a flower to get inspiration from. I was going to go for realism and realized that just isn’t me, I want it to be from the hart. I love ow it came out. Nice stretched canvas, and oil paints, I only work with oils painting. At the time I painted this it had bin almost five years since I had painted a thing. I love It, and I am so happy to be painting again, even with limited time. I have a 8 year old, 2 1/2 year old, and 1 1/2 year old boys at home, things get busy in our house.

So there it is my favorite piece of my work, that I still have. I used to sell, but I have gotten better and want to start selling again. so far I have one I’m 1/2 done with it and it’s already sold! she asked for it and told me what she wanted, but I had an idea for part of it I think she will love.

Can’t wait to see and read about all of you.

Critiquing, a new experience

So as a new author writing my first book I had never bin critiqued, and had never critiqued someone else. Now I find its another part of the writing process I like a lot.

The more I write and the more I talk to other writers, getting feed back from two of them, I know this is what I want to do.

I have only critiqued one time, I’m still working on it. It is a lot like reading any other time, only you get to tell the author what you think. Say “this confused me” or “I really liked this part”, and “this could be better if you…”. I didn’t think I could do it at first. How could I tell someone I didn’t like what they did here, or this doesn’t sound right. I felt like that wasn’t me. When I got to doing it, I realized I could and I liked it. The book I am critiquing right now is very good, I’m enjoying working with the author. our dialogue is helpful to me, she is going to critique for me as well. I feel having more then one opinion will be good for me. but just two maybe three people will work for me. different people will have different ideas and thoughts, so I get more insight.

My first two chapters have bin critiqued by one person, and I’m waiting for the other to be done going over it. The feed back I got from the first person really helped me see my words from a different perspective. Not as the author but as a reader. Parts I was unsure about, dose this fit here or this doesn’t sound quite right, and hearing what she thought of those parts made it clear for me. some need to go, some need to change, and some are perfect. To hear that I capture the reader in the first sentence amazed me, made me feel confident. I didn’t work on my book for over a week because nothing came to mind, with the first for chapters done and not being shore about them I couldn’t move forward. Now I can’t wait to work on it, but I have to. I want to wait for my other critique partner to finish, then with both of there ideas I can make my book even better.

I am happy I started writing this book, I had waited long enough. Now with a better idea of how to go about writing certain parts I look at my book with possibilities. I think critiquing in a wonderful thing, helping the author to move forward with there work, to see it in a new light. thank you to my two wonderful critiquing partners!

What I have learned

After talking to some new friends, and reading some tips for blogging I think I can do this. I found an agents blog (thanx to a new friend) that I think would be help for any aspiring writers http://www.rachellegardner.com/ also http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/ has some grate tips. I have found both helpful. Not saying that now I am a blog expert, but knowing a little more shore helps.

I knew writing a book wasn’t going to be easy, but until I started I had no idea what I was getting into. With three young kids at home (8, 2, &1) I don’t have a lot of time, but I knew a long time ago this was something I wanted to do. It doesn’t mater if I don’t get this book published, what maters is that I’m happy with my work and enjoying what I’m doing. I’m an artist so I have always looked at what I do that way, at the same time being my own worst enemy. Just because I don’t like something I have done does not mean it isn’t good. So now I am taking my time, and figuring out who I am as a writer. I paint, tattoo, design most of the tattoos I do, and have written a lot of poetry, none of this compares to writing a book. I am creating hole new people, a new world, a different life from our own, I find it to be magic. Most of the time when I site down to write I’m excited, unless of course nothing is coming to mind. I know this post isn’t very long, but learning that in my mind I can do this is note worthy to me.

I would love to here from other writers. When you started did you feel like maybe you weren’t meant  to be a writer, that maybe you where wrong? How did you come to realize you where just being over critical of your work or self?

About Helix-war of 3031

My book Helix-War of 3031 (te name may change) is in the beginning stage. My heroine Sora, All she wants is to run Helix in a way that would make her father proud, and be ready when the war comes. She has to save humanity, and the advanced humans she calls her people. Her father was a strong, wise, and loving man to say the least. Her uncle murdered him in front of her without knowing, her mother killed her self after that, leaving her uncle to care for her when she was 11 years old. She wants to kill her uncle for what he did, but he is the last living family she has left.  She takes over Helix on here 19th birthday as her father wished, but no one believes she can do the job. She was kept from training in Helix, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t train, now she has to show them that. She has to finally let someone know who she really is, the parts of her she hides will be her greatest strength when she embraces them. lucky for her the right person just came into her life. With new knowledge of her past, the possibility of strong allies, and a new found love. Can she find the true potential she holds, can she become the hero her father new she could be. Can she save her people and the humans from the destruction her father prophesied?

I have only just started, But I am having fun writing it. after a good critique of my first two chapters I have more confidence in my ability to write a book. Some of it needs to change because its not quit right, but the rest it very good. I would like to share a bit of my first chapter (first draft) with you.

                            chapter one

My name is Sora, I was born the day the doors opened.
So my birthday goes unnoticed every year, which is 
fine with me. I never have understood birthday 
celebrations, it's only the passing of another year. 
Besides age is nothing but a number, its what is 
in your heart and mind. You can be 45 and still 
be just like a child. How you carry yourself, 
the way you think, the path in life you choose, 
everything you say and do, we are our actions 
not our age. Like my dear uncle Rasputin, he 
throws fits like a child. This year I turn 
nineteen, no mater what happens I know I 
have a job to do. Take my father's place 
and lead our kind into battle for the future
of all. Most start there training when 
finished with school, but my uncle has kept
me away from it all “for the memory of your 
father” he keeps saying. So when I take over 
I'll only have a short time to train with the
others. None of them think I can do the job, 
mainly because I've never trained with them. 
What not a single one of them knows is, I 
have a special place no one else knows about, 
my very own oasis I spend all my spare time in, 
thinking and training.
 This week is the festival that is thrown every
year in celebration of the day the door opened, 
the day our thousand year imprisonment underground
ended. Let me explain how we got here, how the human 
race ran deep in the earth from our own mistakes, 
from the destruction we knew we would do. How human 
kind changed on the genetic level, and why we now 
have yet another war coming. Can human kind live 
without war or violence? Will we ever find peace
and happiness, or one day destroy everyone and
everything on this planet. We almost did over
a thousand years ago, why not again. I intend to
make sure it never happens.

About me, Maria

I live in upstate NY, near Ontario lake. On a clear day, when we go to the park, I can see Canada on the other side. I’m a mother to three beautiful boys, 8 years, 2 years, and 1 year old, all their birthdays in April with mine (very busy month). I am a wife to a wonderful man who supports every thing I want to do. I have 10 piercings and 11 tattoos, more tattoos coming soon. I am an artist, painting, tattooing, sculpting (haven’t done that for a long time), poetry, photography, the list is much longer. As an artist I felt writing was the next logical step for me. I am enjoying every minute of it, writing, blogging (never thought I would blog), and critiquing. I not only want to talk about my book and the writing proses, but art in general in my blog.

I would like to share a poem I wrote a few years ago, but is so me. I came up with it when a very old woman came up to me on the side walk and said ” Do you know you are going to hell?” laughing a little inside I said “No, why am I going to hell?” “Because you have desecrated the lords temple with all your piercings and tattoos!” She looks so serious when she said this. I said “I’m not desecrating, I’m decorating!” well that made her mad of course, and she stomped off. later I wrote this:

You look at me that way  in disgust and disdain

I’m pierced and tattooed  I must be insane

But who are you to judge  when you kneel down and pray

Just because our beliefs are not the same

We are not so different you and I

for we are all the same when we die

This is nothing against religion, merely about judgment in general. Can’t wait to share more of what I love and who I in this blog.