100 Pages

I have great news to share with y'all today. By the end of the day, I will have finished 100 pages of my book "Dragon Earth." Woopie! Crack out the Root Beer bootles and let's have a party. Or maybe not. But you can tell that I'm excited. I even shot a video for you curious folk on what I've been up to. Take a look. :)

Writing Diseases?

Hiya! This is LaVel Moorehead. I want to mention 2 books that I'm looking to purchase soon and just a bit of background on them.

The first book is called "Unstuck: A Supportive and Practical Guide" by Jane Anne Straw. I chose this book because Ms. Straw recognizes the truth: that we all deal with writers block whether your a full fledged author or a college student or working in a business. When I read the summary some of the topics of the novel, I became excited. Ms. Straw deals with "fear and anxiety, carving out time and space to write, clearing out old beliefs and doubts, experimenting with genre, voice and subject matter, finding your voice." All of these topics matter to an author. Over time, I've managed to come out of my shell with writing but I still need more confidence so I can ask others for feedback. I definitely want to experiment with other genres of writing and not just fantasy or science fiction. Also, finding voice is key so I stand out from other writers. I remember in high school how I struggled to find my voice; the problem was that I was trying to emulate other authors and not be myself. It's not about the big words that nobody knows or the that impresses people in the end, it's your unique outlook and perspective in your writing world that counts.

The other book that I'm purchasing is "The Midnight Disease" by Alice Flaherty. In it, Ms. Flaherty. Of course, she deals with writers block but she goes a step further. She explores the scientific and psychological aspects of writing: the first which is Hypergraphia or the outstanding craving to write and the opposite which is Writer's Block. Explaining the feeling of Hypergraphia, Ms. Flaherty wrote "the sight of a computer keyboard or a blank page gave me the same rush that drug addicts get from seeing their freebasing paraphernalia." Wow! That makes me want to read her book even more. :)

So, I will purchase these books and break them down on the blog. I will write a blog post for each chapter or so in each book to explain my findings on Writer's Block. Feel free to share your thoughts on the authors, I would love to hear from you. So join me as we explore the world of...Writer's Block! Stay tuned, this is just the beginning. Peace. :-0)

Prologue: Safe House

Hello everyone! I promised to post the prologue of my novel to Blogging the Block and I didn't lie. Here it is. Remember, it's a work in progress so I will make changes and tweak it. But don't worry, I'm very happy with the starting point of my novel. Without further ado, enjoy the prologue of..."Dragon Earth!"

I guess what I would say before you read it is: The Pixie, the Knife, and the House of Stone. That's what you will encounter here. So read on. Click on "link text" below. :)


Link text

Purpose of Blogging the Block...Revisited!

Hello everyone, this is LaVel Moorehead. I'm baack! :) Today, I want to get back to the roots of my writing project "Dragon Earth" and my blog "Blogging the Block." Why did I start the blog in the first place? Here, I examine three main themes I have for the blog:

1. This blog maintains a diary of progress on my novel "Dragon Earth." Previously, I would have thought that a diary was "girly" or absolute nonsense. This isn't the case. In fact, I feel like I'm generating excitement while I'm writing and I believe this will make myself accountable to write every day. It doesn't matter if I write a sentence of five pages, it's the "act" that counts.

2. Extend my writing to a community of readers and writers. Many times, fellow writers keep others accountable to write. I know I need that because there are days when I don't want to write at all. This blog is a great way to receive feedback on my writing. I promised that I would post bits and pieces of my writing and I will. Thus, I will be able to receive some feedback on my writing. I will post my prologue soon so y'all can read the beginning of... "Dragon Earth!"

3. Examine the main question: what is Writer's Block? Some people think that it's a problem dealing with problem solving, some think it's a psychological problem, an emotional problem, etc. I want to examine what causes Writer's Block and how can fellow writers conquer it. Therefore, I will order several books on amazon and post articles on the blog for my blog community to read. I definitely need advice on how to conquer Writer's Block because I want to be as efficient as I can every day.

So, those are my three main themes for the blog. Originally, I came up with the idea for the blog because Dr. Orlando (my adviser at the University of MD, College Park) pressed students to brainstorm ideas for a creative project. I always wanted to write a book but I didn't feel the courage necessary to do it. But now, times have changed. I hope this blog will flow with great thoughts and ideas in the coming year and I hope you will join me on the ride.

Okay? I will post my prologue soon so y'all can read it. Of course, it's preliminary and I know I will edit and revise, edit and revise, edit and revise...ahh! But that's the writing process. I will see you soon so stay tuned my friends! Peace. :-0)

Divine Inspiration: A Message from Matilda

Hello, hello, and many times hello. This is LaVel Moorehead, how are ya'? I am doing fine right now; thankfully, I'm not sick anymore. I feel as free as a bee. Definitely, I feel back in the mode of writing. I've been revisiting my outline for my novel the past couple of days. I've learned a couple of things over the past few days so I'll let you in on it.

Well, one of my main characters Leo sits with his friend during lunch at school. And lo and behold, there's this student called Larry Temblore or "The Bull" who comes into the lunchroom. He wants to bully someone...and bully someone now. And who does he pick on? My other main character: Bilal. The Bull absolutely hates Bilal and calls him a "twerp" because a girl (Alexis, my other main character) stood up for him in an earlier chapter. While Leo wouldn't typically associate himself with the "nerdy crowd," he tries to help Bilal because....the Bull also threatens his crush, Alexis!

Dun, dun, duuuun! Oh the drama! So, that's trial number one. Why does Leo help Bilal? I established Alexis as the link, but I needed to go a step further. As I've stated before in earlier posts, Leo steals a magical object. Leo soon learns that this object contains powers such as telekinesis. The second trial dealt with Leo fighting the Bully? How would he do it and where does the magical object come in? Well, Leo's emotions are raw and powerful in this scene, and he guides his anger against the Bull through the Star Jewel (the magical object described). In chapter four (which I'm still writing), Leo's anger causes objects such as a lunchbox and other things on his lunch table move. He recognizes this and sees the Star Jewel glowing. Then, Leo connects two and two together and decides to move against the Bull. Ta-dah! I hope to get all the kinks fleshed out in revisions, but there you have it.

Writing takes planning and I didn't want to go in this scene without a plan. The Star Jewel is an important magical artifact because it's the essence of all five dragons of Dragon Earth. Leo doesn't know this...yet. But he will in the upcoming chapters.

So, who do I have to thank for helping me with chapter four? I have to thank Roald Dahl and his wonderful book "Matilda." Matilda learns that she has powers to move objects and she uses this to her advantage to fight the Trunchbull. Thus, Leo does the same with Larry Temblore, the evil, evil Bull. If you haven't seen "Matilda", go watch it because it's a great movie.

Well, I'm off on an adventure: homework, homework, and more homework. Pray for me y'all. I'll be back tomorrow with several blog posts that I think you'll find interesting. Stay tuned! Ta-tah and I'll see you then. Peace. :-0)

Starting Chapter Five

Hello everyone. This is LaVel Moorehead! I've been sick over the past week so I'm not feeling my best. However, I'm sticking with writing so don't worry. I will update every day. Unfortunately, this post is at midnight (which I shouldn't do! This is a habit which I must break!) :) But, I still wanted to create a post for Tuesday so here it is.

Where am I now? On to chapter five. This chapter is titled "The Golden Key" because Bilal (main character) discovers....you guessed it, a golden key. Not just any key, but the key which will open the secrets of "Dragon Earth." Figuratively in the sense that Dragon Earth is the title of my book but literally as well. I won't say what Dragon Earth is yet but this is the chapter that catalyzes events and binds the main characters here on out.

I wrote a couple of pages this evening. Here, Leo (who's the thief from chapter four) feels guilt from stealing a magical object. He's in the lunch room of Mace Lane's Middle School ( a real school in Maryland, mind you) and when he thinks about this, someone in the lunch room is being bullied. This bully is called The Bull. Don't you like that title? Well, the Bull is ferocious and I wouldn't want to mess with him. And the bully antagonizes a boy who Leo doesn't associate with. He's a nerd, and Leo's an athlete. I mean, what athlete messes with a nerd? (I bet they're tons who do but go with me here). Surprisingly, Leo may want to help this kid out and events will unfold in the coming days. I can't wait to finish the chapter.

So, I'm off to bed. But I will leave with a bit of advice. Prioritize. If you don't you'll be like me writing at midnight. Painful, but true. Alright, I'm gone. Peace. :-0)

The Thief, the Book Bearer, and the Investigator

Hello everyone! This is LaVel Moorehead, how are you this morning?

I have to make a confession. Over the past week, I have not felt up to it. I felt tired, sick, and just empty of all inspiration. I'll give myself some slack because I have flu like symptoms. However, I made a promise that I would post an update once a day, no matter how small. So today, let's make this happen. I will post an updte on my novel whether or not I wrote a lot or not that much in my novel. :)

So, I finished chapter four last night. The chapter title is "Ghosts" by the way. Oh no, don't think that this book is going to be scary. No! In fact, these ghosts may not be what you think.

So, like chapters one, two, and three, I divided chapter four into three sections. Each section features a different character, and these points of view will meld together in chapter six. This has been the biggest challenge where I write in different points of view. The reason for that is because these three characters: Alexis, Leo, and Bilal experience seperate but HIGHLY important tasks. In this chapter, Leo steals an important magical object. I can hear someone gasping "no he didn't!" Well, yes he did I'm afriad. Alexis receives a book earlier in chapter two and couldn't find it in chapter four, until she..."sees a ghost." Of course, I won't tell you what this ghost looks like. You'll have to read the chapter when the moment arrives. And last, Bilal sees a ghost with another character named Derrick see a ghost near a myterious house. What do all these events mean? I don't know, but something BIG is going on!

Now that I almost forgot, I must say this. I must post the prologue to the blog. Wohoo! I can't wait to do that, but first I must send it to Professor Orlando (a friend of mine) so she can look at it. She doesn't necessarily want to edit and revise it for me, but she wants to point out parts of the prologue which catches her eye and/or should be changed.

Now, where do I go from here? On to chapter five, that's what. This upcoming chapter is called "The Golden Key." Bilal shares a special moment in this chapter, a magical moment which you won't want to miss. Well, the others do as well, but Bilal caps this chapter off. I'm absolutely excited for it.

Well, I need to go. I have to go to church, but I need to clean my room before that. Authors and their space (or more like their dens). I hope you have a fabulous Sunday.

Peace. :-0)

Writer's Block - We All Have It

Hello everyone. This is LaVel Moorehead. Today, I want to bring up the topic of Writer's Block. What is it and how can we as writers overcome it?

I just read the article "How to Get Past Writer's Block" by Stanton Rabin. Ms. Rabin published 6 books since 2008 and helps writers prepare their manuscripts for submission. I love her take on Writer's Block. She says that we all have it; the way that people describe Writer's Block as "insurmountable" instead of surmountable. In her view, we all have problems in our writing, whether you're a seasoned writer or not. We just have to get through it.

How do you define Writer's Block? Ms. Rabin defines it in two ways. One, the writer has a psychological block. This psychological block deals with fear and failure. "Oh, I don't want anyone to see my work. Oh it's absolutely terrible. Yadda, yadda, yadda." I've said that to myself a thousand times. Writers write manuscripts and many go in the trash bin because they don't like the work or they understand that it needs improvement. So, understanding that writing doesn't mean that with one manuscript you're on the way to success and stardom is key.

An example Ms. Rabin uses in the article relates how students feel intimidated in writing a scene that requires a lot of emotion. She points out that this intimidation may be a way that we as human beings deal with conflict. Ghosts of Russian czars in a scene that Ms. Rabin wrote in "The Curse of the Romanovs" reminded her critics from her previous book. The ghosts told her main character Alexi to "give up," a reflection on how she felt before. Writers like myself need reminding that not everyone will enjoy our work and that criticism is part of the game. That's just life. Ultimately, we need to move on because someone out there will enjoy our work and we need to work on improving ourselves, not absorbing lies that we are useless.

Another main issue is the storyline. Is there a bump in the road of your story that you can't seem to pass over? Well, Ms. Rabin has some advice here. Alexi & his sister Alexandra plan to rescue 11 prisoners in "The Curse of the Romanovs." However, Ms. Rabin couldn't understand how they would get the prisoners out of a well-protected fortress. How, how, how would they pull that plan off? In the end, the author was inspired by Sherlock Holmes story "A Scandle in Bohemia" where Holmes uses a smoke bomb. Ms. Rabin was able to implement the smoke bomb in her story for her characters. Sometimes, writers just need to sit back and think and not worry too much. The solutions will come, only if we think the plot points through. Worrying won't help, it'll just stack on other worries where you're worrying about worrying. How's that for a tongue twister? Worrying wastes time. You just need to move on.

Before I go, let me leave several points that Ms. Rabin says that writers should consider (and some are shocking!)
1. Contrary to popular wisdom, don't "write what you know." -She says this because this may unconsciously place blocks to where you don't want to write about your past or you don't look at the work objectively to see if it's written well or not. Personally, I don't mind writers "writing what they know," but it's definitely good to look out for what she says.
2.Know that it's OK to abandon a writing project. - I've dealt with this personally this past summer. I started on the project "Pharador" thinking that everything was going to be brilliant. It wasn't. Once I looked at my manuscript and saw diverging plots such as virtual reality, mythical creatures, a magical land outside of Earth, I knew that I had to change course. Sometimes, it's advisable to stay on course and tweak your story, but sometimes, you should just change course.
3. Don't edit yourself too much while you're working on a first draft. - This is VERY interesting. Usually, we want to edit and revise immediately. For a manuscript, writers can save a a whole bunch of time by moving on to the next chapter. You can edit and revise later.

So, what do you think about this topic? I will attach the link to this post. Have a wonderful day. I will come back with more great articles and updates on my novel. :)
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=8aaa3f92-f7f5-425b-b45c-431ec38a6585%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=119&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=31259234
Peacec. :-0)

"What are you doing in my room?!?"

Hello everyone. This is LaVel Moorehead. I promised to get back to you sooner than later. Can I tell you something? These past few days have been hectic for me. I mean, combine non-stop reading with a tired LaVel and you get the picture. It's been hard for me to write, but I had the courage to write last night. No matter what, I made a promise to myself that I would write something in my book. It doesn't have to be anything lengthy like 5 pages, it could just be a paragraph or two. I need to keep the creative juices flowing and that means staying in my work for the long haul. :)

Now, where are we? Oh yes, you may be asking "what is the title all about?" Well, one of my characters is freaking out. Apparently, someone entered this character's room...I take that back, this character's house! Why? Of course, you will have to read it of course. But it doesn't make sense. I titled chapter four of my book "Ghosts" because there are a couple of "apparitions" appearing in this chapter. I won't give out what they are, but one of them appears in my beloved character Alexis Sinclair's room and another appears near an invisible house that only 3 young children can see. Cool, huh? It's a mystery that must be solved and one that I must write to the very end.

So, I must get back to my writing. I will post a couple of articles today that I found interesting concerning Writer's Block. The main challenge posing me is regulating myself and keeping a consistent framework to where I have time for my book. It's easy to wake up later because I want to rest my pretty little head. Well, time is limited and I won't have much time to write because I must balance it with college work. I would love to talk to other writers about how they balance their lives with their writing. That would be an interesting subject to take on. Okay? Have a wonderful day and enjoy the sunshine.

Peace. :-)

Finished Chapter Three & My Thoughts

Hello everyone. I told you I would have a quicker update, didn't I? Well, I finally did it. I finished Chapter 3 with 10 pages! Wonderful. I wondered when I would have time to finish it and I took time this morning to write as much as I could and I succeeded. :)

One of the main objectives that writers (this can be applied to anyone really) is to manage your time wisely. Sure, that sounds obvious but most people don't put that into practice very well. It's easy to get up late in the morning right before class instead of getting up at 7 am and knocking out a couple of pages or so of writing. That's what needs to change. Writers need to prioritize what's important to them and if writing is indeed a central focal point in their lives, they need to ensure that it becomes methodical.

So, what was chapter three about. If I could sum it up in three bullets, it would be: a dream, clever wizards, and an evil plot. Just for your information, the picture of the lake at the top is where the dream takes place, but the dream occurs in the dead of night! ;) It's a bit of a tricky chapter because three characters have the same dream so I want to tap into some of their thoughts that they have about the dream. "How will this affect me" is basically the main question. This chapter is the diving point for my novel because it sets up the suspense and drama where the main characters understand that they have an enemy. They don't really understand who are whom their enemies are, but they know they're out there and are planning to conquer them. Thus, the main characters realize that they need some help & protection to confront the unknown. Exciting? I think so!

So again, I'm at 70 pages now. I hope to hit 100 by the end of this week, but it isn't certain. I'll edit the chapter somewhat and refer back to my outline so I feel confident on where the story goes from here. I'm very excited as you can tell. This is where the action begins. This is where the characters start to bond together and learn more about each other. It's their time to shine.

Also, if I can leave a bit of advice which I may have said before (but I'll say again) will be: don't go into your piece trying to perfect it. All you'll do is say to yourself "this is rubbish" and never come out with any sense of accomplishment. Don't be so hard on yourself. Writing is a PROCESS. That's why you EDIT and REVISE. Yes, don't be lax, but don't think that you are supposed to be Jane Austen on the first go. Relax and enjoy what you're doing.

Okay? Well, I hope you're having a good day. I sure am. I'll be back with more updates and more advice to help writers. Have a wonderful day! Peace. :0)

The New School Year...and My Book!

Hello everyone out there! How ya' doing? :) This is LaVel Moorehead speaking. I've been gone for a while but wait no more. I'm coming back with more information on the progress of my book & the vision of my writing.

So...how has my writing been going? Very good actually. I've been immersed in the beginning of a new college year (Sophomore, yay!) I'm trying my best to get my bearings before I dive back into my novel and I may take a stab at it tonight. I'm in a scene where three main characters have an identical dream about an evil, evil wizard who plans to steal a magical object. Will he succeed? I don't know, but when I finish my novel, you'll find out of course.

This summer has been such a refreshing reminder for me. Like I said before in my first blog post, I've been a writer since I was little. So many people including my parents and friends complimented me on my writing. I've always enjoyed fantasy authors like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, and Christopher Paolini and I've always wanted to write a fantasy book. I even tried writing one in seventh grade and the results...were not so stellar. I'm afraid to ask my mom for the manuscript which is probably locked in the basement. How about I don't ask her? Wonderful. :)

Anyway, after my parents gave me feedback (feedback in which they told me the truth in love) that my story needed a whole lot of work, I became discouraged. I thought that I wasn't a good enough writer. "What if I'm wrong? What if others are supposed to be writers? What if I'm just fooling myself?" Such negativity discouraged me from writing stories in later years. It wasn't until freshmen year of college that I took a creative writing class. Working with other writers replanted my old dreams in my head. I knew then that my dream and my desire hadn't fled away. It had just hidden under the rug of fear and now it's time to take it out.

So, where am I now? I've written a prologue and two lengthy chapters which have come to 60 pages. I'm estimating that when I'm done the third chapter I will be at 70 pages and from my vantage point, the novel will be at least 500 pages! Daunting, huh? I don't mind writing a lengthy book, but my PERSEVERANCE must be put to the test.

So, can I give you a sneak peak of my book? I promise I will. :) I still need to get my writing up and running, but I need to balance it with my school work and other endeavors (hopefully, less distractions). If you've forgotten, my novel is called "Dragon Earth." Well, what should I say about it? It's an epic quest...it's a little bit of coming of age. Someone asked me before if it's allegorical. In a way it is and in a way it isn't...some mythological elements are in and a smidgen on theological elements. But, let me tell you that the story takes place in and outside the real world. That was one of the debates I had raging in my mind before writing this book. Should it take place in an imaginary land or the real world? I won't tell you exactly what I mean, but the story flips back and forth. I think it may stand out in this regard and I hope others like it too.

What's one piece of advice I could give concerning Writer's Block before I leave? I want to say a couple of things. One, return to your outline and your written manuscript. Grab a piece of paper and a pen and sit down. Are you happy with your manuscript? Why or why not? Asking these critical questions can shed light on why you're not writing and move from there. Talking to other writers about your thoughts and ideas can expand wisdom on what additional steps you can take in your work. There are a couple of road bumps that I foresee in my work that I need to work out. Thus, I'll need to take a sip of my own medicine!

Another short piece of advice (and something I'll expand on later) is what I call the "Demon Mindset." All the time, we can be bombarded with thoughts like "Oh, you're writing sucks," "your vocabulary isn't good enough," "you need more time for your writing to mature," "yadda, yadda, yadda." Well, I always say that there's a piece of truth to what the demons say. Obviously, you're vocabulary and writing will mature over time, but that doesn't mean that this isn't your time to shine. All and I mean ALL writers have to start somewhere and one day, they didn't just pick up a pen and paper or a computer and become a gifted writer. Writing takes time. And the more you and I understand this, the better.

So, I hope these words encourage you. I'll have more frequent blog posts up to detail how my writing is going. Now, I must finish a book review for my fellow author Greg J. Down's "Mordred." Wonderful! And perhaps, the scene where my characters stumble upon an evil plot...dun dun dun! So excited. Well, farewell my friends and I hope to see you again soon.

Peace! :0)

Historical Fiction vs. Other Genres

This is an article that I posted for "The League of Extraordinary Scribes," a wonderful writers circle which inspires me to write. It's about the difference between historical fiction, alternative historical fiction, and contemporary fiction. I hope you like it. :)

***
Hello League! This is Vincent LaVel Moorehead and I want to thank Elizabeth Dresdow for giving me the opportunity to write this article. Originally, she writes and posts articles for Historical Fiction this month, but because she's tied up in many matters, I have decided to help my sister out. Love Elizabeth, she's a dear. :D



I thought I would ask the obvious question: what is historical fiction? What is it y'all? We'll, here are a few bullets I'll share about the matter.



-Historical Fiction deals with a REAL historical events like WWI, WWII, Vietnam War, you get the picture.

-Characters have a portrayed realistically in their time period. Whether it's their clothes, their colloquialisms and manner of speaking, whatever, has to accurately reflect the time.

-One historical author Walter Scott suggested that "historical fiction" versus contemporary would be 2 generations apart from the present. A generation averages about 25 years. :0)

-Basically, the main characters in a historical fiction story are fictional. Yes, there can be characters than are historical, but mainly the protagonists are fictional players in history.



Examples of popular historical fiction books are: "The Grapes of Wrath" by, "Gone With The Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini, "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathanael Hawthorne, "The Color Purple" Alice Walker and "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I've been meaning to read "The Book Thief" because I've seen it in stories and online all of the time and I've heard its praises sung over and over. :) These books topics events such as The Dust Bowl, the Civil War & Reconstruction, Soviets invading Afghanistan in 1980's, etc. There's a wealth of good historical fiction books that I encourage you to read and here's a link for you to look at some if you wish.

http://www.onlineclasses.org/2010/06/01/100-all-time-best-historical-fiction-books/



Now, I want to clear some things from your mind by asking what is "alternative historical fiction," "fantasy," or "contemporary fiction?" :) Let's see:



Alternative Historical Fiction- This is like historical fiction reversed. Yes, the protagonists are fictional, BUT events in the story are not the same as history. An example would be that the South wins the Civil War or Martin Luther King Jr. is still alive. It can even reach into the bowels of science fiction or Steampunk. Issac Asimov wrote the story what if" where a couple explores alternate realities. Cool, huh? Phillip Roth wrote "The Plot Against America" in 2004 where President Franklin D. Roosevelt was defeated in his 3rd bid for President of the United States. Steampunk novels employ settings where people use steam like the Victorian era instead of proper electricity. It's an interesting genre that I haven't looked in too much, but some Steampunk novels are "The Proper Machine" by Neal Barrett Jr. and "Infernal Devices" by K.W. Jeter.

Look here for more Steampunk titles. :)

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6720180.html



Contemporary Fiction - Probably the easiest out of these definitions. This kind of fiction takes place today or in the recent past. It has historical overtones, but violates the "2 generations or more rule." :0)



I want to leave you with a link to the article "What are the rules for historical fiction?" by Sarah Johnson, a professor at Eastern Illinois university. I know that several scribes want more information on how to get their HF writing up to scratch and who knows...there could even be a contest with historical fiction!

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6720180.html



Tell me what you think about the article and I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. God Bless. :D

Guest Post from Author Greg J, Downs

Hello everyone! Today, I have a special guest who would like to share his own journey with the art of outlining: Greg J. Downs. :D He's my age by the way and impressed me to no end; has written two books, the first of which is "Mordred" (I will release a book review soon & I know Greg has waited patiently for it) and "Brother Thief." So, without further ado, here is Mr. Down's article. :D


"How NOT to Outline"
By Greg J. Downs

Hi all, this is LaVel's pal Greg. I saw his post on outlining recently, and it really started me thinking about my own horrible, horrible battles with outlining my work. These thoughts swam around in my head for a while before finally deciding to spill out on paper... er, I mean my Word Processor... and now they've grown into a blog post. LaVel has graciously permitted me to take up his blog space with this, so I'll try to make it worth your while without devolving into one big marketing push for me ;)


I am a full–on, 100%, purebred NERD. I love all things fantasy and most things sci–fi, and this love in turn has produced two novels over the course of time– both of which have been incessantly plagued with outlining difficulties. I'll use examples from each to make points about the subject of outlining... mostly by saying DO NOT DO THIS. (See, this should be making you feel good about yourself already.)


Point #1– Everyone outlines, even those who think of themselves as seat–of–the–pants writers. Everyone starts with an idea, right? I started out by wanting to write a story about King Arthur. Then I decided I wanted King Arthur to be the bad guy, and Mordred, the traditional villain of the legend, to be the good guy. When I sat down to write the story, I decided (in my head) that the best way to make King Arthur the bad guy was to have him order the death Mordred for no reason at all (that Mordred could tell, anyway).


See? I already had a sort of mental picture in my head... and that is the simplest form of outlining.


Point #2– Do not not outline. Yes, I used a double–negative. Take that, grammar class! Anyway, what I mean by saying that is: if you want to write a novel of any length, outlining is essential. While writing my little anti–King–Arthur story, my outline read something like this: “Mordred's village is attacked by the knights of the round table and his parents die, so he runs away into the forest and meets the lady of the lake.” Okay... that little one sentence outline took two 10–page chapters to write (that's 40 paperback pages).


My point? Stories grow. They're living, breathing things. You need to outline your WHOLE book, if it's a book you're writing– and short stories/novellas/novelettes are the same. You also should outline as detailed as you can without losing the fun of the story, so you have an idea of just how long the darned thing is going to be. Now for most people, 1 line of outline will NOT equal 1 chapter of book– that's probably a problem only I have. But you need to know where your story is going, no matter how much space your outline takes up.


When I realized that (more or less) any single sentence I wrote in outlining would become a chapter, I quickly scribbled down a few more sentences to bring my story to a close (I thought it would be a short–story series at the time). Long story short? Mordred fought the forces of King Arthur and Avalon for 30 more computer pages before escaping from a sinking island, saving the King's deadliest knight from death–by–evil–witch, and generally kicking butt everywhere he went.


And guess what? I realized I wasn't done.


Point #3– Outlines are written in easy–cheez, not stone. I'd written about 40 pages of story from a paragraph of outlining. There were still a bajillion strings left untied in the tale, and suddenly I knew... deep within the nerdiest corner of my heart... that I really could write a book. 40 pages... that's like a quarter of the way done, right? So one night I stayed up REALLY late and wrote a four–page outline of my book. I would have to change some things in the original 40–page story, to make it flow better, but so what? (You can tell I'd already forgotten the 1 sentence outline = 1 chapter rule.)


My re–write of those 40 pages ended up being 70 pages. At the end, it looked NOTHING like the original story. My first outline? Useless. My four–page outline? Useless, too. The story had morphed as I re–wrote it, so that I had to write a 3rd outline! This annoyed me hugely, but I've since learned it happens with everything– and I mean EVERYTHING– I write.


My new book? Something like 10 outlines, all very different from each other as the story changed mid–writing.


What I'm trying to say is that while I know I just told you outlining is essential, I didn't tell you the whole thing. Outlining is important, but just like stories, outlines grow... and change... and sometimes DIE A BLOODY DEATH!!!! So if you need to change your outline, do it! If it requires changing huge chunks of story, change them! Or maybe, if that would be too painful, find a way for your new outline to incorporate what you've already written– find a new reason all those prior events are important.


So, what have we learned today, class? Numero Uno: Outlining is natural and unavoidable. Numbah Two: If you want detail in a story, you need a detailed outline. Number Three: Outlines are like transformers. They were made to look cool, no matter what shape they're in. So transform them at will.


_ _ _


About Greg: Here's where I market myself to you poor people who actually suffered through that whole lecture :P I'm a young author with one book available for the Amazon Kindle and another on the way. To keep track of my writing, 'like' the pages for my books, at http://on.fb.me/mSopPP and http://on.fb.me/p97MbP, or follow my blog at http://bit.ly/ovSDvP. Want to know how that King Arthur story ended? You can buy it as an e–book at http://amzn.to/qoEG1u. Good luck to all you writers out there, and God Bless!


So, what did you think about Greg J. Down's article? Post below on my blog and tell me what you think!! I tell ya', I loved every bit of what Greg had to say. :D

My View on Outlining

Hello everyone. It's great to be back on my blog and I'm sorry that I've taken a longer break than I expected. But here I am! :)
So, what have I been up to? Outlining, of course! Well, how could you have known that? I've been on a wishy-washy journey trying to find the right course for my novel. Originally, I started writing my novel originally titled "Pharador" but for some reason, I felt stuck. Now why would that happen? Why would little LaVel with all of his passion and desire for writing feel dead in the water? Because I wasn't prepared for the novel. Sure, I wrote a few pages of notes for the novel, but I wasn't prepared for everything that comes with adequate OUTLINING, some research, and good advice.
What I've learned is that I can place writers into two categories: a "seat of the pants" writer or an outliner. "Seat of the Pants" writers prefer to just write whatever comes to mind for their novel without any concrete outline. Sure, they may jot a couple of things down, but they take an idea and run with it by writing as much of their story as they can. Outliners on the other hand feel the need to sit down and give some sort of structure to the plot of their novel. Usually, these writers list what will happen in certain chapters and as much character background as they can.
For myself, I learned that I have to outline. Yes, some plot points and details to the story may come later down the road and it's exciting to have spontaneity. Some scene that you weren't thinking about before may come a day or so before you write another chapter for example. However, if you know what destination you're trying to head to, you can finagle the routes to get there through outlining. I sometimes think of writing as problem solving because there are times when I outline and think "Hmm..how do I get to this point? How does so-and-so obtain these magical objects or what relationship does so-and-so have with this person?" These are questions writers have to ask themselves, and if you write the answers down in an outline, it won't be as hard as trying to make it up as you go.
So I will leave you with a quick tip. For my book, I started with a "rough outline." I took about three blank sheets of computer paper and wrote down approximately 26 chapter titles for my book. Then in bullets, I wrote what will happen in each chapter. Afterward, I gathered 26 sheets of paper for my "chapter sketches" and wrote in more detail what will happen in each chapter. I think it's better to elaborate on what will happen in each chapter so it's not as difficult as looking at a few bullets and wondering where to go from there. So, don't feel discouraged. Outlining takes some time, but it's rewarding in the end. I will definitely write more on outlining so stay posted.
If you have to know the new title for my book, I will share it with you. Here it is...the title for my book is called "Dragon Earth" and I'm every excited about it! So, get out your pen or computer and start outlining! :-)

The End (Or the Not-So End) of the Harry Potter Era

Harry Potter. Immediately when I say the name, you think of the lightning-scared wizard pursued by the evil Lord Voldemort or "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Maybe you think about Albus Dumbledore, the kind-hearted headmaster who watches over the boy wizard or his best buddies Ron and Hermione. The list goes on and on through characters who brought the series to life.

Perhaps, you aren't so fond of the series. Perhaps, there's more of a religious component concerning witchcraft which deters you from it. That particular hot button issue has been debated in the religious community and I understand if some Christians, Muslims, or anyone for that matter has a problem with the books. No one should go against any heartfelt beliefs or convictions. However, I want to break down some of the history and success that brought the author J.K. Rowling, a woman who lived in poverty and depression, become the first billionaire author and an inspiration to millions and ultimately the world.

As some die-heart Harry Potter fans know, J.K. Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, the same day that Harry Potter was born! She and her younger sister Dianne (otherwise known as Di) lived in Yate and then Winterbourne, England. I can look toward Ms. Rowling and see some of herself in me because she was a storyteller from the start. Her very first story was called "Rabbit" and the story was about, well...a rabbit of course. :) As Ms. Rowling grew into a young adult, the dream that she carried was becoming a novelist. Wary of her grandiose dream, her parents told her that becoming a novelist probably wouldn't work out and that living as a writer would not secure a large salary. What a bummer. So with that in mind, she went to the University of Eleter and studied French and then switched to Classics. Yep, I can make an excuse to my parents if I want to switch my major because I can point to one of my favorite authors J.K. Rowling. Sorry mom and dad! :)

If you read "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and onward, you will read about creatures called the dementors, dark hooded creatures that suck the souls out of their victims. These creatures are the antithesis of hope, freedom, and peace and exude a magical presence where one feels hopelessness and depression. If you know about Ms. Rowling's past, the woman divorced her first husband because he was absuive to her & she and her baby daughter became some of the poorest people in Britain without actually being homeless. Living on benefits, Ms. Rowling moved to a small flat in Edinburgh. It all seems like a sad story with no hope at all...but no-no-no, there is light! Ms. Rowling has a dream on a train in 1990 about a little boy with a lightning shaped scar who took a train to wizarding school. Her idea snowballed into the manuscript that became "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" or "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (publishers thought the word 'sorcerer' would appeal to the American audience).

Let's look at her success. Ms. Rowling wrote 7 Harry Potter Books published along with supplemental books such as "Tales of Beedle the Bard" and "Quidditch Through the Ages." She has sold over 400 MILLION COPIES of her books and her estimated worth is $545 MILLION DOLLARS and counting. No wonder her life is called a "fairy tale" or that she's "richer than the Queen of England."

But what I'm trying to get at more is her path to getting published. This is information that even I did not know! Did you know that TWELVE publishers turned down "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" before a publisher knows as Bloomsbury accepted the manuscript? Nigel Newton, the chairman of Bloomsbury publishing, received the manuscript but didn't feel like reading it (for unknown reasons). He gave it to his daughter Alice instead, who feel in love with it immediately. She pestered him for months to publish the book and then soon the company gave her a small royalty check. Bloomsbury was willing to publish her book!

What do Ms. Rowling's struggles mean? I could say the proverbial "try, try again" or "slow and steady wins the race," but I think it's deeper than that. I think listening to family, friends, God, your religion, or other people's advice should come first and translate that to your goals and convictions. Ms. Rowling's parents told her that she probably wouldn't make that much money being a writer and let's face it...that's true. Major league publishers accept .5% of submissions and even those books that are accepted have a small chance to be a "bestseller." Ms. Rowling went on with her life and wrote now and then in college, but she still received an education and followed a career as a secretary. She did something with her life that got her to where she is now.

On the other hand, I think we need to remind ourselves that life is not a fairy tale. I know, dark words, dark words from an eighteen, almost nineteen year old. But it's true. Ms. Rowling went through hard times: a tumultuous divorce and economic downturn. She had it rough, but you know what? She didn't stay down. She provided for her baby and kept her dream alive by writing and look where she is now. Of course, her success story won't be the same for most people. However, I think the moral stays true where we need to keep our dreams alive. I know as a writer, I can't say that enough. Keep the dream alive and never lose sight of your dreams.

Just a quick fact before I go. Did you know that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" made $834,582,000 million dollars worldwide? AMAZING. It testifies to the power of Ms. Rowling's imagination.

Tell me what you think about Ms. Rowling's journey and the latest Harry Potter film! Alrighty? Have a wonderful day and keep the imagination alive.
Peace. :)

The City of Bones Book Review

Hiya! This is Vincent LaVel Moorehead: writer, reader, and book blogger extraordinaire. How are you? It's a bright sunny day, so I'm in a great mood to write about the book "The City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare. First, I read this book near the end of my freshman year in college and some people were astounded that I could read at the end of finals. But hey, couldn't help it. :-)

One of the first things that I noticed while reading the book were the quotes Ms. Clare placed before each "part" of the book (there are three parts in the novel). In part one, John Milton writes in his book Paradise Lost "I sung of Chaos eternal Night, Tonight by the heav'nly Muse to venture down. The dark descent, and up to reascend..." A little somber, don't you think? ;-) The quotes before each part signify a journey to the underworld and the main character Clary certainly finds herself struggling to find out who she is by traveling to..The City of Bones! I won't give away what it is, but the metaphor above should give a glimpse at what it is...

So..who are the main characters? We have Clary Fray and Simon Lewis, who have been school buddies since forever. Jace Wayland: the main leader of the Shadowhunters, Alec and Isabelle Lightwood are Jace's companions in what's known as the "Institute" in New York City, the Shadowhunters' headquarters. If you don't know, Shadowhunters are the offspring of angels and humans (aka Nephilim) who hunt demons, vampires, werewolves, and the like. Jace is the bad boy and commanding force, Alec is the bratty, ill-tempered boy, Isabelle is the confident but insecure girl, and Simon is the nerdy but caring friend (a little more than just caring as you'll see in the book). And well, Clary is...just Clary: inquisitive, protective, and intelligent.

What I love so much about this book is that Ms. Clare didn't play it safe. Here, the main character doesn't understand why demons stole her mother while she hangs out with her friends. She doesn't understand why a bunch of teens kill another teen who happens to be a demon. All of these questions face the reader and I couldn't put the book down as I raced to find out what's going on and what will happen to dear Clary. Frustration is a tool which writers should use so the characters can discover the truth and for that, Ms. Clare scores a point! :-) It's an edgy, face-paced novel which kept me on the edge of my seat. Did I say that there are vampires and werewolves in the book? No, not a twilight kind of romance novel, although there's romance in the book.

So, what's the series about? There are 3 Mortal Instruments, a sword, a mirror and a cup. The primary instrument in "The City of Bones" is the Mortal Cup, an object formed by the angel Raziel which carries his blood alongside human blood. Within it lives the power to create Shadowhunters, a power which the antagonist of the novel Valentine craves. The action of the novel intensifies when Clary learns of the location of the Mortal Cup, and evil forces come against her and the Shadowhunters to seize the Cup.

Let's talk about unique. Why the heck does Jace (I don't mind sharing his name) wear tattoos on the front cover of "The City of Bones?" Apparently, Shadowhunters derive their magical powers from tattoo runes. Ms. Clare received her idea for tattoo runes by walking into a tattoo shop one day and looking up at the ceiling and seeing dark footprints. Then, she began to imagine that some great battle had been fought there and thought about monsters, heroes, swords, good and evil, everything a good fantasy book needs. It was such a refreshing twist in the novel and I think that fantasy readers who want a different approach to magical fighting will find it here in "The City of Bones."

I give this novel a 3.5/5. I absolutely adore the description and especially the metaphors which Ms. Clare utilizes. I think that everyone will enjoy the pace of the novel, which doesn't drag. However, there were points in the novel which I thought were too good to be true (examples are when Clary comes up against a demon herself and kills it in the beginning of the novel and when an incredibly powerful demon almost destroys the Shadowhunters, but is defeated towards the end of the novel). Also, a romance plot point at the end of the novel turned me off, but I will let other readers decide if it was appropriate. All in all, I loved the first book in "The Mortal Instruments" saga.

I can't wait to see what will happen next in "The Mortal Instruments." There are 5 more books in the series and 2 haven't been released yet! Tell me, what do you think about "The City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare? Send me your thoughts by posting a comment on my blog here.

Peace. :-)

The Hunger Games Book Review Video Post

Finally, it's up. I've been dying to share this with readers because I love this book so-so-so much. Tell me what you think! Is The Hunger Games hot or is it not and why? :-D

"The Hunger Games" Book Review

Finally! This is my first book review and I am SO excited. Are you? When I thought about what book I read recently which I would recommend, I didn't think long about it. Right in the middle of my bookshelf sits the wonderful novel "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Typically, I wouldn't read a "dystopian" (a society characterized by oppression, human misery, squalor, etc) science-fiction novel. Admittedly, I thought about George Orwell's "1984" where Airstrip One is under government control and some readers can think "Okay, The Hunger Games is definitely up my alley" or "Zzzzzzz." Have no fear, "The Hunger Games" is a treat. It's a dynamic, kick-awesome thriller which will keep you on the edge of your seat. Read on. :)

So...Suzanne Collins, who is the author of "The Hunger Games" by the way, said that she arrived at the idea for the novel when watching a newscast about the Iraq War. Then, she oddly started to think of what would happen if the Iraq War combined with Gladiator fights. Gladiator fights and the Iraq War, really? That's an..interesting combination to say the least. But Wah-lah, that's how Ms. Suzanne arrived at "The Hunger Games" and it's paid off handsomely. ;-)

Then, what makes "The Hunger Games" tick? What makes readers around the world say that "this series is so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so" good? What makes Stephen King say "A violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense. Couldn't stop reading." Because this series pulls together an unusual and mysterious world where all that matters is survival. The raw emotion and high stakes pulled me in immediately and they'll pull ya' in too.

The main character of the novel is Katniss Everdeen. I love that name...K-A-T-N-I-S-S. It's not a conventional, stereotypical name like "John Smith" from "I Am Number Four." (No offense lol). She is a 14 year old girl with a young sister named Primrose who live with their single mother in District 12. Apparently, all that's left of North America are 12 districts under the rule of The Capitol. The Capitol is a tyrannical regime which forced all districts under submission in a war. There were once 13 districts, but one of them was destroyed, thus only 12 remain. Sad, isn't it? :( To keep everyone under control, The Capitol forces each district to give their food and resources to fund The Capitol and its inhabitants. That angers me still! :( Not only that, each district must send in 1 girl and 1 boy to a series of Gladiator fights called "The Hunger Games" where the children must kill one another until one is left. These "games" can take weeks, so it's obviously a fight-for-your-survival kind of book. I didn't expect this at all and I couldn't stop reading to see what happened to Katniss.

So...there is a lottery in each district to dictate who's chosen for the Hunger Games and...Primrose is chosen. To save her sister, Katniss chooses to fight in the Hunger Games in her stead (which she's allowed to do) and a boy in her district Peeta (the Baker's son) is chosen as well. They become a hot item in "The Hunger Games" and Peeta tells Katniss that he loves her. Now, I thought in the beginning that he wanted to get her on his side so he could kill Katniss in the end. However, I think that he truly loves her because he brings her food in the beginning of the book (one example), but you have to read the book to see what I mean. I give Ms. Suzanne a standing ovation for putting emotion in the right places. :)

Action...I didn't believe that the author would put these 24 children against one another. Wooh...when Katniss actually stood in the arena preparing to either retrieve a weapon or run off into the woodlands to find shelter, I said to myself "this is REALLY happening." But don't worry, Katniss is a beast with a bow and arrows. This girl can shoot, so I felt more comfortable (but still I was worried for her safety throughout!) That's the mark of an excellent author when she can make a reader care about what happens to a character.

I give "The Hunger Games" 4/5 stars. Seriously, it was THAT good. Ms. Suzanne doesn't spoil her work with unnecessary big words or developing a main character who's voice sounds middle-aged. If you don't have a copy, get one at your local bookstore or library RIGHT NOW or else. :) What do you think? Do you like "The Hunger Games" Post a comment below and I'll be sure to reply. Thanks for reading, peace. :-)

My Blog "Blogging The Block"

Hey guys! I hope I had the chance to introduce myself properly and my blog. Ooh, the challenge of uploading the video. Why? I'm so not tech savvy. :)

Welcome to Blogging The Block!

Hello, hello, and many times hello! Welcome to my site "Blogging The Block," a place open for writers and curious fellows alike. Obviously, I want to tell you why in the world I started a blog in the first place and why I would call it "Blogging the Block," but I have something that I want to say first.

As we all know, this is the 4th of July Weekend. I would like to say to all our men and women and uniform, thank you for your sacrifice and service to this country. No words or eloquent phrasing can justify the gratitude that I and other Americans share to your defense of this country. God Bless ya' and Happy Independence Day to everyone out there. :)

So, who am I? I will tell you, reader. My name is Vincent LaVel Moorehead and I am a student at the University of Maryland College Park. (To those who are indeed curious, yes I am 18 an I can tell you were dying to know that.) I am a writer, reader, book blogger extraordinaire, you name it. I cannot tell you the burning in my soul (hope that's not too cliche lol) concerning how much I love to read and read and read and read. I'm a fantasy reader first and foremost. I think Chronicles of Narnia is the earliest series which I really delved into, and Magic Treehouse as well now that I think of it (Go Mary Pope Osbourne, and she's still dishing out her books!) I'm a Lord of the Rings junkie and if you give me a new fantasy book or series to read, I'll go out and do it. Don't tempt me. ;)

Now, back to my question. Why did I start this blog in the first place? I started "Blogging The Block" because I wanted to create a place for writers who are annoyed at themselves. Many writers think "why the heck can't I get my ideas out on paper? Why am I stuck in a hole (so to speak) where I can't write pages upon pages that I'm proud of? Alas, the predicament named Writers Block. I have that feeling ALL the time and that kept me down in the past. There were years where I wouldn't write because I didn't think that I was good enough, but no more. Now is the time where I choose to conquer that monster of deceit and negativity. Journey with me to this destiny. :)

As I said before, I'm a student at the University of Maryland, College Park. I have two professors I have to thank for this blog: Dr. Orlando & Dr. Carluccio, you all are the best. When I came into college, I came into the Honors Humanities Program. This program requires students to complete a Keystone Project where I have to complete some creative which can include film, writing, music, drawing/painting, you name it. This gave me the opportunity and the will to start what I've always wanted to do with my life which is...writing a book! I've always wanted to become a fantasy writer and I'll probably branch off from that into some other genres even if I have success or not. I love it and I will do whatever it takes to fulfill my dream!
That's why I created this blog, so I can chart my progress and tie it into the Keystone Project. Mainly, I will have book reviews and little snippets from my book as I go along. If you want to know, my tentative title for the book is "Pharador: Book One of The Swords of Vadria." Of course, I'm excited to see where my writing takes me and I want you to come along as I start this blog and complete book reviews, release book excerpts, and interview other authors.

Are you with me? Well, let's go and go on this adventure. That's for reading and I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend.
Peace. :)