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Posts Tagged ‘writing’

Hawaii Homes and Living

30 Oct

As I mentioned, I am writing for a new Hawaii blog called writing for a new Hawaii themed blog,  Hawaii Homes and Living. It’s the side project of a local realtor and it’s a pretty cool idea. She basically wanted an eclectic group of writers to write about their own Hawaiian perspective.

Contemporary Art Museum

Contemporary Art Museum

We have a guy writing about practically magical experiences growing up on the islands, a transplant from LA who has been here for six years, a yoga teacher writing about her ohana (family), and me fresh off the boat, as well as a couple others. I currently have just one post up, but I’ll be actively working on sharing my experiences both here and there. I obviously cannot track the analytics on that one, but I would very much appreciate it if you gave it some love.

 
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Posted in Hawaii, Writing

 

NaNoWriMo

29 Oct

National Novel Writing Month, colloquially known as NaNoWriMo, or that thing I have been unreasonably excited about (as though the fact that up until this point it has only been my lack of participation in this event that has kept me from completing an epic novel), begins in three days!

NaNoWriMo

What does that actually mean and why does it matter?

NaNoWriMo is an event that takes place every year during the month November. It asks you to visit a modest little website, make yourself a profile and write a synopsis of your great story idea. Then, beginning on November 1st – and no sooner – writers from around the world (it’s actually international) write furiously to squeeze 50,000 words (each) out of their brains.  This number may seem both big and small. Big, in the sense, that most of us have some other things going on and we ain’t got no time for that nonsense, but small in the sense that this length doesn’t really constitute a novel.

And that is the glory of it! It’s small enough to do- you do actually have time for that if you have a story in mind and devote a couple hours per day to it. It’s also big enough to be a damn good start. You probably won’t finish your story- unless you are an excellent and concise storyteller- but when you put that much work into it, it’s a shame to stop, so the idea is that you will keep going into December and beyond, until it’s done.

It matters because the way I see it, NaNoWriMo is a big daddy of good excuses. While there is nothing inherently conducive to novel writing that happens during the month of November, I think it’s the arbitrary nature of this event that make it cool. It’s kind of like, Just Do It, but with a time limit and a measurable goal.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve decided to write a sci-fi story about a dystopian future, controlled by an inept monarch and a corrupt congress. I’m also attempting to do things correctly – write a good outline, and strongly developed character bios before I begin. We’ll see what happens. So far, my main characters look like this:

  • Elisha Elisha Elisha – a clone of a clone of a clone, who is grotesquely deformed and in charge of controlling a large portion of the future world
  • Arkadan Markadan – a sheltered  royal servant, thrust into a terribly uncomfortable situation because of one stupid thing he does for a girl
  • Malia – an idealistic rebel commander
  • Serge John – a hilarious logistics man from the slums.

 

And no, my main goal in life has never been to be a novelist, but I have all of these stories in my head and I just want to tell them however they may come. Like my attitude with most personal projects these days, it may turn out well and it may be awful, but I’m going to have fun telling myself a story.

 
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Posted in Writing

 

Another Ketchup Post

28 Oct

This- this post- is just the dressing, not the actual dish. The substance will follow shortly, but I wanted to make sure that that the main course was seasoned with an overview  of what I’ve been up to for the past couple weeks. On that note- before I even get to the catching-up part, I want to comment on this pattern of mine- this almost regular burst of intense bloggery every couple of weeks with nothing in between.

It’s interesting. We all have patterns, but never before have they been so damn public and measurable. On the one hand, I don’t like it. It destroys the facade that I am a perfect and consistent human being. It counters me when I tell you that I can take on twenty independent and personal projects outside of my day job and be one hundred percent committed to all of them. You begin to doubt that I don’t sleep; I don’t need to; that I am productive and creative all. the. time.

Okay, no. The truth is that I do a lot of things and while this blog is probably interesting for someone (though, how would I know, no ever comments?! Just kidding. I really don’t mind.), it’s really just an exercise for me to build a writing voice, organize my thoughts and share the random things that I do make in bursts of creativity. So, on that other hand, that I alluded to earlier, I like the fact this is publicizing my present inconsistency. This isn’t a life-threatening or career-breaking venue, but it’s public enough that it reflects on me. Inconsistency is bad and I should feel bad. Making it public makes me accountable. Long story short, I am going to make a concerted effort to blog more often.

Now, as far as the update goes…

Life hasn’t been a crazy party for the past couple weeks and you’ll hear no complaints from me. I’m still settling into the rhythm of a 9-5 again, and appreciating really chill weekends. We’re not totally boring- we still wander the city every day, swim and hike regularly. Aside from that, I (and sometimes ‘we’ where specified) have been keeping busy with a few other things which will get their very own posts right after this one. They are…

  1. Getting ready for National Novel Writing Month. I’m sure I’ve alluded to it earlier, but I’m nerding out about it so hard about it this year! I have spent the last month dreaming about a sci-fi story about a dystopian future, controlled by an inept monarch and a corrupt congress… yes, I know, how original, but ‘character is king’ and I promise you’ll like it when I’m done.
  2. I have a professional blogging gig, writing for a new Hawaii themed blog,  Hawaii Homes and Living. Check it out, leave some comments, share some links to it. Please/thanks!
  3. Shad and I have decided that being “lacto-ovo-pescatarian” draws a fairly arbitrary line about how much harm we choose to inflict upon animals. That, and saying “lacto-ovo-pescatarian” sounds silly, while not identifying yourself as such makes people insist that you try some of their homemade beef enchiladas, and calling yourself a simple “vegetarian,” makes you a liar if you eat sushi. Long story short, we’ve decided that a vegan diet is not such a big deal and I’ll write more about that in it’s own little post.
  4. I’m volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii – you might be thinking that’s odd, considering my brazen lack of interest in children, but I signed up for various reasons and I will talk all about within the next few posts.
  5. We experienced our first tsunami! It was two whole inches high on our side of the island! I know, I know! It’s crazy. Still, I’ll share some thoughts on tsunamis. Why not?
  6. Finally, I want to start talking about the technical things that I learn because teaching what you’ve just learned is the best way to really learn and maybe my thoughts as a novice will help another novice in need. First up – JavaScript.

 

If you’re here, reading this, thanks for remembering about me. I will do my best to keep you entertained!

 
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Posted in Life

 

Where was I?

28 Oct

285. Rain- probably said this one before but I like it.

286. Summer in October.

287. Surplus food.

288. The freedom to choose what I eat (almost vegan now…).

289. Being forced to write outlines and essays throughout my young life. Writing ability pays off in more ways than I care to expand on this particular post, but I’ll come back to it.

290. Extremely diverse work experience.

291. Extremely diverse cultural experience.

292. Quantum Physics.

293. Finally finding a used bookstore here (yay!).

294. Pumpkin Cheesecake – I had my last non-vegan version today.

295. Happy family.

296. Happy friends.

297. Living on top of a hill.

298. Having had the opportunity to study art the science of storytelling (school is a good place to learn this).

299. Sticky notes.

300. JavaScript – I’ve exposed myself to it ten times already, but now that I’ve actually immersed myself in it, I’m having a lot of fun with it.

301. Big waves (sound, smell, smash).

302. Year-round greenery.

303. I live in Hawaii.

 
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Posted in Appreciation, Hawaii, Reading, Writing

 

Moving to Hawaii

20 Jun

I’m thinking of using this blog, in part, how a regular personal blog is used- to chronicle the events in my life. That is, to share the details that no one is interested in reading except for, perhaps, the unwanted stalker, who will henceforth know all the minute details and schedule of my life.

With that in mind, dear stalker, I am moving to Hilo, Hawaii on July 17th. I wouldn’t expect you to know that because I don’t think we’re Facebook friends (more on evil ol’ Facebook later), but it is true. Shad will be attending the University of Hawaii, while I aim to be unproductive in every respect except working on my tan…

I’m joking, of course. I have so many gears turning in my head that I’m embarrassed to discuss them, for the risk of sounding idealistic and naive.

Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo, Hawaii

But, with risks come with rewards and talking about my fantastical plans not only helps me digest and filter them, but may encourage a response. Who knows? I won’t hold my breath for it, but I’ll reap the benefits of thinking through things anyway.

Some plans for Hawaii:

  1. Actively write about my adventures right here on this very blog! I figure that you (Mr./Ms. Stalker) would be interested in finding out how many of my plans actually happen. I’ll be interested, myself. Additionally, I have a couple parents, other family members and some friends who might want to know what life is like in the wild Pacific. This will be a good way to keep everyone up-to-date with adventures.
  2. Develop a business- Shad and I are actually in the developmental stages of opening our own digital agency, offering animation, graphic & web design services.
  3. Get SCUBA certified. Honestly, this should be number 1 on the list. This is not an “if.” This is not a “when.” When we find a place to live, we SCUBA!
  4. Write a book. Seriously. This November, I don’t plan t be overwhelmed with work, so I will be participating in NaNoWriMo. I’m already rolling some ideas around in my head.
  5. Eat well. This is a goal for numerous reasons. The first is health. It’s always been health, and while it’s not like I’m a patron of McD’s, I never feel like I eat well enough. I eat way too much sugar and way too much restaurant food. The second reason is that a lot of shit-food is expensive over there. It has to be shipped thousands of miles across the ocean, so it makes sense, but that doesn’t make it any more fun for me. With that as another driving factor, it makes sense for me to buy grains in bulk, vegetables from the farmer’s markets, fruit off the trees and get used to cooking nutritious meals at home.
  6. See lava flow; watch an island grow.
  7. Volunteer at a school or an animal facility. I hear the Hawaiian school system is not the best, and I’d like to help wher I can. I also really like animals and I want to help them be happy.
  8. Continue making lists out of everything. What?! You think I am going to change who I am?!
  9. Make and possibly sell arts and crafts… I don’t know… we’ll see what happens…
  10. Get a regular old retail/service/admin job to pay the bills. Who cares? I’ll be in Hawaii!
 
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Posted in Hawaii, Lists

 

Cinderella by J.D. Salinger

08 Feb

Not really.

The following is a Cinderella story told by me at age 16, in the style of J.D. Salinger. We had just read “Catcher in the Rye” in class and we had an assignment to tell a fairy tale in the voice of Holden Caulfield.

Flash forward to today, when I found myself digging through some old essays and writing assignments and I thought I would share. It’s kind of entertaining…

Cinderella

That Kills Me…

By Elana (age 16)

 

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where she was born, and what her lousy childhood was like, and what her mother was like, and what happened to her, but I don’t really feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. I’ll just tell you about this glass slipper stuff that happened to her. That’s the only part that’s really important, if any of it is important at all.

 Where I want to start telling is the day that Cinderella, that’s her name, and her stepmother and damn stepsisters get the invitation to the Prince’s Ball. The Prince’s Ball. That kills me. This guy gets to have his very own goddamn extravagant party just so he can get himself a girl. Big phonies are always doing that- throwing big events to make themselves look like they’re worth it when they are really not worth the pumpkin that gets you there. They are always so proud of some stupid title like Sir or Prince or King or something. 

Anyway, this Cinderella girl is cleaning and doing all these goddamn chores, like usual, when they get the invitation. Her stepmother says that she can’t go unless she does this long list of chores and makes herself look decent. Her stepmother is in charge because Cinderella’s mother had died and her father had married this evil witch, and then he died too. Things are always not working out like that. So Cinderella works her goddamn ass off, while her ugly stepsisters aren’t doing a damn thing. She has help them get ready and all, because they are the type of girls that go all crazy when they see celebrities like the prince, and don’t get them started on having a chance to marry him. Girls like that are so phony. It makes me nauseous.

 So the day of the big event comes, and Cinderella has everything done and she is ready to go. She is the kind of girl that wants to go just because it might be fun. That kills me. So Cinderella helps the girls get all dressed up and she gets herself dressed up, and the stepmother changes her mind and says she can’t go. The stepmother and her two ugly daughters leave without Cinderella in the carriage. That woman had gotten Cinderella’s hopes up on purpose. You could tell.

 This poor girl ends up standing in the kitchen by herself. She isn’t the type to get feeling all sad about herself or anything, but she started to get really sad because that stepmother of her’s was so goddamn mean. All of sudden this old woman appears and she tells Cinderella she is her goddamn fairy godmother. She tells Cinderella to go get seven mice, and a pumpkin. The old woman does a little dance and turns the mice into horses, and the pumpkin into a carriage, and the cat into a driver. Then she gives Cinderella this gorgeous dress and these glass slippers and she waves her wand that does her hair up all nice. Girls drive me crazy when they are all dressed up. Over-dressed and gaudy like her damn stepsisters is nasty, but when a girl looks pretty it drives me crazy.

 When Cinderella arrives at the ball in her pumpkin carriage, everyone is staring at her and all but it isn’t because she is in a pumpkin carriage or anything. It’s because she is so goddamn beautiful. Her and this prince hit it off, but she can’t stay because of this thing I forgot to tell you about: everything turns back into what it is at midnight. The carriage turns back into a pumpkin, the horses turn back into mice, her dress turns back into rags and so on and so on. So Cinderella goes running at, like, eleven fifty nine, and in her hurry she loses a slipper. The next day the Prince can’t stop thinking about her and all, so he rides around town looking for the girl whose foot fits the goddamn glass slipper. He finally finds Cinderella, and they end up getting married and all and the stepsisters get turned in.to stone. That’s all I’m going to tell you about.

 

Yes, the ending is a bit abrupt, but I believe we had a two page limit.

 
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Posted in Writing