How to...

So, some of you may know that I also love love love to write. I am currently working on a book that is 180 pages at 12-point Times New Roman font. But that's besides the point at the moment. I haven't done a post in awhile because I have been busy with school and other things, but it's Friday so I took the time to post this How To on...

How to Start A Story!

Now, there is a slight catch. Once you start a story... Try your darnedest to finish it! I know, we've all started stories that we never finished. But, if you finish one, that means you've accomplished something AND then you can go back and edit it and see how much better it can be. So anyway, I'll give you some tips on how to start a story... You just have to try and finish it!

TIP #1: Start your story in the middle. Yeah, that sounds crazy. But it captures the reader's attention. I mean, if the first sentence of a book is "No, he can't be dead!" than you definitely wanna know who he is and if and when he died and so on. One of my absolute favorite things about starting books in the middle is that you can have "flashback scenes" as I like to call them. Remember in Just Listen where you go through about half the book wondering what "Shhh, Annabel, it's just me" means? That drove me nuts! But it also captured my attention and I wanted to know what happened. Also, by starting in the middle you have more opportunities to explain things as you go. Books are boring if they explain everything at the beginning, leaving you with no questions. Good books make you ask questions!
TIP #2: Start your story with a good character name. Okay, so the very first sentence doesn't have to say the protagonist's name. But do introduce your character(s) within the first chapter. Now, when I say a "good character name" I mean a character name that describes your character. It's sometimes ironically funny to give a big, burly character the name Tiny or whatever, but I like to have character names that really fit my character's personality. First, you can either search for names that mean a certain trait you are looking for, OR you can go onto Baby Names and if you have a name in mind, find out what it means. Keep in mind that it's best to have unique character names. Yeah, Mary or Bill are fine names, but don't you want your reader raving about what an interesting name the main character has? Baby Names has tons of unusual names so find one that suits your character and your taste. Characters with good, unique names will be memorable! 
TIP #3: Start your story on an experience. How can you write about something if you have no idea what it's about? I find that it helps to incorporate things that have really happened to you into your writing. It gives the story a really authentic feel and you might even have a cool twist to add to it. For example, everyone knows the story about a backstabbing best friend. And that's probably happened to most of us. So write about that exactly how it happened to you, because I guarantee it will be different from the person sitting next to you. Every little detail counts, down to where it happened. Now, I'm not saying everything has to be something based off of your life. All I'm saying is it might be good to start with something you know. That will make it much less difficult to ease into the rest of the story, making up things as you go and adding bits of personal experiences here and there. Stories based on real events can be the starting point for a great realistic fiction novel! 


ATTENTION: These are all just suggestions. You can feel free to try them if you like or you don't have to. I just know that when I have a good idea but not quite a good start, I just remember these and my story starts to come together a lot faster. And, these may not work for everyone. But it couldn't hurt to try if you're stuck. Because being stuck is not the best feeling in the world to an aspiring author. 


Hope these encourage you to do some writing, I know I will be! Happy reading, and writing! :)

Lacking!

Hey guys!

I'm am so so sorry that I have been lacking in the area of Book Reviews and Contests. I have been busy with school this year (some would say it's the hardest year of high school, uck!) AND I have at least ten books on my bookshelf crying out to be read... Because I have a problem with buying books I want or that are on clearance, even when I don't have time to read them at that moment. So all of those are adding up and I really need to get to reading them ASAP. I will still try to post random blogs, but the book reviews and contests are limited at this point. I promise it will not be forever, just for now.

I hope you all understand!! :)

Cast One of Your Favorite Books: She's So Dead to Us

Well, I know I said I would probably post a book review this weekend... But I wanted to do something different! So, here's the first edition of what the post title suggests! I'm going to tell you guys who I think would make a great casting for the characters if She's So Dead to Us (by Kieran Scott) was ever made into a movie. Tell me if you agree/disagree/or have someone better in the comments below!

Ally Ryan: Jenna Stone

Jake Graydon: Max Ehrich

Chloe Appleby: Emma Roberts

Shannen Moore: Lily Collins

Annie Johnston: Ariana Grande (okay I''m pretty sure Annie doesn't have red hair in the books but Ariana is so quirky in Victorious, it just totally reminded me of Annie)

Hammond Ross: Sterling Knight

The Idiot Twins: Dylan and Cole Sprouse

Faith Kirkpatrick: Dakota Fanning

David Drake: Logan Miller

                                                                                                                                                                    

Guess the Title Contest #3 Winner!!!

After a little "Eenie-Meenie-Minie-Moe", I have come to a winner...

MELISSA! 

Congrats girl, you have won the awesome award of this homemade Guess the Title picture award! (Sorry I have nothing else to award you but pride). Yes, this quote came from The A-List: "You've got a five-thousand-dollar Nikon around your neck!" Sam yelled back. "Get out of the line, bozo!" 

Thanks to the three people who entered the contest, check back soon for a new contest and probably a book review this weekend! Happy reading! :)

Finally.... Guess the Title Contest #3!

I know it has been too long. So now here it is. Your third chance at a Guess the Title contest. If you have not played before, the rules are simple:

I will post a quote/line from a random book on my bookshelf. Your job is to guess the title of the book from which the quote/line came from. I will post ten book titles and one of them will be correct. If you know the answer, great, post it in the comments below! If not, take a guess! If more than one person answers correctly, I will pick randomly. And if no one answers correctly... Well, I guess I epic failed.

The prize will be a homemade-on-Gimp picture award to post on your blog if you so choose to do so. Again, I am sorry I have no other prizes except for your pride :)

*Hint: the correct book title for this quote/line below DID NOT come from a book mentioned in my last Guess the Title contest. That will eliminate four titles. But, you will have to find the last contest in the archives and see which ones they are.*

Here we go!

"You've got a five-thousand-dollar Nikon around your neck!" [She] yelled back. "Get out of the line, bozo!" 


And here are your titles to choose from (All of which are recommended reads!):
-Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott
-Don't Judge A Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
-Avalon High by Meg Cabot
-The A-List by Zoey Dean
-Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
-Leap Day by Wendy Mass
-Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
-Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
-My Little Phony by Lisi Harrison
-The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Guess away and good luck! The contest ends a week from today, September 1. Until then, happy reading! (I'm back to reading Shiver, which got interrupted by My Little Phony haha)

My First WoW!

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

So, for my very first WoW, I am going crazy wanting this book. It does not come out until August 31, and it is the next in a series I am absolutely addicted to. Its...

Private # 12, Vanished by Kate Brian (aka Kieran Scott)! The cliffhanger at the end of the last Private book was CRAZY so I have been going insane wanting to read the next one in this amazingly juicy series. So, thankfully, I was able to read an excerpt from the official Private site right here. Head on over and read yourself if you're as excited as me for the latest addition to the series! If you love suspense, drama, romance, and some comedy, you won't be able to put this series down. There's not really a synopsis for it yet but this is what B&N's site had:

The latest mystery in the New York Times bestselling series, Private.

I can't wait! :)

Give Me A Thumbs Up!

Yes, I have entered another Chick Lit Shorties contest. And yes, my computer is still acting up, plus I have to read The Crucible and do research on it for summer homework. So anyway, this will be short. Please vote me a thumbs up for my 500 characters short story right here. Your vote is much appreciated! By the way, I am the sixteenth comment under my username here, LuxeCouture. Thank you guys and let me know if you enter so I can be sure to vote for you too! :)