Thursday, August 13, 2015

Poem (Writing Challenge ) - The Ocean

As I approach IB, I have been thinking a lot about the future. I've been thinking about IB, grades, university, family, friends and our mortality. Deep ish, I know, but this summer I haven't been thinking that much, I've been more focused on enjoying and living my life. I travelled, I worked, I learned a lot about myself, my friends and my family and I've joined new communities. I'm afraid school will crush my hopeful spirit, but I hope that my positivity thus far will trump any obstacles I face in the following years. I wrote this poem to kind of release that anxiety and fear I feel towards what's to come, and to act as a reassurance that I will be fine, and everything will work out. I hope you like it!

*****

The Ocean

The waves crashed on the shore
As the thoughts looped in my head
Failure, fear, regret and more
Thoughts that tuck me into bed
The waves reach my ankles now
As images flood my brain
My feet move faster than I allow
The panic begins to leave a stain
Water approaches my thighs
And the rejection burdens my heart
Sadness fills as I yearn for goodbyes
It's now to my stomach, as the images dart
Could it be as bad as I recall
Could all the tears be truly called for
All these memories still make my stomach fall
As it reaches my shoulders, and I near the core
Screams, pain and joy
It reaches my neck
Too many recollections to destroy
As I take one last breath
My head submerged completely
And my mind goes blank
All I feel is the water 
Surrounding from every side
In a loving embrace, it all fades away
I no longer have to hide
In this big, vast ocean
Full of promise, love and opportunity


Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Six Word Stories -Writing Challenge

Guess who broke their promises again? me... :(

To be fair, I have been busy. I have been reorganizing my room, which has taken three days, as well as volunteering at ILearn Center for kids with learning disabilities. Also, I'm lazy. However, I'm back and I want to try out writing six-word stories. As some of you may know, Ernest Hemingway was the first to make six-word stories popular in recent literature with his story: "For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn." There were other news articles out at the time that had similar titles, such as "Little Shoes, Never Worn," which was written about a woman who had lost her baby to death. Anyways, he was definitely the one that popularized fast fiction, and I will attempt to do so myself.

My first step was to find a website that gave me random word lists and then scroll through and stop without looking. Whichever word/phrase I land on I will write about. Some are sad, some are jolly, I tried to make it a mix between the two. Here are my results...Enjoy!

1. Highway


Slowing cars, nosy drivers, two bodies. 
 

2. Eyes


Her passionate eyes destroyed obstacles ahead.

3. Water


Both droughts and tsunamis can kill.  

4. Signature


Written in ink, signed in blood.

5. Gemstone


Amongst the rocks, lies a gemstone.

6. Bowl


Two bowls, one choice: Eternal Happiness.

7. Spot Light  


Bright lights aren't seen amongst others.

8. Man


Hope: abandoned. He crouched and wept.

9. Solid


Solid evidence: it was love, indeed. 

10. Umbrella


Fought rain, couldn't fight the thoughts.


*****

 I hope you liked those, and I would love to see any of you try it out. Have a great day!




Saturday, August 1, 2015

August Challenge

Hello there!

It's been a while hasn't it? I don't know what's gotten into me, but I had a new found interest in my blog. I love to write, but I realized that I've been downplaying myself. I want to step up my game. Therefore, I have decided to set up a challenge for myself, and hopefully you'll come around for the journey ahead...

My challenge is to write something (anything!) every other day, and if possible everyday. Since it's been a while since I sat down and typed out priceless literature, I decided to go to the subreddit /r/WritingPrompts/ . The link shows a site that posts ideas for writing, and although ideas aren't what's keeping me back, my fear of rejection or failure to write something good is a big barrier. Hopefully, if I started out writing based on ideas I know are good, I will transition to ideas of my own. I hope you like it, and if you were to take up the challenge with me, it would be awesome if you were to send a link to your own blog so I can check it out.

After that less-than-brief introduction, let's move onto the first writing piece of this month inspired by user huphelmeyer: "A novel where the antagonist becomes omnipotent and starts to fight with the author for control of the story."


I Want To Be Free! 

 

Just like everyday, he woke up, and dragged himself to the kitchen. He sat at the table as one of his minions prepared his coffee, and another prepared his omelet. He blankly stared out the window, going through his checklist for today, when the cook brought over the plate. He didn't want to yell at the poor man for dropping his plate, in fact, he wasn't angry at all, but somehow an outburst exploded out of him; so powerful and intense the minion was on the floor bleeding and crying. He wanted to lean down and comfort him, apologize even, but something held him back. Everyday, he realized this force controlling him to do things against his will. They were malicious things that sucked at his soul, but he had no ability to change it...at least that's what he thought.

You see, he came from a long line of villains. His great-great-great-grandfather was the first of a long line of villains. He was feared by all for his talent of arson and world domination, even his nemesis attempted to avoid him at all costs. His son carried on the tradition by starting a League of the Malevolent (he was also a poet on the side), and thus, his fate was determined: he would be evil. 

At first, it seemed like a blast. He remembered his grandfather tell stories of defeating Superman, taking over cities and terrorizing teachers (his worst enemy at the time). He recalled his father appear on the news, name sprawled over every network in big, bold font. He had memorabilia for all of his favorite villians; The Joker smiling at him as he slept, Magento chanting demeaning phrases to him as he brushed his teeth, and Cat Woman adorning his lunch box for school. That was his destiny, his future, and he yearned for the day he could take over the League and see himself on the news taking down the ever-so-beloved superheroes. Then it happened, just a week after his father was crippled by The Avengers, Azazel Cor took over the League at the young age of 24.

Finally! This was his dream being achieved! He signed that contract with gusto that couldn't be shaken off...for about a year. It turned out the process was much more morally bruising to him than he thought it would be. With every innocent person he killed, every bank he robbed, and every superhero he dramatically left on the verge of the death, his excitement died gradually. He realized this isn't what he wanted, but he couldn't escape it. He could never tell anyone how much he hated holding a school bus full of children hostage, or that he wanted to go to Paris, or that he thought his wife's hunger for hurting others made him hate her even more. Thirteen years of this miserable, vile life, was...

"What are you doing?" Azazel said to the...WRITER?

What? How...? Are you talking to me?

 "Yes?" He said hesitantly, "Why are you reading to me my back story and explaining all of my inner thoughts?"

I must be going mad. YOU'RE MY CHARACTER, I CONTROL YOU, OK? There's no way...

"Wait, you're the one who has forced me to do all of these malicious things all my life?"

...yes.

"How dare you! All this time? Oh my Go...this means my entire life is a piece of literature, dictated by some loser at some computer?"

Hey! I am a...

"No! You have no right to be offended here. My whole life is a lie, every action I've ever done has been written by you, and I had no choice but to comply. I can't believe this."

He rested his face on his...

"Stop that!" Azazel sh...."I mean it!"

Sorry...I don't know what to do here, man. I've never heard of this ever happen. I didn't even know it was possible. Is there anything you would like me to do as compensation for all of this?

He paused for a moment, deep in thought.

"Yes, actually. I want you to...I want you to make me not evil. I want you to write that I left the League, I divorced my wife, and will be boarding a flight to any exotic European country by tomorrow."

Hmmm, well there are a lot of nice places in...Wait! No! That will make for the most boring story ever! I can't do that, I refuse.

"Oh really?" He said with a smirk, "How do you think people are going to respond when they realize that their lives are being written for them, I bet it would lead to a pretty tragic story for you, huh?"

Actually, that sounds like a great concept for a book. It would be a more enjoyable read than seeing you go to Spain and take up salsa lessons. 

"What? No. I don't want that!"

I don't really care anymore Mr. Cor, my story; my rules. Very simple. 

"How dare...." Azazel said slowly in a whisper as the author regained power over the character. 

Against his will, he walked down to his lair, where the camera was set up for a live broadcast to the world. He sat at the desk, and delivered the news to the people of Earth. At first, they doubted him, but as he explained it more, they could sense that pull to do what was demanded of them. Fear spread though each individual as the viewers sat, paralyzed, absorbing these facts given to them by the person they had once all mistrusted. It appeared that their world was all a lie, and even the most evil man in their universe was not as he appeared. The live broadcast ended, and time paused as Azazel looked to the author.

"Thank you," he said with a sigh of gratitude, relief beaming on his face.

The author smiled at him, through the screen, preparing for taking over the load of being the villain. 

***

What did you think? I would love to know if you liked it or not, and I would love to see your own responses. Have a great day!