three, two, one

Blogging is hard. I've just sort of noticed this. Lately, as I'm sure you've noticed, I've been having a hard time coming up with interesting ideas for blog posts. Not saying any of my ideas were interesting before now, but at least I had ideas.

I've been beta reading, working (I helped a customer today! Oh my goodness, I was awful. Better luck next time?), writing fanfiction and writing the tiniest bit of original work. Oh, right, and having a life--but lately that's been taking a back seat, in part because it's so disgustingly hot out all the time.

Blogging is hard, and all the people out there who manage to do it daily--or even regularly--with some splash of originality and flare absolutely amaze me. That's why I read blogs. The small scraps of insight you can get of another person's life.

That's kind of why I have a blog. Mostly it's just for selfish reasons, to document my life and what I'm interested in.

But that's basically all we do in life. Try our best to be remembered after we're gone.

I will remember you :)

Erika

it was a dark and stormy night...

...I know, cliche, only this time it really is! There's a thunderstorm raging outside, it's pouring rain, and I couldn't be happier.

Just thought I'd wish you all a wonderful and 'bad' weather for all. I think there's something about the lightning that helps spark new story ideas--get it? Spark?

Wow, I'm a loser.

Love,
Erika

my new job

Soundtrack: I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
Words: +2097 on yet another project I don't really care about.

Oh my goodness.

Today was my first day of work at a local bookstore. It's possibly the most perfect job I ask for and the day went pretty well. I labeled books, put them on the shelves, stood around awkwardly--you know the drill.

I was wearing a skirt and t-shirt because my boss--wow, how awesome is it to use that word--doesn't allow jeans. My brother was the only one home and thus I demanded he give me advice on what to wear. He did--it just wasn't good advice.

The job is so great, I spent the whole day waiting for someone to jump out and yell, "You just got punk'd!" (I really hate that show).

Anyways, I thought I'd tell all of you that I have yet another--mindless excuse--good reason for not blogging quite so regularly. I am, as of today, officially part of the work force.

Oh my gosh, I hope I didn't jinx it.

Love,
Erika

it all comes back to books

Soundtrack: Wise Man by Liam Finn
Words: Nothing. Gosh, how sad is that? But, to be fair, I've just recently started writing fanfiction again (I know, a little pathetic, but hey, how else am I supposed to get my Harry Potter fix?) which means... 1825 words! Woo-hoo technicalities!

Well, look who it is. Little Miss If-I-don't-blog-for-long-enough-maybe-someone-awesome-and-productive-will-hack-my-account-and-do-it-for-me! It's been a busy few days.

Yesterday I was babysitting two little girls (5 and 6 years old) for four and a half hours. Four and a half. ARGGGHH!

So once they tired themselves out (running, fighting, screaming--I'm not exaggerating at all, but really, they weren't that bad. I love little kids--in short doses), they picked out a movie to watch. It ended up being some boring, mildly disturbing cartoon show where the characters sing about how much they love each other and, of course, no one wears pants but, when they were picking out what to watch, I saw that they had a few Harry Potter DVDs.

Harry Potter was a huge part of my life, growing up. I understand that it has been and will be a big, important, life changing thing for a lot of people--and that's fantastic--but kids like the girls I was babysitting aren't going to grow up with the tantalizing fear, exhilaration, laughter, sadness, happiness and overwhelming love that came from waiting in line for hours at the midnight release of a soon-to-be-read-in-one-sitting Harry Potter book.

Books like these, books that stretch our emotions and experiences, teach us about ourselves.

Reading about a character who faces certain obstacles, perils, decisions--you can't help but think about how you would face them. Though, to be fair, I have absolutely no idea if I'd be able to withstand a dementor or have the courage to ride a hippogriff. Actually, because my friends and I are such geeks, earlier today one of my friends asked me if I would enter the Tri-Wizard tournament. I said no, but I can't be sure.

Basically, this whole post was an excuse to fangirl over Harry Potter--but still, when you read a book, good or bad, you become a part of that world. You, the reader, have just as much of an emotional arc as the characters do.

I think that's why I love reading and I love writing so much. I love being put in someone else's shoes and being able to see their world, live their story.

Maybe I didn't learn everything I know about myself from books, but definitely a good portion of it :)

Love,
Erika

back to reality

Soundtrack: Words by Kate Miller-Heidke (listen to it--it'll be stuck in your head for days. Plus, it's kind of appropriate for all you writers)
Words: +570 on my new WIP but NONE OF THEM ARE GOOD! Why are openings so hard?

It's been a while since I've posted. Or, at least, really posted--a legitimate, thoughtful, coherent post. But honestly, don't hold your breath.

I thought this week would be another relaxing, lazy, mmm-wouldn't-it-be-cool-to-be-a-writer-one-day kind of week. The kind where I don't accomplish much and feel guilty about it later, but at the time I feel okay. Man, that sounds like unhealthy psychology.

I'm enrolled in a photography camp this week and I'm going to be doing some hardcore babysitting (is there any other kind?) in the next few days so I should be thankful for any free moment I get for writing. But beginnings have always been hard for me and I'm currently attempting to start my newest WIP, a superhero story... kind of. The funny thing is, I know exactly where the story is going. I have quite a few of my scenes and most of my characters thought out--and I know most of the plot, for once. But I think that just makes it harder for me because anything I write pales in comparison to the story in my head.

So this is me, getting back to reality. I woke up at 8 AM today. 8 fucking AM.

Why the picture of the awkward boy with wolves on his sweater? Because that is my reality. Weird, not put together, foggy...?

We'll work on that :)

Love,
Erika

reverse

Video.

This is just fantastic.

being back

Guess who's back, back, back, back again-gain-gain.

Yes, it's a horrible song. And I have it stuck in my head.

I'm BACK! The Young Writers' Camp I attended was, in a word, spectacular! I met a lot of awesome people and learned a ton. A ton.

After a lengthy Ikea visit, we drove through the night and arrived early this morning. That's about all I have to say. Just wanted to check in. I didn't want to leave my blog alone for too long :)

And another thing, anyone who hasn't read The Darkest Powers series by Kelly Armstrong--do it now! I literally just finished the second book and while, yes, it is fairly mainstream so at first I didn't think I'd like them, they came highly recommended and I can't get enough of the books! I'll do a real review later, but since this post is seriously going nowhere, I might as well just throw in the fact that her books are awesome.

This Friday, I have a job interview at a local bookstore. I probably won't get the job, but I'm still totally stoked.

And that's enough late night rambling (and sentences beginning with the word "and") for one post. Yes, I do realize it's only 11 pm, but I'm tired. Enough whining! This post sucks.

I kind of hope you've stopped reading by now.

Have a great week, everyone.

Love,
Erika