Maniacal Mondays: #collegelife

So, if you guys couldn't tell from my week-long hiatus from the blogosphere, yes - I am actually on campus, sitting in my dorm right now, writing this blog post. If I couldn't already tell from the expensive meal plan, uniform furniture, and itty bitty living space, I AM OFFICIALLY A COLLEGE STUDENT.

Basically, I've been running around like a well-dressed chicken with my head cut off, sweating in the humidity and sun and getting really weird tan lines as I try to figure out my way around campus and about my classes while Welcome Week is in full swing. So far, I've taken one, Spanish Literature. I wasn't aware, but apparently the class is completely taught in Spanish, and I'm a little rusty. We'll see how that goes. But what really gets me is that even though I've been here almost a week (moved in the nineteenth) and I'm technically a sophomore by credits, I feel like I've been here forever. On one hand I feel like I'm home but on the other it seems like I'm just staying here awhile and I'll go back to Hilliard soon. The complete lack of supervision here is both freeing and appalling (uh, seriously, that's even legal?) and otherwise, I'm sitting in between classes right now writing this, feeling like a criminal because I have an open book in my lap I should be reading. Instead, I'm talking to you.

Unfortunately, my life might still be pretty hectic for a bit while I figure out my classes, adjust to homework, and try my best to not repeat senior year and my complete lack of a social life. So if I miss a few posts, I'm dreadfully sorry. Once I get settled in, I can start doing this every day, make sure that I queue up some posts for some continuity. For those of my followers who have started school, how's it going? For those out, you're lucky in ways you don't know. Walking fifteen minutes to each class is not my idea of academia, but I also like spending time inside just me and my laptop writing stories. Which, by the way, I still have one to edit for the indomitable Rae Slater (follow her here) and then my own to crack down on. Everyone in my head has been straight up misbehaving, and it's about time I put them in their place. So until next time, everyone, happy school year, happy end of summer, go make something happen!

Clickies:

@themoorewriter just moved in! How college is treating her and why mac 'n cheese is suddenly nine dollars. [Tweet it!]

#collegelife has officially started for @themoorewriter. She may or may not be taking it well. [Tweet it!]

Stressed but well-dressed,
Brie

Maniacal Mondays: Pura Vida

It's been two weeks of silence on my end, and as is customary in this Monday post I'm going to do a little bit of explaining why, but first off, hello again, my loves! Through these last few weeks of what can only be described as fantastic mayhem I've been thinking up blog post after blog post, and I'm ready to get back in the swing of things.

So, a little update about my life since the last time I blogged. Well, I graduated high school:

My brother Ian and I pre-ceremonies

Which was both in my mind four years late and far too early. It didn't really hit me until I was about to walk the stage for my diploma that I am, in fact, now a college student, an adult, and a new, terrifying kind of student. I need to start writing down my thoughts and the like, because as I get older and farther away from this age that I'm writing for, I want to be able to keep the voice. But more on that later.

I also got a summer job, working retail and slowly but surely realizing that we as a species are actually pretty dumb. (Don't ask me what the price of something is if it's marked on the tag, and sure as hell don't ask me all of our promotions. There's almost always at least seven, and they're always marked on our tables.)

But most recently, I spent two weeks in Costa Rica with my family as a graduation gift, hence the lack of communication. I didn't bring my laptop, which ended up being fortunate given the humidity and overall general lack of wifi, so I was away from the internets. But it was amazing, so beautiful and biologically diverse. I learned to surf, I went ziplining through the jungle, saw the volcano in all her glory, went to some natural hot springs...it was a wonderful, incredible experience. Although being home is nice, what with the lack of high humidity and paved roads. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. It really taught me to slow down after school and the constant go-go-go of projects and work. The Costa Rican lifestyle is summed up in their saying, 'Pura Vida'. It's their equivalent of Hakuna Matata, pure life. Let it go, it will all come to you. No amount of stressing or panicking will bring life any closer to you than it already is, and there is beauty and wonder in the spaces of life we don't plan for. Definitely a perfect present for graduation.

Also, I held a baby monkey. It was pretty great.

And as we end this literal deluge of personal updating, I thought I'd give you guys a preview of what's coming up on the blog. We're gearing up for some realism talk, foremost about the controversial stuff, because it's been affecting us internationally for centuries and Rand Paul just made it part of his platform in the U.S. You'll hear all about that later. But for now, my lovelies, enjoy your summers, and I'll see you all tomorrow.

Pura Vida,

Brie

Why Writers Make Great Friends

We all know the stereotype. Writers are antisocial homebodies who just shut themselves in their house/bedroom/dorm room/writing office and do nothing but brood, sip tea, and write reverently on their favorite typewriter. And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the mousy appearance, the huge glasses, and general cynical hipster attitude.

But, if you've seen any of my posts, you must be able to conclude that we are not all like this. Are some of us? Yes. And more power to them for totally rocking the stereotype and their awesome typewriters. I want.

Don't believe me? Oh, honey, pull up a chair and let me educate you.

Why writers make great friends:

We're weird. You're weird. And that's totally fine.

It's true, for writers and for those of us who aren't. We're all kind of strange. I like to burrow into big fluffy down comforters and watch movies, and during my AP Government class the other day someone was telling us that the White House now requires papers running stories on anything to do with the White House to use the pictures the government sends, and I almost-shouted "Smells like a dystopian government!" If you can believe it, I got some weird looks.

But you know what's great about writers being so weird? We completely accept your level of weird. Generally, we think it's pretty cool that people are different than us, and don't be surprised if we use you for character study. I know all of my friends are studies for me. We study people we think are super cool, and by being weird we don't only accept your weird but kind of want to just bask in it. Because weirdness is coolness.

We're pretty good with words.

Did you see that coming? Hopefully, you did. But I mean, it's kind of our trade: we're good at expressing what we mean in words, or at the very least taking something that we want to say and structuring it beautifully. You can go up to a writer and vent your problems, and a good portion of the time we'll have something to say about it. And if not...we're also good huggers, too. So there's that.

Not to mention we're actually not too shabby at giving advice. I love talking (haha, no kidding...) and if you let me I will talk to my friends for hours on end. I've done it. And I'll still have people come up to me and say, "You know, you said this to me once and it, like, hit me. Like...wow. It was really deep." Half the time I don't remember what I said (just goes to show you how scatterbrained I am) but hey, I said it. We're good for scoping out the important things in life and saying them in a way that makes sense. And apparently sometimes blows the mind.

We can be your biggest cheerleaders and fangirls.

It can be almost embarrassing. Writers are passionate people, and we like to see passion in others. That's what makes people different from another, and that's what we like. So when you're studying away for a test you're afraid you'll fail, trying on outfits for a first date, or even writing on your own, we cheer you on to the point of irritation, and fangirl over your accomplishments like you're the next Benedict Cumberbatch. And we don't ask for anything in return. You can see it most prevalently between writers, because we have a tendency to fangirl over each other. Even two authors of completely different genres can start a compliment war (and mean it) that lasts fifteen minutes before they accept the fact that they're both awesome and break for coffee. We're a pretty loving bunch, not much drama for us. Save that for the books. So if you're in need of someone to root for you, find a writer. We're gonna be your new cheer squad and fanbase. Accept it.

What do you think? 
Got any other traits that make writers great people to be around? Share in the comments below. I'm always open to hear from you guys!

Finger cramps and plot block,
Brie

Wisdom Comes From Experience

The other day I was invited by one of my brother's friends to go to his boxing club with him and a group of our friends and go hit some bags.

Any normal person would think, 'that sounds like fun, let's do it!'. Or, conversely, 'that sounds boring, I'll pass.' However, my reaction was more to the tune of, 'ohmygoodness this will be great for writing research.'

And now you know one of the key differences between an author and the rest of  the population: whether or not we want to do something, we will try it once for the sake of research.

Shooting guns? Writing research.

Skiing a double-black diamond in Colorado at over 15,000 feet? Writing research.

Archery? Writing research.

Wilderness survival training? Writing research.

CPR certification? Writing research.

You get the idea.

The old adage, 'write what you know', is true in this case. I mean, there are some things that an author can't exactly experience in the name of research - for example, a male author going into childbirth. He'll have to ask his lady friends. But generally, when it comes to things that we write about, authors want to know what it's really like in life.

Hence me posting this. I write a lot of fight scenes; it comes with the territory of writing dystopian and science fiction novels. I mean, in The Artist I swear someone gets into a fight or a riot or something at least every other day. It's crazy. But, if you couldn't tell, I've never actually punched someone in the face, nor been punched. When I know how it feels to have your fist hit an object, be it a wall, person, or punching bag, it makes it a hundred times easier to write. Unfortunately, I won't be sparring (probably fortunate for my face), but I'll still be able to learn combinations, offensive and defensive moves, and how someone my size and stature would fight, which can come in handy for characters like Collins, Eire, Gloria, and to a lesser extent Ollie and Razzo. I'll have to let you know how it goes.

If you're a writer and you want to hear about some of my writing experiences (or a reader who wants to hear funny stories about my unfortunate life events), go ahead and comment below!

Some examples:

~Passing out (that was a fun one)

~Shooting guns

~Wilderness survival

Hoping for no black eyes,
Brie

My first ever video review!

Hello everyone! I'm super excited to show this off - in fact, when I saw this first I pretty much Facebook Chat-bombed most of my writer friends using a shameless amount of caps lock and flailing emoticons.

I asked for a video review of the portion of The Artist I have up on Wattpad, and Ms. Dunbar was very kind and said she'd be happy to.

Little did I know she'd have such a reaction to it:

http://ask.fm/dunbarsi

Due to the website, I can't post the video directly here, but scroll down until you see 'The Artist' in the title and that's her review.

She gave it a perfect 10, her first, and proceeded to spend about a minute telling me how much she loves my book. She loves Ollie, she loves Collins, and she's apparently a new fan of mine.

I HAVE A FANDOM GUYS :D

Flailing and screaming with joy,
Brie