Category Archives: Writing Remarks

Writing Remarks

Saturday, 12 May, 2012
13

ROW80Days: “The writing challenge that knows you have a life”

Yesterday, I spent an entire blog post talking about what this blog should be all about. After listing several (not all, but several) things in life that matter to me, I realized that a great place to redefine my blog identity is to start back at square one – what this blog is originally supposed to be. Well, if you’ve been following me for a while I’m sure you’ve come to realize that I am a writer. And obviously, this blog is – if anything – an open space to talk about writing. My literary adventures.

My relationship with writing is similar to that of an arranged marriage – the bond is inevitable, but the emotions are rather mixed. There are some days when I want to write so badly but other priorities (like studying, which is a totally legit reason for not writing, y’all!) take a toll on my daily word count. On other days, I simply procrastinate by reading addictive Jodi Picoult novels, cooking even though I don’t like to cook, downloading music and doing everything else besides writing.
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Thursday, 10 May, 2012
9

Bonding With My Blog: “Summer Cleaning”

QOTD: What books would you recommend for summer reading? I’m currently going through The Hunger Games trilogy!

Could…could it be? Is it summer 2012? I don’t know why it’s taken me a whole week to realize this, but here it is! SUMMER 2012! I feel compelled to break out into High School Musical’s What Time Is It? but I’ll spare y’all.

One of the best things about summer, to me at least, is having more time on my hands than I need to do absolutely nothing but reflect. Three whole months to just tell life to s-l-o-w the heck down and think about where I am right now. And all those writing and health and personal goals I brushed aside during the school year in favor of studying? I just wait ’til summah, summahtime. Well, summahtime is here and everything I am thinking and feeling can be summed up in a single face: O_O

I mean, where do I even start?
I spent a good while today catching up with my thoughts and scrolling through my blog dashboard. Lately, I feel like I’ve been scrambling for ideas of what to blog on, which is silly because there are endless things to talk about – what I’ve been cooking, which books I’m reading this summer, where I’ll be traveling abroad, what I am writing and the like. I have a nice layout, helpful resources, social networks. I have 180 wonderful followers, and yet a part of me feels like I’m not giving The Red Angel blog my all. It seems as though there is something missing.

I need to figure out what I want this blog to be about.
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Tuesday, 08 May, 2012
4

Author Interview: Getting to Know Maureen Wartski

Hooray, it’s May! At long last, I am finished with final exams and have now returned home to relax for two weeks before summer school starts. To give you an idea of what I am up to for the next three months, here’s my agenda: May 8 – May 14: Relax, blog, read The Hunger Games, go to the dentist, rejuvenate

May 15 – June 19: Summer classes

Mid-June – Beginning of August: Travel abroad, independent research

August: Volunteer at local hospital with psychology mentor

Folks, this may be my busiest summer yet! Share with us – what summer plans do you have?

~~~

In other exciting news, we have author Maureen Wartski here with us today. Maureen was born in Japan and is a lover of art, writing and nature. Her novel, Yuri’s Brush with Magic, is geared toward middle-schoolers and was a 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist.

The book follows two siblings who find the strength within themselves to deal with challenging circumstances. The book centers around motifs such as folk tales, painting, sea turtles and the importance of family relationships – just to name a few. 

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Friday, 20 April, 2012
6

National Poetry Month: Reading Between the Lines

QOTD: Share your favorite poem with us! What’s the name, the poet and the reason why that poem is your favorite?

So a friend of mine showed me a book of poetry today called Leaving Saturn by Major Jackson, and I remembered – it’s National Poetry Month! I haven’t been doing a very good job with keeping up with the time and date because at this point it feels like the days are all blended together what with the end of the semester, but I knew I couldn’t not blog about this–even if the post is short!

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Sunday, 25 March, 2012
4

The Importance of Reading Sllloowlyyy

QOTD: Have you read The Hunger Games and/or seen the movie? If so, thoughts? If not, are you planning to join the hype? 

My reading and writing sanctuary this past summer at the Interfaith Chapel connected to the local hospital.

I used to pride myself on being a slow reader. When I was younger, I would read under the table during dinner and under the covers past bedtime, traveling across the world with nothing but my imagination to keep me satiated and my newly found friends to keep me company.I can’t swim in an ocean or even a pool to save my life, but I love nothing more than to swim in a sea of words.
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Tuesday, 21 February, 2012
2

Meeting Author Chad Harbach: “The Art of Fielding”

QOTD: What’s your favorite way to organize your desk?

This past Friday, award-winning author Chad Harbach came to UNC-Chapel Hill and held a discussion called “The Art of Publishing.” The New York Times named Harbach’s ‘baseball book,’ The Art of Fielding, one of the top novels of 2011. After attending the discussion and listening to Harbach talk about his career and the writing process for his book, I had the privilege of meeting Harbach himself at his own book signing! 

He said that he does his best to develop characters based on just as they are and not how they should be be perceived. 

“I try not to color the reader’s perspective of the character or focus on if the reader likes or dislikes the character,” Harbach said. “I try to stay out of that relationship.” 

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Monday, 13 February, 2012
1

The Pizza Model: Guest Blogging at Literary Jam & Toast

QOTD: What’s your favorite type of pizza? Note your choice of special toppings, type of cheese and the thickness of crust. ;) 

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, I’m guest blogging over at Literary Jam & Toast ,a blog by Miss Mia Hayson on writing and zombies and glitter, about The Pizza Model. What is The Pizza Model, you ask? You’ll have to visit to find out! 

Come join in on the fun and let’s talk about PIZZA! I mean, who doesn’t love pizza? :) 

Special thanks to Mia Hayson for having me as a fellow guest blogger. Follow her for your daily dose of writing tips, cool stories and laughter!

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Sunday, 05 February, 2012
3

Happy Bliggity Birthday: The Best of the Blog Year 2

QOTD: What is your favorite type of sinful cake, the cake that you only eat when you feel really wicked? (Mine is red velvet! Mm…yummy)

Happy Sunday, everybody! It is a very grey day here in North Carolina, but I am in a spirited mood and am so excited to say that it’s TRA’s Blog Birthday/Anniversary! Can’t believe I’ve kept up this blog for two years already…I guess when you’re having fun and loving what you write about, time flies. 

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Tuesday, 03 January, 2012
5

“A Mustard Moment”: 3rd Annual No-Kiss Blogfest

Thanks to Frankie, 55 bloggers and I have had an awesome opportunity to participate in the 3rd Annual No-Kiss Blogfestyesterday! My apologies for posting my entry one day late, but better late than never, right? The idea of the blogfest is pretty self-explanatory–

“Write a scene or post one from your favorite books, movies, or tv shows that show the almost kiss — the rising, crushing, excruciating, longing, tension that comes when two characters get oh-so-close to kissing that you can just feel it, want it, NEED it….and then…they don’t!”


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Tuesday, 20 December, 2011
6

My Experience as a Critique Partner

QOTD: For the first person to come to mind, think about why you appreciate and are grateful for that person. Feel free to share! 

Quick Announcement: I will be starting my own editing service (completely voluntary on my part, so don’t worry it’s free) post-Christmas. Come back soon for more updates! 

I used to think that I didn’t need anybody. At least when it came to writing. I have always been either too insecure, too stubborn or too fearful to let others critique or even look at my work. I just wanted to do my own thing. I think all of us as writers tend to have this mindset in some way…writing is, after all, as much of a service to ourselves as it is to our readers. But lately I’ve come to realize that when we decide to put our fears aside and allow yourself to be exposed to feedback, we can learn so much from others and improve ourselves as writers and as people. And when it comes down to it, nobody should have to go through the writing process (specifically revision) alone. 

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