Category Archives: Writing Remarks

Writing Remarks

Monday, 14 November, 2011
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“You’re doing NaNo? Sounds like a dirty iPod joke if you ask me.”

QOTD: Tell us a funny Thanksgiving dinner story! (C’mon, we’ve all got those memories of Grandpa cracking funny–but not really funny–jokes and Baby Cousin Jack spitting peas at your brother.)

Okay, I know the title is super lame–but it was either that or “You know you’re crazy for doing NaNo when you told your Mom and she said, laughing, ‘A book? Hun, you wouldn’t even write those This I Believe essays in grade school, what makes you think you can write a novel…?’.” Yeah, I’m glad I went with this blog title instead. ^^

Speaking of NaNoWriMo, there are eight days left! How are we feeling about this? Excited? Frantic? Indifferent? (*points to self*) It’s time to share with you all my word count. I am not really ready to expose myself to shame, but here: 

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Thursday, 03 November, 2011
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Reveal of the Red Angel + NaNoWriMo 2011 Begins!

QOTD: Tell us about your Halloween. Did you dress up? Did you go trick-or-treating (you’re never too old for this, I promise!) or hand out candy to the kids? Did you stay at home and watch scary movies? Let us know! 

When I was a little girl, I used to get really paranoid about being in the dark and having bad guys snatch me away from the safety of my home. Both figuratively and literally. These bad guys include dangerous creepers, but also verbal attackers and anyone who is wrongly judgmental of who I am. Honestly, I think I worry too much about what other people think of me.

Which is totally understandable, right? I mean, I know I’m not the only one who cares about how my opinions and lifestyles will shape what people see the parts of me that I share with them. But to an extent this sensitivity is a setback, seeing as I’m a writer and journalist/psychologist-in-training. How can I give other people solid advice on how to improve their lives for the better and write articles on topics I feel strongly about when I’m nervous about what nice or mean things Jack and Mary are saying behind my back? 

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Saturday, 29 October, 2011
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What’s Your Take on Creative Writing Classes?

QOTD: If you have ever taken a creative writing class (or any sort of writing class) before, what was your experience? If you have not taken a writing class, would you want to?


College students have an average of 12 different “What am I gonna do with my life?!” spasms per semester.* So far I’ve only had about two or three, which isn’t that many, comparatively. As class registration begins for next semester, however, I think there’s a fourth spasm that is beginning to boil just underneath the surface at the moment. 

Technically, I’m a Journalism and Psychology double major with a minor in Creative Writing – at the moment. (Fun fact: Most college kids change their majors around three to four timess**). I say “at the moment” because…wait, for it………I think I may be dropping my Creative Writing minor. 

*gasp* I know, I know…I have been wanting to take Creative Writing courses for the longest time. It hasn’t helped that I have tried twice to enroll into our Intro to Fiction class…and then failed both times. Now, all of a sudden I’m second-guessing this long-term desire of mine. (Talk about drastic life-changing decisions, right?)

The thing is, I’m starting to question my previous motives for wanting to take a Creative Writing course. Is it critique? Is it praise? Is it the desire for my writing to be shredded into pieces? Is it a community of literary students in which we can all mutually give advice on our work? Is it a professor who will teach me how to write creatively? 

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Monday, 24 October, 2011
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Be a Bold Writer

QOTD: Are you participating in National Novel Writing Month?

Before I get on with today’s topic, I’d just like to point out that NaNoWriMo will be here ONE WEEK! For those of you who have no clue what this amazing event is, it’s a month-long challenge to write 50,000 words’ worth of a novel in the course of November. It’s fun, it’s crazy, it’s illuminating, it’s life-changing. And that’s not an exaggeration either. 

I’ve been tweeting like mad and following accounts like FigmentFiction and WriMos FTW! just to get myself hyped up about NaNo. (Seriously guys, unless you’ve been keeping up with my blog since last November, you have no idea how intense I get around this time of the year!) I’ve become obsessed with looking up literary blogs, and I have an entire folder in my Bookmarks dedicated to online NaNoWriMo articles that I’ve collected from the Internet. 

Seriously! Come. Join. I guarantee that if you stick with it, in the end you won’t regret having done it. Well-l-l maybe you might, but it’ll definitely be an experience you’ll never forget. :)

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Thursday, 20 October, 2011
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Happy National Day on Writing!

I cannot remember a single moment in my life when I did not love words and writing and literature. And I simply cannot imagine a life in which I did not write…I have tried and I can’t. I write because I have no choice.

Language in the form of writing has always amazed me with its power. There are no limitations as to what I can write and how I can use it. When I journal or string words into poetry or create characters in their own little worlds, I feel limitless.Reading over my works constantly teaches me things about myself and about life that I otherwise would not have known. My lifelong goal is to use the power of words to inspire others with the story of my past, share with them my belief that weaknesses can be turned into strengths and encourage them to accept each other’s differences.

I write to show people they are not alone, and I write to keep myself sane. Without writing, I would have little purpose in this world.

This is why I write. Tell us your story. Happy National Day on Writing! 

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Monday, 17 October, 2011
1

Back from Blog Break

As you’ve probably noticed, I have been Missing in Action for the last couple of weeks and I haven’t been keeping up with my blogging schedule. There are two reasons for this: 

  • I had two exams, two papers and a quiz due last week. This terrible pile of to-dos have been consuming 80% of my mind. Another 10% of my mind has been on consumption of food, and the other 10% has been on sleep.
  • I came up with TOO MANY blog post ideas! And one of the worst feelings ever is thinking up of so many great ideas and then not having the time to work on any of them. 

Well fall break is nearly upon me now, in which I will be working to improve my blog, namely: update pages and plan out each week’s blog post topics. I am also going to work on creating my own graphics, taking more of my own photos, condensing labels, replying back to comments faster and visiting other blogs (which I already do a lot of but I don’t take the time to comment as much I as I want to). During various periods of procrastination, I’ve actually found a handful of new, wonderful blogs to follow and I can’t wait to explore them all.
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Thursday, 29 September, 2011
1

Twitter + Tumblr = #success

Welp. I have joined Twitter and tumblr both in one week. I guess it’s time for me to fully embrace the perplexing, overwhelming world of social media! #excitement (Hmm I still am not used to adding hash tags to words like that)

I just wanted to let all of you know that there are now other ways of contacting me and keeping up with TRA updates.

Twitter: mainly for following my friends and keeping up with the news as well as provide another source for readers to discover The Red Angel Blog. wendyluwrites
*Fun Note: My background (which happens to be a Twitter premade) matches my blog layout exactly! Thought that was cool.

tumblr: this is simply another branch off of The Red Angel blog (which is where you are at now), except it’s more informal, so feel free to follow if you’d like to get to know me on a slightly more personal level. wendyluwrites.tumblr.com

Email: wendyluwrites@gmail.com

Facebook: Click here

And, of course….HERE! :)
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Wednesday, 22 June, 2011
20

19th Birthday Blogfest: The Favorite Book Challenge

Question of the Day: What is your favorite type of cake? Describe the perfect slice…include any toppings or fruit or flavors :) I want to hear about the yummiest, sweetest, most divine cakes you can imagine!!!

Yayyy I am officially 19 years old, as of 9:15am this morning! *does happy dance* I’ll be pretty busy for the rest of the day but I had to post and share my happiness with you all. I don’t quite feel 19 yet but I’m sure it will hit me soon at some point–probably right before I dig into the birthday cake that is anxiously waiting for me in the fridge. *nom, nom*

Speaking of cake, be sure to tell me what is your favorite kind of cake and what your ideal cake would be! Everyone loves a good cake fantasy. :) In my next post I’ll share with you photos of my own cake as well as other visuals of my festivities! Also I’d like to take a moment to thank all of my family and friends for always being there for me and for making today so amazing already–and it’s not even the afternoon yet!

Since I already hosted my 100-Followers Inanimation Blogfest not too long ago, I decided instead to participate in a blogfest myself! And just in time…

Today is the last day to participate in Teralyn Rose Pilgrim’s Favorite Book Challenge Blogfest over at A Writer’s Journey (click the previous link to see the other entries)! The idea is to choose my top five favorite books of all time (this is a challenge, indeed), and for each book write two lines on what it’s about and why I like it so much. So here goes!

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Friday, 17 June, 2011
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30-Day Challenge 25, 26, 27: Letters to People (in Chinese!)

Question of the Day: If you could spend one semester studying any language at all (regardless of time or money constraints), what would it be?

This post was actually inspired by the book Eat, Pray, Love (author Elizabeth Gilbert) in which Liz herself embarks on an adventure to Italy, India and Indonesia. I am currently reading Part One and Liz explains why Italian is so beautiful and why she has this passionate desire to completely immerse herself in this language.

During my freshman year of college, I got to take Mandarin Chinese–and I have to say it is absolutely wonderful. I’ve always been surrounded by family members who instead speak Shanghainese, the primary dialect in Shanghai, China, so I thought that this would be an excellent opportunity to learn more about and of the #1 most popular language in the world (Spanish in #2 and English is #3).

Now, I love Mandarin as much as Liz loves Italian. And I am proud to say that I am now able to write, read and speak basic Mandarin. HURRAY!!! Sadly, the reading part is most difficult for me since it’s not an innate skill. As I will be travelling to China next month (woohoo SO EXCITED) I definitely think I need to brush up on my Chinese (both Mandarin and Shanghainese).

So for today’s Challenge, as part of my 30-Day Tumblr Blog Challenge, I’m going to write letters in Chinese! Awesome excuse to practice, no?

First I’ll show the letter I wrote in Chinese, and then I’ll add the English translation below. Enjoy!!! Do any of you know Mandarin or Shanghainese (if so could you see if I wrote the letters correctly? hehe)

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