The Disturbed

Ashleigh, the small girl with pale locks and staring brown eyes had made her way to the graveyard. The October wind lashed at her face, making her cheeks burn, and she quickened her pace. Ashleigh wanted to be away from the gaslights, the cars, the people. The very humans disturbed her - perturbed her.

So, Ashleigh thought that going to the graveyard on the last day of October would be rather fine. She believed in ghosts - truly did - and decided so as not to provoke them, to not touch any of the tombs or sit on any flowers. Instead, she made her way to a wooden bench, hidden under the thick oak-tree leaves.

Ashleigh's mother had given her a small maple basket where she put a bun and a few lollies, knowing that her ten-year-old was one for a treat.

But at one point, Ashleigh stood up and bravely made her way towards the tombs. Curiosity got the better of her, and as her long fingers ran over the words, she knelt down to sniff and explore. Near one tomb, which said "Alicia Caive", she sat down to toy with the weak flowers. Hyacinths - dead.

Ashleigh's little heart gave a jolt. She felt sorry for Alicia - truly did, because she thought that the woman must feel lonely when she comes at midnight to inspect her surroundings.
So, Ashleigh put the sweets by the tomb, and herself ate the cold bun.

Hours passed swiftly, like a crow in the night. But do crows fly swiftly?

Soon, it was midnight. Completely dark. Ashleigh waited, her heart beating hard against her chest. She had always wanted to see a ghost, and now that she finally had enough courage in her, she could! Moments after the clock struck twelve, a tyrannic cry echoed around the grave-yard, and soon a smoky pair of claws were seen. No - not smoky; silvery. The claws dug the dirt in an irritated manner, until soon there was a hole big enough for a head to come through.

Ashleigh wanted to run. But she knew she couldn't!

The face was a very curious one; sure, there were eyes, but they had no pupils, nor any irises - only black holes, so vivid and real and inviting. The nose was a sharp one, with a sort of bend at the bridge, giving in a peculiar look. But the mouth - oh! There was a twisted, half-mad smile upon it, full of a droll attempt to try and hide the glee.

"You have disturbed me, little girl," said the it in a raspy voice. Thick, greasy hair almost covered the eyes, but Ashleigh saw them flash.

"I... oh, A - A - Alicia! I have put candy on your tomb, hoping you'd be pleased..."

"You have disturbed me, little girl." now the voice was more firm. Thick. Hard.

"I'll g - g - g - go!" and Ashleigh sprang up, and turned on her heels to run. But a smooth hand held her ankle and she tripped face-down, onto the concrete.

What happened next, nobody knew - but every year, on the last day of October, a severe cry echoes in the graveyard, and swiftly a monster comes. Many have tried to "kill" it - but in the end, all ended up dead. For the magic force was a strong one - and when somebody is disturbed from their underworld, it's a deadly business to even hope that it shall go away!

New Tag - Sneak-Peeks

Here, I am going to post sneak peeks of my future chapters before I post them onto Wattpad! They won't be edited here, for I am to edit them on Wattpad.
I just wanted to do this small update and say what my future plans are.

Again, as said before, I am not to post too much on this blog for some time now, but I will take the hobby seriously and deeply progress into it when holidays start in six weeks. It's a long time to wait, but I know I'll gather many a material for my future posts, and probably come with many a story to share!

From,
Sandra!

Your New Place to Hang Out At - legendarylibraryonline.wordpress.com

Okay - so this is all a friendly blogging community, right? Well, I have a friend that left my school last term, and who does blogging too, and I would just like to sort of introduce her website to other people!
I really adore Luna's poetry - it is so deep and meaningful, in my opinion! And I am so glad to be able to say that her skills are really worth mentioning! If one counts not the rare lack of full stops and apostrophes, then it's a lovely place to go to.

Again, thanks for listening to this rant!
Sandra

D.W. part 6 - "Limited Third Person" or "Omniscient Third Person"?

I have read a bit about this on Storybird, to be frank - but now I want to translate those words into my personal language and explain a bit about "third person".
That's right - that easy style of writing when one can easily write "he goes up the hill," or "she licks the salami and jumps back!" But - who is the narrator? Who is the protagonist? Who is... does every reader see the book through the eyes of Harry Potter or Auggie, Via, Jack, Julian and Charlotte (Wonder)?

Sometimes, writing in "omniscient third person" changes the reader's - uh - how to say... it changes what they think about the characters, and if or if not they relate with them more/less. For example, at first the story may begin with Neil. But in the next chapter, one sees the world from the eyes of Phil, and if the readers thought that she was an indifferent snob before, then now they get to see what really she is feeling and why she's not what one called her before.

So, finally, "Limited third person", as the name may suggest, make you see throughout the novel the story from the eyes of one person. It is you who choose to believe them, or you again who choose not to - because, in the end, in a book such as this, you never get to see the point of view (POV) of another character!

From,
Sandra!

D.W. Part 5 - Criticizing Oneself

It is important, as I have found, to criticize oneself when one wants to improve. For an instance, if one is considering writing as perhaps a future career, then it is very important that the person reads other books, and edits their work, and edits again, and three times more, just to make sure that one hasn't put a "." in the place of a "?".

I like to edit my work before I post it anywhere (storybird, wattpad, creative crystal) or give it to anyone to read (family, friends, teacher). I enjoy knowing that I've ran over the information and done everything the way I would like it to be done, so that I now may rest in peace, because I have finally checked everything.

Critisizing is important in the life of a hobby and an aspiring artist. I suppose it help when, after writing your sonnet for three hours, you go out of the room, make yourself a milkshake, et cetera - and that when you come back, you look at your scribbles (excuse me - I do know some people have neat handwriting, but I don't!) with the fresh eyes of an indifferent stranger. Be cool, recollective - think of what was your favourite book that you've read before. Did Margaret have "broun" or "brown" hair?

Okay.
So, I just wanted to explain that it is very important to critisize oneself!
PS: I know that there is an app called "Grammarly", that can help one with punctuation and the spelling of words - but does that really help you?! What do you learn? DO you learn to lean on the help of others?

From
Sandra

December to January - My Plans

Okay, so I am very excited to explain that I shall be spending about two hours a week posting on my website over the next holidays!
I know I've been a very lazy egg, and I know that my grandparents are coming to stay for those two months, and that I'll probably have my days already all schedchuled. But then I took a moment to think, and decided to actually spend more time (when, or i I have it) on this blog.

I do feel somewhat bad for stopping my D.W.s - or rather, updating them every month or so. I have promised every Sunday, and so that is what I will hopefully try and do!

Now, I must continue at my slow pace until then, because, now that I'm nearing end of grade five, there's tons of work that we've all gotta get completed and activities and special excursions and other things... however, currently I am working on the next D.W., which will be about criticizing yourself.

Hugs,
Sandra

Terry Pratchett - My New Favourite Author?!!

Okay, so there are only four writers that I thought a world of until I discovered the "Discworld" series: J.K.Rowling, Astrid Lindgren, L.M.Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott. But then, when I'm already 15% into "The Colour of Magic", something fuzzy and delightful makes its way into my soul. And it is a thought - will this author perhaps make his way into my "Top 5"?!

Why, yes! Yes, of course!

Terry Pratchett is amazing! I know his writing style is a little hard, but it's totally ME! And by that I do not mean that I am as good a writer as him - of course I'm not! It's just that how he wrote his books... what he wrote in them... Now, mind, this ain't gonna be one of my book reviews - I am merely letting the world know of my newest favouritest author!!

I am very hyped about having discovered him. As I said above, I'm in love with his writing style, and the genre - fantasy! - and the plot - fantastic! So original (but now I think I'm just starting to be creepy XD)!

I totally recommend "The Colour of Magic"! And while I'm still reading "Watership Down" (A novel about Fiver!), I think it not a problem to balance those both feel-good novels on my nose right now. I mean, if I were reading "War and Peace", I am sure it would make my head spin even harder than if I were reading a million stories by the "Bronte" sisters at the same time!

I think it matters how the author writes, and what the author writes, and who the author is as a person (not always, though)!

G'day!
Sandra

D.W. Part 4 - Writing in Different Styles (Not Genres!)

I've been playing around much with the words "genres" and "styles" as though they are the same things, but now I think myself candidly incorrect. Because right now, they mean different things to me - completely.

What are "genres"?

Genres are words that you use to describe a book, pretty much. For example, say there was a dark cover with a ghost looming in the darkness on a book you were reading currently. Then I'm sure you'd describe it as "dark-fantasy," or else something of that sort. I used to think of genres as adjectives for books and movies.

What are "styles"?

Styles, to me, is how somebody writes a book. Unlike genres, in my opinion, it depends on the actual author and their own "writing-style". And by that I do not mean that perhaps they write in the genre "horror" all the time. Instead, it is how the person writes, not what the person writes in. For an instance, "A Ghost in my Suitcase" I described to be written very loosely; the descriptions are meaningless to me, for there's almost none, and the characters don't draw you in very much.

So now, if somebody has the dreadful "Writer's Block", then how about writing in different styles? If you just change genres, I'm sure it'll work too, but changing styles is like a new world to me, too. Say you always write in detailed style, with complicated characters such as Severus Snape, who in the end turn out to be not who we thought they'd be. Now sit down, and write the exact same story - or a completely different story! - only, in your simplified style, or the other way around.

It is good for artists to have different styles of drawing, and currently I am exercising with "anime". But for writers it's good, too! I mean, I have my full style, and my simplified style!

I hope this helped!

Sandra

I Won't Be Active (A Rant About Wattpad)

Okay.
So this is just another rant about Wattpad.

I have started numerous stories on Wattpad, and have never gone very far with them, just because I don't really have much of that confidence left in me. Why, there are amazing writers on the website, age thirteen (mostly!) and older, so sometimes I even wonder what I am doing there.

It's a lovely community, that's what I'll say, and I am glad to be part of it. Actually, I am. But I am afraid that my pride shall be crushed if I write a story, and everybody just steps on it like a doormat. Right now, I don't feel at all good about this.

So I will take a step back, and work on a story in privet. I will still be active on Wattpad, except that I wo't be posting much. But if, after much thought, I decide to think my story somewhat "worthy", then I'll post it onto CreativeCrystal and then onto Wattpad.

PS: the new D.W. will be out earlier today, hopefully, but if not then a tinge bit later!

D.W. Update: What I Shall Do

I remember promising to do D.W. every Sunday, but as one may or may not have noticed - i'm failing the challenge completely, what with my guitar lessons and school work and karate and art. I am sorry.
Since this is nothing but just a short update, I will get to the main point.

I won't post tomorrow, for I am going to an overnight camp with my Grade Five class and teacher, so probably will on Sunday.
I cannot promise to post every week a D.W. - I need to be proud of my work!

Kind Regards,
Sandra

PS: So sorry for the choppy words XD!!

Little Women (Book Review)

Ooh - this is such a feel-good story for me (even though many may say quite the opposite)!

People say that this has too many "life-lessons" and that it's not a really suitable children's book, but I loved it! Amy, the youngest sister, eleven at the start of the book, is very artistic and selfish - Beth is musical and shy - Jo is very unladylike and literacy-like, while Meg cares too much for her pretty hands and despises work around the house.

The March family are poor. The father has went off to war, and the family has to work hard to survive.
I loved seeing them all go through their adventures and lessons, in the end becoming very close to Teddy Laurence, the boy next door, and being more good and womanly in the end.
It should be said that near the end of the book, Beth (second-youngest), caught scarlet fever - I think - and almost passed away; for it was a rainy day, and the mother was away, and Beth asked Jo to go look after the Hummel baby, that had scarlet fever, while her sister was too lazy and said "no". So Beth went herself, and said that the baby died in her arms, which made her too upset, and then it was discovered that she had caught the virus.

Also, the family, somewhere at the start of the book, went to "Camp Laurence" - camping with Theodore (Teddy!) Laurence, his grandfather, and - I thought they were family friends? There was a little girl, age ten, then the two twins, a few years elder than her, one on crutches, and the eldest sister.
Everybody had a capital time, and Mr. Brooke (who's Teddy's tutor), who had come as well, paid a bit too much of attention to the eldest Meg, I thought. But she's very pretty - I cannot blame him.

At the end, Mr. Brooke confesses his love for Meg, which is in Christmas, and when Father comes home from the war. She says that she's still too young, and won't marry till at least twenty-three, and doesn't love John Brooke - but something makes her mind change.

There are also other advenures that they go through - for example, Jo gets her first story published in the local newsletter, Mr. Laurence lets Beth play the piano of his late girl in his enormous house, and Amy gets to stay home for a while after having a hard day at school. I truly loved - love - the sisters, and hope they don't change too much in the future three books.

But the thing that surprised me most - how they changed in the end! Meg, hard-working, Jo managing to keep her sharp tongue from talking "in slang", and not whistling, Beth, more out-going and bright, and Amy less selfish.
To be honest, I think Amy changed most!
If you've read the book, then may I wonder which character you liked best?

From
Sandra

Patience is a Virtue

A young princess, with dark-red hair and brown eyes, the colour of melting milk-chocolate, and one that was called Seraphine, had everything that she had ever wished for.
For the first fifteen years everything ran smoothly in the kingdom, and in the mind of the little spoilt damsel - for she knew that if only she said "I want,", then surely every time the thing became hers.

One evening, the Angel of Sera visited her. It was her own bodyguard, very modest, very polite, with a plump body clothed in a white dress, satisfying as snow, a halo about its head and curly blonde locks streaming up to its shoulders.
The first time it visited her, it was determined to just let the girl know that her bodyguard in fact wasn't just some make-believe, and in vain tried to convince her that she wasn't going mad or just dreaming.
"Fine! Then right this moment I want you to bring me a bit of stardust, enclosed in a lovely jar of bronze!" Sera said decidedly, a bit of a pucker about her lips, and was surprised when a moment after it had gone, the Angel returned with a jar full of gleaming dust.

Every day after that, Sera called upon her Angel, and every time, she wished for the impossible. "A leprechaun!" and the fat little man in green was delivered to her window. "A dress as silky as water!" and the next evening she went to the ball in just that, charming a young prince who instantly asked to dance eight times in a row. "A bird made out of fire!" and the little creature soon burned down her most treasured toy, leaving the girl fuming, and wickedly wishing for other things also. "I want a siren to sing and lull me to sleep every evening so that I don't have grey bags under my eyes the next morning!" and so, so on it went.

The Angel, meanwhile, was becoming very tired as days passed; its power was drained from it, but it wasn't it its nature to say "No" to a little girl.
One day, however, Sera crossed all limits.
"I want you to bring me the potion of love, made from a pinch of lava, a teaspoon from the moon and a cup full of mermaid tears."

So the Angel flew to the Lands of the Unknown and tried its best. Every day, however, it was called upon, and the same question was asked over and over again: "Are you done, yet?" it was the same every twenty-four hours - for the little princess was not born to wait.

On one of it's attempts, the Angel was doing very rather well - why, it already had a flask full of salty tears, a pinch of lava stowed away safely, and was just finishing collecting the bit of moon - when Sera called it to herself, and the Angel fell right off in its surprise, never to be seen again.
That night, the princess wondered why her Guardian hadn't come - though, she never received an answer.

Since her Angel was gone, many a bad thing happened to her for the rest of her life - because patience is a virtue everyone must have.

A Ghost in My Suitcase by Bernadette Wang: What I Think of It

Okay. So, the first thing that comes to mind when one's teacher assigns one a book to read called "A Ghost in my Suitcase" is an eerie spirit, with bloody eyes, a half-translucent body and wicked smile. But this is not really what the story is about!

Before I begin - I just wanted to say that every term, my teacher divides our grade into a few groups, and each group has to read a certain book and answer certain questions, and do certain tasks, once they're done.

The book that I got to read was "A Ghost in My Suitcase".

Pretty much, it is about a girl called Celeste whose mother has dies when she was ten. At the moment, she lives with Father and Robbie (younger brother), but soons moves to her grandmother's place for a while, which is set in Shanghai.
Por Por (grandmother) had adopted a girl who has lost all her family a few years previously, called Ting Ting.
In my opinion, it doesn't focus us much on the "ghost" part as it does on explaining the different chinese foods Celeste eats, and what the different equipment do and where they are from - just pretty much, Mrs. Wang focuses mostly, on not the exciting bits.

It does not really suit me - it is not my style, to be honest, truly. Because - the descriptions are very loose, the characters I wasn't able to fall in love with, and the adventure - I didn't really care to keep going.

So this is my personal opinion on things - really, I meant to offense to anybody!
From
Sandra

Why I Am Ashamed of My First Story on Wattpad

I have wanted to write about this for over a week now, but since I was on holiday and visiting so many different, lively, awesome places, I just had no time. But now I do, of course, since I'm back to Australia. And furthermore, I am planning also to upload "The Ghost of the Night" as soon as I possibly can.

I already did a review on Wattpad, and I already stated my username, but now - what about my first story? The one that is said to make the first impression? Well, it's not a very good one.
You see, I have thought that on Wattpad there are not many experienced authors - like, I mean, ones that have really published books of their own or won competitions for their stories. But once I uncovered the fact that this is, more or less, for professionals, my first story began to slowly go downhill.

An attempt at a small novella about a girl named Dell, eleven years old, who one day finds that her mother and father go missing and sets on an adventure to find them, left me really wondering - is Wattpad even my thing?
Well, of course it is!

And that is because at the moment I am reading an amazing book about a dark magical adventure by Amanda-Mae, who is already in her mid-twenties, and has published book one (I don't know when) and book two (which I'm hoping will come out soon on Wattpad).
Also, reading books by others really enlarges (I don't suppose it's a real word but whatever!) my vocabulary, and I am so grateful for that.

I just wanted to say that after completely failing my own expectations, I quit after chapter number three or four, just because it felt droll to write something I didn't want to write. I still get rather petulant, however, when thinking that my first story did not work. But... no matter. Things bad will come.

As for my second story, "A Magical World Beyond", it follows Celine on her adventures in NaerTaim; and, as I have spent already six pages in my planner scribbling and sorting and planning everything, I already know what my chapters are called (almost) and what is meant to bound after what, and what words I'm  to us. So, as I feel that there is more to this story than just "magic", which I doubt my first story on Wattpad ever had, I think I shall do a summary on this website of "A Magical World Beyond".

Please don't think that I'm simply advertising the website and my stories by writing about this; I just feel better knowing that it's all cleared up now.

From
Sandra

My Holiday

Right now, it is 12:32 a.m. in the morning, and I am writing this, sitting, perfectly wide-awake and grinning from ear to ear.
Okay, this just sounds like a whole load of cringy rubbish but... sorry.
Shall we begin?
I'm ready!
Let's do it!
...