What Truly Matters (my entry for "Whitlam Institute Competition 2019")

What Truly Matters

“What matters to me” seems like a question worth answering. Indeed, it is. And, I am fully aware that many aspiring biologists may have written about this, for it’s a popular matter, but one that, frankly, doesn’t seem to be addressed properly. As a brief, somewhat-snappy example (bear with me, for it’s simply a “for an instance”) ... fast food cafes; they still use plastic straws, and it’s outrageous! For, not only can our beautiful planet be soon covered by a vague – but, I am afraid, still distinct – layer of plastic – it can also cause fatal deceases, and, even worse – kill the lovely animals. It might be our fault, so we should pay (isn’t that right?) but, crustaceans – sharks – whales – even land creatures – have done positively nothing wrong.

Now, first, I am to talk about how littering our planet with straws, chip packets, water-bottles and even gum (which is polymer, similar to what car tyres are made of) can affect our own mental health. Yes, if you are so inclined to save yourself from the matter that you’ve (consequently) created, then let me tell you; pollution causes a type of cancer. So, rather than throwing away your cheese-stick wrapper into the stream nearby, think – that it all will go to the ocean and you – yes, you – may experience something deadly in return. Cancer.

Now that we’ve got that covered, I wish to speak of the less-liked fish. Sure, the Angler Fish look scary, but imagine if it were you? And now try comprehend a piece of gum floating down beneath the Sunlit zone, and catching a small baby-fish in the sticky contents of its trap? Yes, now, again. Empathy. A beautiful word, eh? – and a useful one. Again, that one Fangtooth old-granny fish may die because of you.

Then, dolphins. Ah, my most favorite creatures of all! – and what wouldn’t I give to become one, at that. One of the most intelligent animals of all, and so loyal, playful, slippery (I’m a Pisces) and full of happiness. They even adapt by travelling in threes, so that if one gets injured the other two may support its’ body whilst swimming back home. They’ve done practically nothing wrong, and probably want to live their life at the fullest. But... imagine them snacking on the insides of a plastic bag or something of the sort and you aren’t as happy anymore. Please, for the godly sake of dolphins – please – pick up rubbish whenever you see it. Just an odd piece will be enough, I promise.

And lastly, probably the most-favored sea creatures (not for me, though) – turtles and sharks. They’re so different, but need the same things – though in different amounts. Yes, even the Great Whites need affection, care, and love – and who wants to think of how to try and survive every other day? What if a straw comes up one’s nostril, what then? Oh, and they also need to feed. Before, plankton fishing nets have been brought out only to be filled with wrappers, packets, containers, gum, bags – and you can help.

What’s your favorite sea animals? The flat-faced “pelican eel”? The “sarcastic fringehead” (sounds like me) Remember, you’ll be doing a favor for some kind of fortunate soul out and below the aqua shoreline. Please, do not be like the kid I saw the other day in the school yard kicking a yoghurt-container with his shoe. Be... a role model, and stand up for humankind. For dolphins.

Guys, I know this isn’t a Sea Website or anything, but I just wanted to have my voice heard over all of this puking glitter and plastic sabotage. I know, most of you try say no to a plastic ocean, like me — I’d do ANYTHING to keep dolphins alive, btw — but... there are some who are still unconvinced. Like yesterday, I was passing by at Lunchtime in the school yard and saw a kid kicking a bit of plastic with the sole of his shoe, and I was like “HECK watcha doin’?”

Just letting y’all 140+ followers know that even bacteria, such as crustaceans, and up to our beautiful big whales — they need to feed, and even if the ocean looks clear from your point of view, there’s millions of fragments floating around down there... so... please, if you want to keep the oceans safe and going... just for the love of turtles...

Also, thanks to everyone who ain’t usin’ ‘em plastic straws, I’m so glad! But did you know, .... the pollution is also bad for humans, actually! Because, it’s important to have low and high tides — even spring tides — and especially currents of water travelling from place to place,  it if plankton nets are filled with this garbage, then what can you do?? Please, help. Save dolphins.

Also, if you don't already know this, pollution causes cancer so it's a win-win to save animals by not using plastic!

Things i'd tell myself, if I was 5...

Okay, peeps! SO, I decided to make this post, because I got inspired by a video on youtube - "Things i'd tell my younger self - artist edition" by @magicgiraffe . Well-p, now I am here.... with a super cliche letter to myself, age of five! Hee-hee... now's the time to embarass myself!

Well, oficially - sound the trumpets, and rol me up a scroll of parchment - gimme some ink - seat me on a chair intertwined with cords of quartz, in front of a table of maple-wood in the Western Tower of Tilla (you'll know... if you read my "Shattered Reality").

***

My dear ---,
I, ---, your future self, am writing on this scroll which smells of rain and parchment, and the ink is splattering my pages. If you ask, I am sitting here in a magical world which I have written... myself. Yes, darling! - yes! - you're going to be a writer - and author - an authoress, whatever you want.
But, to get whatever your small heart desires, think - write! Start writing today! Make up stories! Tell them to your parents to record! And try to read. Yes. Don't wait another year, lovely girl - try and read now. Because you will love it.

I promise you, you will! And then... when you are old enough to be able to read, and write - just a bit properly - never stop. It's amazing how you can create worlds - fly on unicorns - talk with the fae - whilst staying in your lovely room in Finland, Tampere. Please, just read!!

Remember - please... a book is a present you can open again and again, and try to never for that. Whatever somebody says - you can injure (hurt) yourself when you play sport - but try and play volleyball, a bit! -, maths (numbers) are boring, handwriting... well. And singing is not your thing. Writing! Writing! Oh, and of course drawing. Making art. Yes.

Draw and draw and write and write and listen to your parents and let them take pictures of your art and record your novels. Please! Because, I, age 10 - to turn 11 in one month (four weeks) and nine days would LOVE to watch the videos and list through the photos. Draw. Please!!

Your loving older self...
---

***

Tumblr

Hey guys, I now officially have Tumblr. I've had it for a few months now, but today decided to finally begin using it... actually, it was yesterday. Well, just wanted to let ya know that I'll be on and off Creative Crystal for the next two months, but expect - IF one expects anything of me - a post.... or five.

Yeah, so. On Tumblr I will be writing tips and tricks, just like here, except that also I'll view my digital art and include quotes and photos of my book covers and... well, pretty much 'tis all. Thanks! And, I am guessing... well... whatever. But, just happy first day of school! I'm finally in year six.
https://www.tumblr.com/search/wattpadgirlll/recent

I CREATED my Own Challenge?!!

So, you guys have heard that it's the 23rd of January, yes? And - wait, hold up there! - I feel like... I haven't written, much, in the first month of the year. Yes, it's a confession - WHOO! I agree! - but... honestly, I feel quite bummed about the idea of not having written past, like, 30 pages this month. Yet. Roughly.

Yah, I know what you're saying - probably - "Pah! That's a lot.. of pages..." and if you are thinking that then, congratulations! I feel honoured! But, MOST likely you'd be going - "Ew. You're writing a book, geez! And that's how much you've written... in a month?! Yeah, there's a good authoress!" and I agree with you. More than ever.

So, feeling quite guilty with myself for not writing too much in the month of January, I have decided to create my own challenge. Quite literally! But before I keep going, I shall ask - write - whatever, okay? - have you heard of "NaNoWriMo"? (And yes, I just searched it up!)

If you have, then you must know that from Novemer 1 - November 30 writers are welcome to participate in "National Novel Writing Month", when you're meant to write 50,000 words. A manuscript (story, epic, whatever...)! So, now, looking at my 73 pages and 22,000 words, I am... shook. Seems like in TWO months I've been slacking off!

So, as Taylor Swift, my favourite singer (put your hand up if you've been to any of her concerts! **Me - raises hand enthusiastically**) said in one of her songs - "...And i'd go back to december, turn around and make it alright..." except that, in my case it's November.

Well, whatever; I have myself set a challenge. For February. And, it's called (insertamazingnamehere)... FebiTing! Yes! Very original, lovely, unmistakably awesome... fine. Yeah, well, you know! - "Feb" for February, and the "-iting" for Writing. Not the best name I could come up with, but whatever. Appearances don't matter... Seriously, guys!

Well, yep, this is about the end of this post; my goal is to write 10,000 words in the month of February, and I hope... everything works out. Yeah. Also, here's a quick cover reveal for "Shattered Reality"... (I didn't make it, though used Canva to edit the image)

Author Problems

Okay, so - if this isn't a fun one! I know, that, about a year ago, I made a post about "what writers cannot say", or something of that sort, but here - right now - I just want to have some fun, honestly! - and, yes, while problems aren't something, necessarily, humorous - they may still be fun, if to put them lightly and sprinkle some sugar on top for extra flavour.

So, without furhter ado - except a little bit, 'course! - let us get into some author problems that I have either experienced -am aware of - or know to be as very problematic towards some/many people whom I do not actually know. But, anyway.

***

1. When You Are Accused of Being "A Nerd"

Ugh, I just hate this so much! Honestly - Just. So. Much. Hate!!! Like, being a nerd is not a bad thing, I understand - and I think it is good to be one, even though you may think otherwise yourself. But, my main point is that  nerd - liked all, or most, and is good at all - or most, again! - of the school subjects. Not necessarily, perhaps, maybe they just try very hard! - but, I know that, in my school, nerds are kids who are very good at 5+ subjects, not including the "fun" ones like - SUPPOSEDLY - music. Rather, it's more like :- art - BOO! - English - BOO - somebody called Clare a "Grammar Nazis?!!" - BOO! - and so on and so forth.

2. When People Say - "It's Easy Stuff, Being an Author!"

Now, I do kind of agree with this - but you should, too, in my opinion! - only if you have taken up writing to earn million of dollars for one of your poems or something of the sort. On the other hand - the passionate, literature-loving authors/to-be ones honestly make up communities such as Wattpad. Like, if you are passionate about what you do, then! - you try to be the best person you ever could be as a writer, right? ...Or wrong? 'Cause if you write only to become rich - and I hope that that ain' a-happenin' to ya, if that's you! - then you don't care how good you are. But the real writers - the authors that stuck to their passions and kept lurching forward like great waves of change, forcefully upon themselves to write masterpieces, be sure - they, like Edgar A. P., created ripples of change in the waters - and they lasted - OH, yes! - after those noble people died.

3. "WTF - Who Even Wants to Be an Author??"

Oh, my, gawd... you should keep quiet while you still can, haters! Because, the largest community for authors holds 60 million writers that share their works, like, practically, every single second with the world! And, you may as well ask - 

"Why would I want to be an author?" and I'd answer, with a very dignified cough and a fierce kinding of fire in my eyes - 

"Because, if you are an author, a whole new world - no! - millions of universes are right at your fingertips. Why, you can create characters - destroy oceans - rule kingdoms - fly over mountains where trolls delve - dance with the faes, whilst wearing a dress made out of a chrysanthemum's petal - all that, while safely sitting at home! Not only that, but you can make people cry - laughs - shriek - moan -, simply if you put enough meaning into your words. And, do you not want to be remembered, hundreds of years after your death? Ha, but if you collect an audience - million, perhaps! - then nobody shall ever, ever forget you!"

Finding Motivation to Write... Tips for 2019 From a 10 Year-Old

Tips... tips... tips! These are 3 of them, from a ten-year-old aspiring authoress/artist who enjoys being imaginative, andcrazy, and wild, and who just LOVES breaking all of the rules when it comes to her hobbies. Well, of course, I don't break all of the rules, cos otherwise - how could I ever play the guitar... learn to write... draw... even act a tiny bit?

Anyway, this is not a "how to unfollow the rules" post, though I admit that this seems like a pretty splendid idea that I may look at.. but not right now. At the moment, I am going to list 5 tips from an almost-eleven-year-old. And please know that these come straight from me and ain't actually scientifically proven or anything - just my opinions. ...Like, honestly.

***

1. Be Hard on Yourself
'Course, this may not sound like the ideal tip, coming ESPECIALLY from a ten-year-old girl who, frankly, knows - like - nothing about writing. But this is what I think; if you have decided to participate in a competition, then, yay for you! - but, if you feel as though you have no inspiration, fear not! I promise, just writin' it helps me, and if you do not like what you have written out (forcefully), then you can - of course - always work from the draft and fix your mistakes. It's just that it can be intimidating to not know where to start, I know.

2. Challenge Yourself.
If you are too scared to enter a challenge for the fear of losing (so far in my life, I've entered 3 and in two of them I didn't even get noticed/shortlisted!) - and please, don't be scared to give things a go! - you can always challenge yourself by reading... classics. Actually, not necessarily, but classics are really smart things - because, classical books are timeless. Just think of it - and pardon me, if I seem like I am bragging! - I, right now, am reading the works of Edgar Allan Poe. And I absolutely love him. I will probably soon do a short review on his "Bon-Bon" story, but that is not the point. I underline sentences that I like, and modify them to make them mine - just tweak the first word, change a letter, add an adjective! - anything! - and then, I use them in my works. Do this too! It's good for the mind.

3. Ask...
Ask people to read your stories. I think, that if you do that, they can help you modify your mistakes! ...And, yes, I love using this word! But, like, seriosuly. It helps. Trust me. Especially if you ask a teacher! Because, see, they have experience in - what is it? - ah, yes, teaching! - and may really help. I myself got tons of help and support from my Year 5 teacher(s)...

How I work on my Project - "Shattered Reality"

So, as you guys may or may not know, I am currently working on a small project - actually, no - scratch that! -; I am currently working on an enormous project that might take me more than a year to finish. And, it is a book.
Yes. I am working on a book - you heard that right! - and when I finish it, I shall send it to the self-publishers of "Austin Macauley".

***

1.What?
I am writing a fantasy book, called "Shattered Reality". Of course, this cover is not going to be the official one, just because the artist added a few things I would like changed - and, all in all, I do not suppose that I will have my cover in the style anime. Though I absolutely adore THIS cover, and don't you already know that I am in love with anime?

2. When?
I've begun writing my book officially on the 16th of November, I think... but I uploaded the first chapter, or - the "First Prologue" on the frist of December, as it took time to plan stuff out and edit, surprisingly... for I'm not one to be known for my hesitation, I may assure you of just that if not of my real name.

3. How?
Hmm. I myself am quite at a loss of words, because - frankly - how did I get the idea for "Shattered Reality"? I suppose, I was just writing my failed story, "Sabine" - which I deleted when I began "Shattered Reality", as I hate to work on many a project at the same time - and suddenly, I had an urge to write something fantasy-like. I honestly wanter some magic - to put hours and hours into every single Chapter, and to write them with care - and edit - and have in-depth characters. Thus, I went on the website "Inkarnate", randomly created a fantasy map, and worked out the plot lines from there.

4. Where?
I have moved houses, approximately a month and a week ago, and right now I simply ADORE to sit under the beech tree in my backyard, on a little treestump, or else with my back propped against it as I sip on milk/lemonade if it's ESPECIALLY hot (e.g. - 32+ C). But then, when it's steaming outside, or rainy/windy, I clamber onto my bed/sit in the eun suite and write on my iPad.

5. Why?
I have begun writing "Shattered reality", because I feel like, at the time I was in writer's block, and wanted to have a huge project to work on that I would put all my spare time into. Of course, mind - if you are working on a short-story/novella/NOVEL then pay attention that you go outside, at least for an hour each day, for I know from painful experience that wne I simply sit at home... I do nothing but eat. And stare at the computer screen.                                     

Posts to get you excited about!

1. Review on my Quo Vadis planner!

2. Copying is okay.

3. Ask others!

4. Story review on "Out of Breath" by E. A. Poe

5. The Laugh of the Crow (Poem)

6. What Present to get/make?

7. Books to get excited about (New version)

8. Books to get you excited about (classic version)

9. Why I don't update my story

10. E. A. Poe saved my life?

(Everyday, I want to write a little bit on my website, unless I have severe reasons not to. I hope you understand that I have work to catch up on over the holidays, and things to be doing instead of sitting at the computer)

What I am Trying to Achieve With My Story, On Wattpad

I have thought over this, and now I know that it is time to explain what I am actually trying to achieve through my story. I will also be explaining how I got a cover for my e-book, and telling you what I suppose all this will lead me to do.

So, I think that, to lighten the mood - rather, to just start with the "nicest" bit, I'll put up a picture of my current cover for my story and explain how I got it. Please, enjoy...

See? The image above was the cover for my story "Sabine".

But I had restarted my story, and altogether buried the plot in my mind so that I would never have to return to it again, all because I wasn't putting any effort into it. I had felt like all the other authors on Wattpad put hours and hours into each chapter, and so now, if you go onto my profile ( Starry_Birdie ), then you won't see "Sabine". And I know that I already had thirty-seven votes and over ten comments on my book, but so what could I do if nothing was turning out?
And so, now - onto how the book was made;

If one has an account on Wattpad, then, on the search-bar, one could easily type up: - "Free covers" or, if you want a precise style then you can type up -: "Pre-made gothic covers" or "Free anime covers" or, really, whatever comes to mind. Then, it would be good to contact the author of the "cover book" that you like most and tell them the specifics, like -:

1. Title:
2. Caption (onptional):
3: Mood:
4. Characters present:
5. Any extra details:

And after that, you just sent your details to the author and they may/mayn't submit to making you a cover.

Sah now, I am going to talk of my "current" story, Shattered Reality.
In this story, well, I usually post a new chapter either every three days or every week, depending how I feel of it.

I feel very much more collected, and ever happier, for now I REALLY put my efforts into writing.

Throughout my story, whilst I write it, I want to achieve this; I want people to communicate through messages, I want to grow more followers (currently am on 29), and let people mourn whenever this is a slight cliffhanger.

How I got my "current" cover? See above again, if you are not clear.

Lastly... what will all this, supposedly, lead me to do? Well, I am guessing that by the end of my book I will be very much more experienced with writing, and that it'll lead me to write another story.

I will catch up!

I have't been on my website for quite some time now, and I do regret it, since I have promised to write full-time from Dec-Jan. Well, let's just say that I wasn't feeling well - meaning, that I had no ideas, and no strength to write something I did not like. Also, I have had no internet since i have moved into a new house.

But here, these are some things - or documents, rather, that I will be posting of soon enough -
1. Review on my Quo Vadis planner,
2. Edgar Allan Poe - my new favourite author?!
3. Book review on "The Hobbit"
4. No spoilers! (how to write spoiler-free book reviews)
5. Explanation of my story on Wattpad, bonus details, sneak-peeks, et cetera.

So, I hope some of these, if not all, have gotten you excited for the next Month!

Much love,
Sandra

Hi! I just felt like making a logo for CC! It will most likely go up on the "bar" thing where one can see the competition that I won and follow me and search my posts and read about me. I'm pretty sure that that's what it's called!

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

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

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!

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!
...

"The Ghost of the Night", And What I'm Going to Write Here...

Two people have already asked me, if not on this website, then why ain't I posting my story, "The Ghost of the Night", with which I won my first ever competition?
Well, it's because when I try to post it, it comes in very peculiar handwriting which I cannot change. So, I'll of course try to find another way to post it, but not for two weeks now because I'm going to Germany.

I wanted to say that I will be posting "mystery" and somewhat "scary" stories only on this website in my real style - the one which I use to truly express myself. I don't think that I'm very confident still in writing fantasy and about nature and adventures in fine detail, so I will be experimenting with that in my simplified style for now on Wattpad and Storybird. So I just wanted to make it seem clear that I'll be posting stories that I'm confident in posting on this websites, and if I'm not, then I'll try them in my style, but simplified, under Sandra_CC or Melody14.

Now. Logging off...
Sandra

A review on Storybird

Storybird is a website for people of all ages. There's the toddler age group, the one from age seven to eight, I think - I dunno - the tween one, in which category I fall, the one for teenagers and for "complete" adults.
You can write poetry, picture story books, long-form books; you can enter challenges, customize your background and your profile picture, unlock "hearts" and "emojis" and "expressions" to like other people's stories; you can also subscribe to users, earn badges for writing for a certain amount time, for getting a certain amount of "hearts" or views or reposts... all in all, it's my baby!

I am a member, meaning that you get your chapters published very quickly and that you get to unlock the "How-To" Guides that tell you useful tips and tricks on how to write stories, poetry, and so - so on. You get the "hearts" and "emojis" unlocked, meaning that you can like other's stories. You, too, if write everyday, you earn five "crowns", and when you unlock a hundred of them you get to buy yourself an "expression", meaning that you can like someone's story "in style". For instance, you can buy the black expression with a boat on it which says, "Ship it!" or a pink one with two hearts on it saying, "True Love wins!" or "This rocks", "What happens next?" "Winner, Winner!" "Purrfect" or... there's two or three more, I think.

And just don't get me started on the friendly community!
Oh, I love it. 5 stars and no less!
PS: my name is Melody14.
PPS: and the art style is stunning... mm!