Perserverence

"Our greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
So, that's my motto. For anyone who has read my poem, The Struggle Within, you can guess that the two are related. Writing a novel has been a real struggle with blood, sweat, and tears. At one point, I had lost everything. Many people are familiar with the story. I was probably about 50 pages into my book. Well, that changed during Memorial weekend 2011.
My story-which was in a compostition notebook-was in our truck. Well, that monday, our truck caught fire and exploded. All that I have left of that notebook is ashes-if I even have that much.
And so I had to start from scratch. No outlines. No character profiles. Nothing was left.
And that's why perserverence is my greatest quality. I fell a great distance that day. But, with more enthusiasm than ever before, I stood again, taller than ever before.
And that's really what it comes down to. Each fall we take, every blow, takes us to new heights. I find myself standing a little higher than I did before. And I keep rising.

Dad

"'I make a point of asking the adventurers who come to me why it is that they came to me. Your father wanted to end the war for you, Nissa. He must really love you.'"
And that dad was created after my own father. So thank you, Dad.

2112: The Aztec Prediction

Don't you love it when things just make sense?
In my new story, 2112, things started in 2012. The aztecs predicted that something would happen that year. We naturally assumed that it was the end of the world. Not so. As far as 2112 goes, the world ended as we knew it. Music was illegalized that day. Society was transformed. The World changed, although not for the better...

The Perfect Lovestory

I can't help but smile.
I feel very successful when it comes to the relationship of Nissa and Rylan. It's a classic love story, but it has its own unique twists. I am finding that every song about falling in love fits so perfectly. Its exciting and invigorating when a story does that. It seems more real, more believable. And that's the goal. The believable story is the enjoyable story.

A World Without Music

So, my brother told me that really the only reason he has music is because of the base. Well, that got me thinking. I mean, everyone likes some kind of music, whether it be rap or classical. That's when I came up with this:
What would it be like if music no longer existed?
Well, the year is 2112 and music has died out. Years ago, it was made illegal all over the world because of a sing-off gone horribly wrong. Music is dead.
Then, Faith (yes, she is named after my little sister) finds an old ipod that was hidden in 2012. Faith is the first to hear music in a century.

Life

Life is a funny thing. It's both simple and complex. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we all have basic wants and needs, but we also have needs that go deeper than that.

A Debt Repaid

            “What do you think you’re doing?” I hissed as the young man opened the cell door.

            “What does it look like I’m doing?” he asked in reply. “I’m getting you out of here.”

            I glared at him. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to get out of this dungeon. I just didn’t want him to get in trouble in the process. I sighed as I stood up and followed Alistair out of the cell. He led me through the dungeon and out of the castle. Finally we stopped.

            “Thank you,” I told him.

            He smiled. “It was nothing.”

            I opened my mouth to reply, but someone else spoke before I could.

            “What do we have here?” a voice asked smoothly.

            I whirled around to face the person. As I did, I came face-to-face with Stormblast. He looked furious. His hateful gaze was fixed on Alistair. “Don’t,” I told the dragon leader. “He saved my life.”

            Stormblast snarled. “He’s an elf.”

            “It doesn’t matter,” I insisted. “I am in his debt.”

            “You are, but I’m not,” he replied. He opened his mouth wide. I could see the electricity sparking in his mouth. He was going to use his breath weapon, lightning, on Alistair.

            I moved quickly. I knew that the lightning would kill Alistair. I pushed the prince out of the way. Alistair fell to the ground, the lightning missing him. Unfortunately, it did not miss me. I felt a shock go through my body. For a moment, I froze, unable to move. Then, clutching my stomach, I fell on my knees. Stormblast was surprised. Alistair looked afraid.

            “Go back Alistair,” I said through clenched teeth. “I’ll be fine.” Alistair turned away and ran back the way he came. I blacked out from the pain.

(Segolia: Rise of the Guardians)

Victorious

He is the one thing that stands in her way
A tall shadow of a man
Looming over her like death
His hands are gnarled claws
Prepared to rip her away from
All she wants
All she needs

And so she watches
With trembling hands and a shiny brow
She waits
Swallowing up the fear
That threatens to destroy her

The time has come
A great battle begins
A feral snarl escapes his lips
But she does not shrink away from the fight
Light radiates from her very soul
And he hisses as a vampire does
At the sight of the sun

She is light, beauty, life
He is hate, doubt, death
They are yin and yang
Good and evil
Prtagonist and Antagonist

Their fight is one of legend
Blades flash through the air
White versus black
Day against night
A sound crashes through the air
The sound of a clap of thunder

And then its all over
He is but a black mark on the ground
Soon to be forgotten
And she stands
Victorious

The Night Sky

For a writer, sometimes I feel as if the words just won't come. Several times, I have attempted to write poetry about the stars. All of these attempts have ended the same way: failure. I just can't put into words how amazing the stars make me feel. The night sky is just indescribable, and all my poetry can't do them justice. So, I guess I'll just have to settle for this:
The night sky is both black and white.
A mixture of yin and yang.
In that blackness that is the night
Shine glowing, eternal diamonds.
When I look up at them
I feel like I am
Falling, Flying, Spinning
All at once.
This poem doesn't do them justice.
Nothing can do the stars justice.
There are no words in the english language--
or any language--
for the beauty
I see there in the stars.
No paintings can show it.
Not even a photographer can capture it.
For what artist can hold eternity?

Segolia: Alistair's passage

"I dipped the tip of the feathered quill into the black ink. Setting out a blank sheet of paper, I removed the pen from the ink quickly. Then, I began to write the small, loopy words. I felt completely content as I did so. It was early in the morning, and the only sounds were of the birds chirping outside. Gray light poured into the library from the small window. The room was filled with the smell of ink."

That was a passage from my novel. Its the opening paragraph :)

What is success?

I feel success. It sings in my soul. The truth of the matter is success is a slippery thing, and to have reached it feels like a miracle. How could I have ever done this, when there were so many forces trying to prevent me from reaching my goal? It seems absolute insanity that I ever dared to dream such a dream. But-somehow-I managed to pull through. I have achieved the impossible. And because of that, I am now the author of my first novel. It feels good. :)

Lonely Writer

I don't know if anyone else feels the way I do, but sometimes it is lonely being a writer. People can try to understand my problems or the things I get excited about, but they don't really understand. You can tell that they are just trying to be kind. Unfortunately, it is somewhat rare for me to find another writer, who'll get just as excited as I do. For those few who understand, I thank you.

Segolia: Rise of the Guardians (a summary)

"A war between dragons and elves. A prophecy of peace. An adventure like no other...
"Seventeen-year old Nissa has always wanted to have an adventure like the ones her father always talked about having. But when she meets Edgeshifter the Lightwanderer--a young dragoness healer--her life is thrown into chaos. She embarks on an adventure she isn't sure she wants anymore. An adventure where Nissa must prevail over darkness, and save both the dragons and the elves from destruction.
"Segolia: The Rise of the Guardians is the story of a young princess, and her journey to become a true hero."
By the way, this is a summary of a novel I wrote--which is getting published. :)

Excerpt from Call Me Kat

"How do stories really begin? Obviously, there’s the classic “once upon a time” story. Or you could always go with the story that begins in the middle of the action, or with a baby being born. Some stories begin with love, and some begin with hate. Some stories are made from the imaginations of writers, while some stories are the memories of everyday people. And, as crazy as it sounds, the story I’m going to tell you doesn’t come from the mind of a novelist."
That was an excerpt from a new novel I'm writing, called "Call Me Kat."

The Struggle Within

A war rages in my mind.
The thoughts beat on me like a drum.
I'm breaking under the pressure.
I write and I write and I write.
Trying to escape.
But the blows keep coming.
The cynics are everywhere.
Their voices cut me down like swords.
"You're not good enough!"
The tell me.
I try to block out the words.
But the blows keep coming.
I'm on my knees now.
The hated enemy is doubt.
And it claws and bites and breaks.
"You'll never do it,"
It sneers.
And I almost believe it.
It tries to tell me I'm worthless.
Then, I shake my head.
No. It isn't true.
I shout the words.
And the fog clears.
I will do this.
The doubt tries one last desperate attempt
To break me.
"Pick a different dream," it tells me.
Standing like a true warrior princess,
I say:
"Who are you to tell me who I am?"

Hi! My name is Brittany, and I've made this blog for all you writers out there (and all those readers, of course). There'll be poetry, passages from my noevls, etc. I hope to share my ideas and knowledge about writing as well. Thanks!