A "Knowing" Look

I have this minor "problem" where I'll start smiling in class after a teacher has asked a question, then they call on me, thinking that I know the answer. I don't, not usually, and so I'm afraid my smile is a bit misleading. They think, I'm saying, haha I know the answer and I'm not going to say anything unless you make me. When really, I'm just laughing as we all squirm in discomfort waiting for someone else to answer. Sometimes the questions make me smile too. It kind of depends on the day.

A public notice to everyone (especially teachers). Just because someone is smiling does not mean they are omniscient, perhaps they're just having a really good day and they're just happy. Honestly, my first summer at State, I had this philosophy class where I'd always be smiling because the topics and discussion were just so much fun to engage in. Then the professor would make some comment about, oh look whose smiling again. It became this running thing in the class and there were only about four weeks anyway, but whatever, people will interpret your expressions how they see fit.

To tie this into writing, when you have a character courting a peculiar expression or doing specific actions - make sure it lines up with your intentions. You don't want someone smiling gleefully while they're at a funeral, unless they really don't like the dead guy, so it depends on what you're trying to do, just make it successful.

Villanelle: Do You Know the Power of a Smile?

Let the lift of your lips stay a while

Bountiful lips born wide.

Do you know the power of a smile?

A thirsty man may travel a hundred miles

For it, many men have died.

Let the lift of your lips stay a while.

For some, the use of it is another wile,

some have used it as they lied.

Do you know the power of a smile?

Such uses it may have in subterfuge or guile

Such uses as to hide

Let the lift of your lips stay a while

Better than a thousand diamonds in a pile

Laws of currency cannot abide

Do you know the power of a smile?

Strong enough to make winning love less of a trial

It is a movement worth being tried

Let the lift of your lips stay a while,

Do you know the power of a smile?

Fighting to the Finish

I have a special emotional-stress reliever technique that is a tried and true remedy for me when I'm feeling very low. How low? You might ask. Somewhere between back-breaking limbo stick low and crawling under miles of barbed wire.

So, when I get to that particular state, I run. Simple as that, or not so simple, sometimes painful or not particularly delightful. The rain actually helps too. Wet and cold, the perfect combination to snap you out of the low zone. A funny thing about runners is that there is this hidden dialogue that happens when they come across each other. Sometimes people may say something, but usually it's just a nod, (and maybe, a smile), this means: I see you. Look what we're both doing, aren't we great. I understand your pain or 'yeah, we're both a bit nuts, but it's okay, we decided to do this'. There is a lot going on in that gesture. A lot wrapped up in one and yet it forms this bond, for one moment, you feel as if someone understands you.

Now, when it comes to running in the rain, I'll admit, very (very) few people actually do that, so I don't usually get to have my 'nod conversation' but I do get a good release. Every thought except 'Ah, it's so cold, and my chest is burning' leaves your head, so it clears it all out. You're left with nothing, but your inner self trying to support and undermine you at the same time.

Let's be real, or I'll be honest - I am not a competitive runner, I'm recreational - so when I say run, I'm not talking about ten miles and sprints around the track, I'm talking maybe a twenty minute easy pace jaunt around the lake and back.

So, when I'm running, there is a part that is saying 'you're doing great, kid. Good work, you're taking care of your health' and then there is that other part saying, 'go ahead and stop. You did enough. It's alright and wouldn't it be easier just to walk up this hill'. I'm fighting an internal battle here, but usually the encouraging side wins out for at least ten minutes, then the other part kicks in and it becomes an uphill battle (sometimes literally).

It works though, I'm tired, exhausted, sometimes shaking, but my head clears, I'm all out of emotions and a weight lifts itself. Then, I indulge with a hot shower.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but I'll be honest, I think most people are aware of that fact. The sky will be cloudy. It will rain like there is no tomorrow and you're going to step in a puddle and then want to yell at the sky for how unfair it all is. Just keep...swimming, or jumping, spinning, twirling, leaping, walking, running, skipping, dancing, whatever it is you need to do. Just keep moving. Keep being alive.

Curious questions and Critiques

< Life Blurb >

I felt so happy and excited that I just had to mention briefly that I went contra dancing on Sunday. If you've never been, this is definitely a must do (at least once), and maybe once you do it you'll want to keep going. Basically, at the beginning of each dance you have a partner, someone who will be with you the whole time that the music is playing. Everyone's in a long line of partners and you almost always end up in a set of four people that dance together and then move in opposite directions "down" the line. I love contra so much, because every time I go, I'm laughing and smiling and just feeling so good that I always want to come back the next month (Oh yeah, that's the other thing, it only happens once a month where I'm at, so it's a nice break from the monotony of school). Even when my feet hurt or I'm so dizzy that the world is spinning, it makes me feel amazing.

Now onto the writing post:

Have you read it?

If you have then this is the post for you.
Comment about good, bad, so-so, heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching, face-planting, mind-swirling moments. Or ask me questions about the world-building or characteristics of different groups.

I'm new to the business, but I've been writing for years, and the one thing I've learned is you can always improve.

So, thoughts? I'd love to know

My Baby!

Okay so not really my baby, but I am so proud of this one.

Several posts ago, I shared the Whipling, a bird creature of my own creation.

Now that Island Whispers is out, I want to share another one of my creatures:

the Liducorn

I drafted a lot of different ideas for a predatory monster and it took a while to find the right combination. The liducorn is a beast with two curling ram's horns, a lion's head with protruding fangs and a beard down its throat. It has a hard shell wrapped around its body, and lion legs, paws and claws. To top off the design it has a dragon-like tail with sharp spiny ridges, it can swing the tail with bone-breaking strength. I hope you all enjoy the book and the scenes with the liducorn - it is definitely one of my favorite creatures.

Final design of the liducorn after much trial and error. Here I mark the different traits listed above.

This is just a close up of that its paws and mouth would look like, I just really wanted to try making it look life-like with fur and texture.

I had considered making the liducorn have a goat's head, but after further deliberation, I decided that a more feral creature would have a lion's head and thus would be meat-eating. A goat seemed too friendly for the monster I wanted to create.