Date:	2006-11-05 16:16
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative

Crazy people at work place.

The weirdest thing.  I don't know if it's because of our genetic composition or what, but everytime women have to stay in a place together for a long period of time, things always get a bit crazy.  Gossipping and griping become a usual trend and the relationships get a little weird.  I can't understand it.   At times it makes you want to just pull your hair out or the people causing the trouble's hair out for that matter. 

Extinct Volumes.I



CLAMP's Legal Drug, a title that has three volumes under it's belt has been stuck in the land of limbo for a while now.  I wish that they could get the next volume out soon, but I hear this might take a while.  In the meantime, I think I have completely exhausted the pages of the three volumes I have.  When you start reciting the dialogue of the next page before you turn it, then you know you've reached obsessive status and need to find a life.  Which i'm going to try and do soon. 

Speaking of which, I was in search of Yun Kouga's title, Ren Ai, and amazon says that they title is currently unavailable.  So if anyone knows where to find one of this, pass it on.

Opinions.

I was having a discussion with one of my friends who writes.  He mentioned that it is always hard to get an opinion on his work after writing it.  The people around him are not interested or are, but don't know what he needs as feed back.  The need for a community of people who understand the need to have an honest opinion of your work, {writers, mangakas, anyone involved in the creative process} is important.  Usually the "I don't care what people think"  motto puns out when you get those opinions that hurt, but I think without them, as writers and artists, we couldn't survive. 

So find someone who will appreciate your work.

  Recently I discovered some great titles in the land of manhwa. I'm sure someone has already blogged or talked about this, but here is my two cents about it. Can't help myself, Korean comics have made it big in my house. The best thing about them is that even though you can't find them translated in scanlation or volumes, check out Korean Drama. Most of the comics end up being turned into real actual drama series. I thought that was kind of cool.
I figured since I've already read Les Bijoux, and the Tarot Cafe, I might as well check out the rest of the titles.

Full House - Story and Art by Soo Yon Won




This is a great story about a woman named Elle who is an aspiring screenwriter. And a famous actor named Ryder Baye. The two of them meet when Ryder Baye buys Elle's house, throwing them both into a love/hate relationship that none of them know how to deal with. Things get even more interesting, when Ryder's knack of landing on gossips magazines incessantly leads him to propose marriage to his new house mate. Could it be love? There are a total of 16 volumes, but only volume 1 is currently available. As far as I know. If you get a chance, grab this one; shoujo lovers will definitely get a kick out of this one. 

If you love watching drama, check out the Korean Drama miniseries, Full house. It’s a great adaptation of the manhwa. Jeong Ji-Hoon also known as Bi Rain and Song Hye-Kyo give a great performance as the lead characters in this series.   Of course the names of the characters change a bit in the drama, so don't be too surprised.




Kill Me, Kiss me -By Lee Young You 


About a girl, Tae Yeon Im who wants to meet her favorite famous model and perhaps marry him. Regardless of the fact that this dream might seem a bit far fetched. When she finds out that he is in the same school as her cousin, she sets out on making her dream turn into reality. If you love a good take on cross-dressing, and pretending to be a boy for love, this is a title you ought to get. Five volumes long, readily available from Tokyopop.


Goong by SoHee Park.



This is an interesting story because it is set on the assumption that Korea has a royal family, like England and Japan. The main character, a carefree and spunky girl named Chae- Gyeong Shin, is set to marry the crown prince. The reason being that the late King made a promise to Chae-Gyeong's grandfather that his grandson, the crown prince would marry his grand daughter. The manga follows Chae-Gyeong on her life after she has entered the palace (goong), and the trials and loneliness she must face in this new world.

Once again, if you love drama, the Korean Miniseries of Goong is available, in Twenty-four episodes. A beautiful work of art that stays true to the manhwa.


For fantasy titles,
 
Les Bijoux - Check out Lazuli's blog for a great review.
Tarot Cafe.
Demon Diary.
Dokebi Bride - Check out ChunHyang's blog on Manhwa mania, and this title 

http://www.shwedarling.com/korean-drama/full-house/images/image.jpg" 

http://img332.imageshack.us/img332/1541/026kd.jpg"

Date:	2006-09-16 12:29
Subject:	Thoughtless.
Security:	Public
Mood:	blank

People don't always have brilliant ideas floating around in their heads. But sometimes I feel as though I should have something floating in there. There are days I can sit down and actually have nothing, nothing in my mind. Not because my life is perfect, or everything around me is going according to plan. Far from it. But yet, I'll sit down and have absolutely no thought in my mind. I may feel anxious and worried, but if anyone was to ask me what is on my mind, my answer would be nothing.

Its an unsettling matter, one that I'm not sure how to fix. I'm not even sure it needs to be fixed. Maybe it's a normal thing to be thoughtless at anyone time. I sometimes feel I need to have someone guiding me through my life. Telling me that hey, this is good, this bad, or you're now browsing throught the gray area. But I don't have anyone, it's only me, therefore, maybe being a without any thoughts in those times is a good thing. And I should not worry about it anymore.

The topic today is Stage Direction, and why it's so important while you write your dialogue.

Personality

I was having lunch with a group of friends (four) at work, last weekend and for about a minute, I sat in silence just watching them talk. It's quite entertaining watching people talk, try it, it may sound weird, but its very interesting. (I am going to label my friends to make this example work well, here is to hoping they don't yell at me for it.) There is Sociable , Nervous, Seductive and Anal. (I'm definitely getting a yelling if they read this blog: ) haha )

Okay, Sociable, uses her hands when she talks. She will say something, and move her hand as though to explain her point. Nervous, laughs a little too loudly, speaks shyly and fidgets a lot. Seductive, runs her fingers through her hair, will touch your arm briefly, holds your gaze. While Anal, will gather all the toothpicks from the ashtray and throw them away, all of this while she is trying to talk and make a point.

It is very easy to tell a person's personality, by how they talk and how they act while they converse. Keeping this in mind while you write dialogue, gives your reader an imaginative and subtle idea of your character.

For your characters, you have to figure out what kind of people they are. Be they, Seductive or Anal, take it into account while you write their dialogue. You can't have some one you've portrayed as strong and very powerful, speaking shyly and fidgeting around while he/she speaks (unless a situation warrants it) otherwise, keep it constant.

Physical Action

"I'm going home," he said. Grabbing his coat and backpack, he headed for the door. "I can't talk about this anymore."

This may not be the perfect example, but it will suffice. When you read the dialogue above, you are immediately aware of what the character is doing. The word 'grabbing' alerts you to the fact that he is obviously upset about something.

Narrating what your character is doing while he talks, gives the reader the sense that the scene has a real presence. Showing the reader that your character eats, cries, hurts their toe, brings the illusion of that character being real. Think of it as watching a movie, but on paper.

Thoughts and Feelings.

I am sure you have had a character say something, while they are thinking something else. This is a perfect example of using stage directions. Your character may say she's Okay when asked if she was hurt, then burst into tears. This action alerts the reader to what your character's actual feelings are.

Sometimes your character may say something that may need explaining. Words like "I love you," can be used and interpreted in many different ways. So, you may have your character say, "I love you." And kiss the person they said that to, or hug them, or smile. Adding an action after words, helps the reader imagine the scene.

Once again, I'll add something that may confuse you. You have to be careful not to use too much stage direction. Yes, there is such a thing as too much stage direction. This situation may occur when you show each and every move the character makes, which then would make the dialogue useless. So be careful.

Any comments, and/or Questions are welcome. Any corrections too..Happy writing and drawing to everyone.

Every morning when you wake up, take a shower, get ready for the day, or if your routine is more like mine ( find some coffee -bleary eyes and all-to make you feel human before you're ready to even step into the shower), you talk to people around you. It may be a grunt, a sigh, a cheerful good morning(can't imagine why people are so cheerful in the morning), or a simple wave. Point is you are communicating in one way or another.

This brings me to another important factor when writing a story. Good Dialogue. Communication skills are needed when writing your characters down. You'd be surprised how much dialogue can help define your character.

It is very surprising to find that dialogue is the hardest thing to write. Surprising because, every body talks, there is no one in this world who does not converse. It is natural to think that writing dialogue would be the easiest thing. But it is not.

Good dialogue is when your characters have a realistic conversation. The best way to learn how to do that, is to listen to how people talk; Your friends, at home, at work, in the elevator, at the grocery store, on the bus, train, subway. Pay attention to how they use words, and gestures and what they are talking about. Then mimic it by writing it down on a paper, and imagining your characters having the same conversation.

Use of contractions is encouraged; shortening words in sentences when writing dialogue. Here are two examples of dialogue:-

1.- "I do not know, the answer is hidden from me. But I mean to find out the truth."

2.- "I don't know the answer, but i'm going to find out the truth."

Only a very formal person would use the first example. Most people would go for the second example. So instead of writing "I do not" use "I don't."

And now the tricky part- Don't make it too realistic. Have I confused you yet?

If you listen to two friends talking who haven't seen each other in a while, the initial conversation will probably go like this:

Dana: 'Hey, Jane."

Jane: "Hey, Dana. Um, how are you?"

Dana:"I'm good, how are you?"

Jane :"I'm good. So....how have you been?"

Dana: "Pretty OK, how about you?"

I'm going to stop before I bore myself. This is a very realistic conversation, these two women actually talk like this, when they first meet after a few days. Now if a writer was to write this conversation just like it is, when you are already acquainted with Dana and Jane and already know how they are, the reader will be bored to tears.

You want to write an illusion of realistic dialogue, that is going to go straight to the purpose and point of you writing it.

So here is a conversation between Dana and Jane, revamped ^_^

"Jane! How are you? How have you been?"

"Oh hey, Dana. I'm fine, it's been a while hasn't it?"

It is a step up from the one before, you understand a bit more of what is going on. It could still use a little more work, but it is better than the conversation before. You want to give the reader as much information as you can using a few simple lines.

So you see, you're creating an illusion of realistic dialogue.

Keep in mind that the setting, and the nature of your characters also affect how you write dialogue. How free they are to express themselves, their personalities, their rank, social status. A lot of things. In the next few blogs, I am going to be discussing dialogue. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to pass them along. We are in this together.

Speaking of Dialogue, check this out...'hardest thing for new writers to master."

Happy writing and drawing to everyone.

Elaine

Date:	2006-09-10 15:36
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	blah

Time- 3:36 A.M.
I can't believe it. I think I've become a serious insomniac. Suddenly it's so hard to fall asleep this days, I can't seem to get to bed at normal times. I should be worried about this but I find that I'm not. Which should also worry me. Arggh, too much worrying is hard work, so never mind that.

Anyway, when you're awake this late, or early, however you want to look at it, I find myself thinking. About everything and nothing, about life, about work, about friends. Mostly about me. As selfish as that sounds, I wonder where I'm going with my life. What do I want out of it, and if I don't know, should I know? Should I have it all planned out as time passes? If I should, then I am seriously in trouble because I really don't have a set plan in mind. I wonder through each day on a whim. Even when I do have work, it seems like whatever happens, happens. What a terrible perspective of life!

Does planning your life ahead make you happy? I wonder. I have never done it before, planned ahead that is. I probably should, learn to do something every minute of the day. But I don't, what does that make me?

Date:	2006-09-05 12:23
Subject:	Ever wonder why people love to write Fiction?
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative

Not too long ago, someone asked me this question. What is so interesting about writing and creating fiction? Sounds easy enough to answer, and at the time, I answered my curious friend, with an "Oh, it's just so much fun, and I get to run away into my own world." sort of answer.

But then later on, I thought about that question and my answer to it. Sure writing fiction is fun, otherwise I wouldn't do it. Its an escape from reality, which is also the reason why I do it so often. Sometimes life can be a little too much, and you want to get away. Yet there is another part to this question. The part where, why is Fiction so interesting?

Sure people write, letters, memos, thoughts, inspirational sermons or lessons. But why write fiction? What makes everyone keep searching out, stories about things that are not real? Why would you willingly write or read about a place that could not possible be real? These questions ran through my mind, and I found myself doing a little research. Scary huh!, Anyway, I stumbled on a book called, "Gotham Writer's Workshop-Writing Fiction" It's a writing guide, and there was a chapter where one author asked some students why they write Fiction. These are some of the answers they gave. Couldn't write them all down so I chose the ones that i found very interesting.

1.Writing puts me into a world that has not been written yet.

2.To meet people I find interesting.

3.When I am writing a surge of complete happiness takes over.

4.To make readers hear the sound of their own heartbeats, that sound that whispers up to us: you are alive.

5.When I manage to turn pages and pages of crap into a little bit of art, I feel like that girl in the "Diamonds are forever" Ad.

6.Writing gives me permission to be a child and to play with words the way that children play with blocks or twigs or mud.

7.It allows me to spy on my neighbors.

8.Writing makes me feel like a god, each new page enabling me to create and destroy as many worlds as I please.

9.The only socially acceptable way to be a compulsive liar.

10.This question drives me crazy.

11.Because I can.

12.I want to be good at something, and i've tried everything else.

All the answers given above were directly copied from the book, chapter 1, pg.23 Written by Alexander Steele, in "Fiction: The What, How and Why of it".

As I read through them all I found that I agreed with all of them. Although, No. 5 and 11 are my favorite. Anyway, it also made me curious to hear what other writers and artists might think of this question. It's asked so many times, and answered so many times. So think about it. Why do you write Fiction? Why?

Now that I've established that I am a bit, compulsive, this blog being the number one sign of that...I wish you all Happy writing and drawing and hope your creative juices flow...as wide and long as the river Nile..

It's funny, but lately on top of my obsessive relationship with mangas like Ghost in the Shell and CLAMP's Tsubasa Chronicles. I have discovered two new titles that absolutely drew me in. The Tarot Cafe and the Petshop of Horrors.

Both have dark undertones, especially Petshop of Horrors, but each new chapter makes you think quite a lot, and makes you want to read more. (A few weeks ago I was on a rampage frantically searching for the fourth Tarot Cafe book.) The stories are compelling, leaving you with a lesson of some kind. Regardless of the gothic label they are undoubtedly given, I have found that I can sit down and completely get lost in that mystical world.
In the Tarot Cafe, Sang-Sun Park's art always manages to blow me away. The details, the beauty of the characters, each so amazing .....I just love it. This should be no surprise, since I also read Les Bijoux, which ended up being only five books, but I loved it anyway. The art was as detailed and beautiful as in the Tarot Cafe. What drew me into this was Pamela, the lead character, and her dark side that just makes you want to know what lies in her past. I love good reads like those. They make you want more.

The Petshop of Horrors is all about the animals. Wow...they are amazingly drawn and each so unique, yet very carefully true to their form. Matsuri Akino really does a great job. I read that Matsuri Akino is currently working on a sequel to Petshop...called shin petshop of horrors. I would love to get my hands on that..and the anime if I could. Although it is sadly just four episodes. Count D, is the most mysterious man ever. He is a vegetarian, with a sweet tooth, and loves tea and animals, yet manages to import exotic animals that are illegal(very unusual illegal animals) in the United States. Doesn't that make you want to just know more about him? Ha ha.

Anyway, my thoughts on the new obsession. I actually picked both titles up by coincindence, I was really looking for the new Devil May cry, novel. Ended up not getting it. Ha ha ha, too involved in Ghost in the shell novels. If you get a chance, check those two titles out.

Yesterday, on the ever famous labor's day,our dear crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin, died. That was shocking in itself, to hear that he died of a stingray was even more perplexing. How could such a man, so brave, have met his demise this way? This is going to sound sick, but I always envisioned him dying at the jaws of one of those crocs he hunted. *sigh*, Life is so unpredictable. My condolences to his family and friends he was a great man.

The reason why I mention Steve, is because it is funny how the death of such an icon affects everyone. If you think about it, within an hour of his death, possibly the whole world knew about it. Isn't that just weird. Every time a celebrity dies, it causes such a stir. It's hard to explain why it affects us all so much.

Really, we never knew this person, except for his public persona. We never knew his/her likes and dislikes, the inner person who probably hates watching Television and loves skiing. Yet, when this person dies, we all mourn, as though he/she were part of our own family.

My mother once told me it was because these great icons in our lives, stand for something we believe in. If someone so larger than life dies, it affects our lives so much because we feel that if something like that can happen to them, it could easily happen to us. Which is a very curious phenomena.

Date:	2006-09-01 08:25
Subject:	Jaded.
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

Why is it that everyone looks down on those of us who read Manga and comics? It feels as though when you hit the age of college, you're supposed to drop the animation kingdom and join the literature revolution. Grab a philosophy book and learn to expound on the works of plato. It's quite unsettling. I happen to think that everyone should atleast hold on to the things they used to love as "kids", while they embrace the standard education you have to get as "adults."

The other day, I was seated in the lounge at my work place, deeply engrossed in my cherished copy of "Earthian, by Yun Kouga". And this lady came up to me and asked me "Hey, what are you reading?" In my excitement, I offered the book and let her see what it was I was reading.

The expression she gave me was enough to explain what she thought of the book and me for that matter. Not that I care what she thinks. Its just amusing to see it. Her mind was already made up when she noticed it looked like a comic book. When I said I was reading manga, she gave me a quizzical look that seemed to say, "I don't care what you call it, its still childish material to me."

Seriously people, is it that people are supposed to read serious novels all the time? Why don't those who are completely stuck on romance novels get the heat? (Note, I'm not disturbed by it, I happen to be a romance novel junkie too. So I get double points in this situation.)

Anyway, my point is that everyone just seems to get a little jaded as they grow older. They forget things that used to amuse them when they were kids, and instead of searching them out, they discard them because it would seem odd if you did them when you're older. Hello!! I'm not saying do those things like you did them when you were a kid, you can modify them so that they suit your adult tastes, but please don't forget them.

I simply could not imagine giving up reading manga and watching anime. Although I've outgrown shows like sailormoon, I can still find interesting titles that still amuse me and make my world content.

My advice to everyone, rediscover yourself, try and not be to jaded, things might seem a little easier.

Earthian is a three volume series by Yun Kouga about angels and earth. Published by Blu.

What does that really mean? Making it? I have recently discovered that I don't really understand that phrase. In any way, shape or form, or category anyone may use this phrase, I simply don't get it. Perhaps because when the people around me use it they are talking about their careers and lives, and how good they are. To say the least, I am a struggling writer, trying to "make it". So no one should use that phrase around me anymore, because I am about to scream my head off. *Retracting the claws*

 Anyway, I have been studying the art of taking criticism and loving it. You have no idea how hard that can be. After hours of sleepless nights, pounding away at the ever present 'writer's block', screaming 'Eureka' when an idea strikes, someone comes along, reads the end product and goes like< This is shit, you need to rewrite this and fix it> *Cover ears( loud scream)* 

Does that person even understand the amount of thinking that 'piece of shit' needed? No,they don't want to know. Instead they just read it and judge it. As the writer, I have to grit my teeth, say thanks for reading it and ask, "Hey, what's wrong with it?" With a smile on my face. Its darned irritating. 

Phew! Finally got that out of my system. Feeling better already, who would have thought. This is hard work trying to be a writer, but I'm in for the long haul, what choice do I have. Keep at it then.