Hi there,
I have been a very bad blogger lately. I haven't posted in, let's see...25 days. Things have slowly, and I mean very slowly begun to go back to normal. We have a new stove, there is new carpet in my room and everything is starting to return to its original place. My writing classes with John Bemis are still going on and I am having lots of fun. I wrote a story for school, which was the longest piece I've written so far. It is entitled, Prince Redrash and the Beef Stew. I really like it.
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. One the best things, strike that, the best thing that has happened to my writing career. This fall, 7th and 8th Graders at my school wrote pieces for submission to the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. They have a yearly contest for art and writing. This year there were over 180,000 submissions. In my region of 26 states, there were about 600 who were selected to compete at the national level, and my story is one of them. I am so thrilled! We are still waiting for results on the final winners and I know that there is no chance of winning on the national level, but I wasn't even expecting this. The amount of entries that continued on to nationals was 0.5% of the original entries, and that blows my mind. It is a great honor to be one of them.
I had a great idea for a story recently that I think I could write a whole book on. Or maybe two . . .
John Bemis told me about a contest for a local magazine Bull Spec. They publish speculative fiction (hence the Spec) and they are having a teen writing contest. The winner(s) will be published in the next quarterly issue. I just started my submission piece today and I am really enjoying it. I am sad that there is a 1,000 word limit, or I could just keep on writing and make it really awesome with lots of details. I have been leaving it kind of late, as it is due on the 25th, but I have a 4-day weekend, so I can probably finish it by Tuesday and submit it via Email.
I am interested in something called National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. In November, a ton of people try to write a 50,000 word story. They only have thirty days to write a whole novel. Now, I could never do that (at least not while attending school and sleeping more than 4 hours a night). So it is a good thing that they have a "young writers" version. You set your own word goal and try to reach it in the one month period. I think this would be a great thing to try, and the story idea I just came up with (see above) would work perfectly. However, I don't think I can wait until November to start writing it!
I just noticed my Quote of the Day, which is perfect for this situation: "Don't delay, do it today!"
~B-Man
February 19, 2011
January 25, 2011
Home Again Home Again
Hi there,
I know it has been almost a month since my last post, but a lot has been going on. We have been living in a hotel ever since the fire while a reconstruction crew fixed everything up. They cleaned every surface in the house, "Ozone" treated our clothes and fabrics, and repainted the whole house! we just got back into our house last Friday, and everything it in the wrong place.
There are piles of boxes and random objects piled in the area where we normally eat. We have no stove. No tiles on the kitchen walls. We had to move a sofa, a coffee table, two chairs, and a recliner back into the living room. We had to plug the TV back in and reconnect the speakers. Even though we are back, it still does not feel normal.
I have had three writing classes since I last blogged, and they have been really fun, even though I am the only guy. Yeesh, am I the only boy who likes to write? John is a really nice guy, and he is also a good teacher, as he has lots of experience as an elementary school teacher. It has been great to learn from a successful author as well as collaborate with others who like to write.
That's all for now,
~B-Man
I know it has been almost a month since my last post, but a lot has been going on. We have been living in a hotel ever since the fire while a reconstruction crew fixed everything up. They cleaned every surface in the house, "Ozone" treated our clothes and fabrics, and repainted the whole house! we just got back into our house last Friday, and everything it in the wrong place.
There are piles of boxes and random objects piled in the area where we normally eat. We have no stove. No tiles on the kitchen walls. We had to move a sofa, a coffee table, two chairs, and a recliner back into the living room. We had to plug the TV back in and reconnect the speakers. Even though we are back, it still does not feel normal.
I have had three writing classes since I last blogged, and they have been really fun, even though I am the only guy. Yeesh, am I the only boy who likes to write? John is a really nice guy, and he is also a good teacher, as he has lots of experience as an elementary school teacher. It has been great to learn from a successful author as well as collaborate with others who like to write.
That's all for now,
~B-Man
January 3, 2011
Goodbye 2010 and Hello . . . Kitchenfire?
Last night around midnight my mom ripped the sheets off of me, turned on the light and said:
"Wake up! There's been a fire in the kitchen! You need to get outside!"
Of course, this is just a guess as I was still about 78% asleep. Mom pulled me out of bed, still in my pajamas and led me to the top of the stairs. Up until that point I really had no clue what was going on, but when I saw the smoke, thick and yellowish in the light, I realized that something was very wrong.
I didn't really have time to hold my breath so I breathed in some smoke on the way down the stairs. The smoke was everywhere, oppressive. It clouded my vision and my lungs. It burned my throat and eyes.
Mom ushered me out the back door onto the porch. Soon, I realized that my feet were on fire, but with cold. My dad handed me my pair of slippers and an old winter jacket that was too small for me about a year ago. I put it on and watched Dad go into the kitchen, pull the stove away from the wall, and unplug it.
Mom called 911 when everyone was outside: Me, Mom, Dad, The 2 dogs, and my Grandma who is visiting. The fire was out but the smoke remained and we all held our breath as we walked through the house to the front door. We got into on of the cars and Mom turned the heat up to full blast.
Soon a policeman arrived with a firetruck right behind him. My grandmother and I huddled in the car as firemen entered our house and started opening windows and pumping out the smoke. Mom and Dad help by telling the firemen everything and helping to open`windows.
They stopped back at the car to tell us what they think happened. Dad said that the stove was off when he went to bed. The cause of the fire had been a cutting-board. Dad had propped the board up next to the stove. Sometime in the night, it had fallen sideways onto the stove and must have turned the dial for the burner it fell on, which caught it on fire.
They woke up because of the smell of smoke and the sound of the fire crackling. The fire alarms started after they had awakened. Dad put out the fire once with the fire extinguisher we keep in the kitchen and Mom went upstairs to wake people up. While she was upstairs, the fire started again because the burner was still on. Dad put the fire out again and when we got downstairs, I saw him pull the stove out and pull out the plug.
The firemen pumped the smoke out, but not the smell. We slept fitfully and now it is the morning and insurance people are here to look at the damage. They are going to clean the surfaces and fabrics in the house and probably do something about the destroyed cabinets over the stove (we need replacements for both of these). We may be gone from the house for one week (hopefully this is the worst-case scenario). We may stay at a dog-friendly hotel or at a relative's house nearby. I will still be able to go to John Bemis's writing workshop, which is pretty much the only good thing.
Here are 2 words that I can use to sum up the situation:
This Sucks
~B-Man
"Wake up! There's been a fire in the kitchen! You need to get outside!"
Of course, this is just a guess as I was still about 78% asleep. Mom pulled me out of bed, still in my pajamas and led me to the top of the stairs. Up until that point I really had no clue what was going on, but when I saw the smoke, thick and yellowish in the light, I realized that something was very wrong.
I didn't really have time to hold my breath so I breathed in some smoke on the way down the stairs. The smoke was everywhere, oppressive. It clouded my vision and my lungs. It burned my throat and eyes.
Mom ushered me out the back door onto the porch. Soon, I realized that my feet were on fire, but with cold. My dad handed me my pair of slippers and an old winter jacket that was too small for me about a year ago. I put it on and watched Dad go into the kitchen, pull the stove away from the wall, and unplug it.
Mom called 911 when everyone was outside: Me, Mom, Dad, The 2 dogs, and my Grandma who is visiting. The fire was out but the smoke remained and we all held our breath as we walked through the house to the front door. We got into on of the cars and Mom turned the heat up to full blast.
Soon a policeman arrived with a firetruck right behind him. My grandmother and I huddled in the car as firemen entered our house and started opening windows and pumping out the smoke. Mom and Dad help by telling the firemen everything and helping to open`windows.
They stopped back at the car to tell us what they think happened. Dad said that the stove was off when he went to bed. The cause of the fire had been a cutting-board. Dad had propped the board up next to the stove. Sometime in the night, it had fallen sideways onto the stove and must have turned the dial for the burner it fell on, which caught it on fire.
They woke up because of the smell of smoke and the sound of the fire crackling. The fire alarms started after they had awakened. Dad put out the fire once with the fire extinguisher we keep in the kitchen and Mom went upstairs to wake people up. While she was upstairs, the fire started again because the burner was still on. Dad put the fire out again and when we got downstairs, I saw him pull the stove out and pull out the plug.
The firemen pumped the smoke out, but not the smell. We slept fitfully and now it is the morning and insurance people are here to look at the damage. They are going to clean the surfaces and fabrics in the house and probably do something about the destroyed cabinets over the stove (we need replacements for both of these). We may be gone from the house for one week (hopefully this is the worst-case scenario). We may stay at a dog-friendly hotel or at a relative's house nearby. I will still be able to go to John Bemis's writing workshop, which is pretty much the only good thing.
Here are 2 words that I can use to sum up the situation:
This Sucks
~B-Man
December 28, 2010
Skulduggery Pleasant
 | ||
Author: Derek Landy
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Length: Average (approx. 400 p.)
Rating: 5 out of 5
This is one of my favorites that I have re-read many times and will for a long time.
Stephanie Edgely didn't expect her uncle, Gordon Edgely to suddenly die. Of course, she also didn't expect to meet a walking, talking, wit-flinging, sarcastic skeleton who can throw fire-balls. Yup, I'm talking about that handsome man on the cover, Mr. Skulduggery Pleasant. And he's the good guy.
Stephanie meets Skulduggery when a strange man breaks into her late uncle's house which she had inherited. The man tries to kill Stephanie after he asked her where a mysterious "key" is. Skulduggery bursts in to the rescue and saves Stephanie. Soon Stephanie is caught up in the wonder and mystery of the world of magic, which Skulduggery is a part of.
Together, Stephanie and Skulduggery must find the controversial Scepter of the Ancients before evil Nefarian Serpine does. If they can't unravel the mysteries of the Scepter, Serpine's master plan, as well as Gorgon Edgely's own involvement, the world may very well end at the hands of the ancient gods known as the Faceless Ones.
Or even a fate worse than that . . .
I love this book, and like I said above, it is definitely one you will want to read again and again. The witty writing of Derek Landy will keep you grinning, and the characters positively jump off of the page. by the end of the book, you feel as if you have known Skulduggery for years, even if he does keep many secrets . . .
The gripping action and suspense will keep you sweating until the very end. I recommend this book for ages nine and up, and up, and up . . . Seriously, you'll enjoy this book no matter your age. Go read it now!
~B-Man
December 26, 2010
Some Helpful Words From Mr. Dashner
I just found this post on James Dashner's blog under his question and answer section. I just wanted to share this and I feel like this is some good advice. I hope that many budding writers can get some good info from the advice of a successful author.
~B-Man
Q&A: Aspiring Writers
December 24, 2010
Great News!
I have just gotten great news!
Local author John Claude Bemis, author of the Clockwork Dark trilogy (The Nine Pound Hammer, The Wolf Tree, & The White City) is hosting afterschool writing classes starting this January for 8 weeks! I am one of the students going there! I am so glad that there was a spot left! I met John at a book signing and reading event earlier this year at the Regulator book store and he is a really nice guy. I got a signed copy of the Nine Pound Hammer and loved it (look out for a review). I am so psyched that I am getting the chance to learn from a published author and this will be a huge thing for me and the writing career I hope to have one day. Once I start lessons, I will post about what I am learning and the kinds of lessons we have.
I am so excited!!!!!! :)
~B-Man
Local author John Claude Bemis, author of the Clockwork Dark trilogy (The Nine Pound Hammer, The Wolf Tree, & The White City) is hosting afterschool writing classes starting this January for 8 weeks! I am one of the students going there! I am so glad that there was a spot left! I met John at a book signing and reading event earlier this year at the Regulator book store and he is a really nice guy. I got a signed copy of the Nine Pound Hammer and loved it (look out for a review). I am so psyched that I am getting the chance to learn from a published author and this will be a huge thing for me and the writing career I hope to have one day. Once I start lessons, I will post about what I am learning and the kinds of lessons we have.
I am so excited!!!!!! :)
~B-Man
Season's Greetings
I just wanted to say merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone out there. I hope you all get some good R&R and have a great time away from work or school.
Peace out!
~B-Man
Peace out!
~B-Man
December 23, 2010
The Maze Runner and James Dashner
I recently read an amazing book.
Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: Average (approx. 400 p.)
Rating: 5 out of 5
It is called The Maze Runner by James Dashner. The story follows Thomas, a boy who arrives in a place called the Glade with no memory of his life. The other boys who live in the Glade, called the Gladers are trapped in the middle of a Maze and also share his amnesia. Every morning the doors to the Maze open and every night they close. If you are caught inside the Maze at night, you are as good as dead because the animal-machine hybrids called Grievers prowl the Maze at night in search of prey. When Thomas arrives, things start to change. The first girl to ever arrive in the Glade comes the day after Thomas with a message that she is the last to arrive. That is only the beginning. Soon, the things that the Gladers came to depend on are pulled out from under their feet. Thomas is determined to discover the secret of the Maze and time is running out. All of this leads to a heart-pounding, fist-clenching climax. I absolutely recommend this book to all readers. James Dashner paints a perfectly believable world filled with deep characters and his fluency and sense of direction will keep you reading to the last page. This is a five-star book. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel, The Scorch Trials and I will write a review as soon as I am done. To check out James Dashner's blog, CLICK HERE
~B-Man
Author: James Dashner
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: Average (approx. 400 p.)
Rating: 5 out of 5
It is called The Maze Runner by James Dashner. The story follows Thomas, a boy who arrives in a place called the Glade with no memory of his life. The other boys who live in the Glade, called the Gladers are trapped in the middle of a Maze and also share his amnesia. Every morning the doors to the Maze open and every night they close. If you are caught inside the Maze at night, you are as good as dead because the animal-machine hybrids called Grievers prowl the Maze at night in search of prey. When Thomas arrives, things start to change. The first girl to ever arrive in the Glade comes the day after Thomas with a message that she is the last to arrive. That is only the beginning. Soon, the things that the Gladers came to depend on are pulled out from under their feet. Thomas is determined to discover the secret of the Maze and time is running out. All of this leads to a heart-pounding, fist-clenching climax. I absolutely recommend this book to all readers. James Dashner paints a perfectly believable world filled with deep characters and his fluency and sense of direction will keep you reading to the last page. This is a five-star book. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel, The Scorch Trials and I will write a review as soon as I am done. To check out James Dashner's blog, CLICK HERE
~B-Man
First Post
Hello, whoever may be reading this. In this blog I will talk about books and writing. I will share some of my favorite books and I will include reviews of popular books. I will also talk about my writing and anything else that comes to mind. Thanks, whoever is out there reading this!
~Ben
~Ben
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