Writers notebook blog post 1#

I'm going to paint a character with words.

He sat on the windowsill, the drapes flowing wildly around him. His expression was that of pure relaxation. He wasn't one to smile, but the smallest hint tugged at the left corner of his mouth. His black hair swayed softly with the breeze. The jetblack mass went well below his ears. You could see his eyes for once. His shaggy bangs always hung over his eyes, that were a stunning emerald color. Long, black lashes lined the narrow gems.
His eyebrows where dark, well shaped, and set into such a position on him that no matter what he was feeling he always looked focused on something. His pale skin was like porcelain, smooth and without imperfection.
He was not athletic, but he was strong. You could just see the trace of muscles that lined his arms. He was sitting in a position that had him leaning against the side of the sill. The leg closest to the window was up so that his knee could support his arm that led up to his hand that was holding up his head. He had his hand placed to cup his chin and mouth. The opposite leg was draped over the sill and on the floor. His arm placed to rest his elbow on his leg and the rest of his arm and hand were where ever they landed.
His black T-shirt had his favorite band name written in big red letters that resembled paint splatters. His dark jeans were fitted to his legs. He wore no shoes on his feet. If it was up to him, he wouldn't wear shoes unless he wanted to for style.
He was beautiful.
 He was calm.
 And he was only a memory.
A picture, in the palm of my hand.

-Rhiannon Maxheimer
 Thank you!

Writing activity 3

My name is Felix Hawthorne. 

I am 19 years old 

I am a perfect 5.8 and toned in every which direction. I have stunning silver-blue eyes. My face is superiorly formed, it much resembles a sculpted masterpiece. I am the perfect tone, not to pale as to look frail, but not too tan as to look like I spend all my time in a crop field. I have dark brown hair that is softer than a raven’s feather. I could go on further, but this interview would become much to long. 

I live in a land (which I am ruler of) that is called Sherick. I would have named it after myself, but the fools I call my people didn’t think so highly of it. Its a land that is beautiful, it has rushing waterfalls, swaying fields, rock mountains...Ha. I am currently forming a plan to build a much bigger palace, who needs all the ‘beautiful views’ when you have me?

My family? My family consists of Me, Myself, and I. I do live with the two who gave birth to me...My ‘father’ is technically King. But his decisions are foolish and petite... If it was up to me, ever person would pay three times the taxes they pay now.  

I like to read. I know, why waste my time? But, there is something about going somewhere else than this damned place...being someone different that I find interesting. I can also play several instruments, but my favorite would be the violin.

What is different about me? Well, I am a Prince. Also, I have a curse set upon me by a disgusting hag. I become...Well, lets just say that I become a monster. It’s kind of a sensitive subject...

I care about me. What else is there to care about? I have myself, thats all I need.

Why would I have fears? What is there in the world that I should fear? 

Right now, I am smiling for the wonderful picture you are going to print for this interview...And you better make sure that I look good. Not that is possible for me not to. 

Writing activity 2

My name is Maggie Anderson.

I am 16 years old.

I have long dark brown hair that Is wavy towards the ends. I usually wear it in a ponytail. I have fair and pale skin. It is usually clear.

I live in a private school off the coast of Maine. My parents are traveling Journalists so I’m usually on my own.

My mom and my dad are usually away, but My brother, Dan is going to be famous someday. He has supported me up to three years ago, when he left to find a record deal.

I love to sing. I play the piano and my favorite thing to do is to write. I don’t like to write non-fictional things, I love to use my imagination to create adventurous stories. 

I have a long scar across my back. It was from an accident when I was three. I can’t sleep alone without someone in the house with me...I guess with a T.V. on it would work.

I care about my cat, Casper. And my brother Dan. You could say that I can about my parents, But I don’t see them more than Christmas and a few weekends around June.

I am afraid of being alone. I hate walking alone down a street, or being home alone without my Computer/T.V. I don’t want to be alone when I’m older, either.

Right now I am writing a story about a dark prince who’s thrown is taken from him because of his arrogance. It’s so cool! I also intend on sending it to a publishing contest. If I win, My story will be published!

My favorite color is Orange. Just like my favorite fruit, Oranges.

My favorite animal is a cat. Or a tiger, they both have whiskers!

I seem to have enemies in my school, they are a group of kids who alway hang around the park next to a rundown library.

The tone of Clockwork Fagin

The tone of clockwork Fagin is Dark, steampunk, rusty and at some times, cheerful.

Its takes place in the steampunk era when many children who are sent to work in factories get injured by all the big machines. And their missing limbs are replaced with metal. Once they are Handicapped they are sent to St. Agatha's.

Examples of tone:
"I remember my first night in the hole, a time that seemed to stretch to infinity, a darkness so deep I thought perhaps I had gone blind. And most of all, I remember the sound of the cellar door loosening, the bar being shifted, the ancient hinges squeaking, the blinding light stabbing into me above, and the silhouette of old Grinder, holding out one of his hairy, long fingered hands for me to catch hold of, like an angel come to rescue me fromt he pits of hades." (Doctorow, 57)

This emphasises how dark the story is. And how Grinder just breaks the children into loving him for saving them from the very thing that he did to them.

My first impression of Clockwork Fagin

First of all, the story 'clockwork fagin' is a short story in a book of short stories about the steampunk period called "Steampunk!"
        Before I began to read this book, I wasn't exactly sure what 'steampunk' was. I had heard it was a style of dress. But I wasn't really clear.
Now after reading the beginning of Clockwork Fagin I understand that its more of a time period in the future, or a time when all of the machines cause injury to the people, so they must use mechanical limbs or replacements for vital body parts.

I chose this book because I was just curious about the stories and how they would be different from every other fantasy story. Myself, being a writer, was fascinated in the new style of writing.

I think that some of the students in class would enjoy this book. It is adventurous and fascinating. With its pushing action, witty characters and fantastic story line.
I love the characterizations and tone in this story. They are very, dare I say, rusty. With its metal connections and its rundown setting.

I love this story so far.

The theme of Harrison Bergeron

The theme of Harrison Bergeron is very abstract and very simple all at once. It really depends on your view. 

But, I am going to stick with the theme being what the dangers of total or forced equality are.

If you force everyone to be equal, then what kind of a nation are we? If everyone is the same, then it is no different then someone standing in a house of mirrors. Everyone if the same in every way, no one is anyone but the one person they are. Everyone would be one person in the sense that there isn't even more than one person. Just copies of one. 

In Harrison Bergeron the beautiful must be masked, the strong must be weakened, and the smart must be desensitised. So, what would happen if someone was more ugly, weak, or stupid then everyone else?

In a world where there are no independent individuals, would everyone higher than them be dragged down to this one persons level? Can one person ever be exactly the same? 

If you are only as strong as your weakest link, where is the weakest link?

What is the basis of comparison for equality? I mean, what is normal? 

In the story, the higher officials weren't handicapped...They weren't masked, and they weren't desensitised. 

So, this also would bring in another theme, the theme of a dangerous government. If thous certain people who are extraordinarily excellent aren't made normal, then where is the equality?!

There is no equality, only restraint. Then the government is not only forcing thous of lesser power to be equal, it is forcing them to be slaves! To be denied their rights to be human! 

Because, Like the snowflakes, there are no two the same.

The Knife Of Never Letting Go- Blog 6

So as the action moves us forward at a heart-stopping speed, we find Todd and Manchee face to face with a girl. I believe that the way Todd reacts to this girl, never having seen one before, is a very realist and accurate comparison. An example would be when he first saw her:

"There it is, looking back at us, breathing heavy, crouched at the base of a tree, cowering from Manchee. its eyes practically dying from fright but still trying to offer up a pitiful threat with its arms. And I just stop. I hold my knife. "Spackle!" Manchee barks, tho he's too chicken to attach now that I've held back "Spackle! Spackle! Spackle!" "Shut up Manchee," I say. "Spackle!" "I said shut up!" I shout, which stops him. "Spackle?" Manchee says, unsure of things now. I swallow, trying to get rid of the pressure in my throat, the unbelievable sadness that come and comes as I look at it looking back at me. Knowledge is dangerous and men lie and the world keeps changing, whether I want it to or not. Cuz it ain't a Spackle. "It's a girl." I say. Its a girl." (Ness, 64)

I think the way he describes the surprise and the "pressure" is interesting. I would interpret it like, he feels the unbelievable loneliness and he is confused by how this girl makes him feel that it all comes crashing down on him.

The tone of this quote just allows me to feel the confusion and the heart stopping shock Todd felt in the moments of his discovery.

 I love how Patrick Ness creates his characterization of Todd just through the way he speaks and the way he thinks. Allowing the reader to literally hear is thoughts was a very great idea.