Ready for Routine

Apologies for a very late entry to this blog!

I have realised that it might be quite difficult during the holidays to contribute my thoughts to this blog as I seem to get caught up and become a bit busy. I never really found time to sit down and discuss some thoughts that I care dearly about. Sure, I thought about them in my head, but never had the time to tell you guys about it!
So instead, I have decided to change things around a bit on this blog. I will still keep this blog going because I think it really benefits my writing and course choice in general, but it will be focusing on other things book related, and only be running around the time that my classes run.

For the few people who read this, I’m guessing this won’t really affect you too dramatically but I just thought it would be impolite to change things without giving a reason why. Besides, the reason is actually quite exciting anyway.

My intention is now to use this blog to publish extracts from my writing classes, very rarely some book reviews, some issues that pop up in the news, but mostly to focus on proposals, suggestions and updates on the progress towards my new publishing journal I am starting up.

Yes, you read correctly, I am actually doing it.

My proposal isn’t finished so all I can really reveal is that it’s a Quarterly Journal (published 4 times in a year – summer, autumn, winter, spring) focusing on Fiction and Non-Fiction for YA. But I still need to do loads of research before I can finalize funding and help from others.

I would greatly appreciate your comments, ideas, suggestions etc on what I should do to the journal. Otherwise, I will keep you posted about everything that’s running through my mind on anything book related! I’m back at uni now, so back to routine and organisation.

Hope you’re all enjoying your literary lives. Make sure you find a chance to visit The Wheelers Centre now that it is open.

I am so proud to say that Melbourne is the city of literature, so I can always find an excuse to go there for a play!

Excitably yours,

Jinx xx

"I'm Gonna" Meet you at Mike's

I was reading through the paper before I headed off to work and I came across the SUNDAY ROAST section in the Sunday magazine. Kate Ritchie was talking about impulse buys and what you can do when the two ugly words “I’m gonna” come out of your mouth. As I’m reading this article I think to myself
“Oh sure I’ve done that before, but I haven’t actually gone out to buy the stuff”
It seems my laziness has saved me from buying those rollerblades I wanted to get ever since watching Whip It for example; or even saved me even more amounts of money on gym shorts and tops when I half decided to join a gym.

However…

Walking into work 20 minutes later, the beautiful Ash comes to me with Meet Me At Mike’s, a craft book by Pip Lincolne and while sitting there flicking through and letting my mind wander - as there were no customers in the store - it happened. I uttered those two words “I’m gonna…” and ended with “…teach myself to sew and knit”

But look what my inspiration is! Seriously, isn’t he just adorkable?!
What drew me to this book even more was the amount of cute things you can do. I’ve been meaning to make a scrapbook to put all the tickets and photos I collect so they’re not hanging around my room collecting dust. But now I want to do it even more because you can knit and sew notebook covers. How suave would that look?! I might even do it for my writing journal this year for uni!

But wait…

Like all “I’m gonna” thoughts, they never last long. I figure in some cases it’s inevitable that I won’t actually take up rollerblading, or I wont actually buy those gym clothes and join up and maybe perhaps won’t end up making Zing the cat. However, my main point to this post is not only to perhaps write down my current “I’m gonna” just to capture it and see how long it lasts, but to also make a point, like in all my posts, that reading about something can not only educate you, bring you happiness, let you escape from something or even just to have a laugh or cry. Reading is powerful because it can inspire.

I figured with the rollerblades I’d have to ride with someone and none of my friends own them anymore so the dream soon died. I hate people looking at me and so the gym idea died even quicker. But knitting is a hobbie I can do by myself and with people. It’s something for myself, but something I can do for others (a Zing cat anyone?) and more importantly, it’s a cheaper option to go. I’ve got the chopsticks…I only need the wool!

Unless I go all out and buy a sewing machine…I think its time for a visit to my nanas house

You can check out Pip at her blog:
http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/

and/or her store:
63 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

I plan to make a trip there in the very near future

Inspiringly yours,

Jinx xx

Listening to a Liar

One of the things in my “book world” that I have been umming and ahhing about is whether an audio book is better than the paper book. It has always frightened me that electronic devices will take over the paper world and my career will be flushed down the toilet. But fear not, my readers, for I have tested both and finally have the answer, nay, the OPINION that will help me continue in my career and, who knows, perhaps save the paper world forever.

It all started when I began reading Justine Larbalestier’s new release Liar. Her words captivated me as soon as I opened the story and it kept me locked into the characters twisted mind. While making one of my trips to Sunbury - which is my usual trip a lot of weekends now - I was stuck on the freeway in beloved peak hour and was itching to read Liar. I was at a stand still in traffic and knew I wasn’t going to move for the next 20 minutes so what was the harm? Alas, I did the right thing and left it lying in my bag. When I got to my destination in Sunbury, which is my boyfriend’s house, I begged him to amuse himself for at least half an hour while I finish off a couple of chapters. It then occurred to me that this is the time that people would find an audio book quite handy.
And so I bought one.

And yes I know what you’re thinking. What a waste of money right? When I was already half way through the book and the only time I’d listen to it is in the car. But you will be very surprised that I used over half the CD’s in the case and thoroughly enjoyed the experience ALMOST as much as the book in my hands.

The positives of an audio book:
The voice of the audio book keeps you intrigued. Especially for Liar because the lady who read it aloud created different voices for each person, was really enthusiastic with every word and kept me..well…listening!
Creates nostalgia. I remember loving library classes when the teacher would read out the picture books on the shelf. It was never the same experience when it turned into quiet reading time by yourself.
Allows you to multi task. My drives to Sunbury, and sometimes people listen to them while they clean!
Gets you through a story much faster than myself reading. Basically I’m a slow reader. I don’t like rushing it, which is why I never need to read something more than once.
Lets you hear a different tone of voice. I might read something in my head in a different tone than what the lady on the tape thinks it is. Both are right in a way, but at times her tone was more exciting!

However, there are negatives and only because I will always love the book more than anything else.

Negatives:
Doesn’t let you visually see things that you might like to see. For example, I’m dying to listen to the audio book Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld mostly because the voice is Alan Cumming but also because I think it would get me through the dense and complicated story better than reading it myself. However, because there are so many creatures in his world he has made his new book illustrated and I would like to flick through the book and follow the drawings along with the story. It's not that I have a lack of imagination, but rather Scott Westerfeld doesn’t allow imagination, as the image is meant to be staring us right in the face. Just like Liar. It doesn’t have illustrations like Scott, but it does have lists of things, short chapters that are sub chaptered into lots of different sections and it takes a bit to get used to visually!
I will never be able to listen to it in bed. I only listen to music in bed and its mostly Iron and Wine or The Shins…basically slower music to put me to sleep. Not a voice in my ear telling me a story. I like curling up with a lamp, book in hand and bookmark next to me resting next to my glasses. It’s a perfect image in my head and I never want to get rid of it.

So there aren’t as many negatives but they still count for something. Besides, I’d rather pay 20 bucks for a book rather than 50 to listen to it in the car. It was a great experience none the less, however I think I might stick to music in the car…must make more CD’s though…

Honestly yours,

Jinx xx

Character Development: X-Men Series

I celebrated my birthday yesterday. Turning 19 isn’t a very special number, but it did make me sit back and think about the year I’ve had. I have made quite a few changes in my life, whether it is going to a new school, meeting new people, or even getting rid of the people who didn’t make me happy in the first place. I am both surprised and proud I was able to do all of this in such a short amount of time.
To celebrate my birthday and achievements in my own special way I give to you the last character I have created. She is my only finished character because firstly, the series has finished so it was easier to decide her fate and secondly, she dies. The reason I put this character last is because she was the one character that had my ultra weakness as her personality. Every action she did annoyed me, but I knew deep down I probably would have done the same a few years ago. Looking back, I can see her character as fragile, naïve and weak. I guess that’s why it was so easy to kill her in the end!

I’m working on another one at the moment, but she is merely a shadow in the background of a very dense story. I do hope she finds herself a new personality like myself, that is very different from this one below.


Name: Aileé (French for “wing”)
Mutation: wings that repel anything besides fire
Lover: Pyro
Story: parents died in a house fire just as she was starting to grow her wings. Not being able to save them she escapes to Xaviers school. There, she meets Pyro and falls in love with him. She is still fearful of fire but continues to trust in him. When Pyro leaves at the end of the second X-men film to be with magneto, she becomes angry and hurt. However, in the third, they continue to see each other secretly; though Ailee is still upset he chose the brotherhood over her. With failed attempts of convincing him to come home, she concentrates on working hard for Xavier and the X-men.
During the last battle she notices Pyro and Iceman fighting. Desperate to break it up she ends up getting in the way of both and Pyro accidentally hits her with a fireball. She dies in his arms.
Costume: bandages from third degree burns from the house fire. Ink, shows a fireball and love heart in the middle with chains around it, to show her fear of fire. Green colours in both her clothing and in her eyes.

Thanks to everyone for their gifts and wishes for my birthday. Some special presents so far are below in pictures:
Picture ONE: Russell the Elephant, from Ben
Picture TWO: Alice In Wonderland frame, from Tory

Picture THREE: Fyson the Octopus, from Tory

Strongly yours,

Jinx xx

Wolfgang Iser Vamps It Up

It is nine days until Twilight: The New Moon storms the screens of theatres. I was sitting at home yesterday reading the latest Vogue when I came across an article named Vamping it Up which was explaining why and how all these women are obsessed with vampires recently. It made me think back to a class I had with my publishing teacher where we were discussing genres. It appears after Stephenie Meyers series Twilight, vampire books have been taking over the young adult section, and even a whole section in a bookshop. She has created a new genre, Paranormal Fiction, but how did this happen? And why her, when before her time hundreds of other series were already sitting shyly on the shelves?

I’ll tell you why, with the help of Jo Abbie, writer of the article Vamping it Up.

It’s all about Wolfgang Iser again. If any of you read my post Wolfgang Iser vs. JK Rowling
http://book-unfinished.blogspot.com/2009/07/wolfgang-iser-vs-jk-rowling.html
then you will remember that his main idea is that “It’s being able to ask not what the text means, but what the text does to the reader”

When I read Twilight, I was captured by Edward, as most of us were, but there was always the question of how this came to be. It wasn’t the chiseled features, his cool skin or his protectiveness over Bella. No, I think the main idea about Edward, which is why he appeals to women young and old, is that he is “109 years old – wise, compassionate and dangerous, eternally trapped in the body of a 17-year-old.” He offers that nostalgic feeling, whether it be reminding us of an old crush, or dreaming up this perfect guy that you wish really existed. It’s not about the blood sucking vampires that women love. We don’t actually want our necks bitten…well, not in that way! We love vampires because they’re old, while being physically young at the same time. Whether we like it or not, women love the bad boys, but we also love the wise guys and romantics, so what better way than to stick them both together to make a vampire! They’ll seduce you with their amazing sex appeal, kill you, and then read you some poetry from the 17th century. *sighs happily*

I guess what drew me in was that stupid red apple. I took a bite and there I was, in that world of Forks with Bella and Edward. Perhaps for some other people like my Mum, who is 50 years old, she was captured by word of mouth from her friends and their daughters. I find it hilarious now when adults come into the store and sneak into the young adult section claiming the next book in the series is for their daughter. I feel like going on a rant about Wolfgang Iser saying that we, the readers, decide what any text does to us in different ways, and not what the text means being in a young adult section. But instead, I sum it up by just saying “don’t worry, almost every woman in the world loves this book”

And I think I’m right when I say that, because lets face it, we all love a bit of romance. And don’t worry guys, I know that some of you out there have read and enjoyed the book just as much without being gay. My explanation for that is because perhaps, when we look at the big picture, there is a little bit of Edward in all of us.

To sum up, in the words of Jo Abbie I leave you with some wise words from her explaining why almost every woman would love Edward:
“Edward Cullen is indeed the archetypal literary hero: part Mr. Darcy, with a bit of Heathcliff’s angst and torment thrown in, and even a dash of the mills and boon-style love interest, who saves the day, replete with rippling muscles and perfect hair.”

Twilight: The New Moon is out November 19th

Go to the cinemas just to see the crowd, both young and old and you’ll see what I mean

Jinx xx

Sunburnt Stories

It was a Thursday morning when it happened…
Forgetting how hot the sun is in the mornings I got up really early (9 o’clock and hey, that’s pretty good considering I didn’t have to) and decided to sit by my pool and read. Given that uni is breaking my balls at the moment I haven’t really had time to sit down and read something I want. So I said damn to the man and I sat outside until 12 o’clock reading my favourite author Scott Westerfeld. His new release Leviathan was so bubbly that I completely forgot the blissful white sunscreen or even my awesome bright purple hat. So it seems the man got back at me by giving me ouchy sunburn as I was too engrossed in my story to even realise my skin yelling for help. What makes this situation worse is that I have very, very, very sensitive skin. I’m talking:
RED
BLISTER
White…thanks, skin!

From now on it’s sun-smart stuff, because apparently it’s going to be a hotter summer than last year. Urgh, I miss open fires and my Dr. Seuss bed socks already!

In other news, it is one more week to go before I am free from uni and assignments. But for now here is one of my pieces due for my last Fiction class assignment. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated, please!

This is a flash fiction piece, and titled The Beginning of an Ending

I stand at the edge of the platform. Grey faces walk past me in a blur as I concentrate on the yellow digits above me. I enter the train as it pulls to a stop and push myself through the doors as they slide open. The lights are bright. They flicker like the strobe lights in a disco. The floor under my polished black shoes is sticky from old vomit and bird shit. Even as I step further inside the train spilt alcohol along with other dark patches cover the floor. The grey faces become still, as if no disturbance was made. I walk forward. And walk. And again, I walk until I reach the front cabin. I pause outside the door. My hands are shaking as one clutches the door handle, the other holding a gun. I try to pull myself together. I try to justify my actions. I try to open the cabin door and do what I was told must be done. But instead I stand. I wait. And wait. And again, I wait until my breathing has steadied. My mind has justified itself. And my hands have stopped shaking.
There is movement inside the cabin. A whisper. A suitcase clipped open. He knows I am here. He can hear my breathing. He can feel the presence of my gun. He can taste my panic. But now, I can hear his breath. I can feel the presence of his gun. I can taste his panic. I steady myself once more and stand at the ready.
The train chugs on as I breathe. I listen. I swing the door open.
There is a gunshot…

A scream.
A silence.
An ending

Ambiguously yours,

Jinx xx

Character Development: Wicked Lovely Series

Another character, another reason for you to laugh at me!

This character is the silly side of me. The more bouncy, happy side exaggerated into a character for a dark world. The Wicked Lovely Series is one of my favourite series to read. Once again, the series is not finished so I haven’t decided what happens to her, but I would like a happy ending to break up the darkness that circles the story.

***Spoiler Alert***

Name: Tara
Glamour/Speciality when she becomes a fey: Her glamour includes black clothing, lots of piercings and ink. When she becomes fey her black clothing turns multicoloured (picture shows transformation from glamour to fey). Her speciality is her vine tattoo being able to move and extend out in shadows binding people until she stops moving/dancing.
Personality: bubbly, optimistic person. She’s sarcastically cheesy towards Rabbit because she knows he gets annoyed and embarrassed. She becomes very serious around Irial because of the respect she holds for him, but is always secretly intimidated by him.
Court: Dark Court
Fear: Irial
Ink: Black vines on arms that move according to her heartbeat. Love heart on breast which is the Ink Exchange that binds her to Rabbit and makes her part fey.
Lover: Rabbit/Bunny Boy
Story: In Wicked Lovely, she gets a part time job at Pins and Needles where she falls in love with Rabbit. Because Rabbit also loves her, he keeps her involved in his secret life as a faerie. She asks to become a faerie so she can live in his world, but to also have the sight so she feels safer around Rabbits family and friends.
In Ink Exchange, Rabbit agrees to give her the heart on her breast in order to make her accepted into the Dark Court. Her story is a happier one so far because unlike Leslie, the Ink Exchange worked for her. Perhaps in a way because Tara was stronger in her love towards Rabbit, but more because she knew more about the exchange than Leslie did.

Wickedly yours,

Jinx xx