Hey guys! This isn't poetry, just a song I made up. :) The tune is a bunch of fun, though! It's sung by a girl battling cancer to show her that she's not beat yet and she's determined to smile through the pain. There is more to life than this!
-Dassah

To Beat Johnny Rain Cloud

O, Johnny Rain Cloud, won't you smile for me?

And O, Johnny Rain Cloud, will you ever be free

From your tainted misconception of a horrible place

And your sorry disposition plastered on your face?

O Johnny, don't let yourself forget

That this life ain't quite over yet.

O, Johnny Rain Cloud, I'm tired of feelin' your rain.

And O, Johnny Rain Cloud, spare me just a little bit of pain.

Even though this might be my time to die

No one can say that I didn't try.

There's a time to weep and a time to laugh,

A time to mourn and a time to dance.

O, Johnny Rain Cloud, don't you cry for me.

And O, Johnny Rain Cloud, I don't want your sympathy.

Sometimes it takes some guts to grin

But you just see if I can't win.

O Johnny, are ya feelin' the heat?

'Cause I'm a pretty tough little girl to beat. 

O, Johnny Rain Cloud, cancer is consuming me.

And O, Johnny Rain Cloud, I won't let myself be beat.

I will fight this cancer till the end,

So could you try to smile, my friend?

'Cause if you can grin, Johnny

Then I can win. 

Requesting Critiquing.

So, I wrote a short story called "The Unhappy Bush" a couple of weeks ago. People have told me they liked it, but I would like some critiquing from you guys:)
That, and I figured that it wouldn't hurt to post for once! I haven't been on here other than to read all of your stories because it's been a while since I've worked on any of my other story additions. *sad face*
I hope that this blog can start back up after a while, if you all aren't too busy! I miss you guys lately and all of your wonderful ideas:)

Maddie

(And finally the story.)

The Unhappy Bush

There once was an unhappy bush, a little brown and thorny bush, resting in a sleepy garden, subdued by the falling snow. Two people came walking around and looked at the bush.

“That’s an ugly little bush.” Said the first person,

“It’s very ugly.” Agreed the second person and they both went on their way. The little brown bush heard this and started to weep. The wind heard the bush crying and blew over to it.

“Why do you cry, little bush?” the wind asked, rustling its little brown leaves gently.

“The people said I was ugly and it hurt my feelings because I know it’s true. I’m little and brown and ugly.” The little bush sobbed.

“You are not ugly, just young and cold. Just be patient and you will grow taller and you’re cold leaves with turn green. When this happens, I will come back and dance.” The wind said in a comforting voice and then blew away.

The little bush was thankful to the wind for being so nice and he believed what the wind said, so the bush waited.

The snow stopped falling and melted away; Spring was here! And just like the wind had said, the little brown bush grew taller and greener. And the wind came back and danced in the tall green bushes leaves.

The bush was happy and smiled all day and even at night while it slept.

One day, a child was playing by the garden when he noticed the beautiful green, tall bush.

“May I take a branch of your green leaves, beautiful bush?” Asked the child.

The bush was so happy at being called beautiful, that it told the child to take its most beautiful, green branch; the branch that held its biggest, prettiest leaves. But when the child grasped the branch, he cried out in pain. When the child pulled his hand away, a big drop of red blood slid down his hand.

“You tricked me!” The child cried, “Your branches are covered with thorns!” And the child ran away, holding his hand and tears falling down his face.

The grass outside the garden despised the bush.

“You tricked the child and poked him!” “What good are you if all you have are thorns?” “Nobody will like you know.”

And the bush began to weep again. “Now my beautiful leaves no longer matter because of my thorns.” it mourned.

Now the sun heard the bush weeping and he sent down warm, comforting rays of light.

“Do not cry, green bush. You didn’t mean to hurt the child.” He said.

“But I did hurt him and now no one loves me. I only wanted to share my leaves because he was so kind to call me beautiful.” The bush lamented.

“The child didn’t know about the thorns and in your moment of happiness you forgot to warn him. It was an accident.” He consoled the bush. “Go now and explain what happened. It wasn’t right of the grass to blame you.”

So the green bush did and the grass listened to it then apologized for accusing the bush of hurting the child.

As spring wore on, the flowers in the garden grew their petals. They flaunted their colors and celebrated. The tall green bush celebrated with them.

The green bush smiled and sang and the wind sent its beautiful leaves dancing.

But then a flower asked, “Where are your petals, bush? The spring is almost done.” And all the other flowers heard the question and they all asked the bush the same question.

“I don’t know!” The bush exclaimed. “I thought I was just a bush.”

And the sun was hidden by grey rain clouds.

The flowers left the bush and went to play. So the bush looked up at the clouds and grew sad. Then the rain started to fall and the bush grew sadder.

“Don’t be sad, green bush, sleep.” The rain whispered. “Tomorrow you will be even more beautiful.”

So the bush slept and the next day when it woke up, it was surrounded by smiling and surprised faces.

“What’s the matter?” The bush asked.

“You have flowers!” the rest of the garden squealed with delight. “You are a rose bush!”

And the wind came and danced and danced and wafted the sweet fragrance of the bush’s roses for all to smell. The beautiful rosebush outlasted the other flowers. The two people came back and said the bush was beautiful. The child came back and all was forgiven when he found the red flowers peeping out of the green leaves.

And the tall, beautiful, green rosebush – which used to be little, ugly and brown, lived happily ever after.

NNWM Week 2: Writing Motiviation

I could swear at myself. It's only been fourteen days--two weeks--and already my basic word count each day is around 450.
I'd like to be farther ahead with my word count than I am {I'm at 13,301}, but for the most part, I'm okay where I am. Writing's a process. While I plan/hope to finish my novel this month, I believe it's okay if I don't. What if it's past November and I'm not done yet? I'll keep writing, November or no November.

That sounded sorta ''be lazy and you can finish your novel later'' to my ears, so let's just get on with the motivation. -.-


Candy. Hmm. If that doesn't make you want to write, I don't know what will. Treat yourself to a smaller candy after every day of writing. A bigger one after a chapter. Sound good?


Get off the Internet. I know, it sounds tedious. But get off and write. Maybe after five paragraphs you can have a quick date with Pinterest.


Let your characters talk to you. They're begging to have the world know their story. You're the only one that can write it. Now, c'mon. Go and write them, go and give them a world of their own.


Stats:
Word count: 13,301
Words to go: 16,699
Pages: 71

Sincerely, Madeline

blog: In The Wind

NNWM account: 7madz  

{all pictures from Pinterest}

Karenn's War Chapter Two: Karenn's Oath

Hey guys! Here is my second Chapter to Karenn's War. =D




Chapter Two: Karenn's Oath

A week after Warren, Verde, Azule, Cassi and I left we were still going strong. We had decided to make for Iltanien, a small village on the outskirts of Gotharn, the counrty bordering my beloved Nainen. Warenn said we could stock up on provisions there. Which was probably a good idea......considering that I had only packed one week's worth of food, as had the others, and walking on an empty stomach just isn't that fun. Believe me, I knew form previous experience.

Late that afternoon we neared the village. At first I felt that something was wrong. I couldn't quite place my finger on it. But the feeling grew stronger and stronger as we neared Itanien. Cassi and Warenn seemed to feel it too. As we walked down the dirt road and across the low wooden bridge I glanced at Warren. His hand was on his sword hilt. Azule stopped at the end of the bridge and Cassi almost ran into him. She looked questionably in the direction he was staring. A feeling of dread slowly crept up into my heart. I felt for my bow and strung it with shaking fingers. Something was desperately wrong with Gotharn. I fingered my red fetched arrow, running my fingers on the smooth ash shaft to calm myself. Suddenly Azule looked over at Verde and their eyes met. They had heard something. I listened too until I heard the fast, unsteady beat of hoofbeats in the distance. Cassi looked back at Warren. We waited in silence. Finally he spoke, lowly, as though it was hard for him to get the words out.

"Off the bridge into the woods. They may be friends, but....just in case." It was as if his words awakened us. We sprang off the bridge into the deep forest and took cover, each within sight of the others. I found a fairly large tree with some vines hanging off it. We waited with baited breath for the horse-riders to come into view. Warren leaned on a tree by the side of the road, pretending to be whittling something with his knife.

Suddenly the riders came into view. Terror gripped my heart. These were not friends. But before I could think what to do I leaped out to stand beside Warren. There were about a score of them, riding like the wind. the horses were fine, of Eriantle descent, their coats, which were white with black speckles, brown stockings and flowing black manes, gave them away as descendants of the great horses of Eriantle. But it was the riders that gave off the feeling of terror. They were dressed in black armor, visors down, and all that was leather on them-their cloaks, boots, sword sheaths and the horse's trappings, were all bright red. A plume of horsehair dyed red rose from their helmets. I felt rather than saw Azule, Verde and Cassi come up beside us. I drew my bow. Cassi drew and fired-I felt the rush of air off of her arrow. A rider tumbled from the saddle. Before I knew what was happening I had fired two shots and Cassi another. But they were on top of us now and there was no room.

Warren, Azule and Verde charged with swords drawn, Cassi and I were right behind. I remember very little of that fight, except my fear and the agency to stay together. Somehow we managed to stay together as we battle all the way through them. From the corner of my eye I saw Verde grab one of the horses bridles and Cassi another. I barely had time to swipe away a blade aimed at Cassi. I realized they had prisoners. I felt Warren push me onto a horse and press another bridle into my hand. I kicked the horse away from the fight. I rode past Verde and gave him my arm-he jumped behind me. I looked back and saw the others following on horses, then I drove mine deep into the forest. No one was following us. After we had gone a few hundred yards I stopped. Verde and I jumped off. Cassi rode up. Behind her a girl was half on, half off the horse, sobbing. A young man sat on the horse I had led. I glanced behind Cassi. Warren and Azule weren't there. I jumped back on and before Verde could stop me I was galloping back. I heard hoof beats behind me and Cassi's voice, but I didn't stop. Warren was back there! I rode onto the path. I could hear sword clanging and I unsheathed mine. All I remember was a burning desire to save Warren, and nothing was going to stop me.

I threw myself into the knot of riders, hacking this way and that. Cassi was behind me, waring off the blows. Couldn't see Warren! Where was warren? I heard a faint shriek, I turned, behind me a rider had Cassi off her horse and was tying her up with some rope. Her bow was broken on the ground. I felt a blow to my back and came tumbling off the horse. I turned and unhorsed the rider who had felled me, then ran for Cassi, but the rider had ridden off with her in front of him. I heard her cry, "Karrenn!" as though her heart would break.

Turning I madly plunged back into the fight. I found an old man on the ground and stood over him, fighting with all my strength-or at least what was left of it. Suddenly I heard a thump. I turned and saw Warren's body slung over a horse and ridden away by another rider. Azule found me and we fought back to back. there were only five or so left. They surrounded me. I knew I couldn't keep them in forever. I glanced down at the old man. He was dead. We abandoned him and ran for the trees. Verde appeared just then, and took two down with one swipe. I turned and we  three battled back to back until they were all gone. Silence fell over the clearing. Bodies lay all over the ground. I went numb with shock and dropped my sword. For the first time I had spilled human blood. Warren and Cassi were gone. I realized there was a cut on my arm and a few on my back as I sank to the ground. And I wept. For ten minutes or so I was lost in my grief. I looked up and saw that Verde and Azule also were weeping. Soft hoofbeats sounded. The two people we had saved rode into view. The young man slid off his horse, then helped the girl down. They stood silently, staring at us. I wiped my face and stood up. I took my sword and held it out before them and the two brothers.

Slowly I forced the words out of me. "I swear by my sword and by the blood of my brother and by my life that I will not rest until I have avenged his death or capture and have saved my friend  Cassi who was more than a sister to me. "

Azule put his hand on his sword and Verde did also. "We too are bound by your oath," Azule said.

I cleaned my sword on the grass and sheathed it. Bending down I picked up Cassi's last arrow, spilled on the ground. My tears dripped down onto it. I put it in my own quiver. I picked up Warren's sword. It was broken about two inches from the tip. His sheath had been sliced off. I sheathed what was left of his sword and tied the broken belt around my shoulder. Looking up to the blue sky I silently renewed my oath. I would find them. Even if it took my own life.

NaNoWriMo Week 1 Check-up: Talkin' 'bout those villains

Hey y'all!
As far as I know I'm the only author on this blog doing NaNoWriMo, so I thought I'd check in with you guys every week or so. :)

For this first NaNoWriMo blog {NNWM for short, kay guys?} we're going to talk about villains! But first, a reminder for you and your fabulous writing:

Just write. This story that you'll be completing in a month is a blue draft. You don't build a house *snap* bam, a house. You build it by beginning with a blue draft, giving it a structure, giving it walls and paint and all the stuff.
So for this first month, the blue draft is your goal. In December and January you can focus on walls and paint. ;)
Start by just getting everything out. Like I said, in the later months you can really polish your work. Right now you're focusing on writing it. *What if I spelled something wrong?* Just keep on writing. *What if my character said something really stupid and I want to fix it?* Just keep on writing.
So, you get the gist of that.

Next, on dem villains.
Believe it or not {I'm betting you're believing it. -.-}, I just found this out. *whispers* villains should not be in your story just to cause your main character trouble. Boom. That's a big bomb {or at least it was for me}.
To make a really well-written story, your villain has to honestly believe that by facing against your character, he is doing something good.
Say that your characters live in a world where giant bananas fall from the sky. Your villain wants to make a device to destroy all the bananas. Your characters want to stop that because bananas are the only source of food for your wacked-up planet.
Why does the villain want all the bananas to be destroyed? Because a falling banana fell on his whole family and killed them when he was just a child and he's scarred for life. He doesn't want that to happen to another family. Not because you need something or someone for your characters to defeat to make a good story.

How are you doing on your story?
What is your story about?

Madeline                                                

 

blog: In The Wind 

NNWRM User account: 7madz



Karenn's War Chapter 1

So, I am starting a new story, and here is the first chapter. Hope you like!
-Hadassah



Chapter One: A Longing for Adventure

Hello there! My name is Karenn, and I am 18 years old. I love riding horses, hunting, practicing with weapons and basically doing anything in the outdoors, wish sort of sits well with my parents because it's good for me (and for every girl) but which they are sort of worried about because dangerous times were afoot. I prefer lincoln green to any other color, and love to leave my home and set out in the world with nothing but the things that I can carry on my back. My father, an old and wise man with slightly graying hair, is my best advocate. I think he remembers what it was to be young and long for adventure. My mother is a bit more timid, but she is also a great hunter, though not for the love of it. You see, long ago my parents fell in love and married, then they fought together, long and hard, to take back our kingdom from the Enemy. And so they were crowned King and Queen, and yes I am a princess, but I beg you not to judge me by it. My brother (who is 20 and heir to the throne) and I grew up as normally as possible. I am privileged, but in different ways. I got a good education and training and so on. But sometimes I do long to be normal.

Now I sat and listened to my father try to reason with my mother. I had finally come out in the open and told my parents of my real longing for adventure. I didn't want to marry some nobleman or prince or whatever and live happily ever after. I had been thinking about this for years, and I knew what I wanted. I wanted to do something, to live for a purpose, to leave my castle and find my own way in life. I didn't want to be dependent on my parents for my welfare, I wanted to work with my hands, to make a difference, to be out in the world. To go places and see things. And I didn't care if I lived happily ever after as long as I did something worth remembering. My Father understood my longing, and I think Mother did too, she just was worried about me. I had proposed one year. At the end of that time I would come home and would make a decision concerning the rest of my life. 

"Adele," my Father pleaded, "please listen to me. Karenn needs some adventure. Surely you can see that." He sighed, exasperated.

My Mother looked up at him pleadingly. "But Fredrik, she's just a lass!"

He turned her gently towards me. "Look, Adele, she's not a lass anymore. She's a woman." 

Mother put up her hand. "Alright. But I want one thing Karenn. Promise me that you won't get hurt."

I looked pleadingly at Mother, "Mother you know I can't promise that! But I will promise you one thing," I said slowly and meaningfully. "I will not get hurt except for a good reason."

She sighed. "That is hardly comforting, but very well. I give my permission." I jumped up and hugged her. 

"Thanks mum," I whispered. I gave father a quick hug and ran for the huge oak doors, but Father's voice stopped me.

"Karenn, don't leave until the morning."

"I won't, Father," I said, and, giving him a smile, ran from the room. 

I got my gear together that evening then headed down the path from the castle to my friend Cassi's house.She was outside drawing water, but put the wooden bucket down when she saw me coming up the path. I couldn't stop myself and ran up to her. "Cassi! They said yes! I'm leaving in the morning!"

I mixture of sadness and joy crossed her face. "That's wonderful, Karenn, but.."she took a deep breath and smiled wobbly, "I will miss you." 

"And I'll miss you." I couldn't help the tear that trickled down my face. "I wonder if you'll be wed by the time I return!" I jabbed her in the ribs. 

"Oof! As if I would wed without you there!" She grinned. "And you must be there. So come home." She saddened again and we stared at each other. Suddenly I hugged her. 

"I won't forget you Cassi." I whispered fiercely as I tugged her long red braid. "And don't you forget me." She shook her head. I headed back to the castle. I couldn't sleep that night. But the next morning I said goodbye to my parents and shouldered my pack and weapons, ready for anything. Well, for almost anything. I wasn't ready for my brother's face. He looked worried and concerned. Whenever Warren got like that I always choked up. I looked away and blinked before I looked back. He was leaning on the castle gate watching me, his long black hair waving slightly in the wind. He walked up to me. "Karenn," he said kindly as I stared up at him, "Why don't you take me with you?" I patted his arm. "Because, Warren, this is my adventure."

"You can't share it with me?"

"But you have responsibility here."

"So do you."

"But I have to go, can't you see that?" I looked pleadingly up at him. "This is my one chance to see the world."

"And you couldn't still see the world with me. Come on! Why do you have to be by yourself? Why not take this one chance to go with you old friends and I on an adventure? Before we grow up and leave."

"Now you're talking about taking the others too? Cassi, Azule and Verde? No way, they couldn't go."

"Why not?"

I didn't really have an answer for that. I looked over at Father. He was watching me and smiling. I looked back at Warren. "Fine. But you'd better be ready in an hour."

He grinned at me. "We're ready. The others and the packs are outside." 

I pretended offense, but I guess I was really looking forward to having all my childhood playmates with me one last time. Warren and I waved goodbye to our parents then walked out the gate. The others were waiting for us, Cassi was in her matching dress we had once sewn together. Azule and Verde, brothers, were both tall and raven haired. They weren't twins, only brothers, but the only visible difference was their eye color. Azule had deep, striking blue eyes while Verde had forest green. I grinned and shook my finger at them. Cassi laughed. Warren mock bowed to me and waved his hand elegantly to all the lands beyond, forests, mountains and plains and said, "lead on, dear sister." I grinned and curtsied. 

"Thank you, kind sir." He bowed again but started up as I dashed past him into the forest, laughing over my shoulder. "And we are off!" I called to the hawks above us circling in the bright blue sky.




It was that night that forces invaded the neighboring country of Gotharn. Far away a mother was screaming, running for her children and her home, fleeing from the dark terror of the forces invading her village. She stopped and stumbled on a stone and turning in fear saw a score of men on black horses standing over her. The last thing she knew was laughter and the feeling of a sword plunged into her heart. A father fell fighting on his doorstep. People were running everywhere, and mad chaos ensued. Those with strength fled to the hills. Others, not caring what happened to them, sat down next to the graves of their loved ones and were slaughtered next to them. Others submitted, some were not given the chance. And in the forest was one refuge running, running with an old man and his son. Hunted, they fled, while the Enemy laughed from his newly conquered throne. The history of his reign was every after written in red ink to commemorate the blood of the slain.

Long Time No Hear \\ Combining Story Ideas

Hey, guys! :)

Wow, thanks to the rest of the authors for keeping this blog up and running. =P I haven't done a post on here in forever.... anyway, today I thought I would post about something that's really been helpful to me as a writer... combining story ideas.

Sometimes we come up with some really great ideas, right? But sometimes it's kind of only half-ideas or half-stories. For example: we come up with the greatest character ever; we know what they look like, how they act, etc. And they're the awesome. The problem? What on earth should their story be? It annoys us to pieces.

Then we get another inkling of an idea. A small part of a plot that would be deliciously good. We jot it down, hoping to find out more to that story, but still not sure yet.

We come up with a bigger plot; we know where the book should go, what's going to happen.

These are three great examples of ideas that could be combined. (Note: they shouldn't be combined if they don't go together right. Example: your character is like a medieval-age character, and your plot would be modern.)

And now suddenly we have this amazing idea that excites us so much that we jump up and run to the computer and start writing.

So don't give up on "half-ideas" and "half-stories"; maybe they're just waiting for their other half. :) Keep a sharp lookout on story ideas that could be paired together to make something amazing....

Smile brightly,
Anna