Tolkien, T.S. Eliot, and Others

I have a thing for quotes, especially about writing. Here are some of my favorites:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/powellsbooks/6-quotes-about-the-magic-of-reading-ohuo?sub=3231414_2957280#.dcE1V1vNxw

https://www.facebook.com/thereadingroomonline/photos/a.10151065508153379.422772.126075698378/10152667330833379/

http://alicebeckstrom.tumblr.com/post/80595071088

http://writers-write-creative-blog.posthaven.com/quotable-ts-eliot-1

http://www.equilibridigitali.it/un-post-opificio-di-scrittura/

http://imgur.com/a/aldg6

http://imgur.com/a/aldg6

http://imgur.com/a/aldg6

To see more, check out my Pinterest board here.

Writing, Mermaids, and Ice-Cream?! An Interview with Jessica Wolf!

I am so excited to host JESSICA WOLF, creator of Simple Scribbles! Jessica is an incredible sixteen-year-old writer who loves to (you guessed it) write and read. Also, she has a twenty-two pound cat...you'll have to go over to her blog to see the proof, though!

Without further ado, I bring you...JESS!

AMS: What’s your writing history?

JW: I started writing as a youngster like most youngsters do. My stories ranged from gnomes that lived in pinecones to two princesses who were bffs. I stopped writing, then, from 2rd grade until 7th grade when I really started to write seriously in the fanfiction world. It's only been in the past year or so that I've begun working on original novels.

AMS: That's awesome! Sounds like you have quite the diverse collection of writings.

Which author would you most like to share a cup of coffee with?

JW: Oscar Wilde. He was such an interesting man and so, so funny.

AMS: I have never actually read any Wilde! I'll have to add it the summer bucket list.

What genres do you write? And why?

JW: Historical fiction is the only genre I write in, specifically the romance subgenre. I've always loved reading historical fiction and watching period films and TV shows; I just have a fascination with the past. I also read historical romance extensively, so I figured I would try my hand at it a while ago and haven't stopped.

AMS: I LOVE historical fiction, and there isn't enough of it out there, as far as I'm concerned! Also yes, go period movies and TV. And what's historical fiction without romance? Actually, what's anything without romance?!

Favorite fictional character?

JW: Tough question! I am in love with Hercule Poirot from Agatha Christie's Poirot novels. He's such a dear little man it's hard not to love him.

AMS: Agatha Christie is a boss. Nuff said.

Social media of choice?

JW: Pinterest! It is beyond useful for organizing your writing thoughts and ideas.

AMS: PINTEREST. YES. YES. YES. Especially for writers, it's amazing. Plus, it's drama free! Why do you write?

Simple: I can't not write. If I didn't write, I would go insane.

AMS: That's a fabulous answer. I am the exact same way.

Favorite book? (Or books!)

JW: 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde. It's incredibly moving and really inventive for its time. Second pick would be 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Brontë. (Hint about me: I love the classics.)

AMS: Not enough people (especially teens) read and appreciate classics, I think. There is so much to be gleaned from that sort of literature, both writing-wise and just life-wise. Absolutely love Jane Eyre.

Would you rather ride a unicorn or swim with a mermaid?

JW: Even though I'm not a fan of swimming, I would definitely swim with a mermaid. What girl hasn't swam in a lake/pool pretending they had a tail?

AMS: Plus I would probably be afraid of being stabbed by the unicorn. Even though mermaids are sometimes depicted as having major attitudes, so I really don't know which one I'd pick.

Do you ever use a pen and paper to write?

JW: Only when I have to. I would much rather use my computer, but if that's not available, I'll use a pen and paper.

AMS: Gotcha! I always favor my laptop, though I do love journaling by hand and I hand write most of my outlines.

Any hobbies besides writing?

JW: Does reading count? I don't play sports or sew or crochet, but I can play the piano.

AMS: GIRL. We are literally twins, I don't play sports either! I used to play piano, too, though I kind of lost it a while back...and yes, reading always counts, as far as I'm concerned!

What time period would you most like to live in?

JW: I feel that, as a girl, going back in time would not be smart no matter what era, but I would love to go back to the late 1800's. Oy those dresses were beautiful.

AMS: Yes, I suppose that there would be pros and cons either way...but I'm a sucker for that clothing, too.

Are your characters based on people in your life?

JW: Oh gosh, I'm not sure. Maybe inadvertently, but I've never sat down and thought up a character with someone I know in mind.

AMS: Interesting! I suppose life naturally bleeds into our writing, whether we realize it or not!

Do you listen to music while you write? What music inspires you the most?

JW: I used to. Now I can't; it's too distracting. But, if I did, I would probably listen to John Williams' soundtracks.

AMS: He's amazing, good choice!

When is your favorite time of day to write?

JW: Early to late evening. So from 7 o'clock onwards.

AMS: I'm the same! Inspiration comes to me on rainy days and through star-filled skies.

Favorite ice-cream flavor? (really, this is the most important question)

JW: I don't actually like ice-cream. (*hides*) My dad is an ice-cream snob and makes it and eats it all the time, but there's something about the combination of the cold and the creaminess that I don't like. I do eat it sometimes, and when I do, I go for chocolate chip cookie dough.

Well, we can't be friends...joking! This interview was so much fun. Thanks for doing it, Jess! Everybody else, be sure to head over to Jessica's blog and subscribe to her wonderful posts! =)

Author

Welcome, wanders and followers alike! You're reading the first post of the AM STATION A-Z CHALLENGE!

*crowd goes wild* Joking...*my mom claps*.

What should you expect over this month-long journey? Lots of exclamation points, a multitude of capital letters, and sassy commentary. Plus everything writing! (If you missed the theme reveal, click here.)

So the word of the day is...AUTHOR.

Before sitting down to write this post, I hadn't really ever thought much about this word. I never really considered myself as an author. I'm a writer. I don't have a shelf full of books I've written or an agent or a slew of YES WE'LL PUBLISH [INSERT WORK HERE] letters. Authors are people like J.K. Rowling, John Green, and Lauren Oliver. People who have those things.

What I do have? A shelf full of over thirty notebooks and journals, scribbled words on a thousand sticky notes all over my room, and over three hundred documents on my computer. What can I say? I'm a writer.

But an author? What does that mean, anyway?

A few minutes ago, I probably would have said "someone who has books, papers, poetry, etc. published". Thinking on this further, though, I came to realize that people use the term "published author". If the word "author" means someone who is published, then why add the adjective "published"?

So that invalidates my definition. Then what does it mean?

I propose that to be an author, one must have created something. The creation could be something constructed of canvas and paint, words and paper, nails and wood, etc. To be an author is to create.

I am a creator. I've created worlds, characters, stories, ideas... I have brought them about by using mere words, mere keys on a keyboard, and even the pencil in my hand. I am an author. I've authored into existence poems, books, and articles.

The word "author" is a label that is so powerful to me. One who creates, who has created, who has authored. I'm not sure that I'm as incredible as the word "author" is to me. But regardless of personal feelings, I am an author.

Wow. 

I am an author.

Those words fill me with a confidence. They fill me with a desire to live up to them.

Writers! You are authors. If you've created a character, a place, a story...you're an author. Realize it, embrace it! Embrace your call to writing greatness, and strive to live up to it. I believe in you!