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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Hiatus

Hey everyone. this blog will be going on a hiatus for awhile due some personal stuff. I will still probably be checking other blogs and leaving comments, but this space will be quiet for awhile.

I just wanted to let everyone know. I'm not abandoning my space here or anything.

Thanks for being understanding. I love you all x

Manda Rave

Friday, September 20, 2013

Currently


Watching: Me and my boyfriend got ourselves caught up on the last season of New Girl. I know, the new one just started. I can't wait to watch it! We've also been watching Modern Family, which is pretty entertaining.

Reading: I have been reading sooo much lately. Things of note include Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor as well as the second one, Days of Blood and Starlight. I have also been reading the Vampire Academy books by Richelle Mead and have been enjoying them more than I thought I would.

Listening To: Welcome to Night Vale! I got myself all caught up though so now I am just waiting impatiently for the next show to come out. If you've never heard of Welcome to Night Vale, it's a podcast put out twice a month. "Twice-monthly community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events. Turn on your radio and hide. Welcome to Night Vale."

Wearing: Jeans and t-shirts or leggings and t-shirts, usually with a hoodie or my large black knitted sweater over it, paired with either sneakers of my 8-hole doc martens. This is my favourite season of the year and I love being able to wear pants and knits again. I'll miss summer, but I plan to enjoy the autumn as much as possible.

Eating & Drinking: Toast with sliced tomatoes, peanut butter banana smoothies, sliced eggplant cooked in olive oil and spices, and lots of coffee and tea.

Thinking About: Time and the changing of the seasons. I can't believe it's already September. 2013 has flown by. I feel like my year hasn't been that great and I would like to change that in these last few months.

Inspired By: Books. I have been reading so much lately that I have been super inspired to write.

Doing: Again, reading. Also writing (personal, blog stuff, and some fiction stuff), poking around polvore, and taking long deep breaths of fresh autumn air.

Manda Rave

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Shop Update!

Just a few new necklaces that have been recently added to the shop lately.

ellai. a wire-wrapped blue titanium quartz pendant on silver chain.

ellai. a wire-wrapped blue titanium quartz pendant on silver chain.


edrys. a wire-wrapped gold titanium quartz pendant on silver chain.

edrys. a wire-wrapped gold titanium quartz pendant on silver chain.


taylan. a scissor and star charm necklace.

taylan. a scissor and star charm necklace.


Manda Rave

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Fiction Writing: Begin at the Beginning

So you want to write a novel? Okay. Let's begin.

When it comes to fiction writing, the beginning can be anywhere really. It can be the first sentence, the last chapter, a fight scene in the middle, or a random piece of dialogue to be said by a character whose name you haven't even decided on yet. There are no rules on how to start writing a story. Well, I mean, people make "rules" all the time for themselves, but it's nothing enforced upon the whole of the writer population. That would be silly.

A lot of people start to write because they are seized by an idea -whether for a plot, a setting, a person, or a just a genre in general. It's different for everyone. Usually when I get inspired to write something new it's because a character walks into my head and then makes themselves comfortable. Typically my story goes from there as I weave their world and put them into a series of situations. In my latest endeavour though (the one I will be working on during Nanowrimo) the setting came first. That's never happened to me before so it was exciting to explore. The characters didn't come until I had fleshed out the workings of the world and even then my main character only came out of the woodwork a month or so ago. Keep in mind, I've had all this in my head for almost a year now.

Once you're overtaken with an idea, it's a good idea to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and start brainstorming. Things you want to address pretty immediately are characters, setting, and story line. These are the backbone of your novel and should be given a lot of attention. Coming up with a rough outline of what you want to write can be helpful in this beginning stage, but it depends really. Sometimes when I write I don't have an outline at all and I just let the story go as it wants. Other times I meticulously plan out all the major events and jot down all the minor in between stuff with notes on how the characters should be feeling along with potential dialogue. Do whatever feels right.

When it actually comes time to sit down and start letting the words pour out of you, though, you want to make sure you're prepared. You should research your setting thoroughly and have a good handle on who your characters are and how they act. You will also need to decide on are a point of view to write from.

Points of View
  • First Person: Writing as the main character of the story -"I, me, mine, my." Some people find this difficult but personally it's my favourite POV to use. It's a great way to really get into your main character's head and experience the story through them.
  • Second Person: This POV is weird and not very popular mostly because it's kind of awkward to write and read. It uses "you" and "your" as if the narrator is saying that the story is happening to you as the reader. "You look into the cave to find it dark, but you go in anyways. Your heart is beating loudly in your chest."
  • Third Person Limited: Written as an outsider looking in, allowing the reader to only know what's going on inside the head of one character. Harry Potter is written in third person limited.
  • Third Person Omniscient: Also written as an outsider looking in, but allowing the reader to get into the heads of multiple characters.
Piece of advice: try to make sure you choose the right POV from the beginning. Deciding you want to change it and then going back and editing everything you've written is such a pain in the ass.

Coming up next in my fiction writing post series: Talking to the Voices in Your Head (Character Development)

Manda Rave

Some Stuff to Look at in the Meantime:



Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Tuesday Tea Time

I suppose before we get too into this, I should probably say something about my sudden blog design change. Surprise! I know this is the third time I've re-done it this year, but I can be s indecisive. And while I enjoyed the colours in my last one, I really wanted something in mostly black and white. What do you guys think?

Tea of the Week: Regular Black Tea. Nothing fancy this week.

Tumblr Finds
d4rk-twistedfantasy:

Memory by Giulio Musardo on Flickr.
This is incredibly beautiful.

This pug is the cutest. I love pugs..

Have you listened to Welcome to Night Vale? This is what it feels like. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
It's a podcast, by the way.

thelifeguardlibrarian:

chicagopubliclibrary:

Silly Question, Indeed.

Some of the best humans in the world are middle school teachers and staff.
Love this. The silliest question indeed!

Window Shopping
Phases of the Moon Stud Earring Collection
Loving these stud earrings.

Need this card to hand out to people I snap at while hungry, haha.

I want this dress from Free People sooo badly.

Reading List


Quote
Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly. —Franz Kafka

Manda Rave

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Style Inspiration

Looks I'm currently into. All via Pinterest.

Guest Post: Hearts Like Ours

Fall Styling Inspiration: Jackets


How awesome is that hairstyle? I don't think I could ever manage it on my own unfortunately. I can't wait for the weather cool down again (it's been hoooot here the past few days) so I can wear knee-high socks and sweaters, and leave my hair down.

Manda Rave

Friday, September 13, 2013

DID YOU HEAR THE (HARRY POTTER) NEWS???

Did you hear? DID YOU HEAR????


This was announced yesterday! Ahhhhhh! Most of you know I am a huuuge Potter-fan and have been ever since I was little. Seriously, the books and movies have been such a big part of my life and I'm not sure I've ever wanted a fictional world to be as real as I want this one to be. I was so sad after the last movie came out because I thought there would be no more Potter-verse stuff to look forward to.

But JK Rowling is a goddess and is now working on this new film series. Series, you guys! As in, more than one of them! Oh, happy day!

When I found out I literally screamed, got up, and danced around my house. I wish I was exaggerating. I'm not. I'm like a little kid when it comes to this.

Needless to say, the reaction on tumblr has been much the same:


Are you excited??? (Warning: I am having a super-fangirl moment over this, non-Potter fans need not reply. Is that mean? I don't care, actually.)

Manda Rave


Thursday, September 12, 2013

Fiction Writing (& Reading): My "Why"

So I mentioned not too long ago that I was going to start writing more about fiction writing here on my blog in the months leading up to Nanowrimo. I also shared a post on Megan's blog about writing creatively as a form of artistic expression. Today I want to address the reason why I read and write the type of fiction that I do so that you can understand where I am coming from in the posts to come.

I have no delusions of becoming some great, world-renowned novelist. I am not interested in making my way into what is considered literary canon. I don't hope to be taught in schools or have have critical essays written about my work. My hopes are that I can get my novels in paperback and sitting on the "scifi and fantasy" section of the Barnes and Noble shelves.

I read mostly urban fantasy, and that is all that I write. I love it. For me there are never too many vampire novels, stories of ancient witchcraft or tales of normal people thrown into supernatural worlds. Demon summonings, blood sucking, werewolves running under the moon, fairy pranks -bring it on. Seriously, I will read it. I will immerse myself in it completely and get lost. That's what I do.

I am an escapist reader. Books can give us so much. From them we gain insight, learn new facts, and can be made to face dark truths. But books can also just be there to entertain us. That's what I'm looking for in a book: the entertainment value. I want to leave reality and enter a new one. I want characters that make me laugh and get upset and make me want to throw the book across the room because how could they possible be so stupid and dense? Within all that there is of course an innumerable amount of things to think about and take to heart. There always is in writing. But that's not why I read. And it's not why I write.

Of course my thoughts on things leak into my writing. Writing is always, in some way, a reflection of the author. But when I write, I do it because I want to help my readers escape their lives and go into someone else's. I want to give them a world filled with magic and danger. I don't do long, philosophical monologues. My characters are not "average" people living "normal" lives. I'm not interested in exploring the inner workings of relationships in this world -I'm interested in exploring them while there are demons on the loose and an evil bastard to contend with. 

So there it is. That's why I read and that's why I write. All the posts about fiction writing that I'll be putting up should be read with this in mind. When I talk about characters and plot development and all that jazz, I am doing so in the context of writing for entertainment. 

So, fellow writers and readers, why do you write/read what you do?

Manda Rave

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Tuesday Tea Time

Tea of the Week: Chamomile. I drink it before I go to sleep to help knock me out essentially, otherwise I spend a lot of time tossing and turning.

Tumblr Finds
twihs:

[image: Inline image 1]
Love this

ama-lee:

 Olaliola
This is so lovely. (source)

For some reason I find this hilarious. I laugh every time I look at it xD

Window Shopping
minimalist rustic raw Peacock Titanium Quartz ring with hammered patina copper  band-rustic colorful druzy ring-Rainbow  mineral ring
This delicate peacock ore ring is so beautiful!

Eco bamboo knicker leggings black jersey
I really dig these pants.

back to school , personalized teacher mug, Composition notebook, large 18 oz
This mug is perfect.

Reading List
1. Why Dressing Up is Not a Crime of Fashion -as someone who loves a good skirt or comfy dress I completely agree. Honestly, most of my "dressing up" is just what I consider normal clothes.
2. Gala Darling wrote a post about living your life by the moon that is definitely worth reading.
3. Absolutely backing up this thought catalog piece: 7 Things to Avoid If You Want to Be a Happy Person.

Quote
Some people underestimate how erotic it is to be understood. —Mary Rakow

Manda Rave

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Random Life Update

So true
via pinterest
^That's pretty much me you guys. I'm always afraid people will think I'm being rude because I barely talk, especially to people I don't know very well or at all. I mean, if we're friends I can turn into a chatterbox, but most of the time I have no idea what to say and stand around being nervous and uncomfortable. /randomthought

A lot has been going through my mind lately. I feel like I'm been in a haze all week, lost in my thoughts. And if I'm not daydreaming or just thinking then I have a book in my face. The air is crisp and cool as summer comes to an end. I can spend my mornings wrapped in a blanket with coffee and I actually had to wear socks the other day!

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this post. I guess I just wanted to update you guys, apologize for the lack of interesting content, and say that I adore you all and I'm so lucky to have people who check this space on a regular basis, even if I feel off and post useless stuff.

Manda Rave

Friday, September 6, 2013

Shop Sale!

I am having a weekend sale in the shop! You can get 40% off orders of $5 or more with the code MUCHLOVE at checkout from now until September 9!






Manda Rave

Thursday, September 5, 2013

If I Had A Heart



This will never end
'Cause I want more
More, give me more
Give me more

This will never end
Cause I want more
More, give me more
Give me more

If I had a heart I could love you
If I had a voice I would sing
After the night when I wake up
I'll see what tomorrow brings

If I had a voice, I would sing

Dangling feet from window frame
Will I ever ever reach the floor?
More, give me more, give me more

Crushed and filled with all I found
Underneath and inside
Just to come around
More, give me more, give me more

If I had a voice, I would sing

-------
I don't know you guys, I feel weird lately.

Manda Rave

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Tuesday Tea Time

Hello darlings, it's that time of the week again. Lots of cool stuff to share so sit back and enjoy.

Tea of the Week: Green tea. Back on a green tea kick. I have also been fighting off a sore throat the past week, so I've been adding a tiny bit of honey to help soothe any pain.

Tumblr Finds
This is clever and made me smile.

A new image I finally finished. This is another I hope to have as a print for sale soon enough, stay posted!
I love skulls, don't you?


x
And I am still laughing over this. I love the Starkid team.

Window Shopping
tiny gold skull  earring -raw Herkimer Diamond earring- skull jewelry -rough raw quartz crystal earrings -rough quartz  earrings
These mismatched earrings are so simple and pretty.

I'm really into this faux leather hoodie from F21.

Autumn Leaves Texture Unique Leather Journal: brown, violet
I really don't need another journal, but this one is just beautiful.

Reading List
2. 23 Signs You're Actually an Introvert -this is pretty accurate actually.

Quote
Please don’t expect me to always be good and kind and loving. There are times when I will be cold and thoughtless and hard to understand. -Sylvia Plath

Manda Rave

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Hello September


So here we are... September. I have always considered September to be the beginning of the last haul of the year. Maybe that's left over from years of starting school around this time. But regardless, there's still only a few months left of 2013 and that is truly jarring to think about. 

So, without further rambling, her are my goals for the month:

Finish preparing my novel outline for Nanowrimo & share writing posts on the blog.
Take more pictures of my daily life.
Try to be more social.
Update the shop with some new and interesting pieces.
Say no to ice cream.

Yes, that last one is real. I have a horrible weakness for ice cream. But now that summer is ending the heat won't be much of an excuse. I need to work on my willpower. I'll let you know how well that goes, haha.

What are your monthly goals?

Manda Rave

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