12.20.2007

Assignment MM3

#1
Some things that I found frustrating about the form were that you couldn't tell the audience what the actors were thinking. When I’m writing short stories there are always running commentaries of the characters' thoughts and feelings, which wouldn't ever be said out loud. The strengths in the form are that the dialog helps the story move along. Pleasant surprises I found were that its fun to write dialog. Unpleasant surprises; sometimes its hard to write believable dialog. I don’t think I ever will want to write more in this genre or its sister genres. It really cramps my style of including description and thoughts in the text. (108 words)

#2
I could write about things that happened to me in England. I could write about how guilty I felt when I changed the clock on Ms. Maggie’s Desk and made the sub let us go early. That’s like the worst thing I’ve ever done :P I could write about various experiences I’ve had at summer camps, I could write about skating at Grandmother and Granddad’s. I could write about the MS150 when Deanna and Ben and I helped out. If I could just write like twenty-one more words I would be finished. I don’t really have very many ideas, maybe something will happen over break. (105 words)

#3
be proud of your name
don’t date until your sophomore year of college
praise the Lord your God with all you’re heart soul mind and strength
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Be forgiving
Be caring
Be gentle
Quality over quantity with your friends
careful who you trust
Keep who you have a crush on to yourself or you’ll never hear the end of it
Make and be nice to your guy friends, but realize that you don’t ever need to be more than friends (again, until sophomore year of college)
Be joyful always
avoid quarrels
make peace
listen to me :P
(131 words)

12.10.2007

Assignment MM2

Theme takes a back seat to other parts of the writing such as decent plot and good voice and whatnot because without that the story sucks to read. But i do think that without theme a story would be pointless and leave the reader wanting. So yeah, theme is important. Ok, 50 words, I’m half way there. I guess I don’t really know why theme is so important, maybe you just want to write something for fun, to make people laugh, but in that case you’d still have a theme- it’d be ‘lighten up’ or something along those lines. So I don’t think you can escape theme even if you want to. Theme is the purpose of the story, the driving force behind the actions of the characters. (128 words)

Great works last as long as there are people out there who appreciate them. It helps people to appreciate them if they are well written and have a message that is almost transcendental in how it can apply to people of all times and of many ages. Morals help books live longer, stories that apply to all generations. Pride and Prejudice for example is a story that girls can identify with, even though the processes of courtship and such have greatly changed. (82 words)

The lasting impact I want to have on the world is not so large as one might expect. I want to make an impact at home, on the people around me. I want to be an example as to how God’s love is real and good and even though I’m not perfect and they wont be perfect, we can get along and respect each other and not worry about someone coming to excommunicate us or something for hanging out with people of a different race, color, or religion. I want to have an impact on my children and let them grow up in a good environment like the one I just described, and then I want them to take what they learned from being kids and grow up and be what they want to be. I guess to sum all that up I’d say that I don’t want to change the world, I just want to have bettered the lives of the people I encounter. does that makes sense? (169 words)

12.07.2007

i'm very curious as to who voted that I should always go to dances. :P

12.03.2007

Assignment MM1 (Mr. Miles 1)

3. What is one piece of art (painting, movie, book, song, whatever) that has greatly inspired you? What is that piece and what about it has inspired you? Explain in detail.

This is not going to paint me as a person the way I want others to see me. But I have been inspired by this series of books and movies, both in how they were made and the actual content. That does not make me a freak or obsessed (ahem britta) nor does the poster on the door to my room; all that does is mean that I think Legolas is hot, which I dont think anyone can deny anyway.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is a masterpiece of literature. The fact that he invented an entire alternate world with its own languages and cultures and histories and even its own mythology! And the conflicts that his characters go through are very real and applicable and inspiring! And if I ever was to pick a book or world to land in as a character, that would be it.
The reason the movies inspire me separately from the things the characters overcome is how the cast and crew worked together to keep the movies as true to tolkien as possible and how they were able to bring something so dear to people's hearts to life without breaking their hearts. And the amount of work and effort put in was a real testimony to what people can acheive when they're all passionate about a common goal.
So yeah, thats why I'm inspired by LOTR

11.14.2007

Assigment 8: the pursuit of happyness

1. Happiness is to be content and at peace and maybe to be having a little fun. Happiness is one step short of joy. See more about Joy below.

2. I dont pursue happiness, I pursue Joy. Joy to me is attainable even when you aren't happy. I feel happy when i eat for goodness sake- what kind of life is in pursuite of food. I feel Joyful when I'm around people I care about and who care about me and they're all happy.

3. When my family and friends aren't happy, its really really hard for me to be happy. I am most content and at peace when the people around me are too. I hate being alone. When there are people in the house I need to be near where they are. and when I'm alone I try to be on the phone the WHOLE time.

4. I dunno, my sister maybe. For sure I have like two friends where its really obvious that when I'm around they're alot happier than when I'm not as can be confirmed by witnesses. Yeah, I was gone for two weeks and they got super depressed and left messages on my phone every day. It makes me really worried about when I got to college actually.

5. My greatest need in life is to be surrounded by people who love me. Otherwise, I will be completely miserable. Even if I have a ton of $$ but no close friends that I care about and that care about me I will be miserable. Actually, I'm pretty sure there's something about that in the bible. If I lived in a homeless shelter and was always hungry but I had good trust worthy friends around me, I'd be the happiest girl in the world.

11.01.2007

Assignment 7

I think I enjoyed the poetry unit the most. I dont know why. I guess its easier and it really let me express my emotions on the page better than any other form so far. besides ranting.


My strongest piece is the short story I wrote based on the balck and white picture of a bouquet of roses. I haven't written very many good short stories before and I really dont have a ton of inspiration in that way so I was suprised at how well it turned out.


I dont need a ton of structure and direction. Too much structure and direction really cramps my style. But like the picture thing worked well for me because I could just think about it and then run with something. The scary story/ the going through a change story was harder for me because I didn't really have alot of inspiration. Poe creeps me out and I dont like trying to force my characters to change if they dont want to. So I have to find a character that wants to change and for some reason I couldn't find one. So yeah.


I like writing memior style alot- but we did some of that last year so I'm thinking I'd really enjoy the challenge of writing a play. not super interested in writing a movie, but it could be fun too I guess.

10.24.2007

Assignment 6: Poe and Fear EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

1. I do not like being frightened. I have a very healthy imagination and it can run away with me and I need someone to catch me (that like totally reminds me of the movie Dreamer... sorry- side tracked) to calm me down and turn on the light and show me the normal non threatening TV that is not a serial killer crouching in the dark. It is ok to be frightened in a movie when you aren't by yourself, and it’s ok to be frightened when you are with someone you'd trust with your life- like your dad.

2. What scares me? hm... spiders sometimes, but not as bad as Ron :P I get really creeped out when I’m the last person awake at night. I don’t want to turn off the light- as soon as I do all the furniture turns into scary stuff. To me all the tragedies that are happening every where are horrific. like seriously. really really hard to grapple/ come to terms with. And I’m WAY more scared about subtle possibilities than actual blood and gore.

3. A good definition for madness is when someone is no longer acting rationally. They may be able to think rationally, but that is not what is dictating their actions. Also, when someone may act relatively normally but things they say are universally nonsensical, I would have to claim that they were mad as well.

4. Anger is more than capable of driving people to madness. So is war. Politics. People go insane when they are in an extreme state that they can no longer control or they no longer have the will to control. It’s a lot like cells in hypertonic or hypotonic solutions. hyper: so much is going on inside their head that they can no longer control their actions. hypo: so much is going on outside of them, they can no longer control their environment and they withdraw inside themselves and ignore the world.

10.15.2007

Red Roses for her

I creak out of the car and get the flowers out of the back seat. The cold makes me move like an old man, but only little kids call me old. I shudder up the path, past other people's memories. There must be miles of stories behind each person here, but only a few people know each one. Finally I arrive at my memory. I lay down my blood red roses, and let the memories flood.

It’s my fault she’s dead. She was perfect. I don’t just mean beautiful, and I don’t mean she was faultless, but she was perfect. I held her and loved her- and left her. I didn’t realize by moving on I was leaving happiness behind. We Americans always think there’s something better, or newer or more exciting around the corner. Well this time I was wrong- so wrong. I thought it would be as easy for her to let go as it was for me. I’ve never made a bigger mistake.

She loved me more than life itself, I guess. There are a lot of things she taught me, a lot of things I never knew. I never knew love could destroy. I never knew I loved her until it was too late. I never knew regret until that day. And now I know I will never know light.

I’ve been bringing her roses every year on her birthday since I first met her, always a dozen red ones. The only year I ever missed was the year she died; the year I failed in life, the year my heart stopped all functions besides beating. I wish it had stopped that too. But it didn’t- I’m still here. I still have to remember.

We got married right out of college. We both thought we’d be happy forever, but I couldn’t get a job. She worked while I stayed home, looking in the classifieds for job offers. I was either under or way over qualified for everything. Her parents always had thought I was good for nothing. It turns out they were right, although I don’t think knowing they were right makes them feel any better.

We never had kids; I didn’t want any. I don’t even know if she did or not. They could have comforted her, or persuaded me to stay. But I was slowly sinking into the depths of depression and I don’t think they would have been able to stop me. She was always cheerful, always positive. She was the sun to me, but I tired of light. I wanted to be in utter darkness. So I left. I didn’t know that without someone to shine for, the sun would die.

And that’s how it happened. The sun just stopped. The world froze in its orbit. Everything is now cold and lifeless. The only color left is red, blood red. The roses.

10.11.2007

Short Story beginnings (assignment 5)

1. I slowly get out of the car and then get the flowers out of the back seat. The cold makes me move like an old man, but only little kids call me old. I shudder up the path, past other people's memories, I'm sure there are miles of stories behind each person here. Finally I arrive at my memory. And I lay down my blood red roses, and let the memories flood.

2. I watch the leaves blow past, tumbling and rolling, in tumbleweed fashion. The tree they came from shadows me as I stand still, reminiscing and regretting. This place, cold by nature, is colder still by fall. The dreary landscape is colorless like an old time photo, except for the bloody roses I placed on her blanket of dry brown grass.

3. coming soon :P

10.03.2007

My Blues; an assignment from APAL

I’ve got the blues
Oh I’ve got the blues real bad
I’ve got this terrible assignment
And my inspiration’s real sad

That’s only four lines
I’ve got to write eight more
Isn’t it painfully clear,
I’ve never written blues before

I’ve got the blues
I’ve got the blues real bad,
I’m struggling through this task
But the product’s kind of sad

I wish that I was done
I guess that I could be,
But I like to over achieve
So this’ll be the last stanza by me

Oh I’ve got the blues,
Reeeaal
Baaaaaaaaaad

Assignment 4 part two: what makes a good short story

1) a plot is very necessary for a short story to be good. with out plot, nothing happens, and if nothing happens, the characters don't change, and if the characters don't change, there is no point to the story. Thus a plot is necessary.
2) Strong interesting characters. it is important for the characters of a story to 1) exist and 2) be somewhat developed in order to keep the readers attention.
3) emotion. a story is boring with out emotion.
4) originality: people don't want to read the same thing over and over again- usually. unless they really really liked it the first time. and to like it the first time it needs to be original :P
5) relativity- people need to be able to relate to the characters and the situation
6) spontinaety- its more enjoyable if you can't predict what exactly will happen.
7) conflict- its necessary to promote change, and change= not boring.
8) suspense- keep people on the edge of their seats and turning the pages.
9) action- good way to hold suspense- fightscenes are a great action element to add
10) Love. not necessairly romance, but if the only emotion in a story is hate, its hard to love the story.

Assignment 4 part one: tales of a CREEPY CREPPY CREEPY tale

personal reaction= CREEPINESS TO THE MAX!

a) because it makes everything more creepy- just the concept of being home alone and then hearing a car drive into your driveway when there isn't supposed to be anyone there scares the crap out of me.

b) Connie's character draws the reader in because she's so plausible and real and unreal at the same time. She cant get along with her mom, all her relatives like her older sister better, her dad is never there. She's also popular and beautiful and lies constantly to her parents.

c) i just want to say i am never answering the door when I'm home alone again unless i know for sure who it is. and i think that might very well have been the purpose Joyce Carol Oats was driving at.

d) i don't know- i wish i had never read it, it makes me feel physically nauseous.

e) i think they left in the car and the CREEPY guy raped her and then he probably dropped her home after threatening her that she couldn't tell anyone. and she most likely never did.

f) well, he's so important to the story because without him there is no story. but also i have no idea how he got that way. it is sick and disgusting and it scare the crap out of me that such men exist. and like i said before it's going to take alot of convincing to get me to open the door both if i'm home alone and even more so if i'm home with my little sister.

9.25.2007

The Dagger Blue

Burning sparks fly up
With each hammer there's more
Magic fills the air

The forge is white hot
The Elven blacksmith precise
The product, perfect

A dagger of glass
Bluer still than sky or sea
Made to match thine eyes

May it be defense
Against all dangers you meet
In the times to come

This blessing for you
Comes from he that loves you most
Though you'll never know

Now go.

Oceans and Roses

I am like a rose,
Still tightly closed,
Waiting for the sun
To smile down
And convince me
To blossom.

I am like the ocean,
With many depths,
Many layers.
One alone is not me,
You must explore them all
To truly find me.

9.23.2007

sighs

i miss summer.
i miss talking to you.
even though i just was.

i miss freedom.
i miss driving.
even though i just was.

i miss swimming.
i miss sitting in the sun.
even though i just was.

i miss you.
even though i just saw you.
an odder anomaly
there never was

~bethany joy

9.19.2007

Untitled 2

What have I done?
I fear my own actions-
Is it my fault?
Did I lead you on?

I never wanted to hurt you
That was farthest from my mind.
We were just friends-
I thought you were satisfied.

Just because we're girl and boy,
does that mean friendship holds no joy?
I thought it did, I reveled in it too.
Did you think there was more set aside for you?

You said you'd wait,
But who knows how long that will be
And your love could have turned to hate,
Your tenderness no longer for me.

You've always lifted me when i've been down,
you're a gem among sharp rocks,
anyone to replace you would never be found.
If I can't love you, will you leave- just like that?

I dont want to hurt you.
Please dont leave me.
I love you dearly,
My Best Friend.

9.18.2007

Acts 20:24

Acts 20:24
I consider my life worth nothing if only i may finish the race to complete the task that the Lord Jesus has given me; the task of testifying to the gosple of God's grace.

1. I first read the bible when i was first learning to read :P
my little kid picture book bible. but this verse i memorized last year for Bible Quizzing and it stuck with me.

2. This verse hits me because Paul was like totally bent on doing what ever God wanted him to do. It also hits me because as a runner i can relate it to my race experience. Even though you're in pain, you keep going because the only thing on your mind is finishing.

3. passage above, significance already explained.

4. prompt:
what drives your life?/ what makes life worth living for you?

(trrruuuee laaaaaaavvve.
true love! he said true love! you cannot ask for a more noble cause than that!

true love is the nobelest cause in the world- except a mlt- mutton lettuce and tomatoe sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean... but he clearly said 'to blaaave' and we all know to blave means to bluff so he was probably playing cards and he cheated

LIAR LIAR LIAARRR!

... ok i'll stop, i LOVE that movie, my whole family can quote it like practically all the way through. for extra brownie points name that movie!)

9.17.2007

Line haiku

There's a line between
you and I and dont even
dream of crossing it

9.13.2007

Blank Paper Calls to me

Blank paper calls to me
It cries out loudly "come fill me!"
And so against my will,
I lift my quill and let the ink flow
Wondering where my words will go.
Will they inspire someone to live?
Or will the convince someone to give
A little time to their neglected kid?
Will my words give the kid a chance
to be held and loved, not dismissed by cold glance?
But if words could do this,
Would not the whole world be writing
Things they hoped might be inspiring?
And if we all wrote all day
Would words still be special in that way,
Or would they become common place,
And writers with important messages die in disgrace?
I dont beleive that will be the case,
A frightening extreme i dont like to contemplate.
But possibilities is what we explore,
And the world always wants to hear more.
Then slowly i staunch the flow
And see where my words did go
Sometimes i'm proud,
Usually, i hope its never read out loud.
But occasionally theres a gem,
That peeks out of the mayhem,
And makes writing worthwhile.

views on life

sometimes life is too goo d to be true
and sometimes life is too bad to be true.

the other day i was talking to my friend and discussing how my life had started rapidly spiraling downwards and she was like
"like getting flushed" and then we both laughed :P
but after a toilet gets flushed it fills back up!
so even though i dont like being compared with a toilet, its good to remember that when things are going down, its just getting cleaned up! and then life will be good agian for a while.

9.12.2007

Untitled

What kind of life is this
we get close
you reach out...
To hold me down!
You manipulate
and give false hope.
I can't take this anymore,
threw my cell phone to the floor
and cried
myself
to sleep

I ignore your calls
and my cell phone mocks me
daring me to answer
i refuse.

We have to change
we can't do this anymore
my heart is cracking
i'm trying to save it from shattering

i used to run to you for comfort
now its you causeing the pain
i dont know where to turn
you used me for your own gain
did you think it was all a game;
your cryptic e-mails words and looks?

you wielded a deadly weapon
wrapped up and disguised as friendship
worming its way deeper into my heart
like the sword of the wraith
only magic can save me now

the magic of friendship
for that can truly heal
its the coolest soothing salve
its the gentlest treatment
its the most rewarding gift
to give or to receive

And your trojan horse
that planned my destrustion
did not count on my allies'
fury and distain
of your barbarian tactics.

they surge around me,
a protective wall
in my time of weakness
inside there's comfort
outside there's your death

their fury at my attack
burns your trojan horse to the ground
and now
you
have
nothing

blah blah blah its all about me today :P

a) my personal writing interests: i really like writing poetry, i think its a lot easier than short stories, but i like to write stories too, they just always end up really cheesy.
b) I really enjoy tolkein, its like SO COOL that he invented all those languages out of his head its like mind boggleing. i also enjoy Tamora Pierce which is also fantasy but it reads like historical fiction because of how she sets up her world. I love that kind of thing so i also like CS Lewis and his Narnia books.
c) example of my own writing will be in another post because i like it to stand alone, not with all this other rambling of mine.

okey dokey thats all, now go read my poem.