God of Mischief | An Original Song

I wrote a song about my character, Karleon. He is a character who I have talked about before, and you may recognize him as the blue haired elf who wished you a happy New Year's. Karleon, if you don't know already is the god of mischief from the Fantasy world I'm world-building. And this song, I envision being played in a tavern, and would often be played during the Festival of Magic in honor of him.                                                    

                                                   Here is the lyric video for the song: 

You can also listen to it here 

And below is the audio for the song without the lyric video.  When I posted a song through SoundCloud previously, there were technical difficulties. This time around I have included both the 

  Soundcloud and Bandlab audio versions of this song. So if you're stuck and they won't play you can click on either, or click on the link below to be taken directly to the pages where they are posted. 

 

                                  Phoenix The Poet · God of Mischief

                                                 You can also listen to it here

 

You can also listen to it here

💙 Lyrics 💙- 

In between worlds was a god,

Under a facade of innocence,

The world was in a prolonged bliss,

For there was no chaos in it,

Come to me, come to me.

 Karleon, come to me,

God of mischief and prophecy,

Come to me, come to me.

The magic from the world was hidden,

To be used by mortals was forbidden,

But the gods hatched a plan,

And the quest to release chaos

Began.

Come to me, come to me.

Oh Karleon, come to me,

God of chaos and prophecy,

Come to me, come to me.

With beauty and slyness,

Did they steal magic,

From the righteous

King and queen,

Things are never as they seem,

Things are never as they seem,

So, magic of all kinds was released,

To mortal, king, princess, peasant, and priest.

So balanced the world became,

And things were never the same.

Come to me, come to me.

Oh Karleon, come to me,

God of thieves and prophecy,

Come to me, come to me.

This was Karleon’s first trick,

Before he became the sly and slick,

God we’ve come to know,

Now go out into the winter snow,

And remember this tale,

And know not to underestimate,

What all of us 

Can create.

Oh Karleon, come to me,

God of many things and prophecy,

Come to me, come to me.

Come to me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What's your favorite lyric from my song? Do you have a favorite trickster deity or myth involving a trickster? 

-Quinley 

The Waves Come Crashing | An Original Song

I decided this song deserved its own post, since it is one of my complete songs that I am really proud of.  I wrote it for a songwriting guild; the prompt for it was to write a song inspired by a painting. So I ended up choosing, this painting  as inspiration for it, it was of a sinking ship so my first thought was a siren song. While writing this song I was very much inspired by "My Jolly Sailor Bold" from Pirates of the Caribbean and "Arms of the Ocean" by Blackbriar. 

In my process of creating the song, I decided that instead of using a background track with instruments, that sound effects of waves and thunder would be better suited for it-- as I wanted to capture the feeling that you're hearing this when you're in the ocean or traveling at sea, like the man and woman in the painting. 

Lyric writing wise, I decided to focus on ocean related imaginary, such as poetic images related to sea foam, the waves, and the ocean itself. Since the song is being sung by a siren in the ocean, it would make sense for her to focus on ocean related imaginary. Also, when writing this song, I eventually had an idea for a character who now appears in my posts regularly: Oceana. She is the one who sings the song. I never really write songs from my perspective-- but instead from a character's perspective. 

So, here is the song:  

This is the lyric video I made for it.   

But if you want to listen to the music alone, here it is:

Phoenix The Poet · The Waves Come Crashing

🎶 Lyrics 🎶

The waves grow stronger, 

You can’t wait much longer, 

The ocean is your home, 

You long to dive into the silver foam, 

And follow my voice, 

You don’t really have a choice, 

For the waves come crashing, 

Upon your boat they come thrashing, 

You can’t help but follow my voice, 

You don’t have a choice, 

Your sail you can barely now hoist. 

The waves grow stronger, 

You can’t wait much longer, 

The ocean is your home, 

You long to dive into the silver foam, 

And follow my voice, 

You don’t really have a choice, 

Tales of sirens are often told,

The truth for you is about to unfold, 

For you will find that beneath the sea, 

Many souls become free. 

The waves grow stronger, 

You can’t wait much longer, 

The ocean is your home, 

You long to dive into the silver foam, 

And follow my voice, 

You don’t really have a choice, 

The kingdom under the sea, 

Of life’s obligations is free, 

Many bodies have sunken down, 

But they didn’t drown, 

They grew scales, 

And now are the creatures in many tales, 

The waves grow stronger, 

You can’t wait much longer, 

The ocean is your home, 

You long to dive into the silver foam, 

And follow my voice, 

You don’t really have a choice, 

Just take a deep breathe, 

And listen as you sink to my voice. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------What's your favorite lyric from my song? Do you have a favorite siren-inspired song?  

-Quinley 

How Camp NaNoWriMo Has Been Going for Me (Part 1)

 

So, I was not prepared for Camp NaNoWriMo this month. In fact, I didn't even think I was going to be doing July's Camp NaNoWriMo, but I then had a sudden change of plans and decided to do it anyway. 

But this is why this post is not my usual "announcing my..." project post, like I did for April's Camp NaNoWriMo. Because while the project I am working on is a new one, I did not have the time to plan ahead for a description of what my story was or  make drawings of my characters like last year.  That is not to say that I won't make a post like this, but I don't have what I need to do it right now. 

So, instead this post will be more like a journal entry about how Camp NaNoWriMo has been going for me this month. 

                                      My Writing 

The project I am currently working on is called Becoming the Body Thief, and it is the project I mentioned in this post. Basically it is the second half of The Mystery of the Body Thief, but since I felt like this was a whole novel smashed together into another whole novel, I felt the need to separate them. 

Without spoiling anything, I can say there will be a whole new view of the world. In the first book, I primarily focused on the upper class--royalty to be more specific--and on detectives. In the second book, however, there is a change of perspective, and I am now focusing on the criminal world.  This is interesting, because the series as a whole focuses on crime in the Fantasy world, but crime from the perspective of a detective not a criminal. I feel is really helpful in world-building and understanding the characters, in seeing both sides of crime. 

I will say, I have taken inspiration from a lot of TV shows in doing this. I feel the dynamic of characters in my story currently reminds me strongly right now of the characters from Leverage. In fact, a character whose stage name is Venus (I'lll talk more about her in later posts) started reminding me of the character of Sophie Devereaux. Venus like Sophie is a con-artist and an actor. 

By the way, here is a small update on the renaming of my characters, which I talked about in a previous blog post:

My characters' names for this novel series are probably going to steadily change over time, as I am give them more fantastical names. So, I renamed Angela. Her name is now Cerawen (pronounced SERA-wen or SEERA-wen) which I think fits her better than Angela. (Even from the beginning, I thought it was a little weird to call her Angela given that the name meant "messenger of God" and given that the world has Greek mythology-inspired polytheistic religions, it felt really out of place). 

However, I am still working to create a new name for Annabelle. I haven't yet, but I feel I am getting closer, and once I come up with one, I will update her character sheet.

But, I should say what helped me create the new name Cerawen was actually a technique that the YouTuber Ginny Di suggested which was "keyboard smash." If you can believe it, the name Cerawen actually came out of the gibberish, "Ceqw," from the keyboard smash. 

As for songwriting, I made these not too long ago, and they are kind of a work in progress. However, since I am talking about my story which does involve world-building, I thought I would talk about some songs I've been working on that are for my story: 

 

   

I am planning to make more songs of this type. Basically, these are songs that the priests/priestesses or devotees would use when doing healing in my Fantasy world. I also thought it would be neat if it had an atmospheric background instead of a musical one (that is sounds of fire cracking, forest noises, etc.). These are the musical versions of the chants I had written, here. Like the last song I made a music video for, I am thinking it would be neat to make a music video with all of these songs combined somehow (once I am finished of course). 

 I should say I am in three different cabins this year for Camp NaNoWriMo--two that are being run by other people, and one that I am running myself. It is fun, as usual. I love connecting with writers from all over the world and getting to discuss writing as we're doing it. I've had a lot of really thoughtful conversations that just happened over an element or a character from one of my stories, and I love it. And actually, two of the drawings I drew in a previous post came from prompts from one of the groups I am in. Anyway, these prompts are really inspiring my writing and motivating me, which is awesome. I love being in writing communities. 

                                    Books I've Been Reading 

(Images from Goodreads, here and here) 

The two books I've been reading recently are Dracula by Bram Stoker, and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. For Dracula, I am in fact following the now-very-famous Dracula Daily I love getting it, because I feel like the main character is emailing me, which is fun. However, I do admit that when I get shorter emails I tend to get impatient for the next response. Unlike when reading, I have to wait for the next part (well not really, I could read ahead but it would defeat the purpose of doing Dracula Daily).  This is frustrating because I really want to know what happens next. I also love how beautiful the prose is. The prose in classic books are usually so beautiful, and I love taking my time reading it to just get lost in it. 

I'm also really enjoying Where the Crawdads Sing. I love the descriptions and the characters. I am listening to an audiobook version of it, so it can be nice to just close my eyes and listen to the descriptions. I love how we get to see Kya's everyday life in the marsh. There is something nice about that, and I will say Owns's writing really reminds me of Shirley Jackson's writing style. Shirley Jackson is another author I love. I will say, though, for any younger readers of this blog, that there are two disturbing adult scenes in the book. They are done for the plot and have a purpose later on, but, I didn't want anyone who is young here to pick up the book and get traumatized. Other than that, I am loving the dual time-lines element of the story. It's always cool to read books that have that, because there are basically two storylines to follow, and it is fun to see how they intertwine.

 And while I haven't seen the movie yet (I have plans to see it when I finish reading the book), I really love the song that Taylor Swift wrote for it: 

I feel it captures the character of Kya so well. And it's also so relaxing to listen to. 

                            Music that Inspires My Writing   

I've included playlists for my stories in prior Camp NaNoWriMo posts, and while this post is very different than the usual structure, I thought I'd keep up the tradition.  

                                 Some Fun Things  

Okay, so I would usually talk about Webkinz on my other blog. However, I just realized Webkinz is actually a really good place for designing rooms for your characters. I made three rooms that I want to share: one for my story, and two inspired by the classics (Gothic and Greek mythology).

I made one of the taverns that appears in my novel in Webkinz! I found that making it in game, was really helpful to figure out the layout. This is the tavern where the main characters meet Venus (character mentioned earlier). It is one of the most luxurious taverns that appears in the story. While some very shady things happen in it, outsiders who go to it are kind of unaware of that. Basically it appears to be safe, but it is a place where criminals often meet and shady things happen. It wants you to think it is safe, but isn't. 

One of the reasons why the tavern is so luxurious is due to Venus's performances (at least one of the least shady reasons). Because of her, this tavern has many expensive things in it: an exquisite rug, a beautiful fireplace, and intricate tables. And my Webkinz room is only part of the tavern: the tavern in the book is pretty large, so I may create the second half in the future. (However, I will need to get the same wallpaper, which may take a while, since I had to win it from JumbleBerry Fields, a game within the virtual world). 

And since you know I love Gothic literature, I of course made another room, based on one of my favorite Gothic books. This room is inspired by "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I tried to make the room seem cramped and uncomfortable, like it was in the book. Unfortunately, Webkinz did not have aging yellow wallpaper, so I had to improvise with yellow paint instead. 

One of my Webkinzes is actually named Apollo, after the Greek god of the sun and music. So I made a room for him. I tried to give it musical references as well as light ones (with the fairy lights). So anyway, I thought I would share this room, because it was Greek mythology inspired. 

Also, I thought I would show what kinds of things you can create in a game like Webkinz, because not everyone has the money to use a more expensive game like Sims 4 to create rooms for their stories. But some people do have Webkinz accounts they made when they were children, so it can be an affordable  option for creating rooms for your characters. 

And that's all I have to say for now, but I will say more later in part 2! There are a lot of adventures I'm going to have later in Camp NaNoWriMo, and I will update you on them. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------How has Camp NaNoWriMo been going for you? And have you read any good books or played any fun games recently? 

-Quinley 

Blood Ghost | A Music Video (+ 200th post!)

Greetings travelers, 

I've officially made 200 posts on this blog! But onto the topic at hand: 

A few posts ago I made a post about an original song I had written called "Blood Ghost" I just                posted the lyric video for it and the audio. However, I decided recently that it would be fun to make a music video for it, so I did: 

The inspirations for the music video were actually old horror movies (from the 1950s and 60s) that I often watch with my mom. This was also the first time I've done lip-syncing in a music video, and it was a fun experience. I had a lot of fun acting as the characters who appear in the video (the storyteller and the Blood Ghost), and dressing up as them as well. 

And while I already posted the lyrics in the post before, I am going to post them again, so you can follow (or sing) along if you would like (and don't need to open another tab to do so): 

👻 Lyrics- 👻

Under Southwest Bridge, 

Waiting for the Blood Ghost. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

Hatred of light, hatred of blood, hatred of the Blood Ghost. 

 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

Many tales of old were told, 

Of the entity

Who will now forever be

In our memory 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

Searching for shelter, struggling in prayer, fighting against the Blood Ghost. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is said that your children it will take, 

in its wake, 

where they go, 

we never know, 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

In life it was said to be a fair maid, 

But she faded and turned into a shade, 

Now she haunts looking around for blood, 

And many have succumbed, 

to its will, 

Because an empty shell it wants to fill,  

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

Last three waiting, last three waiting, last three waiting, waiting, for the Blood Ghost.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What did you like most about the music video? And do you have a favorite horror movie from the 50s/60s? 

-Quinley

Lead Me Astray | An Original Song

I wrote "Lead Me Astray" for a songwriting class. The prompt was to listen to a song, and base an original song on it after analyzing the lyrics. The song I ended up choosing was "You're Haunting Me" by BlackBriar, which then inspired a song about something being in the darkness, and the fear of the unknown. 

I made a music video for it, and I tried to capture the feeling of "found footage" (footage that was filmed on a camera/phone that captures something paranormal). 

 

But if you want to listen to the music without the video, you can do so by listening to this. 

  🎶  Lyrics 🎶 

Skeletal branches tap against my window frame,

Reaching out like they have have something to gain,

I don't feel the same,

The sounds of the night,

The pale lights,

Want to...lead me, lead me astray

But, I don't feel that way

Something in the darkness is there,

Wanting to lead me into its lair,

Voices in the darkness keep calling,

But I don't feel like following,

They tell me riches await,

If only I trust in fate.

Often stories were told,

Of creatures of old,

Wanting to lead travelers away in the night,

Those stories would give me a fright,

But, now I am down to my last light,

I feel my desire growing,

Because of my not knowing...

What is there,

I feel I have been caught in its snare,

As it leads me astray...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you saw a light in the darkness, would you follow it? Has music inspired your own songs and/or stories? 

-Quinley

Blood Ghost | An Original Song

I wrote "Blood Ghost" a while ago for a songwriting class. The prompt we used was to rearrange words from a preexisting song to use in an original song. When I returned back to the song to record it, I decided that some of the lyrics I had fit the song and others did not. 

In the final version of the song, I added some new and original lyrics. So, here is the lyric video: 

And if you just want to listen to the audio, here's the song on Bandlab: 

                  

 

🎶 Lyrics 🎶 

Under Southwest Bridge, 

Waiting for the Blood Ghost. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

Hatred of light, hatred of blood, hatred of the Blood Ghost. 

 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

Many tales of old were told, 

Of the entity

Who will now forever be

In our memory 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

Searching for shelter, struggling in prayer, fighting against the Blood Ghost. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is said that your children it will take, 

in its wake, 

where they go, 

we never know, 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

In life it was said to be a fair maid, 

But she faded and turned into a shade, 

Now she haunts looking around for blood, 

And many have succumbed, 

to its will, 

Because an empty shell it wants to fill,  

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

It is coming tonight with hatred in its eyes. 

Last three waiting, last three waiting, last three waiting, waiting, for the Blood Ghost.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How would you react if you came across a ghost like this? What is your favorite Ghost story? 

-Quinley 

Jolly Sailor Bold | A Cover

 "Jolly Sailor Bold." was originally from Pirates of the Caribbean (but is older than that, I believe because only part of the song was actually sung in the movie, and there are many variations of it). The song is what one of the mermaids uses to trick the sailor into coming to her, when she intends to drown him. 

And this is my take on it: 

 

                                 You can also listen to it here 

I always create backstories for songs I am singing or listening to. For this one I came up with a backstory about a siren named Oceana, who poses as a merchant's daughter and uses the alias "Maria" to lure sailors to her rocks. Oceana is also the character behind the song, The Waves Come Crushing.  In creating the character, Oceana,  I decided to go for a more Greek bird-like siren, and gave her feathers all over her body and scales under her eyes. 

I also plan to film a music video for the song, hopefully once I finish the three video projects I am currently working on. But for now I wanted you to get the musical sound of it and your own visualization, because I know I visualize things when I listen to music.

A funny story behind recording this song is that I recorded it in my bathroom (my bathroom has good acoustics), and I was pretending to be a siren there, trying to lure sailors to my rocks....er...my bathroom sink, but rocks, totally rocks. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Would you rather be a siren or a sailor? Have you seen Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides? 

-Quinley 

I Wrote Two Original Songs

 

Hello everyone, 

I have been working on songwriting for a while, but never had any songs to share. Now I finally do. (I wouldn't say either of these songs are at the point where I would make a music video of them or post them on my youtube channel, but I feel comfortable with sharing them on my blog and BandLab). 

Here are the songs I've been working on: 

You can also listen to it here

This song is somewhat connected to All is Not Lost For All Will Begin Again, because it is about a shapeshifter, but no exact character from the story or world. For this song I was given the prompt of "Fantasy/things are not as they seem" and went ahead to write a song about a shapeshifter. There are still some things I want to change about it here and there (hence why I will post a second version in the future). 

You can also listen to it here 

This song firstly was inspired by a painting called Adieu by John William Waterhouse,

and when putting it to music was inspired by "Arms of the Ocean" by BlackBriar, and "Jolly Sailor Bold" in particular Ginny Di's and Ashley Serena's covers. I decided I didn't want a background track but wanted something in the background. I included the sound of waves and thunder, so that you felt like you were there at the ocean. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you ever written an original song? And which would you rather be a siren or a shapeshifter?

-Quinley