Happy Halloween everyone! To celebrate Halloween, I drew some drawings:
A drawing of trick or treaters walking through a forest, (possibly Sleepy Hollow ;) ).
This was incredibly fun to draw since one of the trick or treaters is dressed up as
Hobbes (from Calvin and Hobbes).
The textures in this were fun to draw.
A drawing of Clara from Splendors and Glooms.
Her eyes didn't look right the first time I drew them,
but they look better now.
A drawing of Christine from The Phantom of the Opera,
This was quite fun to draw (I based her costume on the costume from the 2004 film).
I tried to draw Lizzy-Rose holding a violin, since she
plays a violin in the book (Splendors and Glooms).
That didn't work, so I decided it would be better to do a
portrait of her without an instrument.
A drawing of Raoul from The Phantom of the Opera,
his clothes and hair were fun to draw.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Which drawings are your favorite? What are you dressing up as for Halloween?
-Quinley
Hello everyone,
I hope you are having a good October.
To get into the Halloween theme, I thought it would be fun to make a post about my favorite gothic books. (In no particular order):
Coraline
(image from Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Coraline-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0380807343/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1538610118&sr=1-1&keywords=coraline+book)
This is kind of fantasy and sort of gothic at the same time, and maybe a little horror. (Though mind you I tend not to like horror stories.) The story is quite fun and there are some Shakespeare references here and there since two of the characters used to be Shakespearian actresses (though, those references tend to be very brief.) This story has a lot of twists and turns and likable characters as well as characters that may terrify you. Splendors and Glooms
(image from Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Splendors-Glooms-Booklist-Editors-Choice/dp/0763653802/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1538610233&sr=1-1&keywords=splendors+and+glooms&dpID=51lYXH84q7L&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch)
If you like gothic books, you will like this one. The story is set in Victorian England.
There are a lot of mysteries in it, and being gothic, it also has some magic.
The main characters in this story are quite likable and relatable, although
the antagonist is terrifying. I enjoyed that there were facts about the Victorian period throughout the book.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
(image from Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Unabridged-Classics-Washington-Hardcover/dp/B00ZQB4F9U/ref=sr_1_77?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1538681791&sr=1-77&keywords=the+legend+of+sleepy+hollow)
This was really the first gothic book I read, and was also the cause of many of my fan fictions, and a few movie reviews. It is one of my favorite gothic stories with its twists and turns, and of course my favorite character Ichabod Crane and his romance (and love triangle) with Katrina Van Tassel. And the question of who Katrina should marry (Brom or Ichabod) adds a lot of drama to the story. Sadly, that drama is a lesser known part of the story. It is only near the end, that you finally get to see the famous figure of the story, the Headless Horseman.
The Phantom of the Opera
(image from Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Opera-Inktober-2016-Sketchbook-ebook/dp/B01N9VXMMG/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1538609684&sr=1-25&keywords=phantom+of+the+opera+book)
(Also even though the cover above is for the sketch book and not the actual novel I thought I should add it anyway, since it is such a cool cover.)
I am in the middle of reading a full version of this book. My description below is based on an abridged version of it, I have already read. This book is perfect for those who like operas and mysteries, especially those who do theatre, because most of the mysterious that happen in this book tend to take place back stage (as well as on stage, and below stage.) And also in this book there are wonderful backstories for the characters, that will make you like them even more.
A Drowned Maiden's Hair
(image from Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Drowned-Maidens-DROWNED-Sep-12-2006-Hardcover/dp/B00EEUIIRY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1538609046&sr=8-2&keywords=a+drowned+maidens+hair )
If you like calmer stories that aren't as spooky as the others I mentioned, then you will like this one. It's not as scary as the others. This book was written by the same author who wrote Splendors and Glooms, however, it shows what spiritualists (or fake spiritualists) were like in the Victorian times. And this book also has a similar plot line to Oliver Twist. This book does have some sad parts in it, but overall it is a good and calming book. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have you read any of these books? Also are you excited for Halloween? Love, Quinley
Hi everyone, last April I made a post about this project so I thought that I should make another post about it considering I am still writing it and I entered it into a writing contest called the Wattys. (Also, this is my 100th post.)
Anyway, here is the post:
Synopsis-
Ever since Horatio woke up from being in a coma, things around the castle have been going from normal to strange.
He is also trying to solve a murder that now is beginning to seem more complex than he thought.
Characters-
Since I made a whole list of the characters before in my last post about this project, I am only going to do some of the main characters and not the minor ones. Horatio
A servant who works in the castle, who lost his memory.
Vonivera (previously known as Veronica.)
Lady Annabelle's lady in waiting, and friend to Horatio and Phillip.
Unlike the other ladies in the castle, Vonivera is a fairy, and she finds it hard to fit in.
Phillip
The captain of the guards and the only dwarf in the castle. Also
a friend of Annabelle's who is helping Horatio and Vonivera solve a recent murder.
Detective Inspector Time & Marigold
From left to right, Detective Inspector Time, Marigold.
Two detectives who are trying to solve the recent murders of royalty. Lady Annabelle
A princess who is in a coma, who fell unconscious at the same time as Horatio.
Excerpts-
Vonivera had very annoyed looking expression her face, that she normally had when she was talking about the gossipers and how they talked about Horatio, and the things he had done wrong.
“I am worrying about it, because I care about you, unlike everyone else in the castle.” she said.
-from Chapter 10, Vonivera to Horatio.
“Are you alright?” Vonivera asked.
“Yes…I’m fine..” Horatio said, as he picked up the burnt fire wood, and swept the chimney, which was sooty but not quite as sooty as it had been when he first cleaned it.
“Are you sure?” asked Vonivera, who like usual was hanging around where Horatio was working. She rather liked to talk to him…
“Yes I’m sure…” sighed Horatio, who rather was concentrated on cleaning the chimney…
“You don’t look sure…” said Vonivera.
Horatio sighed, “That’s because I’m cleaning the chimney!”
- from unidentified Chapter. (Though I am pretty sure it is after the events of chapter seven though, but I am unsure...since the labeling of the chapters got confused.)
You can also read the seven chapters that are up here (though I do plan to self-publish it eventually.) the official story soundtrack-
Last time I posted songs that reminded me of the story. But now here is the official story soundtrack:
You can also listen to it here
Some of the songs in this are songs you have heard before in the previous post.
A sneak peek at future songs that will be added into the story soundtrack (playlist):
This song went perfectly with a scene from my story.
(I am not going to say what scene though ;) )
Money, Money, Money by ABBA
You can also listen to it here
I am not sure whether this song will be added to the story soundtrack or a playlist describing one of my characters, but either way it still reminds me of what the servants may think of royalty and money.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Have you ever entered your book into the Wattys? Also, how was your Camp NaNoWrimo?
Love,
Quinley
Hello everyone, I realize it's been awhile since I've made a drawing post. So I thought today was the perfect day to make one. So, let's begin.
Here are the drawings:
A drawing of Florence from Death in Paradise.
I hope in the near future to draw more drawings of the characters from that TV show.
I like the way this drawing of Rapunzel turned out, I tried to make her outfit look a little like it looks in the TV show.
A drawing of Merida. I like the way it turned out.
Annabelle's hair in this drawing is a little bit more curly than I normally draw it.
A drawing of a mermaid,
this is the first time
I've drawn a mermaid with scales on her face and skin.
This is a drawing of a character I made (that I hope to use soon), who can shape shift into a unicorn. When she is human she tends to have rainbow hair (like her mane when she is a unicorn) and a horn, though it can be rather awkward when she is close to people and accidentally bumps them with the horn.
Which drawing is your favorite?
-Quinley P.S. I wanted to say thank you to everyone for the amazing comments (on both my blogs) I will respond to all of them soon.
Hi everyone.
Now, as it happens my characters don't always want to look like actors/actresses, but some do, and those who do tend to completely decide who they look like.
Why it helps I have found this happening in one of my stories that I did not have a clear vision of what my character's face looked like. I knew what their hair and their entire body looked like except for their face. It was like they were turning away from me. (Which I may add they probably were.)
One of the characters that actually introduced me to choosing actors and actresses to play my characters was Lady Annabelle. It took her several books to finally decide what she looked like. And in one of them she decided she looked like Emma Watson. Here is a photo edit I made of her:
(original image from Rotten Tomatoes, https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beauty_and_the_beast_2017#&gid=1&pid=h-136537 )
As you can see from this picture choosing an actress or actor to "play" your character does not change their hair color, or if they are human or an elf or whatever you had in mind for them.
Also with my main character Horatio it took me a long time to find an actor to "play" him,
until after rewatching a few episodes of the TV series Death in Paradise and watching the movie adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (2004), where the actor Kris Marshall plays both Gratiano and Humphrey Goodman. He caught my eye as being like Horatio. (Horatio had more control of what he looked like than I did.)
(Image from Rotten Tomatoes, https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/death_in_paradise?#&gid=1&pid=t-270000)
After Horatio suddenly decided that he looked like that it actually influenced the way I drew him.
A Older drawing of Horatio: And a newer one:
As you can see from my drawings, Horatio got quite developed because of choosing an actor.
How it helps with writing
Sometimes I have found that when I am (pretending) to talk to a character that my voice is the one responding to me, not my character's. (This mostly happens if the conversation is taking place in my head.) But if it is my voice responding to me instead of the character's voice then it can be kind of annoying. It's like I am talking to myself and not my character. Now this is where choosing actors/actresses to "Play" your characters comes in handy. If of course you decide to choose the actor or actress because of their acting and not because they look like how you imagine your character. (Though it is important to choose an actor or actress that looks like your character even if only in the face.)
If you have seen the actor or actress act before even if it is only once or even just in a trailer it can help you to understand what your character's voice sounds like. (Even if you decide to slightly modify the actor or actress's voice to go along with your character.)
But if you haven't I recommend at leaast watching a movie or TV show that they are in, but if you don't have the time for either then just watch a trailer from a movie they are in.
How this could help with writing screenplays
I've never really written a screenplay or script before, even though I do want to. But let's say you are a writer for a movie, TV show, etc. And you have a famous actor or actress who was asked to play the main character in the movie or TV show. As you write the script (if it wasn't already written) you probably would imagine the actor or actress playing the character. So before you get into writing screenplays for plays or movies or TV shows, these recommendations might be good to do in the meantime.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you choose actors and actresses to "play" your characters? If so then which ones?
-Quinley
Hi everyone,
This is a list of mostly fan fiction story ideas that I had floating through my head. I don't know when I am going to write the stories, but I want to write them sometime. I thought I would share some of them, here they are:
A young Charles Dickens murder mystery Genre: historical fiction/murder mystery
After I read The Secret of the Sealed Room (a mystery with young Benjamin Franklin), I was slightly disappointed to find out that it was not a book series. I thought it would be fun to write a story involving young Charles Dickens solving a murder mystery with another character, like in both books Wicked Will and The Secret of the Sealed Room. Even though Charles Dickens was not a murder mystery writer, I could imagine him solving a mystery.
Jareth's past and how he became the Goblin King Genre: fan fiction
What sparked this idea was really the movie Labyrinth, and the fact that Jareth looked human compared to the other goblins. One of the theories for this that I came up with was that he was possibly one the kidnapped babies, whose sibling had either really meant their wish or failed to get him back. And then later Jareth (if that was his name before he became the Goblin King) became the Goblin King.
The Man Who Invented Christmas 2 Genre: fan fiction/ historical fiction
At the end of the movie, The Man Who Invented Christmas, the story was left at a point where it felt like there could be a second movie about how Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield. I thought it would be fun to write a fan fiction about this.
Deborah Sampson the musical Genre: screenplay/ musical/ historical fiction
I have never written a musical before, however, I thought it would be fun to try writing one.
And maybe even a screen play to go along with it. As for the historical figure of choice, I thought Deborah Sampson deserved her own musical. She is not as well known a historical figure from the American Revolutionary War. She disguised herself as a soldier and fought in the war.
Tauriel's Quest Genre: fan fiction
I was upset about the ending of The Hobbit, and I wanted to know what Tauriel does after it. I decided I would eventually write a fan fiction about what happens to Tauriel after The Hobbit.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Which idea is your favorite?
-Quinley
Your characters can be like butterflies, they seem just out of reach until you are patient and learn things about them. (And maybe even try talking to them.)
Anyway In some of my writing posts I talk about pretending to talk to your characters, but I only mentioned a few ways to do it. (And there are a lot of ways to do it.)
Act out a scene from your story
This helps especially if you are stuck on a scene, or want to play it out outside of your head. Sometimes just going out and pretending to be your characters in a quiet space is the best way to understand a scene. Don't feel bad if you mess up the scene the first time, because you are practicing the scene.
Interview them
This is more writing than actually talking out loud to them. You ask them questions on paper or on your computer, and then they can answer (you have to write their answer though).
Here is an example: Writer: What are some of your favorite things to do (character's name)? Character: (lists things they like to do)
and then you continue from there.
Argue or talk to your characters
I have mentioned this idea a number of times in my posts, but I never mentioned the arguing part. The arguing part I found out about when a character went off script and made their own choices.
Which is good and that means they are developed (beyond your control). However, that doesn't mean having a friendly argument with them wouldn't be good. It helps you talk to them in a different way other than "Hello" and "How are you?".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What ways do you like to talk to your characters? Any other way that I didn't mention?
-Quinley
P.S. I will be doing Camp NaNoWrimo this July, so I won't be posting as much as I normally do. I will working on my novel The Mystery of the Body Thief.
