My Third Owl City Concert

"Writing is an exploration.  You start from nothing and learn as you go," -E. L. Doctorow

So, three Owl City concerts down.  An infinite amount to go. 

Lauren and I in the Parking Garage <3

First, I'll talk about the experience as a whole, the ups and the downs. Because there was a considerable amount of both. 

As always, the Hootowls (Adam's fans) were great. They were fun to talk to and constantly looking out for each other. Passionate is the best word to describe them. High energy and down to earth and friendly.  They're the best, and I wish I could be friends with all of them. And Lauren and I shared some pretty awesome conversations with them. 

The venue was the worst, by far.  It was the House of Blues in Chicago, and it was enormously strict. Not only was the concert only an hour and a half because of HoB rules, the Meet and Greet was strict, impersonal and quick. The large man in the blue shirt rushed us along like cattle.  Say hi, smile, click, and leave.  Nothing more. This, was the biggest disappointment of all. 

But my heart is soaring in my chest just thinking about this. I met Adam Young. The fluttery feeling in the cavity of my stomach.  The heat searing through my skin.  I can still feel it all as I am writing this. But seeing the man behind the music right there in front of me was a surreal and insane experience.  I was truly at a loss for words. While it was a disappointment because it wasn't all that I had dreamed about (but since when is life ever that way?), I don't regret a single moment of it. 

Actually, Lauren said a total of about two words, while, I, on the other hand, was a bumbling idiot. I never got anything worthwhile out, much less anything meaningful that I wanted to say.  But since when have I ever been tactful with the spoken word? 

But truly, I wouldn't change a thing about meeting Adam.  While it wasn't amazing and I froze on the spot, I wouldn't trade meeting him for the world. Probably the best experience of my life. And Lauren can most likely vouch for this, but there is no amount of words in the English language that you could string together to equal the sheer emotion of being right there, with Adam freaking Randal Young. 

CONTINUAL SCREAMING

As always, he was a joy to watch preform. Singing each song with devout passion and humble genuineness, he is a mastery at his craft, and the whole Owl City universe is a drop of God himself in this desolate world. He truly is, my only human idol on this earth.  He is everything I aspire to be and more. 

Since Lauren and I didn't get to say all that we wanted to, nor would have there been enough time in the world to say everything required, we are planning on writing separate letters to him, showing all that we could never say in the medium we are best at manipulating: words.   

<3

~The WordShaker

FAQ and Questions about My Novel: From You!

"To gain your own voice, you have to forget about having it heard," -Allen Ginsberg

These are some questions that my beta readers and friends had about my novel, so for this week's blog post, I answer them along with some general FAQ.  This post will make much more sense if you read this post--> My WIP

Explain the title and the significance behind it. 

Haha, yes.  Everyone always asks about this because it's such a long title, and half of it is in a different language. The 'Deus Ex Eremus' part comes from the Latin phrase 'Deus Ex Machina', meaning literally God from the machine. It is a plot device meaning the happenstance event that saves or solves a hopeless situation. This phrase and plot device usually has a negative connotation, since it is seen as a cop out.  But I replaced the word 'machina' with 'eremus' which is the Latin word for wilderness, hence the subtitle:  'God from the Wilderness'. The significance of the title would kind of be a spoiler, but I'll try to be vague. Since the whole point of the story is their change and development as they overcome their struggles, the whole God from the wilderness part emphasizes one of the main themes of how great things can come from awful circumstances. 

How did you come up with the idea for the book?

You know, everyone asks this question, but truthfully, I can't remember.  It just kind of came together, I guess. 

What was your most favorite scene to write?

Probably either the first chapter, or Chapter 23, when *ahem* shit starts to get real, and it all has to work out from there.  It is just such a powerful and emotional chapter that rings true of the novel as a whole. 

Least favorite?

Least favorite - hmm, that's hard.  I don't think I can say that I ever disliked any scene, but there were scenes and chapters that were hard and grueling to write. 

Who is your target audience?

This is kind of vague.  While this is a young adult novel, it is very graphic in some ways, the themes and struggles they go through are very centric to teenagers.  More specifically though, I'm still on the fence on whether I want to call this a 'Christian' book.  While the characters are Christian and there are many references to redemption and salvation, they deal with things like rape and abuse, drugs and sex, all very real things, which would scare your squeaky-clean Christian teen.  But the spirituality side might repulse some secular teens. So, yeah.  That was rambling, but you get my point. 

If you had to rate your novel using movie ratings, what would it be?  

*nervous laughter*  Probably R, mostly for strong language, thematic elements, violence and gore, and some sensuality.  So, uh Not Safe For Work. 

Did you cry while writing any parts?

You know, at the end of my last novel, I cried my eyes out.  But no, I didn't.  I mean I felt some hardcore stuff, but no, I never cried for some reason. 

Did you worry your characters would die on you?

No, not really.  Mostly because I'm a plotter and I knew almost every event before I even started writing the story, so if they were going to die, I knew it. Sorry, Amy. 

What was your biggest inspiration when writing this?

Probably Lost.  I got into it a few months after I got the idea for the story, and was enthralled and have been ever since. The characters captivated me, the story pulled me in, the survival was cleanly executed, and, above all else, the themes that ran through the veins of Lost directly inspired my love for the triumph of the human spirit, and overcoming one's obstacles within themselves. 

Hope you enjoyed this!  Have any more questions - email me at oliviajthewordshaker@gmail.com

~The WordShaker

This Isn't The End.

"Write what you love, and love what you write.  You have to get up in the morning and write something to live for," -Ray Bradbury

Well. I guess that's it. On October 3rd, I, Olivia Bennett, finished the first draft of Deus Ex Eremus: God from the Wilderness - 321 pages, 109,853 words.

Me with Draft One 

And truly, it's much more anticlimactic than I thought it would be, and this is because of one thing.

When I finished my last novel, I cried because their story ended. There was nothing else to tell, no other words to say. I was sad because my timeless journey with them was over, and I mourned their end because I loved them so much.

But with this novel, I rejoice, because this is just one small sliver of their lives, and it is not over. Wyatt, Terra, Harper, Lilly, Nick and the rest of the desert gang will live on forever inside of me. Their story is not over, although this is a stand-alone story. I am not letting them go, they are just done with their visit.  I could not possibly be sad, because there is nothing to be sad about. This day is monumental, and I shall celebrate!

Call me crazy, but they are just as real as you or me. Except their blood is ink and their skin is paper. And they are just another piece of this broken heart I have before me.

Words cannot describe how excited I am to edit this and then send it out to beta readers, and, in the end, have endless others read and be touched by my words. 

Because I don't just write this for myself.  I write it for you. 

But like at the same time, I feel like I have just given birth. 

Blessings,

~Olivia J, The WordShaker

A Strongly Worded Letter

"As a writer, you ask yourself to dream while awake," -Aimee Bender

Dear parents who tell us our dreams are worthless,

Dear people who tell us writers that we need to get a 'real job',

Dear society who brushes the stage aspirations of others to the side,

Dear the hard-assed old lady teachers who crumple up kids papers when they're doodling in class,

Dear STEM-lovers who disregard our passions as worthless, frivolous, or trivial,

I would like to inform you of something.

**

Society sees the arts as worthless, something for mere entertainment. It's the social workers, the doctors, lawyers, who do more good for society, right?

Wrong.

But I know what you really want.  You want to cram our colorful, imaginative, beautiful minds into a cardboard box.  You want us to be cookie-cutter members of society.

But again, I'm here to tell you that we just can't.  As creatives, we were meant to bend the rules, to push the envelope, to think like there was no box to begin with. The colloquial box you try to fit us in and understand us doesn't exist.

You dislike us, you disregard us, you laugh at us, you refuse to understand us, for the mere reason because you are afraid of us. Because creativity changes things.  And you don't like change.

Nobody remembers the unknown citizen. In history, we remember the leaders, the innovators, the extraordinary ones, the people who went their own way and did something for themselves. Creativity is invaluable, and you will not staunch it in us.

So, fellow artists of all shapes, and sizes, never let society bog down your dreams of extraordinary proportions. Never let their toxic words stick with you. Because if you let their words dig their thorns into your rainbow veins, you'll regret it, and soon, you too will become the unknown citizen, which is a fate more dire than failure.

*****

Well, I haven't ranted in a while, so I thought I might.

Enjoy fellow artists!

~The WordShaker

Busy as a Bee

Again, no post this week. Musical practice is starting up and I am still working furiously to finish my novel before the end of 2015.  And, realistically, I only have time for so many things since I am a high school student and that alone sucks up like 9 hours of my day. 

But enjoy what I have planned in my many drafts.

5 Love Languages: Part 2 (email me @ oliviajthewordshaker@gmail.com if you are interested) 

Major Problems with the 'Strong Female Character'

The Fight Against the First Amendment

Our Technicolor Phase:  A Short Story

The Amazing Spider-man Franchise  vs. The Spider-man Trilogy

*pathetic fist pumps*

Well, back to not caring about my grades and being a hermit to write this last stretch of my novel. 

Also, posts will be every other week until further notice. Don't give up on me!  I will finish!

~The WordShaker

5 Love Languages: How It Applies to Me and My Characters (Collab!!)

"Writing is easy - all you have to do is cross out the wrong words," -Mark Twain

So recently, I took a quiz about the 5 Love Languages.  I did some research, and I have concluded some things.  Most importantly, however, I wanted to apply it to my two main characters. 

Basically, the 5 Love Languages are ways that we best revcieve and give love to our significant other, our family, our, friends, anyone, pretty much. 

I'm not going to go too in dept with explaining, so research for yourself here --> The 5 Love Languages Website

As stated in the title, there are 5 separate love languages, which are pretty straight-forward:  Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Giving/Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch.  

Now, I don't know if this is official or not, but this is my take on the Love Languages as a whole.  There are two sides to the same coin here, in terms of these Love Languages. One side, is how you best receive love.  For me, one of the ways that I best receive love is through physical touch - a hug from my friend, a back massage from my mom, cuddling with my significant other. Quality time is another big one for me.  To show that you really care, I want you to spend time with me, just the two of us. 

And the flip-side of this metaphorical coin, is how you best give out love.  In contrast, you are a seriously special person if I hug you first, or, really, voluntarily touch you. Quality time is another one of those ones that goes both ways for me - I show that I care because I desire to spend alone time  - with you. But, since I'm a writer, one of my biggest love languages that I give is words of affirmation, whereas, I don't receive words of affirmation from other people as well as I give it out.  
I can't give you much of my take on gifts, since that is my lowest love language is both categories and I don't put a huge value on material things, but acts of service is kind of in the middle for both spectrum of receiving and giving. Sometimes, I do it, sometimes I want to receive it - it all depends. 

But hey, I can only tell you my experience. You can take the full quiz for yourself on the above website.  

This concept, however, intrigued me in terms of my characters.  Move over Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, this is the new test that everyone must use to deepen their characters. 

Meet Terra Lombardi!  Actually, if you follow my blog regularly, you probably already know her.  Check out a brief synopsis here: My WIP

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Quality Time 
Middle (highest to lowest) - 
1 - Words of Affirmation
2 - Receiving Gifts
3 - Acts of Service
Lowest - Physical Touch

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Acts of Service
Middle (highest to lowest) 
                                                 1 - Words of Affirmation
                                                 2- Quality Time
                                                 3 - Physical Touch
                                                 Lowest - Giving Gifts


Meet Wyatt Hartman! Again, check out the above link for the post about my WIP. 

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Physical Touch
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Quality Time
2 - Words of Affirmation
3 -  Acts of Service
Lowest - Receiving Gifts

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Words of Affirmation
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Quality Time
2 -Physical Touch
3 - Giving Gifts
Lowest - Acts of Service

And WOO HOO!  This is my first collab post!  Included are Kim Kouski and Megan Fatheree's characters.  

First, are Kim's!

Meet Emer Amgets, from Kim's Medallion Series!


Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Words of Affirmation
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Quality Time
2 - Physical Touch
3 - Receiving Gifts 
Lowest - Acts of Service 

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Giving Gifts
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Words of Affirmation
                                             2 - Quality Time
                                             3 - Physical Touch
                                             Lowest - Acts of Service


Meet Prince Conell de Caprise, also from Kim's Medallion Series!  (no picture available for this dashing charrie)

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Quality Time
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Words of Affirmation
2 - Physical Touch
3 - Receiving Gifts
Lowest - Acts of Service

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Giving Gifts
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Quality Time
2 - Words of Affirmation
3 - Acts of Service 
Lowest - Physical Touch

And now on to the Megan Fatheree's characters!

Meet Riley Stone, from her book, 'Stockholm Syndrome'!

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Physical Touch
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Quality Time
2 - Words of Affirmation
3 - Acts of Service
Lowest - Receiving Gifts

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Physical Touch
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Acts of Service
2 - Words of Affirmation
3 - Quality Time
Lowest - Giving Gifts



And now meet Tegan Winters, from her book, 'Stockholm Syndrome'!

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Physical Touch
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Quality Time
2 - Words of Affirmation
3 - Acts of Service
Lowest - Receiving Gifts

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Words of Affirmation 
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Quality Time
2 - Acts of Service 
3 - Giving Gifts 
Lowest - Physical Touch

Thank you so much, Kim and Megan for submitting your characters.  Follow their blogs here --->  Kim  & Megan 

I am willing to revamp this theme for some other characters I have of mine, so if you would like to be featured in Part 2, email me here:  oliviajthewordshaker@gmail.com

~The WordShaker

Hectic Days and Verbose Nights

No blog post this week (well, this is a blog post, but whatever).  Actually, no official blog post this week because of school being in full swing now (one word: homework.) and Creative Writing Club stuff which I am so behind on it's not even funny and musical auditions coming up this week - ugh, it's hell. I've just been super-duper jam packed and stressed out and just ugh. *internal screaming becomes less internal*

And also, because of this busy season, and because of the following news, my presence on my blog will be sporadic.  But, of course, I will let you know ahead of time and keep updating you lovely people on this exciting news:

But I do have some great news:  After arduous hours of calculating, I have determined that I only have 25% of my novel left to write!  Then the first draft of Deus Ex Eremus:  God From The Wilderness will be complete! THIS IS THE LAST ACT GUYS.  Holy.  Crap.

Alright, I'm done.  Just letting you guys know what's up with me.  I SHALL BE BACK! *rides off into the night on a white horse while pumping fist*

~The WordShaker