When I turned 22 almost two weeks ago, I couldn't help but reminisce on past birthday's. In those young years, I remember the excitement that each birthday held as I turned a year older, and the anticipation of gifts and birthday wishes from friends and family alike. I remember being roughly 10 years old, and declaring to the people around me that I was 10 and a half. I also remember being terribly annoyed if anyone said anything otherwise. But yet somehow as we get older, we find ourselves reluctant to state our ages - with no mentions of in between fractions. We feel glad and blessed if we look younger than what we actually are, as opposed to older. As time passes we vividly embrace those memories that bring us closer to so called detrimental nostalgia, that stops us from seeing the positives yet to come. Here comes my theory called the Peter Pan Effect.
It's tricky to know when Autumn truly ends, isn't it? Is it when the winter cold starts to kick in, or when we hit mid November? Either way, it's the first of December! And you know what that means - the beginning of the official countdown to Christmas! Although I'm sure many of you already have your Christmas tree put up in the living room, and have been jamming out to those Christmas tunes! A wonderful way of formally saying hello to the Christmas spirit is by honouring the awesome things that Autumn brought! So without further ado, here are the things I loved so dearly this Autumn ...
- No matter how many times you think you can't write anymore, there is always something to put down on paper. Maybe it's a random sentence that you can't find room for just yet in your story. Write it down, and it'll make sense in time.
- Who says you can't leave pages blank and continue on with the rest of the novel? Writer's block can only ease itself - in small doses. If it isn't working for you, move on and come back later. Give that section a break.
- It doesn't matter if you can't put your thoughts down perfectly on paper the way you want to, all that matters its down on paper. Ready to be edited.
- Editing is everything. It will make your raw ingredients sound like perfection. You would never have even known what it came from!
Despite not reaching my intended word count, I couldn't be more happier with the results. I am one step closer to finishing my novel, and two steps closer to Christmas! I may even participate in new year's NaNoWriMo. So until next year, folks!
Fellow NaNoWriMo-ers, tell me your thoughts? How did you find this year's ultimate month of writing? Let's talk!
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| The DUFF - Watch the trailer here. |
Thoughts
I have very mixed feelings about this trailer. On the one hand, I understand why CBS decided to turn it down the sexual tension a notch. It makes sense - the novel was slightly riskay afterall. But to change the entire premise of the story is something else entirely. The DUFF was never about 'reinvention', but learning to accept and love the quirks and qualities that made you unique - your individuality. The good and the bad. There is so much more to Wesley and Bianca than just their labels on the social ladder, and this trailer doesn't really showcase that. If I hadn't read the book, I would pass this story off as a typical high school cliché story, which it is far from.
In the novel, Bianca never sets out to change herself and learns to accept herself for who she truly is. That's part of the reason why her her character is so iconic, and why I'm concerned for this adaptation. In this trailer there is also no mention of Bianca and Wesley - other personal dramas involving their family, which is something I hope has been omitted from the trailer - not the actual movie itself. Based on this trailer alone, it feels as though Hollywood has decided to take this story and tried to turn it into - or at least advertise it as - this generation's She's All That. That being said, this is a first look trailer. There may be so much more than we haven't been shown. Maybe this is all a marketing tactic to gain some further interest in the story. The thought of that alone, leaves me feeling pretty optimistic.
Highlights
Despite some major changes to the plot, I still feel like this story holds potential. It's possible that the themes and events that take place in the novel, may be explored on camera - just without so much sexual tension. That is my greatest hope for this film.
I absolutely love the quirky nature of this trailer. Mae Whitman nails that quirky, quick witted yet humble persona that Bianca holds. It's hard to say anything more about the other characters since the trailer solely focuses on Wesley and Bianca - but here's to hoping that they stay true their novel counterparts, (and are more than just the typical high school type-casts). As long as the stories core principles and issues are stuck to in this adaptation, I'll be a happy bunny, and so thoroughly entertained. But anything otherwise oh ho ho - CBS, you will have disappointed me big time ...
What are your thoughts on The DUFF? Have you read the novel? I'd love to hear more about what you think ^_^
Popping out 1000 words per day, without planning most of what I'm trying to say is difficult. Much more difficult than Week One - where I exhausted the surface ideas I had, and Week Two where I filled in the missing gaps between those plot lines. I really appreciate the ideals of this month, but I miss the writing without pressure of reaching a word count. And the feeling of disappointment if I don't. So from now on, instead of demanding 1000 words per day to reach the word count, I'm just going to try to write however much I can daily for the duration of NaNoWriMo.
Can anyone else relate? Fellow NaNoWriMo-ers, how you finding the challenge?
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