Why I Write: Writing Is My Therapy!

Sometimes only paper will listen to you
Hey awesome writing people! I’ve seen the #WhyIWrite floating around the NaNoWriMo circles all day on Twitter, so I thought I’d give it a go! Warning! You should probably expect lots of rambling!

writing to me is magic, power, freedom, and peace. It gives me the power to create new worlds, new people, new wars, new victories… I can cause heartbreak, sorrow, fear, love, heath, happiness, tears, or smiles with only a few sentences. I can weave stories together with only twenty-six letters and a keyboard. I can teach, guide, and sympathize with many people across the globe through the power of the written word.
With every word I write, I discover something new about myself. In some ways, every bit of my writing holds a piece of myself in it, though I may not realize that it reflects me until I reach the very end. At the end of a rough school week in which nobody adapts things into braille the way it should be done, or technology fails me, or people are just generally being stupid, I get to pick up my notebook and write all of that away. Characters may die, wars may be started between royal families, or best friends may fight, but it’s soothing because it holds my thoughts between the lines.
Writing is strength, and weakness, and fear, and courage, and peace, and power, and truth, and lies. I don’t write for fame, or fortune, or even recognition. I write because I want to tell a good story, to lose myself in the act of creation, to find something about myself that I didn’t know before. I write because words are powerful, and i love that I can preserve that power in some small form. I write because I love the feeling I get when I weave a lie of magic and mystery that holds even the tiniest bit of truth that will help someone know they are not alone in a situation. Maybe a book about “mentally ill” shamans sounds like the complete opposite of real life, but maybe someone who has the same condition will see themself in my characters and know that they, too, can be strong.
It is my goal, and my dream, to be published one day, and my hopes to have a best seller or two. If I don’t become J. K. Rolling famous, I will be fine with that. If I can get just one book into the hands of someone who will love it, I will have fulfilled my mission as a writer. All of that, is why I write.

Why do you write?
Hopefully that wasn’t too terribly rambling and made some kind of sense… I can’t imagine ever reaching a time where i’m not writing, but the reason why I love it is so abstract that it was quite difficult to put into words. I’d love to know why you write in the comments, and drop me a link if you do your own post like this! also, don’t forget to share your thoughts on Twitter with #WhyIWrite! My Twitter handle is @Cheyenne_writes if you wanna tag me… šŸ˜‰
Happy reading, writing, and rambling to all you fellow writers! I will maybe have a review of The Raven King up tomorrow??? Maybe??? Assuming I don’t drown in numbers from doing Algebra and Chemistry all day! But now I’m gonna go sleep so I might actually finish that stuff and have time to post…
From Cheyenne šŸ™‚

Snippet Sunday #9

To participate in Snippet Sunday:
ā– Share a snippet of your writing with the world-a sentence, a paragraph, whatever…
ā– Link to Samantha’s blog.
ā– Have fun, be bookish, and stay writerly!

Here is another Snippet from Wishes.

The Snippet:

On one side of the world, a boy drifted quietly to sleep in a pool of scarlet blood. On the other side of the world, two blind twins wonder whether their new life would be better or worse. And somewhere in between, two sisters cried themselves to sleep for two different reasons.

Starting NaNoWriMo2016!

Hey y’all! I have officially created my profile for NaNoWriMo2016! I did decide to go with Wishes for my project because a big chunk of the outline fell into place, and now I just really wanna write these awesome characters! Like it fell into place enough for me to write an official synopsis to post to the NaNoWriMo site, and that usually doesn’t happen till long after I’ve started writing! I think it’s a pretty darn good synopsis myself, but it could just be because I wrote it when I had a horrible sinus infection, was running fever, and couldn’t stop coughing… I don’t know… Y’all can read it and tell me if it’s completely horrible! Actually, come to think of it, this post is being written really late because said sinus infection is preventing me from sleeping, so it may be insane too… No more fever, but this cough is miserable, and I have become a mouth breather… Antibiotics are magical stuff though because earlier today I wasn’t quite convinced I didn’t have the Flu! Anyway, with my rant about being sick aside, here is the synopsis I’ll be working with for NaNoWriMo2016! Feel free to check out my profile too, and add me as a writing buddy! Also, if you’re a NanoNewbie, I’d love to mentor you along this crazy journey!

The Synopsis For Wishes:

This world is not made for them, or perhaps they are not made for this world. They have never been anything but “abnormal,” because they are the only ones with their eyes open enough to see the truth. They cannot blend in with all the royals, because their natures will not allow them to play their twisted games of power. They are shamans, mist born, able to see through all the lies. Their just children, really, each born with a gift, (or a curse), as some might call it. But they are strong, and they are wise, and they will fight for truth!
Nico Deverow can see the unseen, and yet he cannot see the one thing that might make it all worth it: his parents who died when he was only three. There is darkness inside him, and he can no longer numb it enough to keep from shattering. Adam has a light inside him, a star in stark contrast to his sisters cruel beauty. He only wants to heal, but perhaps he cannot heal one who does not wish to be healed. Ela is fire and ice together, constantly fighting a battle within her own heart. Diana just wants to be the golden girl-the perfect princess, the Bishop heir, at council gatherings and the innocently pure shaman at Adam’s side. Each of them has a purpose, because nothing is ever done without purpose, even in the Royal Court.

Are You Doing NaNo?

Tell me about your Projects for NaNoWriMo2016 in the comments! I’d love to know what you’re working on! And also, I could really use some plotting and outlining advice because i have awesome characters but am really struggling with the ending of this plot… And I’m signing off now because I reeeeeeeally need to sleep at least a little bit tonight since I have to correct my Algebra test tomorrow…

Snippet Sunday #8

Once Upon A Time Handwritten I It’s Snippet Sunday time again! To participate… ā– Share a snippet of your writing-a sentence, a paragraph, whatever… ā– Link your post back to Samantha’s blog, where Snippet Sunday began. ā– Have fun, be bookish, and stay writerly!

Ok so I said in my last Snippet Sunday that I wouldn’t be doing Wishes for NaNoWriMo this November, but a giant chunk of the outline fell perfectly into place, so now I’m torn! Writerly wisdom is needed!!! but for now… Here is another snippet from Wishes.

The Snippet:

Nico Deverow had the kinds of secrets that two people could keep only if one of them were dead. And even then it probably wouldn’t stay secret because someone like himself would probably happen upon the spirit of the dead person who knew the secret and convince them to spill everything.

Snippet Sunday #7

It’s Snippet Sunday!!! This is the last post you’ll see about Wishes for a while because crazy brain overthrew sane brain, and now I’m starting a new NaNoWriMo project! don’t worry! I’m not abandoning it because I’m too attached to the characters, but it’s just too complicated for me to successfully turn it into a NaNo project without getting totally sick of it and dropping it in the recycle bin forever. I don’t want that to happen, so I really want to take my time with it. Sooooo… You’ll be seeing snippets from my new project until NaNo is over!

Here’s how to participate in Snippet Sunday if you don’t already know:

•Share a snippet of your writing,(a sentence, a paragraph, or however much you want to share with the world.) •Link back to the creator of Snippet Sunday. Have fun, be bookish, and stay writerly!

My Snippet:

There were a lot of things Nico Deverow wished he could unknow.

September Rap-up/October Expectations

A goal without a plan is just a wish

It’s Fall, y’all! Yeah, I know it’s been Fall for a while now, but today it actually feels like Fall in my part of the world! It’s October 1st, exactly one month until NaNoWriMo, and I actually decided to be a productive human being over the weekend and make a schedule for school, writing, blogging, reading, and mindless entertainment time. Yeah, I’m shocked too! Anyway… Today I am bringing you a recap of everything I posted, some stuff that’s been going on with me, and upcoming stuff for October. Yes, I have posts for the next two months planned out in my notebook. I don’t know what alien creature took over my brain, but I think I like it. And just a heads up before I really begin this post, my blogging software has decided to act possessed today, and my ability to inserts headings and links properly is questionable at this time, so this could be interesting… I guess i’ll just put headings in all caps for now!Ā 

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PERSONAL GOINGS ON:Ā 

The last two weeks have been nightmarish with school. Like the dagger and angry face emojis made it into my frequently used section. I’m not crazy, (it’s an inside joke), but that’s how bad it was. I won’t get into that right now because y’all really don’t wanna hear me rant, but just know that itĀ involved three power points, a chemistry test, a teacher’s inability to modify assignments for me, eighty pages of reading, and algebra, and that is why I haven’t been blogging.Ā 

On a happier note, I’veĀ officially decided to do NaNoWriMo again this November! Someone prepare my room in the psych ward now please! I’m gonna try to write 50000 words on top of a packed school schedule! I know i probably won’t hit it, but I’m going to try, and even if I don’t, at least I’ll get to be part of an awesome community again for a month. I’m starting a completely new project because the one I’ve been sharing snippets from is very complex, and I really want to do it justice. If I make it my Nano project, I know I’ll fly through it, and then it’ll be a mess, and I’ll never edit it. It needs a really structured outline because of the way the plot is twisted together over a few generations, so I’m trying toĀ develop that the right way first. I’m not really sure how to explain my new project yet, but i’ll probably be ready to do that for my Snippet Sunday post tomorrow. If any of you guys are also attempting NaNo this November, please give me a shout out in the comments! I need some fellow insane writing buddies! And if you’re a NaNoNewbie, I’d love to help you get started!Ā 


BLOGGING HAPPENINGS:Ā 

This list of what i posted in September is kinda sad, but… here it goes:Ā 

ā– I updated you guys on my absence and suggested aĀ ā€œblogger’s bookclub,ā€ which is still open for comment!Ā 

ā– Here is Snippet Sunday #4, (featuring an angry glare!)Ā 

ā– I did the reader confession tag.Ā 

ā– I gave my first two star review.Ā 

ā– I reviewed Girl of Nightmares.Ā 

ā– Here is Snippet sunday #5, (in which i picked a random card from my outline folder.)Ā 

ā– Angelfall got three stars!Ā 

ā– IĀ divulged my blogging secrets in the book blogger insider tag!Ā 

ā– The Ravenclicks took third in the first task of the Blogger’s House cup!Ā 

ā– I confused myself and shared a special poem while telling you how I see the world… 

ā– I shared aĀ criptic saying in Snippet Sunday #6.Ā 


UPCOMING STUFF:Ā 

•An overview of my NaNoWriMo project, assuming I can put it into words.Ā 

•How I outline for NaNowriMoĀ 

•The coffee book tagĀ 

•The totally should’ve book tagĀ 

•My NaNoWriMo survival kitĀ 

•Probably a rant about this stupid Mac update because it’s making me vary angry as I’m trying to write this!!!Ā 

•Reviews including:Ā 

ā—¦The Raven Boys, (there WILL beĀ fangirling!)Ā 

ā—¦The Dream ThievesĀ 

ā—¦Blue Lily, Lily blueĀ 

ā—¦The Raven KingĀ 

ā—¦The RavenĀ Cycle rap-up/series at a glance reviewĀ 

ā—¦The Islands At the End of the WorldĀ 

ā—¦Girl In PiecesĀ 

ā—¦Thirteen Reasons WhyĀ 

ā—¦These Broken starsĀ 

ā—¦Awake At dawn, (Shadow Falls, book 2)Ā 

ā—¦And I DarkenĀ 

ā—¦BlindĀ 

ā—¦Breaking butterfliesĀ 

ā—¦Between the devil and the Deep Blue SeaĀ 

ā—¦The DivinersĀ 

ā—¦An Ember In the AshesĀ 


WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?Ā 

Have you read any of these books? Do you plan to read any of them? Are you doing NaNoWriMo? Are you going crazy because of school? Do you like the Fall weather? do you hate me asking you all these questions? Let’s chat in comments! You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram @Cheyenne_writes to see lots of writing updates and pics of my kitty!Ā 

Snippet Sunday #6

It’s Snippet Sunday time!!! Y’all probably know this by now, but here’s how to participate:Ā 

ā– Share a snippet of your writing-a sentence, a paragraph, a bit of dialogue, or whatever!Ā 

ā– Link your post to Samantha’s blog,Ā where Snippet Sunday began.Ā 

ā– Have fun, be bookish, stay writerly, and drop me a link to your post in the comments if you want.Ā 

Ā 

Today’s snippet comes from a random index card pulled from the folder containing the extremely disorganized outline of my WIP, Wishes. Let’s see what it is!Ā 

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The Snippet:Ā 

ā€œBelieve nothing that you see and a fourth of what you hear. No one’s going to tell you the truth; you have to find it out for yourself.ā€Ā 

-Archer Cross to Nico DeverowĀ 

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Snippet Sunday #5

Hey writerly people! I’m writing a Snippet Sunday post while it’s still technically Sunday! I have 30 minutes… I got this!Ā 

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How To Participate in Snippet Sunday:Ā 

  • Share a snippet of your writing-a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, or however much you want.Ā 
  • Link your post back to Samantha’s blog,Ā where snippet Sunday began.Ā 
  • Have fun, be bookish, stay writerly, and don’t lose any sleep!Ā 

Ā 

For some context, my snippet is again from my fantasy novel in progress that is currently under the working title of ā€œWishes,ā€ consists mostly of scribbled scenes on index cards, and will hopefully be my NaNoWriMo project in November if my school schedule allows time for it. I just grabbed a random card, and I haven’t looked at it yet because my room was freezing and I jumped in bed with it and my laptop, so this might be interesting to say the least… 

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Here It Goes!Ā 

ā€œThere’s no shame here,ā€ Ela said softly, gently tilting his chin up to meet her gazeĀ 

ā€œYes there is,ā€Ā 

ā€œNo.ā€ She carefully brushed her sleeves back and held her arms in the light, revealing several faint scars.Ā 

Ā 

Ok… That wasn’t too bad, but you’re probably confused! That bit of conversation took place between Nico and Ela. Nico is an empath, meaning that he can pick up on the residual energy of a place. He can see all the tragic events that have happened, and any spirits that are still lingering around the area. He tends to take on a lot of emotions from others and the energy around him, and he really hasn’t had a great life. SO… I’m letting my inner psych nerd show with his character, and attempting to address the issue of self-harming with a fantasy approach. Nico cuts to release all that held in energy, and Ela just revealed to him that she used to burn herself for roughly the same reasons. The details are a little sketchy at this point, but I kinda want them to end up together at the end of the first book in this series I’m writing. Ok… I reeeeeally want them to end up together, but I amĀ terrible when it comes to writing romance! I know it has to happen at some point though, so we’ll see how it goes… That scene card had a bunch of question marks on it after that dialogue, so I’ve got some work cut out for me! And now I am going to sleep, so tell me what you thought of that in the comments below!Ā 

From Cheyenne 😪 

Snippet Sunday #4

May I present you with a long overdue Snippet Sunday post! If you’ve forgotten what Snippet Sunday is in my absence… 

Here’s How to Participate:Ā 

ā– Share a snippet of your writing. It can be a sentence, a chapter, or however much you want.Ā 

ā– Link your post to Samantha’s blog,Ā where Snippet Sunday first began.Ā 

ā– Have fun, be bookish, and stay writerly!

Ā 

For some context, my snippet comes from my ongoing work in progress, Wishes, that I’ve been sharing from. In this scene, Nico Deverow and Diana Bishop are fighting because Nico won’t let Diana read his tarot cards.Ā 

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The SnippetĀ 

The glare he shot her could’ve frozen lava. Adam could see that her words had stung, and that he was hurting from them, but she saw exactly what Nico wanted her to see: an angry challenge and a bad boy smile.Ā 

Snippet Sunday #3

It’s Snippet Sunday time! That means it’s time to share my writing with the world—or at least the piece of the world who has discovered my little corner of the internet… 

Ā 

How to Participate in Snippet SundayĀ 

•Share a snippet of your writing. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, a sentence, or however much you want to share.Ā 

•Link your post to Samantha’s blog, where Snippet Sunday first began.Ā 

•Drop a link to your post in the comments so I can see your writing.Ā 

•Have fun, be bookish, and stay writerly!!!Ā 

Ā 

For some context, this snippet is from the same work in progress that I’ve been sharing things from by the working title of ā€œWishes.ā€ It’s a bit of dialogue that passes between Nico Deverow, (my MC), and his mentor, Archer Cross.Ā 

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The SnippetĀ 

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ā€œSometimes curses are brought about by our own minds. Sometimes things aren’t what our thoughts make them out to be,ā€ she says calmly, still studying him with her cool gray eyes, ā€œIf you claim something to be a curse, then it will be a burden on you until you decide otherwise, but know this… The powers above, whatever you believe them to be, don’t give anyone something they can’t move through or learn from. And sometimes, the strongest warriors are given some of the hardest challenges because the powers that be know they will only come out stronger in the end. That’s something your mother told me once. I haven’t forgotten it; don’t you ever forget it either.ā€Ā