Tag: writingblog

Evening Poems: Edge Pieces

~ Brooke F. ~ 3 Comments

But I beg of you, please dont touch me 

For fear that if you do 

I’ll feel complete  

So entirely complete  

I cant give up another piece 

For you to take when you leave  

I’ve already dolled out to many 

Like a puzzle that has lost its edge pieces 

I struggle to see the shape of myself 

Because of what people have taken from me.  

I dont have much left to give  

So I keep what remains close 

For fear of losing the remnants  

The shreds that I have left. 

Please understand  

They’re all I have.  

At nights when I feel the emptiness hanging over my head 

They’re the pieces that I hold close 

Because at least I have them 

But I really want you. 

And that’s this whole predicament. 

I feel like a child in an arcade 

I’ve already spent all my tokens 

On broken games.  

Gambles lost.  

Chasing after the hope that  

This time, I’ll win.  

But its not really about winning and losing anymore. 

It’s about surviving. 

But what do I do now 

As I need love to survive  

Welcome to the Dark Academia Tag!

~ Brooke F. ~ 2 Comments

Just a lovely little ask tag I found on weheartit.com. Link to the original tag is here.

Anyways! On with the tag!

Anthropology or Sociology?

These are actually two classes that I’ve taken as I’m a biology major. I’ll be honest, it depends on the day. Probably anthropology though. I love studying that sort of stuff. Sociology I find a little less interest but also a little easier to digest.

New England boarding school or Manhattan private school?

New England boarding school. I just love the thought of going to Europe. I’m a little infatuated with the idea. I just hope some cute, sweater-y school uniforms are included in the deal!

Tailored pants or collared shirts?

Collared shirts. Clearly, the peak of style.

Rowboat or bicycle?

Bicycle. Though I have a tendency to fall off of both, bicycles I find a more enjoyable means of transportation.

Red wine or whiskey cocktail?

How about sparkling grape juice because I have a feeling I’d be a light weight if I ever took to drinking.

Edgar Allan Poe or Shakespeare?

Good ‘ol Poe, being the useless goth he was. I adore his work.

Staying up late or waking up early to study?

Staying up late. All the way. I’m quite the night owl even though I don’t want to be. I’d love to be that girl. Getting up early to fix myself tea and toast but I just love sleep.

City campus or college in the middle of nowhere?

College in the middle of nowhere. Preferably covered in ivy. I’m just not a big fan of the city. I’ve always loved the more secluded, country life.

Mysterious new kid or uncanny disappearance?

Uncanny disappearance. Sometimes its nice to runaway for awhile.

Theoretical astrophysics or abstract mathematics?

Astrophysics. Math has been my enemy for as long as I can remember. I struggled all the way through algebra 2 in high school and this struggle only continued in college. I love science. Its my field of study. But that darn math is around every corner!

Notes furiously scribbled by hand or hyper-organized binders?

Hyper organized binders. My notes are sloppy and I hate them but I love organizing things.

Eerily quiet libraries or unsettlingly empty dormitories?

Eerily quiet libraries. They’re more of a comfort to me than anything. When I used to work my first job, I couldn’t drive so I’d walk to the library where it was quiet and peaceful (at least until school let out). And there I’d wait for my mother to come pick me up. It was a very nice way to spend a few spare minutes.

Gothic or neoclassical architecture?

This question leaves me torn. But I think I’ll have to say gothic. Both are gorgeous designs that I am happy to see anywhere really.

The smell of old or new books?

Old books by a mile! As much as I love the smell and feeling of new crisp pages, nothing beats aged and beloved books that have withstood the test of time. I’d rather be in an antique shop than bookstore personally.

Too-friendly roommate or too-quiet classmate

Too-friendly roommate I think. It’s always a struggle to work with someone who won’t help you in the conversation at all. And while a very friendly roommate may seem overwhelming at times, I think I’d take the conversational-ness over the dead pan stare that some quiet class mates give me when I ask them a standard question.

Secret diary or hidden typewriter?

I own a hidden typewriter so I’m definitely choosing that option. As much as I’d love to keep a diary, I’ve never been able to stick with it. I write about three entries before losing interest or getting busy. And then it collects dust only for me to return to the notebook, rip the diary entry pages out and use it for drawing or some other project.

As is with most tags on my blog, If you haven’t tried this tag, I encourage yourself to give it a shot!

How to Juggle being a Writer & Student

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Hello everyone! It’s me! Winter break has been kind to my thus far and I am super relieved finals are over at long last. And even though I’ll miss some of my teachers and class, overall, I’m excited I don’t have to worry about the whole writing & school juggling thing that I have to do for the majority of the year.

Admittedly, some weeks I’m better at it than others. But I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t picked up a few tips and tricks along the way that help me balance writing and doing homework/attending classes like a good college student. And here are a few.

★Read

Reading gets your brain in that “book” mindset. It helps exercise your brain and keeps you sharp and in the zone to write. Plus, reading other people’s books is always a marvelous way for you to pick up writing nuances and techniques that you could employ in your own work when you finally have the time to work on it.

★Write between classes

Filling up the random chunks of time you have between classes with a bit of writing never hurt anyone. In fact, you don’t even need to sit down and write for a long time. I had a goal of a 200 daily word goal throughout the semester and while I didn’t manage it everyday, most times I met it while writing between my biology lab and poetry class.

★Write on breaks

I mean during Winter break, spring break- whatever you feel like you can manage. But I do caution people in the event that they really need the mental break for themselves and not for writing, that is 100% fine too. I did that many times throughout the school year. At first it made me feel guilty as I felt I was wasting precious writing time, but really, sometimes the mental rest is worth more.

★Write in more chill ways

For example, journaling. Or roleplaying with your friends. Or writing a blog post. Or setting a timer for five minutes to crank out a flash fiction piece. Writing a little or badly is better than not writing at all. Quantity over quality is a philosophy that applies to writing as you naturally get better with more practice.

★Be kind to yourself

Just keep in mind that you’re student. You have limits. And school is going to cut into your writing time quite a bit. That’s just the reality of it. School also might cut into your “mental space” to where you don’t have the brain power to write all the time. And that’s fine too. It’s a hard thing, juggling two parts of yourself, and sometimes you just need to step away from it all and just be a person.

Not a writer.

Not a student.

Just you.

And that is enough.

The Writer’s Game: Level 13

~ Brooke F. ~ 3 Comments

Topic: Endings

Threshold: 6,500 Points

Possible Points:  1,100 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  9,470

  • “Write about death.” [100 points]
  • “Write about your childhood or something that represents it.” [100 points]
  • “Write about healing and moving on.” [100 points]
  • “Write about a bittersweet goodbye.” [100 points]
  • “Write about a key memory.” [100 points]
  • “Write about the seasons changing and have it play a key symbol in the story.” [100 points]
  • “Write a tragedy.” [100 points]
  • “Write about forever.” [100 points]
  • “Write about the end.” [100 points]
  • “Reflect on this challenge.” [100 points]
  • “Write about whatever you want. You’ve earned it.” [100 points]

And that’s it! The final level. This has been an intense challenge & I hope it has been an enjoyable ride for you! Take a break from writing for a bit if you so desire! You’ve earned it! And if you have a desire to challenge yourself again, I hope you’ll make your way back here. You’re always welcomed. Take care, lovely writer!

~ Brooke F.

The Writer’s Game: Level 12

~ Brooke F. ~ 1 Comment

Topic: Everyday

Threshold: 6,200 Points

Possible Points:  550 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  8,370

  • “Design your own academy/school and place your own characters in it.” [ 50 points]
  • “Design your own café/bookstore and place your own characters in it.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write about someone looking for a friend and finding them in an unexpected place.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write a story that takes place primarily on a rooftop.” [ 50 points]
  • “Design your own festival/fair and place your own cast of characters in it to have some fun.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write about two unexpected friends.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write about someone healing.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write about someone coming home.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write about someone who finds fulfillment in a place they didn’t expect.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write about someone who lives in your dream apartment.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write about someone with your dream career.” [ 50 points]

Score 6,500 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 11

~ Brooke F. ~ 1 Comment

Topic: Power

Threshold: 5,500 Points

Possible Points:  600 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  7,820

  • “Write about someone with the ability to change their physical form.” [50 points]
  • “Write about someone with the ability to control an element or something in nature.” [100 points]
  • “Write about someone with the ability to control something with their mind.” [50 points]
  • “Write about a war between two groups of gifted/powerful people.” [100 points]
  • “Write about someone who is normal in a world of powerful/gifted people.” [50 points]
  • “Write about someone who is seen as having a useless gift that proves quite useful in the end.” [100 points]
  • “Write about someone who lives in the shadow of their gifted/powerful parents.” [50 points]
  • “Write about a normal villain going against a normal hero in a world where gifted people exist just to throw off the dynamic completely. They’re both underestimated in different ways but then chose completely different ways to respond to the prejudice.” [100 points]

Score 6,200 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 10

~ Brooke F. ~ 1 Comment

Topic: The Future

Threshold: 5,100 Points

Possible Points:  950 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  7,220

  • “Write about a future where aliens invade.” [100 points]
  • “Write about a future where technology takes over.” [ 50 points]
  • “Write about a future where the world ends by flooding.” [100 points
  • “Write about a future where the apocalypse occurs in an odd way.” [100 points]
  • “Write about someone who causes the end of the world.”[100 points]
  • “Write what you believe the technological future will look like.” [50 points]
  • “Write about mankind finding the secret to time travel.” [100 points]
  • “Write about man colonizing space.” [50 points]
  • “Write from the point of view of a robot or AI.” [100 points]
  • “Write about a future where the world ends by war.” [50 points]
  • “Write about a future where there are big scientific advancements. (Biological technology, Medical technology, etc.)” [50 points]

Score 5,500 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 9

~ Brooke F. ~ 1 Comment

Topic: Companionship/Love

Threshold: 4,800 Points

Possible Points:  650 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  6,270

  • “Write about the love for a parent.” [50 points]
  • “Write about the love for a pet.” [50 points]
  • “Write about the love for a childhood friend.” [50 points]
  • “Write about love for a new friend.” [50 points]
  • “Write about loving yourself.” [50 points]
  • “Write about loving someone but not trusting them.” [50 points]
  • “Write about a love that has lasted a long time.” [50 points]
  • “Write about loving your past or future self.” [50 points]
  • “Write about loving someone far away.” [50 points]
  • “Write about searching for one kind of love and finding another.” [50 points]
  • “Write a love letter without using these words: heart, love, soul.” [50 points]
  • “Write about someone who thinks they love someone but is wrong. ” [50 points]
  • “Write about love dying.” [50 points]

Score 5,100 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 8

~ Brooke F. ~ 1 Comment

Topic: Intangible

Threshold: 3,400 Points

Possible Points:  1,100 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  5,620

  • “Write about a color without using its name.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem only using sound.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem only using the sense of touch.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem only using taste.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem describing loss or sadness without using the word.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem describing joy without using the word.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem describing justice without using the word.” [100 points]
  • “List your values. Now write a story involving all of them.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem describing ambition without using the word.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem describing kindness without using the word.” [100 points]
  • “Write a story or poem describing cruelty without using the word.” [100 points]

Score 4,800 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 6

~ Brooke F. ~ 1 Comment

Topic: Mystery

Threshold: 2,200 Points

Possible Points:  1,100 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  3,880

  • “Write a short mystery or poem from the killer’s perspective.” [100 points]
  • “Write a short story or poem where an item is stolen.” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery about an escape room of sorts.” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery about a missing person.” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery where the detective has the wrong person.” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery or poem from the murdered person’s perspective.” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery or poem from the side character’s perspective (specifically, the character that gets showed up when the detective is right).” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery where the death is faked.” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery from the perspective of someone unimportant or someone unexpected (e.x. the house cat, the maid, the detective’s dog, etc.).” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery where the detective is the killer.” [100 points]
  • “Write a short mystery where the detective dies.” [100 points]
  •  

Score 3,000 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.