October: National Book Month

As you may know, October is National Book Month and everywhere bookworms are rejoicing!  Reading is one of my absolute favorite pastimes, not only because I get to immerse myself into another world to get away from real-world problems for a little while, but also because it’s relaxing (well, for the most part- I suppose it depends on what book I’m reading!).  In honor of National Book Month, I’d like to share with you what I’ve been reading so far this month.

Back in September, I started reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.  I never finished it.  Never in my life have I stopped reading a book because I disliked it until now.  Okay, you caught me- with the exception of required novels during school, I have never stopped reading a book because I disliked it.  After a few weeks hiatus, I decided to give it another go.  I had only heard good things from people I know who have read it, so I really wanted to give it another chance, but I just couldn’t get past the strange first-person narrative with abnormally long paragraphs that held conversations within them rather than in separate paragraphs.

Maybe that’s because that’s what I’m used to when I read books- conversations being broken up into separate paragraphs for each person talking.  However, I realize that there is no “correct” way to write and that rules are meant to be broken when writing.  Even so, I placed the book back on my shelf last week for good.

I have been entranced with reading lately, however.  So late last week, after I set Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close aside, I decided to pick up an old book and visit some old friends.

Perhaps my desire to reread the Harry Potter series was due to the cool fall air (finally!) infiltrating the east coast.  Maybe it was because of the incessant previews for Freeform’s (many) Harry Potter weekends playing relentlessly on the TV.  Or, simply enough, perhaps it was because it has been several years since I’ve reread them in their entirety.  Regardless of the reason, I’m ecstatic about my decision to restart this journey.

I finished the Sorcerer’s Stone in just under six and a half hours, which must have been a personal record.  I believe it would have taken me less time if I didn’t have a full-time job and several other distractions (or responsibilities) that had to be completed prior to my reading binges.

Kyle came home from work Friday afternoon/early evening and could hardly believe I was on the last few pages of The Sorcerer’s Stone.  “How?!” he asked, astonished that I had somehow found the time to finish the book so quickly.  Without even asking, he went into our bedroom and grabbed The Chamber of Secrets from our bookshelf and laid it on the end table beside the couch where I was sitting at the time.  He just knew that I’d want to start the next book as soon as I was finished the first.  That, my friends, is true love.

Anyway, I started reading the Chamber of Secrets on Friday and I’m still currently reading it.  Not because I’m not interested in it or because it’s taking a long time to read- Kyle and I were just incredibly busy over the weekend so I had limited time to read.  But I’m truly enjoying every page of the series thus far and I’m loving it even more now than the first few times I read it.

Harry Potter holds a special place in my heart, and it remains high on my list of books that I love.  Rowling’s series is the first series that I can remember that truly inspired me to write.  Whether it was HP-related fan-fiction, online roleplaying (Neopets, anyone?) or even an original story of my own, I was writing almost every day when I was younger because I was so inspired.  I wanted to create a world as mystifying, extraordinary and magical (pun intended) as Rowling created.  It’s still my dream today.

I’ve realized over the past few weeks that maybe the reason I’m having difficulty writing anything of substance lately (creative writing, that is) is because I’ve been lacking inspiration.  I have been told that in times of severe writer’s block, I should revisit a favorite book’s world and find the reason why I wanted to write my own story in the first place.  Then, I should explore new worlds in the same genre that I’d like to write about and write down what makes them good and what makes me love them.  I’m currently on the first part of that with Harry Potter being my first stop.  I’m excited to see what happens while on this ride and what potential stories come out of it.

Now that you know what inspired me to begin writing and what I’m currently reading, I’d love to know what you’re currently reading (or rereading) and what’s on your list of books to read prior to year’s end.  Also, if there are any writers/authors out there, let me know what books truly captivated you and inspired you to write.  I’d love to discuss this with you and add to my list of books to read- and perhaps they’ll inspire me, too!

Until next time,

Emily

P.S.  If any of you are interested in my re-read of Harry Potter, check out the hashtag #EmilyrereadsHP on Twitter!

 

Writing Prompt Wednesday: My Scar

“I think scars are like battle wounds- beautiful, in a way.  They show what you’ve been through and how strong you are for coming out of it.”

-Demi Lovato

So it’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to blog about a writing prompt from this book!  And I’m sure you can guess what my blog will be about today if you paid close attention to the Demi Lovato quote up above!

#8: How’d you get that scar?  Most everyone has a scar.  Talk about it as if you were about to get that scar for the first time.  Scar free?  Then you need to invent one!  Or talk about another person’s scar as if it was your own.

Note: I’m changing this prompt up a little bit, and you’ll understand why I’m not setting this story as if it were just happening once you read my answer.  I’m writing it as if I’m the person who has the scar.  PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER AT THE END.  IT’S IMPORTANT.

 

Ten years.  Ten years I’ve had this scar, and I’ve only recently found out the real reason behind it.  Ten years I was lied to by my scummy aunt and uncle, my only living relatives, who are anything but kind.  Ten years I’ve believed my parents were killed in a car crash and only recently did I find out that they were murdered and their murderer gave me this scar in the shape of a lightning bolt.  Ten years.

Apparently the murderer tried to kill me, too.  I don’t understand why.  I was just a baby at the time, so I’m not sure what I could have done to him.  Everyone says I’m the “Boy who Lived” and they bow down to me like I’m some hero.  Apparently I made him disappear.

Maybe soon I’ll understand the reason why I’m a hero, or why he killed my parents.  Maybe soon I’ll understand why I’m a hero to so many people.  Maybe soon I’ll understand why my scar will randomly burn and make me drop to my knees while screaming in pain.  Maybe soon I’ll understand why no one calls him by name and always refers to him as “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”

———

Four years have passed, and now I’ve had this lightning bolt-shaped scar for 14 years.  So much has changed.  I now understand that I’m the “Chosen One” and that “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” is actually Voldemort.  I understand that a killing curse somehow didn’t kill me and instead made him weak.  But since then he has returned, though everyone refuses to believe me.  I now know the meaning behind my scar, and why the pain never goes away.  It burns more when he’s close to me or when he visits me in my dreams.

Now I’m creating an army- an army to defend my world against evil.  My parents were once a part of an army who fought against evil, along with some of my friends’ parents, and now I’m doing the same.  My friends at least believe me that he’s back, and that he and his followers are planning on killing.  We all know of the dangers.  We’re all reminded of the danger when we look at the scar laying upon my forehead.

———

16 years.  16 years this scar has pained me.  16 years this scar has defined me.  With this scar came hardships that no should have to go through, especially at a young age.  Everyone will be reminded of the potential evil in the world when they see the scar on my head, but I’ll only see strength, a difficult battle, and most importantly, good conquering evil.  And that’s what makes it beautiful.

———

Disclaimer: Now that you’ve read this, I’m sure you know what it’s about if you’re familiar with the story (who isn’t?!).  THIS IS NOT AN ORIGINAL STORY.  I don’t own any of the characters or names or the plot or anything.  I’m not trying to violate copyright.  I just wanted to write about this scar because this is the first scar I ever remember.  Sure, I have my fair share of scars from falling down due to clumsiness, but this scar and this character and this series of books not only changed my whole world, but also introduced me into the wonder of reading which I fell in love with while reading the first book in the series.  Thank you to the amazing J.K. Rowling for writing this series and allowing me to escape to a world that meant so much to me growing up, and giving me the opportunity to share the wonderment of this world with my kids in the future, whenever I should have them in the future.

Once again, I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING. (I mean the words are my own, but the words put together reflect back on the series, which obviously isn’t mine.)