Luck and Skill

"He's very broken, like a lovely vase that someone has smashed. Only luck and skill can put it together the way it was before"
-The Infernal Devices: Magnus Bane

Happy leap day! Thanks to having only 23 hours and 56 minutes or so in the day, we get an extra day every four years. I thought it would be fun to blog today, a day in which we only have because we have no better system.

Anyways, I previously mentioned my love for writing fiction. About two weeks ago I decided to write a novella (yes a novella. Not a short story, novlet or novel) for my friend's birthday based on her favorite series. I'd like to think of it as extreme fan fiction. I created the cover of the book already and drew my own art, despite my lack of any artistic creativity. The chapters are short, but so far I have about 20 pages worth of text and it's no where near done. I'm hoping I can finish by March 20, but I'm not too sure if I can keep on schedule. It takes me an average of an hour to write one page, so it's a slow process. I have a new respect for authors. And I now understand why it takes a year or more to write a good novel.


My story takes place between Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess in the Infernal Devices prequel series, and between City of Fallen Angels and City of Heavenly Fire in the Mortal Instrument series and I have added my friend into the story.

I'm sure no one reading this blog has read either of the two related series, but here's an excerpt of my story anyways.


 It's a scene where the male protagonist Will Herondale, from 1800's London, is teleported to modern day New York City where he comes across his friend, an immortal warlock, Magnus Bane. Will, however, gets a surprise from Magnus, whom he last saw in England wearing a conservative gray coat. He gets a bit of a culture shock as well, when he sees Magnus in a relationship with another boy.

Will smiled, obviously amused at the attention. Lindsay had blue-green eyes that seemed to change like the sea and it reminded him of a quote by Herman Melville. There is one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath. Though he had never seen ocean himself, only the Thames River. Even in this new time period, Will had yet to see the ocean. But he managed to keep him busy with other new-found interests.

          Will had traveled to this millennium about three months ago and was teleported directly to the modern Magnus Bane, who remembered Will from over a century ago. However, Will was not sure if it was the same Magnus Bane. He had silver glitter running through his hair and wore pants patterned like a rainbow. On his nails were bright blue paint and underneath a modest leather coat, he had a black shirt with buckles running across it. If his appearance was not appalling enough, Will also interrupted Magnus kissing a boy who had Will’s similar black hair and blue eyes. All Will could get out was a curse and, “Bloody hell.”

Just Forget the World

If I lay here,

If I just lay here,
Would you lie with me,
And just forget the world?
-Snow Patrol: Chasing Cars

Happy belated Valentine's Day!... or as I also like to call, Single's Awareness Day. It would be nice to have another half, but I'm fine being independent, at least that's what I tell myself. I have no problem being single, but I do wonder what it would be like to finally have a boyfriend. Either way, it's a good excuse to devour chocolate.

 

How Do You Measure A Year in the Life?

It's time now- to sing out,

Though the story never ends,

Let's celebrate,

Remember a year in the life of friends!

-Rent: Seasons of Love

Thankfully midterms are over, marking the halfway point of the school year. It's a wonderful thought that school is almost over, but it's also sad to think about the different paths we will all take. I realized at the start of the year that I will never see some of my friends again after graduation, but I kept that thought surpressed. However, now that the year is already half gone, the realization has bubbled to the surface and hit me like a truck crashing into a brick wall. I am going to attempt to hold on to some of my dearest friends, but I know deep down that an attempt as such is futile for everyone. I still don't comprehend how my to-be college friends will ultimately be my friends for life. Shouldn't my friends of 12+ years have that privilege? Apparently not, according to the ways of the universe. It's hard to imagine having different friends, especially different core friends. But that's what college does, ultimately. It forces you to be independent and self-reliant as it teaches you how to make it in the real world... but I don't want that. I feel far from being that independent and not relying on my friends and family for guidance. Sure, that freedom will be great. But I'm just not ready for it completely yet.

Well, before I can think about life at college, I need to choose which college first. What college I attend will help decide what job I'm going to get. What job I'm going get determines everything. Choosing one college over another affects my entire future: jobs, friends, and even marraige. It's a huge decision to make, one in which I have no idea what to do. I'm torn between two colleges, and in the end, the decision can only be made by me.

It feels like the weight of the world is balanching on my shoulders, and I'm sure most other seniors feel the same way right about now. I thank midterms for adding all kinds of stress on me, directly and indirectly.