Is there such a thing as 'too many' ideas?

Agh! My head is constantly exploding with ideas. It is so annoying!
Because of this, I have at least five novels that I'm working on right now, and not a single finished novel. The closest I have to something finished is one extremely lame first draft for a novel that's about the size of a short story.
At night, when I'm lying in bed and should be thinking about how to make the stories I have better, I always end up coming up with new ones instead. And then I get really excited about my new novel ideas and ditch the old ones. RIP.
A few days ago, my older sister told me that I really had to finish at least one novel, so that I had something to show for myself.
I told her "Phooey, I have a first draft," but that wasn't enough for her.
And that's how I learned that, as much as we'd all like it to be, writing can't be all fun and games. We, as writers, have a responsibility to finish what we've already begun. You know why? Because it's doing the world a favor. We won't ever be able to put an unfinished novel out into the world, only a finished one. And so, to make the world a better place, we should do what's right and finish the stories that we began, because the world wants to hear them.

An Ode To the English Language

Okay, so this isn't technically an ode, since I am terrible at poetry, but I do want to express my feelings for the english language.
When it comes down to it, the english language is terrible if one is trying to learn it as their second. But to all of those who's first language is english, it is a dream. Especially if you happen to love writing, which I do.
The english language is a mumble jumble of a bunch of different languages smashed together, making it extremely complicated and down right huge. Like, the average native english speaker knows/uses about ten to twenty thousand words, when there's roughly a million to choose from. A million is a lot. And on top of that, new ones come out every day (thanks to me).
I am SO thankful that English is my native tongue, because I know it would just be way too scary for me to learn later in my life. It's like a huge iceberg, dark and uninviting.
But since it is my native language, I like it. Actually, I love it. Actually, I adore it.
Why? Because I'm a writer, and the english language has a perfect word for everything.
For example, the word 'walk.' I'm learning french, and in french, there are only a few different ways to say it. But in english, there are so many different ways to say it, I can't even count. Why is this a good thing? Because each way to say walk means a slightly different, slightly more meaningful way of saying it. So instead of having to use adverbs to make my walk unique, I can just say "I stride," or "I pace," or "I race." This means I can place a picture in my reader's head, without even needing adjectives. Imagine that! It's a miracle!
So yes, as a writer (and a reader, for that matter) I can say that the english language is second to none, but as a learner I believe I would rather die than tackle it.

Character's thoughts vs. People's thoughts

Let us think about the thought process of humans (just because I am deep like that.)

Well, I don't know how everyone thinks, but I'm pretty sure I know how I think, and let me tell you something. The way I think is very very different from the way the characters in my stories think.

For example, a lot of times I don't finish my thoughts. Why would I?

It goes something like this:

"Why in the world would they do that? Why would they... I know what I was going to think, why think it? Wastes too much time."

Or...

"Wow, that was really... What's the word? Oh well... I know what it feels like. I saw it, I felt it. No one cares if I find the perfect word to describe it. No one even knows! This is all in my head! I don't... Yah I know what I was going to think, why finish?"

Sometimes I think, "why finish my thoughts? I know what I was going to think." But then I don't feel satisfied, so I end up finishing the thought and it's really awkward. Except it's not awkward because I was only talking to myself, and... Well, who cares?

I'm just realizing more and more that, us humans, we are run by our feelings. Often times when I am sad, and I really should be thinking really depressing thoughts, I am not actually thinking words at all. I am actually just letting my feelings take over.

But that is hard to describe, and so most writers make their characters think full thoughts, all the time. They never just, think with their feelings.

So what can we do to write our characters thoughts out more realistically? Hmm. Well, let us talk about some examples more and then maybe we'll think of something.

One example is that a lot of times, when something happens to someone I love, I think really selfish thoughts. Sure, I am worried for that person, too. But often times I think thoughts like, "Oh my goodness! I am so glad that didn't happen to me. What if it happens to me? But that's so selfish! I shouldn't be thinking thoughts like that! I am such a horrible person! Ahh!" And by then my emotions have taken over and I am not really thinking words, but just letting my heart cry its heart out.

A lot of times, when you read the thoughts of a character in a book, you can tell that they are not actual thoughts. They are sentences the writer has come up with to try and portray certain feelings. But they are not thoughts! They are perfectly worded, and perfectly un human. Like, have you ever read a book and been like, "Wow, these people have so much control over their thoughts! It is like they think deeply about what they are going to think before they think it!"

You know why? Because some writer out there has thought deeply about what that character was going to think, trying to use the perfect words, and all that.

So what can we writers do? How in the world are we supposed to portray our characters thoughts and still make it clear to the reader? Well... If this post didn't make any sense to you, probably you should not take my advice, because I can't even get my own thoughts on paper, let alone my character's thoughts! But if this did make a drop of sense to you, keep reading. 

First of all, I think it would help if... Who am I kidding? You have to be able to think like your characters.  If you can't think like your characters because you don't know your characters enough, you have an entirely different problem on your hands. Understand your characters! They should be your family! Sort of.

Secondly, you have to think deeply about the way you think. After you think a thought, take that thought and think deeply about the structure and everything about it. You might even be able to take some of your own thoughts and make them your character's. (I have always believed in making all your characters have a bit of you in them.) you should have plenty to choose from.

If you have not been through the same thing as your character is going through, (say, their dad dies, and you have no idea what it would be like for your dad to die.) you can always ask. If you don't know anyone who has been through the same situation as your character, there is always the World Wide Web.

Thirdly, read good books, and see how they do it. Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Leo Tolstoy are all great. Although I have never read anything by Tolstoy, I have heard that his characters are on a level of realisticness to the point where they are not even characters anymore, they are real live people.

If you have any more tips and advice on portraying your character's thoughts, make sure and comment! Even if you don't, then still comment! Reassure me that this post made some sense, please!

Perspective

So, maybe I am not being as deep as I think I'm being, but... Recently I've been thinking a lot about perspective.

I have been thinking about the way people treat other people just because they are different. For example, the way that adults treat kids, or the way "normal" people treat people with mental illnesses, or even physical illnesses.

First let's talk about how adults treat kids. Well, most adults.

A lot of adults treat kids like they are less than adults. And maybe it is true, kids do have a lot less experience than adults. But adults think that to be "childish" is a bad thing! Why? Why is being an adult any better? I see them as just different stages of your life, and there is no reason we shouldn't respect another person just because they aren't in the same stage of life as we are.

I respect little kids. You know why? Because they are so simple. So maybe they cry easily, but they also forgive easily. So maybe they have less experience, but that doesn't mean they aren't smart. Actually, they are in that learning stage, where they soak everything they hear in like a sponge. This makes them very fun to talk to.

They haven't been exposed to very much of the darkness of this world, which most people would consider to be naive, but why? Why is that such a bad thing? It only makes them have less cares. Why is having less cares and knowing less considered less worthy? It only makes them happier, and isn't that what most adults are trying to be, anyways? I think we could learn a lot from kids. Just as much as they learn from us.

Also, people with mental illnesses. "Normal" people think it is weird when people with mental illnesses slap themselves all over, or stare for long periods of time at the ceiling. But to them, it makes complete sense. They slap themselves to get rid of the bugs they feel are crawling all over their skin. Wouldn't you do the same? They look at the ceiling because why not?

Sometimes we treat people with physical illnesses the same way we treat people with mental ilnesses, even though their brains are completely the same as ours. Just because they look funny, doesn't mean they don't have the same kinds of emotions we do. 

I hope this made some sense to you, and that next time you see someone different from you, realize that you are not quite "normal" either. Everybody is different from everybody, and that is what connects us all, in a way.

Thanks for listening!

-Zoe

What to expect when you're... having writer's block. Also featuring how to deal with it.

Writer's block. Most would say those words in disgust, but right now I am listening to 'two worlds' from Tarzan and I can't possibly say anything in disgust.

So... what is writer's block? Mostly it is just not wanting to write, for some reason or another. Usually I don't really have a reason at all. I just plain, don't wanna write just then. I am experiencing that feeling right now.

Which brings me to the'how to deal with writer's block.' Well, it kind of depends on what kind of writer's block you have. See, the other kind of writer's block is when you have just written a lot and you are worn out. In which case, I recommend giving yourself a high five and going on a walk. Then, when your mind is fresh again, write.

But if you just plain, don't feel like writing, then just... play on the computer until your mom comes in scolding you and tells you that "We let you get that ipad so you could write! Not play games!" Then you are forced to write something, but you just don't know what to write about.

Now is where you have to realize that... you don't have to always write amazing, deep, well written stuff! Sometimes you just have to write a blog post about rambling... pfft.

So basically, just write whatever you want. You can write about your experience at the mall where the man came up to you saying "You like curls? You would look good in curls, yah!" Or you could write about how you rode a flying rhino through the green clouds of a world where pigs talk. Just pigs.

Just as long as you write. Once you start writing, even if it is a blog post about rambling, or writer's block, for that matter, you have already gotten through the writer's block! Congratulations! Oh wait, you haven't been writing. You have been reading this blog post! Now be a good person and go write about those green clouds and talking pigs world! Go do it! Now!

Or you could defeat your writer's block by commenting on this post, about how you actually read to the end! And then I can really congratulate you!

People these days!

People these days! I can't stand it. They have such short attention spans. Why? I will tell you why. They are used to being constantly entertained. Wherever and whenever they are the slightest bit bored, they can just pull out their phones and play Flappy Bird, until they are sick of that and they go on Pinterest. And then they check their Twitter, and then they... You get my point. They always have something to do.

You know how I know this? Because I grew up with just an hours worth of screen time a day, and so often times I just sat around doing absolutely nothing, bored out of my ears. So I am used to being bored once in a while. And so I have a fairly long attention span. Not as long as I might wish, but a lot longer than a lot of people I know. At least if my sister is telling me a story for the millionth time, I wait till the middle to tell her that she has short term memory loss.

Anyways, my point is this. Take a chill pill. When you're bored, don't take out your phone immediately. Maybe read a book, or imagine that you are someone famous. Or you could just eat. That is always an option.

Computers were made for instant entertainment, but instant entertainment is not always, actually, never, the best entertainment.

And if you are going to play Flappy Bird... Don't. Play Buffalo Wings instead.

Just a bit of rambling.

Here we go.

I have no idea what I am going to say, but I haven't written in a while and that is bad. I have all the time in the world, due to being sick, so I might just make this post pretty long, and hopefully not too boring to my imaginary followers. Anyways, I believe it is important for a writer to write. After all, that is what makes a writer, well, a writer.

So I will write/ramble on. Some people find it difficult to ramble for long periods of time, but not me. And that doesn't mean I am one of those people who can't keep their mouth closed. Actually I hardly ever speak when I am around people. But when I do, often times it is a very long ramble.

Well, back to the ramble. Wait a second, I have been rambling this whole time! Hmm. That brings us (that is, me) to the very deep and personal question: What is a ramble? Well, my definition of a ramble is talking without thinking for a long time. You know, saying whatever comes to mind, which leads to a rather interesting and one way conversation. The thing about saying whatever comes to your mind is, your mind often times doesn't make too much sense to other people. A ramble about, say, dinosaurs, can easily turn into a ramble about crocheting in less than a minute. Well, anything can turn into a ramble about crocheting. Needless to say, I believe you understand. But maybe you don't. See, probably the you is going to be me, and I of course understand all of my rambles. But if the you is someone else... Then... Well, I have certainly lost you by now.

And so I will try to get your attention again. I could get your attention by jumping out of your computer screen at this moment, but that might just hurt my head. Or I could get your attention by making my crocheted dinosaur jump out of your computer screen, but that surely wouldn't do, for that is what probably lost you in the first place. And besides, it's head is not hard enough to break glass. Glass is very hard to break with a crocheted dinosaur. Don't ask me how I know. At least glass isn't as hard to break as diamond. Whew! That stuff is hard as rock. (Teehee)

Wait, no! This episode is not over yet! No, no, no! Keep the cameras rolling! Or maybe it should be over. I have gotten quite off track. But wait! Getting off track is what rambling is all about! So that is great. Really, because I just got talking about rambling again, which is a big no no in rambling. Of course, sometimes it is acceptable, but only in certain situations.

Wow. I just realized that this post, which is about stuff that doesn't matter one bit, is about twice as long as my post about goals. How very sad. But at least I have taught you the correct way to ramble? Yay.