NaNoWriMo, Or Bust:

Now begin the cries of every writer who has sold their soul to their work. Those hopelessly addicted to minimal sleep and barrels of caffeine. The enslavement to word count and the forcing to keep oneself away from editing. It has all begun. Two more days of bated breath and gnawing of fingernails. It is about to begin. That thing we call NaNoWriMo. A month dedicated to the cause of writing not 10, not 20, not even 40, but 50,000 words to a completely new novel.

You may wonder who would possibly be crazy enough to even attempt something of this caliber? I'm here to tell you that thousands of people from all over the world are participating in this challenge. I'm one of them. I realize my life is busy enough as it is what with studying, household chores, and not totally abandoning family and friends among many other things. The comforting realization is that I am not in this alone. Many other Nanoers are looking forward to a stressful experience during this month, but we're cheering it on. Night owls such as myself are beckoning the awaited silent hours of darkness to type away on our keyboards.

Some people have been busy plotting their novel for awhile, while still others are figuring out the details. The latter would be what I am currently pursuing. I have accomplished plotting a solid basic plot and two characters. I still details to fill in and yet more characters to create.

So far, where I stand is this:

Basic Plot:

On the rare occasion that a full solar eclipse occurs, several people from our world disappear and reappear in another dimension. These people end up in several different places around this world, always waking up alone . They have gained powers to bend nature’s forces such as air, water, wind, nature, etc. Others have gained powers such as healing, invisibility, flying, etc. They are expected to learn about these powers and utilize them to help eventually rid this world of the ‘evil forces’. These evil forces need to combine all of these powers plus *something else* that the ‘good people’ have to unlock an eternal opening to earth. Their ultimate plan is to gather all of the powers for themselves and rule the earth. They kidnap the new arrivals who are not able to evade them and try to turn them to their side. Those who do not join are treated to having their fingers cut off due to thought that the powers reside in their fingertips. Those who make it through without being kidnapped are given a training bot and will eventually find out the power does not reside in their fingers, but in their minds.

Characters:

Estella Archer: 18 year old girl from somewhere in America. Growing up in a military family, she has had to move around her whole life. This causes her to stray away from developing any friendships or relationships. Instead, she retreats into the thousands of songs on her MP3 player. She will be controlling wind.

Riku (working on surname): An 11 year old boy from Japan. The only child born to very successful business parents, he has never grown up with them a part of his life. Instead, the household maid, Miu, has been his ‘mother’. He has three close friends, but none of them could ever take over his passion of violin of which he has been playing since the age of three. He will be controlling nature/grass/flowers/bushes/trees/etc.

Willa Burbrudge: A 71 year old female from England. Still working on her background.

Folks, that's all I have. I've got two full days to plot the rest of this thing. Here I go! Off to lose myself in NaNoWriMo Land. Wish me luck and expect updates weekly on the process. ;)

Girls...who are you?

"‘Fat’ is usually the first insult a girl throws at another girl when she wants to hurt her.

I mean, is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is ‘fat’ worse than ‘vindictive’, ‘jealous’, ‘shallow’, ‘vain’, ‘boring’ or ‘cruel’? Not to me; but then, you might retort, what do I know about the pressure to be skinny? I’m not in the business of being judged on my looks, what with being a writer and earning my living by using my brain…

I went to the British Book Awards that evening. After the award ceremony I bumped into a woman I hadn’t seen for nearly three years. The first thing she said to me? ‘You’ve lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw you!’

‘Well,’ I said, slightly nonplussed, ‘the last time you saw me I’d just had a baby.’

What I felt like saying was, ‘I’ve produced my third child and my sixth novel since I last saw you. Aren’t either of those things more important, more interesting, than my size?’ But no – my waist looked smaller! Forget the kid and the book: finally, something to celebrate!

I’d rather they were independent, interesting, idealistic, kind, opinionated, original, funny – a thousand things, before ‘thin’. And frankly, I’d rather they didn’t give a gust of stinking chihuahua flatulence whether the woman standing next to them has fleshier knees than they do. Let my girls be Hermiones, rather than Pansy Parkinsons."

--J.K. Rowling

So, girls, who are you? Are you judged on your looks rather than who you are as a person? I know I've had this happen a few times to me. It is unfortunate, isn't it? After coming upon these words of wisdom, I felt enlightened.

Who you are is far more important than what you look like. Don't let people get you down because you're not fake or a size 0 like they are. God loves you for you, as long as you are following in His footsteps and treating others as you would have them treat you.

I thought it would be nice to share those encouraging words with you guys. :) Have a wonderful week and remember, God loves you!

Harry Potter: In-Depth Review

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
My Rating: 4 and a half stars
Buy The Book:
-HERE-

"Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.

All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley -- a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry -- and anyone who reads about him -- will find unforgettable.
For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter."

"Never wondered how you got that mark on yer forehead? That was no ordinary cut. That's what yeh get when a powerful, evil curse touches yeh -- took care of yer mum an' dad an' yer house, even -- but it didn't work on you, an' that's why yer famous, Harry. No one ever lived after he (Voldemort) decided ter kill 'em, no one except you."

'I'm sorry, but I'm just never going to read Harry Potter, I have a big problem with it.' 'No, I'm not going to read Harry Potter!' 'I love you, but I'm not going to read the books no matter how much you recommend them...'

Such were the responses I gave not only to my best friend, but several others who kept badgering me to read the ever famous Harry Potter series. For years, I had gone on the assumption and preaching that Harry Potter was inherently evil and the message inside was nothing a good Christian should lay eyes on. With that opinion carved on my mind, I never even attempted to listen to the other side of the argument and had set up my mind to never lay an eye on the books. I went on in this thinking until last winter, when I started to slowly give in and listen to what fans had to say. Could there really be a good story in there, or was it as I had originally thought? How could I truly form an opinion without actually reading the material? That's when I marched my way into the library and checked out a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

As soon as I could, I began reading the book. It all begins with a description of the infamous Dursley family, kin to Harry Potter. We are given a scenario involving a cat who transforms into an older woman by the name of Professor McGonagall, and an old, cloaked man. They begin to discuss a celebration of sorts that their 'kind' has been partaking in; a celebration of the 'death' of the wickedest wizard-gone-bad there ever was, Voldemort, or more famously known among the magic people as 'You-Know-Who'. A rumor is told to be truth in that discussion, Lily and James Potter, a pair of the best wizards of their time, had been killed by Voldemort in his last moments. But their son, Harry Potter, had survived an evil curse Voldemort cast, evaporating his power. Thus is born the fame of Harry Potter.

"My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name? All this 'You-Know-Who' nonsense -- for eleven years, I have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Voldemort." Professor McGonagall flinched, but Dumbledore, who was unsticking two lemon drops, seemed not to notice. "It all gets so confusing if we keep saying 'You-Know-Who'. I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemort's name."
"I know you haven't," said Professor McGonagall, sounding half exasperated, half admiring. "But you're different. Everyone knows you're the only one You-Know-Who -- oh, alright, Voldemort, was frightened of."
"You flatter me," said Dumbledore calmly. "Voldemort has powers I will never have."
"Only because you're too, -- well -- noble to use them."
~pg. 11

The old man, called Albus Dumbledore, explains to Professor McGonagall that Harry will be brought to live with the Dursley's. He will grow up with them and have everything explained in due time. The delivery of Harry Potter, now donning a lightening bolt scar on his forehead where Voldemort had tried to kill him, to the Dursley's doorstep is completed.

Several years into the future and we find a ten-year-old boy with wild black hair and glasses living in a cupboard under his aunt and uncle's staircase. Hopelessly ignored and treated as dirt, Harry would give anything to live another life. Little does he know that that new life is just around the corner. When Harry begins to receive mysterious letters addressed to him, his uncle refuses to let him read them. Suspicion arises. Who would keep sending these letters nonstop and why was he not allowed to view them?

Yet when a giant named Hagrid finds where the Dursley's have fled to in hope of getting away from the letters, Harry finds out who he really is. A wizard. His parents are revealed to have not been killed in a car accident as his aunt and uncle had said, but killed by a powerful wizard, and somehow, he himself had killed this powerful dark wizard by surviving his deadly curse. The letter is finally given to the now eleven year old Harry Potter, explaining that he has been accepted into the magical school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Through a series of events, Harry finally finds himself living a life so different from his previous. A life he could only have ever dreamed of.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out.
Harry nodded.
"Oh -- well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George's jokes," said Ron.
"And have you really got -- you know --..." He pointed at Harry's forehead.
Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightening scar. Ron stared.
"So that's where You-Know-Who --?"
"Yes," said Harry, "but I can't remember it."
"Nothing?" said Ron eagerly.
"Well -- I remember a lot of green light, but
nothing else." ~ pg. 98-99

My initial reaction was one of skepticism. It was going to take a lot to get me to like this after growing so adapted to my thinking of the wrong teachings inside. Gradually, as I read more and more, I wondered if I could have possibly been wrong in my assumptions. First of all, I could not find the 'black magic' and 'dark arts' being taught to the students at Hogwarts. To me, it was like all other magic we have found in previous Disney films. Potion brewing used not to physically harm people. Simple spells uttered to direct their wand into doing something, but none of the spells allowing them to kill or seriously harm anyone (e.g.: Wingardium Leviosa to levitate small objects, Alohomora to unlock magical locks) An actual class called Defense Against the Dark Arts. History Class. Broomstick riding. Even a sporty game kind of like soccer played in the air called Quidditch.

"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of.
With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch anyone. Anyway, who
says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."
~pg. 260

I fell in love with J.K. Rowling's writing, first of all. It's an unusual blend. Not overly flowery and descriptive and not very difficult to understand. Yet it all pieced together so well and helped the flow of the story. I fell in love with the style almost instantaneously.

"Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?" Harry thought. Then he said slowly, "It shows us what we want...whatever we want..." "Yes and no," said Dumbledore quietly. "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasely, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of them all. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Many have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible." "The mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." ~pgs. 213-214

Secondly, the fact that I found an absence of dark arts being used by the good wizards was a definite help in forming my new opinion. I realize that there are other sources of magic in the book such as the use of spells, potion making and broomstick riding, but I'd be so bold as to say that I don't find this wrong. For one, I know this is fantasy. I know this is not possible and should not be tried. I know sticking a bunch of random objects in a cauldron (flowers, porcupine quills, or even unicorn's blood [because we all know unicorn's are real, Charlie!]) won't get you a forgetfulness, hiccuping, or even a polyjuice potion. I also realize riding on a broom in the air is not possible. Because honestly, if it was, I'd be flying up there all day if I could. I really do believe the magic in this book is taken way out of proportion.


I'd like to bring a examples to light:

In Star Wars, we are given The Force. [Taken from the Star Wars wiki] The Force was a metaphysical, binding, and ubiquitous power that held enormous importance for both the Jedi and Sith monastic orders. Known as the Way in ancient times, the Force was viewed in many different aspects, including, but not limited to, the light side, the dark side, the Unifying Force, and the Living Force.

Likewise, in Harry Potter we have magic. [Taken from the Harry Potter wiki] In the Harry Potter series, created by J. K. Rowling, magic is depicted as a natural force that can be used to override the usual laws of nature.

Simply, they can both do things that defy nature's laws and they can both be used for either the good or evil side. Also, those who possess the powers are born with them. In my opinion, very similar.

"He was starting to get a prickle of fear every time You-Know-Who was mentioned. He supposed this was all part of entering the magical world, but it had been a lot more comfortable saying "Voldemort" without worrying." ~pg. 107

I'd like to propose this: is it okay with watching Snow White fall under a spell by the evil witch's curse and have her prince wake her up with a magical kiss? Is it okay to view Pinocchio, a puppet brought to life by the magic of a fairy, become a real boy by the fairy's magic again? What about Fantasia? Cinderella and her fairy godmother who uses magic to give Cinderella her dress, shoes, and carriage? I could go on for a long time. Let's face it, Disney is made of magic, and if you look hard enough, it's not that different from Harry Potter.

While I do not suggest Harry Potter be viewed by young children just for the simple fact that they get a bit dark later on (but mind you, no darker than the favored Lord of the Rings), I do not believe that I am harming myself spiritually by watching these as well as when I am watching Disney movies.

With the mention of Lord of the Rings, I'd like to bring in some examples from there. As found on the Lord of the Rings wiki page: Magic, here defined as mystical, paranormal, or supernatural activity, appears in various forms of J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional realm of Middle-earth. Gandalf is our primary example of a magical being, a wizard whose staff is known to hold magical power.

"Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves it's own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign...to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever."
~pg. 299

I will put my case to rest there. There are several movies widely accepted by the general populace that include magic, and even though not completely prevalent to the story, are not battered down and called demonic. After watching the series unfold in movie format, I was stunned by the display of good morals and lessons taught throughout. While the plot of Harry Potter might be revolving around their advancement through Hogwarts and trying to defeat the now risen Voldemort for good, I see a book with lessons on morality, loyalty, faithfulness, endurance and courage. If the book had delved into the display of dark magic, summoning spirits, ghosts and the like, rituals and chanting, I would have put it down and cast it far away from me immediately.

"After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next greatest adventure. You know, the stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all -- the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."
~pg. 297

Harry Potter was not written as an allegory, therefore, we have no right trying to judge it as one. But as a Christian, I will always first look for good morals, if good will ultimately win over evil, and different elements. If a book contains something that I find to be harmful, I will put it down. I never found that with Harry Potter. Instead, as I stated before, I found a story about bravery, courage, loyalty, good morality, and endurance.

"Harry -- you're a great wizard, you know?"
"I'm not as good as you," said Harry, very embarrassed, as she let go of him.
"Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And cleverness! There are a lot more important things -- friendship and bravery and -- oh Harry -- be careful!"
~pg. 287

I do not seek here to convince you to read Harry Potter, because really, some times things like this just don't appeal to people. What I wanted to do here was give my reasons for my frustration at the common assumption that Harry Potter is inherently evil and teaching kids not only to deal in witchcraft, but bad morals and lessons. Here's a fact, I fell completely in love with the series and I do plan on reading them to my children, Lord Willing. I started out as a Harry Potter Hater, but now I'm a Harry Potter Fan, and I suspect I will be for a very long time yet. Timeless characters, good lessons, classic writing and an impeccable storyline, I'm hooked. :)

"See what I have become?" the face said. "Mere shadow and vapor...I have form only when I can share another's body...but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds..."
~pg. 293

What's Coming Up Next?

The Horse and His Boy, by C.S. Lewis
Raising Dragons, by Bryan Davis
Skeleton Key, by Anthony Horowitz
The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck, by Kathleen Y'Barro
Torrent, by Lisa T. Bergren
Life Support, by Robert Whitlow
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling