Writing 101: Keep on Writing. [Tips for Writers]

             Writing isn't easy. Some people are naturals, sure, but there isn't a single great writer out there who has just sat down, kicked their feet up and spit out a masterpiece. There is no such thing as an expert writer. We are all beginners. Why? Writing isn't fact based and you can’t be tested on it. It’s a hit or miss subject. One day you may have an idea as big as Harry Potter, but the next day you’re completely stuck. We never stop learning how to write. We are strongly influenced by the writing and speech of others and unless we are completely isolated from words, we will never stop learning. You can never reach the top simply because there is none. That is the most rewarding thing about writing.  That being said, I am here to share my non-expert opinion with you guys on how to step up your writing.

1)      Read. Read everything. Newspapers, advertisements, text messages. Everything. Words are everywhere and the way someone phrases something can greatly help your writing.

2)      Read writing from lesser known authors. Why? I’m not saying Harry Potter or the Hunger Games are bad books. To amass the following they have, it’s obvious they are fantastic pieces of writing. You already have a sense of how J.K Rowling writes. Keep reading her work if you enjoy it. Read a fresh piece of writing because you’d be surprised what is out there (some are even free, check out the many writing sites out there!)

3)      Support fellow writers. This applies specifically to your colleagues. Don’t steal their work. I know it seems obvious, but it has to be said. Align yourself with other writers. After staring at the same draft for months, you’ll want a fresh pair of eyes. This is not only useful for spotting mistakes, but also for networking opportunities and plausibility. Shannon and I share our writing with each other and she won’t hesitate to let me know if something isn't clear or just doesn't work. If your story takes place in a rural area, why does your character take the train? Wouldn't it be better is she had a car? Things like this aren't obvious right away. Also, one of your writer friends may be able to help you get your writing out there. We’re not usually competitive, so don’t be afraid that we’ll steal your ideas, or stomp on your dreams. At least not all of us. 

4)      Research! Yes research. But this isn't some college paper. True, but how can you write about a character who fought in World War II if you know nothing about it? You can try to fake it, but your readers will spot the inconsistencies right away.

5)      Do not get rid of any of your writing, even if it sucks. I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that everything you write is going to be turned into the next feature film. Most of your work will suck. I’m sorry. It doesn't mean you should stop trying. Don’t throw out that paragraph you took days to write. Don’t confuse it with omitting. If a paragraph doesn't fit with your idea, feel free to take it out of the document. Don’t delete the paragraph though. Cut and paste it into a separate document. Title it “Unused ideas” or something and when you’re stuck refer to it. It could possibly work for another story entirely. Or maybe it still sucks and has no place in your writing. Use that as motivation to improve. Tell yourself, “I can do way better than that” and just keep on writing.

6) You have nothing to fear. Who cares if someone rejects your writing? If its something you can fix, then go back and fix it. We all make mistakes. If someone hates your story because its fantasy and they only read romance, then ignore them. Their opinion isn't relevant to you or your genre. If someone tells you that your third chapter has absolutely no place in your prospective novel, but you're 100% sure that its the defining scene of the whole work, then leave it. Its your work not theirs. That is one opinion. Others may think otherwise. The most important thing at the end of the day is that you're happy with what you wrote, not your neighbor Jim, your cousin Sally or your best friend who happens to have an MFA in Creative Writing.

7) Take Creative Writing Classes and Workshops. Its the best place to meet other writers. They'll give you honest opinions on your work without sugar coating anything. Also, some of the best creative writing classes are taught by famous authors. They have a lot of knowledge of the writing world that they won't mind sharing with you. 

My best advice is to take in the words and speech patterns of others and learn from them. Keep raising the bar with your writing. Keep improving and you’ll be satisfied with the results. I hope my five tips could help you! Follow us on here or tumblr: thelovelywriters.tumblr.com! 

Join the Fight to Bring Back Better Television!

Hello! It's Shannon! It's been a while, and I apologize for the long break.

Today, I wanted to write about something a bit depressing...well, depressing for me and maybe depressing for a lot of people my age. I want to talk about past and current television shows. This is going to gear towards children television channels, though, because, well...I'm a kid at heart.

Why would this topic be depressing, you ask yourself? Well, I'll tell you why, but first, if you're reading this and you are below the age of twelve, do not take offense to anything that I write. I don't mean to bash the things you watch. I'm simply stating my opinions on the matter.

Let's start with the history of television! Don't worry, I'm not giving a history lesson here. I'll just be brief.

To put it simply, I don't watch television.

Why? These television shows, nowadays, suck. Why?

Alright, guys, let's all fasten our seat belts and step onto the bus going down the road to past memories and cable television.

Let's start with Nickelodeon. Raise your hands, (or better yet, follow and subscribe to this blog), if you remember these shows:

- Spongebob Squarepants
- The Fairly Oddparents
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron
- Chalkzone
- Rugrats
- All That
- The Amanda Show
- Kenan and Kel
- Drake and Josh
- Catdog
- Doug
- Hey Arnold
- Rocko's Modern World

And etc.

Sound familiar? Ahhh, those were the good old days. When kiddie television was actually funny. Notice how I put Spongebob and the Fairly Oddparents on the list. Yeah, these shows are still running, but the episodes aren't as hilarious as they used to be. I know, because I spent basically the whole summer watching Spongebob day in and day out. I've seen the new episodes and I never chuckle once. And don't say it's because I've grown because I'm still really immature for my age.

Sigh.

Okay, next.

I used to be solo addicted to Cartoon Network. I remember Fridays used to be my favorite day of the week as a kid because not only was it the start of the weekend, I knew that at 7:00 that night I'd be tuning in to Fridays, a two-hour show that shows new episodes from a variety of shows like:

- Ed, Edd and Eddy (I always thought Double Dee was a girl)
- Courage the Cowardly Dog (I wanted to adopt him)
- Codename Kids Next Door (I had a crush on Numbah 4)
- The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (Hilarious show!)
- The Powerpuff Girls (I was obsesssssed with Blossom. I was her for Halloween!)
- Dexter's Laboratory (How could he fit his huge lab in a small house?)
- Samurai Jack (Oh my god, I loved this show!!!)

There have been some good sitcoms since those days, but none can come close to Robot Jones or Foster's Home of Imaginary Friends. Like...never.

And finally:

This channel is probably what pisses me off most about current television. If you're around my age, you'll probably agree with me when I say that comedy and life morals are seriously lacking on this channel. We used to have shows that gave a lesson at the end of the episode. Okay, yeah, the current ones give lessons too, I guess, but for some reason, the lessons seem to go in one ear and then out the other and they make you want to change the channel.

Let's reminisce on the best shows Disney Channel has ever had:

- Even Stevens (Shia Lebeouf before puberty...unf)
- The Proud Family (This was my show)
- Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff is basically the queen of Disney Channel)
- That's So Raven (Raven is the Diva of Disney Channel)
- Phil of the Future (Where the hell is Ricky Ullman now?)
- Kim Possible (Oh my god, Rufus was adorable!)
- Life with Derek (I LOVED THIS SHOW)
- Hannah Montana (...bangers)

The list can go on for ages.

Now we have shows that gear towards dancing like Shake it Up or Austin and Ally and all of that. I see preteens dress a way they shouldn't be dressing until they're of college age.

There was a controversial episode on Shake it Up where a dancer boasted about not eating that led to a lot of letters of complaints about this episode. When I heard about this I was so upset. There is an episode on That's So Raven where Raven stands up to a model and states that every body is beautiful the way it is, and Raven, being overweight, catwalks on the runway.

That was old Disney.

Again, I do not mean to bash the shows currently on these channels. I am simply stating my disapproval to where television has come to. It just makes me sad seeing my younger brother and cousins grow up watching abysmal shows that literally mean nothing and how they've missed a whole decade filled with shows that actually meant something, something they could have possibly related to.

Could this be something I could help change in the future? Perhaps. My career plan folder is still empty,  but I have many, many ideas that I hope can become reality one day. We need to bring back old television.

Please follow and subscribe! See you next week!

Dream Game Releases

All gamers have an informal list of games they wish they could play newer, updated versions of. In some cases, that may just be an HD remake, as Square Enix has done twice this year. For others it’s a sequel to a much loved game; a continuation to a story. Where are our favorite characters now? Below I have compiled a list of 5 games that I’d love to get my hands on if they were ever released. (Most of these are unlikely, and probably impossible but you never know!)

1.       Left for Dead 3! Left for Dead was an amazing game for both PC and Xbox 360. In 2009 Left for Dead two was released with a whole new cast of characters, new special infected and even the addition of melee weapons. This zombie hack and slash/shooter is highly re-playable. The story is set up into various campaigns. There are various different game modes and DLC maps that have people still playing the game with their friends five years later. Also, there are a ton of maps that users have created to switch things up a bit. Maybe this is why Valve hasn't pushed forward with a Left for Dead 3? This sequel to a sequel would have many devoted fans practically throwing money at Valve.

2.       Final Fantasy 7 Remake. A simple port has already been released by Square Enix on the PC and Playstation network. Many would like to see Cloud, Aerith, Tifa and the others outgrow their pixels. It has already been said by the company that a remake is VERY unlikely but not impossible. Sadly, we won’t be seeing it anytime soon.

3.       Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core Remake for the PS3/PS4/Vita. Crisis Core has to be one of my favorite games of the franchise. The story, characters and battle system are all incredible. While I’d prefer taking the game to my HD TV, I’d still settle for a Vita release with cleaner graphics, faster loading times and the ability to skip cut scenes (which would be extremely useful after you've lost to a boss and have to watch the same scene over and over until you've practically memorized it, or is that just me?). Heck, I’d be happy if they just ported it to the PS3/PS4 so I could play on a larger screen.

4.       Pokemon Remake. I’m positive that the Pokemon hype is not going to die down anytime soon, especially after the huge success of Pokemon X and Y. I’d like to see the same mechanics as X and Y but with an old Pokemon game. A lot of fans want to see a Hoenn remake, but I’m fine with any of the former regions being upgraded to the glory of 3D graphics and easier IV breeding.

5.       An Online Multiplayer Sims Game. A while back this was a thing. It was called Sims Online. I never had the opportunity to play it, but I did get to see screenshots. You are basically playing Sims but your neighbors are other players online. I don’t know exactly how this would work, or why the Sims Online was cancelled in the first place but I do know a lot of Sims fans would love to relive something like this. There are a ton of social Sims players who have blogs, and actively contribute to the Simming community. The Sims developers have made small steps to include online social interactions between the players, so this could be a possibility. I don’t think we’d be seeing something like this too soon though, especially because The Sims 4 is being released soon and a lot of resources are being put into that.  

What games do you wish will have a release date soon? Let us know in the comments below!  

Writing 101: Writer's Block

The reason this is being posted so late is simple, writer’s block. I had absolutely no idea what to write about, so I figured I’d tackle it head on. So, you sit down at your computer desk. Microsoft Word is open, you probably have some snacks by you, and you’re munching away while trying to figure out what you want to say. The words aren’t coming out so you log onto some form of social media in hopes of finding an idea but you only end up distracting yourself more. Eventually you give up and go play Candy Crush or Farm Frenzy.

            

    Woah, let’s rewind. Giving up is the easiest choice, but it’s never the best. You have A LOT to say, you just aren’t spitting the words out as easily.

    Well, Anna, since you seem to know my struggle, what do I do?

I have a few tips and tricks that may help you, actually.

1)      Look at what is in front of you. What do you see? Write it down in as much detail as possible. For example, talking about the smooth texture of the desk may spark something. Maybe the smooth texture somehow relates to the characters or setting of your new novel.

2)      Grab a piece of loose leaf. Sometimes all it takes is having a pen in your hand to motivate you to write.

3)      Once you have the paper or your laptop ready, write anything. I mean ANYTHING. Any single word can lead to the next best-selling novel, you never know.

4)      Take a break and come back later. Everyone needs a break sometimes. You may be putting too much pressure on yourself. Clearing your head will definitely benefit you.

5)      Take a nap. Did you know that Stephenie Meyer got the idea of Twilight from a dream she had?

6)      Eat some food, you’ll work better.

7)      Look up some writing prompts online. There are so many websites dedicated to this. Free writing can lead to something much bigger.

8)      Watch a movie. Sometimes the distractions really are necessary. The plot of a movie may inspire you to write something similar, or maybe even strikingly different [because you hated it so much].

Here are eight tips that may help you with your writer’s block. While I’m not guaranteeing that any of these work, you will come out a stronger writer by free writing and your body and brain will thank you for the break. Thanks for reading and happy writing!

It's Showtime! WWE Live Event.

        This is a new segment that I am going to use to review sporting events, concerts and others of the sort. Over the weekend I attended a WWE live event. It was a Road to WrestleMania show, meaning that basically it was a house show. House shows differ from RAW, Smackdown and pay per views because they aren't televised. Un-televised events are much less crowded, lack special effects like fireworks, and also don’t have any announcers at the announcer table. Despite the lack of glamour though, house shows are amazing. They strip down the usual theatrics and really focus on the in ring action. I’m all for the drama of WWE, but it is refreshing to see wrestlers in the ring for ten plus minutes (including those who weren't scheduled for the main event!) really showcasing their talent. Another great aspect of house shows are how the wrestlers interact with the fans. Besides WrestleMania Axxess and autograph signings, house shows are a great way for fans to get some one on one attention with the superstars and divas (well, that is if you can get seats in the front). Even if you aren’t sitting in floor seats though, superstars and divas take the extra effort to include their fans by starting chants, talking directly to the entire stadium, or even asking them to cast a vote.     

      

       This house show was no different. I had a blast trying to guess which superstar would come out next, who would win and of course chanting “Let’s go Cena!” along a chorus of “Cena sucks!” One highlight of the show that particularly stood out to me was a match starring Titus O’Neil. He claimed he could beat any superstar who came out. Do you know who came out? No days off Darren Young! He ran down, pinned Titus in a matter of minutes and slid out of the ring. The match wasn't over though, Titus shouted that the referee messed up and he would no doubt beat the next person to come out. The world’s strongest man, Mark Henry, came out to the blaring of his theme song. Instantly, Titus tensed up and exclaimed something along the lines of, “I wanted to fight Darren again!” The match commenced and of course, Mark Henry dominated. Suddenly there was another theme song, this time belonging to “Bad News” Barret. He claimed that he was the original opponent of Titus, rushed into the ring and attacked Mark Henry! Titus joined in on the assault on poor Mark Henry! Hundreds of gasps and cheers came from the audience as Darren Young slid back into the ring to help the world’s strongest man. But wait, it doesn't end there. Yet another person came out and addressed Titus directly. It was none other than the general manager of RAW, Brad Maddox. He pointed out that Titus didn't lose once, but twice making him the biggest loser of the night. He then asked the audience whether or not we’d want to see Titus have the opportunity to lose again, this time paired up with Barret. Maddox didn't leave without encouraging the audience to call Titus a loser any time they saw fit throughout the match.  With Titus’ luck, the winner was obvious, Mark Henry and Darren Young. The match was both comical and exhilarating. It included the fans in all of the action as well.

Titus O'Neil being called out by RAW General Manager, Brad Maddox

       That was just one of the match-ups that night. I strongly recommend that if you’re a wrestling fan, you venture out and see a house show. I hope you enjoyed reading this. Leave a comment and share this post! Next post will be up on Wednesday! 

Outlast Game Review [PS4]

Today I present you with another game review. Today, I will be reviewing Outlast for the PS4. It is also available for the PC, but I have only played the console version. I actually completed a full play through, earning all but two trophies on the PSN.

Outlast is a straight up horror game. If mutated creatures jumping out at you is not your thing, then I suggest you drop the controller. I have to say, it may be the scariest game I've ever played.

Picture from the Outlast trailer.

You play as a journalist who is going into an insane asylum to document the horrible experiments done on the patients. The game is first person, so you can only essentially see what the character sees. You never actually see what the main character looks like, other than his arm. It gives the illusion that you are in fact the one exploring this abandoned hospital. The first scene is an excruciatingly slow drive up to the building. You are given a video camera with night vision capability, a folder to hold case notes and some batteries. Depending on the level of difficulty you choose, the amount of batteries your camera can hold changes. The camera itself will never turn off if you run out of batteries, but you will not be able to use night vision, which in a dark building will prove difficult to venture through. When you finally reach the actual building, the front gate is locked. If that’s not any indication to leave, I don’t know what is. Instead, you are prompted to find an alternate entrance. The first mistake of the protagonist.

Tip: Once inside the building, you should never put your camera away. Leave the night vision off when there is enough light to see. The camera captures events that will in turn give you notes that will not only give you an achievement for completion but also gives you more insight of the story.

            The mutant people in the asylum are hideous. Seeing a person walk around the building is enough to make you run in the other direction. You can’t actually fight the creatures who come after you, making the game all that scarier. When you actually get up close and personal with the patients, the details seem to be lacking, but not enough to take away any fear from the game. While Outlast is considered an escape game, you are not trying to solve any puzzles to leave the building. The gameplay in this sense is pretty straightforward in which all you have to do is find your way through the building and everything else will fall into play.

            Play Outlast with the volume turned all the way up and the lights off. If you want the full experience, make sure you play at when you won’t mind finishing the game in a full sitting (there is no saving in insane mode for those of you horror fanatics). I played it in portions and still found the gameplay frightening and satisfying but playing in one sitting gives you the feeling that you’re trapped in an asylum and can’t get out. Also, playing with friends around is really fun. I played the game with my brother, and we passed the controller around after every part. The excitement of Outlast is that you’ll have fun watching the game as much as you’d have fun playing the game yourself. In fact, if you don’t have a PS4 and don’t want to buy the game on PC, I recommend watching gameplay videos because some of the player’s reactions are golden.

        

            You don’t have to be an experienced gamer to play Outlast. The gameplay is simple, you have to find your way out of the building with the occasional running away from a crazy mutant patient. Like I mentioned before, why not have a party and invite even some of your non-gamer friends? Outlast has a great story and enough fright to keep everyone entertained. Lastly, for you horror buffs, the attention to detail in certain parts of the game is amazing. Keep an eye out for bloody puddles. Step in those and you’ll be leaving red footprints.

            In short, Outlast is a horror game. There is no fighting your attackers, so you better find the best hiding places. The detail gives you the feeling that you’re actually trapped in an asylum and not just playing a video game. The story and scares are enough to warrant a play through, but if you rather not spend the twenty dollars on a game that is only good for one initial play through (once you know when all the scares happen, it isn't quite fun anymore, unless you’re going to try insane mode) then I strongly recommend watching the walk-through online. There isn't much more that I can say other than, give Outlast a try because I guarantee that it is unlike any other game you've played before.

I hope you enjoyed my review! Let me know in the comments below. Next post is on Friday, stay tuned!  

Meeting Two 'Total Divas'

              Thursday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting two Total Divas, Natalya and Summer Rae. For those of you who are unfamiliar with these two ladies, they are wrestlers on WWE. They are now a part of a reality series called Total Divas that airs Sundays (The season premier is tomorrow night actually).  I had to make a special post today off of our normal schedule to let you know how it went.

               

                I picked up my phone to check twitter that morning which I don’t usually do. Finding out that these divas were going to be signing free autographs later on that day, I ran up to my room to change my outfit. I just had to find my Fandango shirt to impress Summer Rae! The signing was right near where I was going to be and I happened to have finished class early that day, which was awesome.  I rushed over to NBC with my friend and after getting some food and parting ways, I lined up and waited for the divas to get there. I was there at around 12:30 pm and the signing didn’t start until 2:30. I got there pretty early so I would be guaranteed a wrist band and let into the signing. Being there early had its perks because I was right in front of the make shift barricade, meaning I was in a few feet from Natalya and Summer Rae.

              

                 As for any signing, we were told that we should have our camera ready and be prepared to be rushed through if the crowd got too big. Luckily for me, it was a Thursday afternoon when everyone was either at work or school, so the crowd wasn’t relatively large. Natalya and Summer Rae took some glamour shots for Total Divas and conversed with some fans in the front before starting the signing. Somebody called out to Natalya about her almost win on Main Event for the Divas title the prior Tuesday in which she replied with a smile, “Hey, I’m keeping her on her toes!” (Referring to the current Divas Champion AJ Lee).

                

                 I nervously stood on line and waited for my turn to come. Since there was not a lot of people, the line went relatively slow and I didn’t mind at all. I was enjoying watching Summer Rae and Natalya converse with their fans one on one. It was nice not being pushed through a line before even getting to say hi to the person you waited two hours to see. Natalya was especially grateful to her fans, knowing most of them from prior events which I thought was really cool.

               

                Finally my turn came and I was on the point of hyperventilating (But keeping up my poker face of course). I got to shake Summer Rae’s hand and Natalya smiled and asked how I was doing.  I told her I was doing great and then I was reminded of the conversation I had with one of my friends while on the line, telling me to let Natalya and Summer Rae know how big of a fan of theirs she was, which I did. She couldn’t make it to the event, and being my go to wrestling friend, I couldn’t let the opportunity escape. Natalya and Summer Rae were gracious and Natalya asked what my friend’s name was. When I told her, she personalized an autograph just for her and told me to tell my friend it was a gift from her and Summer Rae (which my friend was extremely surprised and excited about).

                

               After that, I had a chance to have a conversation with the two (I had apparently bought myself two extra minutes with the divas while they signed my friend’s autograph). Summer Rae did notice my shirt and told me she loved it, which I was ecstatic about, having spent the extra ten minutes in the morning looking for it. After they were done with my friend’s autograph, they signed one personally to me as well. I couldn’t think of anything to say to the two because I was so shocked to be standing in front of the them in the first place so I started to discuss my friend’s obsession with Emma and how torn she was between the two dancers, which Natalya thought was absolutely adorable and Summer Rae called, “a good problem to have”. After that, I got to take a picture with the two and I said my goodbyes.

I forgot to mention that the person running the event had my camera the entire time and literally was snapping away throughout my entire conversation with the two which I’m actually very pleased with. She even captured me mid handshake with Summer Rae and having a conversation with the two where they look genuinely interested in what I had to say, how cool is that? The staff at NBC were actually great. There was really no need for the guards to do anything but watch the crowd because we were really tame (as compared to other wrestling events I’ve been to). The person taking my photo was phenomenal and not once did I feel like someone was pushing me along and telling me to hurry up. With the relatively small crowd, the organized staff at the NBC store and the two incredibly kind and amazing divas, I had a fantastic time and I can't wait for the next wrestling related event I get to be a part of! 

Hope you enjoyed reading this! The next post is on Wednesday! Stay tuned! 

Funny Superstitions

So it was raining on Monday and I forgot to bring an umbrella. I was drenched. And my hair was on point that day.

My life, people.

Anyway, just wanted to let those of you who don't carry umbrellas with you everywhere you go because you think its stupid and who think looking at the sky and seeing the sun peeking out under the clouds means that it isn't necessary to bring an umbrella to school know that you are not alone.

Unless I'm the only one. Sigh.

Okay, enough about my sad life.

Don't step on that crack! It'll break your mother's back!

I'm sure we've all heard this one before. This is probably the first superstitious thing I heard as a child. From the first time I heard it in like a television show or something, I was so scared to break my mother's back that I jumped over cracks altogether and you can imagine how strange it looks to see a kid taking giant steps or leaping like a kangaroo nonstop. This is going to sound pretty stupid, but I still sometimes find myself subconsciously trying not to step on a crack. TO THIS DAY.

Sigh. Some things never change.

Other things that are pretty well-known are not to break mirrors or open an umbrella indoors or you'll be facing seven years of bad luck. And let's not forget that black cat that's apparently evil or something. I'm convinced this stigma of the black cat has to do with the short story "The Black Cat" by Edgar Allen Poe, but I'm not too sure.

I don't know about you guys, but my family is incredibly superstitious. I'm from the Caribbean and it seems that these people are ridiculously superstitious about literally everything! My mother is the perfect example for this. One of her crazy superstitions include not putting bags on a bed because that means whoever sleeps on it will get sick. Another is that if you dream about somebody being happy, that means something bad is going to happen to that person and vice versa if you dream about somebody dying, that means good luck will come to that person. So I guess that nightmare with Grandma getting shot wasn't something to be afraid of.

Thanks Mom.

Sooo, I looked up some funny superstitions that I found on the interwebs. Y'know, just because.

- A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after a slice has been cut from it. (Oops)

- If a friend gives you a knife, you should give him a coin, or your friendship will soon be broken. (Why the hell is he giving me a knife to begin with???)

- Don't sleep with your legs crossed, it attracts the devil. (......)

- Witches fly around 1 to 2 o'clock in the morning. Make sure not to be awake at this time. (.................)

- If your nose is feeling itchy, it means someone wants to kiss you. (FINALLY)

Yes, I'm well aware it is not Friday the 13th. It is the 14th. But, well, I don't care. Blah.

This is just a few of many weird ones that I found. I don't know, this superstition stuff is pretty questionable. If you believe in them, more power to you. If you don't, you're cool just like me.

Hehe, just kidding. Maybe.

Comment any superstitions you have. I'd love to hear 'em!

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Anna's Art Class: Making an Over the Shoulder Messenger Bag

Welcome Class! Please be seated! Today we have the very first installment of Anna’s Art Class.

     I am going to teach you guys how to make a messenger bag. Last year at a convention, I cosplayed for the first time. I wanted to be the spitting image of the character and for that to be done, I needed a pink messenger bag. There was no way I was going to dish out a bunch of money for a bag I was only going to use for a few days. I decided the best way was to make the bag myself, so through trial and error I present to you my revised instructions on how to make your very own over the shoulder messenger bag!

What you need:

• Fabric (I used a T-Shirt but if you’re looking for a sturdier everyday bag, I would suggest using something like canvas or a thicker fabric. Just make sure that you can put a needle and thread through it)
•  A needle and some thread (The thread can be any color, because you will be sewing it from the inside)
• Thick rope (I used thick yarn. If you are looking for a more durable bag that can withstand some weight, I would use rope.)
• Duct tape (The color that you want the inside of the bag to be)
• Scissors
• Chalk (Optional. This helps mark  the measurements on the fabric and can come off easily)
• Fabric Paint/Markers/Spray (Optional. You can decorate your bag anyway you choose)

Note: The bag I made withstood three days of nonstop use at a convention. The bag I am going to teach you how to make is flat and not a bag that will stand up if placed down.

If you’re using a T-shirt, note that the bag will probably not be able to withstand as much weight as a thicker fabric.

Step One: You are going to be cutting out three pieces of fabric. The first two pieces should be of equal length. These are going to be your front and back of the bag, so make it as big as you want the bag to be. Leave a little extra fabric that you pull in when you’re ready to start sewing. The third piece you are going to cut out should be smaller than the other two. Line it up against one of the other pieces, it should be of equal width (from left to right) but shorter length. This is going to be the flap, so the length depends on how much you want the opening of the bag to be covered. I made it a little less than half the length of the original piece.

Step Two: Choose one of the two pieces of equally cut fabric. This is going to be the back of the bag (For this purpose we’ll call it back fabric). You should fold the flap over the top of the back fabric so that you can preview how the bag will open and close. You are going to sew the back side of the folded over flap around the bottom, and up the two sides for the cleanest seams.

Step Three: Once that is done, lay the cut pieces flat on the work surface. You are going to cover one side of each completely in duct tape, leaving a small border bare so that you can sew them together (except for the flap which is already sewn on). Also, make sure to leave some empty space on the top left and right corners of the back fabric. The duct tape is what makes the bag sturdy. When the bag is complete, the duct tape will be the inside of the bag. Therefore, choose whatever color you want for the inside of the bag.

Step Four: You will start sewing the two bare sides of the bag together. Make sure that the two duct taped sides are facing outwards (be mindful of the flap that you attached in step three, you do not want to mess up those seams). When you have sewed those, flip the bag inside out and you should have a messenger bag without straps.

Step Five: Take the string and measure it to the size strap you would use. Then, take two other strings (cut to equal sizes) and braid it with the first string. The braid ensures a strong strap that will hold the weight of your items. If you desire, you can sew left over fabric around the braid. I used hot glue which was equally as effective. Recall the space that you left in the upper corners of your bag. Cut out a single hole in each space. The size of the hole will depend on the size of the braid. Slide the braid into the hole and tie it in a sturdy knot.

Step Six (Optional):  At this point your bag should be completed. If you want to add your own personal touch, you can add a logo, your name or even a quote. I made my bag solely for a costume, therefore my design is in felt. Felt will probably peel off in the long run so avoid it if you’re going to use your bag more than once. You cannot iron anything on because of the duct tape, so if you must have a design ironed on, do so before you tape up the bag. You can decorate your heart out with fabric paint, spray paint and markers. I suggest looking online for templates if you want a professional looking design.  You can design the bag however you want. Some ideas for decorating the bag are:

· The first letter of your name. Use templates for a cleaner design.

· A logo of your favorite show or movie. Make sure it can easily be drawn.

· Vines, hearts or stars that can be lined around the bag like a border.

· Animal Print

· Checkers/Stripes

Here is my completed bag:

                                          

I hope you enjoyed making your bag! Class is now over. If you want to “enroll” in my art class, you can follow this blog (on the right) to be the first to find out when new lessons are out. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!  

Why Hello There Good Lookin'

So a few weeks ago I was watching a Knicks game with my father one night and this was of course a very stupid thing to do seeing that the New York Knicks absolutely suck this season, but I was bored so I did. Anyway, I was watching it until the first half was over and it's about twenty minutes or so until the second half starts so the commercials came on and normally I flick through the channels during the commercials because, let's be honest, who actually sits through and watches the commercials? So I'm flicking through and through until I get to an old African-American sitcom, Good Times. I sat and watched the episode because for the last two or three years or so, I've really been getting into old sitcoms from the seventies and the eighties and this show was really funny. 

I cannot remember which episode it was, but I do remember one of the main characters, J.J., a real flirt and not so attractive guy, but a womanizer nonetheless, try to pick up a girl with really outdated smooth talking. I found his poor attempts to flirt highly amusing and even though the girl totally rejected him, I was interested to know more about corny pick-lines that guys think works on girls.

When my father switched the channel back to the Knicks game, I wasn't even paying any attention to the heartbreaking blowout the Knicks were facing, I was too busy spurting out cheesy pick-up lines. 

Here are some of my favorite ones and my immediate responses to them.:

- No wonder the sky is grey today, the blue is in your eyes. (My eyes are brown, but thanks).

- Your body is 65% water and I'm thirsty. (I don't get it. Just kidding).

- Hershey's makes millions of kisses a day...all I am asking is a kiss from you. (To which I would respond, I do not like chocolate. So I don't have a kiss. Sorry).

- Do you live in a corn field, 'cause I'm stalking you. (I would totally use this).

- Can I borrow your cell phone? I need to call animal control, because I just saw a fox! (But I live in New York).

- If a thousand painters worked for a thousand years, they could not create a work of art as beautiful as you. (I'm going to die single).

- Hey, somebody just farted...let's get out of here. (It was me).

Of course, guys don't really say these things, at least I don't think they do. Most guys make it really hard to tell if they like you, but some do make it pretty obvious. Contrary to a lot of girls I know, I would love if a guy told me a corny pick-up line! It would be cute and funny and I'd get a laugh out of it.

Problem is, sometimes I don't get. 

Well, anywho.

I guess this'll be a good place to introduce myself. Hi! I'm Shannon, Anna's partner and the other blog collaborator. Anna posts on Wednesdays and I on Fridays.

Hope you enjoyed and don't forget to read our other blog posts, follow, subscribe and tell your family and friends!

And use one of these corny jokes. Seriously. And if you do, let me know how it goes in the comments!

Byeeeee.