I'm moving.

Hey all.
Just wanted to let you know that I'm going to pick up blogging again, but, on a revamped blog.

Socially Accepted Schizophrenic

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Excuses, Excuses

I apologize for my absence.

There's been much business and lack of motivation on my part.  I had the county fair to get through, and a novel to edit and send into the OYAN contest.

But all of that was like pulling teeth, since about the beginning of July I've had no motivation.  None.  Zip.

I managed to get everything done, and exceeded everyone's expectations in most areas.  I even managed to finish a third draft of my novel and whisk it off to the OYAN contest ten days before the deadline.

Over the week of fair I felt good.  I was finally getting stuff done.  I was getting to spend time with my friends.  Fair ended.  So I decided to start school to try and keep myself doing stuff.  I seemed to help, but I had problems keeping up, and I managed to get behind within the first week.  On Monday the following week I resolved to do better, and forced myself to get out of bed and get the day started...

...but I got stung by a bee and had a nearly serious reaction.  I spent six hours sleeping after an EpiPen and three doses of benadryl scattered throughout the day.  I didn't even go to dance.

I thought maybe this was supposed to be a wake up call, and on Tuesday I managed to catch up on everything for school.  And then I got behind again....

So here I am, trying not to completely die, and trying to keep myself motivated with the thought of State Fair and Nutcracker Auditions.  I'm hoping some brilliant solution will drop out of the sky for this, but at the moment, it doesn't seem to be happening.

In other news, I'm thinking of totally revamping my blog and starting over.  I'll still keep all the old posts, but I'm going to try to post every Saturday, and it will probably be more of life update-y thingy, since I really don't think I've had enough life experience to be posting about life and writing things. >.<

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Spiritual Battles Part One: Guilt

When our pastor started his sermon-series of spiritual warfare, he warned us that being aware of them usually causes us to have spiritual battles.

And I won't deny I haven't had my share.

However, throughout this, I have found myself getting closer to God, praying more than ever, and dedicating more of what I do to him.  So, I've decided to do a series on my discoveries over this. Starting with Guilt.

I have always struggled with guilt.  I recall one time when I was six or so and crying because I wasn't perfect.
And that meant I wasn't perfect enough for God, right?  After all He's holy and righteous, and I'm...
not.
I'm not worthy.  And I never will be.

For several nights last month, I felt like David did in Psalms 38 and 51.

3. There is no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
because of my sin.
4. For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5. My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
(Psalm 38:3-5 ESV)


3. For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
(Psalm 51:3-4 ESV)

I had to constantly remind myself that it doesn't matter.  There was no reason for Jesus to die if I'm still guilty.  God loves me anyway.


21. and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22. let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
(Hebrews 10:21-23 ESV)




~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

P.S.  This song is what I fell asleep listening to the on the nights I was struggling most.  Hope you enjoy!

Camp NaNoWriMo 2012: Cast and Crew

Last night I stayed up outlining until after 11:00 P.M for the notorious Camp NaNoWriMo.  It will be a Dystopia, and I have most of the plot figured out.  I spent my morning finding pictures of characters.  So, here is the cast of this year's Camp NaNo, Fire-Smoke.  Yes, I searched for pictures before I started so I didn't get their pictures in my head while writing, making it hard to find them later.  /Genius

Main Character:
Keeran 
Keeran is an eleven-year-old boy (who'll soon be turning twelve), living in a town called Tynan in the state of Deverick.  He lives with his two sisters and his aunt, because both parents were murdered (Murder isn't an uncommon thing in Tynan, and it's mostly ignored).  He's used to death and very quiet, usually keeping to himself.

Villain:
Rais, the Dictator of Deverick
Rais is the powerful and merciless leader of Deverick.  He has a history of hiring assassins and thugs to do his dirty work and got to the top by no honest means.  He grew up in the neighboring country of Kien, but claims to have lived in the town of Tynan (located in Deverick) as a young boy.  When his father died because of an accident in the mines, Rais vowed he would never have a job so low, and aspired to become someone great.  He got that wish, but sometimes late at night he has nightmares of the people he has hurt on that path.  Despite this, throughout the day he carries out his morally unsatisfying plans.

Ally:
Thaidan
Thaidan is the 11-year-old sidekick who grew up in the orphanage that Keeran and his little sister eventually end up in.  He's an optimistic kid who has a small sense of humor (I'm sure it would be bigger if he had grown up in a happier place.  The orphanage is more like a completely jacked-up humane society).  He's smart and has been reading as long as he can remember, when he can actually find a book.

Big Sister:
Farley
Farley is Keeran's 16-year-old sister who is in with the wrong crowd to try to get on their good side.  She hopes it'll give them cause to leave her family alone until they can escape to Arecima.  Unfortunately, this means she's developed all kinds of bad habits (such as smoking) and has occasional temper tantrums.  She's terrified that it's only a matter of time before she ends up killing someone before someone kills her or her family.

Little Sister
Auburn
Auburn is Keeran's four-year-old sister who ends up in the orphanage with Keeran.  She's shy and quiet like her big brother, but likes to try anything new, like her big sister.  She's very intelligent, and if she could go to school, no one would hesitate to send her before themselves.

Parent/Guardian:
Aunt Vanna
Supposedly Vanna takes care of the kids, but that responsibility has mostly fallen to Farley.  Vanna is their Father's sister and a drunk.  She's the only one left out of her three brothers and two sisters.  No one knows how she's managed to outlive them, as she was the shyest of the family.  Supposedly she's very skilled with a knife, and certainly not afraid to use one if it involves protecting herself.  Or the money she uses to buy drinks.

Other (known) Character:
Rosna
Rosna is a close friend of Thaidan's and a sweet, friendly girl who is at the orphanage because her parents didn't want her.  She helps Keeran and Thaidan in their plans to escape the orphanage and accompanies them on their first try, but doesn't live to see their successful escape.






Lovely place, Deverick.....
Well, there you have it.  I applaud you if you read all the way through.  ~applauds~

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Character Letters: Dyani to Sabrine

I've discovered a new monthly blogging thing.  Yay!
Anyway, this one is where you write a letter from the viewpoint of one of your characters to someone else in that same novel (MC to ally, Mentor to MC, you get the picture.).  And it's called The Character Letters.
Today I'm doing Dyani (MC in Dyani: the Quest for Zuriel), and she's writing to Sabrine, who took care of her after Dyani's parents died.  I picked the prompt Yesterday's Events, and somehow it ended up as Dyani referring to the constant tug-of-war between Dyani and Madam Faira as, "games."  Interesting...I must ask her about this.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Beautiful People, April -- Fairn

http://furtherup-and-furtherin.blogspot.com/  http://georgiepenn.blogspot.com/

 Once again, it's time for Beautiful People.  This is actually April's, but I took my time in getting around to it.
Today we have just Fairn, who is Dyani's long-lost brother. 
1. What is their favourite type of shoes?
Leather boots.
2. Do they journal? 
No, he doesn't have enough time.  I don't think he would anyway.
3. What’s their favorite animal? 
Probably horses.  His dad had a horse business.
4. What does their average day look like?
He's the stablemaster, so he pretty much takes care of the horses all day.  Sometimes he goes hunting with the King and/or Prince.
5. Night owl or morning person? (Optional: What time do they usually wake up? Go to bed?) 
Morning. 
6. Do they have a sweet tooth? 
In small doses, yes.
7. What colors are their bedroom? 
Brown...?
8. Can they cook? 
No.
9. What is their favorite household chore? 
Grooming the horses.
10. Favorite kind of tea?
I don't know that he's ever had tea.  He's more of a coffee person anyway.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Come Away! Come Away!

"And now, Peter Pan, you shall die."  "To die would be an awfully big adventure."

I have an obsession with Peter Pan.  It's one of the few things I ever fangirl about (my friend and I have memorized almost the entire 2003 version of the movie.).  I saw Peter Pan when it was performed as a ballet the first time in the country, it's one of my absolute most favorite books and I've watched the movie (2003) dozens of times. 

"Can you use it?"

"Forget them Wendy.  Forget them all."

I often ask myself, "Why Peter?  Why not Aragorn or Legolas or Hermione Granger or Percy Jackson or Holly Shorts?  Why the cocky little boy named 'Peter...Pan?'"

I don't think it's his cockiness (The reason why Hook hates him so much).  I don't even think it's Barrie's eloquent writing or Hogan's brilliant directing.

I think it's the fact that I can relate to him, and I think that's why he's lasted for so long.  People can relate to his refusal to grow up.


To me, adults have always (and still are) fuddy-duddies.  Realists.  Concerned more with the future than the now.  The what rather than the why.

They've forgotten how to dream.

They've forgotten how to live!

My little mind used to reason that if that's what happens when you 'grow up,' I don't want to grow up!

I want to dream.  I want to live in the now.  I want to be able to still ask, "Why?" 

"'Tis a powerful thing."

Now, I'm taking on responsibility myself.  I'm not near as afraid to associate with "grown-ups" as I used to be.  I worry more than I used to.

I'm growing up.

For a while, I fought it tooth and nail.  I made an effort to not see what needed to be done, so

"Or I'll cast anchor in you!"

I wouldn't do it.  I refused to answer the phone.  I refused to talk to people more than a few years older than me if I could avoid it.  I was practically praying Peter would come and take me to Neverland!

Then I started to see it was okay to grow up and take on responsibility.  I could grow up and still dream.  I could grow up and didn't have to worry.  After all, God's on my side when I'm on his, right?

It's okay to grow up, because it's still my choice as to the person I become.

"Pan!  You're...pink!"

All That is Gold Does Not Glitter

I've started a photography blog...yes...
All That is Gold Does Not Glitter


~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Editing of DQZ: Day One

Today I started to edit my first OYAN novel, Dyani: The Quest for Zuriel.
I've started just by reading through it and taking notes of what needs to be changed.  I'm almost through it all.

I have three (albeit small) pages of notes.

It's rather overwhelming for me, but I'm consoling myself by telling myself that at least I can see what needs to be fixed.

A few things are:

• It moves too fast.
• I need more hoops from the actual villain.
• Change the villain's name.
• More character development for Niyet, Sheol (whose name will be changed), Yevriel, Fairn, Jalem and Alistair. 
• Setting...
• Durn [the dog] attacking Yevriel is almost a given that Yevriel is bad.
• Change the villain's background.
• There are some questions that go unanswered.

 I actually have thirty-one notes, and I think I badly need to re-write chapters nine through eleven.  I have a feeling that I'll have to keep reminding myself it's only a first draft.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Writer + Christian= Completely and Totally Insane

So, I finally told God several weeks ago that I really wanted to do His Will in absolutely everything.  This was a hard, hard decision for me because I was terrified he would send me to Africa or something.  Long story short, I discovered that when we want to do God's Will we really want to do it!  It doesn't matter what it is.  Anyway that's not the point.  This is:

I think today He hit me with His first project for me.

I think He wants me to write a modern story about two girls fighting with Truth versus Post-Modernism. Both girls will be homeschooled (there's no way I can write about highschool realistically.  Besides, there are way too many of those.).
I have three POV ideas for this:

• It'll be from the POV of the girl on Truth's side trying to help her friend. (probably first person)
• It'll be from the POV of the girl on Modernism's side trying to persuade her friend otherwise. (This would be third person because I think this girl will get in an accident and perhaps be converted right before she dies or something...)
• I could do it from both POV's and rotate. (Not sure if this would be first person or third.)

So, there are the options.  Both girls will be going through a lot of internal struggle. I'm asking opinions on which one would be best.  Leave me a comment with yours.  Pweeeaaassseeee?

I don't read/write a lot of realistic stuff.  I don't read/write a lot of modern-day stuff.  Which is why I think He sent it.  It's not something I would come up with by myself.


~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Beautiful People: March 2012

Once again we have Beautiful people. ~grins~
This is a special version, evidently, because BP has been hosting for one year.  We have five extra questions for a relationship between two people.  I'm going to ponder which two while I answer the regular questions with Sheol (my villain, his name will be changing soon; it doesn't quite fit him), Niyet, and Jalem.  I really need to know them better. :P



1. Do they believe in anything that most people think is impossible?
Sheol: No.
Niyet: Hmm, not really.
Jalem: The legends of the elves living in the mountains has always intrigued me, but I don't that I actually believe in them.  Could be possible.

2. Are they strong, or the "damsel/knight in distress" sort?
Sheol: Oh, I wonder.  ~vicious glare~
Niyet: Strong.
Jalem: I'm leaning more toward knight in distress.  Don't quote that.
3. Do they have a special place? (e.g. a corner in his/her bedroom, under a tree...)
Sheol: I have a hideout in an old well, if that counts.
Niyet: No, never have needed one.
Jalem: The orchard in the castle.
4. What occupation do they have, or plan on having?
Sheol: Well, seeing as I'm dead...I *did* plan on being king.  ~mutters~
Niyet: I'm a mix between a soldier and an adviser at the moment.  ~frowns~  If that makes any sense.
Jalem: Same as Niyet I suppose...
5. Describe their current place of residence.
Sheol: ~glares~
Niyet: The castle, which is located in Sem.  It's large of course, mostly made out of marble.  I have my own room, but it's small.
Jalem: Again, same as Niyet.
6. Explain their last crisis. How had they changed when they came out of it?
Sheol: I've died. Ha.
Niyet: Probably waiting in the forest hoping that Sheol hadn't done something with everyone else.  They kind of took off without me, you know.  I don't know that I changed much.  Maybe more respect for Alistair.  ~shrugs~
Jalem: We didn't have much of a choice.  It was that or let the king die.   Anyway, definitely helping Alistair stop Sheol.  I'm not quite as quiet anymore, I suppose.
7. If they could drive any kind of car they wanted, what would it be?
~All three blink in confusion~
8. How do they deal with change?
Sheol: I adapt quickly.
Niyet: I don't like it, but I put up with it.
Jalem: Er...I hate it.  I try to avoid it.
9. If they had to amputate one body part, which one would they choose?
Sheol: Left arm.  I can't use a sword with that one.
Niyet: I...don't know.  Can it just be a finger?
Jalem: Funny you should ask that...
10. What would their favorite be at the local coffee shop?
Me: ~shoves other three aside~  I'll handle this one.  For Sheol straight black coffee, Niyet would probably go for a smoothie over coffee, and Jalem would definitely be a mocha.

And here are the extra 5.  We'll do Dyani and Jalem:

1. How did they meet?
When Alistair invited Dyani to go on the quest with them.
2. How do these two deal with conflict?
There's a lot of yelling and running away on Dyani's part, and a lot of exasperation and confusion on Jalem's.
3. Do they have a special song, phrase, item, or place?
I suppose the orchard.
4. What kind of things do they like to do together?
~grimaces~  They don't exactly like each other for most of the book.
5. Describe their relationship as a whole in 3 words or less.
Almost all conflict.


 Don't forget to check out the creators of BP here and here.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Dyani: The Quest for Zuriel COMPLETED

I did it.
I finished my very first OYAN novel, and I'm ecstatic about it.

Dyani: The Quest for Zuriel first draft:

Begun January 19, 2012

Finished: March 13, 2012

Total Word Count: 23,284

There's a big plot hole in it, it's kind of short(er than my first NaNoNovel), and the climax kind of sucks, but those things will be fixed.

Because this is the first novel I'm really planning on editing and rewriting, which I have never really done before.  That is how purely excited I am.  That's how much I love the characters.

Six people are lucky enough to get to the read the horribleness of the evil first draft.  I've given them the choice whether or not they'll actually help me rewrite.

But, I won't start editing right away.  No, I'll let it sit through Script Frenzy before I start attacking it.  But before April I plan on working on a novel I said I'd critique, working more on Semmre, and maybe reading into all hours of the night rather than writing.

As a special treat, here is an excerpt.  I don't know why I'm letting you read this unedited crud, but I am.  Enjoy.

I began taking dresses out of the wardrobe and tearing them to pieces out of spite for the Madam.  She wasn’t going to force me to be a lady, reduced to nothing but a pompous, unimportant woman used to having everything handed to her on a plate.

A sleeve came off of a blue, silk dress with a satisfying riiiip.

Prince Alistair and his men had already left.

A red ribbon tore away from the golden cloth in a merciless state of being.

Maybe she could stand wearing fancy clothes and sipping tea all day, but not I.  Maybe she enjoyed having no purpose, but never could I.

Silver buttons popped of the torso of a particularly fancy piece of clothing.  There was knock at the door.

“What!?” I yelled.

“It’s Sabrine.  Do you need anything?”  She entered my room and her mouth fell open.

“Dyani, what are you doing!?”

“Getting revenge,” I snarled.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Script Frenzy

Script Frenzy is the sister of NaNoWriMo, except rather than a 50,000-word novel, you're trying to write a 100-page script.  In April.
Doesn't matter what type of script, TV, stage play, comic book, whatever strikes your fancy.
I'm doing the same think I pulled with NaNo, participating in the adult as well as the YWP.  I'm still mulling plot ideas over in my head, but I know it will be a stage play, and I know the title is, "Daniel and the Lion King."
And yes, it will be a mash up of the Bible story, Daniel and the Lion's Den, and the Disney movie, "The Lion King."
This could be interesting.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Welcome to My World: Semmre

Today was spent wandering through all the Joann's aisles at least twice while my sister and Gramma shopped, then a spending of a gift card at P. F. Chang's, and, finally, a trip to Office Depot.
I didn't know that Office Depot was in the list, and when I realized we were in that part of town, I bolted up in my car seat.

"Where are we going?"

"Office De-"

Gramma didn't even get to finish before I started rambling about how much I love notebooks and that Papermate had released a new line of pens called Inkjoy.  We went in and my sister and I made a beeline for the pens/notebooks/binders.

I exited with twenty-four Inkjoy pens, six notebooks, and a shiny, new, three-ring binder.
Of course, then I had to decide what to do with them.

I had been toying with the idea of writing a few more books that take place in Dyani's country, Semmre, for a while.  I'd even created a map:

Yes, the handwriting is terrible.  Leave me alone.

But the trip today was the turning point.

I will list everything about Semmre there is to know here.  It's perfect!  I thought on the way home, sorting the pens and putting notebooks in my binder.

When I got home I busted out the colored pencils and created a cover for my binder, as well as a crest for Semmre.

Albeit, it's an odd crest.  I'm still deciding if I like it or not.  Maybe I'll give it realistic colors or something.  Currently I'm brainstorming Semmre, even though I should be writing.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Beautiful People, February

 I couldn't decide who to use, therefore I'm going to pick Dyani, Alistair and Jalem. :P

1. If your character could be played by any actor, who would it be?
Dyani: Wait, what's an actor?
Alistair: They pretend to be people in plays.
Jalem:  We're supposed to know their names?
Me: Don't answer that one.  You guys don't know about any modern day actors as it is.  Dyani would probably be a younger Jennifer Lawrence.  The other two?  I have no idea.  Let me think on that one.

2. Does your character have a specific theme song?
Dyani: No. What's the point?  I could care less about music.
Alistair: No.
Jalem: I love music, but I don't know that anything in particular comes to mind.


3. What’s their worst childhood memory?
Dyani: When my parents were murdered.  End of story.
Alistair: Watching a friend get trampled by a horse.  I took me a long time to regain the courage to ride.
Jalem: My parents arguing all the time.


4. If your character had a superpower, what would it be?
Dyani: Invisibility.
Alistair: Some way to control a certain fourteen-year-old girl.
Dyani: Not funny.
Alistair: (Laughs)
Jalem: I don't know.  Something artsy perhaps.


5. If your character crashed on an island with a bunch of other people, how would your character help the group survive?
Dyani: Riiight.
Alistair: Take control, make sure everything runs smoothly and such.
Jalem: It would depend on what needed to be done.  Follow orders.


6. Are they married? If not, do they someday wish to be?
Dyani: (laughs)  Me?  Married?  Right.
Alistair: Mandatory.  For me anyway.
Jalem: Perhaps.

7. What is a cause they would die for?
Dyani: A cause?  I can think of a person, but not really a cause.
Alistair:  My country, of course.
Jalem: Anything against tyranny.


8. Would they rather die fighting valiantly, or quietly at home?
Dyani: Fighting!
Alistair: Depends on the circumstances.
Jalem: At home.

9. If someone walked up to them and told them they were the child of the prophecy, would they believe them?
Dyani: Ha.  No.
Alistair: No.
Jalem: Not without considerable proof.  And a lot of it.

10. Do they prefer the country or the city?
All three at the same time: Country!
Alistair: Although, the city is nice too.
Dyani: Right.  You might have well just compared a stallion to a rat.
Jalem: Have you ever been to a city?
Dyani: No.
Alistair: (laughs)


~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

There Would Be No Rainbow

I've become insane enough to embark on a blogging project with four other people.  Welcome to my world.
And here it is....
There Would Be No Rainbow.  Based on the quote, "Without the rain, there would be no rainbow," by Jerry Chin.
The goal of our project is to show you guys little insights, things we've learned from life experience.  It's kind of an experiment, and if it falls apart, you can blame me.  ~sheepish grin~
My sister will take Saturdays, Meadow posts on Mondays, Emily as Wednesdays, I have Thursdays, and Krissy took Fridays.

As an afterthought, I'm debating sharing an excerpt from DQZ with you guys.  Let me know one way or another.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

The Craving for Adventure

Today at about 8:30 on a Facebook chat I asked one of my longest friends this question:
"Do you remember two years ago, and you'd been gone for Christmas, and you missed the first week of dance because of Missoula, and I waited for you after the show forever so I could see you again?"
It resulted in a rather long discussion on all the things we used to do together.  She and I had been fighting all last year, and only resolved the issue after a prolonged silence, when we both had a chance to think.  Both of us were at fault, of course, but that's a different story.
Still, the chance to talk about all the pretend games we used to do, exploring the sheds, hoping to find a dead body, or buried treasure (all we ever found was dust, and dust, and more dust), playing two-man baseball, law court, writing stories together...it made for a very good Valentine's Day, and it ended with this comment from me:
"You know, [Friend], I think I write stories now, because I miss playing pretend with you..."
I've always had a thrill for adventure, a yearning to find a trapdoor that led me to another world, or find out I have some mysterious power.  Not only did I play pretend with my best friend, my sister and I concocted hundreds of plots and characters with our stuffed animals, I wrote short stories, my sister and I would run around pretending to be heroes in training, Indians, or explorers all afternoon.  I still have such a fascination with knives, swords, bows and arrows, explorers, jungles, deserts, dinosaurs, outer space, that it's almost pathetic a times.
And yes, I write for the emotional impact, but also to fulfill that craving to have adventures.  Stuffed animals have lost their touch, I no longer have time to run around all day, but I can still have any adventure I want by reading and writing.
Words are a beautiful thing.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Dyani: The Quest for Zuriel Cover

So, you know how yesterday I came up with the name for my OYAN?
Here is the cover for Dyani: The Quest for Zuriel (we'll call it DQZ for short).
Thoughts?

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Dyani: The Quest for Zuriel

To my immense pleasure, I have come up with a name for my OYAN.
Dyani: The Quest for Zuriel
Let me know if it sounds cheesy...I think it does.
Now to create a cover.  ~mutters something about a sword~

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Birthday Resolutions

So, my birthday is today.
I'm not quite sure what to say.

I've grown a lot in the past year.  In my thinking, my writing, my theology...

I've always thought that birthdays are better times to make resolutions than the new year, so here are some thoughts that have been flitting about in my head about what I could improve.


In my fourteenth year I want to strive to live like Jesus, especially in my family, since that's where I am lax, if disciplined at all.

I want to pour God into my writing, give it meaning.  This world is broken, and I want to help the healing process in any way I can, even if it's just in a few words on a page. 

I want to practice caring about the people around me.  I have a tendency to brush things away because I don't want to have to deal with them.  This is a selfish thing to do...and I've been beating myself up over it recently.

Lastly, I want to start thinking more positive thoughts about people.  I've always been an optimist,  but I have a tendency to start thinking about bad qualities in the people I meet, especially people I am close with.


Through this I need to remember to pray and that it won't happen overnight.
And, of course, I need to remember: One can make a difference.

"Give me yours eyes for just one second.  Give me your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing.  Give me your love for humanity." ~Brandon Heath, Give Me Your Eyes


~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Why I Write

I've been thinking a lot lately.  About everything.  And tonight in my various wonderings I realized why I write.

I have a very hard time sharing my heart with anyone, even my closest friends because...it has been broken.  The one who did it doesn't know it, and I didn't realize it until recently.

My mom actually pointed that out to me the other day, when my sister was doing her job of prying.

I write to share my heart in the most indirect way possible.  I fumble with words in real life, but in writing I can tweak it, fix it, bend it, coat it, until it has the meaning I want to convey, and a strand of my heart twisted in it.

It's how I share me.

God bless,
Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler

Beautiful People, January Edition + OYAN

So, yes, it's that time again.  Beautiful People....
I'm going to interview Dyani today, who is the MC in my OYAN novel (I'll talk more about that in a minute).




1. If character's house burned down, and they were left with nothing but the clothes on their back, what would they do? Where would they go?
My house has already burned down, you know, and I ended up in the castle with the foulest woman you will ever meet.
 2. Are they happy with where they are in life, or would they like to move on? 
Get.  Me. Out of here....
  3. Are they well-paid? 
I haven't held any type of money in my hand for five years.
 4. Can they read? 
I've never had cause to, and I don't ever want to.
  5. What languages do they speak?
Oh, I don't know.  English perhaps?
 6. What is their biggest mistake? 
I refuse to live life with any regrets.
 7. What did they play with most as a child? 
Horses!  Dad owned a stable.
 8. What are their thoughts on politics? 
I could care less.
 9. What is their expected life time? 
Well, at the moment, I could be killed if I turned the wrong direction.  Let's hope to make it to my fifteenth birthday.
 10. If they were falsely accused of murder, what would they do? How would they react?
I would probably end up in a shouting match, and if I couldn't win, I'd run away.



Okay, now that that is done, I should probably tell you that I'm not planning on posting very often, but I am planning on keeping up with all the blogs I follow.  ~eyeroll~


On other fantastic news, I'm currently in the middle of chapter four with my OYAN novel.  It will be referred to as "OYAN novel" because it has yet to be named.


Dyani is turning out to be much more fiery than I anticipated.  Alistair can't get in two words before she blows up for some sort of offense, and it appears Dyani is bringing out his bad side, because Alistair is angered easily by her.  Still, I like writing about Dyani.  She's basically me pumped up in over-honesty plus the fact she can talk to people she doesn't know easily.

In other words, this should be interesting.

~Charlotte Grace, the Mind Traveler