Stranger Than Fiction

I highly recommend this movie to anyone, but especially to writers. This movie breaks the boundary between narrator, author and character. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will not say much about the plot. I will say however, that the character and the author are very similar, and this movie really focuses on the idea of what it means to truly live. More than that, the movie plays with genres and asks the question, what if the character an author wrote was a real person, and by writing their story, the author determines their fate?

Running is a problem

Running is a problem,
Not a solution.
Thoughts build
Questions haunt
Life looms,
And fears taunt.
The only way
To truly live
Is to trust yourself
Believe and give.
The more you try,
The more you'll know
Where you belong
And where you should go.

When everyone else moves on (Sitting on the Sidelines)

I know that everyone reaches a point in their life when they look around at everyone else and ask themselves: "How far have I come?" or maybe, "How much have I accomplished to reach my goal?". I just finished reading the book How to Be Like Walt and learned all the obstacles he faced, and the challenges he took head on. Walt Disney was a doer, and he seemed aware that he only had so much time on earth to reach his goals. I'm afraid I haven't realized that yet, or I have put that thought aside and refuse to face some of my fears. So many of my friends have already moved on and are headed toward their own goals. It's almost like a moment when everyone get's off the train, except you. Just the fact that you are sitting in that seat, with no one else around you can make you question if you made the right decision. I know I have more to accomplish before I head off to the real world and start building a life for myself. It's a transition period that everyone goes through, and I'm convinced that this moment can be the defining challenge in a person's life. I believe that because I'm thinking about these things now, I am headed toward that moment.
For years I have observed everyone else as they lived life around me. During these observations, I have sat on the sidelines, built a fortress, and completely avoided anything I feared.
There is however one moment where I actually felt I belonged, and I felt like I was living life. The Disney College Program created an environment where I felt no reason to put up defenses, and I could pursue the things I wanted to do. It was my first time living away from home, and I enjoyed all the opportunities I took to learn about people, and about the truth within myself. I still look back to those times and have less regrets for my actions than any moment through out my life. This is probably some identity crisis, or maybe even me being impatient to get out there and begin my career path to reach my goals.
I do know that all these struggles, and all this pain I went through are my fault. I refused to open my heart to many opportunities, and as I result, I have regrets that haunt me to this day. Call it what you will, a social anxiety, fear of people or even a fear of myself, it's still a huge problem and a giant obstacle that effects my life. I'm sure that the frustration I feel, and the disappoints I have of myself are normal as well. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has fears, and every one has to make a decision at least once in their life time.
Some people may laugh at me, saying I have already wasted so much time living in fear. Some people may be disappointed in me, and tell me that I have learned very little about life and people. I know many different reactions to this situation, and I still struggle with understanding who I am and what I want.
So let me explain that I know the fault is mine. I have pushed people away. I have enclosed myself in my own little world. I have blamed others for my frustration and pain. I have also flat out refused to acknowledge that I have an abnormal reaction to many normal situations. But, if there is one thing I have learned, it' s that the more you avoid something, the longer it haunts you. I guess it is true that you can't compare yourself to others to a certain extent. Everyone is different and everyone has different coping mechanisms to their difficult situations.
In my case, I am struggling with being proud of myself and having a hard time accepting that I have done so little. Not just with my career path, but with my life in general. And for some reason, maybe because I'm in my last semester of college, it's catching up with me. All the situations I avoided, all the times I thought instead of acted, have shown me that I probably haven't lived life.
I can say that I have reasons. I have been told this by several people. I have a lot of fears to overcome, most of them abnormal. I have a lot of flaws I refuse to accept. I have many opportunities to take advantage of in the future, some of which I already worry about and fear. This is human, but it is also a huge challenge to overcome.
Maybe the only way I can resolve this problem, is to write a story of someone going through the same thing. Sometimes a writer can understand a situation more after they write about it. This could be a story that I need to tell.

Memories keep living

Memories survive
Even when others are gone
The time spent
The right and wrong
No matter the distance
Through time and space
Memories always
Live in their place

Why do people attack the Disney Princesses?

Ok, I''m currently in a Children's Literature class and the theme in most of these classes. The theme is to bash Disney, and Disney Princesses usually. Now, to be fair, these characters are fiction, and they live in fantasy worlds. As far as I know, the Disney Princesses are characters that influence young girls by being good role models and iconic representatives of their fairy tales. I know that the media is often blamed for people making bad choices, but Disney especially seems to get the most negative attention. I rarely hear people bash Dream Works or Nickolodeon for their characters. So just for fun, I decided to go through each Princess, and explain what they represented to me.

Snow White- I know that this character in particular is considered very passive and weak. Looking back on the movie, I would agree that Snow White runs from scary trees, faints and becomes very easily scared. Now I will bring in her situation: Evil Stepmother, hardly any social interaction with people, and mostly alone. As a character with these situations, Snow White seems to be believable. She is very innocent and naive because she has hardly seen the world, and actually has a talent for adapting to her surroundings. She may not be a feminist, but Snow White has a good heart, kind personality and a knack for adapting to situations. I believe she (considering her as a simple character) is a good role model for girls.

Cinderella- I actually haven't heard this character get bashed in a while. In fact, Cinderella seems to be the favorite Disney Princess of our society. The Cinderella story is done many times, with different characters, and is still a guideline for some of today's action films. The only complaint that I have heard about Cinderella, is that she doesn't stand up for herself. Well, in a way, she does. One, she ignores many of the insults thrown at her, continues to work hard, and she has a kind nature. Also, she stands up to Lucifer, the cat, several times, making it clear that she's in charge. She also has an optimistic personailty, which is better than a pessimistic one.

Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)- The only negative criticism I hear about this character is her lack of knowledge about pointy things. Well, to be honest, she probably never heard of a Spinning wheel because they were banned and the king and queen wanted to avoid Malificent's Prophecy, so of course they didn't tell her. Aurora has many qualities in her personality. She is kind, of course, curious (which can lead to knowledge) and seems comfortable with a simple life. (She isn't selfish).

Pocahontas- This is probably the most underrated character in the Disney Princess line. In fact I have a friend who told me this is her favorite movie :) Anyway, Pocahontas is one of the strongest women characters in the Disney line. She is very confident, smart and she loves to have fun. She is more social than the previous three, but she also has an intelligent side that brings the English and Native Americans together. This movie may not be exactly like the historical story, but no one can say Pocahontas is a weak character.

Ariel- The story of The Little Mermaid itself has been debated over as a good or bad story to tell children. I'll stick to Ariel for this blog. So this princess is one of the most popular for many reasons; her appearance, her voice and her personality. Ariel is an adventurous, social, persistent, creative and curious character. She is also active in the sense that she tries to understand the world in her way, rather than accept what she has been told. The complaint of her rebellion can be understandable, but her age plays a big role in her story. She is sixteen, a teenager. That can sum up a lot of her actions. Still, she has the motivation to achieve her dreams, which is another characteristic for role models.

Belle- My favorite, and one of the most liberating characters in the Disney Princess line, Belle shows a very strong personality for her generation. She stands up to Gaston for one, and the Beast for another. She is portrayed as an avid reader (smart), curious dreamer (adventurous) and a loyal daughter. She also shows a sophisticated response to Gaston's harassment. She is kind, and seems comfortable around people. Belle is also able to adapt to her surroundings and she seems confident with herself. These are very interesting characteristics and good qualities in a role model.

Jasmine- This Disney princess is ahead of her time ( in her own story). She wants to marry for love, and makes it happen. She also doesn't care about status or money. Similar to Ariel, she has a bit of a rebellious streak, but not enough that it becomes a problem. This desire becomes an action to change a palace law. She also stands up to Jafar and stands up for Aladdin twice. She is a courageous, stubborn, resourceful, and compassionate.

Mulan- Clearly Mulan is strong. She takes up her father's sword and armor, goes to war and even while everyone knows she is a woman, defeats Shan Yu. She is smart, persistent, strong, courageous, resourceful, competitive and loyal. Mulan is absolutely a good role model for girls and shows that the impossible is possible (in terms of gender roles).

Tiana- A very strong character, Tiana shows the values of working towards your dreams and valuing life. She is passionate, persistent, friendly, goal oriented, loyal, independent and responsible. These are excellent qualities for a girl to look up to. Completely the opposite of a damsel in distress, Tiana shows a successful story arc to achieving a goal. She knows that it is important to take action in order to get what you want in life.

Rapunzel- Rapunzel is the artistic soul in the Disney Princess line. She is naive in the beginning, but learns quickly. She also has a goal to motivate her, and learns to stand up for herself and perceive the world around her. She is creative, playful, charismatic, brave, talented, productive, and loyal.

So those are the princesses so far. I think these characters were created to modernize fairy tales and serve as role models for young girls. So I really don't understand why these characters get put down by college professors and used as negative examples in college discussions.

Reaching for the star

Maybe I should build a ladder,
each plank a step
in the right direction.
There are many things I think of
before I grab the wood.
What if it isn't sturdy?
What if lightning strikes?
Or an earthquake?
Flood?
So many obstacles.
So much hesitation.
Will I ever build the ladder?
Or is it easier than I believe?
This difficult climb
is my own.
No one can help me.
No one can tell me how to get there.
They only know their own steps.
Their own ladder.
It makes sense.
And yet, it's frustrating.
This ladder . . .
Is it made of wood at all?
Perhaps the material is metal.
The tools are varied for different people.
Maybe the shape of the ladder is different for others.
But while I stand here,
contemplating other people's ladders,
and other people's climb
to reach their star,
My own ladder is nothing.
No wood.
No tools.
No courage.
No hope.
No way of reaching the star.
I now know,
after all these thoughts
that I must find my own tools,
build my own structure,
and listen to my own heart.
Only then, can I reach the star.

What determines the value of a film?

This was a question that was asked in my script writing classes today. Audiences tend to go into a film with certain expectations, and if those expectations are not met, the film is considered a bad film in their eyes. As far as I know, this is true for any movie watcher. The expectations are where things get tricky. Some expectations are based on the reaction to the trailer or other methods of marketing. Other expectations can be influenced by the movie goers morals, perspective and opinions. I found this very fascinating, due to the fact that I generally watch a film to determine the choices of characters. In truth, the way a person views a film says a lot about them. For example, Inception has two types of reactions within its audience. One side believes the ending is a dream, and the other believes the ending is reality. This simple expectation based on an ambiguous ending explains the perspective of the viewer. In some cases, the audience can have similar reactions to a film, but none of these reactions will ever be identical. With this said, the value of a film is clearly a personal choice of the viewer, but it also tends to be based on common perspectives and wishes of the public. What do you believe determines the value of a film?

The Bridge to Never Land

Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson are at it again. Their new book is a more modern day story about finding Never Land. I haven't read the book yet, but I did see it in the store and read the first two chapters. I was unable to put it down through Sarah and Aidan's sibling fight. I will say this. All their children's books have interesting plots, great characters and exciting twists. One day I hope to write stories like that, and entertain many Disney fans and children ^_^ So, I guess the scoop of the day is: if you like Peter Pan, humor and adventure, this book is for you!

Roscoe: a cute little dog with a big problem

Roscoe is a three year old Dashhund who can't use his hind legs. The problem is a bulging invertebral disc. This adorable dog needs your help to raise enough money for an important surgery. Without this surgery, it is possible that he will die. If you'd like to donate and help this poor pup, go to this website:
http://helplittleroscoe.chipin.com/roscoes-bulging-intervertebral-disc-surgery

Roscoe is counting on you so he can walk again! Please spread the word!

A familiar discovery

While browsing through TradesMart, I happened to discover a familiar looking dog staring at me from a DVD cover. WishBone was one of my favorite programs on TV when I got home from school. I read the books, and I even had a cute little stuffed animal of WishBone! I loved reading from the beginning, and having a cute little dog talk about stories just added to the fun. Anyway, here's a little something to revive childhood memories :)



WishBone will always be one of the best kids' shows on television and Soccer the dog will be forever remembered as a curious and clever pup!

Some quotes to think about

"If you can visualize it, if you can dream it, there's some way to do it."
Walt Disney

"A lot of young people think the future is closed to them, that everything has been done. This is not so. There are plenty of avenues to be explored."
Walt Disney

"The more you understand about change, the better you will manage your future."
Pat Williams

It's easy to read a few quotes, but it is harder to live by them. As a person getting ready for the future, and preparing for change, I think these quotes are extremely important. This year, I'm planning a route to achieve my goals, and accept the changes around me. I know I haven't blogged in awhile, but I am learning that you must understand yourself and your audience. These quotes mean a lot to me. Especially because I have been going through some seriously tough times and facing so many challenges I can't even name them all. To all my readers, thanks for your support. I will do my best to live by this advice and make my own mark in the world.

What do these quotes mean to you?

Writing Prompt 18 : Childhood

Prompt: For me, the sound of childhood is . . .



Wind chimes. The sound is light and airy and reminds me of spring. I used to listen to wind chimes in my neighborhood when I was little. I would ride my bike down the road, and if the wind blew just right, I could hear the soft clink of bells down the street. I was always fascinated with them when we went to the store, and so many wind chimes were lined up that I wanted to set them off at once. They were as pretty as necklaces and had such a clean sound. That sound always reminded me of laughter and every time I see or hear wind chimes, I think of those biking trips around the neighborhood. Childhood can be so simple, and yet so complicated, like a wind chime. The sound it makes is so pure, yet the sound is formed when many objects collide. Childhood is a wind chime of memories, but it is up to you how clear the sound will be.

What sound reminds you of childhood?

Mood Music: great writing and homework tunes

So, I've been in a music mood lately now that I'm writing again. When I write or do homework, or even work around the house, I like to listen to instrumental music from movies, video games or television shows. Among my favorites are the Final Fantasy collections, Kingdom Hearts collections, Lord of the Rings, and of course Merlin BBC soundtracks. But, I have also discovered the Vitamin String Quartet. Their tracks are usually popular songs played by an orchestra. I find them very relaxing and recommend them for any writer's playlist.



Happy writing everyone!

Mood music: A beautiful uplifting song for anyone chasing their dreams

This song is going to be my new theme for this semester. As my last year and semester in college is coming, I think of this song as I take chances by entering writing contests, applying for jobs, and getting ready to follow my dreams. So, anyone chasing your dreams, this song is for you!

Crossing the Bridge

As you go through life
you learn to see
the hints you're given
for who you should be.
Each step you take
to find your way
is a challenge in itself.
You sometimes want to stay.
For on that bridge
you do not know
all the places
you can go.
It takes time
to understand
the bridge you're on
is made of sand.
Every grain is in your control
and the sturdiness, only you can know.
Crossing the bridge is no easy task,
but it is more difficult
when you wear a mask.
Be true to yourself
and learn to walk
with confident steps
and honest talk.
You'll only know
who you are
by crossing the bridge
and going far.

Writing Prompt 17: Change

Prompt: Why change anything about yourself?

Sometimes a change is necessary in maturity. It is a personality trait, or a way of thinking. These changes can help improve a person's life or open their mind to a new idea. Changing is a difficult process, and it does take time. I think that the most crucial time to change yourself is when you are miserable or depressed. In that state of mind, it is probably best to become more of a positive than negative thinker. Perhaps another time to change yourself is when you're lonely or disappointed. It may be that you blame others for habits within yourself. It has been said that you can't change anyone else, but you can change yourself. The first step to action in these situations is to change yourself for the better. Being stuck in the same useless cycle, where you blame everyone else or get angry at the world is a horrible way to live life, and the most important time to change yourself. But, change is not necessarily something that isn't true to yourself. It could be a discovery of uncharted areas in your mind and heart. So in a way, if you change yourself for the better, you are actually discovering who you truly are.

The Real Life of A Writer

I was fortunate enough to discover that Sarah Dessen, one of my favorite Young Adult writers was interviewed about the life of a writer and the writing process. I was amazed to discover that she decided to drop four books, and even dropped one that her agent wanted her to publish. At the same time, I've been reading about Walt Disney, and how he made some tough decisions throughout his career. I think that the best way to advance towards your dream is to be honest with yourself. Sometimes that means taking the more difficult road and sticking to it with determination. As I read about these two artists, I really thought about the long road I have ahead of me. I want to be the kind of writer that offers good quality stories and timeless themes. Sometimes that will mean making tough decisions and really revising a personal favorite story. I have a feeling that the real life of any successful artist in the entertainment industry will involve many situations that put them to the test. But, the decisions these people make truly matter in their success. For example, it is better to worry about the quality of the story than try to surprise your readers with too many twists. I personally admire J. R. R. Tolkien for never writing a sequel to Lord of the Rings no matter how hard he was pressured. Dessen made a similar decision, where she chose not to publish one story, even though she needed the money, because it didn't feel right. Walt Disney decided that he would produce Cinderella instead of retiring and living off his other productions. This is probably the most important characteristic of a successful person, perserverance. Honesty and Dedication really go a long way. I already know that it's a slow climb to get where you want to be, but everything I've read about these successful people tells me the struggle is worth it. Everyone makes mistakes and learns from them, no matter what job they have. But the real trick to being successful is to take those difficult times and learn the lessons to succeed in the future. So I believe that the real life of a writer relies on the path to success, and every journey through a career is a journey to the self.

Whose career path inspires you to live your dream?

When it rains it pours

When it rains it pours
It rips open doors
Keeps you on your toes
While you watch and wait
Make a decision
Or take the bait
When the only way is far above
Keep your faith
And trust in love