It's been quite a while and for that I appologize. I have been busy getting back to school and working on my manuscript. I'm sick today though so I have some time. I want to post here the entry that ended up getting me 5th Place in the Surry International Writers Conference 'Lisa Rector's Young Writers scholarship' so people can check it out if they want. http://www.siwc.ca/blogs/kcdyer/alison-burns-wins-lisa-rector-young-writers-scholarship-honourable-mention

I also want to post the winners entry here, she is a good friend of mine and VERY talented.

http://www.siwc.ca/blogs/kcdyer/sophia-ma-wins-lisa-rector-2008-young-writers-scholarship

Please take the time to check out her post if anything she is an incredible writer and this piece took my breath away.

Hero?

In writing 12 today we talked about a hero piece we're going to write. I began thinking "who is my hero?" a super hero like batman or something? NO definitely not. A super villan (darth vader??) even less so. Someone in my family-maybe but not strong enough. Some famous actor or actress? I pitty them rather than make them my hero. A woman from long ago who suffered through a world run by men????? no. Once again pitty. Then who? My hero is not someone who can be defined by there hair or skin colour. Nor do they live in a certian point in the past or the future. They are, have always been and will aways be. They can be everywhere and no where at the same moment in time. It is the epiphany of happiness and the darkest, deepest depths of dispair. they will always stop to help you if you drop something on the street. You can and will both love them and hate them if it were possible to meet my hero. My hero is everyone and anything that has moral values. That cares for others. It can be as simple as doing a good deed for someone and not needing anything in return. That is my hero.
I guess I have a piece to write...

Nanowrimo

Yikes I am way behind on my nanowrimo!...which means I probably shouldn't be wasting my time writing this but I will anyways ;). Does anyone know some fantastic catch up tricks for Nano because if not I am a sinking ship.

For those few writers who don't know nanowrimo is where you try and write a 50,000 word novel or more in a month. It is about Quantity rather than Quality. google Nanowrimo and it should be the first thing that comes up. Finish 50,000 words and I've heard through the grape vine that nanowrimo's fantastic sponsers will take your book put it into paperback form and send it to you for free (basic shipping included :) ) so go write!!! That's what I'm doing.

ps. for all you nano writers out their how far along are you and how is it going?

Pen Name

I have created what I think could be a really good pen name. My normal name (which I will not write here) is very boring and ordinary and I want something memorable. So me and my friend (who has also created a pen name) decided on Azen Star for a pen name.

I want to know what you think.

Do you like this better or should I go with my real name.

What would you do? go with your real name or a pen name and why?

Dreams in Your Writing

I just woke up and after hurridly writing d0wn my dream I rushed here (instead of doing homework but that's ok. I need to get this in because I probably won't be posting much in the next little while my uncles here).



I wan't to know what you think about using a dream you have as a driver for a story? I mean obviously not every dream is writing material (mine usually aren't)



I had a really incredible vivid dream last night with (surprisingly) fairly workable plot and characters. However...It's FAR from the genre I usually write. This is more crime fiction and I usually write fantasy. The question is do I take time away from Auburn Queen to work on this as a NaNo? what do you think? to follow the dream or not to follow the dream!! that is the question ;)

dangerous doors

I smacked into a door today...or rather it smacked into me. I was just standing outside the drama room at school minding my own buisness. Someone decided they were going to open the door from the inside fast enough that I didn't see it coming and whack!!!!!!!!!!! painful much. So that's my random event for the day I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. Oh i'm getting a blood test today or tomorrow. Can't wait-NOT.

So did you run into anything today?

-Ali

James McCann and the blue pencil

I know-very strange title. I had my blue pencil apointment at SIWC with the author James McCann and it was such an honour. Not only that but it was very helpful (once of course I got over the embarasing fact that I left my manuscript outside and had to run out to get it :( ). Little did I think he would remember me...apparently he did. Check it out. Thankyou James McCann http://jamesmccannauthor.blogspot.com/