My New WIP!!!

Hello my Elflings!

So I had this AMAZING STORY IDEA the other night!
Have you ever heard of The Wild Swans? It is an awesome story!
Here is the overview from Wikipedia:

In a faraway kingdom, there lives a widowed king with his twelve children: eleven princes and one princess. One day, he decides to remarry. He marries a wicked queen who was a witch. Out of spite, the queen turns her eleven stepsons into swans (they are allowed to become human by night) and forces them to fly away. The queen then tries to bewitch their 15-year-old sister, Elisa, but Elisa's goodness is too strong for this, so the queen has Elisa banished. The brothers carry Elisa to safety in a foreign land where she is out of the reach of her stepmother.

There, Elisa is guided by the queen of the fairies to gather stinging nettles in graveyards to knit into shirts that will eventually help her brothers regain their human shapes. Elisa endures painfully blistered hands from nettle stings, and she must also take a vow of silence for the duration of her task, for speaking one word will kill her brothers. The king of another faraway land happens to come across the mute Elisa and falls in love with her. He grants her a room in his castle where she continues her knitting. Eventually he proposes to crown her as his queen and wife, and she accepts.

However, the Archbishop is chagrined because he thinks Elisa is herself a witch, but the king will not believe him. One night Elisa runs out of nettles and is forced to collect more in a nearby church graveyard where the Archbishop is watching. Ghoulish spirits that devour the bodies of the dead are also in the churchyard, and the archbishop believes that Elisa is in league with them. He reports the incident to the king as proof of witchcraft. The statues of the saints shake their heads in protest, but the Archbishop misinterprets this sign as confirmation of Elisa's guilt. The Archbishop orders to put Elisa on trial for witchcraft. She can speak no word in her defense and is sentenced to death by burning at the stake.

The brothers discover Elisa's plight and try to speak to the king but fail, thwarted by the rising sun. Even as the tumbril bears Elisa away to execution, she continues knitting, determined to keep it up to the last moment of her life. This enrages the people, who are on the brink of snatching and destroying the shirts when the swans descend and rescue Elisa. The people interpret this as a sign from Heaven that Elisa is innocent, but the executioner still makes ready for the burning. When Elisa throws the shirts over the swans, her brothers return to their human forms. (Unfortunately, the youngest brother has a swan's wing instead of an arm, as Elisa did not have time to finish one sleeve of his shirt.) Elisa is now free to speak and tell the truth, but she faints from exhaustion, so her brothers explain. As they do so, the firewood around Elisa's stake miraculously takes root and bursts into flowers. The king plucks the topmost flower and presents it to Elisa, and they are married. And the youngest prince's wing becomes normal again.

Now isn't that an awesome story? So I decided to make an adaptation of it! I am so excited for this one. The version I have, though, names the princess Elise instead of Elisa, so I am going to use that. I also named all the characters, as they don't really have names in the story. And you see that it says the youngest prince's wing becomes normal again? I think that, in my story, I am going to leave him with one arm and one wing! I mean, would that not be cool? To have a swan wing? A swan wing that has the striking power of a baseball bat? Oh yeah! Sucker's keeping his wing alright! 

I suppose you want to know what I renamed them... of course xD

Here is a list of all characters I named:

King Iskander (Elise's father and ruler of Ivoria) 

Queen Imayn ( Iskander's first wife and co-ruler of Ivoria)

Queen Elewys (Iskander's second wife and evil stepmother)

Prince Regent Gauvain

Prince Regent Raullin

Prince Regent Giraldus

Prince Regent Renier

Prince Regent Bayard

Prince Regent Guerin

Prince Regent Tedric

Prince Regent Rogier

Prince Regent Gervase

Prince Regent Mainard

Prince Regent Johann (the one who keeps his wing)

Princess Elise

I also made pictures of them using the DollDivine website!
(I had to make two separate pictures for the Princes Regent 'cause there are so many of them xD)

l-r: King Iskander, Queen Imayn, Princess Elise, and the evil Queen Elewys:

l-r: Princes Regent Gauvain, Raullin, Giraldus, Renier, and Bayard 

l-r: Princes Regent Guerin, Tedric, Rogier, Gervase, Mainard, and Johann

(DOESN'T GERVASE JUST LOOK LIKE A GERVASE?!?!?!?)

l-r: the evil Archbishop Ouidart, Ricolda (the old lady Elise meets in the woods), Morgana the Fairy, and King Alexedris of Skaris (who marries Elise)

...and the reason that there are so many Princes Regent is that only one of them can succeed their father (duh), so the rest act as Regents. And Elise isn't a regent because there's only one of her, and her fate is pretty much decided as the final tie of an alliance xD  but then things happen *mysterious music* The prince's full titles would go something like "Prince Regent Johann Avar of Ivoria, Swanwing" Avar is the royal family's last name, and the italicized word is a title that they earn when they turn twenty, taken from the most important thing that they did or that happened to them in the years before.

This book will have thirty chapters, unless I forget to add something and have to lengthen it xD

I can't wait to share the ins and outs of this book as I write it!

What do you think of this story idea? Do you want me to share it chapter-by-chapter as I write it? Have you had any great story ideas lately?

Monday Funnies...

Hey Elflings!

So I just said something hilarious that I want to share with you. Well, it wasn't so much what I said as how ironic it was... :P

First you're gonna need the backstory:
A few years ago, some of my friends and I were playing in our church parking lot. There were some Magnolia trees at the edge of the asphalt, and I picked up one of the big pinecone-like thingys and proceeded to throw it at one of the boys (of course). This immediately started what we have ever after called *cue dramatic music* THE PINECONE WAR.  After "firing the first shot", I calmly walked away in slow motion wearing sunglasses as the war exploded in flames behind me. and didn't throw another pinecone or take any other part in the war for as long as it lasted.


Now, for the Funny:

Today, my sister was doing her Famous Men of Greece exercises and I was listening to her discuss it with my mom. They were trying to figure out who "the Trojan champion and prince" was (turns out it was Hector), and I said,
"I'll tell you one thing though, it wasn't Paris! Sure, he was a prince and all, but not a champion by any means. Nobody really liked him, not even the Trojans. Imagine the nerve of that guy, to go off and start a war and then not take part in it!"

.............

.............

...and then I remembered what I had done years earlier, and almost died laughing.

Have you ever done anything silly like that? What was it? I'd love to know!

Five Poems You Need to Read (and should memorize!)

Hey Elflings!
I was reading some poems a few days back, and I wanted to share some of them with you.

(Note: These are in no particular "order-of-preference" whatsoever.)

Number One:

Preparedness
Edwin Markham

For all your days prepare,
And meet them all alike:
When you are the anvil, bear--
When you are the hammer, strike.
        

This is a short yet powerful poem. Be ready. You never know what's coming. Don't be caught off guard.

Number Two:

The Fool's Prayer
Edward Rowland Sill

The royal feast was done; the King
Sought some new sport to banish care,
And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool, 
Kneel now and make for us a prayer!"

The jester doffed his cap and bells,
And stood the mocking court before;
They could not see the bitter smile 
Behind the painted grin he wore.

He bowed his head, and bent his knee
Upon the monarch's silken stool;
His pleading voice arose: "Oh Lord, 
Be merciful to me, a fool!

"No pity, Lord, could change the heart
From red with wrong to white as wool;
The rod must heal the sin: but, Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!

" 'T is not by guilt the onward sweep 
Of truth and right, oh Lord, we stay;
'T is by our follies that so long 
We hold the Earth from Heaven away.

"These clumsy feet, still in the mire,
Go crushing blossoms without end;
These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust
Among the heart-strings of a friend.

"The ill-timed truth we might have kept--
Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung!
The word we had not sense to say--
Who knows how grandly it had rung!

"Our faults no tenderness should ask,
The chastening stripes must cleanse them all;
But for our blunders--oh, in shame
Before the eyes of Heaven we fall.

"Earth bears no balsam for mistakes;
Men crown the knave and scourge the tool
That did his will; but thou, oh Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!"

The room was hushed; in silence rose
The King, and sought his gardens cool,
And walked apart, and murmured low:
"Be merciful to me, a fool!"

Wow, right? This one makes me think of the Bible verse from Psalms that says, "Though your servant is careful of them [God's laws], very diligent in keeping them, yet who can detect failings? Cleanse me from my unknown faults!" Beautiful! I myself am working on memorizing this poem.


Number Three:

A Friend's Greeting
Edgar A. Guest

I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me;
I'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you each minute of the day
As you have meant, old friend of mine, to me along the way.

I'd like to do the big things and the splendid things for you,
To brush the gray from out your skies and leave them only blue;
I'd like to say the kindly things that I so oft have heard,
And feel that I could rouse your soul the way that mine you've stirred.

I'd like to give you back the joy that you have given me, 
Yet that were wishing you a need I hope, will never be;
I'd like to make you feel as rich as I, who travel on
Undaunted in the darkest hours with you to lean upon.

I'm wishing at this Christmas time that I could but repay
A portion of the gladness that you've strewn along my way;
And could I have one wish this year, this only would it be:
I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me.

This is my heartfelt wish! Don't you just read this and respond from the depths of your soul, "Yes! Yes, this is how I feel too"? And sure, it says "Christmas" (and we're not there yet), but it goes year round, in my opinion!

Number Four:

I Shall Not Pass This Way Again
Author Unknown

Through this toilsome world, alas!
Once and only once I pass;
If a kindness I may show,
If a good deed I may do,
To a suffering fellow man,
Let me do it while I can.
No delay, for it is plain,
I shall not pass this way again.

MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME YOU HAVE! At any time, you could die, and what would they remember you by? Make your life count!

Number Five:

Prayer of a Soldier in France
Joyce Kilmer

My shoulders ache beneath my pack
(Lie easier, Cross, upon His back).

I march with feet that burn and smart
(Tread, Holy Feet, upon my heart).

Men shout at me who may not speak
(They scourged Thy back and smote Thy cheek).

I may not lift a hand to clear 
My eyes of salty drops that sear.

(Then shall my fickle soul forget 
Thy Agony of Bloody Sweat?)

My rifle hand is stiff and numb
(From The pierced palm red rivers come).

Lord, thou didst suffer more for me
Than all the hosts of land and sea.

So let me render back again
This millionth of The gift. Amen.


What a beautiful poem! God has done the unthinkable for us... should we not do all we can for Him?



I hope you enjoyed this selection of poems, my Elflings! Read them, memorize them, share them! They come in handy for all situations. If you need something to put on a Christmas card, use A Friend's Greeting by Edgar A. Guest. If you need some motivation, recite Preparedness by Edwin Markham! Poems are super useful, and inspirational!

Have you ever read any of these poems before? Do you plan on memorizing any of them? Which one was your favorite?

THE NEW LOOK!!!

Ohmigosh! Elflings! I finally did it!

I changed my blog look!

*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA*

Seriously, though, it took me FOREVER to decide because I was so scared it wouldn't look ok, but I think it turned out alright! What do y'all think?

And this was the first time I have changed things by myself! (and here I go making it sound like I change blog looks all the time... :P)

The header picture will probably change, although I kinda like it how it is. I think the solid green behind the words "The Life of An Elf" is a bit dark. What are your thoughts?

And I like the background picture a lot, although, if you look closely, they forgot to crop out the power line on the left xD


I want to thank my amazing friend Ceci, who, although she didn't help me this time, helped me fix my blog when I first started it (because I didn't even know what to do :P), and encouraged me to take the leap of faith and strike out on my own. Thank you Ceci :D

Anyway, what do mine Elflings think about this new look? Are you happy? Disappointed? Neutral? Let me hear your thoughts! :D

AND I HAVE NOT DELETED PART TWO OF WRITING FANTASY FICTION. I PROMISE. IT'S COMING. PATIENCE, ELFLINGS. PATIENCE. :D

Should I change the header picture? Does it "clash"?

(that's my main concern)

(Another) Quick Update...

Hey Elflings!

So....hem...I have been thinking, and I was wondering about something and by now you just want me to get to the point.

The Point:
What would you think if I changed the theme and possibly some of the layout of my blog?
Tell me what you think! You know, some of my gadgets are gonna end up on the other side of the main body, to prevent me from being "one-sided", get it? xD that wasn't funny.

Anyway! Would you like to see some change here at The Life of an Elf? Different colors? Different theme, maybe? I want to know what you think! FYI, will accept and consider any and all suggestions about anything and everything, so give me whatcha got!
Thanks for your time!

Lacy out!

*poof*

Writing Fantasy Fiction: Dos, Don'ts, and Absolute No-Nos (Part One, the Don'ts)

Hey my Elflings! Here is the promised super long post!
So I was having a discussion with a friend lately, and we were talking about our fantasy fiction WIPs. And I started thinking about how I can make my writing better. Nothing said about the friend's writing, because she wows me with her amazing ideas. :D

So I thought I would do a post about Dos, Don'ts, and Absolute No-Nos when it comes to writing fantasy fiction. I might do this with modern fiction, historical fiction, and the like in later posts.

So, let's get to our Don'ts.


1) Don't do the stupid thing I did and start writing a book without a plot.
This is a major one. MAKE SURE you know where you are going to take your story, because if you don't, you are going to end up with something that has no story, no point, and no appeal. Plotting also saves you a lot of trouble in the end, because if you write it all down in the beginning, you won't have to stop in the middle and go "Oh shoot, what happens next?" And even if you just have it in your head instead of writing it down, that's ok too! You will save yourself from a lot of hassle, and besides, if you can get it straight to yourself you won't have any problem.

2) Don't drag your plot.
Another major one here. I would say that this one most likely happens when you don't have a good plot (or you don't have one at all). Dragging the plot will lose your reader's interest and get you "meh" book reviews. No one likes reading a "slow" section of a book.

3) Don't have too many subplots.
Subplots are great. They give glimpses into the lives of secondary characters, supply information about the setting of your book, and allow readers to "see into the minds" of the super villain. But if you have to many of them you will most likely 1) lose track of how many you had in the first place, 2) neglect some and focus too much on others, and 3) feel like a juggler with too many balls in the air, and if you're like me, that would be a complete disaster from the very beginning, 'cause I can't juggle.

4) Don't forget the adventure.
If you have a WIP going at the moment and you reeeeally hate it, you probably don't have a problem. And that's a problem. I mean, come on! There are Rings needing to be taken to Mordor to save the world, and your characters are just visiting each other and gossiping in their happy little lives, PEOPLE!!! Get some DANGER going here! Seriously! A story without a problem is a boring story. This leads to number five:

5) Don't forget the antagonist.
Q: How do you have a problem if there isn't someone causing a problem?
A: You sorta don't.
Antagonists are the backbone to adventure. The Fellowship has no need to take the Ring to Mordor if Sauron doesn't exist (because no Sauron = no Ring). Bilbo wouldn't have gone on a quest if there hadn't been a kingdom to reclaim and a dragon to vanquish (because no Smaug = no problem). Do you need more examples? Let me just say this. No antagonist = no problem = boring story. Real life, you guys. People don't like boring books. Fantasy fiction writers really score by catering to the reader's inner adventurer, their love for something unreal, and their love of a good story.

6) Don't let your fantasy creatures get out of context.
This can be hard. I have very little experience in this area, but let me just give you what I have so far.
My amazing friend and I were discussing my two antagonists for my main WIP at the moment, called The Sign Of Royalty. I still only have a vague idea of what they are going to turn out to be (and I have only myself to thank for not plotting). So I was telling her over chat that I had *finally* figured out what to do with the antagonists (because they have to die, there is no other option. Sorry, antagonists.). They were going to turn out to be giant snakes. Here is the conversation:

Me: HAH

*FRIEND*

I HAVE IT

THEY ARE GOING TO BE GIANT SNAKES

HAHAHAHAHAHA

I GOT IT

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

............you probably want to know what I'm talking about

MY TRAITORESS AND HER SON

MUAHAHAHA

YAS

THEY ARE ACTUALLY GIANT SNAKES

THEY JUST LOOK LIKE ELVES

THIS IS AWESOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME

 (...see what I mean? Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time xD)

Friend:  ............................

what?

Me: lol, i saw that coming

ok

so

you know how I said something along the lines of the two bad guys from The Sign Of Royalty were gonna eventually turn out to be not Elves? Well, they are going to be giant snakes, actually. I just have to figure out how they function like elves. :P #confusing

Friend:um

ooookay.......tbh that sounds a liiiittle weird......

Me: I can just hear you thinking "this person is insane" 

I know

that's the point

:P

*cough*
.......................
.......................
 if I said "The Silver Chair" will that make it a little clearer? 

Friend:I know but it isn't weird in a like cool way just weird. just saying that it would sooort weird me out if they were giant snakes xD

Of course, I at once saw her point, thought about it, and went, "yeah, no, that's kinda weird.
Moral of the story, don't get too out of context with them fantasy creatures. :D

...I can just imagine her reading the first message and being like

...yeah xD

7) Don't get too detailed.
This is important. It's the sign of a good writer to be descriptive, but if you use too many adjectives in one place, your readers will start looking sideways. Consider.
This is good:
     The pretty girls tripped happily down the sun-lit lane, chattering eagerly of the upcoming party.
This...is not:
     The jauntily outfitted, happy-go-lucky, rambunctious females tripped ecstatically, wildly, and buoyantly down the sunny, bright, cheery lane, gabbling excitedly about the party that was to be held soon.

Did you feel a big, goofy grin coming over your face as you read the second example? That's the point, and that's exactly what we writers want to avoid.


8) Don't make your story too dark.
Have you ever gotten a headache from reading a dark book? Have you ever been scared by a book--and not just an adrenaline rush, but actually scared? Ten to one, the book that you read was really dark. Don't write something that will make moms cover their children's eyes as they pass it on the shelf. You want people to like your book, don't you? Don't write one that will only be read by the wackos with black lipstick, blue hair, and dog collars.
(no offense to anyone who has blue hair.)


9) Don't get too detailed about spells, if you have any.
Ok, ok, so it's fantasy. There is a 90% chance of some character having magical properties, and that's ok. Just be careful not to start writing spells, because, before you know it, you could accidentally get yourself involved in something not ok. The enemy slips in wherever he can.


10) Don't not have fun!
...basically, have fun! Who wants to write something that tortures their mind? Be honest. Even though your WIP might be frustrating at times, there are also those other times where ideas are gushing out of your ears, you found a bunch of Pinterest pictures that look just like the MC, and your Spotify playlist is doing a great job of setting the mood for the scene you're working on!!! Don't you just love that?

11) Don't give up.
Whatever you do, never ever give up. If your WIP is getting nowhere, don't throw it away. What looks pathetic to you could turn out to be a best-seller someday. If you have writer's block, put it down for a while and work on something else, or look for pictures, make an aesthetic, whatever! When you are ready to give it another shot, go back over your outline, see what you might want to change. This is a life lesson I learned from drawing. I would draw a picture, and when I was finally happy with it, I would put it down, walk away from it, and come back hours later. And when I came back, I could see what I needed to change. This can also be helpful with writing. Step back for a bit. See the big picture.
Let me tell you a story. A few months ago, a friend of mine told me that she was giving up on a story she was writing. Needless to say, I was devastated. I had read this story, and I loved it so much. Plus I was writing the companion story. I tried everything to get her not to destroy it (because I think that was her original plan). Finally she said that she was not going to destroy it. I re-JOICED! She then added that she was going to throw it into the lowest dungeon below the Mongrels' mountain...and I quickly stopped laughing. I was a little disappointed, but I was glad that she wasn't going to snuff it out forever. Fast forward a bit, and she totally surprised me with the news that she had re-written the plot, tweaked some of the characters, and was going to rewrite the book! You can imagine my ecstatic reaction! I mean, we had been co-writing these two cute little books since we were like, what, eleven? Yeah! So I was really glad for her. AND SHE ASKED ME FOR A NAME SUGGESTION WHICH WAS JUST COOL. Moral of the story, do whatever it takes to fix your WIP if you don't like it. Writers are, most of the time, the harshest critics of their own work, and sometimes they can't see the potential in their stories. Don't give up!



I hope you enjoyed this post about the Don'ts of writing fantasy fiction! I know that I probably missed something when I wrote it, but hey, if you know what it is, put it in the comments. :D

Did you find anything useful in this post? Do you plan to try any of my suggestions? Do you disagree with anything I wrote? If you do, I want to hear your opinion! After all, that's what the comments are for ;) Be watching for part two, the Dos!

The Jane Austen Character Quiz!

So hey again my Elflings! I was reading Catherine Hawthorne's blog The Rebelling Muse, and I scrolled down the sidebar and LOOK WHAT I FOUND! CLICKBAIT! Just kidding. I found a Jane Austen Character Quiz! So I took it, of course! And wonder of wonders, I got this:

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take a great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in all of them, although you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgment that serves you very ill indeed. 

...this here girlie... :D

...

...

...

WHITE LIGHT! WHITE LIGHT! Where did that come from?!?!?!? Elizabeth Bennet was almost totally unexpected!!!

Ok, let's take this one part at a time:

I am intelligent, ok, true.

I am witty, yeah, I'd like to think that. :D

Tremendously attractive?

.... *cough* No comment. I'll leave that one to the audience.

Let's see, I have a good head on my shoulders, yes, I suppose I do.

 I oftentimes find myself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness, yeah, I feel like that sometimes...SOMETIMES, nota bene.

I take a great pleasure in many things, yes, so true!

I am proficient in all of them, although I will never own it. That's not one hundred percent true. I am proficient in most of my pastimes, but if you ask me if I play piano well, I'm not gonna lie to you, but I will say that I still have a lot to learn...which is true. There is always more to learn.

Lest I seem too perfect, I have a tendency toward prejudgment that serves me very ill indeed. Lest I seem too perfect, HA! I will admit that sometimes I do jump to conclusions, especially about people who are annoying straight off.
I don't think that I have this problem too bad. But then again, people are ever quick to see their good qualities and overlook (or ignore) their faults.

Luckily for us, there is this prayer from Psalms that says "Cleanse me of my unknown faults". So, today, I want you to thank God for your good qualities and ask Him to help you with your faults. He will, you know. You just have to ask Him, and cooperate.

So, if any of you want to take this quiz, ze link is below! And don't do what I occasionally do: look at the questions and say "Hm, well, what would make it say that I am like *character*?" :P

The link, my Elflings: http://www.strangegirl.com/emma/quiz.php

And so adieu, until the next post. :D

Have you taken this quiz already? Do you plan to? Do you ever "try to get a certain character" on character quizzes? Did you get someone who surprised you?