Me and NaNoWriMo

First of all, I will just say that "Yeeeesssssss I'm doing iiiiiiittt (NaNoWriMo, that is)!" For the first time! And I just decided that I'm gonna do it like a week ago.
Spur of the moment. Thing.
If you read my last writing post, (you did, didn't you?) you know what I'm working on, and you know that I am finished and done with all of that outlining jazz.  Soooo, I'm just in time for November.

Thank you. Oh my goodness, Linus, you are so encouraging.

For those writers out there who (are from Mars) don't know about NaNoWriMo, I shall be a good little squirt and explain it real quick:
 It stands for National Novel Writing Month. And it's in November. Yes. All month. It starts this Sunday.
 People take it as an opportunity to start and finish their novels (which means writing like a crazy maniac until your hand hurts like the dickens and your friends and family begin to seriously question your sanity), or just write as much as they can (perhaps without finishing) because "Hey, it's NaNoWriMo."
I'm not sure if I'm actually going to attempt to complete my novel... Because there's just SO MUCH writing to be done. And yet, I have a whole month to do it...
I've done little challenge/resolution things before, where I wrote A LOT. But never this much. So I think I'm going to just pledge to write as much as I can, and if I don't finish it by December, then OK. *shrugs*
 Because:

*blushes* yes.

So at least I'll have a good start on my novel. But IF I DO finish it, then it will be the first novel I've ever completed! :D That's not including short stories, of course. I HAVE finished a few of those. *A FEW*
Anyways. That's what you should expect from me in November. Either I will be posting on the blog as usual because I just love writing and blogging and there's so much to talk about, or I won't be posting at all because AAGGHH I HAVE SO MUCH TO WRITE.

Well, that's all. :)
*reads post over and sees if it's ok*
I just realized that I am terribly dramatic in this post. Using a lot of caps, and all that.
YOU DON'T MIND, DO YOU?
Good.
Happy NaNoWriMo, fellas.

My Story: The Hidden Queen

Inspiration for stories comes from many places.
Sometimes, I get story ideas from dreams.

It goes something like this: 
1.I have a particularly interesting and vivid dream.
2.For the next few nights, whenever I go to bed, I fantasize on the ideas that my dream gave me. I play with the inspiration and imagine new scenes into it.
3.I add some more plot.
4. I add some more characters.
5.In the end, after all the tweaking, the story is pretty different from the original dream.
6.I actually start writing it. Whether I reach 'The End' or not is written in the stars.

And so, that's how my story "The Hidden Queen" came about.
(Except for the fact that I am horrible with that title jazz so I might change it.)
Outside of letters to friends, I never talked much about my stories to people, much less online. I guess I was always a little self-conscious, and I still am. But, my dream is to be a writer. I can't imagine NOT being a writer.

That's one reason I started a blog.
I've been writing for quite awhile now, but I never really stuck with the same story for very long.
It wasn't until about a year ago that I actually started to take writing a little more seriously. I loved books, I loved words, and I loved stories. I learned more about what a good story is made of. I began thinking in terms of 'outline' and 'plot points'. I gave my heroes something more to work for. I've learned to think in terms of 'the unexpected'.

When I write about my writing, it gets me motivated to write. Do you see? I know I need to share my stuff more. I need to not be shy. I need to be more bold with my writing if I'm ever going to get published.
So, in this post, I just wanted to introduce my {main} story to you. This story is the one I will mention the most, and it'll probably be the one I will have published first.
*stops for a moment and relishes the glorious thought of being a published author*

I also have two other stories going on, a futuristic story, and a detective story, but I probably won't talk about them as much because I don't want to share EVERYTHING, you know? If I share too much, it makes me un-motivated. You know what I mean?
*clears throat* Anyways.

For me, "The Hidden Queen" is unique...
...because it is the first story of mine that actually has a substantial beginning, middle, and end!
I haven't written very much of the prose, because I've been working on the outline. I like to have my whole story planned out before I write it down. But now I'm finished with that, and ready to begin the actual writing, from 'Once Upon a Time', to THE END. It will be a long, hard journey, but will you stay with me through until the end, when I can place my book in your hands and say: "Here! Read my story!"?!

I will share my inspirations and struggles along the way, until you can read the printed words yourself.
I might even offer some of my own tips and tricks! (I do know a few things about writing, you know, even though I've never been published!)
So that's my story. I hope you are properly intrigued.
SO LONG.

Bookshelf Tag

Hello there! Ok, I gotta start by saying that I haven't technically been tagged. BUT. I've seen this tag floating around, and I just really really wanted to do it... so I just went ahead (call it breaking the rules, if you must) and tagged myself.
Who doesn't love talking about books?

The rules are simple.
The books you answer with must come from your bookshelf.
Use pictures of the books you're talking about! 
Well, it seems all fine and dandy to me. First, I must give credit to Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens who created this lovely tag. And since no one officially tagged me, I will mention that I saw this tag on Naomi's,  Emma's, and Hayden's blogs, if you want to go check theirs out. :)
So, on to the books!

Describe your bookshelf (or wherever it is you keep your books- it doesn't actually have to be a shelf!) and where you got it from.
 Well, a couple of years ago, I really started to get serious about writing and reading stories. Before my bookshelf, I kept all of my books in random piles around my room. So I asked for a shelf for my birthday, and I got it! It was the most delicious feeling slipping all my beautiful books onto a brand new smooth bookshelf. :) It's a plain old brown, with three levels. 

Do you have any special or different way of organizing your books?
It's not special, but I do have a system. I like to keep the books that stick out the most on the left, and the ones that are smaller on the right. I can't stand it when one little itty bitty book gets smooshed in between too larger books so that I can't find it. 
In other words, size order. :)

What's the thickest (most amount of pages) book on your shelf?
I had to check because I wasn't sure if it would be Les Miserables, or Bleak House, but Les Mis took the prize with over 1400 pages! And no, I haven't read it yet. I think I'm stalling on it. :)

What's the thinnest (least amount of pages) book on your shelf?
Probably a little book my Mom gave me, Stay in the Castle, by Pastor Jerry Ross. It's more of a booklet, actually. It's all about staying faithful and waiting for your husband. It's really good. It's only 24 pages.

Is there a book you received as a birthday gift?
Actually, most of my books I bought for myself. These are the only three books I have (that I can remember!) that have been given to me on my birthday. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Hobbit, and Anne of Green Gables.

What's the smallest (height and width wise) on your shelf?
Probably The Giver.

What's the biggest (height and width wise) on your shelf?
The Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky, by Jason Lisle. It's a big tall book about astronomy. I read it for school, and learned a whole bunch about stars and constellations. It's a great book.

It's such a beautiful book too!

Is there a book from a friend on your shelf?
Why, no! Not one friend has ever given me a book! Isn't that surprising?! But, I've had several friends recommend books to me that I now own. Does that count? I have a lot of those. :)

Most expensive book?
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, and Wonderland Creek, by Lynn Austin both cost me $14.99.

The last book you read on your shelf?
Anne of the Island. I'm re-reading the Anne of Green Gables series. :)

By the way, I noticed something, don't you think that the Anne on this cover looks a lot like Carey Mulligan?

Tell me if that's just me. :P

Of all the books on your shelf, which was the first you read?
My brother read The Mouse and the Motorcycle to me at a very young age.

Do you have more than one copy of a book?
I used to have two copies of Treasure Island, but I just got rid of one because I didn't need two. :)

Do you have the complete series of any book series?
Why, yes! I have all of The Lord of the Rings, The Ascendance Trilogy, and I have book 1 through 6 of Anne of Green Gables.

These are from the Ascendance Trilogy. A very good set of books, if I do say so myself!

What's the newest addition to your shelf?
Becoming Nikki, Wonderland Creek, and Anne of the Island. I just got these a few Sundays ago because I had some extra money, and I've heard so much about them that I wanted to pick 'em up. :) I got Anne of the Island because it's the only book in the series that I didn't own.

What book has been on your shelf FOREVER?
My Holy Bible. And yes, I've read it through. :)

What's the most recently published book on your shelf?
The Shadow Throne, my Hobbit Movie Guide (The Battle of Five Armies), and Becoming Nikki were all published in 2014.

The oldest book on your shelf (as in, the actual copy is old)?
My mom's book, 70 Years of Miracles, is pretty old, as well as C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters.

A book you won?
I don't think I've ever won any books! What do people win books for?

A book you'd hate to let out of your sight (aka a book you would never let someone borrow)?
 Wow. Ok, um, all of them? No? Well, probably my most expensive books then. 

Most beat up book?
Probably The Screwtape Letters. I had to tape up the cover a few years ago because it was falling apart.

Most pristine book?
Probably my newest books, Becoming Nikki, Wonderland Creek, and Anne of the Island. I like to take care of my books if I get them new, to see how long I can keep them nice and fresh. :) For instance, I've read Bleak House all the way through and it's still in pretty good shape.

A book from your childhood?
Eddie's Happenings. A lot of my childhood books were boy's books that my older brother passed down to me. We own all of the Eddie books, and I still love them. They are a lot like the Leave it to Beaver show. :)

A book that's not actually your book?
Hm. There are a couple of books that don't belong to me, but I keep them on my shelf because I like them and not one seems to mind. The King of the Wind, The Screwtape Letters, and Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry aren't mine.

A book with a special/different cover (e.g. leather bound, soft fuzzy cover, etc)?
I don't know if you can tell it in the picture, but my copy of Calico Captive has a velvety cover on it, that I just love to feel with my fingers. :) Which is a plus because I actually don't care for the cover art. Becoming Nikki and Before You Meet Prince Charming also have covers like that.

A book that is your favorite color?
My favorite color is light pink, and though it seems most of my books are darker colors, I have always liked A Little Princess cover, because it's so elegant and Victorian-looking. Christy has a very lovely cover as well, even though I didn't care for the book. :)

Book that's been on your shelf the longest that you STILL haven't read?
Treasure Island. I bought it when I was still writing my Pirate Story, and since I'm not writing it so much anymore, and I don't need the inspiration, it's been sitting on my shelf, neglected. I'll probably read it eventually.

Any signed books? 
Yes, actually! My friend Laura wrote a book Invasion of the Puffballs, and I bought it off of Amazon and had her sign it. :) Doesn't she have a pretty signature?! Do read her book if you can!

Well, that's it folks! I had SO MUCH FUN doing this. If any of you are out there who didn't get tagged, but you still want to show off your gorgeous books and bookshelf, then
 I TAG YOU!!! :D
Have fun with this, and I'll see you later! 
Thanks for the fun questions, Natalie!