In Which I Am A Pony

The awkward moment when a bright pink pony from a childrens' show sums up this post before I've even started writing it. Curse you, fluffy-maned bouncing critter.

Although I may present myself as a bubbling ball of cackling megalomania, I will be the first person to stand up on a box and cry out that making people happy is one of my favourite things in the world. You'd be surprised how many times a week I will have people coming into my room, sitting on my bed and saying "Charley, I need a laugh." I don't quite know how I did it, but I seem to have become the aspirin of my house for moments when they need someone to turn on the proverbial light, and administer some not-so-proverbial hugs and laughs.

It's the same with my writing.

Although I do terrible things to characters, and splatter blood, death, war and lumpy custard far and wide, I do it for a reason. It's not the money, it's not the desire for fame, or even the fact that it would be a job where I could spend all day in my pyjamas and no one could tell me otherwise. While all these things have their attractions (the last one especially, must confess) my overall motive is very very different.

And no, it's not a desire for World Domination. Shock horror.

I write because I like making people happy.

Nothing in the world brings a bigger smile to my face than someone saying "Wow, I'm really enjoying this story!" or "Aww, I really like this poor character, why did you dye her hair green, she didn't deserve that!" or "Oh my gosh, I did NOT expect that platypus to come flying out of those bushes - great plot twist!"

Characters, you do not suffer for my own sadistic enjoyment . . . entirely. No, you suffer because I want to make a good story. And I want to make a good story because people enjoy them. And when people enjoy stories, I am happier than a field full of frolicking unicorns eating ice-cream with sugary chocolate spoons (and far less likely to develop diabetes).

I'm a sensitive soul, and for me, writing is one of the ways where I feel I can make a difference to the world. I hate seeing people sad or angry more than anything, but, seeing as I lack the powers that enable me to fix everything spontaneously, and that my plans for the ultimate takeover of the planet kept being waylaid by money shortages, mistranslation of my instructions to my minions, and spontaneous invasions of purple platypi, I've decided to start smaller.

Not just in my writerly works-in-progress. Things like this blog, for example. Everything I put here, I put here with the intention of making someone's day just a little bit better, though perhaps not in the conventional fashion. Heck, even my Facebook statuses were remarked upon by my companions as being very entertaining.

That reminds me, I ought to tell you all the story of the pillow saga one day . . . but I digress.

Though I may sometimes break your heart, bend your brain and make you want to murder me with a spork, know I do it all to bring some enjoyment to you all.

'Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile, yes I do.

Anyone for a singalong?

~Charley R

Of Cookery and Crowd-Pleasing

Today has been a good day for me. For a start, I actually managed to sleep - something I haven't done properly for several days, due to a combination of stress, noisy neighbours, the tail-end effects of a fever and some seriously whacked out dreams - one of which involved Benedict Cumberbatch teaching me Quantum Physics on the Mobius Strip while he was wearing the Fourth Doctor's scarf. The ultimate nerdy dream, if only I didn't reserve a particular hatred for Physics and have never watched Sherlock...

But, with a good start like that, it was no wonder that my day's been rather good. No pressing homework needs over the weekend, handed in the first draft of my English coursework (something that's been irritating me for weeks), and - for once - not had too much pressing homework over the weekend.

Which, at long last, allowed me to start drafting the beginning of my trilogy rewrite. I have multiple ideas of how I could start it, but today I took one of those ideas and ran with it. Words could not describe the general weirdness of being back in the world I have been out of for so long. Despite the changes I've made to it, it was like walking into a house you used to live in as a kid and discovering how easy it is just to imagine it's all yours again.

But enough soppy sentimental stuff - the main reason I'm here today is to ask a very important question.

What do you want to see on my blog?

For you old timers, you know I do a lot of random stuff when the mood takes me; I find you entertaining videos, pictures and animated gifs, I do rambles about music, I post my poetry, even an extract from my stories every now and again, and I've started my new writerly tips series.

But, what I want to know is, what do you guys want to see more of? If my poetry and story extracts are rubbish, I won't bother with them. If you think me finding idiotic pictures is a waste of my time, I'll stop that too. Or maybe you'd prefer a change in the way I do my posts? Would you like more pictures in the posts? Would you like me to post more or less than I do? Would you like me to start typing in Klingon or Quenya?

You get the idea. Let me know what you want in the comments!

And now, to celebrate my particularly happy day, here is a cut scene from my favourite movies (and, for that matter, books) of all time. Though it's hard to build on perfection, I seriously wish the moviemakers had kept this scene in Return of the King.

Darkness To Light - Reviews!

Ah, half term holidays at last! Words cannot describe how much I value this little reprieve from the manic-ness of my life. Sure, I have a large History essay and a shorter but infinitely more difficult essay for Spanish (plus the need to read a LOT of books, most of whom I doubt I will be terribly fond of), but hey ho, I can sleep again! And being able to access the internet is always useful too :)

And what a better way to start this holiday than by seeing a pair of absolutely wonderful reviews of my newly published story?

This one here was the first one, from my bestest buddy and supremely awesome collaborator, Cathryn Leigh:
"I think the best thing about it is that it describes so many struggles. Finding faith, kicking an addiction, breaking from a violent cycle... all those dark places people find themselves. And it is so true that it's not until you realize you're missing something, and you struggle to find that something, that someone else can help you find the something. And I think that something is the ability to live, live, not exisit, live..."


Words cannot describe how happy this made me - I so desperately wanted my story to show what I felt at the time (for those of you who don't know, Darkness To Light is a tale based on personal experience), and knowing that it had - even if it was just for one person - made everything so worthwhile.


The second review is from the UK Amazon page, by the reviewer known only as "Newshoeaddict". Here's what they said:
"I whizzed through this over the last two days in 10/15 minute intervals. Easy reading of some brilliantly written short stories. Some funny, some dark and disturbing, all with a great intro by Saffina herself.

There are three stand-out stories for me. 'Toe' is brilliant. Brilliantly written and very obviously, true to life, really gets you thinking how losing a limb/digit would make you feel, even amusing in places. Liked the one about the husband and killing him off too. Well-written again and quite funny, but the real winner here in this collection by a mile is the one by the young writer, Charley. It is deep, very dark and really hooked me from the off. She has a very unique writing style and it is brilliant considering her age. One to watch out for.

This book is great and a real bargain! Highly recommended."


I cannot stop re-reading this. Literally. It makes me so utterly happy - as far as I know, I'm the only first-time author in the whole anthology, and someone thought what I wrote was one of their favourites. I think I gave my little brother a heart attack when I SQUEEEEEEE!-d this morning after reading it.


But enough of my egotistical ranting - I'll go back to proper posting now, honest! 


Before I go, though, a special thank you to you, my lovely readers, for all your comments and support and well-wishing. My life would be a sadder place without you all :)

- Charley R

Thank God It's Over?

Three years seems such a neat number right now. Three years, three books. A trilogy, in more than one meaning of the word.

Yes, that's right. I've finally finished the trilogy. After all my griping, grumbling and fighting with unwanted plot twists and unco-operative characters, I have finally typed those fateful words: The End.

For the last time. At last, I close the door on Skatha and Errion and all the madness that has taken place there, and look on to a future where my slate is completely blank.

Legend clocks in at 94,147 words, including chapter titles. It's taken me nearly five months to write, including distractions ranging from camping expedition, sickness and a thousand and one phases of writer's block.

But it's done.

It's over.

The End.

I'm at that weird phase when you've finished a long-term project and aren't quite sure where to go next. My next project is leaping to the forefront of my head, begging for attention after so long, and there's a whole new world and all new characters to meet and mutilate. I'm really looking forward to it, but I can't help but look back and feel nostalgic. I've lived and battled with these characters for years, and now suddenly my part in their story is over. Gods know where they'll go now - probably off on some long holiday to recover from all the abuse I've put them through - but, for me, the story's over. I've put the link in its title in The Scribblings, I've taken the "(writing)" clause out of its document title, and I've even bothered to run the blasted spell checker through one more time.

It is well and truly over.

And I think I miss it already.

The End of an Era

She stood on the cliff edge, staring out over the pale horizon, and knew it was over. She could feel it in the air around her; in the whispering breeze and the shimmering voices of the ripples on the lake below her. She sat down and knotted her fingers into the wet grass, pushing dirt up under her nails as a pleasant dewy cool spread down her thighs. Perhaps jeans were not the wisest thing to wear today.

The breeze danced by, tugging at her fringe and the loose sleeves of her shirt, pulling her like an excited friend as it ran out over the lake, darting through the sunbeams and sending up plumes of soft white spray. A diving bird gave a warbling cry and ducked under the surface to avoid the wind's teasing, only to shoot upwards in a shower of spray with a tiny silver fish in its beak. She smiled and lay back in the grass, looking down between her grassy toes to the horizon. The sun was shedding its brilliant golden glow and settling into a comfortable ochre red as it nestled into the clouds, dimming the sky's light to a soft array of pastel pinks and blues, ready to sleep and rest, ready to light the sky again the next day. 

As the light faded away, the earth itself seemed to give a little sigh. It was the end; the end of a day of the past, of old thoughts and old fears and old duties, of things that were no longer necessary. But it was also the beginning of a new time, a new future of opportunities and excitements and adventures.

She looked up at the sky and smiled. She would never have to sit another Maths exam again.

IT'S FINISHED!

This year's NaNoWriMo ended on the 30th of November 2010. Two months, nine days and innumerable mental breakdowns later, I have - at long last - after months of blood, sweat, toil, tears and distractions finished my NaNovel.

Defiance currently stands at 125 pages long and numbers 91,200 words. Like any other NaNo draft, it is full of plot holes and inconsistencies, and I am already planning the rewrite. However, right now, high in the sky in my bubble of "I've-just-finished-a-story" euphoria, it is my pride and joy.

... please excuse me while I go and collapse in a heap.

Here's a little extract from the end of the story; hope you like!

The explosion made the hull of the Siofra shake as if it had been struck. Standing beside Rachael at the helm, Dusk yelped as the floor swayed and wobbled under his feet.
                “What the hell was that?” Rachael asked, struggling to stay in control as the ship reared and fought against her control.
                Dusk didn’t answer. He ran back down into the main cabin area and looked out of the window, just in time to see a huge fireball burst out over the hangar, sending pieces of flying debris whizzing into the air. As the sound of the explosion faded away, there was complete silence in the cabin. Dusk moved away from the window and lowered his head, tears pricking at his eyes.
                “W-Was that ... did he ...” Libya asked. She was sitting across the room, covered in a blanket, with Jessa’s arm around her shoulder.
                Dusk nodded silently. Libya looked away and buried her head in Jessa’s shoulder. But, Dusk noted, she did not cry, nor did she make any sound at all. Her grief ran deep, but he also saw a faint glimmer of pride in her tortured eyes. He looked away quickly, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. He looked back out of the window, at the smoking ruins and glowing embers that marked the last stand of the bravest man Dusk had ever known. A smile crossed his face, and a sudden lightness entered his heart, as if a great weight had just been lifted from his shoulders. The madness was over. They were free.

Returning to the helm, Dusk stood beside Rachael and watched as the Siofra sailed away over the placid morning sea, the grey water turning pink as the first rays of sunlight began to break through the night. Rachael turned the wheel and pulled a lever at her side, and the great ship sped onwards into the new dawn and the bright, unexplored future beyond.

The Golden Sponge Stick Competition

I don't know how many of you know of this competition, but basically it is a competition run by an author, sponsored by her old school (I think). The challenge is to write a short story, 1500 words or less, set in Roman times. It's completely open ended as to what you can write, and there are several age brackets for entrants. I entered in the Over Fourteen category, after my Latin teacher pointed the competition out to me. I entered my story a couple of days before the competition closed, and since then I have been wondering about the results.

Then, this afternoon, I received a strange parcel in the mail. Inside it was ...

That's right everyone, it's a Golden Sponge Stick! I won the competition! Yippee!

After bouncing around the room excitedly for several minutes, I opened up the card that came inside the parcel. It was a letter from Jenny Pine, the lady in charge of the competition, congratulating me on the win! Also inside was a £25 HMV voucher, and a request from her that I get my parents to give permission for her to publish my story on her website! Wheeeeee!

*sniffs* I'm so happy! I shall treasure this gold-painted sponge for years to come!

Wait until my mother hears about this one ...

-Spook

I'm a Believer!

Hi everyone!
Sorry for my absence - school has been manic, and I'm currently drowning in a sea of shark-infested homework. However, yesterday, in the Abbey, during the service, I felt something very special that  I would like to share with everyone.

Anyone who knows me will know that, up until now, I have been something of an aetheist-borderline-agnostic. I haven't been able to get my facts straight about my spiritual beliefs for years; one moment I'm worried that God won't accept me because I'm doing something wrong, the next I'm wondering if I'm being paranoid over nothing and should get my head checked out. I've battled with the confusion of what I believe for years, but yesterday I had an epiphany.

I am now proud to call myself a Christian.

It's taken a while, but I've finally worked it out. I've always had a sense that there was something that made things happen the way they did, and with a life like mine it's pretty impossible not to have strange moments where you think "Wow, I didn't expect that, what a coincidence." Well now I've worked out that it wasn't just chance that gave me such a brilliant - for, however much I whinge about it, I do love my life - and exciting existence.

Also, I've been praying to myself for years (without knowing it of course). I'd think to myself "please, give me strength to do this, I need some help right now" and, most of the time, I usually feel better after that. And sometimes, just sometimes, usually when I'm feeling really awful and wishing I could be anyone else but me, I hear a little voice in my head that says "don't give up, it'll all pass, just keep going and it'll all be okay."

Now, I think that voice is God.

But that doesn't mean I know everything. I'm still confused as to what being a Christian might entail, and what sort of things I'm supposed to do to be a good one. Heck, I even had trouble knowing what to do when I went up for my first blessing in the Abbey.

But I like to think I'm on the right path. I'll just have to hope and pray I can stay there.

Cue the shiny halos and angelic choirs, cause the Spook has converted! *silly grins*

And don't worry, I'll be back to my usual comic-making, extract-posting randomness as soon as possible, have no fear.

- Spook

It's Christmaaaaaaaaaaaas!

Set the bells a'jingling, deck the halls and start decorating the tree, because it's time to get festive!

Anway, this is just a quick post from me to wish you all the most joyous of Noel's and hope you don't get hit by any stray reindeer. Also, if you're up to your ankles in snow as we are, be sure to have a decent snowball fight!

Other than that; sit back, relax, watch lots of Christmas specials, eat copious amounts of turkey-bird and don't regret a second of it!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!