Some Great Writing

My finals are long over, as well as the stress and loss of free time that come with studying for these tests. I been home from college for a week, and I am unpacked and completely settled in. The product of this is great writing. I've gotten more writing done in three days than I have in the past three months. It's not just tiny, insignificant sentences. It is full pages of great plot twists, character dialogue, and intriguing paragraphs. If only ever day could be like this....



....more of my novel will be up soon :)

The Proposal

[I left off with Elizabeth being introduced to the King for the first time]

“I thank Your Majesty for the invitation to attend Court. It both humbles and pleases me to be in your good graces. I ask if I may inquire to the business Your Majesty seeks with my family and me”
He gave a small smile, as if he knew that I would never normally speak in such a manner, but I was trying my hardest to appear full of high status and manners.
“I would be most happy to answer all of your queries but this does not feel like the appropriate place to do so. It would delight me if you were to accept my request to stroll in the garden with me.”
Strolling in the garden? That hardly seemed like the proper place to conduct business, which was what I strongly wanted to do. I did not come here to chat with the King, but to get an answer of if he was serious about making me his Queen, my deepest fear.
“I accept the most gracious offer.” I said quietly.
“Excellent.” He held is arm out and I intertwined, most unwillingly, my arm with his. The material of his shirt was so silky and unfamiliar that I automatically jerked away a little bit in confusion.
“Don’t be afraid, Elizabeth. I’m a stranger to you in most respects, I know, but you’ll get used to my presence in no time.”
He led me to the elaborate gardens of the castle grounds, where the always present wind blew the sweet smells of all the flowers in my direction. It was such a relief to be in a place of nature, rather than confined in the stone walls of my prison.
We walked for a bit, neither saying a word. When we had lost ourselves in the maze of green hedges and twisted stems of flowers, he began to reveal his plan.
“How did you enjoy your former home, Elizabeth?”
“It was most tolerable. My siblings, most especially the eldest brother, were my constant companions and we had many great adventures together.”
“And your Uncle?”
“He put a roof over my head and food in my belly, but he did nothing more for me. His malice and the use of his hand were a constant cloud of fear in the household. I do miss home, but I do not miss that.”
He said nothing and I feared that I had said too much ill will towards my Uncle and I worried that it might convince the King that I never wanted to return.
“What did you do at your home to occupy your time when you were not helping your siblings with chores?”
“I read many books, wrote, and took long walks in the woods. They all carried my thoughts into a happy place.”
“I see.” He hesitated before speaking again. “Forgive my abruptness, but I must ask. Did you have a lover where you are from?”
I had not expected him to ask me such a question because I did not think it would matter to him one way or another. I thought that if I didn’t, there was no reason for me to go back home and therefore every reason for me to stay at Court and become his Queen. Even if he suspected I did, I also didn’t think he would give a second thought to the man.
“Oh, uh, no Your Majesty, I do not.” I avoided his direct gaze and tried to control the tremors in my hands.
“Ah, well that is good.” He knew I was lying, but did not press the subject.
“Elizabeth, I must bear my heart and mind now in order to take you out of the fog of confusion that you have been placed in. As you most certainly, and most painfully, know, my beloved Queen Camille has been deceased for several months. A fever took her away from me and my heart has not been the same since. Against my advisor’s wishes, I, for awhile, declined to even consider the possibility of marriage to another woman. But, in time, I acknowledged that the country needed an heir to the throne, so I reluctantly let them search for a suitable replacement. They brought in many woman, all politically qualified, but none that reached out to my heart. I dismissed all of them.”
“As I was giving up hope of ever finding a satisfactory future Queen of England and a wife that I could truly love, Secretary Marr let me know that he had heard of a man by the name of Ronald Hawkins, your Uncle, whom was not rich himself, but was related to a Lord.”
A lord? I knew of no lords in my family, on either my mother’s or father’s side. If our family was fortunate enough to have a claim on that title, we would not be living the shambles that we were.
“I set Marr to investigate the residence of Mr. Hawkins. Upon his return, he reported that ‘Mr. Hawkins is a man of great respect who is well knowledgeable in his trade of business. His niece, the young Elizabeth Hawkins, is pure and refined, a suitable match.’ When I first met you in the castle, my immediate thoughts were that Marr’s fine words did no justice to the beautiful woman standing before me.”
His words made me extremely uncomfortable and I did not respond, knowing that there was nothing I could really say.
“I made the decision on the spot and I hope you are happy with it. Elizabeth Hawkins, you are the most exquisite woman in the world and it would make me the most happy if you were to become my wife and be at my side as the Queen of England.”
Shocked rippled through me and I was completely unsure if I had heard him correctly. Of course the understanding that the possibility of me becoming Queen was very high was entirely on my mind, but to hear the King himself confirm it was earth-shattering.
We had stopped walking and he faced him, bending his head down so that he could get a better look at my reaction. His eyes portrayed excitement and a bit of anxiety as he nervously waited for me to say something.
“I...I...I do not know...”
“Elizabeth, do not be fearful. The title of Queen may daunt you, but rest assured, you will be counseled in the ways of royalty. I shall be at your side through all of it.”
Again, he waited for my answer, giving me the impression that I actually had a choice in the matter. However, I knew differently. I was required to accept his proposal and live in the castle, like so many woman would want to. It was interesting to think that of all the girls in the kingdom would want to be proposed to by the King, I was the only one who didn’t and yet, I was the only one being asked.
“I accept Your Majesty’s proposal.” I said meekly.
“My dear, do not look so forlorn. Many great things will come from this.” he gently tipped my chin up to look at him, but I refused to make eye contact.
“May I be alone?”
He sighed and let go.
“Yes, I suppose so. One of my servants will escort you.”
As I left the garden, I glanced back at the King, who’s head was bent down, looking at a small object that he was holding. He look dejected, obviously expecting things to have gone more smoothly. I did not know if he imagined that I would have delightfully jumped into his arms after hearing the news or perhaps he hoped I would show even the slightest bit of enthusiasm. Regardless, my sadness was not what he had wanted.
I had no time to feel sorrow for the King for I was being led to a bedchamber far grander than any room I had slept in before. Once the servant had the shut the door behind me, I looked around the room in a daze.
Polished wooden furniture was everywhere and a roaring fire filled the room with warmth. My eyes settled on the centerpiece of the room, which was a four-poster bed, the epitome of luxury. My mind and emotions had no room, however, to marvel at such a thing, because all I needed was something soft to lie on and absorb everything that had just happened.
My worst fears had been confirmed by the King himself. I was to marry him, become the Queen of England, and never life my happy, fantasied life. I was destined to be like countless other woman, who never got the fortune of marrying for love. I doubted if I was ever going to utter the word love again.

A New Twist

I was two minutes into writing tonight, just finishing up a small conversation between Elizabeth and a new, secondary character, when a thought hit me. For a few weeks, I have been pretty pleased with my progression in my novel, but I felt like something was missing, some sort of spark that needed to be added to the Elizabeth/Daniel/King love triangle. Tonight, I thought of a great twist in the plot and I am so excited about it. I hope that I am not too busy in the coming weeks so that I can get to the point of starting the twist. I have found the missing piece.

Elizabeth Meets the King

[I've skipped a few parts since the last blog I posted of my story]

Much of the castle staff was bustling about, obviously preparing for my arrival, and most likely, under very explicit command from the King. Many eyes settled on me as I was escorted inside the castle and their constant gaze unnerved me greatly.
Over-stimulation continued to trouble me as I was greeted by immensely high ceilings and vast, never ending hallways and rooms. Great tapestries were hung on the walls, and each was more colorful and elaborate than the last. People of all different rank and occupation scurried around, discussing many things that I knew nothing about, and the clothing they all wore was of beautiful fabrics, with the finest stitching and detail. The smells of a delicious meal wafted into the great room and instantly made my stomach eager to try whatever was being served at the moment.
I was taken to two large, polished wooden doors and told to wait quietly. The Secretary walked into the other room, leaving me outside with a bundle of nerves. I became blatantly aware of how silly I looked, compared to all the other souls in the room. My dress was the finest I owned, but it was a simple, solid blue color, with no embellishments or fancy trim. My hair was half tied back in a plain braided bun that I had done to the best of my ability. The only jewel that adorned my body was a small locket that had once been my grandmothers and that had escaped the greedy claws of my family.
How on Earth was I supposed to greet a King like this? He would take one look at me and sent me straight back to where I came from. Going home was my greatest desire, but I did not wish to suffer the humility of being so profoundly judged by the supreme ruler of my country.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, but in reality was only a minute, the doors opened and I was steered towards the throne room. Instinctively, I curtseyed gracefully at the King’s feet until he gently grabbed my hand and led me up.
I had seen the King a few times before in my life, but it was always from a distance, in the crowd of the poor. Never before had I seen him up close, let along have him touching me.
His face was serious, almost brooding, but surprising, his piercing blue eyes showed kindness and youth His curly brown hair was perfectly combed and shone in the morning sun.
He kissed the back of my hand and gave me a genuine smile that gave me no hint of alarm.
“Miss Elizabeth Hawkins, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Court and my castle. I trust that Jonathon took good care of you and your family?”
I nodded.
Wrongly assuming that my muteness was attributed to shyness, he tried to assure me that there was nothing to fear from him.
“You needn’t be afraid to speak, Elizabeth, I guarantee you can say nothing wrong here.”

I'm Making Progess

I've been making some pretty good strides in my novel, which is so great because I finally feel on track with it. I'll be posting some new sections soon, once I figure out what exactly I want to post!

Time for Some Creativity

I can already hear the crashing waves and smell the salty air of the ocean. I can already feel the sand between my toes and the pen in my hand. I can't wait to go to the ocean because I know I will get a lot of writing done while getting my mind, body, and soul refreshed. Along with the necessities, like clothing and a toothbrush, I made sure to pack a lot of pen and paper to last me the week.

The Break is Soon Over

I've been away from home, visiting my grandparents, and I haven't had any time to write whatsoever, but I've been gathering PLENTY of inspiration. I feel like a slacker for not writing for an entire week, but I'm coming home very soon, so I'll be able to release all my pent up creative energy and I can't wait :D

This is a Very Big Step...

So, I am posting a first draft version of the very beginning of my novel. I'm pretty nervous about doing this, because I am usually very private about what I write. But I created this public blog for a reason, so here it goes....

Prologue:
I could only think of him. His face, his words, his actions all blurred together in my mind. I watched the torrential downpour from my window and tried to escape, but it only made it worse. I knew he was sitting alone in his lowly shack, listening to the rain pour relentlessly onto his roof, and watching helplessly as it continued to seep inside. I did not belong here. My place was in his arms and my heart could never be whole, knowing that I would never be there again.

Chapter One:
The hallway was dark, except for a flickering light at the end. My feet barely made a sound as I stealthily crept towards the light. Dangerous as it was, I had no choice but to go this way, as there was no other path out of the house at this time of night.
A sudden, loud cough echoed through the the entire first floor, sending a hot flash of anxiety through my body. A chair creaked and the thud of a man’s feet sounded closer and closer to the hallway in which I was fearfully residing in. The cold, calculating face of a violent man appeared in the doorway, his venomous eyes piercing into the darkness, looking for an excuse to assert his power, whether it be towards an intruder or a family member.
Seeing that there was no one, he stomped back into the other room, leaving me to take a quiet, but deep breath of relief. As I silently made my way to the front door, I gently rubbed the sore spot on my upper arm, knowing full well what would have happened if my uncle had caught me sneaking out of the house.
The night air instantly chilled my skin, but its presence signaled my long sought after freedom. The silent, swaying trees were my refuge, and like silent guardians, they embraced me, keeping my body secret from those who would not approve of my late night tryst.
After a few exhilarating and slightly frightening moments, I saw the warm lights of a house so familiar and comforting to me. Careful to keep my cloak securely over my face, I ran towards the humble cottage, my heart singing in excitement as it thudded in my chest.
I did not even have to knock.
“Daniel,” I whispered breathlessly.
“My sweet Lizzy.” He smiled before embracing me so tenderly, it was as if no time had passed since we had last seen each other.
“How was your journey?” I asked as we both settled in.
“Fine, once I actually set off, but getting to that point was quite the task. My parents did not want me to leave at all.”
“They miss you, I suppose.”
“Ah, if only their intentions were that pure. My father does not think it is wise of me to move away from the family, when they have moved to a place far more thriving than here. My mother told me it was pure foolishness to live in this crumbling cottage.”
“I love this home, though, no matter what state of decay it is in. This is where I grew up, where I had so many fun memories of us.”
“Well, despite what your parents say, I am so happy you came back. I was very sad when you left and I remained that way until I got your letter, informing me of your return.”
“Imagine how much sorrow I had, knowing I had to leave you. Now that I am here though, I never want to be separated from you again.”
Smiling, he placed his hand on mine, tendering caressing my fingers with his. Nervously, he moved closer to me, and carefully brought his lips to mine, giving me the kiss I had so longed for since his departure.
“I will be with you always,” I breathlessly murmured.

I Cannot Believe I Have Come to This Point

Feeling incredibly inspired, I began to write the end of the scene where my main character, Elizabeth, gives birth to her first child. I merely meant to tie up loose ends on this plot line and I realized that I was actually ending the book. This is honestly something that I did not know how I was going to do. Ever since I started this book, I pondered how and when I could end this book, and if I could make the ending satisfying for my potential readers, while making them thirst for more at the same time. I think I have done it and completely by accident as well. I actually started crying when I realized what I was doing because I was writing the end of something that I had labored over for so many years. I still have a tremendous amount of work to do, massively editing parts I have already written and began writing parts that I have yet to write. However, to know that I have created an ending has given me strength to continue to work on the unfinished parts. This is so spectacular :)

You Know You're on a Roll When....

....you realize that, even though it's getting late, you have to finish a particular scene in the book because you have become so emotionally involved in it that you couldn't possibly put off finishing the first draft until the next day.

I started off slow tonight when it came to my writing. I couldn't quite figure out which part to write and I was giving up all hopes of writing something decent in this very early morning, until I found something that I really wanted to write. I went along with this and as my eyelids started getting heavier and my yawns became more frequent, I realized that I had to forgo sleep in that particular moment in order to keep writing. It felt great :)

Taking a Break

Every so often, I have to take a step away from the novel and work on other small writing projects. I do this so that I can explore other plots, settings, and characters, while also connecting these new thoughts to my novel. An example of this is when I develop the main female character in each of these new stories (mostly in first person). Each of them have the main characteristic of being strong women, with the strength varying from character to character. Each of them have different reasons for being strong and different obstacles that test their strength. By writing about them, it allows me to gauge if I should make Elizabeth, the main first person female in my novel, more or less strong in different parts of the book. Additionally, writing other stories keeps me from going insane when I get severely frustrating writing my novel.

The Tudors

As any writer would know, sometimes it's hard to get enough inspiration to write something, especially something decent. When I run into this extremely frustrating roadblock, I turn to my faithful friend, The Tudors. All I need to do is watch one episode of this amazing show and I am set. I can immediately turn to my novel and pound out a couple amazing pages that I am happy with. I think one of the main reasons this works is because the Tudors gives me a visual to my story. Of course, all my plots are visible in my mind, but to actually see them, in a way, on the screen is the perfect antidote to lack of inspiration.

The Easy Parts

I've recently started writing in my novel again, after taking a break from it to finish up my spring quarter. It's always difficult to pick up where I've left off, especially if a long time has gone by since I last wrote. This is problematic because I end up needlessly editing small parts or writing new parts of the book that are the easiest to write. I know that most of this work is beneficial towards the completion of my novel in some way, but it sidetracks me from getting some real, substantial work done. I need to really buckle down and focus on writing every night, so that I run out of the easy things to write and am forced to move through the difficult parts in the book. I need to concentrate on the parts of my book that require outside research, or that require other major plot lines to be changed or rearranged. Fortunately, I have all summer vacation to do this :]