Father's Day

 "It is a wise father that knows his own child."
     -William Shakespeare.
 
It's almost a law to appreciate your dad. Whatever your father does, you have to appreciate it. You may not love him, but you appreciate him, because he helps  build character. Father's day was specifically made for any child to say thanks to our dads for whatever they did, that has helped and/or helps you throughout life. Well, to say thank you, you have to say it in a fun way. For father's day, the Brodskys had a little barbecue, had backyard games, and then went to see a movie of our dad's choice (though i tried to persuade him, we didn't go see Super 8, we saw Green Lantern). After the movie, my dad and I discussed the movie for 30 minutes like always, (except for Inception, we took 2 hours on that one), read, and then a hug that spoke "Thanks, Dad." Looking back at our life together, we were always very serious around each other, and when I had a problem he would always understand, nod his head, and ask "Wanna talk about it?" So yeah, today make sure to say thanks to your dad at the least, or do something nice to him, even if it's a really small thing. It doesn't have to be your dad, it can be anyone who has made you strong the past 8 years.
Happy Father's Day, Dad. :-)

   

What It Is

"What It Is" is a wonderful book by Lynda Barry and The Magic Cephalopod. Lynda Barry has worked as a painter, writer, cartoonist, illustrator, playwright, editor, commentator, and a teacher. I think she is one of my role models now, because I always wanted to be all those things, and I didn't think it was humanly possible to do all  of them in one lifetime. The Magic Cephalopod is more of a pathfinder, and guides pens and pencils. Because of that, I think I respect cephalapods more. (Check out this website, really interesting.http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/ ). Anyways, both (creatures?) are very awesome and talented, and you should definitively read more about them.
So, What It Is is a very, very different and unique book, and I still can't figure out what the book is, most of it is a comic biography about Lynda's life, and some of it is very bizarre pages with random scraps of random pictures, drawings questions, quotes, thoughts, feelings, and numbers. Though a bit strange, I really like the style, and it always leaves me thinking. I think Lynda is very passionate about imagination, creativity and thinking, juts like me. Even more like me, 1/3 of the whole book teaches how to write in an activity book form. Probably the most clever, memorable and definitively the most creative and/or unique book I've read.  But even still, I can't figure out what it is.

How To Make A Character

Sometimes, the greatest part of a book is the people. In many great novels, the characters are probably the most important part of a story. If one of them dies, that has a HUGE impact on the story, making it more powerful and deep. But it is very hard to make a good character. SAM TO THE RESCUE!
First, ask yourself these questions to make your character.

•  Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
• How old are you really? Forget your biological age. Are you a playful 7 year old? 
• What is your biggest fear?
• What is your smallest fear?
• What is something you know most about? (Computers? Animals? Fishing? Sports? Mermaids?)
• What are things you would like to do before he dies?
• Things you would want for Christmas that don't cost money?
• Things you thinks the world could do without?
• What is your favorite color? Why?
  
  Answer them, and there's your character! It can be based on you, a friend, a family member or someone you don't even know! After you're done, make a drawing of him/her, use your imagination! Good luck on writing your masterpiece. Hope I helped!

Procrastinating: A Lesson

I HATE procrastination. What is procrastination? It's when you take aside doing something productive to something that will give you immediate satisfaction. So, basically it's when you're putting of  or delaying an action to a later time. So pretend you have an essay due tomorrow, but you NEED to check your e-mail, or see whats on in TV, or see what happens in the fifth Harry Potter book, etc. These are examples of procrastinating, and the more you do procrastination, the less work you get done. Procrastination is something everyone has to deal with, but you can actually lower your temptation, once you know how it actually works.
When you procrastinate, two individual parts of your brain are battling out with each other. The first half, called the  prefrontal cortex, does the "I need to get some work done or I will be in detention!" type of thinking, while the other half, called the limbix system which thinks "I'll just do it later, let me just take a short nap!" Unfortunately, the limbix system is much more powerful, because it's connected to your pleasure center of your brain. So right now, you might be asking yourself, "What can I do, Sam?!" Well, the limbix system gets more powerful whenever the temptation to do something other than work becomes more tempting (i.e. you can smell it, hear it, touch it, etc.). So for example, you need to get your work done, but you're blogging (yes, I'm reffering to myself), so maybye turn off your internet! I think everyone can deal with their temptations if you learn how to control  it.

Why Being A Writer Is AWESOME

Being A writer is pretty frickin' sweet. Especially if you love to stay in your PJ's and be lazy!

• You get paid to make stuff up.
• You can stay home and work in your pajamas!
• You get to travel to different parts of the world because it's "research".
• You get to do strange, interesting things because it's also "research".
•  You can sleep 'till noon, work 'till midnight, and take time off whenever you like.
• You get to act stranger than other people, and it's considered OK, because you're a writer.
• You get to read a book in your study while other people do boring and lame stuff. 
• "Writer" on a passport looks better than "dental hygienist". (No offense to you doctors, I'm sure you guys are interesting as well).
• Your peers are weird, wild, wise, and wonderful.
  
  There are WAYYY more reasons why, just ask my dad. Tell me why YOU think being a writer is cool.

Why The Beatles Are Better Than The Music Today

I understand and strongly believe that everyone has their own opinions, and that everyone can think differently, even great minds. I, also have opinions. Lots of them. While a lot of people may not agree with me, but I think what music is what it is today is ruined. I have nothing against modern pop today, I just don't listen to it, I listen to The Beatles and other rock and blues bands that make real music. Seriously, I barely consider rap a genre of music, auto-tune sounds like a dying cat, and male teen singers that sing like girls just won't do. The Beatles, a band of four lads who revolutionized music by their talent and lyrics, and not by their appearance or a song about being drunk. Of course, it's your opinion, and you can think whatever you want. All I'm saying is give real music a chance

Tips To Keeping A Journal Of Thoughts

1.  It's your journal! Write and/or draw anything you like! Your expressions, feelings, thoughts, sketches, anything, pretty much. There's no wrong or right way to keep a journal, so do anything you like to it. Even destroy it like Keri Smith. http://www.wreckthisjournal.com/
2. Add pictures. Either printed out or drawn is fine, or even Polaroid photographs are awesome. You're obviously not forced to, but it keeps the creativity and fun alive in your journal. 
3. Add dates. Yeah, I hate to be organized as much as you do, but it really helps when you look back in those moments where you feel at a certain emotion and can reflect upon it.
4. Bring it wherever you go. Whenever you have a deep and meaningful thought about something, the best thing to do is write it down, and I can't remember all my thoughts and THEN write them. Plus, writing on the spot makes you look thoughtful around others ;-).
5. Always collect things from outside like flowers leaves, sticks, and other things that might be interesting to have in your journal and to observe.
6. Last but DEFINITELY  not least, have fun writing down in your journal! If it seems like too much work, you're not forced to write in it. Writing down journals should become a habit and a fun one too, but it definitely shouldn't be a tiring or un-fun labor. Don't struggle :-) 

Book Series That Inspired Me To write

• The Harry Potter saga. Especially the first one.  J. K. Rowling
• The Secret Benedict Society series. I like the idea   Trenton Lee Stewart
• The Keri Smith books. They're so artistic, creative, and unique. Keri Smith (duh)
• Lewis Carrol The Fully Illustrated Works. Who DOESN'T like classics. Lewis Carrol
•  The Bartimaeus Triology. It is very related to Lord of The Rings. Jonathan Stroud
• The Amulet Books. A very awesome graphic novel series. Kazu Kibushi
• Bone Series. An even AWESOMER graphic novel series. Jeff Smith
  
  What are your favorite books that inspire you (in any way)?
  
  See ya! :D

12 Things a Good Writer Does

1. Drink coffee or tea while writing.
2. Dress casually.
3. Look up into the ceiling for ideas.
4. Take their notebook and  pen/pencil with them everywhere.
5.  Have creative and non-lame names for characters. ( Lame: Bob, Creative: Charlotte)
6. Keep a diary
7. Eat only oranges and sweet treats.
8. ALWAYS write your thoughts. Especially in this blog : )
9. Builds a thinker's cap ( literally. Check out tha linkk!)
10. Makes useless but pretty legit lists like these.
11. Laugh.
12. Play cool simulation games such as Sims.
    
    What do you do as a writer?
    How to make a thinking cap! ~ http://www.professorsolomon.com/thinkingcap.html 

What to do when you're blank of ideas.

A lot of people, either authors or writers, tend all to have the same problem when they're about to publish a fabulous story. They have no idea what to write about. Here are some ideas ans tips.

• If you're going for the realistic type of thing, look for things around you. Go to the park or some other public place where there's a wide variety of people. 
• If you're looking for the fantasy or fiction type of story, also go to a public place. Think of things that can't do in real life and use personification. For example, J. K Rowling wrote  the first book of Harry Potter on a train station.
• If you want to go for something different, try using different perspectives or peculiar characters. (i.e story about two kids getting kidnapped in the view of the kidnapper)
• Let your imagination run!!!
• Think of the ending first, and then build up on it.
• Cut two random photos from the newspaper. Make one picture the ending and the other the beginning.
  
  If you have any other tips or ideas, please share them with me!