Time slips by but children find the words

It's amazing how fast time slips by when you are completely absorbed in writing something. I have been so focused on freelance writing that I haven't written on the blog. I have also been so focused on finishing the edits on a manuscript that again, I haven't written on the blog.

Right now I am waiting to hear back about the latests edits that I have done on a manuscript. The publisher seems very interested in the story but it needs work before it can more towards a contract. So I am on edge with that but I pass the time with manuscript number two and a number of freelance commitments that I have.

But I thought it was time to update and since I have been lacking the words to post on here, I thought maybe my children could find the words for me. And they did! Actually my oldest has been talking about writing a book and below is a scan of his story that he was working on. He has shifted gears but I think the story below is a really good first attempt, especially since he was 7 when he wrote it.

If you can't read his printing, I have supplied the text below. Beware, it's all about Star Wars. (his punctuation too)


"Star Wars
As the clone wars continues, on the Planet Mustafar a big war is on. Clone troopers blow up droid tanks. "We have blown up a turbo tank," said the droid commander.

The droids launched some spiderdroids. BOOM! Blasts go everywhere. One clone fell down. As many troops and droids got hit a huge blast hits a tank! "Fire! Fire! Fire!," said a clone.

In a room ten troops fight ten droids. A turbo tank is hit. Ten huge blasts hit some turbo tanks and spider droids." >>>next page<<<
"BOOM! BOOM! The droids start to launch more tanks. A big blast hit a room and beating some droids and troops. Zap! "Hind behind that tower," said the clone commander. A blast hits a spiderdroid. "That spider is down," said a clone. Most of the ships have left now. Boom! The ships shake." >>>next page<<<

"Clone pilots rush to their fighters. Droid ships shoot at clone ships. Some clones land on a droid ship. They put charges on the ship. "Run," said a clone. BOOM!

"We are beating a cloneship," said a droid."

That was as far as he went with it but I thought it was very cute and very well done.

Hope you enjoyed the story and everything.

Sirena

Pages

Blank pages dance before my eyes and I really believe I'm about to cry. Where are the words when I need them most, they faded away like forgotten ghosts.

Yep, inspiration has hit in the midst of a writer's block. I have read somewhere that writer's don't have blocks; all it is is a figment of our imagination but whoever wrote that (and I can't seem to find it) probably wasn't a writer. I have articles to finish, my own book to edit and I really feel the need to start novel number 2 but all I have are blank pages, ignored notes and a number of emails to answer.

I am hoping that the block passes soon and all I can do is slug away at my work. The one problem with writing with a block is I am never happy with what I am producing. My clients are happy, saying that the work is excellent but I know that I could do so much better. The words don't flow easily and I know that anyone who is reading it will say, "Oh, there's the part where she stumbled."

Anyway, just a quick post (I know I am awful at posting but then again, you should see my journal), and now I need to get back to work. Expect a bunch of these little posts while I am dealing with the block. I seem to have little snippets here and there that I seem to focus on but maybe writing them down will get me over the block.

Have a good day,

Sirena

Jonas Brothers' New Book

Today as I was waiting for dinner to be finished (yes I was cooking), I was flipping through a magazine and happened upon a little article, I mean it wasn't much more than a blurp, talking about the new Jonas Brothers book. It read about how you get an intimate look into each brother's life and blah, blah, blah.

I started laughing and my husband asked me what was so funny. Of course, I had to be a bit of a smart ass, and I said, "The Jonas Brothers have a new book featuring their life story. Jeez, how much of a life story can they have in their late teens, early twenties?"

My husband's answer was simply, "I'm not sure but I bet there are a lot of pictures in it."

Throughout this conversation, my seven year old son was busy drawing a picture at the dining room table and we were actually talking above him, something that I try not to do but he was immersed in his drawing, or so I thought.

Just as my husband finished his sentence, we heard, "Yeah, I bet it goes, "They were born, they played, they decided to make music. The end."

I thought it was very clever that he followed all of it and was able to say it with such a straight face. I know that I have a fledgling smart ass that is quickly gaining rank in a family of smart asses but sometimes it is surprising to see it, or I guess hear it would be appropriate.

But anyway, just thought I would write a post and this was a funny thing that happened to me that I just wanted to share.

Take care and maybe I will be back tomorrow.

Sirena

Of Nightingales and Lover's Plights

When I was about 14 years old, I happened upon a little book that contained a collection of poems by William Blake. I read through, or rather I devoured the pages, and I realized that I had found my favorite poet. His darker poems and the fact that he was viewed as a harmless lunatic (which may seem odd) endeared him to me even more and to this day he is still one of my favorites.

Although I like to believe that I can write, I mean I get paid for it, I don't fancy myself a poet. I am much happier meandering through a paragraph than stressing over a stanza. I would rather draw a picture with words than have a few lines to illustrate my point. Still, I get the occasional inspiration for a poem and I will jot them down. Most of them remain completely and utterly secretive and not even my husband gets to experience any of my poems but a few make their way out into the spotlight and I haven't been boo'ed off a stage yet. (Not that I have been on a stage.)

Tonight I thought it would be nice to post two poems that I wrote a few years ago. Feel free to post what you think.
-----------------------------------------------------
Nightingales
by Sirena Van Schaik

It whispers in the starless night,
As nightingales take to flight.
The moonlight echoes between the leaves,
My love lost in the breeze.

The sadness that has become my bed,
Is stained with tears where I lay my head.
And I wish for the morning sun,
For the happiness that will never come.

Telling secrets of my lover's hate,
The night whispers of my fate.
And the nightingales sing with voices clear,
Lamenting the funeral I no longer fear.

------------------------------------------------
And the second one:

Lover's Plight
by Sirena Van Schaik

I found my lover by the stream,
And I knew right then he was my dream.
But my lover has no need of me,
Of my love he wants to be free.

I have searched for him all my life,
And for what do I have but a soul of strife.
But my love does not love me back,
In me, something he did see lack.

The secret kisses that he stole,
Are painful memories of a fool.
Now this dagger has found its rest,
Within my broken heart and chest.

And on the ground I lie so still,
My lover's life I no longer live to fill.
May my lover find me dead,
And my grief be his instead.

That I carried both day and night,
Because my lover gave me not but spite.
As I breathe my last deep sigh,
I wish my love did not die.

Have a great night.

Sirena

Clothes Only Come in Gift Bags

Every year and almost every occasion, whether it is a birthday, Easter or Christmas, one thing always stays the same at my house:

"Clothes only come in gift bags."

This doesn't mean that other items can't be found in a gift bag but there is a 98% chance that if you receive a gift bag from me, it means I got you clothes. I'm not sure where I started this. I don't remember gift bags as a kid and I think it became a traditional thing after I moved to Ontario and started celebrating holidays with my in-laws.

Although I began using and enjoying gift bags after I moved to Ontario, I rarely received clothes in the gift bags. Instead I received all sorts of little goodies and my husband's grandmother would always load up gift bags with nuts and chocolates and all the other little treats that people indulge in. So it leaves me wondering why gift bags have become the wrapping of choice for clothes.

I think part of the reason is that I don't like to have frumpy packages under the tree. I prefer to have beautiful wrapped boxes intermingled with boxes. The whole aesthetic thing, you know. It has become such a common thing that my children will immediately say, "Oh, a gift bag, that's just clothes."

This year; however, I have decided to break from the norm and every gift bag under the tree will hold other items besides clothes. The kids will be in for a shock of their life and I will have to deal with frumpy packages (unless I run down to the store to pick up a few gift boxes).

And that sort of brings me to Christmas. Although it is only five days away, I haven't really felt that Christmassy. I am finished shopping outside of a few odds and ends (namely stocking stuffers) but I still have about 80% of the wrapping to do. I'm hoping that I will be in the Christmas mood soon enough but if not, it will kick in a few hours before Christmas morning.

That is always a tradition too. No matter how off I feel or how worn out, I stay awake most of Christmas Eve waiting for 6 o'clock so I can sneak downstairs, turn on all the Christmas lights, and set up the coffee pot so it is ready while the kids are opening their stockings. I used to go and wake the kids up after I had everything done but now I go back upstairs around quarter to seven and lay in bed, pretending to sleep so the kids can burst into the room and experience all the joys of waking their parents up on Christmas morning.

My planning may seem a bit silly but I never leave Christmas lights on when I sleep (call me overly cautious) and I want the kids to come down the stairs to a fully lit tree. There is so much magic in that first glimpse of the tree; fully lit, the angel shining brightly in the darkened living room, the presents piled under and around it. Magic on Christmas morning.

Well, on that note, I should sign off. I have presents to wrap and I told my husband I would wrap them tonight.

Have a good night and Happy Holidays.

Sirena

Articles, Articles and More Articles

I have been very busy over the several months, probably the reason why I have been neglecting my own blog, and I have finally finished a lot of articles. And I do mean a lot. I have been working for a client creating a number of mini articles, ones that range between 400 and 600 words. The topics have been about a range of things, all of them assigned to me. Some are topics that I have written about before and others were ones that I would never have thought of writing if I hadn't been asked.

Anyway, my client sent me a long list of all the articles I sent with all the links to them so I thought I would post them here. There are too many to post in my link list so it is better just to keep them in one post.

I hope you enjoy them.

Sirena

http://coffee-shop-stop.com/

http://coffee-shop-stop.com/amsterdam-coffee-shops/

http://coffee-shop-stop.com/coffee-shop-design/

http://coffee-shop-stop.com/coffee-shop-equipment/

http://coffee-shop-stop.com/seattle-coffee-shops/

http://coffee-shop-stop.com/starting-a-coffee-shop/

http://allcoffeeart.com/

http://allcoffeeart.com/coffee-wall-art/

http://allcoffeeart.com/latteart/

http://cappuccinoxpert.com/

http://cappuccinoxpert.com/cappuccino-machines/

http://cappuccinoxpert.com/cappuccino-mugs/

http://cappuccinoxpert.com/make-cappuccino/

http://cappuccinoxpert.com/cappuccino-recipes/

http://coffeecakerecipes101.com/

http://coffeecakerecipes101.com/best-coffee-cake-recipes/

http://coffeegrinders101.com/

http://coffeegrinders101.com/burr-coffee-grinders/

http://coffeegrinders101.com/antique-coffee-grinders/

http://coffeegrinders101.com/manual-coffee-grinders/

http://coffee-recipes.com/

http://coffee-recipes.com/coffee-drink-recipes/

http://coffee-recipes.com/iced-coffee-recipes/

http://espressoxpert.com/

http://espressoxpert.com/espresso-cups/

http://espressoxpert.com/espresso-machines/

http://gourmet-coffee-guide.info/

http://gourmet-coffee-guide.info/gourmet-coffee-gift-baskets/

http://gourmet-coffee-guide.info/gourmet-flavored-coffee/

http://latte-101.com/

http://latte-101.com/how-to-make-a-latte/

http://latte-101.com/what-is-a-latte/

http://latte-101.com/ghetto-latte/

http://latte-101.com/latte-recipes/

http://coffeeonlinemagazine.com/

http://coffeeonlinemagazine.com/gourmet-coffee/

http://coffeeonlinemagazine.com/coffee-makers/

http://candleholders101.com/

http://candleholders101.com/glass-candle-holders/

http://candleholders101.com/wrought-iron-candle-holders/

http://candle-making-101.com/

http://candle-making-101.com/candle-making-supplies/

http://candle-making-101.com/how-to-make-candles/

http://candlesonlinemagazine.com/

http://candlesonlinemagazine.com/scented-candles/

http://gel-candles-101.com/2008/12/gel-candles-the-beauty-of-gel/

http://gel-candles-101.com/2008/11/making-fruit-gel-candles/

http://gel-candles-101.com/2008/11/wine-glass-gel-candles-creating-gel-candles/

http://scentedcandles101.com/richly-scented-candles/

http://scentedcandles101.com/scented-jar-candles/

http://scentedcandles101.com/featured/welcome-to-scented-candles-101/

http://soycandles101.com/featured/soy-candles/

http://soycandles101.com/scented-soy-candles/

http://soycandles101.com/soy-jar-candles/

http://craftsonlinemagazine.com/

http://craftsonlinemagazine.com/the-childs-canvas/

http://craftsonlinemagazine.com/kids-crafts/

http://craftsonlinemagazine.com/christmas-crafts/

http://allhalloweencrafts.com/

http://allhalloweencrafts.com/craft-ideas-for-halloween/

http://allhalloweencrafts.com/halloween-printable-crafts/

http://allbiblecrafts.com/2008/11/welcome-to-all-bible-crafts/

http://allbiblecrafts.com/2008/12/kids-bible-crafts-one-decade-bracelets/

http://alljapanesecrafts.com/2008/12/welcome-to-all-japanese-crafts/

http://alljapanesecrafts.com/japanese-crafts-ideas/

http://alljapanesecrafts.com/japanese-crafts-for-children/

http://alljapanesecrafts.com/japanese-paper-crafts/

http://celebratethanksgivingday.com/

http://celebratethanksgivingday.com/thanksgiving-traditions/

http://celebratethanksgivingday.com/american-thanksgiving/

http://celebratethanksgivingday.com/thanksgiving-day/

http://celebratethanksgivingday.com/thanksgiving-dinner/

http://celebratethanksgivingday.com/the-history-of-thanksgiving/

http://allchristmascrafts.com/homemade-christmas-cards/

http://allchristmascrafts.com/christmas-craft-crafty-santas-cookies-plate/

http://allchristmascrafts.com/christmas-clay-pot-crafts/

http://allchristmascrafts.com/christmas-craft-materials/

http://allchristmascrafts.com/christmas-craft-ornaments/

http://allchristmascrafts.com/christmas-craft-patterns/

http://allchristmascrafts.com/christmas-family-crafts/

http://allchristmascrafts.com/preschool-christmas-crafts/

http://allchristmasvillages.com/

http://allchristmasvillages.com/christmas-village-accessories/

http://allchristmasvillages.com/christmas-village-displays/

http://allchristmasvillages.com/setting-up-a-christmas-village/

http://allchristmascookies.com/

http://allchristmascookies.com/christmas-cookie-recipes/

http://allchristmascookies.com/easy-christmas-cookie-recipes/

http://allchristmascookies.com/christmas-gingerbread-cookies/

http://allchristmascookies.com/christmas-sugar-cookies/

http://allchristmascookies.com/italian-christmas-cookies/

http://christmasonlinemagazine.com/

http://christmasonlinemagazine.com/christmas-carols/

http://christmasonlinemagazine.com/christmas-gift-ideas/

http://christmasonlinemagazine.com/merry-christmas/

http://all-christmas-songs.com/welcome-to-all-christmas-songs/

http://all-christmas-songs.com/christmas-song-parodies/

http://all-christmas-songs.com/funny-christmas-songs/

http://all-christmas-songs.com/most-popular-christmas-songs/

http://oh-christmas-trees.com/

http://oh-christmas-trees.com/christmas-tree-shops/

http://oh-christmas-trees.com/christmas-tree-skirts/

http://oh-christmas-trees.com/christmas-tree-storage/

http://oh-christmas-trees.com/christmas-tree-toppers/

http://oh-christmas-trees.com/history-of-the-christmas-tree/

http://oh-christmas-trees.com/artificial-christmas-trees/

http://christmasgamesonline.net/welcome-to-christmas-games-online/

http://christmasgamesonline.net/adult-christmas-games/

http://christmasgamesonline.net/christmas-office-party-games/

http://christmasgamesonline.net/christmas-party-games/

http://christmasgamesonline.net/christmas-trivia-games/

Vampires

My husband and I went Christmas shopping today and on the way home we started talking about vampires. Do not ask me how we get from Christmas to blood sucking fiends...oh wait...crowded stores sucking the life blood from my wallet. Okay, obviously there is a connection.

Anyway, we were talking about various movies, books and television shows that are centered around vampires and my husband happened to mention the movie, "Bitten." It wasn't the best movie that we have seen but it had a few good moments. One of those was the fact that the vampire was more of the traditional style of vampire. She needed to eat all the time, when she ate there was dead people. At this point, the characters in the movie were left with a body to deal with, which a blood hungry monster would obviously leave behind.

Of course, this conversation led to other conversations, all surrounding the undead and I came up with a great little scene involving vampires.

Okay, picture the background. Nice living room, two guys (not sure why I'm thinking guys) sitting on the couch, blankly staring at the television with a bored expression on their faces. The first one turns to the second and says, "What do you want to do?"

The second continues to stare at the television screen and begins picking his long fangs," I don't know, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know. There's nothing to do."

Long pause as the vampires watch the television for a few minutes before the first one jerks up, "How 'bout we go and kill someone?"

Second one thinks about it for a few seconds, "Nah, I killed someone last night. I hate to say this but killing people just isn't as fun as it once was. I mean, no one screams in terror, they just laugh and say, 'Nice fangs, moron.' Where's the fun in that? I could just stay home if I wanted to be insulted."

"Oh," long pause," Well, we could go and get a drink."

"Yeah, we could but I just had a snack not that long ago. She wasn't that tasty, too much McDonald's but it hit the spot."

"Yeah, yeah, I ate too," even longer pause, "Hey, I hear the old Dracula movie is playing on the movie channel tonight. Want to watch it."

Second vampire nods his head, "Yeah, sounds great. Let's do that."

Of course, mine isn't that funny but when you think up the undead, there really isn't that much to do at night. Sure, you can go to a couple clubs, hang out with other like minded individuals but the bars close eventually and then what, hang out at the all night Walmart. Now there's a way to spend eternity. Even if you have an active "vampire life," there are going to be a lot of nights that are mind numbingly boring.

Anyway, there is my little thing on vampires. And just in time for Christmas too!

Sirena