Hiii, sweet friends! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I know, I need to get around to writing a life update post. A lot’s happened since I last posted, and it’s too much to explain in this post. All I’ll share right now is that I’m doing a lot better than I was 6 months ago. š
And so, here’s my introduction to my NaNoWriMo novel, Project Rosemary. I’ll be using Christine Smith’s Know The Novel questions.
(Also is anyone else in shock that it’s almost November?? I feel like it’s still June š )
1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?
Iāve really wanted to write a story that somehow relates to Ophelia, from Shakespeareās Hamlet, for a long time now. I recently was struggling with what to write for NaNoWriMo, and by the grace of God, this story began to take form in my mind. And so, slowly, Project Rosemary was born.
2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary)!
Project Rosemary is a tender, quiet middle grade novel about mental illness, generational trauma, small towns, failed actresses, the late 1980s, and grief. Iām so excited to write it š
3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects of the setting?
It takes place in a (currently unnamed) small town, about a stones throw from Los Angelos. Just close enough for my failed actress character to believe that she can still pursue her dreams, but also just far enough that itās always out of reach. </3 I love the fact that the town is small, and filled with a quirky cast of characters (which is literally every town Iāve ever written about but itās okay *facedesk*). I havenāt really figured out more details than thatā I donāt tend to plan out how my setting will look, I just sort of jump into the story and find out. š
4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).
Oooh, this is the question Iāve been most excited for. I love rambling about my characters XP. My protagonist is a 12 year old girl named Aspen Wakefield. Sheās an enneagram 6w5, with OCD and a passion for tea gardening and photography. Sheās too responsible for her age, and has grown up being an almost parent for her mom: a failed actress who believes that she is Ophelia reincarnate.
5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?
Iām about to get really philosophical here, so please bear with me š *stands on a soap box* *taps microphone* ahem, the antagonist is human brokenness. Or, to be more specific (or more confusing, depending on how you would like to define it), the antagonist is the effects of living on this broken planet filled with sin š In all seriousness, the antagonist is probably Aspenās mother. I hate the trope of mentally ill people being the villains, and so I would like to make it very clear that her mother is not the antagonist because of her mental illnesses. She is a very nuanced character, and while I wonāt get into all the details in this post, I just wanted to make it as clear as possible that I will not be villainizing her mental illness. There is so much more to her than her mental illnesses, as you will find out if I ever publish this (or, you know, actually write it š )
6. What excites you the most about this novel?
The aesthetic. Oh my word, the aesthetic. Itās like if We Dream of Space and Stranger Things had an aesthetic mixture. The aesthetic has honestly been the best part of this. Itās yellow wall phones, antique paintings, vintage photos, broken lockers, the scent of old books, and lopsided smiles.
7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?
Standalone, most likely. Most of my novels are standalones (:
8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?
Iām plotting!! Iāve been using Chat GPT for that (seriously, itās super helpful for organizing ideas and brainstorming and also finding face claims).
9. Name a few unique elements in this story.
Well, for one, itās ownvoices OCD rep (which is rare), and it deals with grieving someone who was very hard to love.
10. Share some fun āextrasā of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map youāve made, a special theme youāre going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).
Wellllllll thereās Requiem from Dear Evan Hansen, which sums up Aspenās emotional turmoil, and thereās the Pinterest board I made (:
Thank you so much for reading this post, friend. If you enjoyed this, please consider liking, subscribing, and maybe leaving a comment. It would mean the world to me. š
Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? What’s your project about? Let me know in the comments!
There are few things more exciting than the beginning of summer, when there’s a promise of things to come, and an exciting sense of fresh starts in the air, and every school student lets out a sigh of relief, because it’s finally time to just rest. Summer is like an entire season of Sabbath, where we get a break before another school year starts again. It’s so easy though, to find yourself at the end of summer, exhausted and drained, realizing you wasted the entire season lying on the couch, binging Boy Meets World (okay, that might just be a me thing š). Which is why I figured I’d write this post, not just to help you guys make the most of your summers, but also to help myself.
I’ll definitely be referencing this post throughout the summer (:
1. Dedicate Your Summer to The Lord
I can’t stress how important this is when it comes to planning your summer. It’s so easy to forget that this season is His, for Him to use for His glory. We can get so caught up in the excitement of planning, that we lose sight of what’s really important about this season (and all seasons, really!)
My favorite way to keep myself reminded that my life is not my own is to leave a little calligraphy note on my wall for myself to see all summer. I still need to make this note though š
2. Make a “Curriculum Plan”
I don’t know about you, but I personally feel extremely out of wack if I don’t have a stable list of assignments for every day, whether that’s during the school year or summer. I also have a list of things I want to teach myself outside of school, which is where my DIY “summer school” comes in. I’ve planned out 6 subjects for myself: Writing, Literature, Art, ASL, Business, and Nonfiction. I’ve modeled the curriculum plan after various homeschool curriculum plans, to best set myself up for success.
For my remaining 3 subjects, I haven’t decided on definitive assignments yet. For Art, I think I’ll be studying art basics through YouTube, and will also be doing as many art projects as I feel like. For ASL, I’ll likely just practice my ASL daily, using YouTube to learn new signs. And for Business, I’ll just be focusing on getting my Etsy shop started. I’ve had this as my goal for the last few years, and I’m really hoping this is the year when I’ll finally start my business.
Every summer, I make a bucket list, and every summer I fail to complete it. This summer I’m hoping to change that though. I want to have an exciting and memorable summer, and a bucket list is a big part of that. Some things on my summer bucket list are to make some new IRL friends, have a sunrise picnic, do something really impulsive (ie: sing broadway songs in the grocery store), go to the boardwalk (I’m terrified for this one, seeing as I have severe sensory issues), go see The Little Mermaid in theatres, see my friend in a local production of The Little Mermaid, visit a water park, and try out the paperclip challenge (in which you trade a paperclip for something else, and trade that something else for something else, and so on).
I highly recommend making a YA novel worthy bucket list (:
4. Find a Job or Volunteer Position (or Both!)
Taking advantage of all your free time in summer to help someone else or make some money is one of the smartest choices you can make, both for your future and for your wallet. I’ve already applied for multiple jobs near me, including at Starbucks, Old Navy, and multiple other random businesses. Along with that, I’ve signed up to volunteer as an STM at Joni & Friends family retreat, and I’ve applied to help out at a horseback riding program for kids with disabilities.
If you’re under 16, and can’t get hired for a job/volunteer position, I’d recommend trying out starting your own business. (:
5. Make a Plan to Stay Off of Devices as Much as Possible
There’s something about summer that just encourages everyone to be glued to their devices (myself included). After the initial charm of summer has worn off, there’s just yucky sticky heat and boredom to last for days. It’s hard to resist the urge to be online all day.
That being said, it’s so good for you to get off your devices. Go outside, snuggle with your dog, hang out with your friends. Get off those devices.
(Also, completely random and off topic, but have you drank any water in the last hour? And have you gotten up and stretched in the last two hours? If not, please get off this blog post and take care of yourself. š)
6. Go on Little Adventures Around Your Town
I know, I know, you know your town like the back of your hand, and there’s nothing fun about pretending to be a tourist. You’re probably rolling your eyes at this point and preparing to scroll down to my next piece of advice. Please don’t! Trust me, you can have plenty of fun wherever you live. I know that for me personally, I’m planning to bike around town this summer, mostly to the library and the park. Go search for hidden spots, explore the downtown part of your town, visit your local town history museum. I guarantee you, you’ll have fun (:
7. Find a New Hobby
For me at least, there’s nothing more fun than a new hobby. I love learning new things, and I absolutely adore getting into new hobbies. Over the last 16 years, I’ve had too many hobbies to count; some of the most memorable ones were coding, writing (hah that’s still my hobby XP), art, bracelet making, and horseback riding.
So please!! Do yourself a favor and try out a new hobby. For almost any hobby, you can buy supplies for super cheap off of Amazon.
8. Intentionally Spend Time with Your Family
In the summer, everyone’s always so excited to spend time with their friends. Not so much with their family. Which breaks my heart, if we’re being honest. I wish more teenagers were aware of the amount of privilege they have to be able to spend time with their family. You won’t always have time to hang out with your family, and, you might not always have the chance to be with them. Make spending time with them an intention. Trust me, you won’t regret it. š
(That being said, if you have a toxic/abusive family, please distance yourself from them. Your emotional and physical safety matter.)
9. Buy a Cheap Camera and Document Your Summer on It
Alright, I know this one is all over TikTok, so I won’t spend much time explaining. Just buy a cheap camera (I found this one on Shein for $10), and take as many photos and videos of your summer as you can. It’s so fun (:
10. Take a Class at Your Local Community College
For those of you who want more than just DIY summer school, I’d recommend taking a class at your local community college, or even at a college that is far away from you but offers classes online. High school students generally get to take these courses for free, and these courses typically count for a whole year of a school subject. Highly recommend (:
Thank you so so much for reading this mess of a post š If you enjoyed this, please consider leaving a like, a comment, and subscribing for similar content.
What are you planning to do this summer? Are you excited for summer? Let me know in the comments!
Over the last few years, I’ve learned just how important habits are. When used for good, they can be so powerful and life changing. But when used for bad, well, they can become dangerous. Bad habits (ie: swearing, staying up late, etc) are easier to develop than good habits (ie: waking up early, reading your bible regularly, etc), and are also harder to break than good habits. It’s so easy to break a rhythm that’s for your good. It’s much harder to break a bad habit. Trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way. Currently trying to break my cussing habit, and it’s harder than it seems. I’m also trying to develop a habit of waking up early to spend time with God, and let me tell you, that’s been almost impossible.
That being said, here’s a list of 5 habits I’m trying to implement into my life. I hope you guys find these helpful. š Please remember to start slow, and be kind to yourself when you mess up, because I can guarantee you, you will mess up. You’re only human, not a superhero. It’s okay if you mess up. Just remember to get back up again after messing up, k? Every day is a fresh start. š
Putting a Glass of Water Next to Your Bed
Friends, your body needs this so badly. Especially if you’re the sort of person who forgets to drink water throughout the day. It’s so important to start your day with a few sips of water (please don’t chug the water, that will only upset your stomach). Plus, keeping a glass of water next to my bed helps me to remember to drink water throughout the day. Whatever I don’t drink in the early morning, I try to drink later in the day.
Adding lemon juice, fruit, or even a little bit of sugar can also help motivate you to drink more. Just don’t leave flavored water out for longer than 4 hours š
Making Your Bed First Thing in the Morning
Due to my health issues, making my bed when I first wake up isn’t always the easiest thing, but I’ve found that it can be so helpful for getting my mind into the right mindset after I wake up. Obviously, I wouldn’t recommend this if it’s too much for you physically– as my health has gotten worse over the last few months, I’ve learned just how exhausting even simple tasks like making your bed can be.
If you can make your bed though, please do it. š
Reading the Bible at Least Once a Day
I’ve found that reading my bible, especially in the early morning, is so helpful for my soul. When I leave my room, I’m immediately hit with a thousand different worldviews, and it’s so hard to discern which ones are God-honoring and which aren’t, especially if I haven’t spent time in God’s Word first.
I also like to, when I have the energy, read a few Psalms right before bed. This is especially good if I haven’t gotten in any time with the Lord earlier in the day. Plus, it helps set my mind on all that is true, lovely, and pure (Philippians 4:8-9). Something about the Psalms soothes my intrusive thoughts– not perfectly, but just enough that I can fall back asleep.
Cleaning Your RoomĀ Daily
Iāve always had a tendency to have a messy room. When I was about 12-ish, my room was so bad that I couldnāt see the floor š I canāt find a photo of my room at itās worst, but I did find this photo that shows just how bad it was at itsā best š
Anyways though, the point of that highly disturbing example *shudders* is to show that cleaning your room is extremely important. Whenever my room gets messy like that (usually when Iām depressed), my brain feels super messy and foggy and confused. Keeping my room clean helps my brain to feel better, and also helps keep me productive and motivated (: Let me know in the comments if you guys want a room tour (I promise my room is a lot prettier now than it was when I was in middle school š)
Working Out at Least Once a Week
This is definitely harder, especially if you have a chronic or mental illness, or are neurodivergent. Finding energy to workout is really hard for me (due to low executive functioning and very low energy), but I always feel so much better when I make the time to. Even sometimes just a short walk with Sushi counts as a workout– I like to double these as prayer walks when my attention span is feeling up for that.
My personal favorite workout YouTuber is Callie Jardine (:
Thank you so so much for reading this post, friends! š I’m incredibly thankful to have you guys reading my posts– it always makes me smile (: I hope you were able to find some good inspiration for living a healthier lifestyle.
Friendly reminder that it’s okay if you have days (or even weeks) where you can’t maintain any healthy habits. I completely get it. Please be gentle with yourself. š
If you enjoyed this post, please consider giving it a like, a comment, and follow me for similar content! Ily all so much š
What habits are you working on making a part of your routine? Let me know in the comments!
Hey, sweet friends! I hope you’re all doing well š Today I have a post that I’m very very excited about. I’ve honestly been waiting excitedly to write this post for a while now š I’m pretty sure you guys are already familiar with Chat GPT, but in case you aren’t, it’s an AI program that is basically a genius. I can’t decide whether to be fascinated or terrified by it š I’ve decided to have it introduce my current WIPs for me, and I’m very excited to see what it comes up with.
Friendly reminder that Chat GPT wrote these synopsis’ for me š
For my main WIP, Little Flowers, I gave Chat GPT a very simple sentence prompt, asking it to “write me a synopsis for a YA romance about 4 sisters, named Chloe, Ly, Honey, and Adri. It is a contemporary retelling of Little Women. featuring autistic girls, mental illness, french boys, and sisterly bonds.”
It’s response however was very far from the actual story premise š
“Four Sisters and a French Boy” is a heartwarming YA romance that follows the lives of four sisters named Chloe, Ly, Honey, and Adri, who are navigating their teenage years while dealing with autism, mental illness, and their unique sisterly bonds.
Set in a small town in the US, the sisters are raised by their single mother who works long hours as a nurse to support their family. The girls are very close, but each has their own struggles to deal with. Chloe, the oldest sister, is the responsible one who takes care of her younger sisters and struggles with anxiety. Ly, who has autism, is passionate about art and struggles to communicate her feelings. Honey, the third sister, is a talented musician who is coping with depression. Adri, the youngest, is a spunky and adventurous girl who is trying to find her place in the world.
Their lives are turned upside down when a French exchange student named Pierre arrives in their town and is placed in their home. Pierre is charming, handsome, and speaks little English, making him a bit of an enigma. The sisters are all drawn to him in different ways, but it’s Chloe who ends up spending the most time with him. As they spend time together, Chloe and Pierre develop a deep connection, and Chloe finds herself falling in love.
However, their happiness is short-lived when Pierre’s exchange program ends, and he has to return to France. Chloe is devastated, but her sisters rally around her and help her through the pain of their separation. As the girls navigate their own struggles, they also learn the importance of sisterhood, forgiveness, and the power of love.
“Four Sisters and a French Boy” is a contemporary retelling of Little Women, with a diverse cast of characters and themes that explore the complexities of mental health, autism, and the bonds of sisterhood. This heartwarming novel will leave you rooting for the sisters and their journey towards love, self-discovery, and acceptance.
In actuality, Little Flowers is about 4 sisters who end up befriending a quirky French boy who moves in across the street from them. Chat GPT’s description of Chloe was fairly accurate– although Chloe doesn’t have anxiety and is so much more than just the “responsible older sister.” Ly’s description was actually accurate to Honey, so that’s kinda cool. Ly herself though, is a writer type and not into art at all, and is not autistic (she does have ADHD though). Honey’s description was not at all accurate to any of the sisters, and Adri’s was very simplified.
Also *cough* Chloe doesn’t fall in love with “Pierre” I’m keeping his actual name a secret š
Overall, I’d rate that synopsis a 3/10. It was well written, but had nothing to do with my actual project.
For my second WIP, Comeback Kids (also known as Project Sunshine), I gave a pretty good summary of the plot, in my opinion, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good the synopsis Chat GPT came up with was.
“Naemi has been confined to her bed for a year, trapped in the aftermath of a devastating accident that claimed the lives of everyone she loved. She feels lost, alone, and has lost all sense of purpose. But everything changes when she meets Milo, a charming and mysterious boy who seems to understand her in ways that no one else can.
Milo has his own demons to confront, and Naemi is drawn to his strength and determination to overcome them. As they spend more time together, Naemi begins to find new reasons to live and starts to believe that maybe there is a future for her after all.
But just as Naemi starts to heal, the past comes back to haunt her, and she’s forced to confront the truth about the accident that changed her life forever. With Milo by her side, she must find the courage to face her fears and learn to let go of the past in order to embrace a brighter future.
A heart-warming and poignant tale of love, loss, and redemption, this young adult romance novel is a must-read for anyone who has ever struggled to find their way in the world.”
Chat GPT
There’s not much I would critique about this synopsis, aside from the fact that Naemi’s accident didn’t kill everyone she loved. It was only 3 of her friends, and she only truly loved one of them š Other than that though, it was pretty accurate.
I’d rate that synopsis 9/10. It actually sounds like a legit book synopsis.
This next WIP is actually currently in the early stages of writing, but I’m already obsessed. I’ve had this story in the back of my mind for a while, so I’m really excited to finally be working on it seriously.
“Bee County” is a touching middle-grade novel in verse that tells the story of a group of unlikely friends who come together to face their fears and overcome their struggles.
At the center of the story is a manic pixie dream girl named Luna, who is always on the move and never stays in one place for too long. When she arrives in Bee County, she quickly becomes the talk of the town with her quirky personality and free spirit. But as the days go by, her friends start to realize that Luna is not as carefree as she seems and needs saving from her troubled past.
Enter a boy who feels like a ghost, struggling with the loss of his mother, twin sisters who couldnāt be more different, one popular and one a recluse, a boy without legs, who is a whiz at fixing cars, and a literate goat, who just loves to read. Together, they form an unlikely alliance, each bringing their own unique talents and struggles to the group.
As they spend their days exploring the county and finding adventure, they also discover the power of friendship, courage, and the importance of being true to oneself. Through the magic of verse, readers are swept up in the lives of these charming characters and their journey towards self-discovery and acceptance.
With its vibrant cast of characters and poignant storytelling, “Bee County” is a touching and unforgettable novel that will captivate middle-grade readers and leave them with a renewed sense of hope and wonder.
Chat GPT
I genuinely love that synopsis so much, oh my word. It’s actually pretty accurate, although it has some inaccuracies. I’m shocked that Chat GPT knew what a manic pixie dream girl was š
Although, I will say that the manic pixie dream girl (Luna) is actually named Cass, and that the boy without legs (Atticus) is most definitely not a whiz at fixing cars. I might add that to the story though, because I like the idea. Also, I find the goat’s description so funny and I’m not sure why š
I’d rate this one a 8/10, because it was pretty accurate, and also gave me some ideas.
This last synopsis is not at all accurate for my WIP, To The Runaways. There’s too much here to critique, so I’m just not going to explain all that’s wrong with it š I’ll just leave you guys with the synopsis, which has absolutely nothing to do with TTR.
In “Stars in Their Eyes,” a gripping YA novel, a group of runaway misfit teenagers leave behind their troubled pasts and set out on a journey of self-discovery, adventure, and the pursuit of their dreams.
When seventeen-year-old Mia’s world falls apart, she takes a chance and runs away to New York City, hoping to find a new start. Along the way, she meets a group of teenagers just like her, each with their own unique story and struggles, but all with stars in their eyes and dreams in their hearts.
There’s Max, a guitar prodigy who dreams of making it big on the music scene, and his best friend Jazzy, a gifted dancer who wants to dance her way to the top. Then there’s Leo, a tech genius who wants to start his own company, and the enigmatic Raven, who is haunted by her past and dreams of a better future.
As they navigate the gritty streets of New York City and face the challenges of survival and growing up on their own, the group becomes a family and forms an unbreakable bond. Together, they face their fears, pursue their passions, and fight for their dreams, all while trying to stay one step ahead of the dangers that come with being runaway teenagers.
“Stars in Their Eyes” is a powerful and inspiring novel about the resilience of youth and the courage it takes to chase your dreams. With its authentic characters, gripping storyline, and raw emotion, this novel will captivate readers and leave them cheering for the misfit teenagers who refuse to give up on their hopes and aspirations.
Chat GPT
Sorry, Chat GPT, but I’m rating this a 2/10, only because it was completely inaccurate. Was it too much to expect an AI program to write an accurate synopsis for a novel it has no context about? Potentially. Do I have any regrets? Not at all š
I really hope you guys enjoyed this overly rambly post! I know I personally had a lot of fun writing it (:
Have you used Chat GPT for anything fun? What do you think of it’s writing capabilities? Let me know in the comments! š
*I don’t own the title image. I found it on Pinterest. All credits for it go to BYUTV
A few weeks ago, I was crying while talking to my mom, and I was explaining about how hard it is to stay confident in being autistic without any good role models. I was telling her about how the ableism of our culture was getting to me, and I was so sick of never seeing autistic girls get their stories told. I was exhausted, frusterated, and so done with the lack of good disability representation in the media. All the characters with autism that Iāve seen were cliche and basic. Most of them were white 12 year old boys who liked trains and math. Either that, or socially awkward 30 year old men with weird character undertones that left me feeling uncomfortable.
And no offense to anyone whose autism presents that way, but that just isnāt relatable to me. Iām 16, female, and get mistaken as neurotypical most of the time. I can mask pretty well ā although Iāve lost a lot of my masking skills over the last few years, after I begun to unmask more and more ā and I donāt hyperfixate on math or trains (I failed freshman math XD). Iāve only seen a few autistic females on TV, and the ones that I have seen were typically not well represented. Take Smackle from Girl Meets World for instance. Sheās geeky, awkward, and usually the punchline of most jokes. Sheās made to seem like a caricature of autism, not a real representation.
Maybe thatās why I started crying when I saw the trailer for BYUTVās new TV show, A Kind of Spark, based on the book by Elle McNicoll. The minute the trailer started playing, I was screeching with excitement (my sister was very confused at first XD). I showed it to my whole family very excitedly, and watched the first episode with my sister that night, feeling like the whole experience was unreal.
You see, A Kind of Spark is about three sisters, two of which are on the spectrum, who find out about women who were accused of witchcraft during the witch trials, and start realizing those women might have been on the spectrum, and were actually victims as opposed to the villains that England painted them as. It intertwines the stories of two teenage girls in the late 14th century, and three teenage girls in contemporary times.
I wish I could make everyone watch this show. Iām only a few episodes in, and Iām already obsessed. I canāt get over how well done it is, how realistic it feels. This is the show I needed back when I was first getting diagnosed. I really hope this show is able to reach as many people as possible ā¤
(Also- three of the actors are on the spectrum, so thatās super cool!!)
A Kind of Spark is free to watch on the BYUTV app and the BYUTV website, and I highly recommend checking it out! ā¤ This isnāt sponsored by BYU or anything XDD Iām just obsessed with the show. Please watch it ā¤
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