Happy New Year! Welcome to my first creative writing post of 2016! After reviewing the accomplishment (or lack thereof) of my resolutions from last year, it’s time to ponder what I hope to achieve in writing in the new year. So to start off a new year of creativity, here’s what I hope to learn about writing in 2016. Enjoy!
How to complete a Master’s thesis on time
The fact that this is Priority One for me right now probably goes without saying. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in two years of a Master’s program, it’s that you shouldn’t count your chickens before they hatch. Almost every time I get a decent amount of writing done on a particular part of my thesis, a change in my project renders that writing practically void. It’s almost as if Murphy’s Law makes reef fish DNA deliberately refuse to be properly amplified and sequenced…
This final stretch of my program is going to prove extremely challenging, but with any luck, I’ll have my phylogenetic results within the next couple of months and be able to complete my thesis in time to defend it next semester. Hope it all works out! For science!
How to expand my blogging network
This one may be a bit easier to figure out. I’ve already gotten better at connecting with writers through WordPress, and my social media presence is steadily growing. I plan to eventually expand my network with guest post exchanges and author interviews, which will hopefully increase my traffic. Updates will appear on my blog as these new features become available, so be sure to check back if you’re interested! Here’s hoping I can gain a stronger footing in the blogosphere in 2016!
How to start monetizing my writing
I know this is a pretty ambitious goal, especially considering how little I still know about blogging seriously. I probably won’t even be able to start focusing on this task until the middle of the year, but I would like to be able to earn some sort of income from my writing, and the sooner I start trying, the better. I don’t want to flood my blog with ads, of course, so I suppose the most obvious way to go is to publish and sell my work. I have been looking into freelance writing, and after years of publishing short stories and poetry, it’s about time I actually write a book! Wish me luck!
What about you? What do you hope to achieve in writing in 2016?
It’s the last Wednesday of 2015, and you know what that means: time for another “Year in Review”! This one’s been a particularly hectic year for me, what with my Master’s project taking up so much of my time and energy (and a little of my sanity), but thankfully I’ve still been able to keep up with my creative writing. I guess that’s only to be expected; after all, the writer in me never quits!
For this review of the past year, I’m revisiting my resolutions from my first creative writing post of 2015. Have I been able to keep them? Let’s see!
Can I still balance grad school and a blog?
Incredibly, yes! Between working long hours in the lab and putting together a decent Master’s thesis, I’ve somehow managed to squeeze in enough time to blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It hasn’t been easy, and I’ve come dangerously close to falling behind on my blogging more than once, but as long as I manage to keep at least three weeks’ worth of posts scheduled in advance, I’m able to stick to my blogging schedule. I’ve made it this far, so I’m confident I can keep it up until I finally get my Master’s degree!
Have I been networking with other writers and readers?
Though I do feel I still have a lot to learn, I’ve gotten much better at networking this year. I’m following more blogs and connecting with more writers, and I’m making an effort to be more active about liking and commenting on posts. My progress is still a bit slow, but I plan to gain momentum in my networking once my thesis is done. I look forward to discovering even more new blogs and writers in the coming year!
Did I find the time to write those novels?
Sadly, not nearly as much as I would have liked. As it turns out, blogging consistently while attending grad school leaves very little time in between to work on anything else. Writing breaks in the lab have mainly been reserved for schoolwork and my thesis, while most of my blog posts are written during weekends. With my Master’s program drawing to a close soon, perhaps I’ll have better luck finding time for my novels in 2016!
I’d say 2015 has been a good year for my creative writing, even if it was slightly slowed by my grad school work. I hope it’s been a good year for you too! Here’s hoping 2016 will be even better! Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!
What’s Christmas without Christmas music? Since I wrote a post on my favorite Christmas stories last year, I thought this year I would share my favorite Christmas songs! I have plenty of fond childhood memories of listening to seasonal music around this time of year, and it always inspired me to get into the holiday spirit.
So to help you get a little more into the spirit of the season, here’s a countdown of my ten favorite Christmas-themed songs! Enjoy, and have a very Merry Christmas!
10) “O Tannenbaum”
A Charlie Brown Christmas, anyone? This is probably one of my favorite songs from Vince Guaraldi Trio’s soundtrack, not to mention I used to have lots of fun making up parodies of “Oh Christmas Tree” with my sisters when we were kids!
9) “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
I’ve lost count of how many times this song has gotten stuck in my dad’s head, as I would so often hear him singing “And so this is Christmas…” around the end of the year. Christmas is a time of love and peace, and this song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono is always a good reminder of the real joy we should be spreading throughout the world!
8) “Jingle Bell Rock”
Okay, I admit it: this song is on my list because of Mean Girls. After all the times I’ve laughed over this scene with my sisters, how could I possibly leave it out?
7) “What’s This?”
Yes, The Nightmare Before Christmas totally counts as Christmas music! Jack Skellington discovering the magic of the holiday season is by far my favorite scene from Tim Burton’s classic 1993 film, thanks in no small part to Danny Elfman’s charming music!
6) “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
“Rudolph” is one of those childhood carols that I used to sing with my sisters at family gatherings. I would sing the main part and they would chant the backing lyrics (“Like a lightbulb!”). Laugh if you want, but I can assure you we were quite adorable back in the day!
5) “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
I remember having to sing this song for a Christmas show in my middle school chorus group, and it was one of my favorites of the whole set. The holiday season isn’t complete without a handful of songs about the birth of Jesus Christ!
4) “Carol of the Bells”
I love pretty much any version of this harmonious carol, but Pentatonix take it to a whole new level of epic. Goosebumps every time. Seriously, is there anything these guys can’t sing?
3) “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”
This is a particularly powerful and moving Christmas carol, and it’s actually one of a handful of songs I wish I could have learned to play on the piano. Whether sung by a choir or played acoustically, I always find this song incredibly beautiful. Of course, nothing tops the Salvation Army band’s rendition from Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean! Hilarious!
2) “O Holy Night”
Ask my mother what her favorite Christmas song is and she will answer without hesitation: “O Holy Night”. Nearly every Christmas, she would ask me to sing it for the family. At the very least, hearing this song gives me chills, and when sung at it’s very best, it can even move me close to tears. Quite possibly one of the most beautiful Christmas carols ever written!
1) “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”
While it may not be the most beautiful song in this countdown, “The Christmas Song” is number one on my list because it’s my favorite to sing! I have many good memories of singing this song for my family and friends, as well as listening to various lovely renditions by well-known artists. With a relaxing melody and lyrics about all the joys of the holiday season, it’s the perfect song for getting into the Christmas spirit!
I hope you enjoyed my list of favorite holiday songs! Thanks for listening, and Merry Christmas!
What about you? What are your favorite Christmas/holiday songs?
And so we reach the end of another year! To celebrate, here are some new “What If?” Writing Prompts for you, once again set to the theme of the holiday season! See what sorts of fun stories you can spin from these ideas! Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!
What if… you discovered a group of elves making toys in your house?
What if… you received a Christmas present from a secret admirer?
What if… one of Santa’s reindeer showed up lost outside your home a week before Christmas?
What if… one year, in a “Secret Santa” fashion, you and your family drew names to choose each other’s New Year’s resolutions?
What if… everyone took time to do volunteer work during the holiday season?
Have fun writing your own holiday tales!
If you have any “What If?” writing prompt suggestions (for any theme), please feel free to share them in the comments below. Ideas I like may be featured in future “What If?” posts, with full credit and a link to your blog (if you have one)! Also, if you’ve written a piece based on an idea you’ve found here, be sure to link back to the respective “What If?” post. I would love to see what you’ve done with the prompt! Thank you!
How about some more fun with quotes? Last week, I was nominated for a Quotes Challenge by Millie Thom! Thanks for the nomination, Millie! It’s the first time I’ve been tagged in one of these, but the rules of the challenge are pretty simple:
Post three different quotes on consecutive days. They can be from any source or your own. The three quotes can be of a similar theme or can all be completely different/unrelated.
Nominate three people for the challenge.
The theme I chose for my quotes is one that has spoken to me since I was a child: individuality! Growing up, I never felt like I fit in with the “normal” kids, which is why I often took refuge in books. My love of reading inspired me to express myself through writing and embrace the quirkiness that makes me who I am, and I’m never happier than when I’m just being myself. Individuality is a virtue that’s lost on so many people, so for this challenge, I picked out three of my favorite quotes that celebrate being different and unique. I hope they’ll inspire you to love being yourself too!
And yes, I know I’m supposed to post these over three days in a row, but since I’m pretty strict about blogging mainly on Wednesdays, I decided to share my three chosen quotes in one fell swoop. I hope that’s okay! Let’s just say for the record that these count for yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Three Quotes on Individuality
The wizards represent all that the true ‘muggle’ most fears: They are plainly outcasts and comfortable with being so. Nothing is more unnerving to the truly conventional than the unashamed misfit! – J.K. Rowling
The Harry Potter books were a major part of my childhood, and this quote by author J.K. Rowling perfectly sums up why I related so much to her characters. Reading about Harry’s adventures made me believe there was something special about being different, and the fact that I didn’t fit in somehow made me magical too. So don’t be afraid to be an outcast; it’s way better than being a Muggle!
The best advice I ever heard: “Be who you are and say what you feel because people who mind don’t matter and people who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss
The short version of this quote is often mistakenly credited to Dr. Seuss, but its true origin is unknown. Nevertheless, it’s one of my favorite pieces of advice for those who are afraid to be themselves. Never let anyone shame you into trying to fit in, because your true friends are the ones who love you just the way you are!
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. – Mark Twain
Mark Twain was a man of many wise words and witty sayings. Never one for convention, he had plenty of thoughts on the foolishness of mankind, and one of my favorites is his quote about majority. Humanity is notoriously ignorant, so when we find ourselves agreeing with what most people are saying, can we really be sure we’re on the right side?
These are my three quotes on individuality! And now for my chosen nominees:
J.C. Wolfe is a fiction writer, biologist, and aspiring novelist of science fantasy and romance. A natural-born American and graduate in Marine Ecology from a university in Brazil, J.C. now writes for a living in California while spending free time blogging and penning stories and poetry.
J.C. Wolfe is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
What’s Christmas without Christmas music? Since I wrote a post on my 
What if… you discovered a group of elves making toys in your house?
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