Sisterhood of the World

Hey guys! Sorry I went MIA for almost a month... I was so overwhelmed that I managed to post three times in two weeks that my brain imploded and it's taken me this long to reconstruct the knowledge of sentence structure it would take to write this post. Not that you cared.

Anyways, the fantabulous Megan over at Rustic Remains has given me a Blogger award called the... *squints* The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. Alright!

This is a lot like the Liebster award that I did a while back. The rules are:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their site

2. Put the award logo on your site

3. Answer the ten questions they asked you

4. Make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer

Now for Megan's questions!

Is there an inspirational quote that motivates you?

As far as creating goes, I love what Cesar Cruz said, which is "Art should comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfortable."  

As far as life... Much of what I currently understand about God and theology has been influenced by the writing of C.S. Lewis. A quote of his that has always stuck with me is from a letter he wrote to a friend. "Try to remember that the 'bottomless sea' can't hurt us as long as we keep swimming."

 Would you prefer to write with pen and paper, or a keyboard and a document?

It would depend on what I'm writing. If it's fiction, or something like this blog post, then I do it all on my laptop. But I find that lyrics or poetry are much easier to physically write (preferably with an instrument nearby;).

Do you have a favorite song artist?

I love the music of Switchfoot and Sleeping At Last, as well as Rich Mullins and Colony House. (oops that was four...)

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

I guess it would be motivation. I write all the time, but there's a certain desire to write well when I know it's going to be on the Internet for all to see x) There are so many amazing, talented, encouraging bloggers on here. (I'm looking at you, Megan;P)

If you could travel to one place (in reality) where would you go?

Venice. Decidedly. But I'm also getting pretty pumped for my roadtrip to California this summer... Going back to your birthplace + ocean + trains = ahhhhmazing. 

What made you decide that you wanted to write novels/shorts/fan fictions/etc.?

I don't remember how I started writing... I suppose it was because I read so much and I wanted to get in on the action;) But I do know for certain that it was my best friend who kept me going. 

Do you prefer the mountains or the ocean?

The ocean. Going to the coast is a very spiritual experience for me. Many have tried to explain the feeling, none really have. But yes, I hold a very special place in my heart for large bodies of saltwater;)

What is your favorite movie, and why?

Oh dear.... I'm gonna have to go with The Magnificent Seven. Laugh if you want... But it's such a phenomenal cast. There are dozens of hilarious lines, but the depth of emotion and conflict the film portrayed can't be replicated. Plus, the score is legendary. (runners-up: Life of Pi, Shadowlands, the Emperor's New Groove. C'mon, you totally knew that one was coming.)

Your favorite Bible verse? (If you have more than one, feel free to share)

I've been reading 1 John lately, and a passage that continually comes back to me is 2:12-14. John takes on this beautiful poetic voice, when he says:

"I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who was from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you."

The way he repeats his words with only slight deviations catches my attention.... What is the significance of it? Your guess is as good as mine.

 Would you like to meet someone famous? If so, who?
If you go and read this post right here, you'll see that I kinda did already and it was amazing. If I could meet someone else, it would probably be Francis Chan, because I'd love to pick his brains on a few things, or Megan Whalen Turner, for the same reason. But different. But the same.

So. My nominees!

I actually hate this "nominate ten other bloggers" rule because I don't even think I consistently keep up with that many blogs... So here is my short-and-condensed list.

Caitlyn at isabela
Juliette at Thoughts and Writings of Juliette the Silent
Faith at Secret Agent Unicorn
Claire at Mother in the Making (get back on yer blog, Lightbulb)
Kate at A Ship Is Always Safe At Shore
Sammy at Operation: Fun and Love!
Sunshyne at A Ray of Sunshyne
Aaaaand lastly, Adelaide at Word Smudges and Wonder-Filled. She's super cool.

Dude, I know seven bloggers. Sweet.

And your questions:

1. What's the best book you've read recently?
2. What's your favorite song of all time? (aha, I've broken them. They'll never be able to answer this one)
3. What is a hobby or interest of yours that no one would expect? (Claire, your answer is rap)
4. What is currently stressing you out?
5. What is a reason to not be stressed out about that thing you answered in #4?
6. What is your favorite memory?
7. Who is your biggest role model, and why? ( you guys are not allowed to say me. I know it'll be tough, but... I don't make the rules. Oh wait, I do.)
8. Biggest pet peeve? (this question is so interesting to me... I don't know why.)
9. What is a misconception that you are learning to overcome?
10. Finally, what are you currently eating/wishing you were eating? (saved the best for last, I did)

Ahh, that was fun. Thanks again to Megan for tagging me in this adventure;) Until next time!


~Margaret

Excuses, Excuses

Hello, all two of my readers! This is just a quick apology. I realise that I am ridiculously off-schedule and I also have a few posts backed up in Drafts waiting for finishing touches and whew there's so much time and so little to do- wait. Scratch that. Reverse it. Thank you.

Life has been weird lately. And I know how much like an excuse that sounds and it is. I'm making an excuse. But I feel like I have so much to write about and only so much that my brain can stand to let out sanely. I've been doing some major reconsideration about this blog lately and where I want it to go. I'm sure you guys are sick of my blogger drama by now, but this place is my outlet. I just think that this particular outlet needs some upgrading.

So no, I'm not in any way leaving or going on haitus. Actually, I guess I kind of am. I'm going to North Carolina for a week, to a camp there. So if any of you creepy readers out there are going to the Wilds this week, make sure and say hey;)

My goal for this week is to come back revitalized and reinvigorated. I love you guys. I want to make sure that I'm putting the time and effort into this website to make it worth your time. You have been so encouraging and uplifting to me, and if anything, I want to do the same for you. So au revoir, dear interneters, until we meet again.


~Margaret

A Christmas Poem

'Tis the Night before Christmas
And nowhere in the house
Is my computer working
Not even the mouse.

Sorry. Merry Christmas Eve.



~Margaret

An Apology

Hello!! Glad you've stopped by this lovely morning for.... Some tea? A biscuit? Scrambled eggs? Ahh see, there's my Yankee peeking through!

And before you yell at me........... Actually I'd prefer that you didn't yell at me at all, but I suppose one can't be picky in the blogging business. Like, if your computer goes ker-smash and decides to die for no apparent reason, you should just move on in a chill manner and get a new computer.

...but I don't have any money. And the next thing I wanted to post on here is on my dead computer. Are you putting the pieces together now? Yes, it's a true story. Not even like the "Based on a true story" movies that you see where they take everything you every admired in a historical figure and turn them inTO SOME SORT OF MANIAC AND I JUST-

Writing Prompts, DLFs, and Pirates

Just to shake up the already chaotic and entirely unorganized routine of my blog, I thought I'd bring you something new today.

For about two months now I've been receiving daily writing prompts in my inbox from Sarah Selecky, who also has all of her prompts in a more displayable form on Pinterest. They've been very helpful, and though I have not yet accomplished the goal of writing with them every day, several stories and scenes have been born due to these prompts. Here's today's:

That Time I Emailed Megan Whalen Turner

Wow, that makes it sound like it happened forever ago and I'm just now remembering it because I don't have much space in my brain for those writer people.

Actually it was yesterday morning, and I was biting my nails and then my knuckles when those were all gone because I was so nervous.
I don't know why. She probably gets thousands of emails every day.

I know, you guys aren't listening to me because you're distracted by what the email contained. Busybodies. But so you'll listen to me the rest of the time, I'll tell you. It was a short story I had written that was inspired by one of the legends in The Thief. Never once in a thousand years did I consider the possibility of copyright infringement by writing what some might consider a derivative work without the express permission of the copyright holder.
Oh great. That makes it sound like she got really mad and pressed charges and now I'm going to jail. It's okay. She didn't even read it. She sent back a nice little note that was definitely not a form letter, just to tell me that she read the note but not the story because of possible infringement. She said, and I quote, 'I am delighted that my work has been an inspiration and I hope you will keep writing.'