My Blog has MOVED!

Hello everyone!

I've decided to switch all my blogs to Wordpress.  I find it more user-friendly, plus they have a much better mobile application than Blogger, which is especially necessary for my travel blog.  Rather than trying to manage blogs on two platforms, I'm combining them all onto Wordpress.

My NEW blog address from now onward is: https://shelbymoore.wordpress.com/

Make sure you subscribe there to keep up with all my new posts!

Meeting Orson Scott Card

Hey everyone!  I know it's been a loooong time... I'm just busy making music.

Anyway, on October 18, 2013, Orson Scott Card visited my school for a book signing soon after the movie release of "Ender's Game".  He's actually an adjunct professor here and even teaches a summer writing course.   (Too bad I'm never here over the summer!)

I met him and he signed my (as yet unread - it's still on my list!) copy of "Ender's Game".  I had about 30 seconds to ask him a few questions.  I wish I had written our conversation down earlier, as it's not quite word-for-word in my memory anymore.  But I think he made some really good comments so I thought I'd share. Keep in mind this is me paraphrasing while trying to remain as accurate as possible.



Me: What's your favorite story out of ones you've written?
Card: Ender has been very good to me. (I sensed that perhaps another book is secrely his favorite, but due to all the monetary gain and publicity he's gotten from "Ender's Game" I can understand why he might be reluctant to say it's something else.)

Me: What's the best part of being a writer?
Card: Getting a check when I'm finished! (laughs)

Me: What advice do you have for amateur writers, even people like me who might not ever get their work published?
Card: Always try to make your writing the best it can be.  Even if you only write for yourself, someday, someone else will read your work and you want it to be a good representation of you and your voice as a writer.  If you write for yourself only, you should still be able to take pride in the material you produce.  

Me: Do you have any other writing tips?
Card: Always remember: people make any one decision for more than one reason.  And every decision has several consequences. 

There have been some very unkind things about him in the news, but for the little while I was with him, he and his wife were very nice, engaging to speak with, and seemed very genuine. Even though is now quite famous, he struck me as very down-to-earth and fun.

Me (with the big white bow) waiting with my friends Kira and Geri.

Thursday Fun: English teachers vs. Authors

I saw this while scrolling through Pinterest today and thought you all would appreciate it.  (I also just want to celebrate how nice it is being out of college for the summer!)  I think this is so true! 

My Guest Post on Julia's Blog

Hey everybody!  I didn't mean to go so long without posting.  I woke up today and realized I hadn't written anything on my blog in over a week!  I've been studying and practicing hard lately.  Anyway, my guest post on my friend Julia's blog is now live! 

You can click HERE to read it.

Please give your opinions and comments on it.  I'd love to hear what you all think!  

My (belated) Monday Musings report on my "novel in nine weeks" project: 

Thursday Fun: The Aftershock

A friend of mine showed me this video a few weeks ago and I just thought of it again this morning.
If you are a fan of any book/movie/TV show, you will understand The Aftershock and relate to this video.

Enjoy!

Watch "THE AFTERSHOCK" on YouTube

Remember to smile! :)

Monday Musings: I'm a Guest Poster!

Hello everybody!

I am writing a guest post for my friend Julia the Writer Girl!  If you haven't heard of her before, please go check out her blog!  She has been much more consistent with writing over the years than I have been.  She has written lots of material and is also in the process of trying to get published.  She is a really sweet girl and gives excellent perspective and advice about writing and the publishing process.  

Thursday Fun: Dream Journals

My very first Thursday Fun post is devoted to a GREAT writing tip that I got from some random, hokey article on dream interpretation that a friend showed me for giggles a few weeks ago.  I've lost the link, but basically the article suggested using a dream journal to record your dreams and use them to "unlock the messages to yourself from your own subconscious!" or some cheesy line like that. 

But it gave me a great writing tip.  

Summer Goals & New Blog Schedule

Since I'm going to have the whole summer to get back into the swing of writing regularly, and since I have a lot of reading I want to get done, I've decided I should probably set up a schedule for this blog.  Maybe if I have to report to you all frequently, that will help me stay on track with my writing goals, even when I get back to college in the fall!

So, here's how it's gonna go:

My First Year at College in a Nutshell

Smoores here. :) Whaddaya know - I'm still alive!  Bet you never thought I'd be back here... but I like to surprise people.

I just completed my first year away from home at college and I'm now back home for the summer.  My summer schedule consists of taking an Anatomy & Physiology class at a community college, taking lessons on flute, harp and piano, and working part-time at my parents' chiropractic office.  This is considerably more relaxed than my schedule at school, and I realized it's been almost a year since my last post (gasp! time really does fly) so I'm back to blogging.  

I'm sure you're wondering what I was doing for the past year, so I'll give you the run-down, as briefly as I possibly can. 

Where I'm Going from Here...

Wow, it's been a crazy long time since my last post!  Time is just flying by for me lately.  I barely get adequate sleep but I feel like I have no time at all.  Anyway, this post is a (long) update on where I'm going from here. :)

Interview with Aubrie Dionne on Publishing

I have another interview for you all!  This time, it's with the wonderful Aubrie Dionne.  She is not only an author, she is also my flute teacher!  I think she gives some great advice and encouragement to budding authors.

Check out her blog: http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com

For more info on her books, check out her website: http://www.authoraubrie.com

Write a Novel in Nine Weeks

After the rush of Figment Daily Themes is over and I finish a big research project for my English Composition class, I'm going to write a novel in nine weeks.  I've never actually finished an entire novel before.  I usually get distracted by writing about new ideas, chatting with friends on Facebook, and "lazy writer syndrome".  But lately, I've been really wanting to actually sit down and write just one book and then complete it.  

I found a neat book on Amazon a few days ago: How to Write Your Novel in Nine Weeks - Bill Dodds 

College Update

I have exciting news!!!!!  In chronological order:

Figment Daily Themes

Some of you may not know, but since January 2012, Figment has been holding an event called "Daily Themes".  You sign up for the email list and every weekday, they send you a writing prompt.

If you upload your responses to your Figment account and tag at least 10 of them (before March 30th) with DailyThemes, you get a special badge on your profile and a chance to be featured on the Figment homepage!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

...Five days late...sorry about that.  I've been really busy lately.  Anyways, how was your Christmas?  I had a great Christmas!  I played my harp in the church Christmas program and pigged out at a family dinner.  I got a TON of new books which I am really excited to crack open as soon as I finish the last book of the series I'm reading now (Belgariad - it's awesome, read it!)  Some of the titles I got are:

My Latest Obsessions

For those of you who are interested in what I've been into lately... Blogging, fairy tales, and exotic pets! :)

College apps, music, and life plans

I have been busy applying for colleges and thinking hard about what I want to do with my life, lately.  Heavy stuff, and most of it is confusing.  I've got so many interests that I have no idea how I can choose to study just one!

NaNoWriMo and homework

Hey everybody!  This is an update because I haven't posted in a while.  It will probably definitely be long-winded because I always have a lot to say, but recently I've been extra-busy.

NaNoWriMo and RP-turned-novel

Hey everyone!  It's the second day of NaNoWriMo and I haven't written a thing.  Well, that's not technically true.  I wrote a little before November.  But I haven't written anything since NaNo began.  I admit I'm having trouble coming up with the plot for Lady Academy. Phooey.

Long time, no post.

Wow, I've been gone a while!  Let me quickly catch you up on what I've been up to lately...