Short Story Saturday or 3S

Most day’s I truly don’t know what to blog about. Life often finds me hitting bumps in the road that prevent me from keeping up with the pace of the internet. Can we ever really keep up that kind of pace as writers or readers?

I would like to get my work out more and engage the readers. I’ve decided that Saturday will be a major day around here. On Wattpad I will continue to update my ongoing story, A Road Under Stars and here I’ll post short stories. The short stories will vary when it comes to subjects but let’s see how Short Story Saturday goes! Stay tuned.

Also,

FYI… Catch me on following platforms:

http://www.twitter.com/giamajune

http://www.Facebook.com/giamajune

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/giamajune

Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates

Previously I had posted that I wanted to read 46 books in 46 Days. Well that didn’t happen. I chose a few books and ended up taking the rest back because I decided to go to school. I will read that list of books and I’ve actually finished one… Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oats

I must say that this was a heavy book to read. It is about Martine(Teena) and Bethie Maguire. This book follows the aftermath of a their lives and community after Bethie and her mother Teena are assaulted in a local park. Bethie was spared actual rape but she was not left unscathed by the community or the situation. I read this book in a few days but it renewed my sense of screenwriting. It could be an amazing Indie Film and most definitely Oscar material. Although that isn’t why anyone writes. I wonder why Joyce wrote this book. It left me with a disgusting feeling in the pit of my stomach as I read the words of victim blaming and the desperation of this community to hold these males accountable for what they did to this woman and her daughter. I would recommend this book for its rich and vivid descriptions and the rapid pace of the story. Easy read but very heavy. Next book… Department of Speculation.

46 Books in 46 Days…(Err… Maybe not)

In honor of National Read A Book day, Buzzfeed posted an article about 46 books that can be read in one day.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/short-reads?utm_term=4ldqph5&bffb#dchsxw

I’m going to read the books on this list in 46 days… maybe. Some of them I own, some of them I’ve never heard of but I can’t wait to discover these new stories. The following books will be omitted from this reading session:

Things Fall Apart (Own it, Read it)

The Dig(Not available at the library, will purchase at a later date)

Great Gatsby (Own it, Read it)

The Outsiders (Read it when I was 12, Don’t want to revisit that)

I was excited when I saw the list posted on my Facebook timeline. I’ve been looking for new things to read now that I have some free time. I’m not really in the mood to read 400 page novels. I’m more in a novella kind of mood and this list seemed perfect for me. I’ve already put in a request for 26 of the books at my local library. I’m going to start this journey this week! It will be nice just to sit in a silent house with a book and my imagination. After reading the books I will blog about my thoughts at the end of the week.

I’ve always heard that it is important to read as much as you write and vice versa. I’ve kind of been out of the habit of reading on a daily basis. I’ll pick up a book, put it down… 200 pages can take me 3 months. Why? Because I’ve been wasting my time with television. As some of my favorite shows have come to an end I’ve found myself just working on personal projects and not picking up new shows to watch. My fall roster includes Sons of Anarchy and Boardwalk Empire. Once those two are complete I will replace those hours with reading time and more writing. I’ve been working on my Wattpad story and my first novel. I really hope that I can get it complete for the New Year but we shall see. I put it down last week and I haven’t picked that baby up again. Ahhh! I’ll get on it and I’ll provide updates.

Hope you enjoy the list!

I adore the Mahogany Sessions

I’ve been following this blog for a few years now and I recently binged on all the sessions that were recorded over the summer. While I’m working on TYAOI(full title to be released in November) I discovered Kenzie May. Her voice is so full of love, longing, and openness. Here goes some music to set the mood for a scene.

YAS Kenzie!

I’m big on music. I swear I missed my calling to be a music supervisor. Next post will be about writing. PROMISE! I’ve been debating about whether or not to post some old stories that are very much not YA. I’ll get into that on another post. Enjoy

Gia

Music to write to…

HAIM really gives me shades of Wilson Phillips. I think they are really talented and this song really speaks to a relationship that lasted way too long. I love the album version of this song but this acoustic version really showcases their musical talent. This is on rotation on my writing playlist. What’s on your playlist?

Reaching goals and making things happen

I did it! I have started my own serialized story on Wattpad. I originally wanted to post it around 6 p.m. last night but I ordered pizza from this great place called Masa in Echo Park. You know… Deep Dish takes a while to eat when it can feed 3 people and you’re eating it by yourself because everyone else is complaining about the amount of cheese and bread. It was the veggie option so it was healthy. (Don’t judge).

This is a very big thing for me personally because I can be a very lazy writer. I’m still jotting down ideas that have never been more than a few sentences and debating on whether or not to expand stories from 1996. Yesterday was momentous, I had finally done what I had never done before. I put my writing out there. Yay to making things happen.Using Wattpad is a way for me to be accountable for my writing. If I know people are reading then I will make sure I post every week or maybe every three days depending on the story flow. What I’ve posted is approximately 5 pages of writing and 1800 words. A short read that will be updated like a soap opera on a weekly basis. The story is about a young girl named Jenna. She’s months shy of her 18th birthday when tragedy strikes her family. The events set into motion a chain reaction that will change the course of her life. She may find herself reluctantly in the arms of a young man that is wanted by the world but only wants her. We’ll see how it plays out. I don’t like to pigeon hole myself and say I’m a romance writer or any other label, because I write all types of stories. I don’t think there is anything wrong with labels but I don’t always have stories that fit just one. Either way you can find it over at Wattpad! Look for updates on Friday evenings or Saturday mornings. Thanks for the support!

Check is out:

The Road Under Stars

Gia

Revisiting stories and other stuff

I often find myself going through the writings I’ve accumulated over the years. Last week I opened every notebook, binder, and file that I had. There were so many half ideas, full idea, and wtf ideas that I had scribbled on little sheets of paper. I also had paper clippings and stories printed from the internet that sparked some sort of creative flame. When I get an idea I write it down as soon as I can, wherever I can. I’ve been out of practice for a while when it comes to writing religiously but I’ve been working on it. Let me not get off track…

I’ve shelved some previous stories that I thought of using as first novels or novellas and placed my focus on one in particular. I feel like when a writer is creating worlds and lives, the characters step forward and speak to you. They will tell you their story and give you their motivations. I’ve been reading a lot lately and one plot device I’ve seen non-stop is the use of murder of a loved one as motivation. Is there no other way to motivate characters? Why do Mothers, Wives, Fathers, Siblings, and lovers have to be murdered to spark a change? Can puberty or the intense sensation of gas building up flip the switch to the land of werewolfdom? lol I’m kidding.

I’ve started listening to my character from TYAOI(full title to come later) and what she has to say. I’ve decided against using the plot device mentioned above because it is not that kind of book. It is a story of love, longing, and how people can reveal their true selves in the worst way. I’m planning a release for December. That all depends on my writing pace and the notes my editor gives me. Stay tuned… I plan on posting super short, sort of short, or just plaint short fiction in the coming weeks. (AKA… this weekend)

I’m looking for more stories to read. Any suggestions?

Gia Majune's Fiction

For the fiction lover in you