the point

One of my favourite type of reviews is when a reader notes just how much my writing has improved in the last three years. In fact, this morning... err... afternoon (cause it's now 12:40 p.m.), I opened my e-mail and found just one such review. The reader notes how the first and fifth Nocte have two different tones. A few month back another reader noted that my writing style has changed and encouraged me to look back on my previous novels.

I do occassionally look back. Most of the time I'm pretty satisfied with what I've written, and sometimes I feel like tweaking it. (Which I do with my Master Copy - capitals required! ^_^)

As I was writing Chapter One of Nocte Yin:AVAHAEE a long time ago, I felt that it was different also. (I'm gonna sound a bit corny here, but I felt the difference in my heart... and guts.) I knew, of course, that as the story progressed the writing style would differ, but I didn't think it'd be this dramatic.

Several things must be taken account. (Wow, I sound like a scientist or something. I should really get a labcoat.)

1) My writing has advanced over the years, at least I HOPE that it has! XD Throughout the years I've been wriing Nocte, I've moved from high school to university. I'm studying English for crying out loud! I HAVE to be good.

2) The first Nocte Yin wasn't about plot. Some may say that it's full of fillers. (I'm not afraid to admit it.) BUT I know what I was trying to do. It wasn't about plot, it was about characters - slice of life, so to speak. It was just fun and easy-going and introducing the characters to the audience (and to myself), so I had a lot freedom for any ridiculous scenerio that came to mind. I had, essentially, no direction and new ideas would just pop up as I wrote. I love it. I'm not going to lie. Fillers are, I think, one of my greatest skillz - madz skillz!

3) The plot of Nocte has changed. Although the first Nocte was all fun and games, the third and fourth were about survival and war and betrayal. My writing style had to change because of this. In fact, several times I detested the darker, morbid plotline, only because it was harder to insert the funnies into it. Now I find it hard to return to my fillers way. I can't write a chapter now without advancing the plot - no more mindless Christmas games or pillow fights. T_T

4) Nocte, as a character, has changed. I remember in the first book I wanted her to be happy, chipper and fiercely loyal to her family. One of the things I didn't explain very well in the first book was that why would Nocte agree to go to Evil Academy when she doesn't want to be evil? At first I was just as confused, but then I placed myself in her place. I'm Chinese (Uh-oh, I may have blown my cover ^_^;) so I don't know about you, but in my culture (or at least in my family), you listen and do as you are told by your elders. And as much as you resent them, you love and respect them enough to listen. Nocte is such a character; she loves her family enough to go to Evil Academy.

Then Nocte became darker and more serious to match the plot, a darker and more serious plot. Sometimes I wonder if she had changed so much that she's no longer the same character. But when I go back to read the first book again, I realize that Nocte has always been a little ruthless, a bit restless and a lot quirky - with a sidedish of Death Glare. It's strange to realize how much she has... matured.

5) I had no idea what I was doing.Some authors write out their plots beforehand; I only had jot notes in my head as to the broad themes of each novel. Some authors make a map of their world and give characteristics to each ethnic group; I made them as I went - only after the first book did I make a very blocky, not-to-size map. Some authors knew their protagonist inside-out; I had to bump Nocte into walls until she made sense to me. I just posted the fic on FictionPress on a whim and just continued to write because I was a review-whore! >_<

Nocte Yin was, essentially, a test and trial... only it became a really good test that I'm still writing about today. That's why when readers ask why I don't go back and edit the earlier novels, I only do that in my Master Copy (capitals a must!) because Nocte Yin really is a journey about her and me.

I really hope, after three years, that you've all had fun reading about her as much as I had (and am having) writing about her!

Loves,
the point

So... at 10 in the evening tonight... I deleted seven chapters of Nocte Yin: Anti-Villain, Anti-Hero and Anti-Everything-Else from FictionPress.

Where'd they go?

It's okay, I still have them on file, but I will be rewriting them, just like I had rewrote Chapter Seven. (BTW, the underlined words are not links, but this is.)

I am surprised to find, however, that all the reviews did not get deleted as I deleted the chapters. Must be a new thing... or old because I haven't deleted a chapter in a while.

I spent the last two weeks going through Chapter Seven over and over and over and over and over (you get the point) again. I had wanted to rewrite the novel a long time ago... which would be during my writer's block period. (And my essay-writing period. It's funny how they coincide.)

I remember when I first wrote Chapter Seven a long, long, long time ago that I was totally not satisfied by it. The abrupt ending on how Nocte suddenly becomes evil was my trying to hurry the plot along. BUT IT WAS SO WRONG! I, along with a lot of you (meaning my readers), was probably looking forward to the day Nocte would finally be evil... and I guess I rushed it a bit.

Before I started the fifth Nocte, I knew I wanted her to descend slowly into the darkness. What I did was have her drop down a ravine... a very, very high ravine at a very, very fast pace.

GAWD. I'm such a loser. T_T

I can't say that I'm satisfied with the new Chapter Seven, only because I'm overwrought with deleting seven chapters for it. BUT, I can say with great confidence that the new chapter ends the way I intended it to end so very long ago.

I hope you aren't all disappointed in me.

Also, I can't guarantee fast updates either. I spent weeks rewriting Chapter Seven... I might spend just as many weeks writing Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen and Fourteen. (Although, Fourteen wasn't much of a chapter, mostly an author's note. ^_^; )

That reminds me. Voting for the La Campanella Awards ends on November 9th, 2009. Please get your votes in!

Here's their site!

Anyway, hope you'll like the new chappy!

Dear everyone,

I'm sure most of you know by now (or you haven't been checking for Nocte updates... not that there's a lot there), but I got nominated for a La Campanella Award! Of course it's under the Le Fantasy category. I am, in the long run, very excited and very tired from thinking about it.

Voting starts on October 19th! If you're up for it, visit their site here and vote when October 19th arrives.

I want to thank everyone for their support, including the La Campanella Awards. This is certainly a good experience to have.

Loves,
the point

I really don't know what's up with my dad lately. It's like he's gotten smarter and deeper over the years since my brother and I have moved out.

Just today, while discussing money and my future life, mom and dad both said that I didn't have to find a job with a lot of money to be happy. I know this, of course. I only want money for security reasons. Well, dad said that life is like fishing. If you hold onto the reel too hard (or onto money too tightly), you'll lose the fish (or the money). He said that I had to let the line go slowly and the fish will come.

Isn't that weird?

I don't mean the analogy, but rather it's my dad saying it to me. All my life it has always been my mom teaching me lessons. Dad has a couple of times, but never with a lot of analogies he made up himself. I'm sure they are common analogies, but dad seems to come up with them himself.

It's strange, isn't it? To grow up only to watch your parents grow up too.

I think I miss being a kid. T_T

This Tuesday (two days ago), my dad decided to give me a lesson in life. During March we planted some potatoes in our garden. Five months later, August, my dad and I pulled out the potatoes from the dirt. To tell you the truth, I have never been so surprised in my life. It's actually quite amazing to see that one potato can produce six to eight more potatoes five months later. And it was so fun digging in the dirt... I actually felt like I was a treasure hunter or something...

Yeah, lame. Believe me, I know.

After we up heaved eight plants and filled a giant basket with potatoes, dad said that planting potatoes is like life. If you put a little work in it at the beginning (meaning planting the potatoes), the outcome will be worth it (a basket of potatoes).

Truthfully, I was kinda surprised at what he had said... It was actually kinda deep, if you know what I mean. Usually dad's not so philosophical. That's mom's department, but what he said two days ago is still in my head... and it is SO true! Dad has a lot more depth than I thought. I mean, I knew he had depth, but sophisticated depth.

Dad to me has always been this rough, farm boy kinda guy. Mom's the polite, city gal. It's amazing how well they work together! Of course, I know it probably took them years to figure out a system to run the house and raise my brother and I (meaning: my dad agreed to whatever my mom said), but this is the first time I realized how well they... fit.

I think I'd be very lucky if twenty years from now, I can have what my mom and dad has. It's more than just love - it's a partnership.

Now, onto other things! (Did I totally break the mood, or what?)

Here's a list of movies I totally want to get, but had never had the chance to get. (Or rather, are never cheap enough for me to get cause I am a cheapo!)

1. The Queen
2: 27 Dresses
3. The Devil Wears Prada
4. Legally Blonde
5. Legally Blonde 2
6. Princess Diaries
7. Princess Diaries 2

Anime I wish I can have, but probably can't.

1. Sailor Moon, the whole series

Notice my list are filled with girly, romantic crap? Well, I'm a girly, romantic kinda gal. Plus a splash of comedy.

I can never do hard up romance (like The Notebook, etc). I have to have comedy, hench romantic comedy movies! Straight romance seems very unlikely to me.

Anywho, I just wanted to write a list in case I forget what I really want. Loves all around!