Top Three Books of 2013!

   These are my top three books I have read this year. These are purely my opinions and I'd also love to hear your own in the comments below :) Enjoy!

 

1. Private Peaceful

   This is my all time favourite book and I know it's quite a few others' favourites too. Michael Morpurgo has been one of my favourite authors since I was a kid and the first story I read by him was The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips. Since then, I've always wanted to read Private Peaceful from the reviews and opinions I've heard from others who have already read it. However, because I had heard it's a tear jerker too, I'm not too big a fan of a story that makes you cry just because I don't like crying! This story did make me cry but it was a good cry because it was such a good book as to make me feel so much for the characters. It's amazingly written, accurate and though-provoking so that is why this was my top book read in 2013.

2. More Than This

   Patrick Ness became one of my favourite authors last year when I read A Monster Calls by him when it was up for, and consequently won, the Carnegie Medal for my English group. Ever since then I can't get enough of him. I was given More Than This to review by Movellas and loved every moment of it. The website also ran a competition based around this book's new release, which my short story was shortlisted for and I won a signed copy of it. The Knife of Never Letting Go, the first in his Chaos Walking Trilogy is next on my list to be read. More Than This was fast paced but, like Private Peaceful despite being on the complete opposite end of the genre spectrum, very thought-provoking. I loved the characters and the plotline and almost everything about this book was perfect and made me want to read on. It's a close second next to Private Peaceful.

3. Divergent

   This book got me hooked. I brought it with my book vouchers from last Christmas at the beginning of the year and began reading it around Easter time I think. It was fast-paced, original, full of action and suspense and twists and turns and, gosh, it was just amazing! Although I wasn't as impressed with the sequel, Divergent is a must-read to me for every teenage fan of dystopian and science fiction. The film comes out next year and the final instalment of the trilogy, Allegiant, is available to buy now. With its intriguing plotline, world and characters, Veronica Roth is an author to look out for and Divergent just had to nab the last place on my top three.

   And that's my top three books of 2013 in a nutshell :) What were your favourites read this year? Do you share any of my own opinions? Please let me know in the comments below and I look forward to more awesome reads in 2014 too!


   All reviews can be read on blog and you can be directed to them by clicking the links below:

Private Peaceful Review

More Than This Review

Divergent Review


~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

Plans...

 

    Hello again! Long time no see unfortunately but I have had a lot going off this past couple of months. First, NaNoWriMo took over my November (I did get 50,000 words though so it was a good sacrifice!), then it was end of unit tests (Sixth Form is soooooo difficult at the moment.) and then suddenly it was Christmas! But, I have been busy writing so I haven't been completely lazy on the creative front ;)

  My current project is a revamp. I've decided to develop my novella 'In Need of an Adventure' (which can be read on Movellas here) into a novel, so that's currently in the editing stage to change any mistakes and expand on the storyline. Hopefully this time round it'll become a more action-packed fantasy adventure plus it'll be fun meeting the characters and the world all over again :)

   My next blog post will be up shortly and it's all about the books I've read in 2013. The years almost over so it'll be nice to round it all off with all my reading list :)

  I hope you all enjoyed your year and looking forward to what 2014 brings :)


~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

Useful Websites for Young Writers...

I've used many websites when writing my stories, either for research, character or place names, adding little Easter eggs, sharing my work and many other things as well! Google is our friend so here is six probably very well-known websites I find handy and use regularly when writing. Hopefully they'll help you too!

http://nanowrimo.org/

I mentioned this website in my last post and they have tons of helpful tips on writing and the publishing industry as well as push you to write a novel in a month. You can meet loads of new writers in your area as well as across the world so I find this website helpful every November :)

http://babynames.merschat.com/

This is the name meaning website I use but there are so many out there. This one is useful because you can find the meaning of a name you already want to use, find names of a particular meaning, pick gender and origins and find out lots of information on names you can use throughout your stories.

http://translate.google.co.uk/

Any online translator will do but I use this one usually because of the range of languages it has. This is useful for the hidden Easter eggs I was talking about, weaving meaning into place names, surnames, magic spells or anything really!

http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/

 Looking for writing prompts? Then this site is perfect! It has loads of writing prompts that can get your mind racing for the next best-seller!

http://www.movellas.com/

This is a website aimed at young writers aged 13+ to gain feedback as well as spread constructive criticism. It's a great way to gain feedback on your work, with a helpful community that are your age to tell you tips on how to improve. It really improves your confidence and your skills when you get your first comment and with competitions to keep you motivated it's a really great place to get started. There are other websites out there as well, such as Wattpad, but I always come back to this site because of the amount of feedback you get quite quickly.

http://www.goodreads.com/

What better way to increase your writing skill then by reading? By reading as many books as possible through many genres, you can learn all the tricks of what works and what doesn't within those genres and work towards originality in your own stories. Here, you can post reviews and find recommendations on many books and they have giveaways and quizzes. It's a great reading community.



~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

NaNoWriMo 2013!

 National Novel Writing Month is coming up soon (this year's gone too fast!) and it's time to get prepping! I'm not sure whether I'll be able to compete this month due to AS levels but I'm going to try and write as much of my novel as I can :) It's an excellent way to motivate writers to get down your first draft.

   NaNoWriMo takes place over the month of November where your aim is to write 50,000 words. The accomplishment of actually writing a novel is immense! I remember still having 7,000 words to write on the last day and not feeling particularly well but I pushed through and finished with 20 minutes to spare! It's a great way to meet other writers too, with regular pep talks and prizes when you reach 50,000 to keep you going. Even if most of what you write is dribble from an ogre's mouth, editing will come later!

   It's fun, though I will warn you it can be quite stressful at times too, but it's nothing chocolate and a warm bath can't handle! ;D

   You can sign up here:

http://nanowrimo.org/

I hope to see some of you there! Find me under the name White Ravens:

http://nanowrimo.org/participants/white-ravens

~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

National Poetry Day 2013

   Last Thursday, it was National Poetry Day and to celebrate, I wrote a poem based on this year's theme water.
   Check it out on Movellas too!: My Love From the Water

   My Love From the Water

The

water

gleamed as

I waded in waist-

deep, so cold; so inviting.

The sea, full of mystery, as the

waves pull my feet from its safe bed.

I wash in its  tranquility; wash away all

the pain I’d  been fighting.  The shock of

my head under, I will go where I’m being led.

But then you took the stones from my pockets

and taught me how to float. You were the changing

tide in my life, a breath of sea air to my chest. You took

my body,  empty along the current,  aboard your  boat;

Showing me there is still something in this world that’s

pure and so blessed. The water I had once seen as an

escape was now my saviour, your home. I followed your

rushing river as you chase freedom, wrestling the

flow. We dance in moonlight fractured under the

surface, rampant as we roam; Untouched by

reality’s rain and storms as

I bathe in your glow.

I feel so alive since you brought me back when I was close to the end;

You saved me with a soul so beautiful only angels could send.

My love from the water.

My Love From the Water © 2013 Rachel Lowson

   Hopefully the layout it's in works correctly XD



~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

'More Than This' by Patrick Ness Review

     AS levels have begun and I'm now a year 12 student so my reading time has been significantly reduced due to homework and revision unfortunately :( However, here is my review of Patrick Ness' 'More Than This'. This is done in a different style to what I usually do without subtitles but is still my opinions of the book. This is now one of my complete favourites and you don't understand how much you need to go out and read this! There's a teeny spoiler in this review so I've pointed it out if you want to avoid it.

   I received a review copy from Movellas in order to review this.

"Here is the boy, drowning."

   Seth awakens from death. But, he’s alive. Naked and alone in his old home back in England, he is haunted by vivid dreams of his life. He begins searching for answers in this ‘after-life’. Is he really alone? Or is there More Than This?

   I think Patrick Ness is a great author and this book proves this further. At first, I actually expected perhaps a paranormal story, which is quite popular within the YA genre, but it already started off with a twist and ended up being a suspenseful dystopian novel. It was a pleasant surprise.

   ‘Here is the boy, drowning.’ What a way to begin! Starting with the death of the main character really hooked me as well as indicating that this story takes place in the after-life, setting the scene without chunks of boring description. He is referred to as ‘the boy’, which I loved because it’s subtle but gives us readers an indication as to who to root for when reading, suggesting importance.

   However, the first chapters were quite slow for me, which kept up the suspense but did get a little boring after a while. Nevertheless, it quickly became more fast-paced that kept me wanting to read more. So stick with this story or you’ll regret it!

   The middle was exciting, introducing more flashbacks (which are perfectly placed without getting too long that we forget the actual storyline, dripping in more information about our protagonist’s past.) and introducing more interesting characters.

   Each character stood out because, although they are very different, they felt real. They contrast nicely with appropriate reactions to their situations. They have different stories, with different backgrounds but they unite in something they all have in common; finding out if there is ‘more than this’. They experience many real issues we do today, like murder, poverty, abuse and the world seeming to try and reject who you are. It’s so realistic it’s scary, with the internet taking over too. This really could happen in our future! It is really amazing for an author to create a new world and make it appear so vivid to the reader.

   The twists kept on coming and the final turn I loved. 

(SPOILER AHEAD: When The Driver “dies” SPOILER END), 

I really wanted another obstacle to appear in the way of our protagonists because I didn’t feel that the story should end just yet, but I wasn’t expecting what did happen and was almost shouting at the book to let there be a happy ending!

   Then, the impossible happens and the final flashback is beautifully carried out, rounding our knowledge off. It was a miracle that seems impossible, but is actually probable, and everyone is left confused by the unexpected. But that is because that’s what life is; you don’t know what’s around the corner. I thought I might be over-thinking the plot after finishing this but I have come away satisfied with the cliff-hanger.

   Overall, Patrick Ness has done a brilliant job yet again. ‘More Than This’ is full of twists that keep you going until the very end. If you enjoy Sci-Fi/Dystopian YA novels then this is for you. I would not recommend it to anyone under the age of 14/15 because it contains swearing and mature issues. However, I’ll only be giving it 4.5/5 because it did take me a few chapters to really get into the story, but I loved reading this novel and I'd certainly like to read more books like this :)

~White Ravens~
 http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

'The Perks of Being A Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky Review

  

   Another review ready and waiting to read :)

Rating: 

   3/5 – I watched the film and thought it was a really good storyline so I was going in with high expectations but I was a little disappointed with the book. It addressed very sensitive but very real issues and I do appreciate that but it didn’t develop enough for me.

Who I think it's for:

   If you’re a fan of realism and young adult fiction, then this book fits those genres. It contains offensive language and mature/adult issues so I’d say it’s for 14 years + It’s also about the life of high school students, so obviously high school students easily relate to this.

"There's nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons.”

Plot Summary: 

   Charlie is a wallflower. Shy, clever, awkward, he starts his first high school year and has to deal with new friends, family problems and finding himself. In a world of new things, he is standing at the edge, observing rather than ‘participating’. However, at some time, he must try a different perspective from the centre of the stage.

The Character that stood out most:

   Charlie, the narrator, is unique and he tells the story through his eyes well. Though the use of letters he writes is also unique, I’d prefer it not to be in this form because it feels as though Charlie doesn’t interact with the other characters as much as it would if the story was told from a normal first person view. So, I think that the story doesn’t develop as much as I would like.

   Patrick, Charlie’s first friend when he starts high school, stood out the most to me because Charlie talks about him a lot in his letters and their experiences together. We find out that he is openly gay a little way in to the novel but not straight away. He appears carefree and friendly and supportive but we learn that he is also vulnerable and troubled, so he develops very well throughout the story and stands out as an interestingly complicated character.

Why I read it:

   I watched the film and thought it was very moving and relatable in how high school is about trying to find yourself in the world and prepare for your future. Some of my friends recommended the book as well, so I asked for it for Christmas and recently got round to reading it this summer (school gets in the way a lot!).

   I went in with high expectations, perhaps too high, but I think that I should have been neutral. Maybe this just wasn’t my type of genre, but I felt that some of the issues the book deals with could have been developed further along with some of the characters. (Alice was part of the ‘gang’ Charlie hung around with but she was hardly ever mentioned which annoyed me.)

 

Why you should read it:

 Overall, I think that it’s a good book and I would recommend it to anyone I knew who likes that genre. It is considered a must-read for high school students in YA fiction so I think that, if you like that genre and types of books, this book will suit you.

   Have you seen the film or read the book? Which one do you think is better? If you’ve done both, did you read the book before the film or the other way round? Did you think it affected your opinion at all? Share your thoughts in the comments! :)



~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

Stung by Bethany Wiggins Review

   My review of Bethany Wiggins' Stung. These are all just my opinions so don't hesitate to share your own below. :)

Rating: 

   2/5 – This book has an exciting world premise and started off well, but I can’t give it more than two because I feel the plot was too fast, leaving me confused and the parts of the story not fully developed.

Who I think it's for:

   This contains a lot of violence with some reference to mature issues as well as being a young adult novel, so overall I think it’s aimed at 13 – 21 year olds. I wouldn’t let anyone younger read it because of the blood and references. This is a sci-fi novel and if you like the Hunger Games, which Stung is compared to, it is along those sorts of dystopian lines.

"There’s no cure for being Stung.”

Plot Summary: 

   Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. She has awakened to her house being abandoned, her neighbourhood being dead and her brother being changed into a beast. After running into the new, chaotic world, the strange tattoo on her hand makes her dangerous, so she is detained by soldiers dedicated to protecting the ‘uninfected’ inside the recently built wall from those branded as monsters. At any second, she could change into a mindless zombie, but how does the apocalypse all come down to something as small as bees?

The Characters:

  I found the main character, Fiona, very whiny and had to have men protect her and tell her what to do all the time. But, if you had just been flung into a world with no memory of how you got there or how it became so full of chaos, she seemed quite realistic and her reactions to her situation were too.

   Bowen was the character who struck me the most because he is strong and determined but has a softer side. He seems to be the traditional cliché hero but he starts off as on the side of the “bad guys” but changes after taking matters into his own hands, trying to make out that he’s doing it to save himself but really isn’t as inhumane as we first thought.

  Sadly, I did not like the romance between Fiona and Bowen. The story is quite fast-paced (which is a highlight) but sometimes leaves parts behind to catch up so the love appears very rushed and unnatural. I wasn’t really expecting them to become lovers, but it rather felt like they were friends trying to survive in the apocalypse.

Why I read it:

   This was on the top books shelf in the library and claimed to be the next Hunger Games, which I really enjoyed reading, so obviously Stung caught my attention. The blurb was interesting, the idea was original. However, the way the story was carried out was disappointing slightly, with a beginning that kept me going for a while but few holes were filled in my knowledge and I felt like the story could have slowed down a little at the end and let us give more. The main story line felt undeveloped and as if nothing had really happened. I forced myself not to abandon this book to see whether it got better by the end, but I was left confused with still many questions left unresolved. I don’t think I’ll be carrying on to read the sequel.

 

Why you should read it:

    It’s a very interesting concept, though I wouldn’t jump to recommending it to anyone. This is all just my opinion though, so if you like dystopian novels with a fast-pace leaving you behind, you might want to give this a try.


The sequel to Stung, Cured, is planned for release in 2014.

 

~White Ravens~ http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

I'm Back Again XD

   The holidays have been jammed pack this year and I haven't found a lot of time to write in the past couple of weeks. I've recently returned from Wales, which was fab, and my whole family's been off work a lot lately so we've been adventuring :) Nevertheless, I have done a lot of story brainstorming and have started reading some new books so, eventually, there will be some new material on this blog :S

  So I must apologise again for the lack of activity but I will have some new things to share soon :) I'm beginning another review now :)

 TTFN!

~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo Review

My review of Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo; an award-winning children's book of war and innocence.

Rating: 

 

   5/5  

  My first 5/5 rating :) I really, really, really love this book and I’d recommend it to anyone.

Who I think it's for:

 

 Michael Morpurgo is a children’s author and this book is aimed at around 10 years + but I’m 16 and enjoyed it so much and I know adults will like it too. I would probably not recommend this book to those younger than 8-9 because it is a story about war and a tear-jerker so might upset more sensitive readers

  This is a historical fiction novel but I think no matter what genre you normally go for that you’ll like reading this book. I normally go for fantasy and there were no fairies or dragons in sight in this story but it’s now become one of my favourites :)

"I had to prove myself. I had to prove myself to myself.”

Plot Summary: 

 

 This story is told from the point of view of Private Thomas ‘Tommo’ Peaceful as he relives his life through memories of from his quiet village to the World War I battlefields. He remembers his childhood friendships, love, fears, innocence, and growing up when the war was just a distant fight. Brotherly love triumphs in many ways, but it won’t be enough to stand against the incoming military justice.

The Character that stood out most:

 

  Although each of the main characters in our hero’s family stands out with their lovable qualities, the main character Tommo was my favourite. When he retells his childhood, you feel so much for him when he laughs or cries or falls in love. Then, when the war hits his village, he goes to protect his brother despite being under-aged and his mother and best friend not wanting him to leave. He looks up to his brother so much but still had his own spotlight. I admire the love these two brothers, Tommo and Charlie, have and the war just strengthens their bond whilst trying to tear it apart.
  He shows many acts of bravery throughout the story that really makes him stand out as someone who would do anything for the ones he loves.  Such empathy was created with this character but he pulls through everything. I loved him so much that, although I was hooked, I didn’t want his story to finish and meet its inevitable unhappy end.

Why I read it:

 

  This is a very popular story that a lot of people I knew had read and recommended it so I asked for it as a present last Christmas and just got round to reading it. As I’ve said before, Michael Morpurgo is one of my favourite authors so I really wanted to read this book for many reasons. I enjoyed it so much that I’m re-reading it now.

 

Why you should read it:

 

  It really hooked me and I didn’t want the story to end because I loved the characters and their life stories and I’m sure that you’ll feel the same way about it too. This book is really popular with kids and adults alike so anyone will enjoy it. Also, the story really gives an insight into the lives of innocent but courageous men being pushed into war and having to go through so much. It shows the horrors of the battlefield but also the importance of love and friendship so you’ll learn a lot from this book as well as enjoy it.



   Well, as promised another book review with more to come soon :)


~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

I'm Backkkk!

   Hello everyone :) Sorry for the lack of posting but I have just come back off of my holiday in Scotland - so beautiful! I enjoyed it so much, despite the rain, and loved visiting it's forests, lochs, islands and castles! If you ever get a chance to go, do it!

   As always, I carried around my trusty pens and notebook (or notebooks in my case! Seriously, my bag was full of them!) along with my camera so the beauty was captured in creativity to share. It'sone of the best holidays I have ever had and I'd love to return one day! :D

   Oh, and I also found my new favourite book; Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo. I have always loved the author and I have been meaning to read it since Christmas and I'm so glad I did. But more on that later.

   Anyway, as an apology for my absence, I shall have some book reviews for you to read soon :)


   Hope you're all enjoying your holiberries wherever you are in the universe!

~White Ravens~

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I have joined Bloglovin' - Follow me there :)

Bloglovin is an online website (accompanied by an iPhone app too!) where you can find lots of different blogs to follow for anything that interests you. It's simple and easy to use with lots of variety and bloggers can find more readers there too. You can find similar blogs to those you already follow and heart posts you like so that is why I decided to join it :)

I will put a button for you to follow me on there on my blog :)

Have a nice rest of the evening/day/afternoon :D

~White Ravens~

Character Questions 3...

   Sorry for the delay readers but I am finally getting to finish the character questions for you :) Here, I will be focusing on appearance and their futures, hopefully covering a lot on what you should do to help get to know your character completely.

Appearance:

Skin Colour:
Eye Colour:
Hair description: (long, short, brown, ginger etc.)
Build:
Height:
Face: (Thin, round etc.)
Do they resemble anyone?
Clothing Style:
Scars/birthmarks:

Present and Future:

   The character's present and future is just as important as their past. We'd have no story if you didn't look forward as well as at the now! ;)

Biggest Fear:
What they want most in the world:
Biggest lesson to learn in their life:
Personal Dreams:
Team Dreams (If they don't work alone):
Most important goal of their life's journey:
Hopes for the future:
Any secrets to keep?
Any secrets to be broken?
Friends/Enemies to be made:
Friends/Enemies to be lost:

   So, here are what I think are the most important questions to ask your characters to make them believable and develop through your story. Hopefully it'll be better than going through thousands of questions and prompts when all you want is the essentials :)


~White Ravens~

Walks for Inspiration and Writer's Block...

   On the same topic as my last post, inspiration has popped up again. I have recently started a new story (I know it's really bad of me since I've got so many ideas on the go at the minute ;) ) that I thought up whilst walking around Newstead Abbey, one of my favourite places to visit. It's so beautiful and peaceful that it's hard not to let your mind wander and pick up some new stories :)

   My new idea is fantasy and involves one of the most interesting and fearsome mythical beings; dragons. I've created some of the main characters and settings and I'm really excited because I actually really love these people and can't wait to write their story :)

   Another reason for this post is a way I used for this story when writer's block appeared quite early on. It's the bane of every writer but unfortunately most of us experience it from time to time. I wrote the first paragraph and then I was stuck already.

   Rather then just staring at the screen for hours or putting off writing for a while, I used a tip that I got not too long ago and that was to just write something you feel like writing. As long as you try and write a little everyday, it's OK to leave the first chapter halfway through and go onto the next. If you feel like you have a burning idea for that part of the story, go for it! You can always come back later and fill in the gaps when you feel more motivated to finish it.

   It's not a crime as long as you finish what you've started once you feel up to it. Another way this is helpful because you know how that chapter will lead onto the next easily by already writing it's end.

   So, if you hit writer's block, start a new small project, such as a poem or short story, and get inspired or write the next chapter whilst you wait for the first to unravel itself in your mind. :)

   I'm going to share another photo with you because creativity is in words and pictures and can be found everywhere :)

~White Ravens~
 

Pictures for Inspiration...

   Along with writing, one of my favourite hobbies is photography. I love nature and to capture a beautiful moment, like a sunset or a first smile, is wonderful. I use a lot of my photos in my writing too. They create covers, trailers and the places they show provide immense inspiration for every piece. Here is a small collection of pictures that inspired 'In Need of an Adventure', which is available for reading on my Movellas page and on the official World Book Day YA app. Hopefully they inspire you to go out and capture life in words. :)

~White Ravens~

Camp NaNoWriMo!

    This July is the summer session of Camp NaNoWriMo and I am participating! For those unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, it is a website encouraging novelists to write 50,000 words over the month of November. During April and July, they hold a more relaxed session where you can set your own word count, meet other writers in your own cabin as well as many other camp-fire activities. It's really fun and rewarding.

   I completed NaNoWriMo last November and, although I felt like giving up towards the end when illness struck, I finished with an hour left to spare and was over the moon. Really, writing 50,000 words (even though it was most likely dribble with no editing or re-reading...) in a month is a great feeling. I'd recommend you all try it :)

   It's not too late to enter this July session. The weather is hot and you may be tempted to avoid it but the encouragement you gain and the results are immense. If you want to find out more, here is the camp homepage:

http://campnanowrimo.org/

   I look forward to seeing some of you there :) Until next time :)

~White Ravens~

Divergent by Veronica Roth Review

   My second review is of the book Divergent by Veronica Roth, a YA dystopian fiction :)
   I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post again. Thankfully exams are all over (FREEDOM!!!) and now I will probably have more time to myself to read, write and post :)

Rating: 

 

   4/5

  This book really keeps you on the edge and I love female leads kicking butt ;) I read it every day to try and finish it, but I've only given it four out of five because I didn't want to read it every second of everyday.Yes, I did finish it quite quickly but it didn't captivate me so much that I wanted to get to the end within an hour. I'm very picky with my 5/5s :)
   

Who I think it's for:

 

   Although it can get rather bloody and contains a few kissing scenes, there's no adult themes so I would say it's for 13+. It is a young adult book so, obviously, that is the main target market but I'm sure many adults would love it too, with it's strong and fresh characters, interesting plot and important themes. If you love sci-fi and dystopian fiction that this is for you. I'd say girl's would be drawn to it more but it has enough action to appeal to both genders.

"We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” 

Plot Summary:  

 

   In a dystopian future where Chicago is split into five factions representing specific qualities important to their citizens: Amity for the peaceful; Abnegation for the selfless; Candor for the honest; Erudite for knowledge; Dauntless for bravery.

   It is sixteen year old Beatrice 'Tris' Prior's turn to choose. Torn between staying with her family or changing for her own future, she decides upon her faction, shocking all, and is hurtled into their grueling initiation trials. Juggling friends, love, having her life on the line as well as coming to terms with being 'Divergent', a secret underlying her city could change everything they ever knew.

The Character that stood out most:

 

   Caleb Prior, 'Tris Prior's brother, stood out a lot to me. He, too, makes a shock decision at the Choosing Ceremony, which he took at the same time as 'Tris, but appeared as a very determined character. However, what really made him stand out was how much he changed throughout the book.

   In the sequel, 'Insurgent', he is obviously easily manipulated by the 'Faction over Blood' message that every child has had drilled into them from birth. Under this manipulation, he does something completely unexpected, which really disappointed me about the book. I knew that the society had misled him, but I have my own sister so I don't understand why he would do what he did. (I don't want to give anything away so that is all I will say about the matter)

   We'll have to wait for the final book, 'Allegiant', to find out why Caleb took this abrupt turn.

Why I read it:

 

   Dystopian fiction for young adults are all the rage now so naturally I was drawn to the book. I remember one of my friends recommending Veronica Roth as a good author a while back, so when I saw the name in a book shop, I thought I'd give it a go :) It had gained good reviews and I also saw that it would become a film next year, so I wanted to read it before I saw it.
  

Why you should read it:

   

   It had me hooked from the beginning. It has something for everyone, with action, love, friendship and trying to find yourself in a difficult world, which everyone can relate to. It's great for teenagers and I would recommend it to anyone. If you want to see the film, I think you should read the book first because I like to know what's going on and how it differs :) It's a very popular book amongst YA readers too :)


   Well, that's my second review done :) I will get to writing the remainder of the character questions soon. Leave your thoughts in the comments :)


~White Ravens~


  The final installment of Veronica Roth's best-selling series, 'Allegiant', is out October 22nd, 2013 and the 'Divergent' film release is in 2014 - 21st March 2014 in the USA.

 

Poem ~ 'I'm Fine'

I'm Fine

A poem helps you let your true words and troubles escape and fly away.

I'm Fine ~ White Ravens:

“I’m fine.”

I stand in front of the mirror each day

“I’m fine.”

I must practise to keep my demons at bay

“I’m fine.”

I pick at the faults as tears threaten to race

“I’m fine.”

I pick at the wounds upon the line on my face

“I’m fine.”

My insides are eternally entwined in the fire

“I’m fine.”

The fire with flames that lick higher and higher

“I’m fine.”

They always burn the edges of that curved line

“I’m fine.”

But my true words remain silenced as they are mine

“I’m fine.”

One day, if I carry on rehearsing and reflect

“I’m fine.”

One day, if I carry on, I’ll eventually get it perfect

“I’m fine.”

I'm Fine © 2013 Rachel Lowson

~White Ravens~

Character Questions 2...

   More questions for your character to answer. As I said before that personality is key in characters. Now we've got the basics down, we can carry on and get this character flowing.

Personality:

3 Best Traits:
3 Worst Traits:
Gifts/Talents (Music? Maths? Magic?):
Self-esteem rating:  /10
Confidence rating:  /10
Optimism rating:  /10
One thing they like about themselves:
One thing they hate about themselves:
How would they change themselves?
What is it that makes them a hero?
What is it that makes them a villain?
Favourite Past-times/hobbies:
Addictions:

Their Past:

 

   A character can't go forward as believable if they don't have a past. They can't develop without history, but you don't need to spend ages writing an extremely detailed biography. So, here are more quick questions on the past for them:


Biggest success:
Biggest failure:
One experience wish avoided:
Biggest lesson learned:
Education level and schooling:
Earliest Memory/Favourite memory:
Big Family/Friend fall outs:
Longest secret kept:
Any secrets broken?
Past relationships/friendships:
Childhood memories:
Any memorabilia collected?
Special training/skills gained:
Inheritance (In appearance or objects):

~White Ravens~

Character Trait Tips Part 3...

   Part 3 on tips for character building :)

   Showing and not telling is very important to keep your audience reading, but another thing you need to remember is that your character's personality is more important then their looks. You don't really need to go on about how the hero's love has a perfect muscular body, perfect fiery orange hair, perfect tanned skin blah blah blah... Just let their quirks come through.

   Use actions and dialogue to define your character not their looks. Where are they from? Do they have an accent? Can they not pronounce certain words? I know I couldn't say diagonally when I was younger and thought chimney was chimley ;) Does your character walk with a limb (or 'swag' ;D)?
Does he twitch his head when he smells something awful? Does he blink too often?

    All of this will make the character unique and appear real. Of course it's good to describe a little about the looks of characters, but only in small doses like 'I pulled a strand of blonde hair from my face' or 'My nose always seemed to get in the way of my sight' and stuff like that :)

   I hope that was interesting :) I've read lots of stories, including my own, that state a lot of things outright, resulting in a huge information overload on the reader. So, when re-reading that old draft, try showing and not telling every little detail and don't forget to let your character's quirks have the spotlight. :)

  Talking of back-stories, does your character have one? How about asking them some questions? Stay logged in for the next post on 'Character Questions' to help you :)

~White Ravens~

Character Questions 1...

   This, again, follows on from character trait tips, hopefully it will help your character develop though the whole story by creating a lot more to them then just a personality. :)

  Just like your reader, you need to get to know your characters. You have names, you have traits but you're missing something quite important. Your actual character.

   

     I find answering questions on the character helpful, but whenever I search for them on the internet, they all seem very long-winded and take more time to answer then writing the actual story! 

   Here is a small stack of what I feel are the most important questions that you will answer yourself through the eyes of your character, kind of like a profile or interview. These will help your character develop in their story as well as develop into someone real; someone you will love to write about.

    With these questions, you can learn everything you need to know about your character. Of course some aspects may change as your plot twists and turns, but it's good to get down a few ideas and answers to get you going. You don't want to be in full flow and then not have certain key information down that stops you.

   Here are the basic questions to start you off that should all be answered by the main character. If you want to answer them for some supporting characters too, then answer all or perhaps you might just want to answer only a few of the important questions. There is no need to answer any for background characters if you don't want to. ;) I've highlighted ones in bold which I think are the most important, but answer which ever ones you want of course. :)

Basic Questions:

Full Name:
Nickname:
Age:
Gender:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Where they live now:
Family:
Ethnic Background:
Religious Background:
Social Class Background: (Upper, Middle, Working...)
Race: (Are they human or a mythical creature)
Mannerisms (A habit):
Health Problems:
Way of Life/Occupation:
Close Friendships/Relationships:

  More questions on personality and appearance to follow. :)

~White Ravens~

Character Trait Tips Part 2...

  Here's the second part leading on from the traits you picked. It could also help with the whole story and not just characters :)

   Show and don't tell!

   Every writer must tell the reader something but many (including me) find it extremely difficult at times not to go into full-on describing mode. You must fight off the temptation to list all of your traits and back story.

   'Fred moans a lot and he is very clever and adventurous, but he was very stuck-up too.'

  Quite boring to read, yes? Let's try again showing and not telling:

   '"No. The Mathers' Waterfall was discovered on the 24th June 1292 by Henry Mathers not on the 25th." Fred moaned to Jo, looking down his nose at her. "I've climbed up there myself quite a few times on our family holidays. We could never stay here for longer than a month without going crazy."
Jo rolled her eyes as her mind started to drift.
"Oh please listen to me once in a while." He moaned again.'

  There; Fred has moaned a lot at Jo, talked about his adventures on holiday, shown off his cleverness and his dialogue and actions have shown how stuck-up he can be. Much more interesting! :)

   Short but sweet I hope :) More to come later.

   Remember, actions speak louder than words :)

~White Ravens~

Character Trait Tips Part 1...

  Hello again :) To carry on from my character naming, you can see that personality can influence the name a lot. Struggling to think of traits to make your character come to life? Well, look no further :)

 Here, I have put a list together of 100 traits for your characters (hopefully I haven't put some twice...). All you need to do is pick three numbers from 1 to 50 for 'good' traits and 51 to 100 for 'bad traits'. This will balance out your character and give them a varied personality. Obviously, you can add more traits for your character but, if you stick to these three, others will bloom as your character achieves more depth as the story progresses :)

   It's best to try and balance out 'good' and 'bad' traits within every one of your characters, otherwise you end up with a hero who's so bland and a great story pulled down by it's lead.

   You could take a trait and turn it into something that could be seen as 'good' or 'bad'. Like being too forgiving or too lively. Some traits could also fit into both categories, like being serious would be good in a work situation but not if they're at a party.

   Also, if you end up getting a 'good' trait as patient and then a 'bad' trait as impatient, you will have to choose another number since they will contradict each other. Unless you're character has a shifting personality due to eating something awful from another planet... (Carrots are best left alone...)

   I've left some open ended, such as flexible, which could be in mind or in body. Enjoy :)

  So, the 'good' traits:

1. Adventurous
2. Ambitious
3. Attentive
4. Brave
5. Calm
6. Caring
7. Cheerful
8. Confident
9. Creative
10. Curious
11. Determined
12. Devoted
13. Easy-going
14. Enthusiastic
15. Excitable
16. Flexible
17. Forgiving
18. Good leader
19. Good listener
20. Grateful
21. Hard-working
22. Honest
23. Hopeful
24. Intelligent
25. Kind
26. Lively
27. Loving
28. Loyal
29. Lucky
30. Mature
31. Obedient
32. Open-minded
33. Optimistic
34. Passionate
35. Patient
36. Peaceful
37. Polite
38. Protective
39. Quick
40. Resourceful
41. Responsible
42. Romantic
43. Sensitive
44. Sociable
45. Spirited
46. Studious
47. Thoughtful
48. Understanding
49. Wise
50. Witty

 

And the 'bad' traits: 

51. Aggressive
52. Angry
53. Argumentative
54. Bossy
55. Careless
56. Cautious
57. Childish
58. Close-minded
59. Clumsy
60. Confused
61. Coward
62. Crazy
63. Cruel
64. Daunting
65. Dishonest
66. Doubtful
67. Fierce
68. Foolish
69. Gives up easily
70. Gloomy
71. Greedy
72. Green
73. Guilty
74. Hateful
75. Hopeless
76. Indecisive
77. Jealous
78. Lazy
79. Lonely
80. Loud-mouth
81. Mean
82. Messy
83. Mischievous
84. Moans a lot
85. Nosey
86. Over-protective
87. Pessimistic
88. Rough
89. Self-centred
90. Selfish
91. Shy
92. Sly
93. Sore-loser
94. Stubborn
95. Stuck-up
96. Stupid
97. Thoughtless
98. Unforgiving
99. Unsocial
100. Workaholic

   I hope there's enough for you and a variation :) They're might be a couple of strange one's in there since I was writing this late, but they will certainly make your character very unique. Have fun


 ~White Ravens~

P.S. Another post will follow on from this one on how to get these traits across in your writing :)

Thinking of Character Names Part 5...

   The final part of Thinking of Character Names :) I hope you've found the tips slightly helpful at least :)

5. Use Names on Signs, Benches, Buildings, etc.

   Everywhere in the world today must be labelled to point us all in the right direction, so use that for inspiration. This is a very simple way of thinking up names and can just make something click inside your mind.

   Road signs are often named after people as well buildings, so take those for inspiration. If you live on Greenwood road, then your character's last name could be Greenwood. If your school's called Abbey Hill, then Abby Hill is a great name.

   I saw that someone used dedications on benches and trees and memorials for inspiration. I think that this is a lovely way of keeping alive the memory of that person who it is dedicated too.

   This is so simple and easy for all of you to do since all you have to do is look around. Look at the posters and pictures on your wall; the maps of the tube line; the seats in a park. Even looking at your cereal box in the morning! Names can pop up from anywhere.

   Easy peasy lemon squeezy ;)

   And that concludes my tips on character naming :)


  So, to review, here are my tips for naming characters:

1. Use Name Meaning Websites and Books

2. Use a Translator

3. Use the Names of People Close to you or Famous People

4. Use the Names of Objects, Flowers, Animals etc.

5. Use Names on Signs, Benches, Buildings, etc.

    These past 5 parts are great ways for me to think up character names, so hopefully they are useful to you too. Anyone can do it just by stepping out their front door. Actually, you don't even need to do that but just by looking out the window you'll see something that sets your mind off ticking. I hope I've carried out a wide-spread of tips that most people would find helpful but, if you do something else, comment and tell us all :) You might spark off inspiration for the next best-selling author ;)

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Review

 

   My first book review. I hope I'll cover all you want to know. :)

   The Da Vinci Code is one of my favourite books. It is an extremely captivating read and Dan Brown keeps you wanting more and more as you turn every page.

Rating: 

 

4.5/5 for epicness!

   Though I haven't given it 5/5 because it can be very complex and controversial at times, confusing the reader. Also, his writing style doesn't stand out as amazing but his plots are so gripping!

Who I think it's for:

   Due to it being quite complicated at times and containing adult themes, this is definitely not a book for children but more for adults, so I'd say about 15/16+. I will warn you that this book contains some very intellectually challenging riddles and occasional graphic images so do not read if you are easily upset. It's full of suspense so mystery and thriller genre lovers should definitely try this. This is a fiction book so the controversies and issues it mentions may or may not be real.

“By its very nature, history is always a one-sided account.” 

Plot Summary:  

 

   The Da Vinci Code is about Robert Langdon, an American Professor of Symbology, who is pulled into being the prime suspect of a murder which sets off a mysterious chain of events. A chain that could change the face of Christianity.

    Involving secret societies and legends, the mystery will keep you on your toes as Langdon, assisted by a cryptologist from the French Guards, Sophie Neveu, is hunted across France. Will he solve the clues left behind or will this treasure be lost

    This story isn't for the fainthearted and is for those who can keep up with a complicated trail and like to be surprised at every turn. It really leaves you breathless by the end! However, you must remember this book is a work of fiction and not a history textbook.

The Character that stood out most:

  Of course Langdon and his sidekick Neveu were good characters, but I would have liked a little more to be said about Langdon to make us empathize with him more.

   I couldn't help but be drawn to Silas, a monk involved in the secret society Opus Dei. This lost character was abused as a child but was saved and taken in by Bishop Aringarosa. However, throughout the story he is pushed in a certain direction by the strict teachings and his goal to serve the Bishop and Opus Dei. Some may see him as strange and crazy to be doing what he does, but I couldn't help but feel that he was just a poor boy who was lost because of his past and wanted to find peace in his religion. He may appear to be the villain, but I feel that it wasn't really his fault in a way...

Why I read it:

   My friend recommended it to me and I always wanted to read it so I just needed a kick up the backside to turn the first page and I was hooked until the end. :)

   There's also a film, which I was urged to watch, by others but you should definitely read the book first as it's so much better as always ;) 

Why you should read it:

  It's so memorable and Dan Brown's plots are gripping and fast-paced. He has many other books out including sequels to The Da Vinci Code, which apparently keep get better, and is recommended by many around the world. This novel really gets you thinking about different themes and feel for certain characters. A very interesting and intriguing read altogether. For those with an open mind willing to read something that will provoke your thoughts in many ways.

~White Ravens~

Thinking of Character Names Part 4...

   Once again, the second to last chapter of my tips for naming characters. :)

4. Use the Names of Objects, Flowers, Animals etc.

 

   Of course you wouldn't name your main character Chair or Zebra, but you could always base them on that. This is a more difficult way of naming characters because you'll think up new names but you must be able to pronounce them easily as well as make sure it fits. If you can't say the name, then the reader's stumbling will interrupt their flow.

   Flowers are an easy way to go for basing character names. They're mostly used for females, but you could find ones that work for males to. Take Valerian for example, the masculine version of Valerie and a herb. I also think that this is good for fantasy stories but could work with any other genres as well.

   Though some flowers are worth avoiding. Like Daisy and Lily for a cute innocent girl is used a lot and Rose for the beautiful stranger but how about mixing a name that may not fit the personality... Nature is perfect for inspiration

   With animals, birds are a good way to go, like Raven and Robin and Phoenix. You could also use names that mean animals, like Rachel means Ewe and Tiger, well, means tiger...

   If your new name is difficult to pronounce but you really want to use it, then try using a nickname or shorten it for your characters and only use their full name a few times, so the reader rarely has to try and figure out how to say it in their heads :)

  Just look around you when you're outside then the names will come to you. :)

~White Ravens~

Thinking of Character Names Part 3...

   Another quick tip for character naming :) I hope you've thought up some interesting names with these tips :)

3a. Use the Names of People Close to you: 

 

   The simplest way to name characters is using family and friends names. They could reflect their character's personality and relationships or you could just like the name and allocate a character.

   If your Mum's name is Jane, then so could your main character's Mother. Or, you could name a very protective and loving character Jane. You could call a boat the heroes are travelling on 'The Jane' or just find a person who acts just like your own Mum and call her Jane.

   The opportunities are endless with this tip and you could name your whole cast and crew after people you know and love. This gives you someone to base your characters on, typical names if your story is set in modern-day and an endless list of names to choose from.

   I'm sure people will be very touched that your best-selling novels include them as the heroes and you can tell the bully what you really think if you use them as the villain!

3b. Use Famous People:

 

  This is also another small tip, but must be used carefully

   You could also use famous people as inspiration, but it's best not to call the character their full name exactly unless the character's parents were obsessive fans. If the character's Mother loved Twilight so called her daughter Bella Swan, it would have to fit the story or plot in some way.

   Here's the tricky part. The person that you use will be known to many and already exists so using their name could cause confusion with readers. It's best to keep this as a reserve or use sparingly as a tribute to a personal inspiration.

   Loosely basing the name on someone famous is perfect. For example, there's already been a Leonardo Da Vinci, the famous painter, inventor and all round clever guy, and I had a clever character in need of a name, so Leo was born. Leo also means 'like a lion', so connotes he will be brave too. Inspiration is everywhere so how about watching out for your favourite celebrities every now and again?

~White Ravens~

The World Book Day YA App

    I know this was a long time ago (all the way back in March! This year's going by so quickly!) but World Book Day is the biggest celebration of books around the world. Readers, writers and illustrators come together and school children can pick up a voucher for a free book or £1 off any other book. :)

    This year, World Book Day brought out a new and exclusive app; the World Book Day YA app. This was powered by the online website Movellas, which is ideal for anyone aged 13+ for reading, writing and sharing stories online. The app stars many fantastic young adult authors along with forty nominations from the Movellas Community of thousands voted to be part of the app.

    I was lucky enough to have been nominated and have the privilege of having my short story ‘In Need of an Adventure’ featured alongside these great authors. I loved writing this story and I really grew to love the characters and the adventure :) It is finished and in the editing process so if you have any spare time and fancy a read, check it out here:

In Need of an Adventure

    I also created the cover which was incredibly fun :) I'd recommend Movellas to anyone willing to read and write and share their love for imagination and the app is up and running for you to download :)


~White Ravens~

Thinking of Character Names Part 2...

Hello again :) Another tip for thinking of character names for you. :) Translators are another good way to go:

2. Use a Translator:

 

  Whilst not the best for long passages for French essays, just think of a trait for your character or part of their history and translate it to think of an unusual first name or unique last name. Like if a character is a copycat of everyone without their own thoughts, then translate something like 'Clone' into another language such as Italian or Danish.

   Take Professor Lupin from J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter'. Many of you may already know that 'Lupin' is derived from 'Lupus', the latin for wolf. This indicates his darker side on a full moon. Also, Voldemort literally translates to 'Flight of Death' in French and this murderous character lives up to his name. J.K. Rowling thinks up so many amazing names that fit her characters perfectly as well as creating the most wonderful, magical world of all time! (Can you tell I'm a Potterhead ;) )


   Another fun way I use a translator for is to create a hidden message behind the character through their full name.

   For example, take the main character from my story 'Everto'. Her name is 'Ena
Intenebris'. I used a name meaning website to find 'Ena', which means 'bright and shining', and then a translator to combine 'in ténebris', which means 'in the dark', to create 'Ena Intenebris' - 'Bright and shining in the dark.' This leads on to different possibilities in the rest of the plot and the all important prophecy. Most people might not notice this but it's fun to add a little back story to a name that only you know.

   However, with this way you run the risk of translating wrong, but it's not much of a problem if you gain an interesting name from it :) 

  Another part in this series of tips up and running :) I hope they've been useful but there's three more to come if you're looking for something else :)

~White Ravens~