3oh!3

I had not mastered the art of writing with background noise until this past year. I used to seclude myself in my bedroom away from all distractions and write. My interest was perked when I read my favorite author actually listened to music while they wrote. I figured if that is what it takes to make a book then I was game.

I must note–listening to music while you write is not going to assure you the next best seller. But music gives you an outlet, another way to help express your writing. Some authors actually share their playlists with their fans, while some like to keep quiet about what they listen to.

I have no problem sharing my playlists, however since I currently have no project finished just yet–no playlist is complete. I can make note to the fact that my music usually has nothing to do with my writing–I could be hacking away at a characters death scene that has meaning, but be listening to 3OH!3.

So here is my tip–if you are participtating in NaNoWriMo and find yourself stuck, play your favorite playlist. If you don’t have iTunes downloded or have yet to find out how to download music–you can always check out Projectplaylist.com and create your own set of ‘tunes’.

Most fans want to know every detail of your book, and the process this is just one more way to feed their hunger–and a way to help keep you sane.

XO
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Harry, A History - Melissa Anelli

I have spent the last few days all over town, looking for a new book. I really did not talk much about the book because I did not know what to expect from it. I knew that one of my favorite authors wrote an foreword for it; and it was written by one of my favorite webmistresses of all time.

It should have been a no brainer that the book would be amazing–however until I started reading the foreword it did not dawn on me that I was once again in the safe haven of ‘Harry Potter World’, The realization hit me as I sat at Burger King this morning–I was freezing, even while eating a very warm meal.

The book I am talking about is Harry, A History which was written by Melissa Anelli (the webmistress of The Leaky Cauldron). The book in a way warmed me, bringing back my memories of reading Harry Potter for the first time in fourth grade–or rather having the teacher read it to the class.

We all caught on, unlike the other stories the teacher would read to us–we actually behaved so we could hear the next plot twist in Potter’s world. Harry Potter is a piece of my life that I will never forget, it will never get old and it will never leave–in many ways it is the ‘Star Wars’ of my generation.

When I turned eleven I became convinced that my invitation to Hogwarts was lost in the mail. Regardless I packed my bags and sat in the living room waiting for the Hogwarts Express to pick me up–I even purchased a broom from the local walmart. The train never came, however it only helped me fall into Potter even more.

The series was an escape for me, growing up in hospitals. While I may be hearing talks of surgerys and needle pokes in the background, in my mind I was helping Harry figure out the next plot twist.

I believe everyone has something they can look back on and identify with. Something that can give them hope on the most hopeless day–or even keep them warm at a Burger King. I have not finished the book yet–but felt the need to share my story. This book brings me to the past–I remember where I was when I found out the same things that Melissa uncovers in the book–We are all connected, which is just amazing.

Harry Potter has changed the face of fandom forever, which has been said before I am sure. The thing is a Harry fan is not a age, sex, race or religion. Its a person, who loved possibly one of the greatest series of our time.

XO
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