Short Story Contest - Magic Around Us

This is the first contest of No Wasted Words. How exciting!

A short story is defined by dictionary.com as "a piece of prose fiction, usually under 10,000 words." That is the intention of this contest, to write a short story and send it in to a panel of five judges that will read each story. There is only one winner this time, since it's the first contest. There may be second and third place prizes next time!

The prize: A copy of Diana Wynne Jone's 'Unexpected Magic', a collection of her short stories, as well as having your short story shared on the blog!

The Rules:

1. Word count: 2,000-4,000 
2. One entry per person
3. All entries must include the following contact information:
1. Name
2. Age
3. Email
4. No racism, homophobia, or hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
5. No graphic gore or violence. No sexual content.
6. No plagiarism.
7. Entries must be in English
8. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence on this matter will be entered into. 
9. Not complying with these rules will result in disqualification.

Deadline for submission: July 31, 11:59 Central Time

The winner will be announced on September 1.

Now, I bet you want to know what it is you'll be writing about? The prompt is below!

Prompt:

Magic surrounds us every moment. Write a short story about magic that impacts our everyday lives, whether we see it or not, for better or worse.

Get writing! I can't wait to read the entries!

Insomnia + Illness + Several Days = Reading Marathon!

So I haven't written much lately, and that's because I've been very ill. Instead, I've been working on reading a variety of books for the reading challenge. The inability to sleep for nearly a week while I was sick left me with plenty of time to lie around in a daze without the energy to do a single thing, except turn pages. So that's what I did.

I have read several books in this time: 'The Crown of Dalemark', 'Ella Enchanted', 'To Kill A Mockingbird', 'Splintered', 'Shadow's Edge', 'Theodosia and the Last Pharoah', 'Conrad's Fate', and I am now trying to complete the gardening book for the nonfiction section of my reading challenge. The siren call of fiction keeps distracting me, but I am determined to complete this book.

I have intentions to write reviews for each of the books I'm reading for this challenge. I just have to do it. Now that I have my strength and sanity back, I can! But that's for later.

What I want to talk about now is how reading helped me get through those several days of being sick, and how it's done that several times in the past.

I remember the first time I finished a chapter book all in one day. I was in third or fourth grade and home from school. The book was one of the Animorph books, by K.A. Applegate. Did you ever read those? I had the entire collection at one point.

Anyway, I was up all the first night and trying not to dwell on how awful I felt, so I dove into 'The Crown of Dalemark' by Diana. It was in the category 'A book you started but never finished' for the reading challenge. I figured if I was going to be awake, I might as well be productive, right?

Thankfully, I had just gone to the library and gotten a stack of books to read. I hadn't intended to finish 'Dalemark' all in one sitting, but it happened. So then I moved on to 'Ella Enchanted' and finished that all at once.

You see what being sick does to me. I can't say that I mind much, though. It makes me think of Rainbow Dash in the episode of "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" when she is stuck in the hospital and begins reading the Daring Do books.

It took a while for me to start feeling better, so I just kept reading. The nice thing about reading is that you can take it as slowly or as quickly as you want. When my head was spinning, I read very slowly, sometimes out loud, to give me something else to focus on. If it got to be too energy sapping, such as  during dramatic points in the story, I would take a break and nap. When napping wasn't happening, my wonderful husband would read out loud from one of the books he was reading at the time. I had already read them, so it didn't matter if they were random chapters from various books, I still knew what was going on.

Reading helped me feel better by lifting my spirits, giving me something to do, and making me laugh. Laughter is supposed to be the best medicine. If that's the case, I hate to think of how much longer I would have been sick without it.

What books do you enjoy reading when you're ill? Do you have any fond memories despite being sick?

The Ten Best Books to Read Out Loud

I love reading out loud.It's one of my favorite things to do. When my husband and I want to read the same book, we take turns reading chapters out loud to each other. If a friend or family member is in the hospital, I enjoy visiting them and reading out loud. Reading out loud to children is such fun for me, and I love imitating the voices of different characters. This is where my love of theatrics and acting comes out. I really love reading out loud.

As such, my favorite books are great to read out loud. To avoid being repetitive I will restrict myself to only one from my favorites book list to include in this list.

1. 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie' by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond
This book is such a sweet book that is so nostalgic for me. It's not only a book, but it's been performed on stage for children and is also available on CD. It's a wonderful book to read to your children and the children of friends and family. There is also a companion book called 'If You Give A Moose a Muffin', just in case the little ones in your life can't get enough of the exponential logic of silliness!

2. 'Fox in Socks' by Dr. Seuss
This book is such a fun read because it is meant to be read out loud. It's one giant tongue twister! Don't be discouraged if you stumble- that's part of the fun! My godson loves it when I stumble over the words and we always have a good laugh over it. It's even fun to challenge one of your friends to- have a tongue twister contest with it if you don't have a child to read it out loud to.

3. 'Howl's Moving Castle' by Diana Wynne Jones
This is my all-time favorite book. This book is my favorite book to read out loud to loved ones who are ill (or simply to get them interested in my favorite author). It is an exciting book that isn't too extreme or stressful. It is a fun book, with a lot of adventure and wonderful voices to imitate. My favorite voice, which took me a while to finally get the way I wanted it to sound, is the voice of Calcifer, the fire demon. It is a great book to read out loud to children and adults alike.

4. 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens
This book is one of my mother's favorite books, and very early on it became one of mine, too. This is one of Dickens' shorter books, and could easily be read through the month of December before the Christmas holidays to help get people in the spirit. Don't be intimidated by Dickens' language. it really isn't hard, and this particular book has a lot of humor in it. Interestingly, The Muppet Christmas Carol is a filmed version that makes good use of quotes from the book and I highly suggest that version if you want to watch a version to introduce young readers to the book.

5. 'Seasons' by Robert Frost
This is a book of poems by Robert Frost. I specify this particular collection because the poems are grouped together by season, and accompanied by gorgeous photos. Reading out loud isn't just about the words you're reading, but also about the visuals, and this book really transports you into the world Frost is writing about.

6. 'Inkheart' by Cornelia Funke
I first heard this book as a book on tape when I had an hour commute both ways while going to massage school in Florida. It's a longer book, and takes some time to read out loud because of the length. If you saw the movie, you might have a lighter impression of the book. This is the first in a trilogy, followed by 'Inkspell' and 'Inkdeath'. As you can imagine, it's a darker book than the movie might let on, but it's a beautiful story that really explores the depth of human emotion, love, ambition, and creativity. If you have a long road trip coming up, I suggest having a companion read it out loud or getting the audiobook.

7. 'The Horse and His Boy' by C.S. Lewis
This is my favorite book of the Narnia series, and the most underrated in my humble opinion. It takes place during 'The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe', and follows the story of a boy escaping his life of servitude into the northern country of Narnia on a Horse named Bree. I don't think it's ever been turned into a film, which I find to be a great tragedy.

8. 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' by J.K. Rowling
The Harry Potter series has arguable made a huge impact in encouraging young children to read, and has been doing so for many years. I love her books, and the fact that they age with her readers. I got to grow up with Harry, Hermione, and Ron, since I was 11 when the first one came out. It is such a wonderful book to read out loud, and I suggest it to anyone who wants to get their children into reading.

9. 'Treasure Island' by Robert Louis Stevenson
I adore Stevenson's books, 'Treasure Island' most of all. There have been so many adaptations of this book, into cartoons, movies, and stage plays. It is a well known story, but with several elements that are often left out of films, so there will be plenty of new material to experience. It is such an adventurous book with plenty of danger and intrigue, and a great book to read out loud to anyone.

10. 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien
This book is a great one to read for young adults. I've heard several people say that Tolkien's books are better left to adult, and I profoundly disagree with this statement. I read 'The Hobbit' when I was in elementary school. I think I was in 5th grade. It is a great book to read out loud, for many of the same reasons as 'Treasure Island', and is a great introduction to Tolkien's books.

Reading out loud is a wonderful way to introduce friends and family to your favorite books and authors, as well as encourage a love of reading in young people. Are there any books you enjoy reading out loud? Tell me in the comments!

My Top Ten Favorite Books

It was so hard to pick my top ten favorite books! I feel as if I am snubbing some wonderful authors and titles with this, but here it is: my top ten favorite books, in no particular order (except the first one, because that one truly is my favorite book!)

1. 'Howl's Moving Castle' by Diana Wynne Jones

'Howl's Moving Castle' is a young adult fantasy novel first published in 1986. It was a runner-up for Boston Horn Globe Book Award. In 2006, it won the Phoenix Award. (Yes, I am aware there is an anime version of it. No, I am not ready to talk about it.)

The book follows the protagonist, Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters, as she sets out to seek her fortune and break a terrible spell she has been put under. Along the way, she must conduct her way among the plots of the heartless Wizard Howl, navigate a deal with a fire demon, and travel to four different places through a single door. Honestly, I can't recommend this book enough. I adore it.

2. 'Peter and Wendy' by J.M. Barrie

The novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie first wrote Peter Pan as a small character in a book meant for adults called 'The Little White Bird' in 1902, which I have yet to read. Peter Pan became the focus of a play in 1904 J.M. Barrie went on to write called Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. The play was then expanded into the book called 'Peter and Wendy' in 1911, which has become the story we all know and love.

'Peter and Wendy' is often found in a book called Peter Pan, which also includes two short stories called 'Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens' and chapters 13-18 of 'The Little White Bird', where Peter makes an appearance. 'Peter and Wendy' is an incredible adventure story that discusses the spirit of youth and childhood, and how "all children grow up... except one." I have heard many people discuss the book in regards to how dark it is, with all of the threats of killing and death. I say that those people are looking at it like grown ups.

3. 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown

'Angels and Demons' takes place before 'The DaVinci Code'. It was published in May of 2000, and follows protagonist and symbologist Robert Langdon as he is brought to the crime scene where a murdered physicist has a mysterious symbol burned into his chest. He is led into a world where an ancient, underground, and immensely powerful organization, the Illuminati, is leading an attack on the Catholic Church. When a time bomb is announced to be in a secret location in Vatican City, Langdon goes on a rapid hunt through the city, finding clues in old pieces of artwork and architecture to lead him to the bomb and somehow stop it from killing thousands of people.

I love this book for how fast paced it is, and how intricately detailed it is. I have never personally been to Vatican City, nor have I seen in anything but a photograph the artwork being discussed, but it is done so comprehensively, I can't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, this is true...

When I first read 'Angels and Demons', I was home from high school, sick, for several days. I started it, and stayed up until 2:00 am finishing it, because I just could not put it down. It can be a little intense for young audiences or anyone bothered by violence, like I am, but nothing was gratuitous and so I found myself able to manage it. I am so glad I did.

4. 'The Lost Dogs' by Jim Gorant

This is a work of non-fiction that was published in 2011, and details the story of the rescue and rehabilitation of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick's felonious dog fighting ring, Bad Newz. It follows each dog, and in the back has a summary or every single one and what happened with them and where they were at the time of publication.

I am firmly against animal cruelty, dog fighting, and breed discriminatory legislation (BDL). I believe treating pit bulls poorly simply because the media portrays them as mean and viscous is no different than believing the same of a person simply because of the color of their skin. While the violence described in the beginning of the book can be intense and heart wrenching, it is something I believe is immensely important. Where I wish these dogs never had to go through this, the silver lining that came out of it was that this high-profile case illuminated the fact that dogs put through fight rings are able to be rehabilitated and are not monsters because of the heinous actions taken against them. Instead, the case and this book in particular, help highlight the fact that these dogs deserve a chance at happiness and freedom, and that they are not bad dogs simply because of what they have gone through.

5. 'The Lion in Winter' by James Goldman

This is a 1966 play that went on to become two different movies, both of which are fantastic. When I began doing theatre when I was 13, I did a monologue by Eleanor in a class. I loved it, and I fell in love with that character. I went on to read the entire play, and realized that Eleanor is supposed to be in her 60s, so I have quite a while to wait before I have a real chance at playing her. That is one of the things on my bucket list, though, and is a life goal that I am quite determined to fulfill.

The play is set in 1183, where the family of King Henry II is gathering for the Christmas holiday. Eleanor, who Henry has locked in a tower ten years before, is finally allowed out for the season. What ensues is a political battle between Henry, Eleanor, their three sons Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey, and Prince John, as well as the King of France, Philip, who is finally old enough to take the throne and go to war, and his half-sister Alais, who is in love with Henry.

It is brilliant. I recommend either version of the movie, as well as recommend simply reading the play.

6. 'The Dragons Are Singing Tonight' by Jack Prelutsky

I remember reading this book of poems when I was just a child. It is a book of fantastical poems about dragons and their place in the world that is perfect to read out loud to your children (or anyone who will listen, for that matter). It was published in 1998.

7. 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen

Seriously, give this book a chance. Yes, I know it is from a female author with a majority of female protagonists, and yes, I know it's a classic piece with some flowery language. Seriously, its not that hard, and if I have to sit through the baseline of male authors with a plethora of male protagonists, then you can do the same with female. If anyone thinks you're less of a man for reading it, they clearly have no idea of the genius that is Jane Austen and you shouldn't be friends with them, anyway. Besides, manhood is not defined by the books you read, and neither, for that matter, is womanhood.

'Pride and Pejudice' was first published in 1813, and follows the five Bennet girls as they navigate the rigid behavioral expectations of their class and sex. If you are having trouble getting into it, I suggest watching the 1995 miniseries starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. It makes the language very accessible and helps put the characters in front of you. My husband was convinced he hated Austen's work, even though he hadn't even finished the first page of Pride and Prejudice, and gave her no other chance to prove how wonderful she was. I showed him this miniseries, and he got to perform a scene as the uncouth and holier-than-thou Mr. Colins. He is now a Jane Austen convert, I am proud to say.

8. 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman

'Coraline' was published in 2002, and became a movie in 2009. The book is meant for young adults and children, for whom it is an adventure story. Reading it as an adult, it becomes a horror story. It is deliciously dark and spooky, with a wonderful element of danger as Coraline is lured into an alternate world made just for her by the mysterious Other Mother. For what purposes, Coraline just isn't sure, but it becomes clear all too soon.

9. 'The Dark Lord of Derkholm' by Diana Wynne Jones

This book was published in 1998, and is a thickset book that might look intimidating at first. I will admit, the first chapter feels like it goes a bit slow. Make it through that, though, and you will look up 200 pages later wondering what year it is. It is an amazing story that turns the usual high adventure, save-the-world quest story on its head. Diana was actually a student of J.R.R. Tolkien, who it seemed hated giving lectures and was determined to be inaudible. Diana stuck with it, anyway, and came away with a stronger grasp on the narrative. You can definitely see influence of Tolkien in this book.

10. 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens

'A Tale of Two Cities' was published in 1859, discussing two cities that seemed to exist in different worlds. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," discusses London and Paris simultaneously, drawing a stark contrast between life in England and life in France. This book may seem intimidating, but don't let it intimidate you. Don't rush through it, either. This was one of the few books in school I had to use SparkNotes on. It wasn't because I didn't understand it or like it. It was because Dickens is an author you should savor while reading. You can't speed through his books, in my opinion, or you lose a great deal of the beauty of his language and stories. I didn't finish it in time for the test, so I had to use SparkNotes in order to pass, but I requested that the teacher allow me to hold onto the book for a few extra weeks. I doubt there is a more beautiful ending to any book than the ending to 'A Tale of Two Cities'.


I could have added so many more to this list! To avoid it getting to be too long, though, I have limited myself to ten. I guess I'll just have to talk about the others in another list later on!

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? What is your favorite book of all time? Tell me in the comments!

An Introduction To "No Wasted Words"

I love books. I am a total bookworm. My bookshelves are full. I am always searching for a new and interesting book to read. I am always searching for cheap and sturdy bookshelves. I visit local libraries, though perhaps not as often as I wish I did.

I spend a lot of time reading my favorite genre, young adult fiction. I love how accessible it is, and the creative and fantastical journeys the characters go on. I love seeing the world through their eyes, learning lessons with them, and taking every step of their adventure as they do. It may not be the most fashionable for a grown woman to be reading books meant for kids, but here is my philosophy: it doesn't matter what audience the book you're reading is aimed at, so long as you are enjoying yourself while you read it!

My favorite author is Diana Wynne Jones, a woman that wrote over forty books in her forty year literary career, and who, sadly, passed away back in 2011 from cancer. When I found out, I cried for days. Let me tell you why.

Her books reached me as a child in a way that was totally new to me. I had enjoyed books, being taught to love reading by my parents and two older siblings. I spent so much time at the library in Sharon Springs, New York, that I even won a savings bond from them. Books were a way for me to connect to the world in a way I felt I couldn't when pages weren't in front of me. The first book I read of hers, brought to me by my father, was Howl's Moving Castle.

I adored it. It's my favorite book to this day, and that book led me into the dynamic, magical, and multifaceted worlds that Diana created with paper and ink. Her books are most often marketed to young adults, though she has written in a variety of subjects and mediums. I am ashamed to admit that I haven't even read half of the things she wrote. It is a life goal of mine to collect and read, cover to cover, multiple times, all of her works.

I have chronic abdominal pain from endometriosis which has be bedridden a couple times a month, and I am never without one or four of her books when I feel my worst. Her books offer such a comfort After all, if Sophie could handle being old for so long, I bet I can handle this.

One of the things I love the most about her books is that nothing is superfluous. Every single word matters and is there, right where it is, for a reason, and a very good reason at that. Not a single word is there for filler, not a single syllable is an accident. Every single detail is essential to the story or creating the many worlds of her numerous stories. I have taken that thought into my everyday life, understanding that no detail of the world around me is an accident. Not that stray cat prowling for hidden rodents, not the plastic bag flying behind the grocery store, not the advertisement with a boot print on the sidewalk- everything is there for a reason, and there is a story behind all of the details which create our world. It is those details that cannot be taken for granted if we are to make the world a better place. I take the same stance when dealing with people. Every single person matters, and I hope to help encourage all of those people to pick up books, read until their heart is content, and learn as much as possible!

I believe Diana left the world a more magical place than she found it, simply by gifting the world her profound imagination and bountiful stories.

I only wish I could achieve a fraction of what she did. If I can impact one person in the way she impacted me, I will consider myself a success.

Now, for the reason for this blog. I want to help encourage reading in as many people as possible. I don't want anyone to feel ashamed for what they're reading. Whether you're a teenager reading a book meant for young children just learning to read, or a school child reading beyond the level of those around you, never apologize for reading, and never apologize for what you're reading (unless you're reading your sibling's diary- try to stay out of that!)

I would love for everyone with a favorite book to write in to me about it. Just because there is a book I didn't much care for doesn't mean that it is a bad book! I want to encourage people to read as much as they can, not discourage anyone from reading something simply due to my own preferences.

As far as what you can expect from this blog, I will be putting in reviews of various titles and genres. I won’t only be focusing on young adult fiction, though there will be plenty of that as it is my favorite genre. I will also be keeping up with new and upcoming titles, writing author profiles, and making list articles.

Currently, I am reading Reflections: On the Magic of Writing, with a forward by Neil Gaiman and introduction by Charlie Butler, both of which had the honor of knowing Diana through their mutual profession. It is a collection of essays, interviews (including her last), literary criticism, autobiographical details, and discussions about the origins of several of her books. At this moment, I have only read the forward and introduction.

I have cried every couple of paragraphs, first and most prominently at Mr. Gaiman's description of Diana, which perfectly fit how she had always been in my imagination, right down to her laugh. I won't spoil anything about the book because I want everyone to read it, but I promise to write more about it later as I finish reading it. And let's be honest, that probably won’t take more than the weekend because I have a habit of not letting her books go until I finish them.

Speaking of which, I've been away from my book for too long. I’ll be back to the realm of the living as soon as I finish this last chapter…