z3llie
Zellie
{Blog | Writing a book | Posting Weekly | Word of the Week} Trying to meet other writers, readers, and editors!
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April 30, 2023
Spring Despair
The rain knocks on my window, asking where I am.
The wind whistles for me, howling when I don’t respond.
I remain under the covers,
where the pollen can’t harm me.
Where the shade is cool,
where the rain cannot get me wet,
where the clouds cannot look down on me.
“I love the rain,” I say,
but I find shelter.
“I love the sun,” I say,
but I stay in the shade.
“I love the clouds,” I say,
but I stay inside.
“I love spring,” I say. “I love flowers. I love the weather.”
But as I scramble to find something I love,
while I scrape from the barrel of gratitude,
I find nothing but spite.
I fear that despair will consume me before I can lay in the sunlight.
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On Writing: Connecting with Characters
Characters are usually the topic I focus on the most. Sometimes, I make little scenes entirely for the banter and the warm, cozy scenes instead of focusing on the actual plot.
And that's okay; everyone loves banter from characters.
But how do you connect with a character you made? To write a story is to regurgitate your heart and your brain onto pages upon pages, so, in my opinion, you should be connected with your characters.
Quirks
Everyone has quirks. Whether it's drumming your fingers on your thigh or biting the insides of your cheeks when you get anxious, everyone has them. Try to analyze your quirks and really get a feel for them. Once you do that, it's fairly easy to give them to your characters.
Here are a few that I find interesting:
- Always leaning to one side when they're standing
- Bouncing their leg when they sit down
- Touching the tips of their fingers
Those are just a few!
Backstories
When I write my characters' backstories, I often take inspiration from my life and exaggerate it (sometimes, way too much). Make them relatable to you before you make them relatable to your readers. If an author isn't connected to their characters, it's harder to write. I suggest using something from your childhood (good or bad) or taking inspiration from a character you like in a different franchise.
Be a Fan!
Make playlists, write fanfictions and AUs, draw art - be your own biggest fan before anyone else. Be a fan of your characters! This makes you add more to them and really distinguish them as people (or whatever they are).
Anyway, I hope this helped! Thanks for reading <3
#writing tips#writing advice#character creation#writing#creative writing#art#fan#write#writing inspiration
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April 28, 2023
Word of the Day: Equanimity - (n.) composure, steadiness of mind under stress
It's been a while, holy crap. I have been working continuously on projects that didn't need as much attention. Anyway, I'm back on this account. I'm active, I promise!
Here's a quick online journal to reintroduce myself to get everyone used to my writing style! If you like it, consider following me. If not, get ready to have tomatoes thrown at you by a medieval crowd.
(This is, quite literally, a vent. I got this from my actual journal. Good morning.)
I’ve been writing and stressing and it’s been a cycle. I’m taking a break from writing for as long as I can (two hours) and I’m just going to read and get off of this laptop and my phone. Seriously. I need to get off of electronics; I’m going to become a zombie.
School has been stressful. Keeping my GPA up sucks; I thought I’d get to have cool house parties and get into trouble this year, but no. The movies lied. What the hell?
I miss when the hardest thing about school was getting up in the morning. When I could just hear something once and all of a sudden, I knew everything about the subject. I miss being able to show up and see my friends, maybe get sent to the principal’s office for talking too much and too loud, and then go home and show my mom the A’s I got in every subject, on every paper. I miss being the fastest kid in my class, outrunning all of the other kids (except that one idiot, Victor. I hate you, Victor), and having dozens of friends because of it. I miss when the worst “bullying” was when boys said that I had cooties or when girls said I was too boyish.
Now, getting up is even harder. I have migraines and the athleticism of a seventy-year-old woman. My bones are paper and my head has a constant thunderstorm. What floods out of the storm is a jumble of words that I have become too scared to speak, despite my volume during lunch. I stare at my phone all day, not at those books about cats fighting each other.
And whoever was supposed to warn me about hating my mother, where were you?
I know teenage girls are supposed to hate their fathers; at least, that’s what I saw on TV. “I’ll never hate you. Either of you,” I promised.
I did. I do.
Who was supposed to tell me that I’m supposed to be everything my mother wasn’t? Who was supposed to tell me that I’m supposed to do what my older brothers couldn’t? Who was supposed to tell me that I would quit at so many things before finding the persistence that was hidden deep, under all of the “You did good on your test because you’re smart.”
And, to my elementary school teachers,
Why didn’t you tell me that I succeeded because I worked hard?
...
On a lighter note, I’m making new friends every day. Or, at least, I’m getting closer to acquaintances every day. All of my grades (except for math, the tricky son of a bitch) are amazing. I’m getting better, I think.
I’m writing more. Hopefully, I’ve escaped that shitty writer’s block conundrum. I’m now working on writing projects every day. From Until Blood Spills to Hoodwinked to the little fanfiction drabbles that I write for people, I’m really doing well.
My views have been skyrocketing, too. I’m so happy; I never thought I’d even have 100 followers, let alone, 3,000. I’m really doing well. I get texts from writers every day that thank me for posting writing tips and ask me how I did all of this amazing stuff.
I just have to respond with “I didn’t give up; I tried a little too hard; I’m ambitious.”
I’m proud of myself.
#online journal#romanticism#light academia#chaotic academia#dark academia#my writing#vent#cw vent#motivation#author#writer#life
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things that hold us back
mindset:
-> comparing ourself to others
-> unrealistic standards we set for others and ourselves
-> judging ourselves and other people
-> living in the past
-> being jealous of other people’s success
-> unresolved trauma
-> making no effort to change
-> giving in to fear mongering
-> making conclusions w/o doing research
choices:
-> being chronically online
-> engaging in gossip and drama
-> surrounding ourself with toxic people
-> consuming toxic content
-> developing unhealthy habits
-> continuing cycles of unhealthy behavior
health/lifestyle:
-> overreating or undereating
-> eating excessive amounts of processed and fast foods
-> eating excessively at resturants and fast foods
-> drinking sugary drinks
-> being dehydrated
-> not being physically active
-> putting little effort into hygeine
-> not enough fresh air
-> indulging in unhealthy habits
how can we grow:
-> indentifying our toxic habits
-> recognizing how these toxic habits affect our life, our health and our happiness
-> striving to be healthier, both physically and mentally
-> visualizing a better version of ourselves
-> slowly incorporating healthier actions into day to day life
-> staying consistent & letting our newer, healthier actions to become healthy habits
-> constantly practicing mindfulness and self reflection
-> surrounding ourself with positive influences
-> reflecting on the choices we make everyday
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Out of the box ideas to introduce new characters
Want ideas for interesting character introductions?
Here are some unique ways to get you thinking about introducing a new character through your protagonist or another well-established character in your story
In the middle of a scream-fight
In the middle of an actual fight
Running for their life and accidentally clashing into the protagonist, now they both have to run
With your hero listening in on a conversation between the new character and a well-established character
Tripping and falling over in a public space close to the protagonist
Upside down, with the new character hanging off a branch, a building, a scaffolding etc.
During a petty robbery
Catching them sneaking in or out of somewhere they were definitely not supposed to be
While depositing an insect or spider from their house and releasing it safely into the wild
Getting stuck in an elevator together
Through a minor car accident, especially if one of the characters is a bad driver
Both going to the cinema alone and being the only two in the theatre
Getting seated next to them on a transport, falling asleep and drooling on them
During a massive storm, rushing for the same small shelter
In a waiting room, having been waiting for ages
With the new character causing a public scene and complaining to an employee about something that resonates with the protagonist
During a funeral
Discovering them as a neighbour in their parents area/building, but their parents hate them
Getting a seriously important and secret package misdelivered to the new character’s house
Want a more organised approach to your writing?
Grab The Writer’s Toolboox through the [link here] or below!
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Routines: High vs Low Energy Days
Word of the Week: Truculent (adj.) ready to fight, cruel.
As a fairly functioning human being, I've found that I don't wake up the same every day. I mean, I'm in the same body. I still have the same passion, the same friends, the same family, etc. But I don't feel the same.
I'm not really big on "routines". I want to be. I've watched more "A Day in my Life: Morning to Evening Routine" videos, most of which were very inspiring, but I can't seem to stick to one.
Instead, I made two and I use them according to how I feel when I wake up.
High Energy Days
The days when your dog or cat woke you up, the sun was rising, you lit a candle, freshened up, and got dressed immediately. You might have journaled or meditated or worked out. You had an appetizing breakfast and a drink of your choice, and you went straight to work! It wasn't a "good morning" just because all of that happened, but because you woke up well-rested and with energy!
Anyway, the day goes by and you're working and/or having fun, just being human. You go back home and want to repeat the process. Great! Outstanding.
Low Energy Days
The days when you woke up too early or too late. You stubbed your toe on your nightstand, tried to freshen up, and probably put on something comfy. You had a crappy breakfast and went to work.
Your day was crappy.
I'm not going to try to tell you that it's a perspective thing; maybe it is, maybe it isn't. What matters is that you got up.
How do we deal with low-energy days?
Take some "you" time. If you're already late to work, grab a coffee. It won't change the fact that you're late. And for the love of god, don't speed.
You must tell yourself that you have to get up on low-energy days. I'm not exactly the exception; sometimes I just don't get up. But what we should all do is just say "You know what? I'm going to fight through today because tomorrow could be better."
You mentioned routines. What does that have to do with this?
Okay, maybe I was rambling a bit, but let me show you my routine for both days.
High-Energy Days!
- Wake up at 5:00 AM
- Get ready (freshen up, get dressed) 5:00-5:10
- Meditate 5:10-5:15
- Read 5:15-5:35
- Yoga or exercise (optional) 5:35-5:45
- Breakfast 5:45-6:00
- If you have any extra time, read or study
Low-Energy Days.
- Wake up at 6:00
- Get ready 6:00-6:05
- Breakfast 6:05-6:15
- Leave at 6:30
See, there's definitely a difference, and that's okay! Remember, low energy DOESN'T mean impossible. It just means that instead of thinking of making breakfast like "cook an egg!" it makes you think like this:
Go to kitchen
Open fridge
Open egg carton
Take egg from egg carton
Close egg carton
Close fridge
Take pan out
Open cabinet
Get oil
Put oil in pan
Put stove on "medium/high"
Crack egg
Gather eggshells
Put eggshells in trash
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
Flip egg.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
Take pan off of stove
Turn stove off
Put egg on plate
Wash pan
Are you still with me? Yeah, low-energy days aren't fun. What could be a daily two-step process turned into a 25-step process because you had low energy. It's okay, though.
Make it through low-energy days because there will be a day, a month, or a year, where you will have high energy, and life will be yours to take!
Thank you for reading and I apologize for that awful tutorial on how to make eggs.
#Typo: A Young Writer's Life#writing tips#writer#writers#writerslife#writer community#writers of tumblr#writing#word of the week#romanticism#arists#artist#low energy#low energy days#high energy#high energy days#comfort#routine#routines#habits
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What Do Characters Mean?
Word of the Week: ephemeral: (adj.) short-lived, fleeting
As a writer, I find myself bleeding onto pages. All of the problems in my head pour into my book from my brain; it's a coping mechanism, in a way.
I've found that my best characters (meaning my most three-dimensional, well-planned characters with a LOT of development) are embodiments of figures in my mind.
For instance, my main character, Yukio, is strongly repelled by new things. He hates change. He hates himself. He has overwhelming guilt that is justified to be there but not justified to be burrowed into his heart. He sees things - not only in a pessimistic way - but in a dark way. His subconscious doesn't want things to go bad because he thinks he deserves for it to go bad.
Sad, right? Yet, it could be relatable enough for some of you to understand.
I can already tell what you're thinking: "Get to the point already, you do this in EVERY post."
Okay. Here's why it's important.
Giving Characters Meaning
Giving characters meaning is the best thing you can do for your characters. I don't just mean "This character's meaning is DEATH because they DIE." Give them characteristics. Maybe they're the embodiment of death because everyone they get close to dies or leaves. Maybe they're the embodiment of death because they steal things constantly, just as death does to us. Or, maybe they're the embodiment of death because they see the beauty in life.
For me, I made the character I mentioned before, Yukio, the embodiment of guilt. He's who I used to be. The me that I overcame and grew out of. The me that I fought every day. Now, that's not to say he's a villain. He's good because he's fighting the parts of him that he hates.
Another idea of this is actually a trope that is known and loved in the book community (and nearly every media). The sun/moon trope. If you don't know what this trope is, that's alright.
The sun is typically depicted as an energetic, generally happy character. They're nearly always an optimist who tries to make people feel better. They're the "sunshine", and often the "cinnamon roll", as some people call it.
The moon is usually a calm character; the opposite of the sun. They're sad sometimes, possibly internalize things, and they might be a pessimist or a realist. They keep to themselves and are often the "edgy" or "socially awkward" character.
It's an "opposites attract" sort of thing.
But the point of the trope is how they fit in like puzzle pieces. You see, you can have those two characters, but to show how they get along is by showing how the sun, who is so energetic to the point where it's tiring meets the moon, who they can finally feel comfortable enough to calm down near. The moon, who is so anti-social and emotional (even though they usually don't show it) can talk to the sun. They can be adventurous with the sun. They can laugh, talk, etc.
Does that make sense?
So far, I've given you some examples of how to give your characters meaning:
- make them represent an emotion or an event (life, death)
- give them a trope
- make them who you were/who you want to be
Why is this important?
Obviously, it gives your characters meaning and it can help them seem more believable and relatable. It helps your characters' relationships, too.
Plus, it's almost always good to include symbolism in your book.
Anyway, I hope this helped.
I'm taking requests for help, if you'd like!
Thanks for reading!
#writing#writing tips#writing advice#creative writing#characters#character creation#character creators#oc#book characters#book writing#author#writer
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Chaotic Academia
messy hair
wearing a suit one day, then sweatpants the next
wearing a suit but with funny socks
handwriting that is ineligible to everyone except you
handwriting that you can't even read
failing at writing in cursive
loud, philosophical debates about peace while you yell at your opponent for their stupidity
reacting with "ohhh, that's why." when you learn about the habits of burnt-out gifted kids
burnt-out gifted kids
wet hair, not bothered to blow dry it because it can dry by itself (messily)
knowing where everything is in your room even though it's a mess
funny ties
sneakers while wearing a suit/dress
bags under eyes
hand cramps from gripping your pencil too hard
procrastinating
several candles burning in your dorm/home
Did that catch your attention? Good.
Reminder: You don't need an "aesthetic change" or anything like that. You need to make your own aesthetic. Call it the (your name) Aesthetic.
For instance, the Zel Aesthetic is writing, drawing, lighting candles, only drinking tea or Dr. Pepper, and using the Pomodoro technique but my breaks get way too long. The Zel Aesthetic is not one color, like brown, but it's everything. It's pink and purple, red and blue, black and white, brown and gray. It's playing old Legend of Zelda games on a 3DS and watching CoryxKenshin. It's saying and even writing little words at the ends of sentences like "yeah?" "y'know?" It's laughing too hard at something too stupid. It's playing with my cats and getting too tired to look at the stars at night. It's not being able to finish every book I read and it's seeing some of my teachers as parents.
As much as I LOVE modern aesthetics, make your own, y'know?
#writing#chaotic academia#inspiration#dark academia#aesthetic#my aesthetic#english#be original#light academia#motivation#my writing
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How to Improve Your Vocabulary
Word of the Week: Assiduous: (adj.) hard-working, diligent
I believe that artists (writers, musicians, illustrators, etc) are the most self-destructive people in the world. As a writer, I'm forced to battle myself. When I use apps such as Hemingway Editor (an amazing app/website that helps you write clearer, more concise sentences (The website is linked here!)), I realize that a lot of my writing is at a "fourth-grade reading level". Fourth Grade? You're joking, right? The years I've spent writing and rewriting my book, editing, and polishing—all of that amounts to something a fourth-grader would read? Not that I'm bashing younger people and/or people with lower reading levels, but I wanted to at least make it to a middle schooler's reading level.
Read more?
How do I do that? Expanding my Vocabulary. The benefits of doing so are endless:
- I'd sound more intelligent
- My writing would be more challenging for an elementary schooler to read
- It would improve reading comprehension
- It could land me that job I've been wanting
- I could think by using more intelligent language
Okay, enough rambling about me overthinking my own writing. How does one expand their personal vocabulary?
1. Downloading a Word of the Day app
I've found that using a word-of-the-day app helps a ton. To make it even better, I use Quizlet to study every word I've learned in the month.
If you don't have enough storage or you just don't want an app, there are tons of word-of-the-day newsletters and content creators. I'm following a few on Instagram to add to my Quizlet collection.
So, what does a WotD app do? Exactly what it sounds like. It sends you a notification with the word and definition of a large word. The one I use lets you choose between three levels, based on your vocabulary already: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. (Here's the link)
2. READ AND WRITE
This one seems pretty obvious. Reading books (or Tumblr posts!) helps you to see words in context. A lot of people recommend classics since they use bigger words. Honestly, just read whatever you want. If you need some classics for beginners, though, here's a list! The Great Gatsby (208 pages), Animal Farm (130 pages), and Frankenstein (280 pages).
^ I consider those for beginners because they have fewer pages than, for instance, Emma by Jane Austen (432 pages). I might make a post on classics for beginners... hm.
Anyway, just read to your heart's content!
Writing can help you improve your vocabulary, too. After reading so many books with tremendous vocabulary, you can put them into your own writing. You should also keep a dictionary or thesaurus handy while you write.
- Write in a journal to start out! Instead of saying "My day was good." Look at your thesaurus and see some synonyms. "My day was spectacular, exceptional, superior, satisfactory, acceptable, adequate, delectable, brilliant, etc." This brings us to our next tip.
3. Keep A Dictionary/Thesaurus
Listen, I'm not saying you have to keep a massive book in your bag. All I'm saying is that these come in handy, especially when reading/writing! Plus, you can literally keep one on your phone. If I'm not mistaken, most phones come with one. And you can download one if you'd like! It can be a cutesy one or a heavy metal-themed one. It doesn't matter, as long as you use it! The point is, using one will help you speak and write better.
4. Practice using new words in conversations.
WARNING: This only helps if you become very familiar with the word!
Using new words you've learned in conversations can help you memorize them and consciously put them into your daily vocabulary. Plus, it can make you sound smart if you're not an asshole about it. And if someone asks you what it means, just calmly explain it to them (ahem, don't be an asshole)
I hope this helped. Follow me for Words of the Week (I know they're not as frequent as words of the day, but it might help, just a bit!), and feel free to request tips or to give me some! I'm always open to constructive criticism.
#Typo: A Young Writer's Life#writing tips#writer#writers#vocab#vocabulary#expand your mind#writerslife#writer community#writers of tumblr#writing#word of the week
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What You Write Does Not Impact Your Title as a Writer.
A lot of people get hated for calling themselves writers. This is a bit of a rant post because a few of my friends have been told they weren't writers. Guess what? If you write, you are a writer.
"B-but I write fanfiction!!" You protest meekly. That doesn't matter. Fanfiction is still writing. It's still consumable, even if nobody reads yours. It is still a form of writing, reading, and enjoying. A lot of people don't realize how many published authors started writing books because they started writing. Lancali, for instance, wrote an amazing book (one of my favorites) called I Fell In Love With Hope. The book is amazing and the author wrote fanfiction before she wrote that! I wrote fanfiction, and my Wattpad followers still sometimes call for me. Yet, here I am, writing an entire fantasy book (with some amazing romance, by the way.) And even if you never want to write an "original" book/novel, writing fanfiction still makes you a writer.
"I only write poetry," you respond with a monotone voice. Poetry. Is. Writing. You are a poet. Even if you think you aren't a good one because not everything rhymes or because you don't have the right amount of verses or whatever, you're still a writer. The quality of what you write increases over time.
"I don't let anyone read what I write," you reply with secrets poisoning your words. That. Doesn't. Matter. If you write, you're a writer. Even if you don't let people see what you write, you're still writing. Whether you're not ready to share your work, or if you simply never want to share it, you're still a writer.
"I only write short stories. It's not like I can become an author." You mumble. What? Excuse me? One of my favorite books is a collection of short stories. You might've heard of it, y'know, because it became a movie. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwarz is an amazing collection of scary short stories.
And before any of you say "My writing isn't good enough," I have five things to tell you.
Writing gets better with practice. Like sports, gaming, meditation, critical thinking, etc. It gets better with practice.
Writing is subjective. You may think your work is awful, but there are hundreds, maybe thousands, hell, maybe millions of people who wish they could write like you.
Authors age like fine wine. The more experienced you are with writing and with life, the more your work will be appreciated.
Not every author is appreciated in their era. H.P. Lovecraft, for example, wasn't really given a second thought. Now, most people know of his stories, even if you don't know who he was, (he was not the best "idol", per se, due to his racist views) but he made Cthulu, a figure that became increasingly common through modern media.
I'm not saying this to scare writers. I'm saying this because when you're young, you might not write the best things, or have your work appreciated on a higher level. But books age. They become more common as they do. So be patient.
You've got this. No matter what you're writing, you can do it.
#writing blog#writing#writers#writerslife#rant#writing motivation#writing inspo#writing inspiration#fanfiction#poetry#short stories#author#authors#writer#dark academia#chaotic academia#light academia
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Chaotic academia aesthetic isn't "aesthetic". That's why it is gaining popularity. It's finding a home in the messiness of your room, finding comfort in the notebook with ineligible writing and coffee stains on the covers. It's the nonchalance about messy hair and even messier workspaces that you somehow know where everything is placed. It's not an aesthetic because it's "cute" or "cool". It's an aesthetic because it is finding peace, beauty, and comfort in your unorganized humanity.
It's the most human "aesthetic". That is why it's popular.
#chaotic academia#academia aesthetic#my writing#chaos#dark academia#my aesthetic#high school#studying#studyblr#chaotic academic aesthetic#aesthetic
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Excerpt
(TW! Suicide)
"I don’t want to do this. I don’t think anyone who is suicidal truly wants death. I think they want peace. I think they don’t want to be alone. I think they want to stop surviving and live instead. I think they want to stop running and screaming at themselves.
I think everyone deserves the peace they think death can give. "
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i will romanticize the earth until it swallows me whole.
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take breaks. be kind to yourself. write letters under candlelight and dedicate them to yourself, your friends, the universe. leave reminders to be kind and to compliment everyone you see, especially that person in the mirror. just for a moment, let yourself feel your emotions. smile, laugh, cry, scream. it's okay. it'll all be okay.
#poetry#romanticism#that girl 2022#light academia#romanticizing life#dark acamedia#comfort#comfy aesthetic#its okay
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people who are dedicated. people who study smart and hard. people who wake up early to get started with the day and go to sleep a little later to get work and self care done. people who make the whole room feel inspired yet slightly intimidated with their ambition. people who work for themselves and their friends.
people who try their best because that's all they need to do.
#poetry#romanticism#my writing#that girl 2022#light academia#romanticizing life#dark acamedia#back to school#2022#academia aesthetic
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I want to make death writhe in anger because he is forced to take me. I want death to shout and wail about how I did everything I could. I want death to be uncomfortable taking me because I loved and cherished life to the best of my extent, but even then, death was forced to take me.
I often wonder if death feels bad for taking those who are not ready. Or those who wore the banner of life proudly. The people whose laughter was contagious. The people that wrote words on paper and typed words on their laptops and phones, were not worried about the word count, but the number of people the words would affect.
Perhaps death enjoyed taking those people the most because they would be in his hands. His prized possessions. Perhaps that is why the best people are taken so early.
I think that death is as beautiful as life. It is unknown and wild. It is mysterious, which only makes me want to get sucked into it with my eyes shining bright with curiosity.
However, the beautiful things in life are stopping me. Sometimes, I'm not sure what is more beautiful. But I know that I have a purpose for being alive and I must fulfill that before discovering the atrocities of death.
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