Write On The Edge

My current job has me working with children, which is kind of a weird shock after years in environments where a “young” patient is 40 years old.  Here’s my impressions so far:

Birth - 1 year: Essentially a small cute animal.  Handle accordingly; gently and affectionately, but relying heavily on the caregivers and with no real expectation of cooperation.

Age 1 - 2: Hates you.  Hates you so much.  You can smile, you can coo, you can attempt to soothe; they hate you anyway, because you’re a stranger and you’re scary and you’re touching them.  There’s no winning this so just get it over with as quickly and non-traumatically as possible.

Age 3 - 5: Nervous around medical things, but possible to soothe.  Easily upset, but also easily distracted from the thing that upset them.  Smartphone cartoons and “who wants a sticker?!!?!?” are key management techniques.

Age 6 - 10: Really cool, actually.  I did not realize kids were this cool.  Around this age they tend to be fairly outgoing, and super curious and eager to learn.  Absolutely do not babytalk; instead, flatter them with how grown-up they are, teach them some Fun Gross Medical Facts, and introduce potentially frightening experiences with “hey, you want to see something really cool?”

Age 11 - 14: Extremely variable.  Can be very childish or very mature, or rapidly switch from one mode to the other.  At this point you can almost treat them as an adult, just… a really sensitive and unpredictable adult.  Do not, under any circumstances, offer stickers.  (But they might grab one out of the bin anyway.)

My outlining notes probably look alarming to an outsider:

hello!! i’m lucia and although i’m not new to the studyblr community, this is my attempt at reorganizing myself and try to hold myself more accountable so that i can be more productive in my studies.

my dream school is harvard lmao, i’ve had a sweatshirt since i was 12 and i refuse to part w it or my dreams to go

i’m a ravenclaw, though maybe a combination of that and slytherin?

i’m an intp and a libra

i’m currently a junior in high school!

why did i make a studyblr?

because i am a MESS

i literally walked into school one day not prepared for a chem quiz and 45 minutes before class i asked my friend to explain the stuff to me and i got a perfect score and she got a 25 

i’m trying Not to do that in the future 

i’m really bad in terms of actually doing my work and i’ve been struggling with some mental health issues so i hope this blog will help me to begin working on some of my issues

my classes are (as of now) 

ap english lang 

ap us history 

ap russian 

ap econ 

ap biology 

pre calc 

journalism 

i also do a lot of extracurriculars! these are very near and dear to my heart

mun!!

debate

nhs & slavic lang honor society 

c r e w 

sca

i do a lot of things but at any given point in the day you can probably find me doing any of these things

learning languages for a day and never picking them back up again 

or pretending like i am learning them but really i’m just waiting to study them in college 

reading books and only finishing half of them 

learning about religion 

learning about quantum physics

watching something on netflix

sleeping at odd hours 

i plan on sharing quite a few things but these are the main ones:

general study tips! 

my notes when they are not illegible

my bujo or planner

content specifically directed towards helping me in my studies (ie, ap bio study guides)

finally, some studyblrs that have inspired me are: 

@elkstudies @studyign @areistotle @eintsein @emmastudies @studyquill @rivkahstudies @stillstudies @pinetreestudies @tbhstudying @sleep-or-study @vocative @sprouht-studies @athenastudying @studyblr

Chapter titles

Writing about something you’ve never experienced can be a challenge, but it can be done! To make this task easier, I’ve compiled a list of tips I have found helpful in my own writing.

1. Research, research, research

I know, I know.  You’re probably sick of researching by now, but it’s the only way to make sure any details you add about something you don’t have first-hand experience with are accurate.

Get the facts, then double-check those facts.  It’ll help in the long-run.

2. Read works similar to yours

This goes without saying. Every writer will tell you that you must read in order to develop your skills. This can also help you research without having to comb through hundreds of Wikipedia articles (we’ve all been there).

Obviously, don’t trust everything, and don’t copy or plagiarize any of their work, but use what you read as reference materials. This goes for television as well. Now you can say you’re working when you’re binge-watching Netflix!

3. Don’t be insensitive

If you’re writing about an emotionally-charged situation that you haven’t experienced firsthand, you must ensure that you don’t block out those emotions. Writing something that doesn’t acknowledge all sides to a situation and the accompanying emotions is a sure-fire way to offend someone and create and overall unrealistic story.

Don’t just research facts. You have to research emotions as well.

4. Observe!

Anyone who’s been following me for a while can tell you that I’m a big fan of using real people to improve my reading. It’s a little difficult to explain, so I’ll use an example.

A large portion of important dialogue in my novel takes place between two middle-aged men in a bar. The problem? I’m a female teenager who obviously doesn’t frequent bars. The solution? I observed how people spoke to each other at bars in restaurants I went to, and incorporated that into my dialogue.

Though you might not personally experience what you’re writing about, you’re bound to find someone who does or has. Use your observations to your advantage!

5. Don’t get discouraged

I’ll tell you right now, you might take some heat for writing about something you don’t have personal experience with. You’re going to be told that you don’t know what you’re writing about. Someone will probably tell you that you shouldn’t write about things you don’t know about. If you’re young, you’re going to be told you’re not mature enough.

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THIS!

“Don’t make that face. It’s fine. I’m fine.”

“You almost died! When they brought you back you were pale as a ghost and there was blood everywhere! I thought I had lost you!”

(spoilers)

I started watching GoT recently in order to catch up before the last season comes out, and it’s made me think about all kinds of writerly things, especially in regards to plot:

The traveler in the tunnel groped his way forward with a hand against the wall, a chill creeping up his spine. The guardian, watching its brave trespasser stumble, lit a candle for the man to find: on the other side he’d be outside the spirit’s care, but now at least there would be a light to guide his way.

The man alone in empty rows of cubicles allowed himself to be taken advantage of by his employers. The resident spirit kept watch on its melancholy charge, encouraging him to leave by spreading a vague feeling of unease: endless mechanized work was not meant for mortals, whose lives pass by so quickly if they let themselves be stripped of joy.

The guardians kept a close eye on the young woman. She was blithely unaware of the unscrupulous fraternity boys who never overstayed their welcome in her apartment after a wild party: who, instead, always stumbled home to pass out on their own couches, and fell asleep to the vision of many eyes judging their guilty thoughts.

The boy liked to be alone. When his father was home it was never good, but once his family moved into their new place something crept through the darkness that was stronger than his father’s temper. It wasn’t long before his father stopped raising his voice and his fists, frightened by horrible dreams that left him drenched in sweat whenever he so much as thought about hurting his son. The boy slept soundly: he always felt safe for as long as he lived in that house.

The radio broadcaster had recently lost his husband. When he was at work the good memories felt close by, and some of the horror of those last days beside a hospital bed faded away. Sometimes, when the weight grew unbearable, he almost thought he felt a hand on his shoulder, a soft voice telling him he was never truly alone. His love was there. He would always be there, as long as he was needed.

414 | Honestly, we stan a good post-it note