It makes everything so accessible! I mean, honestly, it is so fun to write about gadgets that would have been considered science fiction up until ten years ago, give or take. Anyway, this week's post was really fun to write. You can find it here. Whew, 45 chapters, 324 hand written pages, somewhere around 250 typed pages, and so many hours. And to think it's almost done! Oh, it's bittersweet. Anyway, I'm kind of tired, so I'll keep this really short. This week's chapter involves a new character, and an unforeseen event that will begin the rise to the end. Fun, huh?
Well, have a good night, everyone. Or, morning, or whatever it is. Read the newest chapter, comment here or on goodreads, and have a good week!
-Jordan
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
So Long, Old Friend
This is my official tribute to my old writing binder.
(Forgive the picture quality. I was too lazy to dig out my good camera, and cellphone pics can be emailed right to my computer.)
This beast was the original home for the Diary of an Agent's Sister manuscript. I hand stitched the canvas cover over a year ago, and carried it to school almost every day of senior year, right along side my other school things. Unfortunately, the rings are only 1", and the manuscript is officially over 300 pages long. Bursting at the seams was an understatement. I've known for a while that the old thing wouldn't hold out much longer, but last night, as I attempted to put in the latest pages and was denied as most of them flew back out at me, I finally admitted that it's time had come.
Insert one trip to Wal-mart, around ten p.m., about $3, and I had a new black binder with 2"rings.
It's nice, sturdy, classy, and large enough to fit any future growth. It's also the largest binder I've ever purchased, but that's beside the point. The point is that I have almost an entire ream of paper covered in what may be my greatest accomplishment to date (because, psh, who cares about good grades and college acceptance?) and is, at the very least, one of my favorite things. I brought it home, sadly transferred the pages of Diary, and admired the new piece. Then spent an hour putting reinforcing stickers onto every stinking hole between pages 217 and 296, at which point I ran out of stickers. Grr.
Well, the old binder isn't gone for good. Maybe I'll rip out the spine and put in a larger one, though I'm not certain it'll fit. Maybe I'll just make a new binder altogether. We'll see. Just thought I'd give it a proper blog-style funeral, and commemorate Diary's new home.
-Jordan
*edit*
Oh, right, if you didn't catch today's chapter, it's here--> April 13-April 15, or, how to subliminally honor your good friend and make her very happy.
(Forgive the picture quality. I was too lazy to dig out my good camera, and cellphone pics can be emailed right to my computer.)
This beast was the original home for the Diary of an Agent's Sister manuscript. I hand stitched the canvas cover over a year ago, and carried it to school almost every day of senior year, right along side my other school things. Unfortunately, the rings are only 1", and the manuscript is officially over 300 pages long. Bursting at the seams was an understatement. I've known for a while that the old thing wouldn't hold out much longer, but last night, as I attempted to put in the latest pages and was denied as most of them flew back out at me, I finally admitted that it's time had come.
Insert one trip to Wal-mart, around ten p.m., about $3, and I had a new black binder with 2"rings.
It's nice, sturdy, classy, and large enough to fit any future growth. It's also the largest binder I've ever purchased, but that's beside the point. The point is that I have almost an entire ream of paper covered in what may be my greatest accomplishment to date (because, psh, who cares about good grades and college acceptance?) and is, at the very least, one of my favorite things. I brought it home, sadly transferred the pages of Diary, and admired the new piece. Then spent an hour putting reinforcing stickers onto every stinking hole between pages 217 and 296, at which point I ran out of stickers. Grr.
Well, the old binder isn't gone for good. Maybe I'll rip out the spine and put in a larger one, though I'm not certain it'll fit. Maybe I'll just make a new binder altogether. We'll see. Just thought I'd give it a proper blog-style funeral, and commemorate Diary's new home.
-Jordan
*edit*
Oh, right, if you didn't catch today's chapter, it's here--> April 13-April 15, or, how to subliminally honor your good friend and make her very happy.
Monday, February 21, 2011
:)
Ah, the beautiful peace I can feel for five minutes after a new chapter is posted. But wait...yep, I can already feel the tension of all the pending reactions building. I'll check for comments once before I leave for work in the morning, but then I'm gone until later that night. It may be one of the most nerve wracking days of my existence.
I keep having to go back and retype everything. I guess even my fingers are tired tonight. It seems like every time I try to type 'the', it comes out 'teh'. (I suppose it may just be that I'm spending too much time on icanhascheezburger and memebase).
Anyway, I'm tired, so I'm calling it quits early tonight. Plus, my shift starts in eight hours.
Here's a cute little song to get your day going: Sunshine There's no official music video for the song, but I like the video these girls put together for it.
Have a great week everyone!
I keep having to go back and retype everything. I guess even my fingers are tired tonight. It seems like every time I try to type 'the', it comes out 'teh'. (I suppose it may just be that I'm spending too much time on icanhascheezburger and memebase).
Anyway, I'm tired, so I'm calling it quits early tonight. Plus, my shift starts in eight hours.
Here's a cute little song to get your day going: Sunshine There's no official music video for the song, but I like the video these girls put together for it.
Have a great week everyone!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Indecision
This blog post is hereby named after my favorite cupcake at Truly Madly Sweetly bake shop.
Ah, the blog layout has changed again. And will likely change yet again. I was kind of tired with the old background. I loved it, and it captured quite a bit of the right essence, but it wasn't perfect, and it was really busy. So, the gray crackle you see before you is a place holder until I find a background I like better. You'll probably also notice my love of splashing random bits of hideous orange everywhere. I just recently realized how much I like orange, that's all. I'm sure I'll get over it soon.
Speaking of backgrounds, and my inability to find one I like, if you just so happen to stumble upon an amazing blog background, which incites you to exclaim, "Oh my! This just ever so perfectly makes me think of Jordan Bell's Diary of an Agent's Sister, it'd be simply marvelous for her blog", then please, by all means, point me in the right direction. Because oddly, I haven't been able to find backgrounds focused on knives, bulletproof armor, and cellos yet. Not saying that is what I expect to find, I just want something more. Something that says, "This Blog Is Here To Convince You To Read Sascha Dell's Diary". So it could be Diary related. It could be spy related. It can only be school related if it screams JoCad. It needs to be something both Sascha and Alex can view without getting embarrased.
See my point?
Oh well. Hope you're all having a great day. This upcoming Diary post will contain Sascha's birthday. Should be fun!
Ah, the blog layout has changed again. And will likely change yet again. I was kind of tired with the old background. I loved it, and it captured quite a bit of the right essence, but it wasn't perfect, and it was really busy. So, the gray crackle you see before you is a place holder until I find a background I like better. You'll probably also notice my love of splashing random bits of hideous orange everywhere. I just recently realized how much I like orange, that's all. I'm sure I'll get over it soon.
Speaking of backgrounds, and my inability to find one I like, if you just so happen to stumble upon an amazing blog background, which incites you to exclaim, "Oh my! This just ever so perfectly makes me think of Jordan Bell's Diary of an Agent's Sister, it'd be simply marvelous for her blog", then please, by all means, point me in the right direction. Because oddly, I haven't been able to find backgrounds focused on knives, bulletproof armor, and cellos yet. Not saying that is what I expect to find, I just want something more. Something that says, "This Blog Is Here To Convince You To Read Sascha Dell's Diary". So it could be Diary related. It could be spy related. It can only be school related if it screams JoCad. It needs to be something both Sascha and Alex can view without getting embarrased.
"Haha Alex, what's that girly blog you're on? Learning how to make the perfect cupcakes?"
"Shut up Evan, we all know the pink in Abby's apron brings out your eyes better."
See my point?
Oh well. Hope you're all having a great day. This upcoming Diary post will contain Sascha's birthday. Should be fun!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Clementines Day!
Title courtesy of today's DOGHOUSE DIARIES comic
Well, Happy Monday too. Because it is Monday, there is a new Diary of an Agent's Sister post: March 27 - April 7, or "The Thief, The Argument, and The Shrink".
There are two other super cool things about today as well.
First, my amazing friend Victoria also has a story in the works, called The Tales of Rathya. Hers is a bit more on the fantasy side of the genre spectrum, and I personally love it! Anyway, Victoria posted a new chapter of her story today too, so if you're caught up, read it here. This is an exciting day for me, because Victoria is a hard working student, so chapters are far between. If my praise isn't enough to convince you to go read it, then read it because I also guilt-trip when the need arises. Victoria is my second in command when it comes to writing Diary. If it wasn't for her, I never would have written as much as I have, and I most certainly would not have put it on the internet to expose it to the world's ridicule. So not only is she my guiding force, she's also Diary's "godmother". She knows the characters and story so well that she's able to pull me out of blocks and psychobabbles, and makes sure that my characters don't do anything...well...out of character. If I were to die, or be kidnapped by terrorists, Victoria is the only one I'd trust to finish my tale. Therefore, anyone reading this needs to go show some love to the godmother of my "children", and read The Tales of Rathya.
Second amazing thing of the day: Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series', is releasing the first chapter of her next book, City of Fallen Angels. The thing is, she's doing it in bits and pieces, and over the span of a week. If you want to read the first post, it has been posted on Mundie Moms. Get your butt over there to read the first preview, and to get the links to the rest of the week's locations.
I hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day. If you're anything like me, you'll be spending it with your mother, your sister, and as many Dessen Boys as you can get your hands on. Ugh.
I'm realizing how interactive my blog is these days. This entry is relatively short, yet contains nine links elsewhere: 3 to cool things to read, 2 to other blogs, 1 to a book page, 1 to an author's page, 1 to my favorite webcomic, and 1 to a music video. I must really love you guys, since I give you so much to do. Because I'm sure you're all just as bored during the day as I am. *cough cough* Oh well. See y'all next week!
-Jordan
Well, Happy Monday too. Because it is Monday, there is a new Diary of an Agent's Sister post: March 27 - April 7, or "The Thief, The Argument, and The Shrink".
There are two other super cool things about today as well.
First, my amazing friend Victoria also has a story in the works, called The Tales of Rathya. Hers is a bit more on the fantasy side of the genre spectrum, and I personally love it! Anyway, Victoria posted a new chapter of her story today too, so if you're caught up, read it here. This is an exciting day for me, because Victoria is a hard working student, so chapters are far between. If my praise isn't enough to convince you to go read it, then read it because I also guilt-trip when the need arises. Victoria is my second in command when it comes to writing Diary. If it wasn't for her, I never would have written as much as I have, and I most certainly would not have put it on the internet to expose it to the world's ridicule. So not only is she my guiding force, she's also Diary's "godmother". She knows the characters and story so well that she's able to pull me out of blocks and psychobabbles, and makes sure that my characters don't do anything...well...out of character. If I were to die, or be kidnapped by terrorists, Victoria is the only one I'd trust to finish my tale. Therefore, anyone reading this needs to go show some love to the godmother of my "children", and read The Tales of Rathya.
Second amazing thing of the day: Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series', is releasing the first chapter of her next book, City of Fallen Angels. The thing is, she's doing it in bits and pieces, and over the span of a week. If you want to read the first post, it has been posted on Mundie Moms. Get your butt over there to read the first preview, and to get the links to the rest of the week's locations.
I hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day. If you're anything like me, you'll be spending it with your mother, your sister, and as many Dessen Boys as you can get your hands on. Ugh.
I'm realizing how interactive my blog is these days. This entry is relatively short, yet contains nine links elsewhere: 3 to cool things to read, 2 to other blogs, 1 to a book page, 1 to an author's page, 1 to my favorite webcomic, and 1 to a music video. I must really love you guys, since I give you so much to do. Because I'm sure you're all just as bored during the day as I am. *cough cough* Oh well. See y'all next week!
-Jordan
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sigh
Reading: Hunger by Michael Grant
Listening To: Airplanes/Brick by Boring Brick
Latest Chapter Post: March 25 Or, "In which Sascha takes on Christa, part I"
Alright, this week's post is up, but it was a race to get it typed by midnight. This is one of the ones I was worried about, but so far everyone's reviews have been fantastic. Monday's lately have been finding me as a very happy Jordan, that's for sure, because I love reading things like "OMG! THIS WAS AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!!!", "That was like one of those epic confrontations I go back to reread in books just because of how cool they are", and even just the simple, "LOVED it!". Readers, these all make me SO happy! After I post chapters, I nervously and OCD-ly check goodreads every half-hour or so, just to see if anyone else has read and liked it, and what they have to say. Then, once someone has written a review, I grin madly like a schoolgirl who's crush just said hello. It's quite pathetic, really. I shouldn't be so dependent on others for my happiness...oh well. It's a good happiness.
For anyone who's curious, lately I've been posting a couple teaser lines every week at the bottom of the Diary page. I don't have a regular date for these postings, but you can be sure to find (usually) something by Saturday night. If not, you'll just have to wait until Sunday night/Monday morning for the next chapter. Just thought I'd put that out there.
Have a good week everyone!
-Jordan
Listening To: Airplanes/Brick by Boring Brick
Latest Chapter Post: March 25 Or, "In which Sascha takes on Christa, part I"
Alright, this week's post is up, but it was a race to get it typed by midnight. This is one of the ones I was worried about, but so far everyone's reviews have been fantastic. Monday's lately have been finding me as a very happy Jordan, that's for sure, because I love reading things like "OMG! THIS WAS AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!!!", "That was like one of those epic confrontations I go back to reread in books just because of how cool they are", and even just the simple, "LOVED it!". Readers, these all make me SO happy! After I post chapters, I nervously and OCD-ly check goodreads every half-hour or so, just to see if anyone else has read and liked it, and what they have to say. Then, once someone has written a review, I grin madly like a schoolgirl who's crush just said hello. It's quite pathetic, really. I shouldn't be so dependent on others for my happiness...oh well. It's a good happiness.
For anyone who's curious, lately I've been posting a couple teaser lines every week at the bottom of the Diary page. I don't have a regular date for these postings, but you can be sure to find (usually) something by Saturday night. If not, you'll just have to wait until Sunday night/Monday morning for the next chapter. Just thought I'd put that out there.
Have a good week everyone!
-Jordan
Thursday, February 3, 2011
A Plea From A Struggling Author Wanna-Be
So...I have this problem. I seem to be getting better at writing the inbetween parts of stories--you know, like plot development, cutsie relationship scenes, and dialogue, but I feel like I flop when it comes to the things that are supposed to be awesome, like a first kiss, a physical confrontation, even a good argument. So now here's my issue: I'm trying to write a fight scene (you know: fist fight, maybe some knives, etc) and I feel like I'm not doing it justice at all, but I'm not sure how to improve it.
Here's my plea: for those of you who have read Diary and are familiar with it, give me a hand? Are my fight scenes a little drab? Slow? Boring? Colorless? Are they too detailed? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM?!?! erm...sorry. Think back to sparring matches between Sascha and Alex, and back to Sascha's fight with Trenchcoat. What do they lack?
Your input is so appreciated, it's ridiculous. Please leave a comment below!
-Jordan
*Edit* Because some of you took time to help me out, some (coughcoughValeriecough) even going so far as rereading parts of Diary, I'm putting up another teaser at the bottom of the "Diary" page on this blog. Thanks again!
Here's my plea: for those of you who have read Diary and are familiar with it, give me a hand? Are my fight scenes a little drab? Slow? Boring? Colorless? Are they too detailed? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM?!?! erm...sorry. Think back to sparring matches between Sascha and Alex, and back to Sascha's fight with Trenchcoat. What do they lack?
Your input is so appreciated, it's ridiculous. Please leave a comment below!
-Jordan
*Edit* Because some of you took time to help me out, some (coughcoughValeriecough) even going so far as rereading parts of Diary, I'm putting up another teaser at the bottom of the "Diary" page on this blog. Thanks again!
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