Michelle Zink's Blog, page 56

Radiohead, Facebook "Friends", and Fragility

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This week's Anonymous Teen Reader is Thoughts of a Basket Case. I have to chuckle a little when I read that code name (chosen by her) because there are times when I can DEFINITELY relate!

But before I continue to the interview, I want to let you all know that the new Song of the Week feature will debut on tomorrow's blog. I've chosen one of the songs nominated by you and am super excited to share it.

In addition, I'll be doing another signed bookplate giveaway for the holidays which I'll announce on Wednesday. Bookplates enable you to give as a gift a signed copy of either Prophecy of the Sisters or Guardian of the Gate. I'm happy to personalize them for your giftee. They make great gifts so check back on Wednesday for details. I gotchoo covered!

And now, without further ado, I give you this week's Anonymous Teen Reader!

Interview Code Name (you choose!);

Thoughts of a Basket Case

Current country of residence;

United States of America

Male or female?

Female

Age; 16

ABOUT THE BOOKS

How many books, on average, do you read a month?

Depending on my work load, I guess about 4 or 5, sometimes more.

Favorite kind of book and why;

I like a lot of different genres. I like classic books that aren't exactly modern. But then again I love any good fantasy.

Name the single most important factor in your decision to purchase a book;

I know you're not suppose to "judge a book by it's cover" but, I think the cover of a book has as much importance as the actually writing itself.

What makes you feel like you're reading or have read a truly amazing book?

When I get that feeling in my stomach where I'm anxious to know what happens next. When I feel like I'm apart of the story and I just can't put the book down.

How important is a friend's recommendation in your decision to purchase a book?

I usually look up a book that a friend has recommended but everyone has different opinions. A lot of my friends have different taste than I do. If I think it sounds or looks interesting, I'll give it a try.

Thing you'd like to see more or less of in the YA genre;

I think today a lot of the books have kind of centered around cliches. I want to see more reality rather than some romantic view on how teenage life is.

What's your biggest pet peeve in a book?

I hate it when there is dialogue in a book that doesn't even sound right when you say it out loud. (Ha! This is one of my biggest pet peeves, too!)

Paperback or hardcover?

Paperback. Definitely paperback.

Series or stand-alone?

Depends. I've read some amazing series. However, I love when there is just a book that in itself is beautiful. When you want to know more, but if you did it might only make the book seem less special. (that is a very intuitive answer, hon. I know just what you mean.)

ALL ABOUT YOU

What music do you most often listen to?

I listen to just about every genre. I think music is a form of art. While there are different styles, in each one you can find something amazing.

Name your favorite band;

I think I have way too many favorites to name. It pretty much changes day to day. Because I listen to my music based on how I'm feeling that day. Right now, it would be Radiohead. (LOVE Radiohead!)

Best movie of all time?

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind

Without naming names, tell us a little about your group of friends;

I have amazing friends. I don't have many and sometimes I can go days without talking to some of them. Most of my friends I don't even talk to outside of school. I go home, and I'm alone again. But when I am with them, I feel alive. My friends are each so different from each other. Different personalities, talents, interests, races. I think that's why I hang out with them. I don't believe in just being friends with a certain group. And then there are the people I wish were my friends but I'm to chicken to make the first step.

What's your biggest concern about the world right now and/or the people in it?

My biggest concern is ignorance. I don't see how people could have so much hate against any group of people.

Someone gives you a million dollars, no strings attached. What do you do with it?

I'd probably buy a life supply of coffee and then give the rest to my mom.

You can live for one year in any place in the world. Where do you go and why?

I'd go to Europe. I've always wanted to see the world and travel. I don't know why but I've always wondered what it'd be like to have tea time. (come to my house around 4pm. We have tea every day!)



Have you ever "Hidden" someone on your Facebook feed? If so, why?

I do it all the time. I currently have 318 "friends" on Facebook. In reality, I'd probably only call maybe 20 of them a friend. Just because I've known you at one point of my life doesn't make you my friend. Because if I died tomorrow, none of them would be at my funeral.

Do you get along with your family? Either way,tell us why.

I get along with my family fairly well. I live with my mom and little brother. My mom and I aren't exactly close. We don't have the relationship where I tell her everything about my day and how I'm feeling. It's mainly we say hello and then move on. But despite all that, I love my mom and I couldn't imagine life without her.

What is one thing most people don't know about you?

I think most people don't know how fragile I am. I try to seem strong and independent. But a lot of the time it takes everything I have just not to fall apart.

Name your biggest secret fear.

My biggest secret fear, is that love doesn't exist. I'm young and I know that I have the rest of my life to find love. But when I look at every relationship I've ever known it's all ended badly, whether with a divorce or just a bad breakup. I don't want to die alone.

Name something you like about yourself.

I like that I'm accepting. So many people are so quick to judge others. I like that I don't let anyone's appearance, personal preferences, or beliefs get in the way about how I feel about them.

What one thing would you like to know about other teens?

I want to know if I'm the only one who feels the way I do.

This is my girl. And she's nobody's bitch.

[image error]I'm preempting my usual Saturday video or song selection because there's something that's been really bugging me lately.

It involves the now-generic use of the word "bitch". I'm sure you've all seen it (and maybe even done it). Girls referring to other girls as "my bitches" and guys laughing it up over comments like "my bitch made me sandwhich and…" on a stupid website called My Life Is Bro (and no, I did not provide a link, because it's a place for ignorant, asinine guys to make themselves feel like the shit when they are, in fact, anything BUT the shit by simple virtue of the fact that they think these cliched, trite sayings are funny).

News Flash; this doesn't make you look cool. It does not attract quality people to you. Because any self-respecting girl I know does NOT stand for being called a bitch.

And every boy, guy, and man that I respect and love would never even consider referring to women as "bitches". That includes the ones in high school, of which, thankfully, there are still a few.

See this girl? That's one of my daughters (and the other one is just as incredible but too young to have her picture posted her). She's one-of-a-kind. She's intelligent and insightful. She complex and funny. Sometimes, she feels insecure, as we all do. Sometimes she is filled with darkness and always, beauty, inside and out. She knits gifts for the people she loves, blankets for under-privileged babies, and hats for the homeless. She draws amazing pictures and writes beautiful, heartbreaking poetry. She loves fashion, especially dresses and skirts and wears them – and loads of heels – even in a high school environment where it's considered odd and everyone else wears a standard uniform of jeans and t-shirts (she wears those, too, just not as often).  She bakes cookies for friends who are having a bad day and hauls made-from-scratch birthday cupcakes in if someone she loves is having a birthday. She wonders how to draw the right kind of people to her in a world where people are increasingly judged by the clothes they wear and the 140 character soundbites they leave on Twitter and Facebook. Like all women, she is 100% unique.

In short, she is not a bitch. Not your bitch. Not anybody's bitch.

I know what some of you are thinking.

"It's just for fun!"

"It's a figure of speech. Lighten up!"

"This is a new generation. It's just how we talk to each other."

And to all of that, I say, "Bullshit."

I've worked hard to raise girls who won't stand for being called a bitch by anyone. The world is swiftly degenerating to a place where it's okay to say anything, share anything, call each other by any name and then laugh and say it's funny. And most of the time, no one says anything. No one calls anyone out even though there's a small part of us that thinks, "ouch" because we're afraid to be called "sensitive".

Well, you know what? I AM sensitive to being called bitch (unless I'm really being one). I Am sensitive to my girls and all the girls I love and even the girls I don't know being called "bitch." It homogenizes women as objects that can all be painted with one brush. One that says, "You are only here for my enjoyment. You are here to do what I say and be what I want you to be. You are nothing more than a person with a vagina and breasts and there are millions of breathing bodies in the world just like you."

And let's face it, if we were to start calling all guys "assholes", they would protest. They would say, "We're not ALL assholes." To which we would laugh and say, "Ohhhh, THAT! That's just a figure of speech. It doesn't MEAN anything. I call every guy an asshole."

Right.

So boys, men, and everything in-between, I would ask you to have some respect. To think about the human beings behind the label of "bitches". To ask yourself if you would like guys lumping your little sister, your mother, your best friend into the category of "bitches".

And don't be flip. Don't say you wouldn't care because you can take a joke.

Take a minute to really imagine a bunch of guys in a locker room, saying something about "This bitch" – referring to your little sister.

If you still think it's no big deal, okay. We can agree to disagree. In that case, I'm not really interested in knowing you anyway and I can PROMISE you that my daughter and any girl like her isn't, either.

And girls, don't stand for it. If a guy proudly posts a ridiculous My Life is Bro quote referring to you as "bitches", cross him off your list.

If he posts a Facebook update of the same ilk, cross him off your list.

If he jokes with his friends about "bitches", cross him off your list.

Because a guy who think we're all "bitches" shouldn't be getting any love from us "bitches", you feel me?

Save it for the guys who deserve it. And you.

Friday Poll – Harry Potter versus Twilight

[image error]Since I'm still recovering from the madness that was the midnight showing of Harry Potter last night with 22 people (yes. 22.), I figured a related poll was in order.

We've attended all the Harry Potter and Twilight midnight showings (plus The Dark Knight and anything else compelling) with this big group and always have a great time. The crowd is a lot more boisterous and the party atmosphere makes it more of an event than just a movie. I'll admit that there's a lot more riffing in the Twilight showings whereas the kids seem to take Harry more seriously, but it's ALL good fun.

Having said that, I'm curious!

Which is your favorite movie franchise of the two? And to keep the playing field fair (because the medium is so different), what about the books?

Weigh in with the Friday Poll – BOTH of them!

View Poll
View Poll

Music Makes the People Come Together… Yeah.

[image error]Man… I am DYING here, you guys. Seriously. I'm putting in some crazy time at the keyboard on this new book. The good news is that I'm loving it and I think you will, too.

The bad news is that I have NO TIME for anything else right now. None!

One of the things I miss most is the time to cruise around the internet looking for new music. I LOVE new music. Lately, though, I'm just listening to my old favorties over and over. I'm dying for some new stuff.

And I've decided that in my quest for new music YOU are my greatest asset.

So I'm starting a new feature called Song of the Week. Send one of your favorite song nominations to prophecypress@aol.com, and once a week, I'll pick one or two to feature, giving YOU full credit of course. Just be sure to leave in your email the name you want used publicly so I don't out you online against your wishes. You can nominate as many songs as you like as often as you you like.

And as a little PSA I have to say, please don't smoke! It's so, so bad for you. I love you guys and want you to be healthy.

But tell me this isn't a badass picture of Kurt.

Sometime Around Midnight

Here's a song for you guys for no other reason than that Rebekah and I have rediscovered it.

And it's awesome.

Friday Poll – Do You Scream for Ice Cream?

[image error]So, anyone who knows us knows that we are super into ice cream.

Especially Rebekah. (Sorry. I had to!)

;)

We actually had to put a limit on ourselves and now only allow it twice a week because, well, for awhile there it was just out of hand. Lololol!

Now it's part of the Saturday-night-at-home ritual. This doesn't mean it's just us. We usually have at least one or two additional people and many more for Movie and Ice Cream Night on Saturdays. But no matter what, if we're home, it's ice cream, bay-beeeee! Our favorite is this incredible concoction called Mint Cookie Crumble. It's like mint chip, but instead of chips, it has chocolate cookies crushed into it.

Can you say, "heaven?"

But right now the ice cream of choice is Pink Peppermint with Special Dark Syrup. It's only available around the holidays and suffice it to say, we're as excited by its appearance as most people are for egg nog. Egg nog? What egg nog? GO FOR THE PINK PEPPERMINT ICE CREAM!

Anyway, for this week's Friday Poll, I want to know, what's YOUR favorite?

View Poll

Thursday Night Write – Open Mic

[image error]Time for another edition of Thursday Night Write. And as promised, I'm keeping it all Open Mic for you NaNo-ers out there.

Speaking of NaNo; how are you guys doing? Eyes crossed yet? Fingers hurt?

I've got my own NaNo going here and have been struggling a bit to get back in the groove. I'll still hit my 10,000 words this week, but they were not words that came easy.

:(

And this, by the way, partially explains my absence in commenting the TNW posts form the last few weeks. Between both tours, my own writing, promotional stuff, and my family, the truth is, I've just been tapped out. I've been trying to take care of myself lately, which is a novel concept. I've stopped looking at exercise as a chore and am trying to remind myself that it's time for myself that I DESERVE.

This is harder than it sounds. But I'm back on the yoga, trying to take walks, meditate daily (seriously need to find a meditation class in the area), get enough sleep, a little time to read, etc.

Anyway, don't forget that there's a NaNo thread in the Forums for anyone who wants to cry, scream, or do a virtual victory dance.

In the meantime, same rules; Post your short story, poem, song, or novel excerpt of 300 words or less for comment and don't forget to comment at least one other post. Writers of all ages and experience are welcome to post.

Happy writing, guys!

3OH!3, Grownups, and a Silly laugh

[image error]This week's Anonymous Teen Reader is Sammy! Sorry it's up a day late. I've finally gotten back into the writing groove, and it actually slipped my mind that yesterday was Monday.

I know those of you who are doing NaNo know what I mean!

And speaking of NaNo, wanted to remind you guys that there is a NaNoWriMo thread up on Forums. Feel free to post your triumphs and challenges as you make your way through the month. I'm not technically participating, but I think anything that motivates you to get words down every day is a good thing. Sometimes, it helps to prove to yourself that you CAN get the words down if only you make them a priority. I hope this is true for all of you.

I'm proving it all over again to myself. After a long writing break, I'm in the thick of my new book. It's amazing to realize all over again how much you love a project and to be so fully immersed in that world.

Writing is such a blessing.

Anyway, following is Sammy's interview! I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did. I'm almost to the point where I need some new interview subjects, so if you're under 20 and would like to participate, drop me a line through the Contacts form on this site, through Facebook email, or at prophecypress@aol.com. I'll send you the interview questions and assign you a date!

JUST THE FACTS

Interview Code Name (you choose!); Sammy

Current country of residence; Canada !

Male or female? Female

Age; 13.. Almost 14 ! :D

ABOUT THE BOOKS

How many books, on average, do you read a month? 3-4

Favorite kind of book and why; I like books that are about, life I guess. The kind of stuff when you read about a character, and their life is all wonderful, but then something weird happens, and it changes things up..

Name the single most important factor in your decision to purchase a book; There has to be death in there, somewhere. I just find books that make me cry so amazing because I never really knew a book could do that.

What makes you feel like you're reading or have read a truly amazing book? When I feel like I'm apart of something. And like, my imagination goes kinda crazy. Or when a book makes me cry, or laugh. Yeah, those are the best.

How important is a friend's recommendation in your decision to purchase a book? Well, it's up to what friend. Some of my friends read girly books (Which I find rather boring) And some read War books.. So, it's not that important.

Thing you'd like to see more or less of in the YA genre; Well, I read everything. Just nothing to do with Vampires.. If I read one of their books, I wouldn't be able to follow the story that well..

What's your biggest pet peeve in a book? When the author keeps going on and on about something. Or when the chapters kinda jump from one place to another… Those are hard to follow. I hate reading books that lose me.

Paperback or hardcover? Hardcover. : )

Series or stand-alone? I like both.. I usually read stand-alones, but I also really like Series..

ALL ABOUT YOU

What music do you most often listen to? I listen to a bunch of stuff.. It's up to the mood I'm in. If I'm sad, I'll listen to slow music, if I'm happy I'll listen to happy, up beat music.

Name your favorite band; 3OH!3 :D ? I love them (me, TOO, hon!)

Best movie of all time? Umm.. Grownups. That moviie is just, super funny !

Without naming names, tell us a little about your group of friends; My friends are really crazy. We are the type of group that will skip down the hall singing at the top of our lungs. All my friends are beautiful, in a bunch of diffrent ways. We aren't the group to judge, because we are already so diffrent ! But the best part about my friends, is that not only do I have girlfriends, but I also have dude buddies ! (Guy-friends) I think it's important to be friends with both, because when you need to talk about girl stuff, you got your girls, but when you want to get a boys opinion on something, that's when your boys come in! (LOVE dude buddies!)

What's your biggest concern about the world right now and/or the people in it? Cancer. Lot's of people in my family have had cancer (happily all survivors) but it's a really scary thing. I just really want cancer to be done, and finished. I just hate the thought that people with cancer in this world had to be scared, because they never know if they will live another day. All I can say is that those fighters are really strong. (two words; Gerson Therapy)

Someone gives you a million dollars, no strings attached. What do you do with it? Well. I'd put some away for school (I want to be an English teacher and/or an Author) I'd give some to Cancer research, and give some to my mom, dad, and Aunt.

You can live for one year in any place in the world. Where do you go and why? I'd want to live in New Zealand. My best friend's mom is from there, and she says it is beautiful there. (Also because it is so far away from Canada, and I could just go somewhere new)

Have you ever "Hidden" someone on your Facebook feed? If so, why? Haha, yeeah. I hid one of my friends, because he says things on here I don't need to read. Lol

Do you get along with your family? Either way, tell us why. I get along with my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc. But as for my brother, well, that's different. I guess when you see that person everyday, at home, school, and stuff, they start to push your buttons a bit. Lol

What is one thing most people don't know about you? I write poems ! Haha, and I also play the flute. I'm pretty good at both things.

Name your biggest secret fear. DOGS ! When I was 4, I was running to the mail box, and this police dog, like, jumped on me.. It was in a playful matter, but I was so small, he knocked me right over ! So, ever since then, big dogs scare me.. A lot !

Name something you like about yourself. I like my laugh.. It's a silly laugh. It sounds like "Hehehehehehe" (I'm dying to hear it!!)

What one thing would you like to know about other teens? I would love to know what kind of stuff they are into ! I just think it's so cool that everyone is different. Kinda like snowflakes I guess. No one is the same. Everyone is special and beautiful ! :D

Hereafter

So I saw the movie Hereafter with Kenneth a couple of weeks ago and can't recommend it highly enough. It was heartbreaking (I creid through a lot of it) but also moving and hopeful. Clint Eastwood has become one of the finest filmmakers of our time, and I continue to be impressed with Matt Damon's talent as an actor. The movie also features several incredible performances from other actors, including Ron Howard's daughter, Dallas.

I hope you guys get the chance to see it.

Friday Poll; To Flirt or Not to Flirt, That is the Question

[image error]A few weeks ago, I had a big response to a Friday Poll in which I asked how you liked a guy to show interest. This was followed by a poll a couple of weeks ago about dating outside your social circle.

I can see from my Site Stats that you guys like these polls!

:D

With that in mind, I decided to turn the tables this time and ask for YOUR flirting strategy (or lack of strategy). How do you play it when you're interested in a guy? Let him come to you? Play it cool by sending out subtle signals?

Or are you a straight shooter who puts it all on the line and lets the chips fall where they may?

Whatever your strategy, do tell! And do it by weighing in with the Friday Poll!!

View Poll