Final Reflection Post

1. I've wrote too many pieces to post but from the top of my head I can say I wrote, Funny Sleeper, The Choo Choo Boy, Peaceful Waves, Trespassed, Colorado, Florida Adventure, Room 666, etc. etc. The list goes on and all of them are either parts of my thoughts, ideas, or my own life.
2. I reread the book "Escape from the Carnivale". It is one of my favorite stories that I've had since I was about 8 years old maybe younger or older. I do know younger than 11 haha. I also reread another one of my favorites called "Dark Vengeance". I read a few other stories I guess the thing is I don't remember. For some reason I cannot remember what books I read this year. I remember the books I have read but none from this year.
3. When first setting up my blog I was kind of defiant because I'm not the blogging type. Over time though posting more and more onto the blog I kind of liked it. I'll never be a blogger but writing short stories and posting them for people to write their opinion is pretty cool and rewarding. I came up with Country Love because I love the country. It's part of who I am and I love it. Anyone I guess I don't really have anyone in mind that I would like to read it. I'll probably say yes on here and maybe use it a little bit here and there and then never use it because I'll forget about it or something. I'd probably post short stories or stories in general.
4. In my journal you'd probably see a little bit of everything. Stories, beginning of stories, poems, drawings, pictures, etc. And once again I have no one in particular that I would like to read my "journal". And once again I will probably say that I'll continue to journal but I probably won't cause I won't come up with enough ideas, get bored of it or even forget about it. I'd once again probably write about stories, memories, maybe even some poetry.
5. This is a free write from my journal called "Choices".  Life is full of opportunities. Which ones do we take? Well that depends on us as a person. To move or not to move. To send the message or to not send it. Play it safe or take the risk. Sometimes when reading books the main character is usually the one that has  to make these rational decisions but so do the other characters. Reality is full of opportunities too but also decisions. To do the drug or to not to do the drug. To go out with that person or to not. Decisions usually predict our future-in a way at least. Whatever decision we decide on will predict what will happen next and maybe even a week, a month, even a year from now. Decisions are usually the hardest ones to say yes or no to. You never truly know the outcome to a decision until you've decided. We can guess what the outcome could be but never be 100% sure. Everything is full of choices. We all make choices in life. What to eat for lunch today. What to wear for the day. What to say next. Choices in a way predict what will happen next or even in the future. Do we choose the right choices or wrong? It all depends on how we interpret the situation I guess. Ever choice has an ending,
6. This is from a Blogger I made, Stories Untold, this piece is called "Trespassed".  I walked up to the castle and looked around. The shine of the moon gave a suspenseful touch. The gargoyle's sat at the top of the castle. Hunched over with mouths wide open and eyes scrunched up. Some of the gargoyles were missing legs, others wings, and some were even missing heads. The strange thing about them was the way they were broken. The break wasn't of old and crumbling but of an intention. Then I started to hear the faint sound of crumbling rock. The gargoyles faces started to come alive and they roared a blood curdling howl. My blood went icy and my muscles stiffened. Blue flames flooded out of their mouths and pierced the thick fog. My throat tightened and my mind went blank. A voice as icy as the ocean whispered behind me very faintly, "Run". I ran towards the decaying doors and forced them open. It seemed to take forever because of the heaviness of wood and metal. I slid in through the tiny crack that I managed to open. I tried my hardest to finally close the door and stepped back. Once I calmed down some I turned around in a 360 ever so slowly. The inside of the castle betrayed the outside. The outside looked clean and cold with no signs of decay. On the inside the stench of death and blood filled the room and every corner. The moons light cast shadows that made your skin crawl. A Victorian setting greeted me. Torn velvet curtains with golden tassels hung from the window panes. Broken glass and porcelain littered the floor here and there. The giant round set of stairs was crumbled and broken on one side. A giant chandelier lay on the floor broken of its beauty and covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs. The walls were covered in ivy and a dark muggy filth filled the surrounding area. The sudden crash of glass meeting wood brought me back to my senses. I turned, but no one was there. The sound of a creaking old door distracted my attention. I walked to the door that stood underneath the stairwell. It was pitch black and the metallic smell of fresh blood flooded my nose and burned my eyes. I stumbled out of the doorway and breathed in more disturbing smells. Now the house was filled with the horrendous smells of rotting flesh, decaying insides and rustic blood. The sound of screaming people filled my ears and wrapped around my brain. I toppled to my knees on the floor, covered my ears and shut my eyes. A shadow loomed over me and the same icy voice whispered ever so faintly, "You trespassed. Now you pay the price." I looked up into the shadows blank face. Tears stained my cheeks and my eyes were blood shot. Claws as sharp as needles grabbed my arms and pulled me to the open door. I struggled against its brace to get free. The shadow stood there watching. Watching me struggled and bleed. The shadow lifted its ghostly hand and the claws turned into hands. I stopped struggling and lay there with the hands on my arms. The shadow appeared right in front of my face and seemed to open its eyes. Two glowing pools of yellow looked straight into my eyes and touched my soul. Then my eyes seemed to look through the eyes of the shadow. I saw one of the fingers that held onto my right arm grow into a razor. The hand took the razor and slowly glided it across my throat. Pain seared through my throat and swallowed my body. I was being forced to watch myself die. As the razor glided across my throat blood flowed from the cut and stained my body. My eyes clouded as my soul slipped out. The fingers turned into claws and dragged my body through the doorway. The door closed behind my body and the shadow seemed to move my eyes to my soul and vanished. I stood there in my ghostly state and screamed. But no one would hear for no one can hear the cry of a trapped soul.
7. I don't know what i'd write I personally don't really have a specific "style" I guess you could say. I just write what is on my mind and put it on paper. I let out everything that is holding me back. All the emotions I feel. If I feel upset it all rushes out on paper, if I'm angry it subsides because it's all going somewhere. When I write it's like I'm talking to someone when really it's like I'm talking to myself and all the thoughts floating around in my head just slip away. It doesn't honestly. I write like I do and that is it. Sometimes it is more formal sometimes not so much. I do not put a name on my writing style I just write.
8. You guys are really good writers and for some I see a future for you in writing. When I say that I mean those who love to write and wish to pursue it. Y'all are some detailed writers and you could write some pretty awesome pieces that maybe someday could be published.

Children's Book Rough Draft

Title: The Choo Choo Boy

Pg 1: It was early morning when Logan woke up to the sound of a train driving past his home.
Pg2: "Choo choo!" he yelled and jumped to his mommy. "Mommy choo choo!" Mommy slowly waked up and asked, "Choo choo my dear?"
Pg 3: "Can we go watch choo choo?" Logan cheered. "Come little one there's no time to waste," Mommy said.
Pg 4: Logan couldn't believe his little eyes a giant train ran on forever across the field. "Choo choo!" Logan yelled and bounced around.
Pg 5: Mommy watched as Logan played in the field bouncing and pouncing about as they watched the train.
Pg 6: "Mommy will we ever be able to ride a train someday?" Logan asked. "Yes my love," Mommy said "in fact we can go on a train tomorrow."
Pg 7: Logan's eyes sparkled with joy and he started to run around saying Choo Choo! Choo Choo
Pg 8: That night Logan went to bed and dreamed about their train ride.
Pg 9: Choo! Choo!                                                          (illustration here that explains the Choo Choo)
Pg 10: The early morning sun shined down on the puppy and Mommy. Today was the day of the train ride.
Mommy got up and tried to wake Logan. "Wake up my love it's almost time to go" she said gently. Logan stretched and started to bounce and pounce. "Choo choo! Choo choo!" he yelled.
Pg 11: At the train station Mommy bought tickets and they were ready to go. "Okay my Choo Choo Boy look for platform 9 3/4 train 1." Logan searched and spot the train. "Mommy choo choo" he yelped happily.
Pg 12: Mommy saw the train and led Logan to it. Once on they sat down and Logan gave Mommy a huge hug. "Thank you Mommy" he said into her silky fur. "Your welcome my Choo Choo Boy." she said lovingly. "ALL ABOARD THE TRAIN IS LEAVING THE STATION!" the conductor yelled.
Pg 13: Logan looked out the window and saw the beautiful town speed past. Excitement sparkled in the pups eyes and Mommy kissed his cheek. Then the waiters came skating in with cookies and cocoa for all the animals.
Pg 14: *illustration*
Pg 15: Logan and Mommy had tons of fun and made memories through the entire trip. They saw mountains. They played games. They ate treats and drank cocoa. They laughed. They even took a nap.
Pg 16 (last page): At the end of the ride Mommy took Logan to the Gift Shop and bought him a train track. They set it up at home and they sat right in the middle watching the train run in circles. "I love you Mommy" Logan said lovingly. "I love you my Choo Choo Boy".

Author's Note: Inspiration by my Mum and baby brother Logan. He LOVES trains and says "choo choo" when playing with his toy trains, on train rides, etc.

About the Author

Nichole Duffey has wrote many times in her free time. She has even already been published once in Voices in the Middle. Along with the publication in the book Nichole writes on her blog called Country Love where she writes plenty of stories and even some poetry. She lives in Missouri with her family and pets.

Books For Kids! Fox in Socks!

-Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss
-On the back of the book there is a little piece of how Seuss started but there is no bio
-On the front of the book there is a red fox in blue socks walking around
-There is 61 pages
-The characters are Mr. Fox, Mr. Knox, chicks, Sue, Bim, Ben, Slow Joe Crow, Luke Luck, Goo-Goose and Tweetle Beetles
-The setting of the book is Mr. Knox and Mr. Fox travel around while Mr. Fox rhymes and tongue-ties Mr. Knox
-The two main characters are Mr. Fox and Mr. Knox. Mr. Knox listens to Mr. Fox rhyme everything. By the end Mr. Knox is done with Mr. Fox's game
Does this book. . .
-have animals as characters? Yes
-use rhyme? Yes
-teach a lesson or some kind? No
-have monsters or creatures? Kind of
-have kids as characters? No
-have adults as characters? Yes
-use humor? Yes
-have illustrations? Yes
-use color? Yes
-use actual photos? No
-have a more sentimental/lovey tone? No
-lots of words per page? Yes
-one word or phase repeated throughout? Yes
- My favorite "line" or phase in the book

Try to say this, Mr. Knox, please....

Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.
While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew.
Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze.
Freezy trees made these trees' cheese freeze.
That's what made these three free fleas sneeze.

-At least 5 yrs old or possibly higher because of all the rhyming and tongue ties
-I own this book

Childhood Memories

3. To imagine adulthood as a child I don't think I'd have to imagine it very hard. There were times when I was young that I was terrified because of so much responsibility and the flash of reality playing in front of me. I  remember one time, I was in Elementary, I went home and was waiting to see my parents faces happy with joy to see me, but they weren't there. I forget if they were out and about or outside but I searched the entire house yelling "Mommy" and "Daddy" with tears streaming down my face. When I finally went into our small hallway crouched down and cried into my knees just terrified because I thought my parents were gone. Another time was when my dad had the accident. Reality slapped me in the face at the age of 11 and I was terrified. Imagining childhood as an adult would be amazing. I would use that 24 hour period to go back to the days where I didn't know what reality was. I would spend all the time I could with my parents and family and not miss a second of it.

9. I wish I knew more about Colorado and the chance to move. Colorado is my get away and at times I wish I always had it. That I could just shut out the world for a 12 hour drive and just appear there and be happy. No drama. Not as much pain. Not as many tears. More love. More care. More comfortable. More laughter. I wish I didn't know how close death is. It has its ups and downs. It makes you careful, aware and you know that you should enjoy life as you have it. Enjoy the happy moments with family and not dread the bad ones. I know I have it good but the fear that has torn my heart up for the past 4-5 years hasn't healed. I don't know if it ever will.

28. It may sound weird but the smells of my parents and my grandma. The smell of my mum would comfort me at night when I would cuddle or even wear her Broncos t-shirt. The smell of my dad would make me happy because I didn't get to see him until dinner time or the next day even. The smell of my grandma and her house brought me both comfort and happiness because she made me so happy and comforted me when I was sad.

35. One nightmare I remember was I was outside of our house on the porch. Velociraptor's were everywhere along with a few dino's made up by my childhood imagination. My mum was inside on the phone I tried screaming to her to get away and be safe. But she didn't hear me. I woke up just before the raptors got her. I remember always running over to their room to see if they were okay.

Answers to Dan in Real Life

3. I would think it'd be fun to write for the newspaper, but when I was in Journalism it kind of sucked out the fun for me. If I did I'd possibly write opinion pieces.

6. There have been times where I couldn't handle it because the truth hurt, but at least I knew that I wasn't being lied to. I had my moment of being sad by the truth and then just put my emotions behind me and looked at the bright things.

7. In some ways I want to say yes and in other ways I want to say no. Because sometimes you meet that one person that changes your world. In those three days you may say your in love but if years later your still in love than it's like you met your Zing.

14. Sometimes I like to think that there is only one true soulmate for everyone but sometimes we fall in love with a person that becomes our soulmate but something happens. In Dan's case a death and we possibly find a different/another soulmate.

21. At one point we did but not anymore, we haven't for a while.

28. Yes

Room 666

It had been a long night. I had been driving for hours. Trying to get away and go somewhere new. I finally decided to stop and sleep so I pulled into the parking lot of the Best Western Hotel. I walked in through the two sliding doors and looked at my surroundings. A pool to the right with crystal clear water and a quite meeting room setting to the left. I couldn't see anyone. The hotel seemed to be abandoned. "Need a room?" asked the clerk. I jumped, he seemed to come out of nowhere and had a funny almost Dracula-like accent. "Uhm yes please." I got my room and headed towards the elevator. Once in I noticed the clerk was staring at me and smiled a rather creepy smile. One that sent goosebumps running up my spine. The doors closed and I chose the 5th floor. As the elevator moved up it seemed to creak and groan like it hadn't used in years. Slowly it moved up but as it moved up I started to hear strange noises. The sounds of nails on a chalkboard, people yelling, glass breaking, howling and blood curdling screams surrounded me as I passed by the 3rd floor. It stopped in an instance as I hit the 4th floor. What seemed like hours I finally reached the 5th floor. The doors creaked open with a ear piercing whine. I stepped out into the dark hallway. It was dead silent. As I walked my way to my room I looked around. Lamps lightened the hallway with a foggy flow, cobwebs wrapped themselves around the lamps, dust lined the crease of door and wall. The wooden doors looked old and from the 1800's, the carpet on the floor looked ripped and filthy, the end of the hallway was a black hole. I started to notice that when I let out a breath it looked like a pillow of smoke. My attention was taken immediately away as my hearing was swallowed in the sounds of claws on wood. My blood went ice cold. The walls went from unwelcoming to a horror house. The lights began to flicker and the floor sounded like a stampede. The next second it all went away and I was left standing there in that dim hallway. My eyes were wide, sweat slid down my face and a sudden chill pierced my skin. The sound of little children laughing ran across the inside of the walls just like the claws did. I started to walk at a quickened pace to my room. I walked into my room and slammed the door behind me. I slid down into a crouch and buried my head into my knees. Tears ran from my eyes and dropped onto my jeans. I lifted my head and felt a giant headache settle in right where my spine connected to my skull. My eyes burned and my chest had an unsettling ache. I got up and decided to look at my room. It was worse than the hallway and hotel itself. It was pitch black with no moonlight to help me. The light bulbs in the lamps were broken and the walls were torn. The few pictures that were spread around the room were shattered of their glass and torn in three jagged lines. The room was chilly and muggy. I opened the fridge to find spoiled food and just enough of a light to let me see a tad bit better. I walked around the room a little to release some of my boredom. Then I felt a baseball bat smack into my back and I crashed into the floor. "Son of a-" but I was cut off as my hair was pulled back and I was thrown against a table. Pain throbbed on my lower back and I felt my legs go numb. I struggled to get up but the figure that hit me started to go back for more. I reached for a chair and felt myself being pulled from behind. I struggled to get out of their grip and managed to crap a candelabra that was lying on the ground. I turned, lifted and smacked the figure straight in the head. They groaned and let go immediately. I crawled towards my bag for my phone. The man, I had found out when I hit him, grabbed my shoulders and slammed me against the wall. He pinned me and I couldn't tell if I was touching the ground or not. "You made a big mistake coming to this hotel Missy"  He lifted his hand and slapped my face. A burning sting flooded my cheek and my entire body throbbed. He dropped me and I slouched to the ground. He picked me up and set me in the tub. He turned on the water and a gush of ice cold water flooded out and filled the tub. "Goodbye Miss". Those were the last words I heard before my head slammed into the tubs edge and I was knocked out and drowned. Now my soul creeps along the walls. Clawing and laughing, flickering the lights and stomping on the floor. Trying to warn the people to stay away from room 666.