Callistonian.net

I confess. I’m a logophile (aka dork); I even created a list of beloved terms. At this moment, ten minutes after one on a Sunday morning, my favorite English word is ebullience (n. zestful enthusiasm). My favorite word is 진심 (korean. n. jin shim meaning sincerity). I suppose I love fancy terms for qualities I wish to possess. What about you? Do you have any favorite words?

Yesterday, Caitlin—Happy (late) Birthday!!— was sweet and linked FreeRice.com in a comment. FreeRice is awesome, a must visit for logophiles, those wanting to expand their vocabularies, those who like to raise things for charity, and the bored. Every question answered correctly equals ten grains of rice (not much but it adds up after awhile). Also, there are 50 levels. Can you reach 50? I’m not that cool. (I can’t do it. 45 is my best? idk.) I have a tendency to wallow in the spaces between 33 and 40.

Also, the three words I dislike the most are masticate, tribe, and gargantuan.

NaNoWriMo. I signed up. I don’t have any concrete story ideas; I don’t know if I’m going to write anything. But I signed up. That must count for something. I’m toying with the thought of writing a YA-ish piece from various perspectives. I made a character and a website for Rhiannon’s Worst Website Competition 2007, and I think that maybe it’ll be fun (in a slightly masochistic way) to write more from Ella’s point-of-view. There’s also the Korean Drama-like novella that I was working on. Hmm…

If you signed up for NaNoWriMo, how’s your novel going?

Also, I’m engaged! Oh wait—I’m engaged in my dreams. In one of them, my friend asked me to marry him—and guess what?—I said, “Yes.” I don’t know what I was thinking nor do I know what he was thinking. I’ve never had a dream in which I’ve put myself and someone else I know in anything that resembles a romantic situation, and sometimes I even have control over my nighttime musings, so this is completely weird. It doesn’t help that in the real world, I’m a little pissed at him… How could I say, “yes?” Anyway, because we’ve busy been (or, at least, he has), I haven’t talked to him in awhile but when I do it’ll be hard to shake the I-had-a-distrubing-dream-about-you feeling.

[”우리 왕자”와 약혼했다~ ㄲㄲㄲㄲ]

Three of my favorite quotes, randomly selected from an excel spreadsheet, are what follows. Share three (or one?) of your favorite quotes with me. ♥

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. – Dale Carnegie

The earth laughs in flowers. – e. e. cummings

It is strange that words are inadequate. Yet like the astmatic struggling for breath so the lover must stuggle for words. – T. S. Eliot

I hate my writing style. It’s not pretty; it’s too colloquial. I hate it. The question, of course, is: how do I change? I’m begging you for help and advice.

I want to write well.

I’m tired of boring sentences and awkward paragraphs—why don’t my words flow? I’m a Pisces. I should be eloquent.

Some of you may believe that my writing style is fine and that this rant is irrational if not retarded. I don’t wish to play the perfectionist card but, to you, I say: I want to write better; there are millions who write better than me; do you understand how frustrating not being able to put simple things into words is?

I read grammar books for fun. I’m subscribed to language blogs and word of the day sites. I have a word journal. I’m studying three foreign languages. I aspire to be something of a lawyer- can’t I be a bit obsessive about this? Shouldn’t I write well?

Help?

FYI, I’m ranting because I’m desperately trying to review Brooks’ March but, it’s killing me. I can’t put a decent sentence together.