So, I obviously don't have an update for you guys because I put everything I had into that last one but, I will give you some behind the scenes look and I have a lot to get through in this entry.
I will first say that United Light started off as an idea, and I really haven't fallen in love with this story just yet but, it really is growing on me as I attempt to complicate the characters. And I will admit sometimes the scenes and conversations fall out of the sky like rain, as if they were some distant memory I had and am retelling for you all. I missed answering some comments in a previous entry so, hopefully this will answer all of those.
I am saddened to say that I found out that Web Serial Novesl have been done. However they appear to be a very different genre than what I write but, still the word is not mine and I feel like I should acknowledge that.
Okay now,on to the playlist I want to give you the rationale behind the songs
The Frames -- Falling Slowly - Not only is this a beautiful dance on the FOX show SYTYCD but the first words really sum up Julianne's experience."I don't know you but,I All the more for that words fall through me and always fool me and I can't react." She doesn't know Sawyer but, she really does want to like him and be friends with him. I'll admit I don't know the rest of the lyrics but, the beat it reminds me of someone standing in a big empty field deciding where to go.
Wild Horses- Natasha Beddingfield -- I discovered this song via the handy google and I have to say I fell in love with it. I love Bedingfield's voice in this song it is so powerful and beautiful. I chose this song because Julianna hasn't known many people her age and what they do within the United Light and with her parent's getting older she is worried about being left alone or what her life will be. Julianna does have a rebellious side she does wonder what it's like to be free so this song was perfect. And then when Julianna meets Elisa, she sees the girl who she wants to be but, Julianne is very guarded and doesn't know how to let that down ecspecailly around Sawyer.
This song is what inspired me to write about the horses being their first sight of civilization (it was formerly cows). And in my ode to Catcher in the Rye she wonders about the horses being free. Also, just as a little side info, there really are Wild Mustangs living in Nevada and Utah.
The Outside -- Taylor Swift - I heard this song first when I took my cousin and her friend (they are 12) to see Taylor Swift in NYC. I am not a big Taylor Swift fan but, I think this song is really for Sawyer but also for Julianna who is trying something new.
This Woman's Work --Maxwell-- Another song I can't always hear the words to but, if you look up the lyrics it is really beautiful. I think this song is for Elisa and Sawyer because I think at this point he is afraid he will never see Elisa again.I really just love this song though, it's from "Love and Basketball" but,it is not on the soundtack. (I love Sanna Lathan and Omar Epps too ! 2 beautiful people).
Bella's Lullaby -- which was arranged by Carter Burell not Edward Cullen -- Another favorite of mine, I just love the first 20 seconds. It jumpstarts my writing engine.
Put Your Records On- Bailey-Ray This song I chose because I feel like it is about friendship, which is something I think Elisa, Sawyer and Julianna can build together. I justlike this song, it makes me want to call my best friend and dance.
Superman-- Robin Thicke- Find me one girl who doesn't like Robin Thicke,jk. I really love his voice and I love this song because I think Sawyer will find a lot of his strenghth through the women in his life. So, I love the first line "I'm a Superman thanks to Lois Lane."
After All- Jonathon Clay -- This is a song, I heard on a TV show somewhere and I liked it. If you can't tell I tacked it on the ending of the playlist at the last minute. While I see no ending in sight for United Light I think this song will play a role.I also see this song telling me their might be another love interest but, I don't know. I think it's a very sweet song and if I ever get married (knock on wood) I'd want this song to play at some point.
I did listen to Halo,it took me a while to figure out who Beysus was,lol. I do like that sing for this story and it has inspired me to write something so, it is very helfpful. I love the suggestions!
Okay other little tidbits; I am a little embarrased to admit but, Julianna's sundress design is based on this picture. I know people put outfits at the end of some stories but, I really needed to picture this dress so I used one I found online.
Speaking of Julianna I did make a consious choice to make her blonde because that seems to be something people shy away from having blonde protagonist because they feel like it is so sterotypical or because we see blondes in a negative light.So, I did the opposite of that and used a blonde to show it is more than a hair color. And not all blondes have to be Marilyn Monroe or Hannah Montana.
Yes, I think the Starbucks drinks do play a role in who they are. Elisa's drink a half-caf Iced Latte is slightly classic,slightly custom and simple.Just like Julianna is a mixture of personalities.
Sawyer has black coffee, which is a strong drink but notice, he never drinks it.
Julianne get's chai tea because I love chai tea.
I never figured out why the name Caine seemed so evil and I think it is because of Caine and Abel but, that was not my intention. However it does help me come up with storylines for him. Caine will not be a single note character who is seen as purely evil. I want all the characters to be sympathetic.
In the original version Caine "Taser-whips" Sawyer because I thought Tasing wouldn't have the same affect. My decsion to have him get tased was from this video of a real life incident. However I thought doing it twice was a little cruel. I used this video for help in writing that scene.
So, that's all I have for now, I appreciate all of you guys curiousity and questions I hope I answered them all,I may have more later but, that's all for now.
Now I have to get writing
Wild Horses was on SYTYCD, too
ReplyDeleteI love Bella's lullaby
I'm to afraid to look at the taser video but I was suprised that tasers were used.
ReplyDeleteThose other WSF seem to be mostly sci-fi, I think yours is totally unique and I can't wait for the next installment.
ReplyDeleteI love Julianna but I was a bit disapointed to find out she was blonde. I was hoping she would be cuban based on her name, but since the commune is in Louisinana I can see how she would be blonde. I'm a little disapointed but I guess I picture her as Anna Paquin, now
ReplyDelete*Clicks and buys dress* Can't wait for an update
ReplyDelete*Clicks and buys dress* Can't wait for an update
ReplyDeleteI love going inside the writer's studio !
ReplyDeleteI'm taking a hint that we are going to see Elisa again
ReplyDeleteThis is now the "United Light" playlist on my ipod, maybe I'll make a fanmix.
ReplyDeleteDidn't see where they tasered the kid, I was afraid you were going to use the "don't tase me, bro" video. I will alawsya associate web serial with United Light.
ReplyDeleteSo, what is the description for Elisa, so there are no more suprises
ReplyDeleteWhat did you google to get "Wild Horses" ?
ReplyDeleteWhat did you google to get "Wild Horses" ?
ReplyDeleteThis may be a bit OT
ReplyDeleteBut can we assume that the Sherrif is Sawyer's uncle and that he maybe wouldn't hurt his nephew or no ?
Okay, so who do you picture for your characters ?
ReplyDeleteWait, I thought the story took place in Florida, what does it matter about Utah or Nevada.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry Shawna but I am one of those people who is put off with Julianna being blonde. I know you have been americanized and everything but you should be a proud woman of color and I felt with a name like Julianna she would be Hispanic, I'm very dissapointed as a African-Latina.
ReplyDeleteI love Bella's Lullaby too, Edward is so sweet.
ReplyDeleteI love Bella's Lullaby too, Edward is so sweet.
ReplyDeleteSo, was Corrine Baily Rae playing in the starbucks ? IDK I just know we used to sell her CDs
ReplyDeleteRollie, I think Elisa has already been described as Olive-Skined which is a description I never understood what that means, I mean olives are like green.
ReplyDeleteIs there going to be an extended playlist for the next bit
I think somone may have asked it but it's a little odd, I guess that you use brands. I mean it's not like it's over done. I just think it's different. IDK
ReplyDeleteJulianna seems to be more like a black tea, I think she is very one note and the blonde hair was supposed to make her seem more intersting but I don't think it does. I just know I'm reading for Sawyer.
ReplyDeleteLove me some Robin Thicke ! I associate it with Sawyer/Julianna !!
ReplyDeleteGreat insight. I instantly thought Julianna was Italin because my name full name Julianna.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to use that song at your wedding. I hear JB is single again. So who knows.
ReplyDeleteOh, speaking of JB does he write any lines in this piece of work ?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for an update knowing all this information. I think that dress is cute, I'm so going to buy it.
ReplyDeleteI see what you did there, with the coffee thing. LOL
ReplyDeleteI see what you did there, with the coffee thing. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love the southern culture in America will we being seeing more of it ?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteOkay, I will probably end up doing half in one entry and half in another
@PhoenixBabe-- Was it ?I'm going to have look up the dance.
@Swirly_pearl-- Yes, it was a huge controversy but, you can't see anything in the video.I can't believe it was used on someone who clearly didn't have a weapon. This happened a year before I started teaching there for a semester.
@Dacry_Lover-- They do but,I had to give credit and say I did not come up with the name
@HappyApple-- She is not cuban, she has always been from Lousiana but,the part of Louisana that is really close to Texas. However Elisa is Cuban, I made sure she had Cuban name but, I didn't want to come outright and say it.
@Laura -- I should get a comission ! I like the dress but, I would probably wear it as a beach cover up
@Linda Leigh-- Me too !
@ Aileen -- I really don't know but,I hope we do
@DoctorsWifey--That's cool,it's on mine too !
@Veronica -- No, I didn't use that because well,it's kind of played and this one was the first one I found. It is from UCLA.
@ Rollie -- She is Cuban but,very Americanized.
@Maylights -- Songs about loneliness.
@Barbara Y -- Caine does not tell people he has children,and I'm not sure why. Sawyer was raised by his mother and her other husband, he recently found out about Caine.
@ Peppery-- I'll put that in my next post.
@Rose -- I was just giving a little FYI that Wild Mustangs do live in the United States. The horses Sawyer and Julianna come across are domesticated and it has nothing to do with the story, just building brain cells.
@Natalie -- I am sorry that I put you off. I am a woman of color as Indian-Irish-American but,I never write any of my characters like myself. I think I do this because I do not want to relate to my characters in anyway. Julianna is a Polish--Hungarian name anyway. Also,you hardly see minorities in cult activities. Again, I'm sorry.
@O'Reily -- I just love that song but, remember Edward didn't write it. I feel so bad the man who wrote it is getting no credit.LOL
@Barista- Girl-- I didn't know they sold her CD's at Starbucks. Yes, I suppose it was.
@Chanel -- It is a complexion not really a skin tone.
@Carleigh -- Well, I wasn't original going to use McDonald's but I though to myself in reality most train stations or bus stations are near chained places, not local ones because people coming into a new place will eat where they are comfortable and are familiar with. So, it became McDonalds.
@Hi_liteme-- I had no idea her hair color would be such a big deal. Yes, she is very much like black tea but, I think underneath it all she isn't one note.
@Princess_Pear -- ITA !
@Julianna -- Behindthename.com is telling me Julianna is Polish. But, names are names.
@EarlyLove-- Marrying Joel would be like marrying my brother or best friend so I don't see that happening.
@Posey -- No, he hasn't even read it. he says he will read it but he hasn't yet. I have to go bother him more about it,jk ! I know he is a busy man now so no I think Joel is taking a break from writing.
ReplyDelete@Tabby-- I am glad you enjoy it
@CoffeeJunkie-- It seemed like I had to. You have to find symbolism in everything
@Indy88-- I don't really know.