Lab: Writers Write- All About The Romance Writing Genre

Romance Book (image source from Max Pixel)

When reading different genres, romance is the highest mass-market novels to read. And I definitely agree because I crave for a satisfying endings! Romance genre are usually built up by two people with desire, idealism, or sexual tension. The author usually keeps the two lovers apart, but they both end up together.

Most romance novels tend to be short around 200 pages or 55000 words. These book only get a limited amount of copies imprinted each month. Publishers usually have strict guidelines on new books. In Romance Writers of America, the industry is worth around $1.08 billion dollars per year. It's almost a third larger than mystery novel genre and life books in the market combined.

In romance books, there are so many different sub-genres. It can include paranormal, contemporary, time-travel, erotic, gothic, inspirational, suspense, or fantasy. I think one of my favorite romance are inspirational ones. I like to learn life lessons with romance books because it might help me in life. I tend to like genres that is uplifting and it relates to reality.

Amanda Patterson, All About The Romance Writing Genre, Link

Reading Notes: PDE Hanuman Returns to Rama

Hanuman and Sita (image source from Wikipedia)

Hanuman was worried that Sita lost her life in the fire. He felt like he had failed to bring her back to Rama, but he thought she might have lived. He thought, she could have been saved by her own virtue. He went back to the Asoka tree and found her seated there. He greats her and spoke of Rama how he is there so rescue him.

Flourishing through the sky, he found Sita. There were other monkeys flying around and brought Hanuman fruits and roots to eat. Hanuman reported all that he had done to Angada and Jambavan. While the monkey hosted around there on Mahendra’s summit. When all that had been told, Angada said, “Our work is done, and the time has come for us to return to Sugriva without delay.” All the monkeys left in the sky, roaring through the clouds. Angada met with Rama and told him the work Hanuman had done for Sita.

Rama talk’s with Hanuman and asks him all these questions about Sita. Hanuman explains how she gave him the crow message and painted brow-spot then showed him the jewel from Sita’s hair. It was all signs of entrusting Hanuman to get the message to Rama. Rama was happy but still in grief. He was glad that she was still alive, and that Hanuman found her. Rama felt so grateful for Hanuman for doing more than what is required of him to do. Hanuman explained he has done his work and cannot do anymore service in return.


Sister Nivedita, Hanuman Returns to Rama, Link

Teach Tip: Word Count

(image source from cheezburger)

I saw that we could use word count on chrome by installing the extension and I found this tool useful because it is what I use! But usually, when I am feeling lazy, which is most of the time, I just type everything out on Microsoft Words because it automatically saves. Even if I do lose the document, it will automatically recover. Usually when I write my blog comments/feedback/stories, I use Words because it is a lot more convenient! Mainly because it is what I'm used to. And if you highlight it on word, it will show you specifically what you highlighted. Word Counter for Chrome is really convenient, but so is Microsoft Words!

Growth Mindset: Feedback

Trying to Understand (cheezburger)

When giving feedback, I should never be biased. I always read the whole thing before I critique it and try to understand it from their perspective. When I give feedback, I always try to be positive because there is no need for negativity. Everyone has their own creative writing, different levels of writing, and their own purpose for writing. When giving critiques, it should not be judgmental and mean. Feedbacks are about asking questions to understand, giving critiques to better their posts, and sharing your thoughts. It's mainly looking for red flags and helping others to better their projects.

Deborah Maue, Giving Creative Feeback, Link

Reading Notes: Hanuman Speaks with Sita

Hanuman (image source from Wikipedia)

Sita, known to be Rama's wife, had been kidnapped by Ravana. He tried to convince her stay and she would be full of wealth, power, and comfort with him- but she denied Ravana. He was infuriated with her rejection, so he gave her a two-month term to give her a choice to choose. If she did not choose correctly, she would be tortured and killed. Once he told her the terms, he left her with his guards and preceded to return to his other wives. Sita is horrified what had happened and hopes for Rama to save her.

There was this monkey name Hanuman, who hid in trees, but known to be loyal to Rama. He travels across the land and forrest, and climb up trees. Hanuman had been up in the trees, eyeing at Sita. He's been trying to be very secretive so no one could notice him or the guards surrounding Sita. He caught Sita's attention when she looked up in the tree, then he came down. Hanuman explained who he was and he told Hanuman who she was then wanted to know where and how was Rama. He explained how Rama has befallen and trying to find her. Hanuman tried to persuade her that he was Rama's friend so gain her trust. When Sita got a closer look at Hanuman, she was scared that it was Ravana in disguise. Hanuman asked her to leave with him so he can get her back to Rama, but she didn't believe him.

Sita said she was sorry and glad that Rama's was okay, but if he was to save her, he would do it. She gave Hanuman a piece of jewelry to bring back to Rama and Lakshman. She also told him a story about their adventures with a crow that only her and Rama knows. Sita did all of this in hopes of Rama and Lakshman to save her.

Hanuman listened, took the items, and bowed his head as he left to find Rama.

Sister Nivedita, Hanuman Speaks with Sita, Link

Week 11 Story: Destrier the Horse

Seven Horses (image source from Wikipedia)

In every life, the Buddha comes in different life forms. It can be an elephant, pig, or a monkey. But in this life, it was a horse. The horse was named Destrier owned by the King of Benares. The horse was the King's most prized possession. The horse food was fed in gold dishes that was worth thousand pieces of money. The stalls the horse lived in was perfumed with different special odors. His stalls were hung crimson curtains with canopy studded gold stars. Walls were surrounded by fragrant flowers with a lamp burning scented oil. 

All the kings greatly envied the kingdom of Benares. The seven kings that gathered up against the kingdom, threatened the King saying, "Either yield up your kingdom to us or give battle."

King of Benares gathered his ministers and said, "You better not go out there and fight them head one. Notify to the Knight to fight the kings, if he fails, we will decide what to do,"

The King sent the Knight on the battle and the Knight had one request, "I need Destrier to defeat the seven kings. He will bring us glory." The King agreed and sent Destrier out with the Knight into the battle. 

Out in the battle field, the Knight and Destrier were both armored from head to toe. The Knight was on the horse, gripping his sword tightly and ready to battle. As Destrier charged into the field, they kidnapped one king. They brought one of the king back into the kingdom's prisoner and kept him into custody. Next, they kidnapped the second king and bringing him back to prison. And it happened continuously until the sixth king. They kidnapped the sixth king back to prison, but Destrier was heavily injured. 

The horse was streaming with blood and wounds, which caused him great injuries. The Knight made the horse rest and to forfeit since he was in severe pain. The horse did not want to give up. Destrier said, "We are almost winning. We just need to get the seventh king and they will lose. I do not want to waste everything I had accomplished. Let me finish this." The Knight did not want to put him into more pain but he cannot refuse the horses's dying wish. 

They both got onto their feet and captured the seventh king. Once the seventh king was captured and into prison, the Knight took the horse to the King's gate. The horse told the king, "Lead with justice, truth, and honor. Continue on to do charity work and rule the kingdom in righteousness." The horse passed away. And the King honored the horse by burying his body with great honors.

The King released the seven kings and said, "You will be making an oath to never come back to my Kingdom and threaten us." 

Author's note:

I did not change anything up in the original story, I told the story again in my own words. The characters, plot, and setting is the same. 

Marie L. Shedlock, The Horse That Held Out to the End, Link

Reading Notes: PDE The Wise Physician - Part D

Herbs (image source from Wikipedia)

Kisagotami was married to a wealthy man. She had one son and when the beautiful boy ran, he died. The young girl carried her dead child in her bosom and went house to house asking for medicine for him. The Buddhist mendicant thought she did not understand. He said, there is no such thing as good mood she asked for, but there is one Buddha that could give you medicine.

She went to Gautama and show her respect then said, "Lord and Master, do you know any medicine that will be good for my child?"

He responded he knows of some. It was custom that the patient had to provide herbs for the doctor. He asked for mustard-seed herbs that must come from houses that has no son, or husband, or parent, or slave has died. She went on carrying her dead child around the neighborhood and asking her friends if anyone sons or husband or parent or slave died in there. They all yelled at her saying how could she ask such a foul thing.

Finally, not a single household where no one had died and began to clear her mind. She left her child'd dead body in the forrest and returned to the Buddha for homage. He asked if she found her mustard seed and she said no. She explains how the people living are a few but the dead are many. The Buddha explained how the essential part of his system is the impermanency of all things until all her thoughts were cleared away. Then she would accept herself and become a disciple and enter the first Path.

Marie L. Shedlock, The Wise Physician, Link