Inspiration Part 1

So it's been a week since I first started this blog, and I had meant to blog sooner.  However, it's hard to juggle personal things when college--and anything relating to your life after college--is always demanding your attention.  But I know that the only way this is going to work is if I keep at it faithfully.  Even though I'm not working on my book project, at least I'm writing.  It might not be the best writing, but again, at least I'm writing.

So I want this blog post to be kind of related to my book project and my inspirations for it.  My university offers something that we call "Winter Term."  During the month of January, students are encouraged to participate in either an on-campus course, an off-campus faculty-led course, participate in an internship/externship, or develop an independent study.  Students must complete 3 WT credits--meaning that we must do WT three out of our four years.  Winter Term, as my school likes to call it, "bridges the fall and spring semesters and provides an opportunity for students and faculty to participate in intensive exploration of unique concepts in non-traditional settings."  For those of us that are motivated and take advantage of these opportunities, it is a great time to discover yourself and learn something you've always wanted to learn that you couldn't get at school.  For others, it is an extended vacation that otherwise is an excuse to get drunk and wasted every hour and day of the week.  I chose the former.   

My freshman year, I took an on-campus course titled "Create Your Own Children's Book."  Basically, we learned about the world of a children's author, which included the publishing aspect.  My professor, who was a visiting professor, had written a few children's picture books.  Projects involved writing the storyline to a children's picture book, as well as creating something ourselves (picture book, chapter book, YA, etc).  I thoroughly enjoyed this class--maybe a little too much.  But hey, it wasn't my fault.  I was in the School of Music during that time, and didn't have any writing classes until my spring semester.  Anyway, it's because of that course that I came up with the idea and plot of the current book project I'm working on.  The idea came to me when I was staring at a deck of cards (I know, it's the most exciting thing to look at).  The professor had us do a writing exercise where we were suppose to bring in an object that fascinated us.  I didn't have one.  But she brought in a bunch, and one of them was a deck of cards.  The writing exercise had us look at the object, and write down any curious thoughts that came to mind while looking at the object.  

My sophomore year, I had the WONDERFUL opportunity to travel to Japan!  The course was titled "From Chopsticks to Robots."  The main focus of the course was to study the Japanese concept of "monozukuri," which derives from the Japanese words "mono" which is "thing" and "zukuri" which means "process of creating or making."  Together, it can roughly mean "to make things."  I learned that while monozukuri can be applied to the technological side of things, I also found that it can be applied to the everyday life.  As I was quoted in an article (an article that didn't use my name, but "one student observed"), meditation was representative of monozukuri because the "thing" you are "creating" is you.  Monozukuri is a philosophy, a way of life, not a product.  So now I bet you're wondering why Japan has something to do with my book project.  Well, aside from the language and food, I mostly went there because of the culture.  I'm not unfamiliar with anime or JRPG games (Japanese RPG), in fact I find a lot of inspiration from them (games more than anime).  The Japanese, whether it's music, games, or television shows, are impeccable at capturing scene and emotion (especially drama).  Listen to a game soundtrack composed by Koji Kondo (Super Mario and Legend of Zelda), Yoko Shimamura (Kingdom Hearts), or Nobou Uematsu (Final Fantasy, and my utmost favorite Japanese composer), or for anime: Toshihiko Sahashi (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny) and Joe Hisaishi (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle).  I guarantee you'll get swept away.  Fun fact: Nobou Uematsu is considered to be the "John Williams of video game music."  So if you don't take my word for it, then take it from a person who is also a fan of John Williams.   


I have to end this post now because it's gotten too long!  I'll make PART 2 soon!  The topics will cover the downside of being inspired by Japanese anime and video games, as well as discussing my final winter term where I spent the month of January with birds of prey.

BIRDS OF PREY!! That includes eagles, owls, falcons, and hawks!  Also a pelican--but you'll have to wait!