I agree. Although it seems like the high school in the community where I teach offers a lot more electives than my high school did, so maybe it's different now, or maybe it just depends on the size of the school. My high school was smaller than the one I'm comparing it too, so not as many options. But it seems like there are more electives available for students on the vocational track who don't care about going to college. For the college-bound kids, the focus is definitely more on AP classes and getting so many credits for each subject area.
The only writing-related elective I took in high school was a print journalism class, which was a total joke - a lot of messing around and very little actual writing or learning. The best thing I got out of it was an appreciation for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which we watched in class during a unit on satire.
A creative writing class would have been interesting, but I would not want to be forced to write fiction for an assignment either - or share and discuss my work with random classmates. So I definitely think it's better to do it for fun.
I think there is slowly becoming more of a focus on well-rounded students, so I think more electives are an option. I'm surprised they let you watch Monty Python in class, but it is an excellent movie!
I know people who have read both, but I don't remember ever asking them which one they thought was better. Too awkward of a question, at least at that time. If anyone here who has read both sees this and wants to weigh in, feel free. You won't offend me if you say you liked Swollen Issues better; I obviously love it, too, and am far enough removed from Broken to see its flaws.
Maybe that's the real loaded question, lol.
I have definitely waxed poetic on some of their physical features, like Brian's "cerulean orbs" LOL. I think it works best when describing them from another character's perspective (especially when said character is a girl who finds them attractive), rather than doing it BSC style where you devote a paragraph to what each one looks like and what outfit they're wearing on that particular day. Though I did enjoy reading the descriptions of Stacey and Claudia's crazy outfits LOL.
In my defense, the Scholastic book order did not make it clear that the book was a sequel! They're not numbered or anything, but there are definitely some books featuring the same characters that come before it chronologicall y. So then when I read those later, I already knew which characters were going to die because it was spoiled for me. Curse you, Scholastic!
You can't not wax poetic on Brian's cerulean orbs.
I loved Stacy's outfits (Claudia's were too cool and I didn't think I could pull them off.) I think I wanted to be Stacy... except the diabetes.
They didn't make it clear? How could they do that?! Don't they care about spoilers?! Curse you, Scholastic!
I don't remember when I did either. I don't think I ever wrote one of those "they all live in a beach house in Orlando" stories, but I'm sure my old stories have some geographical errors. Although I remember one time a reader from Kentucky told me there was no airport in Lexington, and I was like, "Whoops, I guess I should have looked that up instead of assuming," and then I did look it up once, and there totally is an airport in Lexington! A small airport, sure, but still a real airport with major commercial airlines. But that was probably one of my first lessons in fact-checking locations I'm not familiar with. I often look up flights from one city to another to get an idea of travel time and availability of flights. Expedia always thinks I'm planning some cool vacation when I'm really not. 
I think Undead is when I discovered the true potential of Google Maps - although, actually, I discovered that Bing Maps was better at that time for 3D satellite view. You can't Street View through an air force base, but you can get a good bird's eye view.
There is an airport in Lexington! I've been there because our flight to Ohio got canceled while we were at the airport, so we ended up closer to where we were going for not a bajillion dollars. For some reason, flights to Kentucky airports are suuuper expensive at the beginning of May.
lol (Yes, we were going for the derby and to see hubs' sister.) Anyway, it's not a new airport (built in 1940), so you were correct. But it's a good reason to learn to fact check. I never wrote a beach house story either, but I wish I did, lol.
Ugh, don't get me started on the internet thinking I'm planning a great vacation!
I love Street View too, but you're right, I don't think google has security clearance... to post maps on the internet anyway, lol.
LOL Yeah, Nick would totally prefer the Keys to get away from his family. I bet the beaches/water are also nicer down there. Never been to either place though.
I wondered that, too. Why Brian and not Kevin or Howie? They were both real adults who also had religious values, and Howie even had a college degree and had known Nick longer. Was it just because Nick was closest to Brian? Just one of many questionable parenting decisions Nick's parents made.
Miami is super fun, but I bet the Keys are warmer in the winter.
Oh you're right, Howie would have been the best choice. Sorry I forgot you just like Jane did, Howie! Maybe Howie said no because Nick tried to date his cousin, lol.
I got the first coat of paint on last night! It's gonna need another coat tonight, but I like the color. I did not appreciate just what a pain in the ass it is to paint a bathroom though, getting behind the toilet and all that - ugh! Will be glad to have that job done.
BSB planning got in the way of my writing today, but I have the story open now so I can get something written before midnight.
I bet it was hard to concentrate on your PD after all that excitement! LOL
Ugh, painting behind the toilet would be hard! Did you finish your bathroom in the past week? I forgot to ask.
BSB planning has got in the way of my writing life lately, lol. But the streak lives! The next PD isn't until Monday, so hopefully the Boys announce nothing else crazy then, lol.
Absolutely. I'm usually proud of their length, but whenever I have to do something that involves clicking through each chapter, I'm always like, "Ugh, why?!" Broken and BMS will be terrible if I ever make it to those stories LOL.
I feel you on the length. But it will be worth it when you make it to the end! (I also got exhausted editing PBox near the end and it was worth it.) I'll send you good Broken/BMS vibes so you do get there!
Oh yeah, the squiggles and stars make it even better!! And it would have had plenty of animated gifs and midis of BSB songs playing in the background. (I actually did have midis of BSB songs playing in the background. And purple Comic Sans font LOL.)
Yes! a 90's dream website! Clearly the Millennium ads are the gifs you should have used, lol!
Yes! Let's go with that. I'm like an architecture archeologist.
LOL!
Yes! You never know who's reading who lives in a certain city and went to that show, so you want to write it accurately if you can.
I commend you for that.
Aww, I know! I actually still have all my old BSB tapes and a working VCR. I can't remember the last time I tried watching any of them, so I'm not sure they still work, but I couldn't bear to throw them away. I still have my Titanic and Disney VHS tapes for the same reason. #hoarder
All my BSB stuff was VHS, I wish I had a VCR so I could watch the green tape. What a long time ago that was. I feel like they would still work? Why wouldn't they?
They totally are! Btw, Kevin's gonna be 50 by the time we see them in December... ahh!
That is so true about "I Would Do Anything for Love... but I won't do that." Won't do what??
OMG! No! 50! Kevin, you'll always be 27 to me.
I keep telling hubs that it's "anal" and he gets mad at me every time, lol.
I know, I'm already anxious about tomorrow too! I think the fact that it's only 12 shows after all this time with no concerts has me worried everyone's gonna be wanting tickets. But at least it's just a fan club presale. We should be fine, but if we don't get what we want, there's always the general sale on Saturday or whenever.
Our parents were saints! Both my mom and dad took me to shows back in the day. I'm so grateful, but also glad to be an adult with my own income and transportation and friends who are real fans and genuinely want to go with me LOL.
Aww... and your tickets will still have the original date to remind you of how many times they got rescheduled due to COVID LOL.
I was still anxious after we already had tickets, lol. It was easy and it was still nervewracking.
Yes! It's so much more fun with friends/fans/my own money than my mother, but I love her.
Yes, yes they will, lol.
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Topic: Writing & Thread (aka The Writing Thread 4) (Read 352759 times)