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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Enjoy your holiday!

Hello everyone! Here's wishing you a happy, safe, and festive holiday season this year. The Vegetarian Cannibal will take a quick break, but I plan to resume posting regularly again in January! 


See you next year! 
~Cheers from the Vegetarian Cannibal

Monday, December 19, 2011

12/11 Media of the month: Indigo Blue

By "media of the month" I really mean: "When I actually get around to posting something--which usually entails once every three months! Yay!" Yeah. I'm terrible at keeping up with these things, but that's why you guys love me, right? Inconsistency and procrastination are my most charming character flaws! 


Back to the subject at hand...ahem. *cough*  
I've written several posts about comic books on this blog. I love reading comics. I always have. As a closeted bi teen in my jr. high school days, I read an awful lot of yaoi manga (if you don't know what "yaoi" is, click on the link and get wiki'd). Secretly, I always wished for lesbian-themed, or "yuri," titles, but no such luck back then. No one I knew read/talked about yuri. In fact, I didn't even know what "yuri" was until my final years of high school! I just assumed (as is the case with fiction books) lesbian-themed mangas were either rare, written by heterosexual men, and or nonexistent. 
Indigo Blue (written and illustrated by the wonderfully talented Ebine Yamaji) is my first real josei yuri manga. I've never been a fan of the shojo sparkly stuff. And although I read my fair share of gender-benders with slight yuri elements (like Ranma 1/2, W Juliet, Beauty is the Beast, etc.) I never actually read a straight-up lesbian love story before. I can't begin to tell you how much this manga impacted me. I actually cried while I was reading it. And I've never cried while reading a manga before.  


You can read the entire thing for free HERE


I'm actually surprised I love this manga so much. Normally this sort of thing would irritate the HELL out of me! First off, the art isn't very pretty. I don't like how Ebine Yamaji draws frontal faces--somehow they all look like frogs. But because the artwork is so simplistic, it forces the reader to focus on the story. And after a while, the simple art style grows on you. 

Secondly, I am easily irritated by the "indecisive bisexual female" who falls for both a man and a woman at the same time. However, all that aside, this is a very well-written work. The story is told honestly and truthfully from a poignant and character-driven point of view. I really wanted to hate Rutsu, the bisexual main character, but I couldn't. I guess I saw too much of myself in her. And honestly, reading this made me realize how much of an asshole I was in jr. high and high school. I think most bisexual women struggle with their sexual identity at some point in their lives, and in that process of self-discovery, sometimes hurt people inadvertently. 

Even now, I don't think I've ever had a formal "girlfriend" before. Which is strange because I was asked to prom by a girl and on numerous occasions I kissed/fooled around with girls. Many of my friends were out-lesbians and I always found myself instinctively drawn to them. However I refused to believe I was in romantic situations--even when the girl expressed blatant romantic interest in me, I never interpreted her feelings as such. Perhaps deliberately, because I was too much of a coward to acknowledge my own sexuality back then. The character Tamaki reminds me of one such girl I knew in high school. Looking back on it now, I was a fucking idiot. Only as I continued to fall deeper into the story, did I realize for the first time how carelessly I must have hurt this girl. Much like how Rutsu hurt Ryuuji in the manga. Only different...because this was real life. 

I will read more of Ebine Yamaji's work because she is a fantastic story-teller. I recommend Indigo Blue to anyone who enjoys josei mangas, and although the story is about lesbi women in particular, men also play an important role too. :)

VC

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Christmas songs you love to hate

1. OMFG. If I have to hear this song one more time at the mall, I will literally stab a small child with a spork at the Santa Claus picture station and rip off the little Elves' heads!





2. This song just makes me want to projectile vomit every time I hear it. How can you NOT hate this song? (You might have to watch on youtube because blogger is being a beeyatch and is not letting me embed it)



3. I mean, it's a nice sentiment and everything, but it is THIS fluffy feel-good nonsense that is consistently (if not self-righteously) crammed down our throats this time of year...and where does it get us? Nowhere. There's still war. There's still famine. The republicans still hate the democrats. Who gives a shit? Give it a rest already! Don't pretend to care about the homeless just because it's Christmas, OK? Be an asshole all year round. At least that way you'll be honest.



4. I'm in the minority here, I guess, because I actually LIKE this song. Look at George Michael's hair! That alone should make this video entertaining to watch. (Grrr, youtube is becoming so lame by not letting me embed some videos!)



5. I saved this one for last. Probably the worst Christmas song ever recorded in history. Might it be because I hate Britney Spears and the fact she has no singing talent? Or maybe it's because Christmas is supposed to be about "pretending to give a shit"and Britney Spears is the exact opposite of that. Ugh. I'm getting a headache trying to wrestle with posting up these videos. Over and out, minions. 

Friday, December 16, 2011

Smexxxy Friday


Hmmm...how many jokes can I say about this one? Although I'm sure you can come up with plenty all by yourself, it might be more enjoyable if you poke fun with a friend. 

Oh yes. My puns are on FIRE today! 

Have a great weekend!
VC

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Do you keep a journal?



I've often heard people say that keeping a journal or diary can help you become a better writer. I just love writing in a journal--I own several of them. I have one journal just for poetry and another for jotting down quick notes and sloppily-drawn character sketches/doodles. But my most important one is my personal journal (or diary).


I've kept a personal journal with me since I was eight years old. Over the years, I've filled at least a dozen of them. I enjoy writing in my journal. It is relaxing and it has become something of a ritual. I don't write in it every day...but at least once a month. So long as I'm writing, I'm keeping my mind sharp and my ideas clear. 


A writer should write as often as they can. Practice makes perfect. So if you haven't tried journaling yet, I would recommend you start. 


You never know...it might help. *Shrug* 


VC 



Monday, December 12, 2011

Anime I'm watching...

I'm an otaku. Not gonna lie, y'all. But I'm pretty sure you guys have already figured that out by now.


I'm currently watching My Otome (you can watch it every Wednesday on Mnet during the Bandai Block) and Kampfer (you can watch the whole thing on animeseason.com or other online sites).


Kampfer is just stupid-silly. Ecchi...gender-bending...typical harem conventions...yeah. Craziness. I think Natsuru is like the dumbest heterosexual male on the planet. How can a seventeen year old boy be so STUPID?! In one scene, the girl literally french kisses him on the floor and he's STILL clueless as to how she feels about him. Dumb!





My Otome is much more enjoyable but it has just as much fluffy-nonsence as Kampfer. I'm digging all the yuri scenes in this series, though. It has more plot...but yeah...I would be kidding if I told you I was watching it for the "well-written story arc." Scantily-clad girls with guns and mecha robots. Bring it. ;-)


Friday, December 9, 2011

Smexxxy Friday

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

5 questions to piss off someone with dreadlocks...

1. Go up to a complete stranger with dreadlocks and ask them if they are Jamaican. 
2. Regardless how they answer #1, ask them if they are Rastafarian.
3. Regardless how they answer #2, ask them if they smoke weed.
4. Regardless how they answer #3, ask them if you then can buy some weed off of them. 
5. Regardless how they answer any of the other previous questions, finally ask them if you can touch their hair. 


When the person with dreadlocks tries to get away from you (by this point, you should have thoroughly offended and insulted them) just dig your hands into their scalp and touch their hair anyway without permission. This works best if you are a white person and the person with dreadlocks is black. 


There. Five easy questions guaranteed to piss off anyone with dreadlocks. I speak from personal experience. Have fun, minions! I think black eyes and split lips are in style right now. :)
VC 

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Song Lyrics (Little girls, little boys)

In addition to writing poetry and fiction, I also dabble in songwriting as well. It is not my wish to publish any of my songs--although one day, I hope to do a collaboration piece with my boyfriend (who plays a mean guitar). 


Anyway, I just felt like posting the lyrics to a song I made a year or so ago. Enjoy. :)


Title: Little Girls And Little Boys

Little girl alone in the corner

looking out the window

a little boy sits beside her
because she's beautiful

doesn't see him gazing
doesn't hear his words of love
the little girl is watching
the only thing she knows…

She knows...

It's ok to cry
when all is crashing down
you just have to take my hand
you shouldn't have to lie 
You don't have to hide your face
you're most beautiful to me when you cry
I love looking in your eyes

Little girl swallowed by shadows
eaten up by memories
a little boy aims to claim her
because she's beautiful

doesn't hear her drowning
doesn't feel her battle scars
the little boy is doing
the only thing he knows…

He knows...

It's ok to cry
when all is crashing down
you just have to take my hand
you shouldn't have to lie 
You don't have to hide your face
you're most beautiful to me when you cry
I love looking in your eyes

Little girls and little boys...
Little girls and little boys...



Monday, December 5, 2011

Another one bites the dust

Damn. I've lost another small press publisher this year. It's been happening more and more recently. If you're in the indie/small press circuit, I'm sure you've personally seen at least one small press business close its doors in the last six months. And as a writer, I must admit, this trend kinda scares me. 


I love small press publishing. They take more risks than bigger companies and are more willing to give unknown writers a chance. As a writer in a small press company, you get to know the editors and other writers on a personal level--the work environment feels like a family setting. But nowadays writing for small press publishers can be a real gamble! At any moment your publisher can shut its doors, leaving you and your fellow writers dangling in the wind. I can't even imagine investing two or three novels into a company and in a single instant, lose it all. Poof. Just like that. 


You see, when a publisher closes its doors, it's sort of like being laid-off. The writer may or may not get the cover art rights to their book, and although they get full rights to all of their written work, finding another publisher who'll reprint it is rough. Self-publishing is an attractive option--but for many writers, publishing their own stuff can seem daunting, if not impossible. 


I admire self-published writers. I really do. They work really hard but so many of them often fail. Just yesterday, a writer friend of mine at my local coffee shop (and unofficial "office" haha) told me a horror story about a fellow patron/writer who self-published and spent thousands of dollars on his latest novel. He had his book on display near the cash register--no one was buying it. And according to all the whispers, the guy was in serious debt because of it. It just made me realize not everyone is going to make it--and that goes for self-published or not! 


The truth is, the publishing industry is changing. And as a writer, you have to adapt. 


Think smart. Weigh your options. If you're going to do small-press, make sure you gamble wisely. If you're going to do self-publishing, make sure you research and really know what you're doing before you jump into it. Don't be that moron who wastes thousands of dollars investing in a book only to end up with a mountain of debt. Writing is not for the faint of heart. In fact, I would advise everyone to stay away from the "profession" entirely! 


VC

Friday, December 2, 2011

Smexxxy Friday



How long can YOU go without sex? Anyone experiencing dry spells at the moment?


I'm not embarrassed to talk about this topic but maybe that's because I have such a robust sex life. Cannibals can really get around. I can't even begin to count the number of sex slaves I have stored in my meat locker, hahaha! Oh snap. I just realized I should probably go back there and check on them since it has been like, a month, since I last let them out.


But I digress. I can go 2 weeks without sex. Tops. Anything longer than 2 weeks and I start kidnapping unwilling parters and storing them in my freezer for later use.


By the way, I don't recommend storing people in your meat locker for long periods of time. I've done that before and the results were...uncomfortably shocking. Experienced a lot of freezer burn that day. Lots and lots of freezer burn. *sigh*


VC

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

December is almost here...

Time sure does fly when you're having fun. Now that winter is fast-approaching, what sort of frosty activities do you have planned for the season?


I always enjoy drinking hot cider this time of year. I like wearing sweaters and long coats too. Maybe it's the latent New Englander in me, but I'm actually looking forward to some snow this year.




On a side note, I am so sad I have to wait until February to see more of my beloved Walking Dead! What shall I do without Glenn or Shane to comfort me during the weekends? Now that I have a serious fangirl crush on the actor Steven Yeun, I will be miserable!

Game of Thrones should also be starting in February too...so at least I have something to look forward to. Don't know what I'll do during the meantime.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Naming your characters (Seventh Sanctum)

I just love using the Seventh Sanctum to help me name my characters! They got everything. From Elves to Vampires, Lovecraftian names to random names from the US census.


Now that I'm writing my epic dragon fantasy story, I've been using this site to help me generate some names for my dragons and elves! But I've used this site before for common names too. Give it a try, some of the names on that site are really silly. 

Friday, November 25, 2011

Smexxxy Friday (I like big butts)




I must confess...I too like big butts. When I first heard this song, I think I was in the seventh grade or something. I once had this entire song memorized, hahaha! Love it. 


Hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday!
VC

Thursday, November 24, 2011

A Vegetarian Thanksgiving



I cannot count how many times I've been asked: "What do vegetarians EAT for Thanksgiving?!" Usually  followed by an aghast or incredulous expression or sometimes a sympathetic shake of the head or a pitying sigh. "Oh your poor, poor thing...vegetarians must starve during the holiday season!" 


Wrong. Vegetarians and vegans alike can and do enjoy the holiday festivities just as much as our omnivore companions. I love love love Thanksgiving! It is one of my favorite holidays because I can pig out on all the tofurky I can shovel into my mouth and not have to worry about fighting over the last few mouthfuls like my meat-eating relatives do when their turkey is nearly gobbled up! 


So what is tofurky? I'm sure many omnivores have pondered on this mystical-sounding food product. Some of the images I've heard described to me are downright hysterical. "Is it a turkey-shaped blob of raw tofu? Does it cook in the oven or is it eaten cold?" 


Hahaha...silly omnivores. This is what tofurky looks like:



Nothing fancy or all that elaborate. It is made out of seitan and filled with a wild rice and mushroom stuffing. You cook it in the oven over a bed of onions, potatoes, carrots, and celery and serve it hot with cranberry sauce or vegan gravy. If you have veg*n relatives to entertain this Thanksgiving, you can look at this site HERE for information relating to where to buy or how to cook it. 


This Thanksgiving, I will be eating green bean casserole, buttery mashed potatoes, vegan stuffing, tofurky, cranberry sauce and "giblet" gravy. I will be sucking all of this all down with a fine Ruffino chianti wine (riserva ducale 2007) and a slice (or two) of pumpkin pie for dessert! Yummy! I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving feast! 


VC

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Elder Scrolls V: SKYRIM



It's not often I blog about video game reviews, but I wanted to share my thoughts about Skyrim with you today. Let me be blunt with you first: I am not (and nor will I ever claim to be) a gamer. In fact, I've never played Skyrim before. But because I only have one television, I've been forced to watch at least 5 hours of gameplay a day for the past two weeks now. 


My boyfriend eats, breathes, and sleeps Skyrim. Every spare moment he has is spent on the PS3. Since he hogs the television, I've spent the past few days ordering his Dunmer character around from the couch: "Do the Thieves Guild Quest! Stop wasting time with the Greybeards! Kill the dragon, already!" and such, haha. Skyrim has taken over our lives and I'm a little ashamed to confess I've become somewhat obsessed with this game as well. 


Inspiration is a funny thing, indeed. Before the Skyrim Invasion, I was suffering from a serious case of writer's block. However, after seeing so many Elves and Dragons dance across my screen, I've decided to try my hand at a fantasy story to pass the time until I can get back on track with my novel. 


I really love Skyrim's storyline. The writing is top notch and I enjoy the dialogue sequences from all of the characters. I've never written a dragon story before. I always thought dragons were corny as hell and an overused crutch for many in "epic fantasy" genre. Skyrim has a unique spin on the dragon cliche. I was inspired the most by the "Shouts" and the whole concept of speech and language being used as weapons. 


I have no idea how long this little dragon story of mine will be. Haven't actually sat down to write it yet. I'm hoping for a quick little novella. Maybe 10 to 30 thousand words. We'll see...

Monday, November 21, 2011

Defining "Sexual Tension"



Ah, sexual tension. What is a decent romantic subplot without it? Initial physical attraction...denial...resistance...and sometimes (but more often than not, a lack of) sweet surrender! All wonderful things to flesh out a romantic relationship in a story. 


I just love watching sexual tension develop between characters--I don't care if it is in a movie, TV series, or novel...hell, even in real life! I just like seeing it! There is definitely an "art" to creating this type of tension. An unskilled writer can make it look cliched and contrived, however when sexual tension is done right--wow! I don't think there is anything more explosively entertaining to draw an audience into a story! When folks are screaming: "GET IT OVER WITH AND BANG THE BITCH ALREADY!" you know you're doing the right thing! Haha! 


They key to creating sexual tension is to first understand what sexual tension is. Are there different types? What sort of scenarios create this tension? I'll write more posts about this topic in the future, but for now let's cover the basics. 


As human beings, we naturally try to alleviate the things that frustrate us. However when we're dealing with sexual tension, the situation or circumstance often prevents us relieving the discomforting feelings. This frustration is what essentially drives the sexual tension forward. This is why sexual tension is inherently more "sexual" than traditional overt sexual displays. Denial and restraint require more mental and physical energy than surrendering to an indulgence. The longer we stay trapped in this unpleasant and frustrated state, the stronger the conflict and tension. 


Just like in real life, sexual tension occurs for a variety of reasons. Perhaps two married co-workers develop an interest in each other at the office, or a high school student harbors a crush on their much older teacher. So long as the EMOTION behind the reason is palpable enough to draw in an audience, you can create sexual frustration between characters. Conflict is always entertaining to watch--and readers loved being teased. 


One way to create sexual tension is to make one character push forward (or initiate a sexual response) while the other character steps back. Using the scenario from above, let's pretend the seventeen-year-old schoolboy accidentally bumps into his teacher in the hallway when they are alone. The unexpected physical contact makes him blush, and instead of immediately moving away, he lets his hand linger on her shoulder. In this scenario, the student is the one who is pushing forward with the initial contact and so the teacher must inevitably pull back. Let's say she does not want to act inappropriately with this young boy or maybe she does not want to lose her job. So she smiles politely at him, steps away from his touch, and quickly excuses herself to the teacher's lounge. 


You can also create sexual tension by making both characters step back or refrain from initiating the sexual response, but this will only work if an external force propels them forward again. Maybe our schoolboy is painfully shy around the women he is attracted to. He knows he could never get away with doing something so bold as the first example, so he keeps to himself and just makes goo-goo eyes at his teacher during class. The teacher is still concerned with upholding professional boundaries and so she does not say or do anything to encourage his behavior. However, now let's imagine the teacher is experiencing financial difficulties due to budget cuts and mass lay-offs at work. Unable to afford her mortgage, she moves across the city into a small apartment--the same apartment our little schoolboy lives. Now that these two are neighbors they are forced to see each other every day in a more "intimate" setting and the sexual tension can move forward again. The external force pushing them together is proximity. They can start carpooling together or maybe the teacher offers to help him with his homework after class. The possibilities are endless.


The thing to remember is that the distance between your two characters must always remain far enough to create frustration while maintaining room for interpersonal interaction. The longer you let this "push-pull" effect control your characters, the better and richer the sexual tension. However, if you let it go for too long, people will lose interest. Finding the right balance is key. 

Friday, November 18, 2011

Smexxxy Friday


What's for dinner tonight? Chicken? 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New Nose Ring

I finally saved up enough money to buy myself something from Venus by Maria Tash! Huzzah! Real diamonds and platinum, baby. Bam!



The picture is kinda small...sorry, took the photo with my phone. But yeah, my nose ring sparkles so much in the light! Overall I'm happy with the product (even though it cost me $195) but I think my next big purchase will be at Alluring Body. I have my eye on the perfect diamond nose stud over there...maybe for Christmas. 


What are you coveting for this holiday season?  

Monday, November 14, 2011

Transphobia in the gay community




This woman has such a beautiful spirit. I really loved this interview and I wanted to share it with you guys today. It is always so refreshing to see people of color speak up about LGBTQIA issues. I feel that in the LGBTQIA community, transexuals and transgenders are often completely left out of the discussion. We need to reach out to ALL of our brothers and sisters, especially to the young people in our community who are trans or intersex. I know that as a bisexual, my needs are often ignored or ridiculed--but no population faces more persecution than trans people! Gays and straights alike share this erroneous view that transexuals are somehow "lower" on the Social Darwinistic Scale than others. Ugh! It makes me so angry to see this sort of disgusting behavior. But I am most angry when I see it from those in the gay community! 


I think a lot of what Tracee had to say is true in this video. There is a hierarchy in the gay community and it sort of goes like this:
1. Gay (white) men
2. Lesbian (white) women
3. And all the rest


If you're lumped in the "All the rest" category, you'll know. Just look at the lack of representation in gay rights groups/media. And even if you are accepted into a group, your presence there is merely "tolerated" and you're expected to shut up and let the "top tier folks" handle everything. I've faced a lot of "holier-than-thou" attitudes from many gays and lesbians for speaking out against them in regards to racism, sexism, religious intolerance, transphobia, and bisexual erasure that exists in our community.  We are in no way a "united"movement. And to pretend otherwise is just stupid. 


There is prejudice on all sides and I feel this needs to stop. If we hope to achieve full civil rights we can't keep marginalizing people. 


Thoughts? 

Friday, November 11, 2011

Smexxxy Friday



This Smexxxy Friday is...kinda depressing, really. I decided to post it because it is somewhat thought-provoking. Is it easier being alone? I think so. Loneliness is less complicated and messy. 


People suck. So do relationships. 


Enjoy your weekend! 
VC

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The difference between men and women


My boyfriend emailed this to me last week. I thought it was hysterically funny and I wanted to share it with you guys! 

Monday, November 7, 2011

It's not Christmas!

Why do people do this? I've been seeing advertisements and Christmas decorations before Halloween even! UGH! Wait until December to bombard us with Christmas cheer! Or at least until Thanksgiving! 





Friday, November 4, 2011

Smexxxy Friday (The Walking Dead)

Have you guys been watching this series on the AMC channel? Season 1 is up on Netflix and new episodes of the second season are on Sundays! I love The Walking Dead so much! Finally, a well-written, well-acted zombie story with a character-driven plot! If you like zombies you will LOVE this series! 


Not to mention...Jon Bernthal. Oh yes. He's my Smexxxy Friday today. He plays the character "Shane" and is Rick's best friend. In this scene, he is fucking his best friend's wife! Surprise surprise! (Spoiler alert) I think many people will think Shane is an asshole--but I sort of like him. He's a very honest character and I feel he is trying to do the right thing. Also, he's very hawt. And so very masculine and alpha-male. *cheesy fangirl smile* 





Behind the scenes:



Please give this show a try! The characters/actors are DIVERSE and the black guy doesn't die in the first episode, hahaha! I'll post more on this series as I watch more of season 2! Hopefully you guys will watch it with me!


Tune in this Sunday!
VC

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The best part about Halloween...

...is the leftover pumpkin seeds from the jack-o-lantern! Yum! Yum! Take a look at my beautiful culinary creations! Roasted pumpkin seeds are extremely easy to prepare--so easy, in fact, a complete buffoon like ME was able to make them!
I used these ingredients for spices. Chopped garlic, hot sauce, salt, pepper, greek cavender seasoning, chili powder, butter, red chili pepper flakes and cajun seasoning. As you can see, I like my seeds SPICY! You can just use salt and pepper for seasoning if you want--just don't rinse the pumpkin guts off the seeds!


Line your baking sheet with wax paper. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Melt your butter with the chopped garlic and or additional seasonings in the microwave and then pour over the seeds on the baking sheet. Roast the raw seeds and butter mixture for 45 minutes, stirring every 15min or so. Done.
Pumpkin seeds are very nutritious! They make for an excellent seasonal snack. :) 


VC

Monday, October 31, 2011

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



Have a spooky (happy) Halloween, everyone! I leave you with this short clip directed/written by Tim Burton. I will be in on vacation in Oklahoma. 


Enjoy...


Sunday, October 30, 2011

Cannibalistic Confessions



It is hard to be cannibal in this world. We are so misunderstood and people are so quick to judge us. The media paints us all as these bloodthirsty monsters and serial killers! But it's not true! Not all cannibals are bad people. In fact, most of the ones I've spoken to have been quiet, soft-spoken individuals with a curious affinity for taxidermy and fine red wines. 


Cannibals can be reasonable. We can have intelligent, thoughtful discussions about current events. We pay our taxes and we try to get by the best way we can. We're not all crazy. Hungry, maybe, but not criminally insane-. At the end of the day we are still human beings. 


I will not stand for these atrocious injustices against cannibals any longer! We are a proud people with a long and rich history, and we deserve respect. I write this post to rally all the cannibals across the world to pick up their pens and write to their legal representatives about this matter! Do not persecute us for craving human flesh! 

Friday, October 28, 2011

Smexxxy Friday




Virgins and extra virgins. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

My New Pen Name


So I've decided to change my pen name. How does this affect you? It doesn't. I never went by my real name away and I already sign a lot of my blog posts with "VC" as it is. "VC" obviously stands for "Vegetarian Cannibal." 


Since I write "VC" on just about everything I am just christening myself with that name to spare everyone and myself from further confusion. 


Starting (ha!) six months or so ago, I've been going exclusively by Vicy Cross. So...yeah. It's Vicy Cross now. Pronounced VEE-CEE (like TV) Not Vicky. 


Carry on! 


~Cheers from the Vegetarian Cannibal 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Speaking of the color gray...

Lately, I've been listening to this song while I write. Maybe that might have something to do with my "color schemes." I just love the color gray and I think the song's haunting lyrics really capture the color's "essence." I also just noticed all of the text on my blog is gray as well!


Somber, moody, and complex...it just kind of lingers in your ears while you listen to it. I love Banco De Gaio anyway, but I listen to this song whenever I am writing a particularly emotional scene. Hope you enjoyed it! :) 

Monday, October 24, 2011

If Your Story Was A Color



Colors can often paint a mood. And I know many writers use colors to describe a scene. It may be somewhat cliched, but I think colors are important when creating a visual landscape for the reader. 


I've been thinking about my WIP lately and the overall "mood" or "atmosphere" I am trying to create. I noticed as I was editing how much gray and white I used. The sky is always overcast and it is often snowing during pivotal scenes. 


If my story was a color, it would be a dull, somber grayish color. Gray reflects my main character's intelligence, loneliness, and endurance. But white also represents my character's childish naivety and well-meaning intentions. The moon plays an important role in my story too.




What color is your story? 

Friday, October 21, 2011

Smexxxy Friday

And yet another brooding, cerebral Smexxxy Friday posting! However, I find this short-film fascinating. I can't quite figure this girl out. Is she messing with him for kicks or can she not make up her mind?



I like the sexual frustration in this clip. The boyfriend obviously wants to possess her, but when she does not give him the answer he wants, he acts out aggressively and then throws a temper tantrum like a toddler. His lack of maturity is understandable--I mean, he asks the girl at least three times and she still says no! 


Still, I like her. She does not compromise herself just so she can please this man. So many women default to men in situations like this. They choose to "settle" rather than go for what they really want. For a woman like her to accept a marriage proposal, her suitor will have to be just as strong as she is! 


The "maybe" at the end of the film, makes me think they might end up together. I like the ambiguity, though. I hope you enjoyed it!


Have a great weekend!
VC 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Harold Camping Predicts End of the World, Again

Harold Camping Predicts End of the World, Again October 21, people. Prepare for the apocalypse! 


How do these "Doomsday Guys" stay in business? I mean, how hasn't Camping lost all credibility after being wrong the first time? Can these "prophets" just reschedule and reschedule until finally they get it right or something? I dunno... but if I'm going place a bet, I'm going with the Mayans, baby! 


I've already decided that on December 21, 2012, I'm doing to have an "END OF THE WORLD" party! It's going to be kickass. Beer. Naked ladies. Human sacrifices. Oh yeah. Every cannibal's wet dream! 


Cheers from the Vegetarian Cannibal! 

Monday, October 17, 2011

Every writer needs a cheerleader!

It is easy to get discouraged as a writer. Not always are you going to look back at your work and say: "I wrote this! This is brilliant!"More often than not, you're going to look back and say: "Wow. This really sucks." And the sad truth is that you're probably right!


There is always room for improvement. Always. Even with the best editor, there will always be that one thing you could've fixed or tweaked. There's no such thing as a "perfect story." All of the "original" ideas you think you have have already been done before. And only a complete idiot would believe their point of view is so uniquely different from all of their competitors. Everything is borrowed. Nothing is new.


This realization can make many writers depressed or even disgusted with their own work. After all, how important is your story at the end of the day? Is it going to save lives? Change the world of literature? Become a blockbuster at the theaters and make you a million dollars? More than likely, no. So what's the point?


Here is when a cheerleader must step in and tell you to keep writing anyway! Every writer needs a cheerleader. Every writer needs something or someone to keep them motivated. Without it, a writer can get moody, depressed, and discouraged.


So I ask you today who is your cheerleader? What keeps YOU going?

Friday, October 14, 2011

Smexxxy Friday (Lee Byung Hun)

All that talk of Kpop last week has made me hungry for my favorite bishounen, Lee Byung Hun. Feast your eyes on this, ladies. If he does not put a smile on your face this morning, I give up!





Jesus Christ, just LOOK at him! I am an atheist but when I see Lee Byung Hun I shout for GAWD, ladies! Hahaha! I have been in love with this man since I was fourteen years old. If I ever saw him in person, omigoodness...he would have to call security or something because I already know I won't be able to behave, hahahaha! The things I would do to this man...hell fucking yes. He is almost twice my age (he is 41) but I do not care! I would wreck his whole world, hahaha! 


Let us bask in the godliness that is Lee Byung Hun. Oh yes. I'm enjoying my Friday already! 




Wednesday, October 12, 2011

American Horror Story (FX series)




"We got bats." Hahahaha! Best comeback line ever. Anyway, I watched this show for the first time last week when it premiered on FX. After watching the first two episodes, here's what I think:


Overall scariness? Next to zilch. Creepy? Yes. Scary? No. In fact, I was laughing through most of the episode because the characters were so...outrageous. Maybe it is because I am a cannibal or something, I don't know. The fact is, I don't scare easily. And the show really really tried to be scary...which just made it even more funny. 


Overal sexiness? Actually...American Horror Story is pretty sexy. In a weird and creepy way...I kinda dig the sadomasochistic dude in the latex suit, haha! 




If you are interested in checking the series out, you can watch it TONIGHT at 10pm on the FX channel. 

Monday, October 10, 2011

Writing for teens and young adults...


I am 22yrs old and even I am at a loss on how to approach this subject! The YA genre is booming right now and like many writers out there, I want to jump on this train while it is still rolling! Twilight, Harry Potter, Eragon and Hunger Games are all extremely successful YA novels. So how can you break into the YA niche and what does it take to become a successful YA novelist? 


I wish I could tell you. 


You see, as a teenager, I never read books in the YA section. Not once. Whenever I went into a bookstore and wandered into that section,  I almost always saw a majority of 11-14yr olds perusing the shelves. No self-respecting 16yr old is going to shop where the "kids" go to read their books! Although YA is supposed to target 13-18yr olds, tweens are usually the dominant consumers. High school students want something more sophisticated to read and college students, pffft! If they have time to read at all, they're not going to go into the "kiddy" or "young adult" section of the store! So there's my dilemma! I feel I am "too old" to go into the YA section of the store but I wish there were books that targeted my specific age group. I'm so tired of the "16yr old protagonist." I want to read about 21yr olds. 


I am currently writing a YA novel...but I want my target demographic to cover 17-22yr olds. I want to write about violence and sex without traumatizing my audience. 


I used to think all YA novels were Christian-themed girl scout stories about HOW YOUR BODY IS CHANGING and such, haha! Reading Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins completely changed how I view YA. In fact, Hunger Games is what inspired me to write YA in the first place! I've heard about "Edgy YA" but I don't know how well they sell... 


I don't know. I'm still mulling it over. I want to get in on the YA craze but I don't want to market myself to bubblegum teeny boppers. 


What do you think of the YA genre and what do you think is appropriate subject matter for YA?  

Friday, October 7, 2011

Smexxxy Friday



A thought-provoking video I hope you enjoy. Please share your thoughts about this film if you have any. :)


Have a great weekend!
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