The Lunar Chronicles MBTI

So, I have recently discovered the amazing series The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. Oh, stars, it is fabulous. Easily one of the best-crafted series I've ever read. The fandom is fairly small though, and MBTI resources have been painfully limited. And then I realized-- I have a blog! (I kinda forget that) I can write a post with what I think! And then you all can disagree with me via comments! So, here's what I think about the types of the Rampion Crew.

Linh Cinder- ISTP: Okay, so initially this thought came to me with the nickname ISTP mechanic, which immediately led to an internal rant berating myself for relying on stereotypes, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. Cinder is very observant, good with the present moment and physical world, which indicates Se, but I'm also quite certain she's introverted. Deciding between Ti and Fi was more difficult, but I tentatively decided Ti. She's very logical, staying cool in dangerous situations.

Kai- ENFJ: This one was kind of difficult. The only thing I was certain of at first is that he was an NF-- he's a hopeless romantic and extremely idealistic. Narrowing down his functions was a bit more difficult, but I'm reasonably confident he uses Fe, with how much he cares for his people. He constantly keeps his wants and desires in check for the safety of the Earthen Union, even if he does drop some epic sass while doing so. That makes it so his percieving function has to be Ni. After much deliberation, I decided that he's probably slightly more extroverted. He never really shows fatigue after dealing with people, and is very personal in all his communications.

Scarlet Benoit- ESTP: Scarlet. . . oh, Scarlet. She's very direct, very observant, and excellent at improvisation. She's definitely a Se-dom. She's also very blunt and direct. She may be a feeler, but I lean more towards Ti for reasons I have no idea how to articulate.

Wolf Kesley- ISFP: Oh my sweet cinnamon roll. He is sweet and perfect and I love him. Fangirling aside, I'm certain he's a Fi-dom. His whole character arc revolves around being who he really is rather than what others want him to be. He cares deeply about his convictions, his alpha, and his tomatoes. He's also very much in the present moment, taking in minute changes in an opponent's stance to win fights, and being very in touch with his senses. (Though that might have something to do with the wolf thing.)

Carswell Thorne- ESTP: Okay. How could Thorne be anything but an ESTP? His impulsivity, his focus on the external, his thrill-seeking behavior. He started a prison riot over soap, for stars' sake. He stole a spaceship he didn't know how to fly. He's very extroverted, very direct, and really, about what people think of when you say ESTP.

Cress Darnel- INFP: Cress's defining characteristics are her imagination and her kindness. She's very in tune with her feelings, and cares deeply about everything, really. And since a very young age, she's used imaginative scenarios to get through the many, many rough spots, jumping from idea to idea.

Jacin Clay- ISTJ: Jacin is another example of a stereotypical example of his type. He's extremely self-contained and doesn't take nonsense, even as a very young child. His Si is evident in the way he uses established ways to protect Winter, and is extremely loyal to her. He is also very logical and follows rules in order to get what he wants.

Winter Hayle-Blackburn- INFJ: I worried at first that this was a type bias, but I'm pretty confident in my reasoning here. She couldn't use anything but Fe as her judging function, with her incredible empathy. The way she thinks is very Ni-- consider her sitting in court, imagining her heart is a blood-platelet factory (anatomically incorrect, but it's the sentiment that matters). She thinks and speaks in abstract, but very human terms, and I'm fairly certain she's an introvert.

Iko- ESFP: Oh, my other cinnamon roll. And another example of someone who embodies their type. Iko is obsessed with the physical world, mostly in clothes, stays updated on current events, and is very feelings-oriented. Honestly, she's probably one of the easiest characters to type. And she's fabulous.

So that's my interpretation of the TLC characters. I'd love to hear what you think about them though, and if you haven't read the series, do yourself a favor and find it right now. It's completely worth everything.

I'll probably try to get back to writing about writing. To my friends who'll see this post, remind me to write next weekend, cause I have a list of potential topics and no excuses not to write. And to the rest of you, have fabulous days!

MBTI Types as Words for Intelligent

One MBTI stereotype that irks me to no end is the assumption that some types are inherently unintelligent. Everyone has some measure of intelligence. It's how that intelligence is used that counts. I've posted before on narrow definitions of intelligence. So, with this post, I hope to bring two messages--
1) To the types that are usually cited as smart-- This post is not meant to belittle you in any way, shape, or form. You are smart. But we need to recognize everyone's intelligence. Which leads me to my second message.
2) To the types that aren't generally told they're smart. Yes you are. People just don't realize that intelligence comes in many forms. You're awesome. Don't let the online MBTI stereotypes get you down.

So, without further ado, on to the synonyms!

ISTJ- Knowledgeable- intelligent and well informed.
ISFJ- Discerning- having or showing good judgement.
ESFJ- Sharp- having or showing speed of perception, comprehension, or response.
ESTJ- Responsible- (of a job or position) involving important duties, independent decision-making, or control over others. I feel like this one needs clarification, because it's not generally used with intelligence. You are so together, and you can always be counted on to make a good decision and make it work.

ESTP- Clever- quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas.
ESFP- Resourceful- having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.
ISFP- Alert- able to think clearly; intellectually active.
ISTP- Quick-Witted- showing or characterized by an ability to think or respond quickly or effectively.

INTP- Brilliant-exceptionally clever or talented.
ENTP- Inventive- (of a person) having the ability to create or design new things or to think originally.
ENTJ- Acute- having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight: shrewd
INTJ- Reasonable- (of a person) having sound judgment; fair and sensible. (I also thought of calculating, but that has super negative connotations)

INFJ- Perspicacious- having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
INFP- Wise- having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
ENFP- Witty- showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humor.
ENFJ- Sagacious- having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd.

Thoughts? Anything to add?

Writing Holidays

         I wasn't going to post this week, with it being Christmas, but A) I've posted once in the last month. I think I've had a break. B) Since I got off school for Christmas break, I have nothing but time. And a lot of cookies from neighbors, but that's beside the point. I figured a short post wouldn't kill me.
         In honor of the holiday season, and because I haven't posted about writing in way too long, today I'm going to share some ideas about holidays for your storyworld.
         Holidays aren't necessary per se, but they can add a lot of depth to a storyworld. A huge part of culture is holidays, and they can provide new ideas and conflicts. (Expectations not being met, crowds blocking ways characters need to go, etc)
         Think of a holiday. Any holiday, really. I'll bet that whatever it is, it's celebrated because of some historical reason. Halloween is celebrated because it was seen as a day spirits walked the earth, and a ton of our traditions for the holiday can be traced back to that. Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah to celebrate when the people rose up against a Greek king for religious freedom (correct me if I'm wrong about this, I looked it up but I might have it wrong). Thanksgiving is celebrated in America to commemorate the first harvest of the pilgrims. Boxing day is a British holiday celebrated the first day after Christmas, and was originally celebrated because the house staff had to work Christmas for parties. They were given the day after off, often with a box of goodies from the party.
          Do you see what I'm getting at here? Every holiday I can think of has its roots in history. I've recently learned the hard way that history is extremely important in a storyworld, and that it isn't always pulling-hair-out frustrating and dull. Think of the holidays I mentioned. Each one has its roots in a story. So thinking of your history as another story can be immensely helpful in worldbuilding. So look at the history you already have. Maybe a holiday could commemorate a great battle, or the beginning of a new era, or a great discovery. What events do you already have in your history that could be celebrated?
          Like I said, you absolutely don't need holidays. But if you're so inclined to make them, they can add a lot to a storyworld.
         Have a wonderful holiday season, everyone, and may your writing flow!

3 Slytherin Stereotypes that Need to be Destroyed

           It's been a while since I last posted. Maybe now that NaNoWriMo has wound down, I'll get better at this. Lol. We'll see how long that lasts.

            Today I'm continuing my series of Hogwarts house blog posts. This time I'm focusing on Slytherin house.

            Slytherins tend to get demonized. Of all the houses, they get the worst reputation. Which is a shame, because in my opinion, Slytherin is one of the coolest houses (I've got a bit of a bias towards Ravenclaw). So here's three of my least favorite Slytherin stereotypes, and my personal experiences and arguments to destroy them.

1- Slytherins are evil.

            No. Just no. This one drives me insane. Some Slytherins are evil. Some Gryffindors are evil. Frankly, by clinging to this stereotype, the wizarding world created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Imagine being an eleven-year-old, so excited to be learning magic in this amazing place, and you're sorted, and people boo at you. The only people who will accept you are other Slytherins, some of whom are involved with bad people. Saying Slytherins are evil only exacerbates the problem.

            Slytherin stereotypes affect members of the house on a personal level. I asked a few Slytherin friends about stereotypes. My ENFP best friend said, "[The stereotype says I'm] evil and manipulative don't trust them they'll cut you. I hate it. It makes me want to cut them. Which makes them right. Which I hate even more and then I want to cry."

            Shortly afterwards, she sent me a message reading, "FOREHEAD KISSES!!! ARE THE CUTEST!!!!!!!!"

            Another friend said, "I suppose the worst one is that all Slytherins are snooty and/or rude to everyone outside our house. Another one is that all Slytherins turn into death eaters. Not only is this upsetting for me, it lowers self-esteem. I don't aspire to be a death eater solely because I'm a Slytherin."

2- Slytherins don't care about anyone but themselves, and they’re all the same snotty rich kids.

            I started writing this in paragraph form, but it's much simpler to make a list.

            -My best friend is a Slytherin (I mentioned her earlier). She's also the sweetest, most compassionate person I've ever met.

            -I know a Slytherin who loves theatre and is amazing at improv.

            -I know another one who is very quiet and loves sports.

            -Another Slytherin friend is a feminist, also in theatre, and he sings and dances in the school show choir.

            -Another one is amazing at sewing and is in charge of costumes for theatre (Most of my friends are in theatre, if you can't tell).

            -Another one has an incredible mind and a great sense of humor, and drives our seminary* teacher crazy by taking everything literally.

            -I know another Slytherin who plays Magic and is on the wrestling team and regularly wears a "Viva La Pluto" t-shirt.

            Slytherins are people. They’re just as messy and colorful and diverse as anyone else. Reducing them to a few traits based on a few unfortunately prominent members is both fallacious and limiting.

            Ambition isn't necessarily getting to the top no matter what. Sometimes it's stubbornness. Sometimes it's having huge, impractical dreams that you will achieve, because you're just crazy enough to take the risks to make it happen.

3- Slytherins are manipulative.

            This one is actually true. But everyone is manipulative. Manipulation is such a common thing; we don't even look at it most of the time.

            Manipulation is actually fascinating because it's such a common, everyday thing that everyone does, but the moment you put the label manipulation on it it's twisted and wrong and evil (Sometimes I wonder why people react so strongly when you call it manipulation. Like hmm. Why are you so personally offended by this? Do you not want to see yourself as a villain? And really, what people are defensive about is a really good indicator of their insecurities).

            Coming back to the main point, manipulation is not a Slytherin trait. It's a human trait. Saying that it exclusively belongs to another group of people is an excellent way to feel better about yourself at the cost of demonizing said group and missing an opportunity to learn and become self-aware.

           

            Guys. Slytherin is the house of tradition, of huge, impractical dreams, of impossible things. Slytherin is the house of people who fiercely protect the people they love. It's the house of pushing the limits of what you can achieve and having the hard-working spirit to pull it off.

            Slytherins are like Gryffindors in their devotion to their causes.

            Slytherins are like Hufflepuffs in their work ethic.

            Slytherins are like Ravenclaws in their imagination.

            It seems to me that Slytherin house is a combination of some of the best traits of the other houses. Slytherins are fabulous. Stop telling them they're not.

           I'd love to hear about you in Slytherin house, your Slytherin friends, and how you feel about these stereotypes! I'm also doing Gryffindor sometime soonish, which will be a bit more difficult for me as I have a bit of a bias towards them. Hopefully, in writing the post I'll educate myself and others, but if you're a Gryffindor and have any input, I'd love to hear it.

*If you don’t know what seminary is, I’m part of the LDS church. We’re also known as Mormons. We have a program in many schools where we go early or are released for a class hour to go to a class to learn about scriptures, and we call it seminary.

6 Problems with the Relationship in Phantom of the Opera

So I feel the need to get this off my chest. I love musicals. One of my favorites is Phantom of the Opera. I love the music and the story. But, in looking at Pinterest, I've noticed a rather disturbing trend.
It is ridiculously hard to find someone who doesn't ship Christine with the Phantom. Nearly everyone argues that he's lonely and misunderstood. Yes, maybe he is. But that doesn't make him Christine's responsibility. Here are the top 6 reasons why I find this trend problematic.
1- First and foremost, this is not a healthy relationship, on so many levels.
Last time I watched the movie, I took note of whenever the Phantom was manipulative or controlling. My total came to eighty times. That's not counting the things that are just creepy, like hanging out in her dressing room mirror (let that sink in for a minute) or having a mannequin of Christine in a wedding dress. If you average that out, it makes the Phantom manipulating or controlling someone every one and a half minutes. On one occasion, the Phantom hits her and shoves her to the ground for taking his mask off. I get it. It's a touchy subject. But for heaven's sake, it's very rarely okay to hit anyone. It is NEVER okay to hit the person you're in a relationship with, unless it's in self-defense, in which case I'd question the wisdom of remaining in that relationship.
2- I don't care what you say. The Phantom does not love Christine.
This is another case that I see a lot. But let me make this very clear. The Phantom lusts after Christine. He does not love her. The Phantom makes it clear that what he wants comes first. He tried to kill her fiance, for crying out loud. Love understands that sometimes what you want need to take a backseat to what someone else wants. If the Phantom loved Christine, her would accept that she chose Raoul and is happier that way. If you want to see unrequited love in a musical, look at Eponine and Marius from Les Mis. Eponine lets Marius love Cosette, even if it kills her (sorry, couldn't resist). She respects that Marius deserves to be happy with whoever he chooses. She remains kind to him and helps him. That is love. Contrast that to the Phantom, who kidnaps her and tries to force her to marry him.
I'd also like to take a moment to point out that the Phantom acts like the lake is too deep to wade in until he's confident Christine will not leave. He let her believe she was trapped. That is not love.
3- Can we take a minute to discuss the ew factor?
Madame Girry says at the very beginning that Christine came to live at the opera house after her father died, when she was seven years old. Ever since then, the Phantom has been communicating with her, pretending to be her father. She was seven. Years. Old. The Phantom is a bit younger than Madame Girry, her best friend's mother. Conclusion- the Phantom is old enough to be Christine's father, and has had his eye on her since she was a young child. Then the Phantom tried to begin their relationship by saying he's her dead father, which is both a cruel lie and disgusting.
4- His past does not excuse his behavior.
I understand this. The Phantom was abused. He had a terrible childhood. But that does not make his behavior okay. I've done some research, and I believe that the Phantom could be diagnosed as a sociopath (caused by childhood trauma or abuse, disregard for laws and social rules, disregard for others' rights, volatile, prone to emotional outbursts, etc. If anyone want to hear it, I will explain my reasoning more fully.) But he still needs to be punished for his crimes. His happiness is not Christine's responsibility. Her responsibility is her safety, and she does a terrible job at standing up for herself.
5- The Phantom is a terrible example.
This is honestly the thing that scares me most. I'm going on the assumption that a large portion of the Phantom of the Opera fandom is female, based on whose pins I've seen. The Phantom's behavior is not romantic. And it's dangerous to present it as such. I scares me how many pins I've seen saying things along the lines of, "If a masked man appears in your dressing room mirror, you should follow him into his lair." The comments on these are overwhelmingly in support of the Phantom. How many girls (and guys) are going to get into relationships and think that that is romantic? How many people will tolerate their dehumanization because there's a romantic musical that portrays it as okay?
6- Still not convinced? Take direct quotes.
"My power over you grows stronger yet." This is one of the first things the Phantom says to Christine. Am I really the only one who recognizes how harmful that is?
"The Angel of Music is very strict." Christine says this when discussing the Phantom. I'd just like to take a minute to point out that trying to control every aspect of someone's life is an early warning sign of an abusive relationship.
"Only then can you belong to me." I really don't think this needs explanation.
"D*** you! You little prying Pandora! You little demon, Is this what you wanted to see? Curse you, you little lying Delilah! You little viper! Now you cannot ever be free!" This is where he hits her. This is not healthy.
"You will curse the day you did not do all that the Phantom asked of you!" Can I make it any more clear that the Phantom does not respect Christine?
P.S. I haven't even brought up the sequel, Love Never Dies. If you ever want to get angry, read the Wikipedia synopsis. 

 

Keeping the Balance- School vs. Writing

       Before I even start, I want to make it clear that I am by no means an expert at balancing anything, much less schoolwork with writing. This is kind of going to be a maybe-this-will-work-for-both-of-us kind of post, because I'm still figuring it out, too.
      Disclaimer aside, it's getting to be that time of year. I don't know when all of you start school, but I'm going back Thursday to start my junior year of high school. And while I'm excited for the classes, I'm also trying to figure out how I'll balance my writing with my grades, because, as annoying as they are, grades kind of are important.
      This is also the first year I'll be editing one novel and writing another, so I've been trying to figure out how to balance work between those.
      My tentative plan is to plan three tasks a day at the beginning of the week. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I'll edit Dragonchild. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, I'll write my as-of-yet-unnamed WIP. I'm not setting any tasks Sunday so I can focus on church and family that day.
      These tasks are to be completed during free time at school, after-school activities, and home. As little as I usually want to write, I like math even less, so I'd get a lot of writing done while I was supposed to be doing homework, but there's kind of an obvious pitfall to that. So, I'm going to adopt my writing sit-your-butt-down-in-the-chair-and-get-it-over-with policy. Also, pretending to do vital research for the Doctor. . . That always helps.
      Another balance I need to find is how hard to push myself. That's where the tasks come in. I assign myself three a day, planning at the beginning of the week. Since I haven't done as much writing as I intended this summer, I'm starting small and working my way up-- Tuesday involves worldbuilding and 200 words, Thursday character development and 250 words, and so on. I'm only setting two tasks Fridays and Saturdays so that every week, I write a blog post one day and save EVERYTHING to Dropbox the other.
     I really have no idea if this is going to work, but it's my plan, and even if it doesn't help me, it might help you. Also, having it on the internet for people to see might give me more motivation.
     The main thing is the same thing you need to remember when you don't want to write-- you won't want to do your schoolwork, but it's got to get done. Maybe you could pretend to be doing research or something. I don't know. But I'm convinced that the universe hinges on balance, from the placement of planets to the details of managing everyday obligations. Writing and school are very important. You need both. Just make sure to take some time for yourself, too. Burning out won't help anything.
     So, what do you all think of my plan? When does your school start? How are you going to balance writing with school and everything else? Let me know in the comments!

Lessons from Finding Neverland: Write from the Heart

     I've recently discovered an amazing new musical called Finding Neverland. It's centered around J.M. Barrie's journey as he wrote Peter Pan. As a writer, I was immediately drawn into his struggle of finding ideas, and aside from being a fabulously entertaining soundtrack, I think it carries a real message for writers.
     The musical is about J.M. Barrie finding the inspiration for and writing Peter Pan, despite growing personal problems, a lack of inspiration, and no one believing that the play will ever sell. The plot revolves around Barrie choosing to write what he's passionate about, rather than what the crowd wants.
     In the beginning, Barrie "[Hasn't] had a new idea in years." He meets a family of four young boys and their widowed mother, and uses their imaginative games to inspire a far-off, idyllic world called Neverland. He frequently tells the boys how the world is far more than meets the eye, and that imagination is the key to living.
      After having Peter Pan initially rejected by his producer, Barrie must decide whether to follow the story he's passionate about. In what sounds like a dream scene, his "Dark Side" talks to him, saying, "You have to use your pen for something other than satisfying them." It inspires him to keep going, and despite many criticisms and discouragements, he manages to make his play a success.

     In addition to being an inspiring story about following your heart, there are a few very interesting ideas about writing through doubt. Many scenes in Peter Pan are inspired by Barrie's games with the boys, including the pirates, mermaids, and crocodile.
     Another bit I found fascinating was that Barrie's "dark side" said to write a part for him. It eventually became Captain Hook. It reminded me of something I read somewhere about writing your villain around what you hoped you'd never become. I loved that the moment I read it. We don't like to imagine ourselves as the villain. But it can make a truly amazing antagonist to give him/her some of your own traits.
     I also noticed that Barrie had problems with writer's block whenever he tried to write for the crowd. I've mentioned earlier that forcing a character to do something they don't want to will block you. Remember not to do the same thing to yourself.
     This has kind of become a rambling thing, and I'm not certain of how best to conclude. I definitely recommend finding the soundtrack. It's inspired me. And even if you never listen to a single song of it, I hope you'll remember that no matter how few people believe in you, how discouraged you get, there is always someone who will recognize the passion in your work. When you write from your heart, that shows in your writing. When you love your story, it opens the gate for others to love it, too.