Teens@Random

The Buzz

Archives for Jan 2009

• Witch Is Easier? You've Responded & We've Got Our 15 Winners!

  Jan 29, 2009

  We asked you last week whether or not you thought being a teen witch would be easy. We had some wonderful thoughtful responses from so many of you! It's a tough one. On one hand, I think it's already tough being a teen. Would it really be all that great to have magic powers that could make you stick out like a sore thumb? On the other hand, who doesn't want to be able to learn spells and have potions that could potentially better our lives and others?
  
  I'm going to share some responses from our random 15 winners for FREE copies of Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses and Spells & Sleeping Bags. Congratulations to you and thank you to all who participated - there were some really great responses!

  Winners of Bras & Broomsticks

  "I think it would be harder to be a teen witch because I would have to hide my powers because it would feel like nobody really knows me." - cosmicdustbunny

  "I wanted to say yes, but I think it would be harder to have to keep your secret from everyone. It would be cool to be able to perform magic, but you wouldn't be able to do it all the time because you wouldn't want people to find out. So I think it would be harder just because it would be frustrating to not be able to show everyone the real you." - maroonfalcon

  "I think that life would be much easier, because if you faceed a difficult situation you could always just change it magically!! Of course, I would probably end up getting in lots of trouble..." - AbbeyLove

  "It would make so many things easier; school, homework, chores... pretty much everything would require a lot less work. Not to mention some pretty sweet new clothes and hairdos." - JediTears09

  "I think it would be hard to be a teen witch because a part of my life would always have to be kept hidden from everyone around me." - siskat93

  Winners of Frogs & French Kisses

  "I think that being a teen which would have both ups and downs.. You would have to learn to control your powers, take more classes, and keep your secret safe. This would be like having powers which you could only hide. But you could also use your powers to do good, help the ones you love, get things done faster, etc..." - read_dance_4ever

  "I think that it would just complicate things even more and my life is crazy enough as it is." - marillionflower

  "It would be really complicated. You couldn't tell anyone because they'd think you were crazy. Some stuff would be harder, but it would be difficult to cover stuff up." - Cassandra

  "I do not think it would be easy to be a teen witch. It would be hard to keep it a secret. Also it would be tempting to use the powers in certain situations like at school to get homework done." - Whiskers

  "Yes, I do because if I were a teen witch, I could create potions to make the world a better place. I could create potions to help end the war and to help people to get along better. Over all, it would be easier because life wouldn't be so hectic. I could create potions to make me a better student. Thus, getting into a good college. I could create potions to make me luckier so I could win the lottery. Thus, helping out my family and actually getting to live out some of my dreams. I do think that being a teen witch would be easier than being just your plain ol, boring teen." - Amber5

  Winners of Spells & Sleeping Bags

  "I think it would be harder to me a teen which because it can be tremendously hard as is, especially with ap physics! I would have to learn a whole new subject from scratch, and I wouldn't be able to tell my friends. That would be a real bugger. I would love the idea though, I would freak out." - p51tracker

  "I think it would be harder to do be witch because along with all the stress of school, you would have to learn spells, poitions, and lessons of life. Plus having to learn the consecquendces of every spell, potion, and action that you do as a teen and a witch. It would be a tough to be a witch wether good or evil." - pupgirl

  "It would be cool and fun to have magical powers, but it'd be hard to keep it a secret from your friends. And just because you have magic, doesn't mean you could use it. There are probably rules to prevent misuse, and it'd be selfish to use magic to help yourself. So, you'd basically be a regular teenager, but slightly worse because you have powers but can't use them." - ohvagueone

  "Honestly, as a teenager, we're all a little crazy and greedy. If we had the ability to be able to do all these things with magic, we'd use it to our advantage=trouble. It's shown in the books, also. (I've read the first two!) Given that much power could lead us to go overboard with it. :) (I'd so be one if I could, though!!)" - AxBritxBookish

  "You would have be able to resist using magic in front of people, like when you got frustrated or wanted to show off." - stormie2011

  by HeadBuzzer | 14 comments |
  Filed under: Bras & Broomsticks Frogs & French Kisses Spells & Sleeping Bags

• Random Hour #27: What's Your Sign?

  Jan 28, 2009

  I admit to being somewhat of an astrology junkie. I am always reading about my Zodiac Sign, checking my horoscope, and weighing the compatibility of potential boyfriends by their sign.  I was born in July so I am a Cancer which is a Cardinal Water sign. This means I am sensitive, emotional, tenacious, intuitive and nurturing (and also one of the signs most likely to believe in astrology!)
  The recent celebration of the Chinese New Year got me thinking about Eastern or Chinese Astrology. While I have a pretty good basis of knowledge when it comes to zodiac signs and what is referred to as Western Astrology, I don’t know much about Chinese astrology. While Western Astrology relies on the constellations in the sky at the time and date of your birth to associate you with a Zodiac sign, Chinese astrology denotes each year with an Animal. According to Chinese Astrology I was born in the Year of the Rooster, which makes me a Cancer Rooster. I’m not quite sure what this means yet but I definitely plan on researching further and finding out!
  What’s your sign? Do you find that your personality matches your sign description? And if you know anything about Cancer Roosters please share!!

  by Buzzgirl | 40 comments |
  Filed under: Random Hour

• Sarah Mlynowski Joins Random Buzzers For a Chat & More!

  Jan 27, 2009

  The first month of this brand new year is almost over and Random Buzzers has already been rolling out lots of brand new fun! We're having a blast with some really wonderful authors joining us here answering your questions and just chatting away!

  Our next featured author at Random Buzzers is no exception. We are very excited to welcome author Sarah Mlynowski of the Magic in Manhattan series! Please stop by our very special thread (which you can get to by clicking HERE) then make sure to check out the special Magic in Manhattan activities to earn buzz bucks AND a chance to win a free copy of one of the titles in the series and stay tuned to find out how you can win an autographed copy of Parties & Potions!

  As she makes her way to Random Buzzers from her book tour, Sarah Mylnowski wanted to share a little note with you first:

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  Hey there Random Buzzers!

  
  I’m so psyched to be here to talk about Parties & Potions! Or about the entire Magic in Manhattan series. Or about where I got the idea for the series. Or about writing. Or about hair products. Whatever your hearts desire!

  
  In honor of both my Random Buzzer appearance, and the super cool “Magic in Manhattan” contest I thought I’d kick off the chat by telling you ten non-saving-the-world) things I would wish for if I were , in fact a witch. Here goes:

  
  1.    That I had not told the hairstylist last week to cut my hair as short as he wanted. I now have weird, pointy bangs that will not listen to me no matter how much I yell at them.
  2.    That spinach would taste like Cadbury Easter Eggs.
  3.    That I would stop picking my nails. It’s gross. I’ve been trying to quit since I was twelve, but I can’t.  Yes, I’ve tried that vile-tasting “You’ll-Never-Bite-Your-Nails-Again!” polish, yes I tried wrapping my fingers in Band-Aids, but I pick through the Band-Aids and eat the polish. It just doesn’t taste that bad.
  4.    That “You’ll-Never-Bite-Your-Nails-Again!” polish tasted like spinach.
  5.    That my feet were the same size, that my boobs were the same size, that I was five inches taller and that I wasn’t so vain.
  6.    That my laptop wasn’t missing the shift button. Or maybe that I hadn’t dropped it down the stairs in the first place.
  7.    That my future self would e-mail me the final draft of the book I’m working on. (It’s called Gimme a Call and is about a girl who gets phone calls from her future self, so it seems fitting.)
  8.    That I wasn’t so messy. There are currently three empty glasses of juice, two hundred papers, ten open pens, eleven dollars in nickels and pennies, and a half-eaten cranberry granola bar on my desk. If it were a Cadbury Easter Egg I would have finished it.
  9.    That the dog living on the floor above me would mysteriously disappear so it would quit stomping on my head at three in the morning. Not that I want anything BAD to happen to the dog. Maybe it can find a girlfriend and move out?
  10.    That my sister and I really do have magical powers. (Yeah, I realize I wouldn’t need to wish for them if I was already a witch, but they’re my powers and I can do what I want.)
  Looking forward to chatting with you all!
  
  Hugs & wishes,
  Wannabe witch,
  Sarah Mlynowski
  

  by HeadBuzzer | 12 comments |
  Filed under: Magic in Manhattan Parties & Potions Sarah Mlynowski

• Random Hour #26: Subjects in Writing

  Jan 22, 2009

  
  I was inspired to write this week’s Random Hour Post about Subjects in Writing by our special guest author, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.  Amelia is able to tie in many subjects into her writing including psychology and philosophy, and this got me thinking about Subjects in Writing. We are all similar in that we have chosen writing as the outlet we use to express, inspire, and create, but we are unique in that we do not all write the same things. Some writers tend to stick to the same subjects, while others venture out and explore different areas of interest.
  Our Random Buzz Community is made up of some amazing writers and I want to know what subjects all of you love to write about! Checkout our New Activity.  
  Some of you have already checked it out and shared your responses with us.  Here are just a few of your great submissions:

  
  “The subject of the supernatural and mystical creatures have always fascinated me. I try to incorporate them into my writing as more of a sub-theme than the theme itself to keep my stories page turning.”(BUTTERFLYWONDER16)

  
  “History and different cultures around the world are two very interesting topics to include in writing. They can make the story more really and takes the reader out of his/her own little world.” (Libby16)

  
  ”I love to tie in personal experiences in my writing! It just makes it that much more personal to you!” (DMSCHRLDR94)
  

  by Buzzgirl | 5 comments |
  Filed under: Random Hour

• Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Joins the Buzz Boards!

  Jan 12, 2009

  As we mentioned last week, we'll be having a very special guest author join the Random Buzzers' Buzz Boards for the next 2 weeks! If you haven't already, go ahead and check out author Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' very special message to you in THIS POST then head on over to her special thread on the Buzz Boards to give her your own warm welcome and leave any questions/comments/letters that you may have for her.

  Make sure to check out the latest activity on subjects that you like to write about and share your answers with author Amelia Atwater-Rhodes on THIS THREAD today!

  by HeadBuzzer | 5 comments |
  Filed under: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

• Special Author Appearance Coming Soon - Read Her Letter To YOU!

  Jan 8, 2009

  I hope everyone is having a great brand spanking new year so far! I sure am glad to see all of you here and happily buzzing away on the forums and sharing with me all your wishes and desires! If you haven't shared them with me yet, why not? Earn your 1500 buzz bucks HERE!

  I can feel it. 2009 is going to be a great year. Are you ready for it?! Random Buzzers sure is! We'll be having a whole slew of new books to buzz about, fun activities and more guest authors! Our first one of the year? Random Buzzers is very excited to announce that Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, author of the Kiesha's Series, Den of Shadows, and her latest release, Persistence of Memory, will be joining us starting Monday January 12th through the 23rd!

  Before she makes her official appearance to chat with you on the Buzz Boards, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes passes along a special message to you:

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  Dear Random Buzzers,

  
  Thank you for having me on Random Buzzers! In my not-so-free time I spend an inordinate amount of time on message boards, and though my Den of Shadows message board community is dear to me, it is always fun to step out for a while and chat with new and interesting groups.
  I still have trouble believing that 2009 marks eleven years for my publishing career.  I am in the middle of editing the eleventh book, and have just finished writing the twelfth... all while attending graduate school and working toward a teaching degree.  While a guest on Random Buzzers, I will also be in my second and third weeks of student teaching, so you may end up hearing some commentary about my forays into the real world, as well.  (Wait! Since when did high school get to be the real world?)
  I look forward to answering your questions.  Ten books marks a lot of ground to cover in terms of published characters and stories, and I am also just as happy to talk about upcoming works, teaching, psychology, philosophy—eventually they all tie together while I'm writing, so they are all fair game for conversation.
  I will talk to you all soon!

  
  Best wishes,
  Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

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  Please help me give a warm welcome to Amelia Atwater-Rhodes!

  by HeadBuzzer | 24 comments |
  Filed under: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Persistence of Memory

• YOUR Final Product for the Likely Story Soap Opera Script!

  Jan 6, 2009

  The script has finally been complete! Over the past few months, many of you have been getting your script-writing skills on and submitting entries to be a part of the Random Buzzers' Likely Story soap opera script. After many great submissions and twists and turns to the story, it has finally come to an end. For the Final Act, our very own EmilyRuth has given the script a wonderful ending.

  Let me take you back to the beginning to where it all began. We asked all Random Buzzer members to submit a soap opera plot they though would be approrpiate and fitting for David Van Etten's Likely Story. Members voted and chose Puglover32's plot and drama ensued! Check out the original plotline over HERE.

  Take a look at YOUR final script and let us know and all the fellow script-writers involved what you think! Which part did you like best?

  Thank you to everyone involved with this fun activity! All of the submissions were fun to read through and I know there is at least one future script-writer amongst us buzzers here. If you are currently honing your writing skills on your own blogs, make sure to check out our latest survey and let us know a little bit about your blog and where we can read more of your writing!

  by HeadBuzzer | 8 comments |
  Filed under: Likely Story soap opera script