《Wattpad Block Party - Summer Edition IV》ShaunAllan Presents: Teal Shadows and Endings
Advertisement
A party? It sounded such fun! It had been so long, too long, since I'd been to anything like that.
But, the block? They never said it was for my head...
---
Hey there. Thanks so much for dropping my little corner of the Block Party. Are you having fun? Have you read some of the amazing posts that have been on here? I'm honoured to have been invited. is amazing and she does a brilliant job of hosting this event so often!
So, I was wondering what to write about for this post today. Sometimes, the ideas are there quite easily, while others take a certain amount of effort to come up with. I have to get behind them, getting my shoulders in and pushing with all my might. Not good news now I have osteoarthritis and a walking stick! Or I have to tease the tip of the idea with the fingertip of my mind until there's enough to grab a hold of so I pull it free.
This time, I don't even have that. I was hoping inspiration would hit me as I wrote this introduction.
It didn't!
My mind is having a busy time of it recently, though. With my various projects on the go, it's hunting with @sebjenkins, it's in Oz with Dorothy, zombies, a werewolf and a serial killing robot, and it's with Alice in a strange land full of wonder. And all this is wrapped up with 31 Creepy Words such as the opening to this very post!
As such, this might meander a bit. I know, I know. Not like me at all! So, with no plan, where should I start? Will it even be interesting or coherent?
Well, I guess we'll find out...
So first, how about a little announcement?
If you know me, you'll know I'm a big cheerleader for . Well, apart from the outfit and pompoms, of course. I've written all my life, but it's only really since I found Wattpad that it all came alive. Came together. Reaching #1 on Amazon was amazing, without a doubt, but Wattpad gives a whole new dimension.
It gives YOU.
Here, there is a massive, strong platform of people who are all lovers of the written word, whether that's reading, writing or both, Wattpad gives us all a shared community to share that love. That number is growing every day, too. I've had consistently wonderful comments on my stories, plus lots of lovely votes and reads. More than that, I've made friends. I've extended my family. I've had mindblowing opportunities, such as working with films and travelling to Wattpad HQ. These are things I never even dreamed I'd be able to do, but I have. For some time, I've wanted to be able to give something back. Not as a repayment, though I do feel indebted, but as a thank you. I wanted to try and help others find the Wattpad I found.
Advertisement
But, that's no small order.
Luckily, there's a wonderful group of people who are already in place to do exactly that. Not for me, specifically, but for everyone. They want to make this a wonderful experience for everyone and work extremely hard, let by the fabulous @TheOrangutan, to do so. They're called Ambassadors and you can recognise them by their lovely teal badge and, in many cases, a similarly coloured sash on their profile picture.
If you happen to check out my profile, you might see something just like that! Yes indeedy! I, myself, me and yours truly am an official Wattpad Ambassador! Can you believe it? I said, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I'm thrilled. Amazed. Shocked. Oodles of other effusing superlatives. Part of me worries that I won't live up to the phenomenal legacy they've created. I'm told that won't be the case. I'm assured that I will do just fine. I do hope so as I really do want to do well. I owe Wattpad a lot. I'm a better writer (I hope). A more confident, though still shy and uncertain inside, and, like I said, there's a lot of Wattpad love in my live with people all over the world.
So, there you have it. I'm an Ambassador with my very own teal badge!
How can I top that? I'm not sure I can, so I'll just move on to something else.
Next, we have the scary feeling of nearing the end of a book! How do you feel when this happens to you, either as a reader or a writer? It's the latter I'm talking about today. My book Dorthy was my NanoWriMo book from November. I actually managed to 'win' and write 50,000 words of it in the month. Since then, for various reasons, I've written only 35,000 since then. In one respect, I'm not happy with myself about that. Not at all! It should be finished by now, right? Long complete and well on the way with the next book?
Well, I can't say that I'm not into other books and that's part of the problem. I have the habit of writing, getting well into the book and then getting another idea. I'd write a few notes and think, I'll just write the first chapter, and then end up carrying on. I'd know not to do that, but I'd be doing it before I realised. So, with Dorothy, I told myself I really wouldn't. I'm involved in a collaboration with @sebjenkins, called The Hunt, I have my 31 Creepy Words collection (that I'm now doing video readings of) and I've also got two other new books on the go – one of which I'm letting you, the reader choose ALL the names of, including the title – drop by my profile to cast your votes!
Advertisement
But, Dorthy. I'm determined to finish it before I properly dedicate myself to any other book. I'm not that far off, actually. I can see the end, and I think that's my problem. It scares me. The book is getting wonderful comments and I have thoroughly enjoyed taking Dorothy onto a slightly different journey through Oz. I'm concerned, however. I think I fell this every time I write a book. Short stories are different. I'm feeling the end almost as soon as I start the beginning. A book is different. With a book, there are far more twists during the journey. And the conclusion is bigger.
I once read a book by Dean Koontz, whom I am a big fan of. I won't give the title here, but it was a fantastic story. The problem was, it ended in about two pages. I was engrossed in a wonderful novel and then...erm... it was done. Before reading it, I didn't really have an issue. I'd write the full manuscript without worrying about where it was going. It got there and it was fine. Now, however, I worry. Even though readers have repeatedly told me how much they love the story and the characters – including those they, perhaps, might not – I am concerned. What if I don't do justice to the story I've already told? What if you guys don't like it? What if I do like Koontz did and spoil an entire book by not doing a proper climax?
I'm hoping, of course, that I don't. I'm almost there and I've outlined where it's going. I hope the flesh on those bones is tasty and good enough for Edward to want it for himself (he's a serial killing mechanical man rebuilding himself from the body parts of his victims... as you do).
We shall see. You won't, I think, have long to wait.
And finally, I just want to mention a chapter of 31 Creepy Words. It was one of the very few that consists of a little more than that magical number. Only the second in over a hundred chapters, I think. It's called See Me? and started off as being about the shadows being alive. Now, that's so something I'd have to write about, isn't it? It changed as I was writing it, though. It became less about the physical shadows with a supernatural tint. It evolved into a story about people who are shadows because they're ignored. Well, not ignored as much as not seen in the first place. Or avoided the way you avoid the dark corners or hallways because you're afraid of what's lurking therein.
I'd just like to ask that, if you know someone like that, who isn't exactly hiding in the shadows so much as being one themselves, be their light. Show them they're not invisible. #BeTheLight. If you are one those people, I hope you find a way to emerge and show the world how wonderful you are. Wattpad is one of the best places for you to be able to do that. You can be yourself in ways you can't be elsewhere. So, there's a bright orange light there for you.
Be well, everyone. Be excellent to each other.
Advertisement
- In Serial47 Chapters
The Babysitter✔️
Lexi is finishing up high school and needs extra money for the trip of her dreams and what better job is there than babysitting? What happens when she shows up for her first day only to find out she's babysitting the bad boy's family?
8 273 - In Serial11 Chapters
Taking Over Me | Camille O'Connell
Antoinette Deveraux was trying to adjust fully to the life of a vampire. Having been rescued from probable death by Marcel Gerard years before, she had forced the trauma of her past into a dark corner of her mind, and never looked at it. When Antoinette meets Camille O'Connell, she finds herself feeling things she thought she would feel again, and wonders if it could be love.[The Originals AU] [Camille O'Connell AU] [Camille O'Connell X OFC]
8 253 - In Serial52 Chapters
Mine.
"You still don't get it do you?" he asked, anger dripping in his every word."Get what?" I asked, my face morphing into confusion at his question."When I said you were mine, I meant it." he stated, then before I knew it.His lips were on mine.--------------------------Octavia Hill, 19, has just graduated over a month ago from high school and doesn't know what she wants to do now, if she wants to go to college, if she just wants to start working, none of that, what she does know is she wants to live her life to the fullest. Ryder Salvatore, 24, owner of the biggest company in New York, Salvatore inc. by day and biggest New York gang leader by night, Ryder knows what he wants and when he wants it, he'll do anything to get it, although having everything he could have, one thing he still found missing and he had yet to discover what it was. --------------------------What will happen when the biggest gang leader in New York happens to meet a girl who makes him question everything? What will happen when Octavia finally knows what she wants? Are these two the answer to each other's questions?
8 128 - In Serial57 Chapters
ZEUS
TRAILER IN CHAPTER 1#1 Memories 10/10/2019#1 Hurt 27/09/2019#1 Werewolf 04/07/2019#1 Blind 09/02/2020#1 Time 10/06/2020There are three of themThey are ruthlessThey are cursedThey are ImmortalThey are the HellHounds.******They were a legend. A story. But all legends are based off of truth. "Don't go out after dark," My father said. "Don't go anywhere alone," My father said"Don't go deep into the woods, for that is where he waits," My father said.I never broke a rule. I was a good girl. But my question always was, what do I do when the monster comes out to play? ***I was blind, so I slowly walk forward, not knowing where he is exactly. But I use my senses. I let this connection pull into a direction. As I slowly walk ,I reach my hand out, "Where are you?" I asked quietly. A big and calloused hand touches my own. From that one touch, electric shocks courses through my body, a strange and warming sensation. I flinched and gasped in fright. The big and strong hand gently grabs mine and softly pulls me forward. A breath hits my face slightly. I was right in front of him. He leans down toward my ear, his lips almost touching it. His breath makes chills run over my neck as he whispers very quietly with a deep and rough voice, "Here I am."***If you want this book to make sense to you, I would suggest you read Book 2 of my Blood Moon Pack series, it completed and ready to read. You can still read this as stand alone, however there is more information held in Book 2.
8 126 - In Serial25 Chapters
Ice Cold ~ Toshiro x Reader
You were a normal human, as far as you knew.Went to school, had a sibling and friends, slept, ate...That was found to be untrue, to your shock, when a certain white-haired Captain found his way into your life.~ωε αяε αℓℓ ℓιкε ғιяεωσякs. ωε cℓιмв, sнιηε, αη∂ αℓωαүs gσ συя sεραяαтε ωαүs αη∂ вεcσмε ғυятнεя αραят. вυт εvεη ιғ тнαт тιмε cσмεs, ℓεт's ησт ∂ιsαρρεαя ℓιкε α ғιяεωσяк αη∂ cσηтιηυε тσ sнιηε... ғσяεvεя
8 231 - In Serial55 Chapters
Marriage Merger
Ximena Dos Ramos is the heiress to the Dos Ramos Cooperation and it is the sole preoccupation of her entire existence. With her father constantly breathing down her neck, how could she possibly hope to be in a normal relationship?One mysterious man that she keeps on bumping to manages to effortlessly pique her interest and little does she know they're about to have both their fates inextricably intertwined...And not in a good way! It could either be the beginning of something beautiful, or a means to a very terrible end as past mistakes resurface and awful secrets threaten to haunt them all. Greed and ambition breed catastrophe, but can love manage to change the circumstances of a planned marriage?Cover attribution designed by Freepic.diller - Freepik.com
8 149

