Written by Erica Rose Jackson Ah, writing rituals, what a deep dark world to dive into? Are they ever the same? Not really, if I’m being honest. I’ll try to boil this down to the most basic and routine things I try to do every time I sit down, or plan to, and write. There is always a thinking shower involved in the process somewhere. These yield great ideas that I have no way to record. If I’m writing fanfiction then everything starts with a brainstorming Google Doc because that’s where I have to get out all my ideas and my OC name. The next stop is always a baby naming site (writers always spend a lot of time on those) to pick the perfect name. I’ve used so many at this point that it’s almost impossible to find one I like (#writersproblems). Once my brainstorm is slightly organized - or not really at all - I start writing. Sometimes, I just keep going and look back at my ideas later while at other times, I bold each moment I’ve outlined as I go so that I know I haven’t missed anything. When I’m writing a blog, my ritual is really to just sit down and write it. If it’s a movie, music, or tv show review then I have multiple tabs open so I don’t make any spelling errors. I always want to make sure my information is accurate when I’m writing to a fandom because I know I catch those errors as a fan.
If I’m working on a book, my rituals get a little more extensive. The first idea usually comes when I’m not ready to write so it gets put into a note on my phone. Once the initial idea strikes, I have to go buy a new notebook and maybe some pens and highlighters because I have to be able to jot down each moment of the story as it comes to me. There’s naming involved again which is honestly always the worst part. After I have the first section down, I’ll start writing with my notebook close by so I can check off things or decide to change them. I’m a planner to an extent but usually, I only plan a bit of the story before I jump in and then go back and edit later. For some reason, that’s easier for me. I feel like once I get on a roll, I have to keep going because if I pause or take a quick break, the momentum will be lost. There are many examples of my different writings on this site. What about you guys? What are some of your writing rituals?
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Written by Erica Rose Jackson
We had time travel, new suits, friends getting back together, we have everything. I’m going to try to break this down by character because I think that will be the easiest way and I won’t touch on every single one because it would take too long. It’s like a recap mixed with a review and that’s ok. Consider this my love letter to all involved in the MCU. Hawkeye - Clint Barton Jeremy Renner’s character has always seemed to be troublesome for each director in the MCU but he finally gets the right amount of storyline in Endgame. The movie opened with him and his family just before the snap took everyone but Clint and it was heartbreaking to watch. He takes the darkest path of any of the Avengers after his loss by becoming the cold-blooded killer, Ronin. As Ronin, Renner was the most badass he’s ever been, but Natasha brings him back to the side of good when they have a plan to get everyone back. Renner does an excellent job in this movie which gives him a few big emotional gut punches to deal with. I will save one of those emotional moments for another character’s section. Black Widow - Natasha Romanoff In the first Avengers, I wasn’t sure about Black Widow because she didn’t have powers. I felt the same thing about Hawkeye initially. Scarlett Johansson won me over in Captain America: The Winter Soldier though and she’s been a favorite of mine ever since. Natasha is the only one, after the five-year jump, truly unwilling to give up and I’m glad because maybe they would have never fixed things had she lost faith. Natasha never had a family until she became an Avenger and she was willing to do anything to make sure they fixed what Thanos broke. Once the final plan is in motion, she goes with Clint to retrieve the soul stone. We all know what that takes but they had no idea. Renner and Johansson killed this scene while making me sob in my seat. Natasha makes the ultimate sacrifice and, after a fight, releases herself from Clint’s grasp. RIP Black Widow, you will be deeply missed. Ant-Man - Scott Lang When we last saw Ant-Man, he was trapped in the Quantum Realm and five years later, a rat freed him. Watching Paul Rudd as Scott Lang figure out what had happened five years earlier was really emotional. Can you imagine being gone that long and then discovering half the population was gone? The fact that he checked for his daughter before anyone else melted my heart. Ant-Man really is one of the best new Avengers. Lang was the key to getting back everyone who was dusted because he knows about the Quantum Realm and comes up with a crazy plan involving time travel. And of course, it works because they have Pym Particles. (Side note: I would have loved to see more Hank Pym) My favorite moment for Ant-Man was the return of the Wasp, Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), and she calls Steve Rogers ‘Cap’. Captain Marvel - Carol Danvers Ok so Brie Larson’s role wasn’t quite as big as I thought it would be but all her moments were excellent. Captain Marvel saved Tony and Nebula from dying in space which I think the entire MCU is eternally grateful for. And she shows up right on time in the final battle. Her powers are so immense that she had to be held back or things might have been too easy. I can respect that as a good reason to not give us all the Captain Marvel we desire, or at least I desire. I was thrilled when Nick Fury showed up at the end because it was obvious how hard Carol was taking his death in Infinity War. The Hulk - Bruce Banner We don’t get to see Mark Ruffalo this time around because he’s Professor Hulk now. Bruce Banner figured out how to be both personalities, or beings, at the same time and it’s awesome. His attempt at time travel is hilarious along with his lackluster smashing when they go back to New York in 2012. Professor Hulk might not seem like one of the bigger characters after you leave the theater but his role was really important. He is the one who wears the Stark gauntlet and snaps everyone back into existence. Seeing the Hulk act like Banner gave the character a great new emotional depth that we got to see time and time again in the film. I hope we get at least one more round of Professor Hulk before Ruffalo throws in the towel because he is at his best right now. Thor We have reached the only character who I don’t think was treated correctly in the Endgame. Chris Hemsworth has played Thor in seven Marvel films and his character has grown throughout each story with Ragnorak really turning him into the God of Thunder. For whatever reason, the Russo’s decided to undo all of that and turn him into a depressed slob for the final installment. I don’t know if Hemsworth is done playing Thor but I really hope he’s not because his journey can’t end like this. When we find Thor, he has given up. He’s drinking all the time with a beer belly to prove it. He’s not leading his people and he only agrees to return to the Avengers and help for more beer. Now, he had a nice scene with his Mother while he and Rocket went after their stone (or sludge as Thor called it) but he just wasn’t the Thor we’ve seen him grow into. In the end, he decides to give away Asgard allowing Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Thor goes off with the Guardians. This could be very interesting if Thor is going to be apart of Guardians 3 but if not then this was very out of character for him. I am happy to report, though, that Thor’s was the only story I was unsatisfied by. Captain America - Steve Rogers Chris Evan’s ‘Cap’ seems to be getting the most controversial and mixed reaction from fans. Steve decides to go back in time and return the infinity stones to the locations and times the Avengers borrowed them from. But while he’s gone, he chooses to go back further and live out his life with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) returning to the same spot he left but as an old man. I choose to believe that in order for time to make sense, Steve always landed in the ice to unthaw and become and Avenger because he could never have gone back in time to choose Peggy if he hadn’t done all of that first. Maybe there should be an alternate timeline and old Steve shouldn’t be all to be there but it was for the moment. It may not make perfect sense but it was the right ending for Steve Rogers. And him giving the Captain America mantel to Sam (Anthony Mackie) was just right. I know some wish it was Bucky (Sebastian Stan) but Sam just makes sense. I can’t explain it but I feel it. Steve has a couple of my favorite movie moments to lighten this post up a bit. When he fights himself and the past Cap says, “I can do this all day,” and our Cap replies, “Yeah, I know.” That was so well placed. We all wanted him to say the line but that was such a good way to get it done. The discussion Tony, Scott, and Steve have about Steve’s ass is such an epic moment but it only gets better when Steve sees it on the past Cap, after the battle, and declares, “That is America’s Ass.” There are so many but I’ve already gone on too long with this post. The last one I have to give a shout out to is in the final battle. Things are looking rough for our heroes as they fight Thanos and his army then suddenly Steve can hear Sam on his earpiece. When we hear Sam say, “On your left,’ I lost it. What a way to turn a little joke from Winter Soldier into one of these most epic moments in the final stage. And, of course, when Steve says "Avengers Assemble!" Iron Man - Tony Stark This is where things are going to get really emotional. We first see Robert Downey Jr’s, Tony, almost dead in space leaving a message for Pepper Potts (Gwenyth Paltrow). It looks like he’s done for right then but as I mentioned before, Captain Marvel rescues him and Nebula. Watching Tony lose it on the rest of the Avengers from the last ten years and then collapsing to the floor was really hard. I hated seeing my favorite Avenger suffering so much. He’s too weak to even be asked if he wants to join on the mission to kill Thanos and undo the snap, which didn’t go well at all. Endgame jumped forward five years and we don’t see Tony again until the team realizes time travel is the answer but Tony is the only one who might be able to figure it out. He and Pepper have gotten married and they have a little girl named Morgan. I really like Dad Tony. I love him 3000! I wasn’t shocked that Tony turned them away because he’d finally made the life he wanted but I also wasn’t surprised when the picture of him and Peter made him at least look into the idea. Of course, he figures it out because he’s Tony freaking Stark. Luckily Pepper has finally realized he’s going to be Iron Man whether she likes it or not and he gets back to work. When he showed up at Avengers HQ and gave Cap the shield back, I was hit in the FEELS so hard. Their reunion was definitely one of the best parts of the entire film. Tony gets it all figured out and the team finds all the stones but accidentally lead Thanos to the future because of Nebula’s wiring. The final battle begins and everyone is there, even Pepper in the anniversary present suit Tony had been making her. After a long battle where Steve picked up Thor’s hammer and all the characters come back to join in the battle, Dr. Strange shows Tony what he needs to do. Remember in Infinity War when Dr. Strange said he saw fourteen million futures but there was only one where the good guys win? Well, we were in the one and when Tony is up against Thanos, Strange holds up one finger. Tony tricks Thanos into thinking he has the gauntlet but the stones are in Tony’s suit and he snaps while saying, “I am Iron Man,’ dusting Thanos and his army. Tony made the ultimate sacrifice and I cried so much but this was the exact right ending for his character. He got to reunite with Peter (in the best hug ever) and have five years of bliss but, in the end, Iron Man began this journey and he also had to end it. I’m sure there are so many other things I want to say about Avengers: Endgame and I know I want to see it again. This movie is a work of art even if it’s super emotional. The Russo’s got the stories right (maybe not Thor, but I’ll be patient) and we got the best ending to the best movies of the past eleven years. Thank you to the cast, all the directors, writers, and everyone involved in the MCU for this amazing adventure. I can’t wait to see what comes next with the new Avengers. Just know that Tony will always have a special place in my heart. What did you guys think of the film and each of the character's story arcs? Share your thoughts because I've been waiting to discuss!
Written by Erica Rose Jackson
Ok y’all, I feel like this topic is going to bring you a bit too close to my brand of crazy but it’s what the challenge has chosen. So, let’s just get this over with. I have a few and I will list them and the reason I’m so scared by or of them. Umbrellas Does this sound a little off? I would rather walk in the pouring rain then try and use an umbrella. Sometimes they turn upside-down because of the wind which means you’re in the rain longer trying to fix it. And the closing method, I can’t even. The anxiety I have that once I reach my destination I won’t be able to close the umbrella is just too much so I skip them altogether. Sitting In The Center Of the Movie Theater I actually know some people who share this one with me but I have to sit at the end of the row. Some people don’t go to the movies with me because of this little tick of mine. I’m not really sure where it stems from but I have this fear that something will cause me to need to get out fast and if I’m not on the end, who knows what might happen? See, it’s not so insane but it definitely tests relationships. Making Phone Calls I’ve had jobs where I’ve been on the phone and I’m fine. I answer each call with no anxiety whatsoever but if I need to make the call. All bets are off. Obviously friends and family are totally fine, but if you want me to call a mechanic or a doctor’s office it really gets me in a panic. I worry that I’ll say the wrong thing or make a fool of myself which is ridiculous. These calls always go fine and I feel so silly but I still go through the fear in my head every time. I’m sure there are other people who share my irrational fears, or maybe not. But I’m being open and honest here so there they are. Written by Erica Rose Jackson Basically, when I heard Sean Astin and Melissa Joan Hart were involved, I was sold. I went in to my No Good Nick binge with little knowledge of what was going to come. There was a point, very early on, where I knew this show was marketed to a younger audience but I was already invested so I wasn’t stopping. No Good Nick has an excellent blend of comedy and deep situations, sometimes things get pretty dark. Astin and Hart play Ed and Liz Thompson, a couple with two children, Jeremy (Kalama Epstein) and Molly (Lauren Lindsey Donzis), and their world is about to change when a girl shows up at their front door. Nick Patterson (Siena Agudong) claims to be a distant cousin who has been orphaned and needs a family. The Thompsons debate but decide to keep Nick and everyone but Jeremy is pretty much sold. Jeremy is always suspicious that something deeper is going on and he’s right. I don’t want to spoil too much but Nick is definitely not who she appears to be but there is huge potential for her to have an amazing character arc. No Good Nick will certainly have you laughing with Astin constantly delivering. Nick’s real foster parents Sam (Ted McGinley) and Dorothy (Molly Hagan) are also great for delivering great jokes and some surprisingly tender moments. Agudong does an amazing job showcasing all the emotions and struggles Nick is going through during Part One. She will have an exceptional career. The casting seems flawless all around which only adds to how good the series is. Along with great acting and characters, the story also hits it out of the park. No Good Nick is about family and it gives that sitcom feel but it also goes deeper into what makes a family, a family. Part One ended by dropping a huge bomb and I have no idea what’s coming next when the Netflix Original returns. It’s definitely going to be both intense and emotional. If you’re not watching, you should be! Part One consists of ten episodes and they are streaming now. Written by Erica Rose Jackson I have never heard a song and thought, ‘this is my theme song.’ There are so many songs that I love so deeply but none that describe me in a way that it could play whenever I enter a room. I suppose I could pick a few of my favorites that could possibly be theme songs instead of trying to write about one when I don’t have the answer. Blog challenges are hard because some of the topics are so difficult to write but I guess that’s why they call it a challenge. Christina Aguilera’s ‘Fighter’ is a song I’ve belted out numerous times because someone has made me feel the way she does. It’s therapeutic to get all of that anger out of my system and avoiding a confrontation. Don’t get me wrong, some confrontation is necessary but most times it’s better to brush it off or sing it off. Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ does not relate to my life at all but if I could pick a song that started when I walk into a room this would be it. The beginning sounds are infections and the rest of the song matches that energy for an amazing track. ‘Toxic’ is one of those songs that I can’t skip no matter how many times I’ve heard it. Aerosmith’s ‘Lay It Down’ is another top contender in my book. This was a bonus track off of one of the band’s greatest hits albums but it has remained one of my all-time favorites since the first time I heard it. The lyrics are so relatable and it always feels like Steven Tyler is singing directly to me. I still don’t know which song captures my essence but if I had to choose a song then one of these three would be it. Each one of them holds a special place in my heart or has been essential to keeping my sanity. Do you have a theme song picked out?
Written by Erica Rose Jackson
When we left Amsterdam, my family moved to Nashville, TN for three years. I was there when I started high school. I don’t think I can call Nashville ‘my city’ because I didn’t live there for very long, but it is my favorite city that I’ve lived in. There’s just something magical about that place which can’t be replicated by any other city. I made great friends there and maybe someday it’ll be where I end up. After Nashville, I spent many years in Birmingham, AL. I finished high school and college there along with making some of my best friends. My Mom, Dad, and siblings are there and it’s home. I never thought I would call Birmingham my home but it really is. I was there when I did the most important parts of growing up. I don’t live there now though, so can I call it ‘my city’? For almost a year, I’ve lived in Charleston, SC with my husband and kids. This city is family friendly and there is always something to do. We’ve been to the beach, visited the U.S.S. Yorktown, walked downtown, and so much more but Charleston isn’t ‘my city’. I’d like to say it is because who wouldn’t want to be ten minutes from the beach? That’s something I literally always wanted but Birmingham is my home and that’s where I truly want to be. I’d rather be near the people I love and have to drive four hours to the beach then be this far away.
Written by Erica Rose Jackson The first time I ever blogged was after news that they’d be reviving the Jurassic Park franchise. I realized that I had thoughts about what I would like to see and what I would hate so I started writing a post. The inspiration behind my posts is usually because of a passion I have for a fandom or music that I love. I am a huge lover of reading reviews and theories online but sometimes the things I think are going on or might happen, aren’t mentioned so this was my way to share my personal reaction to things. My fanfiction writing started in a similar way. If I hated the ending or something about a movie, or show, just didn’t feel right I would fix it, for myself anyway. Sometimes a movie, or an album, can touch you in such a powerful way that the only solution to your strong reaction is to write about it. So, that’s what I do. I don’t review every movie that comes out or every show on television or every album released, but the ones that really strike me get a write-up. I chose to attempt this blog challenge to give myself more discipline so that I would write more frequently instead of just when a whim struck me. I am way off on the weeks for this challenge, in fact, I probably should be done already. But that’s ok because I’m still going to finish it. Written by Erica Rose Jackson I was sold on Star Trek: Discovery from the very first episodes of season one but there were many fans concerned about canon who were afraid to dip their toes in. After Lorca died in the finale, I wasn’t sure I’d want to come back for season two because I enjoyed his character so much. Luckily, I love the entire crew of the Discovery so it didn’t take much to get me over those worries. I had no idea where season two would take the story especially after they gave us that shot of the Enterprise and Discovery together in space just as the finale ended. Many, including myself, thought it was way too early to be tying the Enterprise into their story. We were so very wrong.
What I really want to get into, though, is how well the writers ended season two. Those of us who have been Star Trek fans for a long time never heard of a ship called the Discovery and Spock never had a sister named Michael. I was curious to see how they’d tie things together because, even though I’m ok with adding new stuff, many fans take canon very seriously. The solution was to send Discovery and her crew into the future, far past any Star Trek we know. In a second, very smart move, those who know where Discovery went and how they defeated control requested all records be sealed and to act as if none of them had ever existed. Ending the second season this way was a brilliant move because now Discovery is free of canon and the rest of the series remains intact because no one can ever mention anything about the ship or her crew. I was blown away by how well the season ended and I’m even more excited for where they go next. Captain Pike was a character I had little to no interest in because he was such a small part of the original series. His role was larger in the JJ Abrams reboot movies but he still wasn’t one of my favorites. That has changed because Anson Mount played Pike so well and seems to embody the best parts of every Star Trek captain we’ve known. I was hooked by Pike from the very second he beamed aboard Discovery. Liking Pike created a problem, though, because much like Lorca, he wouldn’t be around for another season of Discovery. Pike has his own adventure and timeline to return to. But, we have all fallen in love with Pike and Spock and we aren’t ready to say goodbye to these characters or send them back into the Trek we already know. An Enterprise series starring Mount and Peck would be the ultimate solution. We know Pike and Spock have more stories to tell and there’s still plenty of time to do it before Kirk ever takes over the ship. Sign the petition and be sure to share it so that those in control know what the fans really want. And honestly, that’s more Anson Mount and Ethan Peck. Written by Erica Rose Jackson I have been a huge fan of The Flash since I started watching when season two began. I went back and binged the first season so I’d be up to date and I was so excited about this show. We’ve had our ups and downs since the excellent opening season when everything was new and the show hadn’t fallen into a pattern. Tom Cavanagh shined as Harrison Wells/Eobard Thawne and no villain has really been able to capture his level of greatness. Zoom was scary in season two but when it turned out he was the guy they let in and trusted again things felt a bit repetitive. Cavanagh always returns as some form of Harrison Wells but Harry and Eobard are still my favorites. In season three, we had another speedster with Savitar who I predicted was future Barry because he kept saying, “I am the future Flash.” Seasons two and three, mostly two, had great moments but then four took things off the rail. It almost became hard to watch one of my favorite TV shows. Devoe ‘the Thinker’ was just an ok big bad and everything just seemed messy from beginning to end. Season five has changed all of that. Spoiler warning for the rest of this article, if you’re not up to date. I had my concerns after the Nora reveal and word of, yet another, Wells joining Team Flash before the season began but those were quickly squashed by the quality of the episodes. Season five has brought back what makes The Flash so special. Nora played amazingly by Jessica Parker Kennedy, is a perfect addition to the show’s dynamics. I love that she has a secret but she’s not bad. She is a girl who was very alone who just wanted to be apart of Team Flash and know her Father. She has brought great scenes for Iris (Candice Patton) which are filled with emotion and acted out so well by the actresses. It’s always worrisome when another member joins the team because sometimes it can seem over-crowded but Nora works and the show wouldn’t be the same without her. The new Wells, Sherloque, is kind of a mix between Harry and HR and though the accent is a bit much, he’s good. I keep wondering when we’ll have too many Wells but Cavanagh always makes it work. Cavanagh isn’t just playing Sherloque Wells this season, though, but he’s also reprising his role as Wells/Thawne which has been a treat. I’m interested to see how his story plays out as a clock is literally ticking down until he’s to be executed. I know he’s a bad guy but I really don’t want Wells/Thawne to die or turn into his true form. The most recent episode showed us Nora’s origin story and her training with Eobard and it brought back such good memories of season one. There’s just something amazing about Cavanagh as Wells/Thawne that makes me always want more. When he popped up in the last crossover, I was beside myself with joy even if he was being super evil. What else works about this season? The theme of legacy is great. It calls back to the beginning while also laying out the groundwork for the future. Everything is woven together so delicately and so well that the season has been almost flawless. I’m a huge fan of what they’ve done with Killer Frost, it seems they’ve finally figured out what to do with her story. Ralph has also fallen into place nicely with the team. Last season, he was a bit much but now I can’t imagine Team Flash without him. Cicada has been a formidable enemy but the twist with his defeat was, kind of, expected but still so well done. The only part of this season that I’ve had a problem with is the seemingly working out of Cisco (Carlos Valdes). Nothing about his storyline has really been true to his character that we’ve known for the past few years. I am hopeful they’ll get him back on track before the end, even if Valdes is leaving. The Flash is at it’s best once again and we’re already nearing the end of the season but I’m confident that they’ve found their groove and the next part of the series will continue being amazing. Great job writers! Keep up the amazing work! And, please don’t kill Wells/Thawne. Have Barry decide to break him out, or maybe even Nora. He’s just too good to get rid of. Here’s a preview for next week’s episode! |
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