Minecraft 1.3 Update Release Date - Boo-yeah!

There has been many interesting, near game-changing snapshots that all minecrafters –me being one of them- cannot wait for to be in the real game.  Snapshots aren’t added into the game, updates are.  There have been 20 different snapshots and it has finally been announced they will all be introduced to the game August 3 in the bang-up 1.3 update.  I for one am completely looking forward to big features like trip wires, writeable books, and the internal server.  Please check out the minecraft forums page for more info about this update.

1.3 Update – The highlights from all the snapshots, the rest is mainly nice bug fixes:

- The game now runs an internal server in single-player mode

- The single-player server can be shared on LAN, with LAN server detection

- Made it possible to use client-side commands by enabling cheats (this is defaulted as disabled for old worlds)

- Added an optional “bonus chest” to get started quicker

- It’s now possible to trade with villagers. Added emeralds as a currency ß crazy awesome, right?  Unless you’ve also played the technic pack, then it’s only slightly different.

- You gain enchantment orbs from other tasks than just destroying monsters. Max enchantment level has been decreased to 30

- Servers can automatically suggest and distribute texture packs

- Added new world map elements (does not need a new map, but they’ll only appear in new areas)

- Added cocoa beans <-- seems like it should have been there a while ago…

- Added an Ender chest

- Added tripwire

- Stairs and levers can be placed up-side-down

- Wooden logs can be placed sideways   <-- Wha---??? That is actually just what I needed!   Jeb can read my mind…

 Listening to: Be My Escape (Relient K)

Lost the game!

-Xela

The Curiosities, The Merry Fates, and Upcoming Books

Ok circus freaks!  Here's some fantastic news for you all-

If you lot haven't checked out this website then I am ordering you to.  Now.  No questions, just go.  (The rest of this blog post is about them, but if you read their blog then you'll know what I'm talking about

http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/

Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff are three of my all-time favourite authors.  Together, they make up The Merry Fates, which wrote hundreds of insanely, bloody good short stories.  The Curiosities is their collaborated book that is going to come out soon and I am utterly exited!

The Raven Boys is Maggie's newest book, coming out in September 18, 2012.  On her blog you can find any and all info on these two books that I truly encourage you to get when they are out.


P.S. Just in case you missed it earlier: http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/

Listening to:

Elle Me Dit by Mika

Lost the game!

-aoneX

The Hunger Games - Finnick Odair

As Harry Potter is and forever will be, my favourite book&movie series, the Hunger Games were bloody good books.  I read them a while ago so it was great to see the first made into a good movie.  The second is coming out this year *Note: I normally will not post about current pop-culture events because this blog is more about writing and drawing etc.* and they have finally cast Finnick Odair: Sam Claflin.  He is near perfection for this role!!! My personal opinion -before I even considered him- was Alex Pettefyer.  Sam is the hot religious guy who fell for the awesome mermaid in Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (love those movies like crazy too) and also he is the prince/childhood friend in the new Snow White. I felt like I had to blog about this to see what you all thought.  I hope you guys are as exited and happy with this decision as I am, and even though he wasn't really noticed in the fandom of Hunger Games, he fits right in.

Lost the Game!

-Xela Donnovan

The Curse of Writer's Block

Do you sit down to write but nothing appears on the screen?

Do you write for hours only to realize your either rambling or at a dead end?

Do you find it hard to either get inside your character's minds or know what's coming next?

You may just have writer's block.  The words send chills down the spines of all writers alike.  Recently I've had some problems  with continuing my current book project thanks to writer's block, however, I have come up with a few ways to help cope with this dreadful situation.

1) Pause your thoughts on the current story (this takes a lot of practice) and try writing a completely different short story or paragraph.  It helps get your mind unstuck on the same story, and sometimes when you come back to it you have a new way to see the story and a bunch of magical ideas for it.  This isn't for everyone and I can understand why, but it works for me so it would be interesting to know if I'm not the only crazy one out there ;)

2) Look into your characters.  They may bot be developed to their full potential or could just be too unrealistic (thank you E-Claire for thinking about that one -www.e-claire.blogspot.com).

3) Go see a good movie.  I suggest The Amazing Spider-Man because I just received the biggest break-through with one of my main characters in Fallen Embers -www.fallenembersmovie.webs.com.  and I am very happy.  Also, it was an Amazing movie!!! (see what I did there?  Never mind...).  Seriously though, sometimes a well-developed movie with strong characters, an interesting plot, and a fitting mood will give you ideas.  I am defiantly not suggesting you use any direct material, but something that holds your attention might make you see what your story is lacking.

That's all I have for the curse of writer's block right now, but maybe later I'll create a writer's block-prevention spell or symbol...   (I've been recently obsessed with the show Supernaturals).