good morning, cyberspace!
GUYS.
GUYS.
GUYS!!!!!
Guess what.
I’M BACK!
WHAAAAAAAT?! What be this madness I’m spewing? Kenzie’s back? She’s back from the Hiatus she took to try and reinvigorate her soggy soul? She’s really and truly BACK?
Why, yes. She is (*AHEM*) I am back. (and i’m totally not talking in third person you’re talking in third person) And though hard as it may be for you to wrap your fragile minds around, it truly tis I — the kookiest Kenzie — back from the depths of the grave despair January, ready to begin again in this fresh, gloriously sparkling month known as February.
Ah, February. I love February.
And consequentially, I absolutely despise January. Which possibly explains why my Hiatus was less me being creative and sparkly and watercolor painting in the early washes of the full werewolf moon, and more me sobbing dramatically as I tried to claw my way back up from the pit of velociraptors that dragged me down into their abominable stink-hole.
hahahahaha. #fun.
But let us not dwell on the past, my dear crumblings!! For I am back, and I am fine, and I have once again snatched hold of some cookies and have discovered the sunshine and sparkles and scribblings of life.
And guess what, guys!
I’ve really missed you.
A lot. And it just feels so, so, so insanely good to be back. I tried keeping up with all of your blogs during my Hiatus, and in case you haven’t already noticed, I failed quite spectacularly at it. I mean, I don’t know about you guys, but I think it’s quite a feat how much I didn’t get done in January. In fact, it’s so much of a feat that I’m pretty sure I deserve a badge or a golden trophy made from unicorn poop or something.
somebody get on that, thanks
BUT ANYWAY. Now that I am back from Hiatus, not only am I going to be trying to catch up on all of the whosits and whatsits of the blogosphere that I have so desperately missed out on since vanishing like a purple puff of stardust over 31 days ago, but I have also brought back a smol little present for all of you happy little beansprouts!
A POLL!!!
Because polls are fun and invigorating and beautiful for the soul, obviously.
don’t you dare be disappointed, smithy.
You see, now that the New Year has actually begun, I figure it’s high time that I begin implementing some of the new and fun things that I mentioned back in my yearly wrap-up post thing-a-ma-jig thingy.
Honestly, I really have no clue what that thing was. But it happened and it’s there and you should probably go read it for a refresher in case you have a marshmallow brain like Yours Truly and can’t remember anything that happened past two minutes ago.
. . .
where was I going with this again…
AH YES. The polls! I have brought with me some polls!!!
See, while Smudged Thoughts has been and will always be my personal happy place, I also want to make sure that I know that you are also enjoying the content that I blast out onto the blogosphere. I want to make sure that what I’m writing is something that you guys actually want to read. And though I’m fairly confident that I’m going to be posting smudges on all of these topics at some point or another in the distant wibbling future, I’m still very curious as to what all you lovely beans out there are more interested in reading.
Which is why I designed this poll! Below you will find a delightful little doodad that will help me determine which posts you guys are most excited for in the upcoming months. And I mean, perhaps I’ll completely disagree with the results and go my own separate way like the rebel that I am, but for right now, I’d really love to hear your input.
It’s the whole YOUR OPINION ACTUALLY MATTERS spiel, see?
And so, without further ado, here is the poll!
(y’all better vote or I’ll send a wild pack of werebears after you)
Ze Thingy. . .
What kind of posts are you excited for???
And that’s really all I have for today, guys. So…yeah.
*awkward pause*
I am back. I am alive. I have brought thee a poll to satiate your thirst for clicking buttons.
And I literally cannot wait to begin this new year of blogging and creativity with all of you! Let’s hope this burst of creation lasts throughout the next 11 months, yes? XD
talk to me, peasants!
I’M BACK, FOLKS! DIDJA MISS ME? I bet you missed me. Don’t you dare lie, Bob.
BUT ANYWAY. What have you guys been up to whilst I’ve been gone? Have you stolen any skeletons? Murdered any small men? Sharpened your pitchforks for the beautiful mobs we are about to create??? Tell me ALL OF THE WONDERFUL (or not so wonderful??) THINGS that have happened to you guys over the past month! Let’s turn that comment section into a buzzing hub of happiness and cheer because I’M BACK AND IT FEELS SO GOOD, GUYS, GROUP HUG!!!!
*flings cookies in the air and disappears*
Smudged Thoughts 
I missed you. :)
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AWWWWW!!!! I missed you too!!!!! *hugs*
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HEYYYY LOVELY :D
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HELLO, MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND BEAN!!!!! XD *hugs*
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*hugs* :D
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You’re back!! Welcome home!! XD Hope you had fun whilst eating chips and drinking punch and sitting back in a hammock! :) Wish I could have joined you… although blogging is fun. :P
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EEEEP!!!! Thank you so much!! It feels so good to finally be back…. *breathes in the scent of cyberspace and pixelated cookies* I did eat chips. I did drink punch. However, I did not sit in a hammock because it wOULD HAVE FROZEN MY ENTIRE FACE OFF NO. Aww! If you’re ever feeling a tad burnt out, you should totally go on a small hiatus!!! It really does seem to help with the creativity….
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YAY! YOU’RE BACK!
Yup, you’re the sparkly bakery version of Moriarty.
I voted for more storytime with Kenzie, because that is a lot of fun, but I’d also like to see writerly stuff and arts and crafts.
And it sounds like it is the year of the Night for you…*Glances warily at pit of velociraptors* MAY YOUR FEBRUARY BE MUCH BETTER!
What have I done this month? I did a smidge of writing, a smidge of organizing, and then I stopped doing those things. Then I plotted new blog posts.
And missed seeing the Super Blue Blood Moon because of clouds. AT LEAST I TRIED!
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EEEEEEEP!!!!! *hugs*
Awww! This just made my morning… Perhaps my dream of becoming Moriarty can actually come true…
Oooh! Yesss!!! I absolutely LOVED doing the Storytime With Kenzie!! And boy do I have some stories to share…. XD Arts and Crafts are definitely on my top priority list! My only issue is, I never want to take pictures or record when I want to craft stuff???? So…#fail XD
Ugh. I know, right? But February is going much better so far, so THAT is a relief! *shoves January beneath the carpet where it can never be seen again*
Oooooh! You were SO much more productive than me!!! Oh! How did the organizing go??? I still really want to organize things ( and I’m so sorry about not responding to my emails lately! I’m trying to get back on top of things, but I’m WAAAY behind. XD ) AND WRIIIITIIIIINNGG!!!! How did that go??? Are you a billionaire author now??? DID I MISS YOUR DEBUT??? I’ve been plotting some new blog posts, too!!! #twins AND OH MY WORD!!!! WE missed the Super Blue Blood Moon because of clouds!!!!! *high-fives* #twinsagain
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Yes! Chase your dream!
I’m looking forward to your crazy stories. You could always just take a photo of the finished project, and once that feels normal you might be able to ease into taking photos during the process?
*Sticks half of January and half of February under the carpet too*
Uh, well, I stopped doing it, so…*Glances at the creeping untidiness and unfinished tasks* It’s better though! I tried writing more Willowbrook and I have no plot for it and I wrote some stuff with Des and…NO DEBUT NOVEL HAS BEEN FORMED! ALAS! I’m gonna have to write a post about all of that. I’m finally reading my overdue library book though (it’s a day late, I’ll get it back soon).
YEEEEESSSSSSSSS! *Hive-fives back* Huzzah for mutually attempted observances of epic astronomical events!
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*chases after dream* *runs out of steam* *dies*
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Me too, actually. There’s one in particular that I’m most excited to share with you guys, so that’s probably going to be the next StoryTime!! XD Ooh! That’s actually a pretty good idea… I might try this! I’m actually working on a project right now, so this is probably what I’m going to try doing! Thank you so much, Jethan!!! *hugs*
*staples carpet to the floor*
This sounds so much like me. XD We must conquer the clutter, Jethan!!! WE MUST CONQUER THE CLUTTER!!!! Or, you know…slightly organize it for future happiness… XD Oooooh! Willowbrook! I’m still in love with that name. No plot is literally my life, but just keep working at it, and I’m sure something will eventually form, right??? Maybe??? RIGHT???? *stares blankly at everlost* Oh good!!! I have not missed your debut!!! This is good. Oooh! Yes! Definitely write a post on it! I want to know ALL OF THE THINGS!!!! OH NO!!!! XD I had an overdue library book once, and it was honestly the worst feeling. I felt so sick when I realized I’d completely forgotten to take it back. XD
YES!!!! I actually love all things to do with the moon, so it was kind of a bummer we couldn’t see it, but I also sort of SLEPT through the whole thing… My mom said later that morning that she was going to wake me up to see it (cause I think it happened rather early?? I’m not sure) but there were tons of clouds and it was completely invisible. XD
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How many times have you died in all your comments?
I anticipate much craziness…And I hope your project is going well!
My clutter and I are at a stalemate. I need a shiny display goal to replace it with to keep going. Maybe diagrams of spaceships and Willowbrook’s floor plans, that might help. could drive me insane. I must contemplate it first. There is some smidge of plot in the last year they’re at school, but otherwise…NOTHING!
Now I want to write a super speedy debut and slip it past you somehow…Or a writing update, especially because now March is coming, and after that is APRIL! CAMP NANO! AAAAAAA!!!
I have overdue books much more often. Usually just by one day though. But I had been on a streak of returning on time so this was slightly unfortunate, but I did finish the book.
The Moon is glorious. And you can actually look at it, unlike the Sun. Aw, sleeping through it isn’t fun. ;_;
It was 5 am for me, so yes, very early. It actually started somewhere around 4am for me, I think, but it would be dramatic from 5-6, I think.
Except. Clouds.
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I’m not sure… Probably like three. XD
It did! It was Valentine’s Day cards for my family, but, as usual, I NEVER TOOK ANY PHOTOS. ACK. Oh well. There’s always next time! I’m gonna keep my phone around whenever I craft so that maybe it can guilt trip me… Oh yes. Much craziness. And possible death. XD
This sounds kind of like me and my clutter, tbh. XD …and the clutter is winning. :(( UGH. What is plot, anyway? WHO NEEDS PLOT, AMIRIGHT??? Spaceship diagrams and Willowbrook floorplans sound like fun… Much more fun than whatever’s happening in my story right now. XD
*GASP* How DARE you!!! XD OOH! But a writing update is definitely overdue here on Smudged Thoughts, too… AND OH MY GOODNESS CAMP NANOWRIMO I AM SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!! I’m hoping to have everlost finished by then, but WE’LL SEE. I’m so excited to jump back into a cabin with you guys. It’s gonna be great!!!
Oh no!!!! But at least you’ve finished the book now! Sometimes books are just too good to take back in a specified amount of time! XD
EXACTLY. The sun hurts us. It burns us. IT KILLLLLS US, PRECIOUS. (okay, Gollum, calm down.) Oooh. That sounds like it WOULD have been wonderful had THOSE DANGFLABBIN CLOUDS STAYED OUT OF THE WAY, ACK!!!! But oh well! Maybe next time. If we’re alive when it happens…. XD
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Probably more than that… xD
Ah, nice! And…Oh no! Yup, keeping your phone handy should help. Or just draw a messy pixel version of it afterward, I’m sure that’ll capture its essence. And look, more DEATH! *Glances around for the Grim Reaper*
I NEED PLOT! Well, I can put Willowbrook on hold a bit, because I have ideas for a shorter story…of DEATH! But I would have to draw all the diagrams…after careful planning…Or just tape up a bunch of sketchy plans to start stewing…
I do not feel ready for Camp NaNo. Eep.
I could use a smidge more sunshine, though….
We will probably be dead the next time. #Optimism.
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Naaaaaaah. XD
Lol! That would probably work, to be honest. XD *whispers* I am the Grim Reaper…
BUT PLOT IS SO HAAAAAARRRRRDDD… :(( OOOOH! DEATH!!! *is excited* Short stories are nice. I think my April novel is going to be HOPEFULLY on the small side. Smaller than everlost, at the very least…hopefully…? XD Sketchy plans might be better at first, because then you could sort of experiment with things you like without worrying about scrapping a carefully sketched diagram.
I AM SO READY!!! Actually, I’m not, but it’s okay. I WILL be ready. I think. XD
Saaaaaame.
Ooh! Won’t that be FANTASTIC?? XD
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My plot and structure is feeling sad right now. Or maybe the magic system. Oh well, I’m getting ideas here and there for things.
*Sketchy sketches.*
I will probably work on Willowbrook after this short story, I will need the tonal shift.
Not ready at all.
xD
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Same, to be honest. XD Everything is sad currently, but that’s okay. That’s what future drafts are for, right??? RIGHT???? *is hopeful* *and also possibly quite ded again*
I AM NOT READY AT ALL, EITHER, HELP.
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I think my stories feel stuck in limbo. They want to get written and out there, but they’re not ready yet…
Maybe I’ll just pants April. And have a smallish goal.
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I know exactly how that feels… 😂😭 It’s so hard, cause I WANT this book to be finished, but it seems like no matter how hard I try, there’s always so much more that needs to be done. :((
I’m thinking I’m gonna be mostly pantsing in April, but we’ll have to see… It should be fun, though! I haven’t really pantsed in a while! On the other hand, I MIGHT still be working on EV in April. So. XD
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I’m all set to display the emotions of my story, but not the actual pieces that allow other people to see and feel the story. AAAAAAGH! At least for Spectra stories.
PAAAANNNNTTTSSSSS!!! This just sounds ridiculous. Well, maybe by the time April rolls around, I will have plotted something. I don’t know. IT’S ALL UP IN THE AIR AND SPECULATIVE!!!
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UGH! WRITING IS TOO HARRRRRRD. *pouts for 30 minutes before continuing to write*
HAHAHAHA! XD Same… Let us hope we are able to plot ALL OF THE THINGS before April hits… It’s coming way too fast for me, personally. XD *flings cookies in the air to join the ruckus*
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*Stares into the ginormous jaws of Spectra’s Doom and considers that this is why it’s so dang hard to write it*
I think I’ve decided that I’ll just be working on Spectra, with maybe little snippets of other stories when they pop into my head. I’ve got to learn to concentrate and be consistent. :| Eep. <:|
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Hahahahahaha!!! I’m pretty sure everlost has ginormous fangs of doom, as well. Perhaps this is what they mean when they say Story Dragons?
YES!!! YES YES YES YES!!!!! Jethan, I am SO excited about this!!!! I absolutely ADORE Spectra!!!! EEP! This is gonna be fantastic!! Concentration is always hard. I think I’ve hit the point with EV, though, where the concentration has fully enveloped me now. I’m sticking this one through to the end, it would seem. XD
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Our Stories: Rawr! >:[
But Story Dragons sound cool and magnificent, even if problematic. Maybe this is a Story Swamp of Doomful Swamp Monsters. Or just an excuse for more metaphors…
I hope the hype pays off. xD
Hmm…I have a pretty good idea of how Sheyla’s beginning and end and themes all work together, but I’m not sure I can quite say the same for Des. Might need to think more about that.
Two more weeks until Camp. Let’s see if I can build up my focus! Eep!
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That is a very accurate description of our stories. XD
That’s true. I think having a Story Dragon is cooler than a plot bunny. Perhaps plot bunnies evolve into Story Dragons once you sit down and actually begin to write it????? OH MY WORD. HOUSTON, WE’VE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH.
It will!!!
Ugh. Don’t even MENTION the word themes to me. I have absolutely no clue what the theme of everlost is. This story is a mess. A giant diaper of a mess that I can’t even hope to fix. :((
SIX MORE DAYS UNTIL CAMP. I can’t believe the month is flying by so fast! This stupid cold really knocked me off my writerly feet. XD
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Or maybe there are dragons that eat the plot bunnies, and turn into Story Dragons the more they grow? But yeah, that’s a fun idea. xD
I feel like it totally will, and I also feel like, “EEEEEEK!!!”
Haha, I think I have an easier time with themes then. xD Or maybe they’re just easier to come by in dystopian stories, since the premise and theme go together. I just have no idea how to suggest finding a theme in your story if it isn’t popping out or already planned. :/ BUT MAY YOU FIND A THEME, AND MAY IT GUIDE YOU!! Or maybe the theme is: Giving pointy objects to a crazy girl is a bad idea. It will ruin everything.
AAAAA!!! It’s so soon!
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Um….I don’t like the thought of the dragons eating the bunnies. Plot bunnies are cute and smol and precious and SHOULD NOT BE EATEN EVER. They should be cared for and loved and fed carrots and patted nicely on the head.
SAME. XD
I think my plan is that a theme will magically appear someday, and that shall be that. It’s a lovely plan. I think I’ll stick with it until further notice. XD
Ooh. This theme sounds about right. Not sure what message that conveys, but HEY. CONFUSION IS MY LIFE GOAL. XD
IT IS HEEEEEEERRREEE!!!
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What about CHOCOLATE plot bunnies? Can story dragons eat those? *Noms Easter candy*
It’s a good, sensible plan. ^.^
I think the message is: Self-preservation in dangerous situations is a good idea! xD
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Ooh yes! Story dragons can definitely eat chocolate plot bunnies! Mmmmmm…. Chocolate bunny….. Now I want a chocolate plot bunny, too!! I AM A STORY DRAGON! RAWR!
I know! I am SOOOOOO smart. XD
GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME! *slaps theme into book* *ships off to publisher*
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I saw a baby bunny hanging out by a road today. But I’d really like a chocolate one…
xD
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Awwwwww!!!! I love baby bunnies. They are the absolute cutest!! MMMMM. Chocolate bunnies are the best! XD
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So glad your back! :) I hope the interview option gets more votes (love the character interviews :) Hilarious). Yay! It’s February!
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EEEEP! I’m so glad I’m back, too!!! *hugs* Ooh… I actually really love doing the interviews, so I’m pretty sure there will be plenty more of those to come in the future!!! XD (Also, I’m really glad you like the interviews, because my first couple of them were a bit…rough… XD)
I KNOW!!!! I love February… XD
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Also, I have something funny to share:
I was sitting by my younger sister, commenting on your post, when she said
“What are you doing?”
So I’m like, “Nothing… just on my smart social media.” (I feel like writing and reading posts makes your brain work more than selfies on Snap Chat or something).
So my sister said, “If it’s so smart, why are they’re cookies with faces on it?”
So I just put my head down and gave up, laughing. :)
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BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Oh my word, that is HILARIOUS!!!! XD XD XD Your sister is absolutely wonderful. XD Perhaps they are smart cookies with faces on them??? Or maybe my glorious artistic design appeals to all ages and IQ types??? XD (this comment literally made my day, by the way! XD )
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Welcome back!! Dude, the blogosphere is so hard to keep caught up on! I started out the year caught up, and somehow I’m 102 blogposts behind right now to read? Not sure how that happened but *shrug* we’ll figure it out (aka, burn something, probably the internet)
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EEEEP! Thank you so much!!!! And OH MY WORD, I KNOW!!!! How does this even HAPPEN??? I’m scared. It’s like all the people I follow have grown thirty extra limbs that they use to write or something??? XD I’m definitely up for burning the internet. *begins handing out torches*
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