《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 Serial19 Chapters
That Girl Who's Always Alone At The Back
A spinoff of A Tale of Two Words... A story about a girl who's writer/artist/meme page admin and a boy who loves her so much. Rianne Gray Reyes - A writer/artist who never gets the attention she deserves. She wanted to be published so bad she made a meme page even though she hates memes herself just to have a place where she could promote her stories and art. Jericho Salvador - A meme lord who actually lives a lazy life and has no certain goal. He doesn't even know why he's alive. He hates people as much as they hate him. All he ever wanted was to meet the girl that he loves. A girl who hides as Tomato. The path of the two collided and at first it was all fun and games. Until something unexpected happened...
8 148 - In Serial46 Chapters
Hunter's Wrath (Completed)
MATURE CONTENT | R-18Hunter Martinez was once a caring, kind, and responsible fiancé who always had a bright vision in life. But not until a heinous tragedy forced him to become ruthless. Seeking vengeance against Damon Dankworth, he resorted to the darkest plan of abducting Damon's sister-Dimaria-forcing her to marry him and make her suffer. ___Rank Achieved#4 - generalfictionBook Cover by Kenji SoutaGenre: Dark Romance Started: October 4, 2021Ended: December 17, 2021
8 120 - In Serial32 Chapters
A Pull Of Destiny
"Two souls don't find each other by accident. They are meant to be."* * Riya is a famous Indian soap opera actress but her life is always monotonous as acting was never her dream, but her fathers. However, life takes a crazy turn after an unfortunate incident when Riya falls off a mountain cliff during a serial shooting. Raghuveer is a bastard prince; an illegitimate prince and he is unfazed about what the world skinders behind him as his only drive in life is to provide proper medical treatment for his sick mother. His perfectly balanced bland life is disturbed on a sunny morning when he finds a crazy woman lying unconscious in his garden.But when the prince decides to help that woman his life worsens, but for better.A pull of destiny has a brought Riya near Raghuveer, her one and only soulmate. Will that same destiny give them a happy future?
8 228 - In Serial36 Chapters
All or Nothing / DNF Enemies to Lovers
Highschool AU / DNF Clay and George are 18 years old and apart of the same friend group at school, the most popular and well known group of guys. However, they seem to always compete for that top spot in which the rest of the group would seek approval from. Will their feud turn into something more? Or will personal lives change their views on the situation. Hi! This is my first story:)It's a slow burnI will only be posting the TWs in the beginning so read carefully, I will NOT post them at the start of each chapter.TWs: AbuseSmut / Sexual acts FightingBlood Sexual Assault / RapeName CallingUnderage Drinking / Smoking7/8/22 #2 in dnf wtf thank you!!18/8/22 #2 in dreamnotfound :)18/8/22 #6 in fanfiction
8 129 - In Serial53 Chapters
The Unwanted Proposal
(Highest rank #3 in romance on 15/02/2017, #5 in romance on 13/11/16)Note: the story is unedited and you might find many mistakes.Avni is a beautiful independent lady of 25 whose life is almost perfect. But soon that is going to change when under certain circumstances she is bound to marry Aditya, her father's best friend's son. Aditya is handsome and rich. He is a man of secrets. What happens when they have to live under the same roof.
8 188 - In Serial16 Chapters
Life is Beautiful✔️
Ranked #11 in #neilkhanna in JanuaryRanked #11 in #avniayesha on March 08, 2019Ranked #11 in #livingtogether on 08 May 2019Ranked 30th in #adiza on 23 March 2019😊😊😊😊😊Hmm well, ever imagined AvNeil having a live-in relationship ? 😃 Absolutely AvNeilicious story with a blend of romance, drama, emotions, love, family and everything under the sun ! 😄 Hop on the ride as our AvNeil are all set with great zeal in this cutesy story of their close to reality live-in relationship saga...!PS : posted the incomplete story on India forums probably an year back.. I shall continue the story further here 😊
8 163

