Something Borrowed

This is the most realistic movie I've ever seen. 

It was adopted from a book with the same title (authored by Emily Giffin). It tells the friendship between Rachel and Darcy, and the complicated feeling from Rachel towards Dex, since Dex was Darcy's fiance. 

The storyline went smooth, and the flashbacks were plotted on the right tracks. If you really pay attention to the story, you can feel a mixed feeling, between love and hatred, towards Rachel and Darcy as well.

They both are just human beings, who are not perfect, and can be selfish too. Rachel had been hiding her feeling all the time, because she didn't wanna hurt Darcy. And Darcy was completely happy as she would be a charming bride to her good-looking and sexy fiance, Dex. She thought that everything under control, until she found out what really happened.

If the infidelity was not the only conflict which should be underlined from this story, well, I'd say there are others. Other things that we can conclude of. The friendship that was tested, the unexpected betrayal, etc. And in the end, we just have to accept that this is how people gonna react in the real life.

The problem was cliche, but the resolution of the plot, was charmingly realistic. That is why I gave 5 out of 5 stars to this movie.

I also read in the internet that it has a sequel called 'Something Blue'. I cannot wait to watch it (if it plans to be adopted to a movie!). 

It is a recommended movie. :)

Between Writing and Music

I love music. I also love writing.

How would I choose one over both of them?

Truthfully, I don't think I could.

Music. I grew up in a family who feels music like a need of breathing air. It kind of runs in my blood. And how am I supposed to leave writing for music? I can't do it. I just can't.

Writing. I love reading as much as writing. The need of telling stories to everyone is like sharing my dreams. It's beautiful and addictive. How would I dare to leave it over music?

I love both of them. I live my life for them.

Up until now I breathe them.

And I will always be.

"You Don't Know What You've Got Until He's Gone"

I just lost my best friend about two weeks ago. He died of a heart attack.

I'd been busy searching for a best friend, whilst the ONE was already in front of me all along.

He'd been a very best friend of mine. We shared everything. The girls he liked, the boys I liked, the passion he wanted to create, the songs he sang, the songs I built, everything.

And on March 2nd, 2012, I lost him.

He was like a brother I never had. We quarreled, yeah, but we got back to each other, eventually.

I felt so stupid for disappointing him, for not being cared about Trendkill -- our band -- in these past few months.

Donny Eka Putra, you were my best friend, you still are, and will always be.

Take good care of yourself over there, brother. I miss you.

Raisa ~ My New Idol

Who doesn't love her and her voice? :)

Peta Karakter vs Plot

Ada 2 cara yang bisa menjadi alat bantu dalam mengembangkan cerita.

Do you know mindmap? Cara yang dikembangkan oleh Tony Buzan ini bisa dijadikan salah satu cara untuk mendeskripsikan karakter kamu dalam cerita. Cara ini cocok buat kamu yang suka membuat plot sedetail mungkin.

Dan pada setiap 'akar' dari mindmap yang kamu buat, bisa kamu bikin turunan plotnya. Misalnya, pada bab 1 kamu ingin karakter melakukan aktivitas apa saja? Tulis di setiap 'akar'-nya. Setelah selesai, lanjutkan ke bab 2, dst.

Dari turunan Karakter vs Plot ini, kamu bisa dengan mudah melihat peta cerita kamu. Kamu bisa tahu mau ke mana arah cerita kamu sampai bab terakhir.

Kalau sudah menulis sampai tengah cerita terus ingin diubah gimana? Gak masalah. Ubah petanya. Kamu akan tahu 'akar' mana saja yang mesti diubah, yang berpengaruh pada jalan cerita.

Cara yang satu lagi adalah dengan membuat bagan/diagram.

Cara ini efektif kalau kamu tidak mau repot membuat detail, tapi cukup dengan membuat garis besarnya saja. Satu bagan diwakilkan satu action, misalnya. Atau satu bagan diwakilkan satu setting. It's up to you.

Kedua cara ini bisa kamu lakukan kalau kamu tidak suka membuat plot dengan hanya membuat jajaran-jajaran kalimat, tapi dengan gambar. Aku sendiri lebih suka dengan cara bagan/diagram karena buatku, alur cerita lebih 'terlihat' dan dari setiap bagan, bisa aku zoom in atau zoom out dengan cara membuat bagan baru tersendiri.

Semoga saja cara ini bisa membantu. Selamat mencoba ya! :)

Kerangka Di Balik Kerangka

Maksudku, ada kisah di balik cerita kita. Diibaratkan dua buah papan puzzle yang berhadapan, kedua puzzle itu mempunyai gambar yang berbeda namun berhubungan. Jika satu gambar tidak disatukan, satu gambar lagi juga tidak bisa diselesaikan.

Penerapannya ke novel kita adalah kalau kamu mau membuat sebuah cerita, tentu ada alasan kenapa sang tokoh utama yang terpilih. Sang tokoh utama di sini menjadi tokoh yang dengan rajin kita 'jatuhkan' berkali-kali yang pada akhirnya, tentu saja, menjadi 'pahlawan'. Alasan kenapa dia bisa terpilih itulah yang menjadi kerangka 'terselubung'. Dan kisah dia yang ada di novel kita itu yang menjadi kerangka yang 'terlihat'. Yang membuat kerangka 'terlihat' itu menjadi kokoh adalah kerangka 'terselubung' ini. Jika kerangka 'terselubung' kita lemah, maka kerangka 'terlihat' akan kelihatan sangat biasa, pembaca bahkan cenderung kurang greget.

Jadi, buatlah kerangka 'terselubung' sedetail dan serapi mungkin, urutan karakter, plot, timing, setting, dan elemen-elemen cerita lainnya, supaya kerangka 'terlihat' kita jadi berdiri tegak dan bikin pembaca penasaran.

Potongan-potongan gambar puzzle kita yang ada di kerangka 'terselubung' ini yang nanti melengkapi gambar di kerangka 'terlihat' kita. Makanya, sekali lagi aku ingatkan, jangan lupa elemen-elemen cerita tadi dirapikan, dibuat sedetail mungkin. Aku yakin cerita kamu jadi semakin menstimulasi keingintahuan pembaca.

Letakkan kepingan-kepingan puzzle dari kerangka 'terselubung' tadi di kerangka 'terlihat'. Terserah kamu susunannya bagaimana. Tapi yang jelas, di akhir cerita, potongan-potongan puzzle dari dua kerangka kamu harus sudah bersatu dan utuh.

Siapkan dua kerangka kamu dari sekarang, gerakkan pulpen kamu, dan susun rapi barisan mereka! Kamu akan takjub dengan hasilnya. Siapa yang mengira puzzle-puzzle itu dilahirkan dari otak kamu? :)

Afterthought ~ "Heart"

Your heart is like a piece of glass

When you're in love, it sparks

When you meet someone who loves you back

It even shines brightly

But when someone breaks your heart

It shatters and darkened

Even though it heals, its shape would never be the same

Your heart is like a piece of glass

What matters in it, no one can take it

No matter who you are, or what status that tags you all along

It's a see-through thing

It cannot lie

And you can see it right through it

for whom your love is for

Your heart is like a piece of glass

Be careful with Hate

Because your heart does not contain borders

When it's filled with Hate

It can easily blend with Love

And your heart won't decline the actions

Be prepared with the result

Your heart is like a piece of glass

It's a great partition to all dangers out there

Yet it's a vulnerable thing that no one can protect

Except yourself

Your heart is like a beautiful little home

which made from a piece of glass

It has doors, windows, and most importantly, a key

When you find someone who holds your key to your heart

and dying to protect it also

Then you have found your other piece of glass

which completes your Heart