Blog – Page 16 – Taylor Hondos

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Taylor Alexis — Leave a comment

The Three Day Challenge

Hello,
I am going to partake in a three day challenge. I do not know what I will write about yet, but I am going to try to make it as meaningful and deep as possible! Wish me luck. (: My friend, Christian and I are going to make this challenge as meaningful as we can. He is going to take photos while I write short stories or maybe a poem. We are going to share our work with each other and my readers will get to read what I have to say here while you can find his work on tumblr, theblindwonder! Follow him to see his work(: Stay tuned!

See you soon<3
Taylor

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Taylor Alexis — Leave a comment

Gender Inequality

When you’re born a girl. You are restricted and why? I couldn’t tell you. As a woman, I am told how to act and what to wear to be identified as a woman, and I don’t know where they came from. It feels so natural to be like a woman and behave like one but why? Men become men when they realize that they aren’t supposed to cry and they aren’t supposed to whine; that is a woman’s job. Men are told things like, “you fight like a girl” or “you run like a girl.” When was being a girl an insult? It took me until recently to realize that women weren’t paid the same as a man for an equal job. The truth is, I didn’t realize anything about gender equality until this year. People trick you into thinking that gender inequality is a third world country problem. But it’s an everyday problem.

As Emma Watson stated, feminism is given a bad name. It means that you want equality for all genders. And I do. Men feel they have to be masculine while women assume they have to be girly and prissy. I have discovered that in ancient text, a woman was the most important thing. She was the all-knowing creature. Achilles turned to his mother for advice; Shamhat, the prostitute from “The Epic of Gilgamesh” was the dream interpreter. Women were valued and important; they were the ones who could civilize people because they were so knowledgeable. And then the Bible was born. The Bible turned many people against woman. The woman became the one who should be punished with child bearing. Women were given restrictions on how to dress and how to act correctly and “like a lady.” When you raise your children, you give them gender roles that they have to identify with. Little girls get Barbie dolls and little boys get toy cars, etc. When did these toys become associated with a girl or a boy?

Women are convinced that they have to look a certain way to please others and fit in. There is a new trend “the thigh gap” that has beautiful women feeling like they have to be perfect to be wanted or seen. The truth is, beauty is in every form. A thigh gap or a perfect body doesn’t define beauty; beauty is defined by who you are. I understand why people feel this way because when you go to try on clothes, there is a perfect girl in a picture on the wall in the clothes you just tried on, did I mention looking perfect? All I do is remember that Photoshop may be a factor. I don’t agree with Photoshop because flaws are what make people unique and beautiful and dare I say, different. Differences are what show me I am human; flaws show me I am human.

When a sex crime is committed to a woman; she is faced with questions of why it happened? What were you wearing? Were you provoking that person by being too skimpy? Or did you provoke them by just walking by. When a man has had a sex crime committed to them… are they questioned like women are? The answer is no. They are treated like the victim and not the reason they are raped. The thing that bothers me the most, is that rape is mostly associated with women and we forget that men get raped too. We forget that men are not always the strong one. They are forced into thinking that crying is wrong and maybe they even feel that rape makes them weak.

In conclusion, I am for the equality of all genders. I don’t believe that there should be a set way for each gender. I wish men were behind feminists. I want people to realize that there is gender inequality and it doesn’t only apply to women. Men are made to feel like they have to be a certain way and women are convinced they have to act a same way as well.

Taylor<3

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Taylor Alexis — Leave a comment

My Music Playlist For When I Write

(: Hello,
Whenever I write my book, I always have music playing. It could be blaring, or it could be playing softly through my headphones, but the point is that music is so inspiring. The words and melodies always inspire me to continue writing. So I thought it would be different to tell you some songs that I listen to while I wrote my first book, “The Antidote.” If you have any music suggestions or want to make your own playlist, then send it to me! I love new music(:

They say that music can effect the way you drive or speed, it is the same for when you’re writing. My mind gets going by the music that is playing:

1. The Antidote by St. Vincent- I listened to this the moment I came up with my book title name and no it doesn’t have anything to do with my book’s themes, but I love this song. I always listen to it when I become doubtful(:

2. Pseudologia Fantastica- Foster the People- Honestly this song has the best melody and I can’t get enough of this song. It actually gets my mind going and I have to hear it all the time.

3. Radioactive- Imagine Dragons- Whenever I was editing my book, this song was very popular so I thought I would include it because it inspired me to write sometimes because it has a sick beat….(:

4. Any Grouplove song will be perfect when I am writing as well. I listened to mostly Colours, Raspberry, Hippy Hill and Ways to Go. Literally every song of theirs is perfect. They talk about nonsense and when you try to piece it together, your mind gets going.

5. Stairway to Heavan- Led Zeppelin- I love this song and it is for when my mind needs to slow down a little bit. I think it is helpful to have songs that are upbeat and some songs that slow you down.

6. Smells Like Teen Spirit or Lithium- Nirvana- Nirvana is my cure for all things bad in life. Kurt is the best singer to me of all time. So I am super passionate when I hear Nirvana and it effects how I write so much.

7. Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen- This song is so fun and emotional all in one, therefore it’s always nice to listen to something fun.

8. Brothers- Kid Cudi or really any song of his…..

9. Jack White- Love is Blindness

10. Jimi Hendrix- Voodoo Child

11. Ozzy Osbourne’s songs- all of them<3

12. Kashmir- Led Zeppelin

13. Red Hot Chili Peppers- Under the Bridge

14. Rag Doll- Aerosmith

15.Regina Specktor- Hero

16. Band of Skulls- I Know What I Am

17. Black Hole/ Robot- 30H!3

– My go to artists are Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Lorde, Prince, Lana Del Ray, Cage the Elephant, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Def Leopard, The Black Keys and Papa Roach.

I have many more songs that I love, but these are all my favorites to hear when I am writing. Let me hear some of your favorite songs!!(:

Taylor<3

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Taylor Alexis — Leave a comment

30 Book Questions(:

Hey Readers,
Last one for a while, I promise(:

1 – The best book you read last year: Allegiant by Veronica Roth
2 – A book you’ve read more than 3 times: Harry Potter (The entire series…)
3 – Your favourite series: I love so many but Harry Potter is my favorite ever.
4 – A guilty pleasure book: Fifty Shades of Grey
5 – A book that made you laugh: The Fault in Our Stars
6 – A book that made you cry: My Sister’s Keeper
7 – Most underrated book: The Host by Stephanie Meyer
8 – Most overrated book: The Maze Runner #3 – Death Cure
9 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving: Love Letters to the Dead
10 – Favorite classic book: Les Miserables
11 – A book you hated: I do not hate any books(:
12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore: I love all books I used to love!
13 – Your favorite author: John Green
14 – Favorite male character: Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower
15 – Favorite female character: Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy
16 – Your biggest fictional crush: Augustus Waters.. duh
17 – A good quick read: 13 Reasons Why
18 – A book that disappointed you: The Maze Runner
19 – Favorite book-to-movie conversion: Harry potter, Divergent. THE HUNGER GAMES
20 – Favorite romance: Atonement
21 – Favorite book from your childhood: The Littles Series!
22 – A book you can’t wait for: I can’t wait for the next book in the Lunar Chronicles- Winter.
23 – A book you’ve been meaning to read for ages: City of Bones…..
24 – A book that you wish more people would read: CINDER! It is fabulous. And Love Letters to the Dead. (READ THEM!)
25 – Character you are most similar to: Laurel from Love Letters because I am figuring out who I am.
26 – A book that changed your opinion about something: The Perks of Being a Wallflower changed who I am completely.
27 – Most surprising plot twist or ending: Fight Club…. most definitely..
28 – Favorite book title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Looking For Alaska.
29 – A book everyone hated but you liked: I LOVE Vampire Academy and not a lot of people seem to like it.
30 – Your favorite book OF ALL TIME: THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

Try out your own questionnaire! It’s a lot of fun(:

Happy Reading,

Taylor<3

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Taylor Alexis — Leave a comment

Favorite Fictional _?

Just another fun survey(:

Favorite Fictional _?

1. Favorite fictional couple?- Dimitri and Rose(:

2. Favorite fictional character? Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower

3. Favorite fictional TV show? Sex and the City(:

4. Favorite fictional movie? I love so many movies but I love Harry Potter, Divergent and the Hunger Games

5. Favorite fictional villain? I love Count Olaf

6. Favorite fictional hero? Tris Prior(:

7. Favorite fictional pet? I love Pete off Sex and the City!!!

8. Favorite fictional setting/universe? Harry Potter World

9. Least favorite fictional couple? Adrian and Rose

10. Least favorite fictional character? Lissa

11. Least favorite fictional TV show? I don’t like a lot of shows but I hate Pretty Little Liars