S: Suicide

YA Causes/Tough Issues continues with

S: Suicide

One of the toughest issues so far. The New YorkDaily News reported in June 2012 that 1 in 6 high school students has seriously considered suicide and 1 in 12 has attempted it (based on 2012 report from the CDC). That is absolutely staggering.

If you’re having suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the National Hopeline Network at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).

Today’s song: Loser by Three Doors Down

Cause I’m a loser and sooner or later

You know I’ll be dead

You’re getting closer,

You’re holding the rope and

I’m taking the fall

Cause I’m a loser

You’re getting closer, to pushing me

Off of life’s little edge

***

Don’t forget the Power of Three. Visit our other blogs linked with the

YA Causes/Tough Issues

Moxie Writers & Rebecca’s blog

K: Killing and War

YA Causes/Tough Issues continues with

K: Killing or War

Today’s song: Ecstasy by Rusted Root

Wasted arms, wasted legs

Wrapped round this machine
Military machine
Military machine

I wouldn't want to be
Living in a world of ecstasy with you
I wouldn't want to be
Living in a world of ecstasy with you
For organizations that help teens deal with killing and war, visit the Moxie Writers’ post today.

Be sure to visit the other blogs linked with the

YA Causes/Tough Issues:  

Moxie Writers & Rebecca’s blog

I: Internet Bullying and Abuse

YA Causes/Tough Issues continues with

I: Internet Abuse and Bullying

Today’s song: Be Kind Online by Bruce Langford. It’s an informational and fun song!

 

Online chatting, text messages, and emails

This is how we check on social details

Try to be friendly, don't put people down

This is my advice--now spread it around.

Be kind--online. 

For organizations that help teens deal with internet abuse and bullying, visit the Moxie Writers’ post today.  

***

Be sure to visit the other blogs linked with the YA Causes/Tough Issues.

Moxie Writers will briefly address a YA Cause or Tough Issue facing teens, then offer organizations that aid in the cause, starting with the appropriate letter of the alphabet.

At Rebecca’s blog, she will list a book and characters associated with the issue of the day. This may or may not begin with the designated letter.

Here at my blog, I will share a song with some of the lyrics that pertains to the cause.

G: Gun Violence

YA Causes/Tough Issues continues with

G: Gun Violence

Today’s song: Jeremy by Pearl Jam. The song was a hit in 1993 and was based on a true story about a 15-year-old boy who killed himself in front of his high school class. So gun violence is by no means a new issue to schools.

At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
Dead lay in pools of maroon below

Daddy didn't give attention
To the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today

For organizations that help teens deal with gun violence, visit the Moxie Writers’ post today.

 ***

Be sure to visit the other blogs linked with the

YA Causes/Tough Issues 

Moxie Writers will briefly address a YA Cause or Tough Issue facing teens, then offer organizations that aid in the cause, starting with the appropriate letter of the alphabet.  

At Rebecca’s blog, she will list a book and characters associated with the issue of the day. This may or may not begin with the designated letter.  

Here at my blog, I will share a song with some of the lyrics that pertains to the cause.

F: Fighting Back (aka, Standing Up for Oneself)

YA Causes/Tough Issues continues with

F: Fighting Back (aka, standing up for oneself)

Today’s song: Just Stand Up by Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé and other various artists. It was written about the fight against cancer, but can pertain to any circumstance...I believe. Plus, some of the cast of Lost show up somewhere in the middle of the video. Unfortunately, Sawyer (Josh Holloway) is not one of them. *Sigh*

Sometimes
You want to run away
Ain't got the patience
For the pain
And if you
Don't believe it
Look into
Your heart
The beat goes on
For organizations that help teens with speaking up and fighting back, visit Moxie Writers’ post today.

Be sure to visit the other blogs linked with the

YA Causes/Tough Issues

 ***

Moxie Writers will briefly address a YA Cause or Tough Issue facing teens, then offer organizations that aid in the cause, starting with the appropriate letter of the alphabet.

At Rebecca’s blog, she will list a book and characters associated with the issue of the day. This may or may not begin with the designated letter. 

Here at my blog, I will share a song with some of the lyrics that pertains to the cause.

Thus the power of three!

E: Eating Disorders

YA Causes/Tough Issues continues with

E: Eating Disorders

Today’s song: Ana’s Song by Silverchair—a song about anorexia. It is quite helpful that lead singer, Daniel Johns, has the pretty-boyish, easy-on-the-eyes look J

And you're my obsession
I love you to the bones
And ana wrecks your life
Like an anorexia life

For organizations that help teens with eating disorders, visit Moxie Writers’ post today.

Be sure to visit the other blogs linked with 

YA Causes/Tough Issues

Moxie Writers will briefly address a YA Cause or Tough Issue facing teens, then offer organizations that aid in the cause, starting with the appropriate letter of the alphabet.

At Rebecca’s blog, she will list a book and characters associated with the issue of the day. This may or may not begin with the designated letter.

Here at my blog, I will share a song with some of the lyrics that pertains to the cause.

D: Dating Abuse

YA Causes/Tough Issues continues with

D: Dating Abuse  

Today’s song: Face Down by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus 

Do you feel like a man when you push her around?
Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?
Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end
as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found.

A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect
every action in this world will bear a consequence
If you wade around forever, you will surely drown
I see what's going down.

For organizations that help teens with cutting, visit Moxie Writers’ post today.  

Be sure to visit the other blogs linked with the

YA Causes/Tough Issues

Moxie Writers will briefly address a YA Cause or Tough Issue facing teens, then offer organizations that aid in the cause, starting with the appropriate letter of the alphabet.  

At Rebecca’s blog, she will list a book and characters associated with the issue of the day. This may or may not begin with the designated letter.  

C: Cutting and Self-Injury

YA Causes/Tough Issues continues with

C: Cutting and Self-Injury.  

The song that relates to today’s cause is Razor by Foo Fighters.

Wake up it's time
We need to find a better place to hide
Make up your mind
I need to know I need to know tonight

Sweet and divine
Razor of mine
Sweet and divine
Razor blade shine

For organizations that help teens with cutting, visit Moxie Writers’ post today.

Remember to visit Rebecca’s blog where she will list a book and characters associated with the issue of the day.

B: Bullying

If you’re here for the A to Z Challenge, you’ve come to the right place. This is my third year taking part in the Challenge, and I learned from experience that it’s best to have a theme. That said, I am teaming up with YA Author Rebecca Green Gasper this year, and we’re harnessing the power of three under the theme YA Causes/Tough Issues.  

So what does that look like? 

Moxie Writers will briefly address a YA Cause or Tough Issue facing teens, then offer organizations that aid in the cause, starting with the appropriate letter of the alphabet.

At Rebecca’s blog, she will list a book and characters associated with the issue of the day. This may or may not begin with the designated letter.

Here at my blog, I will share a song with some of the lyrics that pertains to the cause.

Thus, the power of three! Enough said. Onto...
 
B: Bullying

Hero by Superchick

 

I love this song because it dismisses the idea of passivity and promotes choice and proactivity. 

A: Alcohol and Drug Abuse

 

If you’re here for the A to Z Challenge, you’ve come to the right place. This is my third year taking part in the Challenge, and I learned from experience that it’s best to have a theme. That said, I am teaming up with YA Author Rebecca Green Gasper this year, and we’re harnessing the power of three under the theme...

YA Causes/Tough Issues.

So what does that look like?

Moxie Writers will briefly address a YA Cause or Tough Issue facing teens, then offer organizations that aid in the cause, starting with the appropriate letter of the alphabet.

At Rebecca’s blog, she will list a book and characters associated with the issue of the day. This may or may not begin with the designated letter.

Here at my blog, I will share a song with some of the lyrics that pertains to the cause.

Thus, the power of three!

So let’s get started with A!

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab but I won't go go go

Unfortunately, Amy Winehouse died in 2011 at the age of 27 as a result of alcohol poisoning.

You can visit Moxie Writers for organizations that can help with alcohol and drug abuse problems.

Music and Writing

It used to be I could not write and listen to music at the same time. I always grew distracted by the lyrics, often singing along.

“Something in the way you love me won’t let me be.”

“His name was Rico, he wore a diamond. He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancin' there.”

“Never was a cornflake girl. Thought that was a good solution.”

The lyrics of the song imposed themselves on my writing. I would either have to shut off the music or close down Word. To some degree, that still happens. But—like many writers—I use music as a tool for inspiration. And sometimes, a song comes along that seems to be perfectly written and composed for one of my characters.

I recently heard Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine and immediately knew it related well to one of the major characters in my in-progress YA novel. Dog days are the hottest and most stagnant days of summer. Its meaning clearly plays itself out in inner conflict, as well. When Alexander (a major character) meets the main character, his dog days truly do seem to draw to a close.

Anyway, this prompted me to wonder if other writers match songs to their characters. Just curious.