Life and Stuff

This will be a short blog post, and I cannot say when the next time I will post on here will be, because I myself do not know.

It has been nearly a month since I have last posted and as much as I love blogging about books, I just don't have the time anymore. Between working basically full time hours and my writing and reading, I don't want to have to worry about a blog to run as well. I will be posting on here, but the posts will likely be few and far between, and will most likely contain updates on my writing and such. Perhaps a review of something I've read that I feel the need to write a review on. I don't know; I can't predict my future productivity.

Well that's a lie. I predict this blog will one day turn into an author's blog (or maybe I just hope that?), so we shall see.

In the meantime, I wish you all well. I hope you still follow me and don't mine the slight hiatus-of-sorts I am going on.

Mini update on my current reads:

I am halfway through Paper Towns by John Green. I have read The Fault in our Stars and Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so it seems I am reading his published works in reverse order (based on publication dates), so I suppose the next book from him I will read will be An Abundance of Katherines, and then finally Looking For Alaska, which has been spoiled for me. But hey, it's been out for years, so I guess that's my fault for not picking it up sooner. Still, though, I hate spoilers.

Before this I finished two books, one being Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes. A great YA fantasy. I definitely recommend if you are into fantasy.
I also read a novel self-published by a Twitter/writer friend of mine, Allie Brennan, Tight Knit. You can buy it in e-book format on Amazon or Kobo, or in paperback on Amazon. A great mature YA contemporary you should all check out. As I have previously stated on this blog, contemporary is not my favourite genre, but I've been easing myself into it (with some of John Green's books on my shelf, as well as The Waiting Sky, Perks of Being a Wallflower, and I think that's it), and Tight Knight is one I thoroughly enjoyed (also I'm in the acknowledgements)!

I've been trying to make a book haul video (I have many new books I want to share with the book vlog community), but between dying camera batteries and lack of days off when my family isn't home, I haven't had much luck. So we'll see what happens.

I'm off to go read some more Paper Towns before I get some sleep before work tomorrow, so good night! And hopefully I'll be back on here sooner than later.

Happy reading!

Blog Content Change Plus a Giveaway Link

Hey everyone!

So you may have noticed that I update at the most twice a week, and there is not always one review a week. While this blog had its moments where I would pump out more than one review per week plus a few extra book-related posts (such as cover reveals or Waiting on Wednesdays), that is not something I can guarantee on this blog anymore.

I had originally intended for this blog to be strictly a book review blog with some book blog memes here and there, but my non-blog life does not always allow for that. I am also a writer and have two WIPs on the go, so they take up a lot of the spare time I do have. I thought about replacing my reviews with videos, and I might still do that, but I am also going to include more posts on anything book-related in general, as well as writing-related.

So basically it will be the same content plus some writing posts.

And to kick off the writing posts, to all of you writers out there, Shallee McArthur, a YA sci-fi and fantasy author is having a giveaway on her blog.

The potential winners of the giveaway could win:

A 10 dollar giftcard to Amazon or Barnes and Noble

A 10-page critique

A 5-page critique

Critiques at any stage in the writing process can be very helpful, and could open some doors, so if you would like to enter, please visit Shallee's blog here.

The giveaway follows an insightful blog post by Shallee McArthur about how "You Are a Real Writer", so that is definitely worth a read. Join the discussion on her blog in the comments below her post. Shallee asks: "...Have you ever felt you had to somehow prove yourself before becoming a real writer? Or do you already take pride in your awesome writerliness?"

I hope you all take pride in your writerliness, as Shallee puts it!

Happy writing, happy blogging, and happy reading, everyone :)

My Book Shelf Tour

I finally did one!
Here is a twenty-six minute video tour of my bookshelf complete with mini-ramblings about each book where I meant to say what they were about but ended up just saying 'this is a really good book.' 'This one is also really good.' etc. Haha.

If you have any  book recommendations for me based on the books I already own and love, leave them in the comments below!
And if you want me to review any of the books I've read, let me know that as well. Sometimes I just can't decide.

Happy reading, and link me to your bookshelves! I'd love to see what books we have in common and hear your recommendations. :)

This Is Not a Review: Writing = Metaphorical Ecstasy

   Seriously.

   I have been writing a LOT more lately, and I've been in SUCH a good mood.

Even if what I write does not turn out to be the best (which happens a lot more than I'd like it to, but hey, it's a first draft. Editing comes later), I'm instantly in a better mood if I write a decent amount daily.

   Lately I've been introduced to #1k1hr sprints on Twitter, where some fellow writers aim to write non-stop for an hour with a goal of writing at least 1 000 words. No matter how cringe-worthy the end product product it. The point? To make some progress on your WIP. Again, there is room to edit later. For now the point is to get the story out of your head, which is the most difficult part for some of us.

   I myself have struggled in the past with finishing (or even coming close to finishing or even halfway) WIPs. These sprints help. I try to do one at least once a day, which has been working out fantastically. I have yet to write less than 1 000 words a day on the days I write (which is most, though there are some days where I sit here at my computer like a brain-dead log). The writing sprint really gives me a kick in the butt. So THANK YOU to Allie B who was the one to first introduce me to the sprints (you can view her amazing blog here for some great writing tips and book reviews). My WIP would not be where it is now without them.

   If there are any writers out there who have not heard of #1k1hr sprints, now you have and I suggest you try them. I have introduced them to a few people, and have heard no negative feedback about it. So try it, spread the word, and enjoy making progress in your work. I surely have, hence the title of this post. The more I write, the better I feel.

Happy writing! xx