Ways to Start Preparing For National Novel Writing Month

Are you planning to write a novel during National Novel Writing Month (November)? If so, perhaps the following article from Bustle titled 11 Ways You Can Start Preparing For National Novel Writing Month Now by Alex Weiss. In her article, Alex Weiss wrote the following:

Whether you're a first time NaNoWriMo participant or a well-rounded veteran, preparing for it is absolutely essential. The first few days, and even weeks (if you're lucky) will go well. It usually isn't until you're a couple chapters in when you realize you have no idea where your novel is going or why your characters are just standing around aimlessly that problems begin to arise. Don't worry; it happens to the best of us. To battle that, though, I've come up with a few tips on getting a basic understanding of your novel, characters, and plot — as well as lifestyle changes to start getting used to. 

Remember, NaNoWriMo is all about getting words down on the page. It doesn't matter if some of your characters go missing halfway through, or if your plot changes dramatically. Just getting to the 50,000-word goal in 30 days is what you need to keep in mind. If you survive the month and finish, you can always go back and rewrite. (AND YOU SHOULD. THIS IS A FIRST DRAFT, PEOPLE.) And getting the first draft out is what it's all about.

Click on the above link to read the 11 ways to prepare for National Novel Writing Month. Good luck and happy writing!!

Friday Finds #93

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list... 

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

Here's the books I've added to my ever growing reading pile this week:

1. Knitting In Plain English by Maggie Righetti

I bought this used knitting book based on the awesome reviews I read about it on Amazon's website from customers who like it. I am hoping it will help we improve and advance my knitting skills as time goes by.

2. Books, Blogs, & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom

I won the above new paperback novel through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program. The book looks like a good read and is autographed by the author!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

12 Ways Parents Turn Us Into Book Lovers!!

Yes, our parents can help us turn into book lovers and avid readers!! My mom use to read books to me as a toddler/child, so my love for reading and books began at an early age for sure. I've loved reading ever since. So, thank you mom for enriching my life and turning me into an avid reader!!

I came across an article on Bustle's website titled 12 Ways Your Parents Turned You Into A Book-Lover by Julia Seales. In her article, Julia Seales writes:

My mom got her degree as a reading specialist. So, it'd probably be an understatement to say that when I was growing up, books were a pretty important part of everyday life. There's no way I could have grown up NOT loving books, because I was surrounded by them all day, every day.

At one point, my mom actually owned a used book business, and she would take me to book sales and let me get as many five-cent Nancy Drew Notebooksas I could fit in my scrawny arms... and then some. (Side note: If you’ve never experienced a book sale, you’re missing out. We would wake up at about 4 a.m., go to a huge warehouse, and straight-up fight other lit-lovers over old library copies of rare books. Literally, imagine a fashion sample-sale scene, replace the Louboutins with books, and you’d have an accurate mental picture of a book sale.) 

Anyway, if you're a fellow book-lover, you probably have a similar story. No, I don’t mean you fought some woman with a blonde updo over a rare children’s book… I mean that if you love to read, your parents are at least partially to thank for that. After all, chances are they're the first people who even told you what this beautiful and wonderful thing called a "book" was, and that's just one of the many ways they turned you into the lit-lover you are today.

Click on the above link to read the full story. Until my next post, happy reading!! 

In Need Of A Challenging Book to Read?

Once again I discovered another enlightening article on Bustle's website that is one sure to please those readers wanting a challenging book to read! Check out 9 Complex Books For Readers Who Want A Challenge by Crystal Paul. In her article, Crystal Paul writes:

Fair warning: these books are not for the casual reader. They’re the kind of make-your-brain-hurt, re-read-every-sentence-three-times, I-didn’t-know-words-could-do-that books that make most readers give up by Chapter 4. But, if you stick it out, you’re in for a real intellectual treat that’ll have you trying to force these tough tomes on all your friends.

So, click on the above link to see which challenging books made the cut!

Are You In A Relationship With A Writer?

Then there are some suggestions on how to survive a relationship with a writer! Earlier this week, I came across another interesting article on Bustle's website titled 10 Ways To Survive A Relationship With A Writer by Dina Gachman. In her article, Dina Gachman writes the following:

Not that all writers are crazy. At least, not all of the time. Sure, T.S. Eliot supposedly wore green face powder and lipstick when he wrote, and Nabokov wrote novels on index cards (hey, whatever works), but most writers are sane, disciplined, rational human beings. It’s the profession that makes us crazy. Sitting alone all day, trying to create earth-shattering things out of thin air, getting paid peanuts, baring your soul, and dealing with rejection after baring that soul could turn even the most stoic chemical engineers into Scarlett O’Hara before Tara burned down and taught her a lesson. But boohoo, right? It’s pretty great work, if you can get it.

If you are dating a writer, there are a few things you can do to make the ride a little less… challenging. And if you’re the writer in the relationship, share these tips with your engineer/doctor/mathematician/lawyer honey to help them understand that the whirlwind of emotions you experience during any given day (or hour) isn’t anything to be scared of. It’s just life. And if both people in the relationship are writers? I wish you all the understanding, patience, and fortitude in the world.

Click on the above link to read the ten tips provided by the writer, Dina Gachman. 

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Frequently Banned Books Written By Female Writers

With Banned Books Week coming up later this month, I couldn't resist sharing an article I stumbled upon earlier this week on Bustle's website regarding banned books. The article is titled 11 Frequently Banned Books By Female Writers That You Absolutely Cannot Miss by Blaire Perel. In her article, Blaire Perel writes:

There’s one upside to book-banning: it’s that kind of like anything-banning, the more you take something away, the more people want it. Is it the danger? The mystery? (The ridiculousness of a book being banned in the first place?) Whatever it is, reading banned books is a fantastic idea. Not only are you telling those who are pro-censorship that you’re not going to take any of their BS, but you also just might get a little thrill from getting your paws on the prohibited.

But the question remains: Which author to choose? Unfortunately, so many books have been banned, called "vulgar,”“inappropriate,” and “offensive,” that picking a title from the banned-book pile isn’t an easy feat. It even turns out that Maya Angelou, a writer who is beloved by so many, holds the dubious distinction of the most banned author in America. In 1983, Angelou was accused of harboring “a bitterness and hatred toward whites” by members of the Alabama committee that approves schools texts. (Apparently the Pulitzer Prize board missed that when nominating her work. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

Quite a few of the book titles mentioned in Blaire Perel's article I have never even heard of before. I have, however, heard of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, which I read last month and really enjoyed reading. Now I have more banned books written by female writers to add to my reading wishlist. I also hope you have some new book titles to add to your reading list as well.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Take A Vacation, Become A Bookseller!!

Lol, have you ever wanted to become a bookseller?? Well now you can take a vacation to Scotland and become a bookseller for a week through AirBnB! Check out Alex Heimbach's article on Bustle titled Best AirBnB Listing Ever Lets You Become A Bookseller For A Week. In her article, Alex Heimbach writes:

There's a new vacation option for bibliophiles that may replace Jane Austen tours and the Harry Potter theme park in your holiday fantasies. You can now live for a week above a bookshop — and run the place yourself. Located in Wigtown, Scotland's national book town, The Open Book welcomes travelers who want to spend a week selling books, provides training from local booksellers, and offers the chance to inject your own personal style with book displays and special events. Each resident is also invited to write about their experiences on the Open Book's blog.

Though newly listed on AirBnB, The Book Shop holiday has been up and running for almost a year under the guardianship of the Wigtown Book Festival, which leases the store from a local family. "It can be a hard life, selling books in a small town, so it’s not a holiday for everybody," says Adrian Turpin, director of the book festival. But so far, the guests, who've ranged from retired American booksellers to English artists to the Bookshop Band, have raved about their experiences.

This sounds like an awesome experience!! Sign me up!! 

A List Of Books That Even Stephen King Found Scary!!

Calling all Stephen King fans!! Check out the 11 Books That Scared The Master Of Horror, Stephen King, And Will Terrify You, Too by Amy Sachs. In her article, Amy Sachs writes:

King obviously has a way with words, and his Twitter is no exception. Full of hilarious thoughts and weekly answers to reader questions, it's always entertaining. He alternates between adorable tweets featuring his dog, Molly (aka The Thing of Evil), and recommending the books he's reading. Being the master of horror that he is, I consider him an authority on recommendations in that genre. You could make an entire reading list based on Stephen King recommendations, and be set for a long time. 

Here are 11 books that scared the unshakable Stephen King, and so are pretty much guaranteed to keep you up at night and/or give you nightmares. But hey, that's the fun part!

Until my next post, happy reading!! 

Book Recommendations on Every Aspect of Launching & Running a Business

Have you ever thought about starting your own business?? In the not so distant past, I, myself, even thought starting my own small business. 

This morning, I came across an article on Entrepreneur titled 12 Books on Every Aspect of Launching and Running a Business by Firas Kittaneh. In his article, Firas Kittaneh writes: 

To expand my knowledge and skills, I read. To source inspiration for innovative ideas and to develop a better understanding of the ever-changing world that we live in, I carefully absorb information from books. Over the years, I’ve read dozens of amazing works but for busy entrepreneurs, here are 12 leadership, marketing and technology books that I would highly recommend. As a whole, they offer valuable life guidance, contemporary approaches to work and unconventional world views that will motivate you to approach things in a new, refreshing way.

Check out which business books Firas Kittaneh recommends in his article by clicking on the link above!

I still haven't launched my own small business. Maybe I will some day, maybe I won't. Perhaps after reading some of the books mentioned in Firas Kittaneh's article, I'll be armed with the needed inspiration and knowledge to move forward.