Thoughts on Past Reads

Not so long ago...

I haven't been blogging much lately because I've had a lot of personal stuff going on.  But this is an anonymous literature blog so we aren't going into that.  Anyways, lately I've been delving into the bookshelves again, feeling like I was ten and going to the library was a shopping spree.

I mean, I've brought home over twenty-five books in the past month and as I've been reading again, I've been looking back on that marvelous site, Goodreads, at past books I've read.  (To the people out there who I pretend reads my blog--no it's not a link to my Goodreads account so you still don't get to see who I am.)

In over four years of serious writing, I've changed how I look at books I read. (And by serious I mean actual butt-in-seat-typing-I-want-to-be-published-one-day serious rather than random jottings or serious writing topics such as why I truly am one hardcore loner, which also will not be brought up on this blog.)

Of course I would look at another writer's work differently than I did when I was younger.  Any writer who wants to get better and is actively improving themselves will learn as they read, becoming more critical in their readings.  But, I was looking at books that I marked in the past as being wonderful and marvelous and realized that maybe, actually...they are kind of crappy. Sure I loved them once but I can't honestly rate them so awesomely now. So, my point is--I'm wondering--who goes back and changes their ratings? Do you?

Have your opinions on previous favorites changed?  If so, how or in what ways?

Am I the only one who feels like they are breaking up with former favorites, the more they read and study writing? (For further elaboration, see my awesomely prodigious illustrations.

Today...

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

So I've been away for awhile.  I'm calling it a health sabbatical.

Anways, I'm here to post my first book review for this blog!  Woot, woot!  And for a talented debut author!  I will make a review debut off her novel debut....uh, eh, sorry.  Sounded wittier in my head.  : / 

Moving on...

When I first heard this story was coming out I had access to the first chapter where it was posted online for reading pre-publication.

I was instantly IN LOVE.

My thoughts post-first chapter: "OMG, must read, MUST READ!!!"

This book had such an interesting concept, so unique and intriguing (dystopian+sci-fi+murder mystery, all on a 300+ year space trip) that I really knew--especially after hearing such good reviews--this book wouldn't be any borrow or check out.  I had to buy it.

And I did.

I read it in two days.

That said, after finishing it today I have come to conclude that I both love and am annoyed by the story, but over all I would recommend this story to anyone. Really, go get it!

So, my nit-pickies?

First off, the main character got to me; Her age felt a little inconsistent.  Sometimes I was wondering, Huh, she's 17?  Really? Not like 10 or something? and other times she seemed to be acting older than 17, not quite the same character as before.  Or maybe those latter parts were just me.  But I found that influenced my ability to relate and become as emotionally involved.

Also a plot technicality (in relation to the ship)--which I heard that the author said is addressed in the next book--which didn't quite make sense with the story or get explained kinda bugged.  I'll definitely read the next one to find out.

Then in the end, I couldn't help but think...REALLY? I felt a little bummed and gypped because I'd figured out the whole story from early on and was hoping there was some twist...except there was and the way that resolved made me question the main character again. And in relation to the ending incident--which I'm sure now has you confused if you haven't read it--I also wasn't totally convinced of the chemistry between the two main characters.

In the end, her writing was very lovely and simple in a pleasing, clean way, and that aspect made any little plot or character annoyance easy to look over.

One last thing--loved her use of the senses and symbolism. All the reference to colors and temperatures, the sun and stars and sky-- very beautiful writing there!!!

 My final thoughts? If you haven't already, go read this book! :)

You Know You're A Writer If...

...the salt and pepper occasionally ends up in the refrigerator.

I've had a few things I've been wanting to blog about, but lately I have had a story invading my mind every free moment.  It's exciting, love it when things really catch fire, but I can't say that everyone around me does, haha.

So, what has happened to you lately or in the past as a result of Writer's Brain?

What We Know

"For myself, I always write about Dublin, because if I can get to the heart of Dublin I can get to the heart of all the cities of the world. In the particular is contained the universal."

~James Joyce

In my opinion, in the end, we all write what we know.  We may start with one idea, have a whole story planned, an intended direction, but the life we've experienced, that is what ultimately comes out in the end

I don't know how many times I've gone into a story with ideas about it, only for it to veer off in it's own direction, into something that rings true to the person I am inside, what I know.  (And just so you know, I'm a fan of letting the subconscious do some good steering of the story).

Am I the only one who finds that what they think they know about their story doesn't end up being the case after all?

Anyways back to the quote.  I think writing is all about writing what we know and letting the universal come out.  I've found myself quite often trying to write about someone who worked an occupation that I'd studied, only to find that it didn't come naturally.  When I thought about another occupation that I'd had when I was younger, and allowed that for my character not only did it fit better, but it allowed a certain flow to the story that wasn't there before--not only because I knew it from a more tactile and personal sense but because there was something about it that my subconscious seemed to pick up and tie to my story.

I guess what I'm wondering, for those of you out there who delve into areas that you haven't lived, how do you create that intimate portrayal in your writing without having real life experience?  I know the imagination plays a big part, and I don't have much problem when it comes to fantasy elements, or creating characters, but when it comes to tying in aspects of the story that are real and others may know better (and in my opinion, should be tied into the/a theme of the story)--how do you do it?

First post/ Introduction

Really, posting to this blog is throwing my words into internet oblivion, but hopefully I will make me some online writing friends in the near future! I don't have my real name here, as you may have noticed, but I figure that will enable me to be more free in what I write.  So, my oodles of future blogging buddies will just have to deal with my anonymity.  Besides, who doesn't like a little mystery? (And just so you know, I may or may not dress as a middle class woman from the 17th century as I write.)

I've got a lot of insecurities when it comes to my writing, but then again, what writer doesn't?  I didn't start writing until, maybe, three years ago--seriously--when I started my first story about a teen girl who 'wins' a trip on a cruise ship (except it isn't a vacation cruise after all, Dunh Dunh Dunh...ah, yet another story to finish) and so I feel, even more so insecure about my writing.  I mean, when I was a child, I didn't want to grow up and be writer.  I wanted to be a nurse.  I didn't know, then, that a nurse would have to see lotsa blood.  Add to my late jump into creative writing, the fact that I married young, and had kiddos soon; My schooling has yet to be finished as well.


So my writing consists of a whole lot of google-search self teaching.  The fact that I have a novel almost complete (of which I cranked out all 56,048 words in about 3 weeks!) makes me feel pretty secure in my efforts.  I'm not just climbing that sand mountain, constantly tearing myself down when I read my suckiness.  I've learned that to succeed, you have to allow yourself to fail.  And with writing, if you fail and crap up an entire story (not that I feel that has entirely happened yet, but close), you can always edit.  So I have come to allow myself to just enjoy the process, in all it's first draft, beginning writer, crappy glory, then I can fine tune until it's beautiful.

But, I have to say that I already find beauty in my rough draft.  My characters so have a life of their own, I can't help but lay awake at night wondering (using my current story as an example) are they going to get together in the end?  Augh! It's worse than reading the first novel in a series and having to wait for the other two or so to come out.  Because it's all on me.  If I don't complete, it isn't going to happen.

Did I mention I don't sleep much anymore?

Anyways, for this blog's future, I hope to post my poetry, creative writing exercises, blab about the stories I am working on and maybe, just maybe post little tid-bits from them.  We'll see.

For now I am going to focus on at least one exercise a week, just to record my process (and hopefully progress?!) as a writer as I work toward writing that novel that, you know, like everyone is going to fall in love with and steal the names of the characters to name their kids after.  Just kidding.  But seriously, I love my story and can't wait to find even just one person in the world who would enjoy it.  That would be so rewarding.

Until then, here's to perfecting the craft!!  (Imagine an alcohol-free beverage toast.)

About Me

I've been writing for about four years, finding out what it takes to write a novel.  Along my journey I've had two little kiddos and am working, a little at a time, on my degree.  Throw in my hubby and I've got one pretty full life going!

I have always been fascinated with stories and the characters that people them.  It wasn't until after my first child was born that I realized my imagination wasn't normal so I joined the club of people who had voices in their head and I began writing.  I'm not the most eloquent, though sometimes I like to think I've got something profound to say.  For me, it's just the grown woman's way to play Barbies.

I enjoy sharing my writing journey and I hope, if I've learned anything, I might be able to share it.  I love learning anything I can about this sometimes mysterious seeming thing, trying to become an author.  I'd love to learn something from you, if you've got something to share, feel free to leave me a comment.  I'm also an extremely avid reader and look forward to sharing my book finds as well!

Thanks for stopping by!

Ms. Tale-to-Tell

Contests & Book Giveaways

I love all the contests and giveaways I run across, so I thought I'd share them!

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