2018 Moody Reading Challenge

Since the Dystopia and Retellings challenges I've done for the last two or three years are not being offered this year, and the ongoing Mental Illness one I've been doing for about the same time has been deleted, I decided to sign up for this one at Perspective of a Writer, so that I can choose to read these genres. I'm still waiting to see if the blog hosting the LGBT and Banned Books challenges will be offering those. If not, I'll be adding those genres to this challenge as well.

NOTE: 1/12: I just found a new retellings challenge at this site and will be doing that one.

Mental Illness

1. The Ice Queen--Alice Hoffman
2. I Hate Everyone But You--Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin
3. Pandora's Daughter--Iris Johansen
4. The World's Strongest Librarian--Josh Hanagarne
5. Wintergirls--Laurie Halse Anderson
6. Jazz--Toni Morrison
7. Turtles All the Way Down--John Green
8. Brain on Fire--Susannah Catalan
9. Surfacing--Margaret Atwood
10. The Silent Wife--A.S.A. Harrison
11. Impulse--Ellen Hopkins
12. Darkness Visible--William Styron
13. The Pearl--Angela Hunt
14. The Outsider--Nathaniel Lachenmeyer
15. A Man Called Ove--Fredrik Backman
16. The Broken Road--Richard Paul Evans
17. The Nowhere Girls--Amy Reed
18. Prozac Nation--Elizabeth Wurtzel (re-read)
19. Sliding Into Home--Kendra Wilkinson
20. The Princess Diarist--Carrie Fisher
21. The Mars Room--Rachel Kushner
22. The Devil and Daniel Silverman--Theodore Roszak
23. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao--Junot Diaz
24. Little & Lion--Brandy Colbert
25. Girl, Interrupted--Susanna Kaysen
26. Bitter Harvest--Ann Rule
27. In the Country We Love--Diane Guerrero
28. Sing, Unburied, Sing--Jesmyn Ward
29. The Parting Glass--Emilie Richards
30. Beautiful Disaster--Jamie McGuire
31. The Glass Eye--Jeannie Vanasco
32. The Princess Saves Herself in This One--Amanda Lovelace
33. Between Friends--Sheila Garrigue
34. The Forgotten Road--Richard Paul Evans
35. The Swan Thieves--Elizabeth Kostova
36. She's Come Undone--Wally Lamb
37. The Woman in the Window--A.J. Finn
38. Lucy in the Sky--Anonymous

Dystopia:

1. Lord of the Flies--William Golding
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses--Sarah J. Maas
3. A Court of Mist and Fury--Sarah J. Maas
4. The Future of Us--Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
5. Ready Player One--Ernest Cline
6. Children of Blood and Bone--Tomi Adeyemi
7. A Court ofWings and Ruin--Sarah J. Maas
8. Nightshade--Andrea Cremer
9. Zita the Spacegirl--Ben Hatke
10. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy--Douglas Adams
11. The Handmaid's Tale--Margaret Atwood
12. Beyond the Red--Ava Jae
13. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies--Seth Grahame-Smith
14. The Wizards of Once--Cressida Cowell
15. Norse Mythology--Neil Gaiman
16. Starburst--Frederik Pohl
17. Changeless--Gail Carrier
18. Landry Park--Bethany Hagen
19. A Court of Frost and Starlight--Sarah J. Maas

Banned Books:

1. Lord of the Flies--William Golding
2. Night--Elie Wiesel
3. The Red Pony--John Steinbeck
4. The Namesake--Jhumpa Lahiri
5. The Handmaid's Tale--Margaret Atwood
6. The Satanic Verses--Salman Rushdie
7. All Quiet on the Western Front--Erich Maria Remarque
8. The Electric Kool-Aid Test--Tom Wolfe

LGBT+:

1. I Hate Everyone But You--Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin
2. Openly Bob--Bob Smith (re-read)
3. Hunger of Memory--Richard Rodriguez
4. Loved--P.C. Cast
5. Running With Scissors--Augusten Burroughs
6. Impulse--Ellen Hopkins
7. Always and Forever, Lara Jean--Jenny Han
8. Queer, There and Everywhere--Sarah Prager
9. The Nowhere Girls--Amy Reed
10. Cat of the Century--Rita Mae Brown
11. The Mars Room--Rachel Kushner
12. The Devil and Daniel Silverman--Theodore Roszak
13. Breakthrough--Jack Andraka
14. Carmilla--J. Sheridan Le Fanu
15. Slay It With Flowers--Kate Collins
16. Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List--Rachel Cohn and David Leviathan
17. Hiding Out--Tina Alexis Allen
18. Little & Lion--Brandy Colbert
19. Binge--Tyler Oakley
20. The Flood Girls--Richard Fifield
21. The Handmaid's Tale--Margaret Atwood
22. You'll Grow Out of It--Jessi Klein
23. All We Ever Wanted--Emily Giffin
24. The Princess Saves Herself in This One--Amanda Lovelace
25. Beyond the Red--Ava Jae
26. Changeless--Gail Carrier
27. Mrs. Dalloway--Virginia Woolf
28. Santa Clawed--Rita Mae Brown
29. Lucy in the Sky--Anonymous

Challenge completed on December 28

Trying to Work on It More

About two days ago, I redid a portion of my memoir, the first I've worked on it since the new year began. But that's all so far. I keep planning to get back to it, but have only done that one so far. I still have to decide how to finish my diary novel. Have many of you tried working on more than one story at once?

Read the Year with Penguin

Just found this one now. I wasn't sure I wanted to do anymore monthly or checklist challenges, but this one sounds good.

As a new year approaches, it’s natural to think about reading resolutions – whether it’s to try a new author or genre, get started with a classic you’ve been meaning to read or finally pick up those books on your to-be-read pile.

Whatever your resolutions, our Read the Year challenge is all about trying something new. From starting the year with a book about new beginnings in January through to getting stuck into a story that embodies the festive spirit in December via strong female characters, world (or space!) travel and more, we hope this challenge will inspire you to see the world from a new perspective.

Download our reading diary to see each month’s prompt. There’s space for you to fill in what you’ve read and if you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve suggested a few books to get you started.
 

January: Start the year with a book about new beginnings:  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas--John Boyne

February: Get stuck in a story of obsessive love: The Best of Me--Nicholas Sparks

March: Read a book about a woman you hadn't previously heard of: Brain on Fire--Susannah Cahalan

April:  A book that will help you explore your creativity: Scrap Basket Crafts--Nancy Reames

May: Use a book to get closer to nature: The Gathering of Zion--Wallace Stegner

June: A book that delves into the experience of fatherhood: Her Secret, His Baby--Tanya Michaels

July: Travel anywhere in (or out of) the world with a book: Carmilla--J. Sheridan Le Fanu

August:  A book which tells a migration story: The Namesake--Jhumpa Lahiri

September: Dive into a coming of age story you haven't read before: The Last of the Menu Girls--Denise Chavez

October: 'Tis the season for spooky stories. Take your pick: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies--Seth Grahame-Smith

November: Pick up a book about the country you live in: Sitting Bull--Susan Bivin Aller

December: Finish the year with a book that embodies the festive spirit: Yuletide Twins--Renee Andrews


Challenge completed on December 12

How to Stay Motivated During the Winter

From Writerslife.org:

During the winter, and especially with the latest storm it can be difficult to stay motivated. Most of us want to grab a cup of tea and wrap ourselves in a blanket… but there is work that needs to be done! 

Each morning when you wake up, watch a motivational video. Yes, motivational videos aren’t a cure for staying motivated but they can help you get started. The goal of watching a motivational video is that you create motivation inside of yourself. When you’re motivated from within, you can accomplish amazing things! 

Upon waking up and watching a motivational video, you should do a review of your life plan. Your life plan is what you wish to accomplish during your lifetime. If you don’t have a life plan, then you need to create one. Without one, you will be meandering around in life and end up at a destination in which you will not be happy about. If you haven’t yet written your life plan, start by asking yourself, “What makes me the happiest, and something I can make money from?” Remember, the best in every profession gets paid. 

Exercise first thing in the morning. Exercising first thing in the morning can be going for a walk, run, or hitting the gym. There is no better feeling than working out and then starting your day. You get a sense of euphoria that’ll last your entire day.

With exercise, waking up early will give you the needed motivation. There’s just something about waking up before everyone else that gives you an added edge. I’m not saying you need to get up at 4 am but you should get up any later than 7 am. When you get up early for a consistent period, you will notice beneficial changes in your life. 

It may seem like a small task, but making your bed in the morning right after you wake up will also help to motivate you. Why? Because you’ve accomplished a task already and that momentum will carry throughout the day. Don’t believe me? Check out the book: Make Your Bed. Staying motivated during the winter doesn’t have to be hard if you follow the steps above!

I have to admit I haven't yet worked on any of my writing since the new year began. I keep wanting to, but have been getting tired early in the evening, which is typical for this time of year.  I'v even been slow on blogging since New Year's Day. And next week is my birthday, though I have no plans. My monthly book club meeting is that day and one of the books I suggested for this year was chose so I have to lead the discussion that night ;) And another I suggested was chosen for February.

It has been two years since I read Prozac Nation, and the review I posted on Goodreads came up on my Facebook memories three days ago. I also posted it my blog.   And almost two year since I got the idea to write my own memoir on the subject. I still can't believe I was into the idea at first, but soon discouraged, thinking it was a bad idea to do what had already been famously done by one person. I also felt my story was just too similar. It took me days to get over this and begin what I had wanted to do. 

Right now, I'm trying to decide which writing I want to work on for the time being, or if I want to try something new. But I haven't quite written all I want for my diary novel, and I'm not sure when to end it. It kind of seems like  something that can be a series, though I'm not ready to determine that just yet. 

And I'm still pondering whether to join Wattpad, Fanfiction or other writing sites. 

PoeTRY Something New 2018

Hmm. not sure what to try, but I'll think of something. Click here.

2017 got away from me at the end of the year, but I wanted to get this post up early for those interested in continuing their poetry reading in 2018.

I love seeing which books others read, and I often add new books to my ever-growing TBR list of poetry books. I’m sure 2018 will be no different.

If you’re interested in reading poetry this year, challenge yourself to try something new. Read a single volume of poetry outside your comfort zone. 

If you normally read classic poetry, read a contemporary volume. 

Another challenge would be if you read from a book at home, go to reading instead and hear a poet read live!

Books of Poetry Read:

1. La Princesa and the Pea--Susan Middleton Elya
2. Selected Poems--Anna Akhmatova
3. The Cat in the Hat--Dr. Seuss
4. Metamorphoses--Ovid
5. Dr. Seuss's ABC--Dr. Seuss
6. If I Ran the Zoo--Dr. Seuss
7. On Beyond Zebra!--Dr. Seuss
8. The Other Side--Julia Alvarez
9. Blues Legacies and Black Feminism--Angela Y. Davis
10. There Will Be a Slight Delay--Jack Prelutsky
11. Impulse--Ellen Hopkins
12. Grandma's Tiny House--Janay Brown-Wood
13. There's a Wocket in My Pocket--Dr. Seuss
14. Selected Poems--Robert Browning
15. A Giraffe and a Half--Shel Silverstein
16. The Cat Who Went to Heaven--Elizabeth Chatsworth
17. Martin & Meditations on the South Valley--Jimmy Santiago Baca
18. The Princess Saves Herself in This One--Amanda Lovelace
19. Haunted--Chuck Palahniuk
20. Sacred Fire--Nancy Wood
21. The Palm at the End of the Mind--Wallace Stevens

Challenge completed on November 29

January Bookish Bingo

Click here to see more and sign up.

Click on the card to download (or right click here and save-as).

Mark up the card however you wish to claim the squares.

Some clarifications, in case you need them:

Library \ Librarian – actual library or librarians in the book

Diet\Fitness\Exercise: Can be either a diet\fitness\exercise book. Or a character diets\exercises.

Completed a series \ In a series – these should be two different books\series.

My Books for this one: 

1. The Ice Queen--Alice Hoffman (4 squares): Free Book, Cold Weather, Retelling, Witch/Daemon/Vampire
2. Mum's the Word--Kate Collins (3 squares): In a Series, Shelf Love, Mystery
3. Born a Crime--Trevor Noah (3 squares): Library, Person on  the Cover, Repercussions
4. I Hate Everyone But You--Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin (2 squares); Young or New Adult, Multi-Word Title
5. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas--John Boyne (4 squares): Made into a Movie, Free Space, Betrayal, Assassin
6. Openly Bob--Bob Smith (1 square): Re-Read
7. Pandora's Daughter--Iris Johansen (3 squares): Audiobook, Government  Agent, Treason
8. One With You--Sylvia Day (2 squares): Finish a Series, Over 400 Pages
9. Lord of the Flies--William Golding (1 square): Competition
10. The World's Strongest Librarian--Josh Hanagarne (2 squares): Librarian, Exercise

Challenge completed on January 19, with 25 squares completed.

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New Year – New Writing

From Writerslife.org:

January 1st marks a fresh start in life. A new calendar, a new year, a new you, and new writing. If you’re feeling like you’re in a slump, or need fresh ideas, then now is the time to make some changes!

The beginning of a new year can either bring change or not. It’s up to you to decide. The minutia that makes up every day life certainly doesn’t change. The laundry still need to be done, dinner still needs to be cooked, and the dog still needs to be walked. But the atmosphere of life can most certainly be changed.

How we perceive life to be can be altered at any moment. It’s just that sometimes we need a special event to kick start us. And that’s the beauty of the new year. It’s a time where everyone gathers to celebrate a new beginning. And while everyone can agree on a new beginning, it’s up to the individual to interpret how that new beginning will unfold.

Will you make giant leaps into 2018? Will your long-time fantasies be played out? Or will you make subtle, but important changes to your life? The most important thing is to recognize that change is necessary. The world will continue to change whether you want it to or not, so you might as well try to change with it, for the better.

The new year can bring whatever you would like, you just need to decide what that will be. Instead of focusing on details, start with a theme. Do you want more adventure in your life? Do you want more comfort? Do you want a new purpose?

A new year can’t exist without an old year. So be sure to think back to 2017. What made last year good? What made it bad? What were the highlights and is it possible to create more of those? What didn’t work well and is it possible to eliminate those situations?

Think about how you want your life to be and go forth to create that life. This is a new year. It will be full of new wonders, new possibilities, and new writing. Make the most of it and be as happy as you can be!

Well, not necessarily new writing just yet, since i'm still working on two things started in the last two years. But maybe something new later this year? Who knows what the year will bring? I would like to try something new, I'm just not sure what that new thing will be. But for now, I'm eager to continue working on what I have already started and see what comes from all that effort. 

Do ou ever really beginning the new year deciding on what to resolve? I certainly don't, since I'm sure I'll just forget the so-called resolutions I'd made. But I do know for sure that I'm going to be working more on my stories.