Hello, 2022!

Last year, I told 2021 to "Bring it." 2022...just don't fuck anything up, okay?

I'm just going to keep it simple this year and renew the resolutions I made this time last year (mostly because they were great and also because well...why the fuck not). I've altered a few of them though, making a few a little more realistic based off of last year's resolution follow-throughs.

2022 Resolutions:
     (1) Write [almost] every day...or at least think about it
     (2) Don't stop reading
     (3) Make something (e.g. a manuscript)
     (4) Share love of books/writing
     (5) Be kinder to myself

What are your 2022 resolutions?

#newyearsresolutions #hello2022 #keeplearning #writeeveryday #dontstopreading #makesomething #shareloveofbooks #shareloveofreading #bekindertomyself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Goodbye, 2021!

I don't remember a lot of 2021. I'm not sure if that's because nothing major happened, or if it's because it was just another 2020 (aka a lot of scary shit happening and a lot of people not caring and that being the new normal). 

Exciting things I do remember happening: my best friend got married, I went to a concert, I went to Universal, my grandma turned 80, I redid my parent's kitchen, I got 3 new tattoos, I bought a new bookshelf, I caught covid, I found a new genre that I'm in love with, and probably more (but like I said, this year was...).

2021 Resolutions:

     (1) Write [almost] every day

     (2) Don't stop reading

     (3) Complete something (e.g. a manuscript)

     (4) Share love of books/writing
     (5) Be kinder to myself

(1) I wrote a few days. I did more research for different manuscripts than actual writing, but that counts as something...sorta. Going to try to do a little bit more in 2022.

(2) Books read this year: 235 (though I might add one more by midnight). I can't say I should try to do more in 2022, because I did a shit ton in 2021, but I can ask for the opportunity more the same amount (or the same quality).

(3) Did some research for additional manuscript submissions, looking for an agent. Didn't do any additional submissions though. In December, I finally accepted that my book needs some cuts. In December, I also accepted that I don't know how to proceed with even more cuts. Trying more with a renewed will in 2022.

(4) Posts this year (including this one--as well as the next): 283. See the end note from number two for 2022 goals for this resolution.

(5) Let's just start over next year? Yeah. That's what we're going with.

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions (now that its time to make brand-new ones)?

Any exciting 2022 reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbye2021 #hello2022 #keeplearning #writeeveryday #dontstopreading #completesomething #getprofessional #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Goodbye, December!

December... I remember Thanksgiving...and then all of a sudden, it was Christmas. Sorta. Then it was New Years Eve. So there's that.

2021 Resolutions:

     (1) Write [almost] every day

     (2) Don't stop reading

     (3) Complete something (e.g. a manuscript)

     (4) Share love of books/writing
     (5) Be kinder to myself

(1) I wrote/edited for a few days, almost a whole week straight actually. Then I went and started to avoid my problems again. There's some scenes I know I have to shorten/cut and I just don't know how to go about condensing them. Yet. 

(2) Books read this month: 12 (though I might add one more by midnight).

(3) Didn't do any extra research. But I opened up my manuscript again and was able to edit some stuff and kill some darlings.

(4) Posts this month (including this one): 18.

(5) Let's just start over next year? Yeah. That's what we're going with.

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions (now that its time to make brand-new ones)?

Any exciting January reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyedecember #hellojanuary #goodbye2020 #hello2021 #goodbye2021 #hello2022 #keeplearning #writeeveryday #dontstopreading #completesomething #getprofessional #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Where The Wild Things Are

I kept meaning and meaning and meaning to read this book for years (my coworker has a really cool tattoo--its her favorite book). Every time I think of reading it, I go to buy it (hoping there's a kindle version because I'm very instant-gratification--there's not, by the way), and I either forget or I'm too impatient to wait for it to be delivered. THIS TIME, I made myself wait.

It was so very worth it. Obviously

["Max, a wild and naughty boy, is sent to bed without his supper by his exhausted mother. In his room, he imagines sailing far away to a land of Wild Things. Instead of eating him, the Wild Things make Max their king."]

And like all children's books, the main character (the child) learns something, even just a little bit. He learns that, at the end of the day, something familiar and comforting is oftentimes more rewarding than adventure (and being King).

I (also) find a hot dinner and my own bed more comforting than...pretty much anything else.

#wherethewildthingsare #mauricesendak #books #childrensbooks #classicbooks #childrensclassics #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Reading Slump

I did a quick first reread through of my manuscript and decided that I was going to reward myself by reading a few books before I went through it a second time and did some more major cuts/edits. 

That was a week and a half ago...

Since then, I started and abandoned a book. Started and abandoned a book that I started and abandoned a few months ago. Thought about doing that last one a few more times with a few more books. Then stared at my bookshelves for a while (specifically the TBR shelves). Then I stared at my kindle app for a while. I did those last two things back and forth a few times, too. Then (there are a lot of thens in this post--I'm aware; I'm just too lazy to thing of other transitional words), I went and did that first one again (well, the second one with the first one's book).

It's official, people. I'm in a book slump. I hate reading slumps. It's almost harder than TV/movie slumps. It's definitely more frustrating then writing slumps (in my opinion--I'm fully accepted and embraced my writing slumps).

Granted, as soon as I post this, I'm bond to find some book that will stick. Fingers crossed. At least, I have a few more ideas on books to start (I just hate having so many half-started books; it stresses me out more than my TBR piles).

And to that one picture's credit, I have indeed binge-watched a new show obnoxiously fast (this time around: Brooklyn-Nine-Nine--and I have about a season and a half left, so no spoilers please).

#readingslum #bookslump #reading #readingproblems #writing #writingproblems #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Merry Bookmas

Merry Bookmas, everyone!! To whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope it's a safe and happy one. 

Fun little note: all of the books in the picture are queer.

So all of that holigay season is most definitely "making the Yuletide gay" as we "don...our gay apparel." Among other references to the happy definition of gay that I can't think of/Google right now (my brain is tired already).

#merrybookmas #merrychristmas #holidayseason #holigayseason #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Ambiance Achieved: Writing Edition.

Ambiance achieved.

Not pictured: my himalayan pink sea salt lamp, my burning candles, my ginger ale and Jack, and my squishmallow Dino Doug. 

Part of writing is being incredibly vulnerable. You have to open yourself up and pour your soul onto the page. It's incredibly intimate. Therefore, you have to make an environment in which you can be as honest and comfortable as possible. Hence, the ambiance. 

#whyiswritingsohard  #whyisrevisingsohard #writing #editing #revision #writingproblems #editingproblems #revisionproblems #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks