As we head towards a new year, and lets face it, my city continues to be rocked and shaken with these earthquakes - my mind has turned to my reading goals for 2011.
I really wanted to read more classics this year, and unfortunately I've failed at that. We've had so much upheaval this year, and it took me over 4 months after the February quake to really relax into reading again and not put down a book after only a few minutes (I just couldn't relax enough to let myself get absorbed in a book - I was constantly on alert and on edge). I did set my goal on goodreads for the year as being 35 books read for the year, and that I did achieve.
This year saw me purchase an android phone, which in turn led me into the world of kindle and ebooks. I love it! No longer do I have to lug around tonnes of books, or carry them around in my bag "just in case". Now I have books with me whenever I have my phone. Unfortunately however I don't feel comfortable taking my phone in the bath (yes I'm one of those people that reads in the bath!), so paperbacks still have a place in my heart. Of course you can't forget that "old book" smell either... maybe they'll start making scented phones in the future so we can still have the best of both worlds?
As for a goal for the number of books for next year. I hope to reach at least 50. This might be a bit interesting considering what a huge year I have ahead of myself, with being photographer for one of my best friend's weddings BUT its a challenge for a reason correct?
So I end this year with hopes that next year will see my mind expanded, I hope to discover new genres, new books and new adventures.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Inspiration.....
There’s something a blank page, a blank book that fills me with excitment. I love buying blank journals and looking at a fresh word file on the computer that hits all my buttons. Its the unknown promise, the anticipation of what might be written on those pages and the potential it could contain.
Now of course I haven’t really written anything notable (or much that’s been published besides high school newspaper articles, some pieces in a local newspaper when i did a 3 day internship at a local newspaper), but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t continue to write - or that you shouldn’t either.
I have a lot of friends who write various styles, genres or even mediums! (newspapers, online blogs, magazines, novels.. the list goes on) so I find myself comparing my work to theirs - when to be honest I shouldn’t. Everyone’s style is different - so is their writing strength. If you feel you might like to try fanfiction (i have!) then by all means do it, and should you want feedback the best people to ask are other fanfiction writers of your genre, and of course people you trust not to burst out laughing at the thought of you writing.
The biggest piece of advice that you should heed from this piece - write, write, write. It might be utter dribble that you’re too embarassed to show to even your most trusted friend, or it might be something that is meaningful only to you. Its that old cliche - practice makes perfect. Its also a great way to figure out your writing style, and pick subject matter that interests you. The more you write, the easier It will be to narrow down your writing voice as you can experiment - not everything you write has to be made public. I have plenty of “practice” pieces that sit in a dark place on my computer, and should hopefully never see the light of day. Why keep them? well, its so I can see how my writing has developed and grown over the years, and because once you destroy something you’ve put all that effort it - its not so easy to get back.
One of the issues I find myself struggling with when it comes to writing is inspiration. I find I can be inspired by things, but that inspiration doesn’t always last long enough to finish a story, or even to get through the planning stages. The thing to remember about it, is get your ideas down the minute they pop into your brain or they could be lost. At least that way, you can revisit them at a later date when you have time, motivation and the right frame of mind. I have a notebook next to my bed with a pencil so even If a random idea hits me at 3am, - i’m prepared!
Now, inspiration can come in many many forms. Be it music, an image, a conversation with a friend about hamsters and martini’s - you can find it in the strangest of places you just have to be open to it. I find when i’m writing I tend to prefer music playing in my headphones rather than listening to tv, or other people chatting. You can use it help set you in the “mood” for your piece ie: writing about something celtic? put on some celtic music. Writing about romance - play the music that gets you in the romantic frame of mind. This even works if you’re writing a dreaded scene where something horrible is about to happen - then grab a glass of wine (if you’re of age to drink), a big box of tissues and let it out - just be careful about getting too many tears on your keyboard.
Really, when it comes down to it, the only limitations on your writing is you! If you’re willing to put the time and effort in, you can truly go far. In this age of blogs, collabaration websites such as about.com, freelance writing jobs on the other side of the world AND self publishing, its easier than ever to kickstart your writing career. So what are you waiting for?
Now of course I haven’t really written anything notable (or much that’s been published besides high school newspaper articles, some pieces in a local newspaper when i did a 3 day internship at a local newspaper), but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t continue to write - or that you shouldn’t either.
I have a lot of friends who write various styles, genres or even mediums! (newspapers, online blogs, magazines, novels.. the list goes on) so I find myself comparing my work to theirs - when to be honest I shouldn’t. Everyone’s style is different - so is their writing strength. If you feel you might like to try fanfiction (i have!) then by all means do it, and should you want feedback the best people to ask are other fanfiction writers of your genre, and of course people you trust not to burst out laughing at the thought of you writing.
The biggest piece of advice that you should heed from this piece - write, write, write. It might be utter dribble that you’re too embarassed to show to even your most trusted friend, or it might be something that is meaningful only to you. Its that old cliche - practice makes perfect. Its also a great way to figure out your writing style, and pick subject matter that interests you. The more you write, the easier It will be to narrow down your writing voice as you can experiment - not everything you write has to be made public. I have plenty of “practice” pieces that sit in a dark place on my computer, and should hopefully never see the light of day. Why keep them? well, its so I can see how my writing has developed and grown over the years, and because once you destroy something you’ve put all that effort it - its not so easy to get back.
One of the issues I find myself struggling with when it comes to writing is inspiration. I find I can be inspired by things, but that inspiration doesn’t always last long enough to finish a story, or even to get through the planning stages. The thing to remember about it, is get your ideas down the minute they pop into your brain or they could be lost. At least that way, you can revisit them at a later date when you have time, motivation and the right frame of mind. I have a notebook next to my bed with a pencil so even If a random idea hits me at 3am, - i’m prepared!
Now, inspiration can come in many many forms. Be it music, an image, a conversation with a friend about hamsters and martini’s - you can find it in the strangest of places you just have to be open to it. I find when i’m writing I tend to prefer music playing in my headphones rather than listening to tv, or other people chatting. You can use it help set you in the “mood” for your piece ie: writing about something celtic? put on some celtic music. Writing about romance - play the music that gets you in the romantic frame of mind. This even works if you’re writing a dreaded scene where something horrible is about to happen - then grab a glass of wine (if you’re of age to drink), a big box of tissues and let it out - just be careful about getting too many tears on your keyboard.
Really, when it comes down to it, the only limitations on your writing is you! If you’re willing to put the time and effort in, you can truly go far. In this age of blogs, collabaration websites such as about.com, freelance writing jobs on the other side of the world AND self publishing, its easier than ever to kickstart your writing career. So what are you waiting for?
Friday, June 17, 2011
More shakes
Yup still having aftershocks. We've had a few decent ones this week. Including a 6.3 and a 5.7. Despite this we are keeping in good spirits
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, October 11, 2010
Unfinished Business
Have you ever started a book...but for some reason or another just cannot finish it... i'm talking a book you've been "trying" to read for years? lol
I’m talking about that book, that either gets pushed aside for something lighter/easier/funnier, that gets pushed to the back of the pile of books to read, that book that in the back of your mind you kinda want to finish but just can’t find to motivation to pick back up? Yes I’m also talking about that book that you’re using for a doorjam/paperweight/have used to prop open a window.... need I go on..
I’ve got a couple of these and each and every day they’re niggling away at me in the back of my mind that I *need* to finish them... this year damnit! Well as this year is about to come to a close I thought i’d issue a reminder... don’t keep putting it off! even if its just a handful (okay so depending on its size you might want to aim for a few more than a handful of pages) of pages - a chapter at a time even!
Yes i’ll even go so far as to admit publicly what those books are that i’ve been trying to read for years.. I’m mildly ashamed to admit this:... its a classic (see previous post)... “Emma” by Jane Austen. To be honest its been so long since I last read it that I’m not sure I could keep all the characters straight in my head which fills me with a truckload of dread that I might actually have to start from the beginning again just so I can follow the plot *insert silence screaming here*. I don’t know what it is about it. When I was living on the truck (and had limited activity choices) I was reading these classics like they were going out of fashion, now that i’m back in new zealand with a very hectic schedule I’m finding myself spending more and more time reading quick reads, or focusing on certain genres like murder mystery, or paranormal.
The next book that I just cannot seem to finish is Mansfield park also by Ms Austen. Don’t get me wrong I love her stuff, she’s an amazing lady and her writing is poetic and beautiful but damn if she can’t write a lot! If I could go back in time I’d love to pick her brain about a few things thats for sure.
The last book (and probably the one i’m going to have to completely re-read) is “The Hobbit” by JRR Tolkien. Loved the lord of the ring movies, and I can’t wait to see the hobbit but the guy has a lot of information in his books, and sometimes...sometimes i say it can be a little.... whats a polite way of saying it... wordy? dry? like trying to wade through golden syrup? yeah. I take it as a personal challenge from this book that I will get through it someday. With my kitten as my witness I will conquer this book of fiction if its the last thing I do.
Feel free to share what books you have a tough time finishing, or that you’ve been meaning to get around to for years now? enquiring minds want to know...
I’m talking about that book, that either gets pushed aside for something lighter/easier/funnier, that gets pushed to the back of the pile of books to read, that book that in the back of your mind you kinda want to finish but just can’t find to motivation to pick back up? Yes I’m also talking about that book that you’re using for a doorjam/paperweight/have used to prop open a window.... need I go on..
I’ve got a couple of these and each and every day they’re niggling away at me in the back of my mind that I *need* to finish them... this year damnit! Well as this year is about to come to a close I thought i’d issue a reminder... don’t keep putting it off! even if its just a handful (okay so depending on its size you might want to aim for a few more than a handful of pages) of pages - a chapter at a time even!
Yes i’ll even go so far as to admit publicly what those books are that i’ve been trying to read for years.. I’m mildly ashamed to admit this:... its a classic (see previous post)... “Emma” by Jane Austen. To be honest its been so long since I last read it that I’m not sure I could keep all the characters straight in my head which fills me with a truckload of dread that I might actually have to start from the beginning again just so I can follow the plot *insert silence screaming here*. I don’t know what it is about it. When I was living on the truck (and had limited activity choices) I was reading these classics like they were going out of fashion, now that i’m back in new zealand with a very hectic schedule I’m finding myself spending more and more time reading quick reads, or focusing on certain genres like murder mystery, or paranormal.
The next book that I just cannot seem to finish is Mansfield park also by Ms Austen. Don’t get me wrong I love her stuff, she’s an amazing lady and her writing is poetic and beautiful but damn if she can’t write a lot! If I could go back in time I’d love to pick her brain about a few things thats for sure.
The last book (and probably the one i’m going to have to completely re-read) is “The Hobbit” by JRR Tolkien. Loved the lord of the ring movies, and I can’t wait to see the hobbit but the guy has a lot of information in his books, and sometimes...sometimes i say it can be a little.... whats a polite way of saying it... wordy? dry? like trying to wade through golden syrup? yeah. I take it as a personal challenge from this book that I will get through it someday. With my kitten as my witness I will conquer this book of fiction if its the last thing I do.
Feel free to share what books you have a tough time finishing, or that you’ve been meaning to get around to for years now? enquiring minds want to know...
Saturday, October 9, 2010
A challenge.....
Today’s blog is about a "classics" challenge I've set for myself. Here’s the backstory - so get a cup of cocoa and put your slippers on and join me on this trip down memory lane....
Okay so it wasn’t actually all that long ago (maybe 5 or 6 years ago). I realised that I was missing out on a lot of amazing books that i’d written off as boring, old and not at all relevant to today’s society or people. Maybe it was through a movie or a discussion or two with friends about these books in question that made me decide to open my mind and try something new. I, the chick-lit-fantasy-paranormal-loving bookworm was going to try and tackle ..... the classics! Okay take a breath I know thats a bit of a shock to a lot of people.
I’ll be the first to admit, I really didn’t like shakespeare in high school and I struggled to comprehend a lot of the language, but despite all this I took a deep breath and cracked open my first classic of my challenge - Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The scarlet letter”. I was blown away by how poetic and beautiful the language was. Yes I did watch the movie first to help me understand it a little better (does that count as cheating?).
Its like a pringle...once you popped you can’t stop! I was hooked, I read jane eyre by Bronte, Dracula by Stoker, The Crucible by Arthur. I admired the courage and strength of Alcott’s “Little women” and for the first time ever discovered the fascination and wonder of Anne of Green Gables. I guess you could say I was hooked, well and truly.
There’s still so many amazing classics out there that I want to read, and I know i’ll get there, one book at a time.
Some of the books left in my challenge to read are:
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (I started it a few years ago and never got around to finishing it!)
Emma by Jane Austen (yes I started this about 3yrs ago and just haven’t gotten around to finishing it - oops! i’ll get there)
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
So readers I ask you this, what “classics” do you want to read?? or alternatively do you have any more suggestions for me to add to my list? Throw me a comment!
Okay so it wasn’t actually all that long ago (maybe 5 or 6 years ago). I realised that I was missing out on a lot of amazing books that i’d written off as boring, old and not at all relevant to today’s society or people. Maybe it was through a movie or a discussion or two with friends about these books in question that made me decide to open my mind and try something new. I, the chick-lit-fantasy-paranormal-loving bookworm was going to try and tackle ..... the classics! Okay take a breath I know thats a bit of a shock to a lot of people.
I’ll be the first to admit, I really didn’t like shakespeare in high school and I struggled to comprehend a lot of the language, but despite all this I took a deep breath and cracked open my first classic of my challenge - Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The scarlet letter”. I was blown away by how poetic and beautiful the language was. Yes I did watch the movie first to help me understand it a little better (does that count as cheating?).
Its like a pringle...once you popped you can’t stop! I was hooked, I read jane eyre by Bronte, Dracula by Stoker, The Crucible by Arthur. I admired the courage and strength of Alcott’s “Little women” and for the first time ever discovered the fascination and wonder of Anne of Green Gables. I guess you could say I was hooked, well and truly.
There’s still so many amazing classics out there that I want to read, and I know i’ll get there, one book at a time.
Some of the books left in my challenge to read are:
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (I started it a few years ago and never got around to finishing it!)
Emma by Jane Austen (yes I started this about 3yrs ago and just haven’t gotten around to finishing it - oops! i’ll get there)
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
So readers I ask you this, what “classics” do you want to read?? or alternatively do you have any more suggestions for me to add to my list? Throw me a comment!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
An Update from the Eathquake Capital from NZ
So I know its been way too long since I last updated, to be honest there's been a lot of things going on in the last 6 months including but not limited to working 6 day weeks, seasonal launches at work, trying to spend time with family and friends, settling in a new kitten, and dealing with general craziness.
One of the biggest things that's happened recently was the 7.1 Earthquake that hit September 4th at 4:35am. Since that day we've had over 1300 aftershocks ranging up to magnitudes 5.1's! pretty damn big quakes in their own rights.
The truly miraculous thing about this whole situation, no one has died because of the quake! The people of my city are all extremely thankful. Our emergency services and engineers have done an amazing job. During this last month everyone's pulled together and supported each other.
Its given me a bit of a wake up, and made me realise that I need to spend more time doing what makes me happy. I will admit this experience has left me shaken, and served as a reminder of how quickly things can change in life. That being said, one of the things I'm determined to get back to - is this blog. So Please continue to stay with me, and keep tuned. Fun times, coming soon!
One of the biggest things that's happened recently was the 7.1 Earthquake that hit September 4th at 4:35am. Since that day we've had over 1300 aftershocks ranging up to magnitudes 5.1's! pretty damn big quakes in their own rights.
The truly miraculous thing about this whole situation, no one has died because of the quake! The people of my city are all extremely thankful. Our emergency services and engineers have done an amazing job. During this last month everyone's pulled together and supported each other.
Its given me a bit of a wake up, and made me realise that I need to spend more time doing what makes me happy. I will admit this experience has left me shaken, and served as a reminder of how quickly things can change in life. That being said, one of the things I'm determined to get back to - is this blog. So Please continue to stay with me, and keep tuned. Fun times, coming soon!
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