Notes From an Amateur Writer #51
This Blog series is an exercise in creative writing. Sometimes expressed in short story form, sometimes as a journal, or just my thoughts written down. It is a nursery of sorts for the stories that are on their way, or yet to be written.
This is post 22 in @dragosroua's January 30 day writing challenge.
Some of the Books That I am Reading
I finished last year strongly in terms of my reading commitment. I had set a challenge of 25 books for the year, and having not really started the challenge until about May, I completed the 25th book in the final week of the year. I upped the challenge to 50 for this year. Almost one book a week, which will be difficult judging by one of the current novels I am reading. However fortunately this one is the exception when it comes to length, as it is almost three novels in one, I believe. So all up so far this year I have completed three books, and am currently reading through several more.
Completed Books 2018
- The Girl Who Played With Fire – Steig Larrson
- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest – Steig Larrson
- The Courage to be Disliked – Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
Currently Reading
- 1Q84 – Haruki Murakami (as suggested by @dailyrunner )
- All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr
- A Collapse of Horses – Brian Evenson (also suggested by someone at Steemit, but I've lost the name)
- The Novel Writing Blueprint – Jill Harris
- The First 20 Hours – How to Learn Anything Fast – Josh Kaufman
- The Switch – Elmore Leonard
- The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson
- Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
Coming Up
- The Writer's Guide to Beginnings – Paula Munier
- Infinite Jest – David Foster Wallace (as suggested by @rarebooksleuth )
- How to Write a Damn Good Thriller – James N. Frey
- Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
- Reading a Writer's Mind – Exploring Short Fiction – Linda Acaster
- Creating Imaginary Worlds – The 12 Rules – Charles Christian
There is a lot of reading on that list, with both novels and writing-skills related books in there also. I tend to go through spurts, so perhaps I will struggle at times, but mostly I think I should get through the above, plus perhaps a few new ones that I add along the way in the next few months. The one I am currently reading – 1Q84 – is the challenge, as it is a large novel. But thoroughly intriguing. I love the idea, and the further I get into the story the more I struggle to put it down. Proof to me that I am onto a winner with this one. Very happy to have received this recommendation. You can expect a book review post from me on this one (and possible all the above – at least the novels) at some point after I complete it.
The challenge for me is allocating time to write more stories. I have plenty of ideas, but so far I have been spending my writing time mostly on the posts I create here. I love to do that, so it isn't a burden, but at each step in this journey I am learning the importance of planning my time a little bit better than I used to. I don't always like to be rigidly structured, but some form of time management wouldn't hurt, especially if it means I get more time to be creative.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you liked it then please like, comment, and follow.
@naquoya
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Links to earlier works
- Fiction
My Fiction Writing Collection
Writing Myself Out of Existence
When the Levee Breaks
- Blog Posts
Notes #1 - #39 - Notes From An Amateur Writer Collection
Notes #40 - Read, Write, and Face the Future
Notes #41 - What Are Some Of Your Favourite Books?
Notes #42 - Website Review: Fiction University
Notes #43 - Seeking a Community Of Writers
Notes #44 - What Are Some of Your Favourite Characters?
Notes #45 - When Madness Came Knocking
Notes #46 - Why Do I Write?
-Ramble On (Humour based travel blog)
Introducing My New Travel Blog
Making a Deal With the Devil
-Poetry
Wow, 50 books a year? I think i could only manage that with audible ;)
Here are some books you might like (i love every one of them):
Also i want to invite you to take part in the BookChain Challenge by @nobyeni, if you didn't already: start here
Well I haven't managed it yet, so i don't wish to get ahead of myself. I'm still on track , but given it is only the fourth week of the year that is not such a major achievement.
Thank you for the book suggestions. I'm going to look into these when I get the chance. As well as the BookChain Challenge, as I wasn't aware of that.
Congratulations! This exceptional post has been featured in Episode 6 of The STEEM Engine Express Podcast. Click the link to hear what I had to say, and keep up the good work!
Thank you for that. I haven't had the chance to listen to your podcast as yet, but now that I'm in it :D
I do appreciate you highlighting my work - now I'm going to take the time to listen to your hard work.
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Wow, that is a lot of books you're reading right now! I have a few that I'm reading as well thanks to reading to my kids for their school... ;) On my own, I'm reading one! :)
It is a lot, I agree. Since taking my writing education more seriously I have launched myself into the challenge of reading as much as possible. Writing about it here helps solidify the knowledge, as well as share the challenge experience. If it was purely for reading pleasure I may tone that number down somewhat, although I do tend to be a fickle reader, and flip between several books at once.
Nice - you're putting to use what my kids do for school. It is called narration in our curriculum. They read something and then tell me about it in their own words. It helps put it firmly in their minds. :)
Yes, I suppose it really is a learning tool. I hadn't looked at it quite like that, but I like it. We should never stop learning new things.
Wow, you really put a lot of work in the reading part. I visited your posts with the fiction writing list, will look through it asap.
Thanks for your comment. It can seem like a lot of work, but I do enjoy it, so it's more like fun than work :)
I love this! I keep track of my reading on paper, in the back of a journal...but I like holding myself accountable on places like steemit (not a goodreads user personally!). I'm curious: when you say "currently reading", how do you divide your time? Do you just dip in and out of those books as you feel it? Or do you read a bit of each of them each day? Keep one by the bed and one by the toilet?? Personally, I never have more than three going at a time. One in audiobook format, usually one big hefty thing that's taking me around a month, and one shorter novel which I'm flying through.
I have only started using Goodreads, so I find it helpful now, but I like to keep track of my reading in other ways too. Journal, especially, with notes, ideas, etc inspired from my reading.
As for current reading, this can be broken up between a few books I read everyday, and some I read weekly. At the moment 1Q84 is taking th bulk of my reading attention, as it is a long and time consuming read. And enthralling as well. Occasionally I will dip into some of the others. My reading attention span can seem a little scattered to some, but I generally flip between books often.
I do most of my reading on a Kindle these days, due to its ease of transportation, and storage. It took me a long time to embrace this technological shift, but once i did my reading rate actually almost doubled. I think because I need to have access to multiple books at once, to satisfy my often temperamental reading moods!
Thanks for the thoughtful answer! I'm always fascinated by different people's reading habits, especially people who actually have a reading habit ;)
I have the same fascination. I try to learn what I can from other avid readers also, as there is so much about this topic I have yet to learn.
Maintaining a balance between reading, writing and steemit posting is daunting, especially when you factor in other daily chores. I have short story ideas I just can’t get to. Thankfully poetry, although still time consuming, allows me to combine writing and steemit posting.
It is daunting. You are right there. I am constantly re-evaluating the use of my spare time, of which I do have more of than in the past. That is why I have been able to write more over this past month. But to do all of that, read, and work full time, and be with friends and family - wow, now that is not easy.
It is teaching me good time management skills though. And discipline in terms of writing when I have the chance.
1Q84 is great. But, the thing I admire most about Murakami is how he goes about his day. Such a fascinating routine he has. Wait until you get to Cloud Atlas haha! That's going to be a mammoth of a read!
Also the title of my memoir haha!
As usual you seem to be one step ahead of me with regards these great books. Glad you approve though.
I saw the title to that book and new I had to read it. And it would make an awesome memoir title. I can see that :)
Wow. I like to read 2 or three books at the most at one time. When and where do you usually read and through which medium, paper or digital? I'm very curious because I put aside reading for some years. I still read mostly for pleasure.
I usually read with a Kindle these days. That's how I have access to multiple books at once. This is how I have managed to up my reading rate enormously over the last 12 months.
I can be a slower reader than a lot of avid readers, so having a Kindle, and keeping it close by, has helped enormously.
Thank makes sense. Then you can read the kindle any time. I will keep that in mind. I think a time will come we can use Steem to purchase books on kindle directly.
To be able to use to Steem to make Kindle purchases would be cool. I look forward to that day.
1Q84 is awesome. I haven't looked at the millennium series yet.
I am now wondering if I can read as many books... probably not
Another vote for 1Q84, that's good to hear. I just finished book 1, and that was truly mesmerising. Really looking forward to continuing this incredible story.
It is a lot of books, I won't lie - but I've learned to pace myself, so hopefully I can complete the challenge.
There is some great books on that to-read-pile. Murakami, but also Cloud Atlas has been very nice in my experience. Great idea to share a reading-challenge here. I've been doing a reading challenge for some years now, always aiming for 95 but reaching about 60 normally. This year I'm already way behind, mostly because I've been writing more than reading for far.
Looking forward to hearing more about what you read and what inspired you.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on some of the books you are aware of. I've just finished book 1 of 1Q84, and it's incredible. The storytelling is stunning. I started Cloud Atlas, but got distracted by 1Q84, so need to get back into that also.
50 should be doable for me, but probably just. I've never taken reading challenges as seriously as i did last year, and now this year also. But fitting in reading time with writing time is another challenge, isn't it?
I will definitely be sharing more along the way, as I find the two way flow of reading ideas a helpful boost.
Although it's an amazon-based website, I do like goodreads as it lets you keep track of the books you read (if you fill out the date you read them). And at the end of the year you get nice stats, like how many pages you read and so forth.
Yes, I started using Goodreads for that purpose also. Helps me keep track of reading progress. I've only been using it since last year, but so far its been helpful.
Night Circus is on my list. Glad you reminded me of it.
I have made a start, but need to go back and read it again. What I did read previously was brilliant. Fantastic magical story. Definite read it if you get the chance. We'll compare notes after it all :)
So many books. So little time!
A motto for life :)
Aaaah, time management! Can you manage what you don't have????
That is a conundrum (I've been dying to use that word all week).
But I'd say you have time, but none of it belongs to you. So that does make the task somewhat difficult.
You seem to be a bookoholic :D
Here are some, according to me, must-read titles:
-When breath becomes air
-fourty rules of love
-Pride and prejudice
-Kite runner
-wuthering heights
That's what I remember for now :)
Yes, it can seem that way :)
Thanks for the suggestions. Are these some of your favourites?
They are my favourite 😊
they are ranked in order of preference
Cool, thanks for letting me know. I'm familiar with a few names on the list, but I've not read them. I'll check them out.
Awesome note
Thank you.
HI nice book list:-) Have you ever tried reading some from Else byskov? It a danish writer. I have done a couple of her books now. Before that I read The steppenwolf by Herman Hesse also a great book:-)
No I haven't read any books from those authors. But thanks for bringing them to my attention :)
Happy reading:-)
I told you about A Collapse of Horses :)
Thank you for reminding me. My apologies, as I couldn't find where I had written down the suggestion. I'll remember when time to post a review post.