Seize the Tuesday #4: Being Thankful

Seize the Tuesday is a book blogger meme created by myself and the Let’s Get Lost Buddies Street Team, to share stories about how we’ve seized the Tuesday, with a special focus on the particular book we’re reading. We’ll share our posts online with the hashtag: #LetsAllGetLost. 

The idea is to share little ways in which you may have embraced Bree’s motto of seizing the Tuesday. To relate it to books, you can talk about what book you’re reading, and how you stole some moments from the day to enjoy reading. It doesn’t have to be about reading, but we all know that a well-read day is a day seized. The idea is not just to help spread the word on LGL, but also to remind people to live fully, even/especially if that means spending a part of your day reading.

I've just finished the latest book of my favorite MG fantasy, and am about to start HOW WE FALL by Kate Brauning, and today's post was going to be about the joyfulness of taking a break from YA to indulge in the wonders of MG, when I realized that Thanksgiving is in... um... TWO DAYS?!

So, how about a Thankfulness post?

We have so much to be thankful for every day, and when you really think about everything we have, you see how much that you really do take for granted. The air we breathe, the power of technology, our health. But today I want to take a moment just to be thankful for one of the most important things in all of our lives: Books.

We are bloggers. Readers. Authors. Editors. Publishers. And general fangirls. Books ARE our lives. So much work goes into making these bound treasures, from the author who writes the story up, all the way to the printers, binders, and distributors. Today I want to give a big gigantic thank you to everyone and anyone involved in the process of creating a book, for helping to enrich our lives. Where would we be without you?

Seize the Tuesday #3: Book Buying Ban

Seize the Tuesday is a book blogger meme created by myself and the Let’s Get Lost Buddies Street Team, to share stories about how we’ve seized the Tuesday, with a special focus on the particular book we’re reading. We’ll share our posts online with the hashtag: #LetsAllGetLost. 

The idea is to share little ways in which you may have embraced Bree’s motto of seizing the Tuesday. To relate it to books, you can talk about what book you’re reading, and how you stole some moments from the day to enjoy reading. It doesn’t have to be about reading, but we all know that a well-read day is a day seized. The idea is not just to help spread the word on LGL, but also to remind people to live fully, even/especially if that means spending a part of your day reading.

I consider myself to be pretty good at not spending too much money. Unless I'm in a bookstore. We were on an eight hour drive this weekend, and I finished MESENGER, the third book in the Giver Quartet. I was so angry with the ending that I decided to wait a while before reading SON and finishing the series. During a quick stop at Walmart, I picked up a copy of the BANE CHRONICLES because I needed me some Shadowhunter stuffs and, come on, it just came out! Later that weekend, we made our way to Barnes and Noble because I got coupons in the mail (Praise Jesus!) and instead of pre-ordering THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST for nine bucks like I was planning to, I walked out with three books. At least I had a coupon though, right?

I got home yesterday, and when I went to put my new lovelies on my shelf.... I felt some sort of way. I love my books, but I have a six foot tall shelf with five shelves of about two feet each, and the whole thing is filled with unread books. THE WHOLE THING. This has caused me to feel great pleasure at having so many books, and also to feel extremely disappointed in myself for buying more novels when I've got so many I could be reading. But a reader can never have too many books, right? RIGHT! 

This being said, I have made the executive decision to stop buying books until my very-full-and-over-running shelf diminishes a bit. No new books for me! BUT I have slipped some fine print into my contract with myself. I can acquire new books only if: They are ARCs I receive, They are given to me (Christmas, etc.), OR It is Black Friday (I hear Target's going to have half-off on all their book, eh? *Eyebrow waggle waggle waggle*).

So! Reviews to come from a good many books, old, newer, and upcoming! But no reviews for anything released until I get this shelf cleared!

Wish me luck. Please. I think I'm going to need it.

Seize the Tuesday #2: Balancing Reading and Writing

      Seize the Tuesday is a book blogger meme created by myself and the Let's Get Lost Buddies Street Team to share stories about how we've seized the Tuesday, with a special focus on the particular book we're reading. We'll share our posts online with the hashtag: #LetsAllGetLost.

  The idea is to share little ways in which you may have embraced Bree's motto of Seizing the Tuesday. To relate it to books, you can talk about what book you're reading, and how you stole some moments from the day to enjoy reading. It doesn't have to be about reading, but we all know that a well-read day is a day seized. The idea is not just to spread the word on LGL, but also to remind people to live fully, even/especially if that means spending a part of your day reading.

      If you (Like me) love to write as much as you like to read, then you know that finding the time for both interests can be a bit of a task. When I have the spare time, I'm never sure whether to grab a book, or my laptop. It's always an internal struggle, and there just never seems to be enough time to do both. 

Personally, I can't write if I'm in the middle of a book. My mind stays with the characters I've been reading about, and I'll stare at a blank page for hours and maybe only type a single sentence. So if I want to write, I have to finish my current read, and then stop reading until I've written what I want to write. The thing about writing a novel is that it's a long-ish process, so not reading for months as I write... that just doesn't always work out, so I'll read a book, write, read another book, and go in spurts.

When I get to the point where I don't know whether I should read or write, it comes down to inspiration. If something's lit that fire, and I have something to roll with, then I'll write-- but if it's a dull day and the creative juices aren't flowing, then I'll pick up a book.

At the moment, I've taken a break from writing my second novel to write this post. When I finish here, I'll get back to my WiP until Wednesday, when I can pick up my copy of BEWARE THE WILD by Natalie Parker (She's going to be on a panel of five YA authors at my local indie store this month. Anyone going? Let me know!). So it's really a tennis game for me. I go back and forth. The ball is currently in Writing's court, but I'm sure that'll change when I have Natalie's book in my hands.

So when you want to read, but you also want to write at the same time, figure out if you've got the writing spark that day. If not, don't force it-- just sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and a good read.