Now, normally, I would set myself a deadline and make it work out whether it wanted to or not. But I just don't think that's the way to go this time. This book is supposed to have some humor to it and I haven't been able to dig it out of me. And, yes, I tried the grapefruit spoon.
More importantly, I don't actually have a deadline. I look forward to the day when I do (no, really), but it, as Aragorn once said, is not this day. I feel like forcing this right now would totally ruin the book. And I love this book. It's not even born yet and I love it in that same psycho way Bella loved her unborn (and impossible, even within the fictional context of her world) half-vampire baby. It'll bruise me, deprive me of sleep, and likely make me bleed from an orifice or two, but I'm determined to see it into the world. That's love.
Where the hell was I?
Oh, right. So I've decided to take advantage of a luxury afforded only to the unpublished writer: time. I'm taking a break this month.* And I'm going to use the time to attack the TBR pile. I'm going to read.** Ahhhh.
I'm also going to miss my older kids, because they're on a five-day trip with their class. Hopefully the reading will distract me.
What was the last good book you read?
*Okay, fine. It probably won't be a complete break. I'm a writer. I write. I can't just go all cold turkey.
**Sunday's read was Chuck Wendig's Blackbirds. (Excellent.) Monday's was Veronica Roth's Insurgent. (Also Excellent.) Today, I think we're gonna go with Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood.
Enjoy you lack of a deadline. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd enjoy ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD--it's a great book. And I'm not just saying that because Kendare and I share an editor. ;)
I'm loving it so far, and how could I not? Even if the story wasn't great (and it is) the book itself is to die for. That cover! And the blood colored ink! *sigh* I love a pretty book. Plus it was free. I won it through Tor's blog. :) Can't beat it.
DeleteAnd now, since you have the same editor (who obvs has awesome taste), I want to read your book even more.
Yay you for not forcing yourself. And I have every confidence that YOU can be funny. Now if you were trying NOT to be funny...
ReplyDeleteI'm reading that Keyes woman. I just finished Rachel's Holiday. Which wasn't as funny as the first one but that didn't matter because it was still a compelling, page-turner of a book. I loved it. On to Watermelon by her.
You know, it's odd. People do tell me that some of the stuff I've written is funny, but it's never the stuff I intended to be funny. *shrugs* I'll have to look into Keyes after I get some of this TBR pile whittled down.
DeleteProbably wise not to force it. I never work on something if I know, deep down, that it's just not happening. I know that some people say that as long as you get anything on the page, no matter how terrible it is, it's good. But I've never really agreed with that. Although I've read that some people will work on something else, just to get those creative vibes going again. Personally, when in your situation, I just take a bit of a break.
ReplyDeleteThe last truly wonderful book I read was Incarnate by Jodi Meadows. Right now, I'm reading the third book of Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy. I heard so much about these books for so long that I had to read them. I wasn't a huge fan of the first one. But the very end made me want to read the second, and I'm glad it did! Second was really good, and third is even better (at least so far!).
I do work that way, because sometimes it's just a matter of getting past a road block or finding the right approach for that story, which may not be the approach I started with. (Run-on sentence and prepositional ending FTW!) So usually I try to work through it. But for me, beginnings are essential. I can't move on until I have at least a satisfactory beginning, and I haven't been able to muster that. We'll see.
DeleteAlso, OMGhowmuchdidyouloveIncarnate?! It was gorgeous! And *sigh* Sam. She just revealed the cover to ASUNDER (INCARNATE 2) and she's having a contest on her blog, so get your butt over there, lady.
oh, well, just for something different-- the last book I read that surprised me with how good it was was Sword-Edged Blond by Alex Bledsoe. Maybe the reason why it surprised me was because I went in with really low expectations, but I was thoroughly entertained. I love a book that surprises you. It's a bit on the bloody, gory side, so skip it if that bugs you.
ReplyDeleteBlood and gore bothering me? Surely you jest. ;) BLACKBIRDS was plenty gory, but really good. It had a very cinematic feel to it, almost like you're reading a screenplay (which, I believe, is how Wendig got the story in order, so no surprise there). I'll tell you what, though, IMHO ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD is scarier (woot!), because I'm more nervous for the characters. SO good.
DeleteKnow when to say when. ;)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break.
I got sucked into the Game of Thrones - again. Last really good book? I just luvs 'em all.
The first four books of GAME OF THRONES, I'm ashamed to say, sit unread on my shelf. Not because I don't want to read them, I just haven't gotten there yet. But I will. I will!
DeleteHa! I love how you explained your love for this book! Sometimes a break can be exactly what you need. And sometimes it can be the worst thing. It's so important to take the breaks when its right, and push through when it isn't!
ReplyDeleteHave fun with all the reading!
Exactly. And in this case, it's what I -- and more importantly, the book -- need. I'll come back stronger in June.
DeleteSounds like a good plan. I actually find that when I get blocked on something, I just have to stop writing and read to inspire me. Last book that really did that?... Hmm... The Color of Night by Madison Smartt Bell.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I just looked that one up and read a review that called it a "...superheated noir potboiler of unrelenting savagery...". And holy crap now I have to read it. Wowsers.
Delete"...superheated noir potboiler of unrelenting savagery..."
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm in, too.
You ARE funny. Grapefruit spoon? Funny!
Grapefruit spoons have always made me wary. They're all serrated on the sides. Perfect eyeball-plucker-outers, those are.
DeleteYou're very dedicated to your writing--you can totally afford a month off without losing momentum. Best wishes for your book love affair!
ReplyDeleteJust finished an excellent book by Jude Morgan--more Austen than slasher-paranormal however, lol.
That must be why I'm unfamiliar with the name. I'm missing the Austen gene. I couldn't get through Little Women, either. No, I don't know what's wrong with me.
Delete