Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere) by Lisa Cron

February 22, 2019 – April 12, 2021

This book was useful, but also kind of misleading. I went into it hoping to get a new book written, that by following its guidance and exercises that I’ll have what she said I would have- a good outline for a new book.

And………. it was really helpful in teaching me some theory behind making a story matter – that if you don’t connect with the main character you don’t really have a story. Which is something I agree with full heartedly.

It is just that this book isn’t helpful if you want to figure out a plot for a book. She focuses on the beginning and the end, which I was able to figure out with the help of the exercises, but I was drawing a blank on what goes on in the middle. I had some ideas, and tried to just write, but was running into the feeling that I was forcing something. She made it seem so obvious and I should be able to just do what she said and make a story- but I’ve since figured out that though her idea that the life line of a book is how you relate with and follow the main character, that is just one of several equal and important parts that work together.

So am I happy that I read it? Yes. Would I recommend it? Meh.

The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon, The Bird and the Sword Chronicles #1

April 5, 2021 – April 6, 2021

That was a very good book. A beautiful book. Like just from the start it was the type of prose that made you feel like sitting by a stream in the woods and listen. But the story! The equal parts magic and castles, all combined with a love story that was realistic and epic all at once.

I was nervous that he was so pushy, but he wasn’t ever cruel. They lived in a time of marriage alliances, he did not promise her love, but they were friends. They respected and helped each other, so when he did tell her that he loved her the scene was so perfect it made me want to cry.

And that last battle! That last scene! (swoon) It was so epic.

This book was also a stand-alone novel, which has been on my mind a great deal lately. I’ve started a new trilogy I’m calling Currents of Light because after rolling the potential story around in my mouth it just feels like a three-book thing, but I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a stand-alone, wondering if I could do it. In a way, it seems harder than writing a trilogy.

This really was such a good book, in every storytelling sense of the word.

Update: Oh my gosh there is a second one! It didn’t feel like a series at all, but I’m happy that I get more. 🙂

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

April 2, 2021 – April 2, 2021

Baby killing. Like on-screen mother feeling her unborn baby’s soul be consumed by a monster.

Before then it was going alright. Not great, but alright. Cool premise, could be tightened up in a couple of places, but I was going to finish.

And then baby eating.

This is why I have trust issues.

The thing is that I decided that I need to read more YA fantasy because 1) it is the genera I write in and I should have a better feel for it and 2) I’m at the point I need to start making lists of agents to query and I need to find more books I think are like mine so I can look up who represented them.

Apparently just trusting goodreads “these books are like this one that you really like *cough The Burning Sky cough*” isn’t good enough. A friend actually sent me some websites with trigger warnings that day actually, but I couldn’t find any overlap.

So if anyone is reading this here is my criteria for what sort of books I’m looking for.
1) No on camera rape
2) No bad things happening to babies
3) I’m fine with heavy making out and cut scene sex, but nothing like I’m ready a manual or hanging out in the corner of the room watching a play by play
4) The guy and the girl need to end up together – LOOKING AT YOU GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY BOOKS WITH YOUR STUPID TREES!

*sigh* I feel like sometimes I have a food allergy and am at a restaurant where the menu has weird names for dishes and no discriptions. Why is something so wonderful as reading also so hard?

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz, Susan Ryeland #2

March 13, 2021 – March 22, 2021

 I really liked the first one and I was liking this one, but I had to stop when it looked like the husband did it. I don’t know why but it wasn’t something I could handle very well. I tried to look up who did it on-line, but there wasn’t even a Wikipedia entry for it yet. As long as the husband didn’t do it I would have been fine, so maybe someone else can read it and tell me that it is wasn’t him and then I’ll grab it and finish it then. But there are two people waiting so I thought I would be altruistic.

Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov, Prequel to Foundation #1

October 18, 2021 – March 9, 2021

~OK quick disclaimer, it took me forever to read this because the library stole it back *glares at digitally loaned books* and then it has a wait time of 5,000 weeks.~

“Kiss me again Hari – please.”

*swoon*

I love this book and not just for the agonizingly slow and bland love story *snickers to self* but because it makes logic sound so soothingly nice. Every conversation MATTERS and goes into each idea from every angle without repetition.

Oh this book was so good. It is like falling in love with someone’s mind or typing skills or how they order take out. It makes me feel whole and complete in the same way that my favorite physics textbook made me feel.

I want to read the next one. Like, now.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

March 2, 2021 – March 7, 2021

This book was poetry.

The way each chapter was written wherever they currently were, the formate of the letters, the letters themselves- all of it a soothing blend of pure emotion wrapped in words.

My husband recommended this book and like I’ve said before, he always makes sure that they are safe for me because he’ll be the one picking up the mess that is me afterwards. But this one I felt like he wanted me to like, like he knew it would speak to me but was nervous that he was wrong.

Spoiler alert, he wasn’t.

Ok I just read the acknowledgments and I felt like it really WA a letter in a bottle thrown into the waves of time.

I’ve decided to be an author. I know I’ve said that in the past, but something changed this week and now it is a reality that hasn’t happened yet (yes I just quoted my own book, it happens sometimes when you’re brilliant.) What they said at the very end spoke to me, and I feel a little more nudged into the braid where that is my future.

Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas, Lady Sherlock #5

February 21, 2021 – March 1, 2021

Yummy. That’s what these books are. I was so happy to see that the next one was available that I stopped everything else I was reading to read it. And was just as entertained as I was with all the other ones- and this was a locked room mystery this time!

I did have to laugh a little at Livia’s manuscript because I just finished compiling 44 google docs into my own big fat five million page “manuscript” (said with a snoody accent).

I’m excited for the next book to come out so I can eat it like I did this one.

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer, Enola Holmes #5

February 17, 2021 – February 18, 2021

Ek! That was fast! Also interesting. I remember learning about Florence Nightingale from Drunk History (don’t judge!) so I had some ground work to go on – plus, you know, a basic education about the Lady with the Lamp, though I’m pretty sure we never learned about her in school. Messed up, isn’t it?

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