So hi everyone, how's the going? Chances are you are bleary eyed and half a sleep from Nano exhaustion. Hang in there, guys. You have a full December to recuperate.
SO I ALMOST WON NANO
I wish I could say that I won Nanowrimo but ... I didn't. I think I hit about 40k all in all. And no, I didn't finish my novel(s). I could have done it if I had just ploughed ahead in the first two weeks. I was on schedule up to mid month, when school really caught up with me.
At 15 chapters my book, You Were My Nemesis, is halfway through. Draft one is estimated to be 300 pages,30 chapters, and 75k. After edits, it will grow, I can assure you. I'm really proud of myself, because even though my writing is mediocre, my plot is actually working! O.o Eep!
I SPENT EVENINGS BINGE WATCHING TV SERIES INSTEAD OF WRITING
Yeah, I deserve to be yelled at. Now you know one reason other than school why I didn't win Nano :P
My family is obsessed with old 1960s to 1980s mystery TV shows. This month we binged Hawaii Five-O seasons 5, 6, and 3. I know, wrong order. We never cared.
Hawaii Five-O, the original series, is an absolute blast. We've seen seven seasons and haven't tired of it yet! (Yeah that has happened with others.) I love it because of awesome cops, fast paced action, a variety of plots, and Hawaiian scenery ^-^
We also saw some of Poirot. Agatha Christie is my all time favorite ,mystery writer, and the Poirot TV series is so much fun. I love the feel of 1920s England, the brilliantly though out crimes, and the eccentic-ness of Hercule Poirot, and the humor that Hastings, Lemon, and Japp. :)
We also saw the six episodes of BBC's Planet Earth II. IT WAS PLAIN AWE-STRIKING. No other way to express it.
Other recently watched movies --
Big Hero 6 // Zootopia // Megamind
I READ ONLY FOUR BOOKS :P
That's a failure by my ordinary standards. But #Nanowrimo gets the blame.
Siren's Song // Fangirl // Heartless // Purple Moon
Actually, I didn't finish Fangirl, but I read two thirds of it so it maybe-not-really counts? I can't decide which was the best.
Purple Moon was a birthday present: a lovely mix of lakeside setting, teen struggles, relationships, and redemption.
Heartless was a retelling of Wonderland, with an incredibly long and slow beginning. But it ended smashingly, in a way that made me think of Shakespeare.
Fangirl was about fanfic, and college, and a writer girl, her roomate, family, and this adorable human called Levi who just sums up my life attitude --
"It doesn't cost me anything. It's not like smiling at strangers exhausts my overall supply."
"Making people happy makes me feel good. If anything it gives me more energy for the people I care about."
Siren's Song was an epic conclusion to a fantastic series -- I didn't expect to be so hooked or to love that end so much. But Mary Weber writes the best epic battles, fyi. :D
AND I DECIDED TO SNEAK IN A TAG :P
I know this recap is totally not in format but I am bored with the regular way I did recaps so I'm throwing in anything that strikes my fancy. In this case, a few questions from the Sunshine Blogger tag which Lila tagged me for in September.
>> Think of all the book characters you loved so much ... but who ended up dying. If you could choose only one to save, who would you pick?
I'll answer in one word.
Jude.
If you've read the story I'm talking about, you'll know. Otherwise, sorry #spoilers.
I know lots of people ship P. and S. but ugh, I shipped her with Jude so hard >.<
>> Which point of view do you prefer to write in -- first person or third person?
I write in third-person most often.
I find first-person the easiest.
And I like second-person the best.
*shrug*
>> What is one funny story from your childhood?
There was one funny one actually XD so my parents were trying to teach me to sit properly ag meals times and kept telling me,"Sit properly. Sit properly." So then my dad went to lie on the sofa and I went and told him, "Sit popely." ^-^
>> What's the most boring book you've ever read?
Guess we'll have to go with Ice Like Fire. Problem one: it was so full of politics I DIDN'T CARE. Problem two: it had the most absurd love triangle. I knew how it would end ever since it happened and I was right. #wholethingfornothing
SO OTHERS POSTED SOME INTERESTING THINGS
>> Christmas Gifts Ideas for Bookworms [Nadine]
>> Signature Contest [Abi]
>> A Question of Courage is on blog tour [Jess]
That was my month in overview!! A few other highlights include starting school, starting work, and buying Christmas presents, making Christmas cards, and getting myself Renegades! Can't wait to see what December brings (prediction -- more insanity).
SO HOW WAS NOVEMBER?
WHO'S RECOVERING FROM NANO?
ANYONE GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS?
JUDE *sobs for a millennium* I CAN'T, MY HEART Scattered Scribblings
ReplyDeleteWHAT on earth happened to my computer. That's legit only the beginning half and end half of my comment xD.
DeleteAnyways - EPIC JOB WITH NANO, GIRL! You did so good and I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I CAN SOMEDAY READ YOUR BOOK! It sounds epic <3.
*sobs with you* I KNOW LIKE WHY??? (I totally read that book in one day and when it ended I was like, "why I legit knew you for only one day!?")
DeleteUmm, I don't know the computer acts weird sometimes. Crazy stuff has happened to my comments too XD
THANK YOU SAV <333 I can't wait till you get to read my book someday too ... when it gets ready which I hope will be sooner rather than later lol. All the best on readying your epic books too. *thumbs up* especially that one for the contest!
If I could save someone it'd be Prim. I seriously cried when she died, and same with Rue. Ugh. I love your aesthetic, grid, board, thing for your novel. So sorry you didn't finish! I bet you'll be able to get it done in the near future, though! <3
ReplyDelete~ Ella Marie
Aww yes, Prim and Rue. That was so sad and I loved them both so much *cries* OH I'M HAPPY NOW ^.^ THANK YOU GIRL <333 I don't consider myself the best at making boards but I try! *high five* I /will/ be done soon. I feel really pumped for writing this! And Nano in no way drained my enthusiasm or energy lol
DeleteLovvee those pics..so pretty <333 It sounds like your month was good, even tho you didn't win Nano, who cares?? You still wrote and that's awesome ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Paige! The story board images are straight off Pinterest, but the others are from Unsplash. XD YOU GOT IT RIGHT. Words are words, no matter how much :D
DeleteAll I seem to do lately is binge watch shows, so I understand that.
ReplyDeleteI'm ready for Christmas!
#youandmeboth HAHAHA THE TV PLAGUES US ALL HELP :P
DeleteI AM NOT I STILL NEED TO GET MY CARDS READY AND MY PRESENTS READY D:
Hawaii Five-O is awesome!
ReplyDeleteAnd hey! You're way closer to 50k than you were before, so who cares if you won or not? :)
WAIT YOU SEE IT TOO?? *freaking out because someone else knows it too*
DeleteI KNOW! THANKS A MILLION GIRL <3 Words are words, it's so true ^.^
When you said Jude I was like, "wait, Aimee killed Jude in The Bright Eyes?? When did that happen?" Lol! (I'm part of the minority that actually likes Jude because he's under-appreciated and like he's actually secretly good on the inside.)
ReplyDeleteI would save Newt or Fred. #Newtmas #Weasleyforever
Ooh right XD I gotta confess that I don't listen to Bright Eyes quite as much as I should *hides* Soundcloud doesn't work on my phone and I don't can't listen to audio books or such on the computer because it distracts me from work D: I HAVE TO THOUGH SOON BECAUSE I HEARD THE BEGINNING AND IT SOUNDS SO AWESOME <3
DeleteNewt was second on the list *nods* I don't believe I know this Fred though??
THE BRIGHT EYES IS ON YOUTUBE. Sorry, I just get really excited becase the last episode made me tear up and it was wonderful and feelsy and #relatable
DeleteNEWWWWT. *cries for infinity because James Dashner is cruel* Fred is one of the characters in Harry Potter, aka that book/movies series you said you need to read/watch, but honestly probably never will. SEE HOW MUCH GOOD STUFF YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON, LISA?!?
AHH IT IS??? I MUST GO CHECK IT OUT!!
Delete*cries with you because he is*
YES UM I CAN SEE HOW MUCH GOOD STUFF (aka death) I AM MISSING. I regret not reading it yet. Someday I will surprise you and announce that I read it *nodnod*
Yes read the thing!!
DeleteOh, wow, I'd almost forgotten about that Sunshine Blogger tag. But YAY you did it!
ReplyDeleteSpoiler... *dies* -.- xD
OMW, I love the title You Were My Nemesis!!!!!
Unfortunately I skipped three questions? Because I didn't have that much time or space to do them all!!
DeleteSpoilers I know -.- now I can't even recommend you to read the book cause you'll know what happens!! D:
THANK YOU I LOVE IT TOO IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF <3 YOU ARE TOO KIND!
Great job on reaching 40K, Lisa!!! Seriously, that is tons and tons of words in a month. Don't you love it when the plot actually works WITH you?
ReplyDeleteAHH THANK YOU MADDY <3 Good point, 40k is more than I've ever written in a month before! UMM YES SO OFTEN PLOTS HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN IT'S RIDICULOUS XD
DeleteI have so much respect for you for getting that far with NaNo though! I mean, I never even get started...
ReplyDeleteFangirl is one of my all time favorite YA books. I had a bit of a crush on Levi when I was in high school and when I went to college I really hoped to run into someone like him (no such luck though). I hope you enjoy the rest of the book!
By the way, your header is really pretty :)
x Envy
Lost in Translation
HELLO ENVY <3 THANK YOU! I know Nano is not for everyone ... if you like crazy fast writing that makes your story look worse after it actually hits the page then HAHA YOU OUGHT TO TRY IT!
DeleteOK WOW THAT'S GREAT!! Fangirl is really good! Aww, that's sweet but *ahem* so often what happens in books doesn't quite happen in real life XD
THANKS GIRL :D I'm due to change the header soon because of a change in the seasons haha!
*runs of to check your blog* *comes back* *whispers* it is really pretty <3
40k is a pretty awesome word count to finish out the month with! Congrats! There's nothing wrong with binge watching shows with your family if that's your priority. I know I don't write well in the evenings, plus I write better if I'm utilizing other creative outlets besides writing, so I wholeheartedly approve of watching shows and movies if that helps you!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU SARAH!!! Binge watching shows is so much fun and everyone admits we do it too much but no one will say 'ok let's not do it this time' lol I CANNOT WRITE WELL IN THE EVENINGS UNFORTUNATELY. Too much going on. WATCHING SHOWS REALLY TEACHES ONE A LOT THOUGH. Like here while I was writing my novel and we watched an episode about a cat burglar I was like, "GOOD I NEED TO WATCH THIS AND LEARN HOW TO ROB A HOTEL"!!! Not really expressed the right way, huh? XD
DeleteLoving your blog -I'm binge reading a bunch of posts! I tried doing nano this year, but it was a complete fail. And 4 books is awesome for one month, specially if you're also doing nano on top of everything else! :)
ReplyDeletewww.letmecrossover.blogspot.com
Hello Michele!! Thank you <33 I'm honored someone would binge read my posts -- I often do that to others' blogs too ^.^ Ahh, yes, Nano is really demanding! But you'll never get anywhere unless you try, so well done!! *nods* four books seems to be all I can ever read during Nano anyway :D
DeleteThanks for the comment and for following <333
Do my comments appear on your blog?
ReplyDeleteOh, the previous one just didn't.
DeleteWell, if it the comment doesn't appear I wouldn't know that you HAD commented let alone that it didn't appear XD But I would think that most of them do appear, just... sometimes Blogger doesn't behave ... :D
Delete