Book Reviews

The Book Blogger Inside Tag

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 14 Comments

This is one of those “free to do” tags that I snagged from The Writing Hufflepuff.  We’ve been having some awesome vent-fests in her comments, and when I saw this, I figured it would give me an excuse to talk (more) about myself.   This is actually a tag from this month.  I’m caught up on all my old ones, but still keeping up with my schedule/to-do list.

Where do you typically write your blog posts?

Right here with my butt on the new sectional.  Before we had the new sectional, I wrote them on the old sectional.  I used to go into the bedroom to do any kind of writing work, but there’s no place to sit comfortably in there unless I set up my table and drag my husband’s gaming chair in.  It’s so much easier to just sit in the front room and pop on some headphones if the hubby is watching/playing something.

How long does it generally take you to write a book review?

It really depends on a number of factors.  If I loved the book and it was an in depth story, it could take me over a month to say everything I need to say.  If it’s a DNF (did not finish), those usually only take me one or two writing sessions to bang out (with the first one being the review set up), since it won’t take me too long to say why I gave up on it.  On average, it probably takes me two or three sessions to write a review, so a week?

Continue reading →

The State of the Writer: 5/20/18

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 10 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 4/22/18          The State of the Writer: 6/3/18–>

A biweekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 6

Book Reviews: Master of Crows by Grace Draven – 5/7/18
Tags: The WIP Tag – 5/8/18
Game Reviews: Paper Mario Color Splash – 5/10/18
Awards: Mystery Blogger Award #4 – 5/10/18
Book Reviews: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #1) – 5/16/18
Book Reviews: The Diamond Tree by Michael Matson – 5/19/18

It was a productive two weeks 🙂

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 261,336
Prior Word Count: 261,419
Word Difference: -83
Status: Revising
Progress: First edit of Chapter 5

Quill pen with shadowI made some good progress in these last two weeks and am currently halfway through the first edit of the 5th chapter (that is a lot of numbers).  I think once I finish this I’ll be able to continue with my regular editing and posting schedule…after I consult my checklist of course 😉

Continue reading →

The State of the Writer: 3/25/18

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 11 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 3/11/18          The State of the Writer: 4/8/18–>

A biweekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 2

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 261,564
Prior Word Count: 261,397
Word Difference: +164
Status: Revising
Progress: Editing Chapter 3

No source on this lovely line drawing, mores the pity, but neither of my source sites are yielding any hits.

I’m about halfway through the revision/reedit of Chapter 3.  I was even up until around 4:00 last night working on it (and probably contributed to me passing out this afternoon), so editing marches on.

Project: Story Audio Recording
Title: Northern Lights
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Status: Prepping
Progress: Editing Chapter 1

So I’m essentially editing another story, since I obviously can’t do any kind of audio recording if the “script” (as it were) isn’t up to date.  It always amazes me how much one’s writing can evolve over a short period of time.  I wrote/edited Northern Lights only around two years ago, but I’m finding and fixing some pretty clunky parts.  What’s funny is I did a recording of the full chapter and liked it (at the time), but when it comes to writing there’s always room for improvement, and I doubt any writer’s ever satisfied.  It’s still better than rereading things I wrote a decade ago *shudder*  It’s probably better right now since my voice has still been a problem, but I have honey and lemon to put in my tea, so I suppose there’s hope.

In Progress

  • Games Alive – I am so close to finishing the list of favorite games per year since I was born.  I believe I’m in the ’10’s now or very close to it.  I’m hoping for one more session to write and one more to edit and post.

Rough weekend.  I spent most of it sleeping due to fatigue, and I didn’t get a great deal of what I wanted to accomplish done.  Now to attempt to catch up before it’s time to get ready for work tomorrow.  

What creative stuff are you working on?  Let’s discuss in the comments!

<–The State of the Writer: 3/11/18          The State of the Writer: 4/8/18–>

The State of the Writer: 3/11/18

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 10 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 2/25/18          The State of the Writer: 3/25/18–>

A biweekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 261,397
Prior Word Count: 261,484
Word Difference: -87
Status: Revising
Progress: Editing Chapter 3

I received a flattering comment on Archive of Our Own (AO3) this week asking about this story.  The reader was worried The Broken Rose was going to be left to die, but I ensured them this wasn’t so.  I’m still diligently working on it.  Comments like that are so necessary when one feels down on their writing.  I haven’t had that issue thankfully, but I always appreciate knowing people anticipate what I have to offer.

Project: Story Audio Recording
Title: Northern Lights
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Status: Prepping
Progress: Editing Chapter 1

And we’re back at it!  I’ve had this in he works for a while.  Per planning for this year, I’m not far off in when I wanted to start working on it.  First things first is to do a reedit of each chapter before recording.  Then I have to hope my voice behaves.  I know it has something to do with the asthma medicine I take, and my doctor gave me a few tips/tricks to avoid that.  Once I’m satisfied with the recording, I want to add the appropriate (and copyright free) music where appropriate before posting.  This will also give me the opportunity to utilize my YouTube channel more frequently.  I might test my editing skills by making a video for the blurb…

In Progress

  • Games Alive – This is taking longer than I thought it would, but nearly everything I plan to be quick and easy does.  Non-blogging people underestimate how much time something that requires pictures, some research, and a brief explanation can take especially when you have to do 37 of them.  Ah well, it’s coming along.
  • Book Reviews – Uhhhhh, so I thought I posted the review for Never Never.  Wtf?  It’s sitting in my drafts, and I think I just need to edit and post it.  I swore I posted it and here on Goodreads.  Alright, well at least I’ll have something accomplished in the upcoming two weeks.  I another book review I’m in the midst of, too, but I’ve only done the preliminary prep for that one.

Not a very productive two weeks, but that seems to be the pattern.  I’ll have a really boss biweekly period and then then next one is less than stellar.  Daylight savings time is not helping this endeavor at all.  I freaking hate that we still do this *grumble*

Any creative projects on your plate that you’re willing to share?  Let’s hear about them in the comments!

<–The State of the Writer: 2/25/18          The State of the Writer: 3/25/18–>

The State of the Writer: 1/28/18

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 8 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 1/14/18          The State of the Writer: 2/11/18–>

A biweekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 5

  1. Final Fantasy Type-0 Game Review – 1/16/18
  2. Top 20 Books of 2017 – 1/21/18
  3. The Scorpion Rules Book Review – 1/24/18
  4. Ori and the Blind Forest Game Review – 1/25/18
  5. Shadows on Snow Book Review – 1/27/18

It was a productive two weeks.  Yeah…I’m surprised, too.

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 261,308
Prior Word Count: 259.474
Word Difference: +1834
Status: Revising
Progress: Chapter 2

I almost didn’t update this week, and that would really be a shame since I made some significant progress with my revisions.  I was able to integrate a huge chunk of my notes, and I believe I only have one or two more smaller ones to figure out, so I’ll be able to do a reedit with the new stuff soon.

Also, as much as I love Seph, I should be using more pictures of Aeris.  This is her story after all.  I mean she’s the titular character for Planet’s sake *hmph*

Cancelled

  • 2018 Gaming Plans – Not doing it.  I’d rather just do it instead of talking about it, savvy?

In Progress

  • Audio Recording – I meant to do this on Friday, but my voice hasn’t been cooperating.  I noticed when I stopped drinking coffee, it was better.  This is quite problematic, since coffee helps me…function.  It’s quite a dilemma.  I’ve significantly cut down on how much I drink, but I think it’s the milk/cream I put in it or my earl grey tea that does me in.  I’ll try to do the re-recording again this Tuesday.  There have been some other reasons it hasn’t happened, but those are more mental/personal.  It’s always something, isn’t it?  Suggestions are welcome.  I’ve tried tea with lemon and honey.  I actually like my speaking voice, not to be a…oh wait :p
  • Favorite Game Every Year I’ve Been Alive – Thank you iplayedthegame for reminding me I was working on this.  I don’t have a draft open on WP so I didn’t think about it.  I’ll think of a better title before I post it, but in an idea from The Well-Red Mage, it’s a project where you post your favorite games every year you’ve been alive (pretty self-explanatory from the title).  1980-1985 were the toughest in terms of finding games at all, but later years are challenging for other reasons.  Except for 1997.  No problems with that year at all 😉

Did I ask anything interesting last week?  I think it was just my standard closing statement, my…benediction as it were.  Of course I wish you all well and want to know what projects you’re working on!  This has been a rough week for me.  I haven’t been keeping up with my resolutions.  I didn’t update my Facebook fanpage for the second weekend in a row, though I did take some notes on what I will write, but that doesn’t satisfy the terms of the agreement.  Hearing about your accomplishments always gives me a boost though 🙂 ♥

<–The State of the Writer: 1/14/18          The State of the Writer: 2/11/18–>

The State of the Writer: 12/17/17

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 13 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 12/3/17          The State of the Writer: 12/31/17–>

A biweekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Game Review
Title: The Witch’s House

Date Posted: December 10, 2017

I’m concentrating on shorter, easier game reviews during the holidays (if I can even get to them), while I figure out how I’m going to organize and work on projects in the new year.  This was a terrifying watch for someone as jumpy as me, and even if you’re not a wuss puss like yours truly, the end of the game is going make your mind bend over backwards as you attempt to “what the fuck?!” your way out of the epic twist.

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 259,206
Prior Word Count: 259,206
Word Difference: 0
Status: Revising
Progress: Chapter 2

Seph is patiently waiting.

The Great General should never be kept waiting, but hopefully he understands how busy the season of Advent is :p

As you can tell from my word count I made zero progress on any revisions.  Even with cutting down on how often I update and reading less books, the holiday season has stepped right into those empty time slots.  I’ve also been working later since overtime is available, because TSN needs that money.

I’m not sure how I’m going to fit in the revisions I want to do for this with the ones I want to do for my first original novel and working on my next one, but that’s why I’m planning on “time schedule” spreadsheets.  Spreadsheets will save the world.

Reviews

Project: Book Reviews
Title: Various
Status: Upcoming

Right before I wrote/posted this, I reorganized my book reviews.  I’m going to start reviewing graphic novels and manga as series instead of individual volumes.  That will greatly decrease the amount of book reviews I garner in a given time.  Now if I’ve already reviewed a book in the series (like Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft), I’ll continue reviewing each volume separately, but going forward, I’ll review manga and graphic novels as part of a whole.

I did add a few books in the past two weeks:

  1. The Metamorphosis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka
  2. Parallel by Anthony Vicino
  3. Death Note, Vol. 5: Whiteout  by Tsugumi Ohba (Series)

Project: Game Reviews
Title: Various
Status: Upcoming

Just one added to the pile this week, but what a game.  I thought I was watching something else, but stuck with it, and in the end, I ugly-cried in a way I’d never ugly-cried for  for a game this entire year (and possibly ever).

What are you currently working on?  Is it a creative writing project, essay, review, or something else?  Have you just started something new or are you wrapping up a long term project?

<–The State of the Writer: 12/3/17          The State of the Writer: 12/31/17–>

The State of the Writer: 12/3/17

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 12 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 10/26/17          The State of the Writer: 12/17/17–>

A biweekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished This Month: 1

Project: Essay
Status: Finished Written – Editing Audio

I’d love that number to say “2,” but I’ve already spoken of my NaNo tale of woe, though I did write something in November for a collaborative project soon to be published.  The written part is entirely finished and proofread but I’d like to have the audio recording edited before it’s posted.  The essay is a comparative between two games that have had a long standing flame war with their respective fans, focusing on one aspect in particular.

Continue reading →

The State of the Writer: 10/22/17`

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 17 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 10/15/17          The State of the Writer: 10/29/17–>

A weekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior week.

Finished This Week: 0

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 259,494
Prior Word Count: 259,807
Word Difference: -313
Status: Revising
Progress: Chapter 2

I decided to change the order of the beginning scenes in Chapter 2.  Then I changed them back after I remembered I’d chosen that order based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (which I just now decided would be the picture, because why not?).  I was going to do this long flashback bath scene after Aeris first wakes up and realizes she’s clean, but the more I though about it, the more I realized that I was right from the start.  I wrote some additional paragraphs, which I do like, so I’m going to try to incorporate them into the body of the story, but I need to put back in what I cut out.  Thankfully, I rarely delete anything plus I email myself frequently, so I have back versions of the story.  Sometimes my paranoia comes in handy (though that might not be the right term, since I have lost stories before).

Continue reading →

The State of the Writer: 10/15/17`

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 11 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 10/8/17          The State of the Writer: 10/22/17–>

A weekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior week.

TL;DR?  A whole bunch of nothing was accomplished this week/weekend.

Finished This Week: 1

Project: Book Review
Title: The Beauty Thief
Series Title: Twelve Realms
Author: Rachael Ritchey
Date Added: February 5, 2016
Date Started: July 13, 2017
Date DNF: July 19, 2017
Reading Duration: 6 days

The book had potential, but I was ultimately disappointed.

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 259,807
Prior Word Count: 260,204
Word Difference: -397
Status: Revising
Progress: Chapter 2

This week…this weekend.  I don’t know which one was more of a fail.  I’m going to go with this weekend.  I spent the majority of Saturday on the phone with Apple (which actually has a great customer service department.  No, they aren’t paying me), because my phone completely reset itself when I turned it off and turned it back on.  I wrote out this long explanation, but just deleted it. It…was just a mess. I spoke to four different people at four separate times, because Apple will both call you back and let you call.  The last guy was super chill, and I was on the phone with him for an hour.  I had to update the software on my phone (I was about two iOSes behind), and then restore it using my latest backup…which was from May…of 2016.

Continue reading →

The State of the Writer: 10/8/17

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 17 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 10/1/17          The State of the Writer: 10/15/17–>

A weekly post updated every Sunday discussing my current writing projects and where I stand with them.  This will include (but not be limited to) any and all work(s) in progress (WIPs) be they creative writing, essays/analyses, and reviews.  Additionally, this post will showcase what writing projects I’ve completed in the past week as a sort of weekly roundup, as I’ve seen other cooler bloggers do.

Finished This Week: 0

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 260,204
Prior Word Count: 260,270
Word Difference: -66
Status: Revising
Progress: Chapter 2

Did I make progress in my revisions this week?  Kind of…I did more prep than actual revising, but I guess that’s what happens when you decide to go back to the beginning.  I finished Chapter 1 fairly quickly, because there wasn’t much to change in Chapter 1, just some clean up of stuff I somehow missed in my multitude of edits.

Continue reading →