Changes are for the best

billrini.com

At least, I hope so. :D

I've already begun to make a big one. Interested? Read on....

What is Memorial Day?

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by

Writing About Writing

It seems redundant. Why would we do it? Furthermore, why would we even read it?

Writing about the craft of writing is a tricky concept when you write fiction, which, by nature is "imaginary". How do you define writing when your personal voice is so important? When concepts are from your own mind ?

I've read quite a bit about the craft of writing fiction. Since you're reading this, you obviously know that I blog about writing.

There are two major questions that come up when talking about writing about the craft of writing fiction:

1. Why do it?

2. When is it too much?

I'll talk about Question 1, first, since it's a perfect segue into Question 2.

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow #30

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that begins on Fridays and runs through the weekend, hosted by Crystal from Reading Between the Wines. This is a Friday blog hop with the objective to find and visit other book blogs that share the same interest as you, namely books geared towards the 18 & over crowd, and make some new friends!  

 

Question of the Week:

Do you feel the need to write a review for your personal reads, as oppose to requested reviews, or are there some books you read just for the joy of reading?  

 

 

 

 

There are some books that I won't leave a review for, but generally, I always do. I love to share my thoughts and opinions on books I read because reading is so important to me.

 

However, if I think the book is really bad, I generally won't leave a review out of respect for the author. This is still their creative work and they don't need me trashing it just because it didn't suit my tastes. 

 

I will leave a bad review generally only if I find a book offensive in ways that are accepted across society to be wrong: sex with minors, active encouragement of racism or other prejudices, things like that.

 

There's a big difference, however, reading for pleasure and reading because a review is needed. You tend to read differently and I think that's where the phrase "reading for pleasure" really kicks in. Yes, it's often a pleasure to read the book, but because you know that you have to review it, you tend to read it with a much more skeptical eye, right off the bat. You want to be honest to your own opinion, of course, but at the same time, you want to allow for some objectivity and so you don't just read to enjoy it: you read the book trying to maintain the stance of "overall objective observer". 

I enjoy writing reviews, though, and find that it has really helped me with my own writing! I take a lot of my own reviews into accounts on my later drafts of stories, and use my "Reviewer's Eye" to scan my piece. It helps step me away from my own work and read it as someone else might.

What are your thoughts? Do you leave reviews? If so, what inspires you to review a book?

Interested in joining the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow?

How to join in:

-You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.

-Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.

-Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.

-List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’

-Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post

-Visit the other blogs on the list and say 'Hi!' Following each blog is not mandatory but I know it is always appreciated, and if someone comments saying they’re a new follower it’s polite to follow back. J It’s always nice to spread the 18 & Over Book Blogging love!

-Contact me (readingbetweenthewines10 at gmail dot com) with any questions!

 

 

Writing to my Peeps

I've had to pause my main WIPs because they were just too dramatic. I didn't realize this was why until I gave myself the chance to "free write".

I pantsed a WIP and I liked it!

In fact, I was really enjoying the story. I wanted to know more about it as I wrote. I wanted to see what these characters would do.

Furthermore, my hero, truly took shape in my head. I hadn't realized how formulaic my characters were, until I met- wait for it........ - Val Draig! I had no idea who this man was. In fact, I knew as much about him as my heroine, Ace Stanning. She and I were both wondering who the hell this hottie in our store was. Then he started to tell me. I looked at names for him and he kept saying "Seriously? You think that is my name?" and then rolling his eyes at me. Until I finally landed on "Draig" to which he responded, "Finally!" Then as stroke of luck happened and my friend Jodie (who's stories I love!) happened to mention that the name I was using for him, made her think of "Val". My hero konked me on the back of the head and said: "She gets it, why don't you?"

And Val Draig "became".

The story is slapstick. I'm 3k into it and the antics of Val and Ace are hysterical. I mean, seriously: they are really funny together. Ace is funny by herself, but he really brings the humor out in her.

As I wrote, I realized something....