Hey guys, here’s another discussion post here and an interesting one I think.
So, fanfiction. Where do I begin?
Tag: blogging
the post where i share my favourite ya tropes
Everyone loves a guilty pleasure, especially a bookish one. Continue reading
i’m not dead + rereading my favourite books and why you should too
Most of you guys have probably forgotten about me…well it HAS BEEN THREE YEARS.
Notes and Scribbles #2 |200 followers? Thank you!
Hello guys! Notes and Scribbles for you who don’t know is a series of post I started last year where I just update you on things to do with my blog.
So, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH! JUST YESTERDAY I GOT OVER 200 FOLLOWERS ON THIS BLOG! Just thank you, thank you, thank you! This blog has become like an outlet for me and it’s only been five months and to know I have people reading my posts, commenting, liking means so much to me! This community is so friendly and warm and even though it’s five months I still consider myself a newbie on blogging. To all of my old followers, thank you a tonne for sticking with me so far and to my new followers, HEY and thank you for getting me to this milestone as well! I know this may seem small to some people, but this really means a lot!
So other things happening on this blog.
I think I have made a mental schedule on my blog posts which go like this.
Monday: Review/Tag/ I’m Wittier In Writing or no post.
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Review/Tag or not post.
Thursday: Discussion Post/Review/Tag
Friday: Fem (+me) Friday/ Discussion Post or no post.
Saturday and Sunday: Whatever the hell I want!
I think the last one really applies to any day but this is the normal pattern I’ve been seeing on the blog. I think it helps to write it down like so, so that I don’t feel so scatterbrained when I do get the time to blog.
Pictured above are my two new post series (is that you call them?). These two are both fortnightly and about two very different topics.
I’m Wittier In Writing is going to be a series of posts that just focuses on my trials and tribulations on writing. I think I always wanted to make posts about my writing and I guess it’s now or never! I don’t think I’m going to post my writings in the posts, just the process I guess. The first ‘Chapter’ was posted yesterday and I’d love for any writers in the blogging world to check out my musings.
Chapter 1: Suffocation, Frustration and Inspiration?
Fem(+me) Friday is a meme created by Vicky @ Books and Strips, well what was created was Femme Friday, but I decided to twist up the name a bit as I am not a feminist, so now it reads Females(+me) Friday! In these posts I kind of recognition posts for females. From the writers, illustrators and cover designers to the fictional heroines that we all love, they all deserve to be put in the spotlight. This meme is on a weekly basis but i switched it up again to make it fortnightly. My first post was on the fabulous N.C. Sousa, a cover designer!
I think that’s all I want to update you on for now! Again, THANK YOU for two hundred followers!
I’ll write soon!
-Astra
Top Ten Tuesdays- Books That Are Not In My Comfort Zone That I Need To Read
Hello, hello and welcome to my Top Ten Tuesday post! So again this week I twisted topic because I realised I don’t really read anything out of my comfort zone, which is a shame really because I thought myself a diverse reader. Obviously not! This is another TBR post basically…let’s get to the list! In no particular order…
1) Satin Island by Tom McCarthy
Satin Island was a Man Booker Prize nominee last year and that is how it peaked my interest. This book is marmite- some people love it, some people hate it, which makes it an even more intriguing! I want to know which team I’m one! Anyway, this book is really complicated to sum up in a sentence so basically the guy U finds the links in everything and gets paid to do it.
2) Running Girl by Simon Mason
I was introduced to this book by a blogger, I can’t remember the name of the blogger for the life of me, but she basically said this is a great book. I’m not really all for mystery novels (some YA books are enough!) but I’m ready to give this one a go!
3) Hamlet by William Shakespeare
This is possibly the only shakespeare play that I’m interested in reading, that and maybe another one I can’t remember off the top of my head. This play seems so dramatic and intense and I’m into dramatic and intense nowadays.
I think we all know the subject matter of this novel and maybe now I don’t know if I’m comfortable with reading the book. Sometimes it’s good to read books that make you uncomfortable. Everyone says this is a great book anyway so that justifies it I think…
5) Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Another book with a tough subject matter which is rather taboo; incest. This story is one many say it heart wrenching. I think I am more up for reading it though than Lolita. I guess this book just interested.
6) Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
This book sounds so wicked! I want to get into SteamPunk and this was the novel that caught me mind. And this has some historical alternations which makes it extra cool.
A funny book! I do not read comedy though I love it in books. I’ve heard great things about this book and I’m a fan of long titles. The illustrations look great and authentic as well. I definitively need to buy more fun books like this one. The summary is sassy as well.
This seems like a very interesting novel. I think people have mixed views on it, but overall it seems like an intriguing premise. Here’s a snippet of the summary!
Before the nightmare, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary life. But when splintering, blood-soaked images start haunting her thoughts, Yeong-hye decides to purge her mind and renounce eating meat.
9) The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
I’m an awkward black girl so this book should be perfect for me! I’ve heard of this book before and I think I want it more than ever as it seems like I’m becoming awkwarder by the hour. It’s a non-fiction book which is why it is not in my comfort zone.
10) The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galibraith aka J.K Rowling
Another mystery/thriller on this list. I started reading this half-halfheartedly ages ago and it didn’t interest me much. I think I missed the cozy Winter period which is perfect to read mystery novels but I still have a copy so I might just read it during the summer.
That is all of my Top Ten Tuesday! Be sure to tell me if any of these are not in your comfort zone as well. As readers we love to stay in our cozy little place, but it’s beneficial for us to cross-genre/topic reader from time to time.
I’ll write soon!
-Astra
-Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish where they pick a new topic each week for us to create a top ten list to.
I’m Wittier In Writing- Chapter 1: Suffocation, Frustration and Inspiration?
Hey guys! I hope you’re great and the Monday blues aren’t getting you down.
I few posts ago I think I said I wanted to start talking about my writing on this blog so here I am. These series of posts are going to be called I’m Wittier In Writing and will be focusing on my trials and tribulations on writing. I hope that these posts will be a outlet for me (and maybe for you down in the comments) because sometimes us writers need somewhere to just express our frustrations from time to time. These posts will be fortnightly on a Monday, but I will add in extra posts if I feel it necessary.
Onto this week’s post!
I’ve been editing and looking over my NaNoWriMo piece and I’ve been feeling very proud of myself! Everything is a mess, as it would be, but it feels like I have something to grasp not matter how rubbish it reads. I feel like I need a dedicated week to focuse on my NaNoWriMo piece as I am finding it hard to concentrate on it and not procrastinate. Maybe in the summer I will try to do something. Also, I think I wasn’t the only one who received an email for NaNoWriMo trying to rally the editorial troops. Even though I said that I want to edit my half a novel, I’m not sure that I want to do it with NaNoWriMo. I feel like I would get bogged down with expectations and feel suffocated. I would prefer to edit on my own terms with a couple of hot lemon water and a KitKat.
I think that I have a problem. I have too many plots in my head. And I’m not talking about my NaNoWriMo. I kind of want to write another story. I know, I know, it’s foolish. I think I should state that I am still interested in my NaNoWriMo story fully, but I have another story in my head half formed and I wanted to explore that story as much as I can. I feel free to talk about my half formed idea in these posts, so I will say it now that it’s definitely a fantasy story I’m conjuring up. I think I can confidently say that my love from fantasy came from my love of Magical Girl anime when I was younger. I’m thinking of cooperating MG into my story, but then I get bogged down about the details of it being a Middle Grade or Young Adult which makes my head hurt.
I am having some issues with planning this idea which is weird as I normally thrive at this part. Ir’s bugging me a lot and making me detest my brain. Even though I know my idea is just a seedling, my brain keeps throwing all of these different scenes in my head before I know if it’s going to be a medieval fantasy or more futuristic, if my protagonist is twelve or seventeen. I’m just going to be blasting out A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing by Set It Off until inspiration hits me.
That’s all of my writing musings at the moment! I’d love to know if I’m just rambling rubbish to you or if you think this is a good outlet. As always, feel free to comment down below and I’ll be sure to comment back.
I’ll write soon!
-Astra
Fall Time Cozy Time Book Tag!
Hey everyone! i was tagged by the lovely Victoria at Book Ember Reviews. Definitely check her out because her blog is really cute and well put together! (I’m sorry I forgot to mention you before!)
Now, Autumn is my favourite season because:
- It’s a season away from Christmas.
- I get to walk on crunching fallen leaves
- An excuse to wear jumpers everyday.
- Did I mention that it’s closer to Christmas?
Sadly the weather in England has been less cheerful. Fog, rain, wind, we got it all in a week! Thankfully I always have my books to escape to. Let’s get on with the tag before I side track too much!
Crunching Leaves: The world is full of color – choose a book that had reds/oranges/yellows on the cover.
I am going with Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix because it has all of the colours of fall and I remember reading this in the middle of November last year.
Cozy Sweater – It’s finally coll enough to don warm cozy clothing: what book gives you the warm fuzzies?
I’m choosing Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. Even though this wasn’t the best written book, it was light and heart warming at times.
Fall Storm: The wind is howling & the rain is pounding – choose your favorite book OR
genre that you like to read on a stormy day
Queen Of The Tearling! Definitely! The world is so complex and interesting, it would be lovely to lose yourself in it during a rainy day.
Cool Crisp Air: What’s the coolest character you’d want to trade places with?
I know I shouldn’t really use the same book for these questions but I can’t think of any one cooler than Luna Lovegood.from Harry Potter.
Hot Apple Cider: What under hyped book do you want to see become the next biggest,
hottest thing?
I’m behind on hyped up books so any books I would say are probably hyped up loads…maybe…the Miniaturist by Jessie Burton? It was a really nice book and a good read.
Coat, Scarves, and Mittens – The weather has turned cold & it’s time to cover up – What’s
the most embarrassing book cover you own that you like to keep hidden in public?
Envy by Elizabeth Miles. A random girl with shiny blonde hair isn’t the book to read in public if you want to look more professional.
Pumpkin Spice: What’s your favorite Fall time comforts food/foods?
I love soup in autumn and dumplings! My hot chocolate habit always walks in as soon as November starts as well. Marshmallows! Don’t forget them as well.
Warm, Cozy Bonfire: Spread the cozy warmth – Who do you tag?
I tag…
Kat @ Life and Other Disasters
and anyone else who wants to do the tag!
Enjoy your Thursday and comment below what your Autumn favourites are!
I’ll write soon!
-Astra
My NaNoWriMo Story- NaNoWriMo #6
Firstly, good luck to all of the NaNoWriMos who have already started this great feat!
So NaNoWriMo is like less that four hours away and I am totally freaking out. But before I hide myself away, I at least owe you lovely readers a blog post kind of telling what all of my five blog posts are based on, the story they are based on.
Now in advance, my blog posts and time in my blogsphere are going to be limited but I am going to try my absolute hardest to blog more or less regularly. It feels like I have been a little distant with the blogging world, but I swear if I have a spare ten minuets between passing out from exhaustion and eating a chocolate bar I will be blogging (and doing homework and trying to socialise and reading).
Without further ado here is my NaNo novel…
The Enchanted
Ophelia is an Enchantress, meaning she can control on of the four elements the world depends on. In Taibria Enchanters are to be locked away as they threaten the easy routine of the Taibrian people.
After she creates a deadly forest fire, Ophelia is taken away and kept under lock and key in a high security prison for the rest of her life…well that’s until she is kidnapped by he most powerful Enchanter from the rival kingdom Arbius three years later- to be used as a war weapon.
But what Ophelia doesn’t know is that she’ll be making a lot of dangerous foes along her way and and not everyone can be trusted, including her own mind sometimes.
Rosalie on the other hand is a bored princess and Enchantress for there is no adventure for the future heir of the Kingdom of Elium. That’s until a non magical with a stubborn persona and driven mind catches her eye.
Suddenly her life is turned on it’s head when she has to escape a Taibrian invasion leaving only with her hot fury for revenge and a snarky non magical.
As their lives cross and entwine not everyone will be able to survive the upcoming war that threatens to destroy life as anyone knows it.
…..there it is. I know I know I’m crap at summaries but oh well!
I would love to become your writing buddy so just click here to go to my profile on my NaNoWriMo page if you want to too!
It’s really likely in not going to be at a laptop at the strike of twelve so my phone is my laptop for the time being. I will try to do regular posts about my NaNo journey but don’t hold me account to that!
Um there’s nothing to say but good luck and remember this is just fun! And tell me about your stories in the comments!
Oh and happy Halloween 🙂
I’ll write soon.
-Astra
A Bookish Journey- Encouraging Thunder Award
This is such a slow week for reading! That’s why my blog has been full of fluffy and hopefully fun posts for you to read. I swear next week will be better!
But anyway, I was nominated for the Encouraging Thunder Award by Paige @ Paige By Paige and I insist that you check out her blog because it fantastic! Thanks for tagging me!
Okay so the only question for this award is: Why did you start blogging?
As I said when I commented on Paige’s post, I have not answered this question really. Only a sentence here or there, but I feel like I should explain myself, you know, lay down the foundations now about my blog and why it exists.
I have always been a avid reader. With a library being literally fifteen minutes away, whenever I could drag my mum with me to the library I would and when I could be trusted to make the fifteen minute journey (there were many dangerous roads I can assure you) with my older sister I would when the day was sunny enough. I didn’t know the word was haul when I was checking out seven books at a time and most of the time I only read two of those books.
But I clearly remember loving having books and reading them (even though I got easily distracted by many other things).
During primary school, year 5 I think, I used to stay inside with my best friend and read and I can’t even remember what book. I was so engrossed in it I would not go outside to enjoy the rare British sunshine! When I started secondary school my school had an LRC (Learning Resource Center) which was a boost in my reading for about two years and then I found YouTube and all of my leisure time was spent either watching YouTubers or talking about YouTubers.
I kind of discovered book blogs and Booktube at the same time so I don’t have a nostalgic preference and I discovered these two amazing worlds in the middle of September
During the end part of this year I started getting into reading again and I have loved going back to books. Before I was reading books sporadically, each novel three stars, but now I have discover brilliant and amazing novels just in a few months!
After checking out a few BookTubers and realising that I do not have a confidence to BookTube, I came up with the great idea of making a blog. When people say making a blog is hard work they are not lying. Even though I am loving being in this friendly community, surrounded by fellow book nerds, this is a hardworking ‘job’.
But one thing is for certain- I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Tagging time…
Kat @ Life and Other Disasters
Sarah @ Sarah’s Book Addiction
Obviously if you have already did this tag you don’t have to do it again and if you just want to do this tag even though I didn’t tag you then mention it in the comments and I will tag you as soon as possible (or just do it, your choice of course).
I’ll write soon!
-Astra
A Stranger's Guide To Novels 