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5 Tips for Finishing NaNoWriMo With a Bang

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I don’t know about you, but NaNoWriMo is one of my favorite events of the year, right after Halloween, of course (both literally and figuratively!). It’s an amazing opportunity, not only to put pen to paper and pour your novel from your mind, but also to meet great people, accomplish great feats, and learn some things you probably never wanted to know (it’s novel research, I’m not actually trying to hide a body…)

But for some, the energy fizzles out. You lose steam, and the finish line seems further and further away. Whether you have five thousand words to go, or thirty thousand, there’s still a way to reach that coveted 50K! Here’s some advise I wish I had my first year of NaNo.

  1. Make time. When you feel like there’s too much in your life to write right now, it’s time to carve out a little writing nook anyways. It’ll help you release some stress, and help you focus on something other than the rush of the world. Personally, I find it therapeutic, and making time for Nano is well worth it.
  2. Are you losing steam because you’ve stopped believing in your novel? Trust me, you’re probably thinking that because you’re too close! Too predictable of a plot? Of course you can predict it, you’re writing it! Are the characters feeling too cliché? It’s possible it’s because you know them too well. Don’t stop because you don’t think your novel is worth it: get it out there, and worry about that stuff later.
  3. Are you worrying about writer’s butt? Here’s a fun solution: ODS (obligatory dance songs!). Pick ten songs that make you want to dance, and put them in your writing mix. The second one comes on, you have to drop everything and dance your heart out. Not only will you have a good workout, and time away from the screen, but the blood flowing will help you have fresher ideas.
  4.  Are you stuck trying to get a character from one story point to another? Then, skip it, and worry about that in December. Right now, you want to get your story out. Don’t get held back by the small things.
  5. Do you have serious writer’s block? Then take a walk. Drink some tea. Talk to some friends. Play with the family pet. Do something to get you out of that ‘writer’ hat… BUT you have to promise to yourself that you’re coming back. Assign a time. When you get back, write what comes to you first. Try the prompts on the NaNoWriMo twitter.

You can do it! So long as you make sure to try, then you can reach that 50K. Even if half of it isn’t perfect, who cares? It’s the first draft. Editing comes next, and that will give you so much more to do anyways!

You can do it!

You can reach that 50K!

Write!

 

Only 2 Weeks Left on the Giveaway!

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Hiya readers,

In case you didn’t know, We’re hosting a giveaway to celebrate our one year anniversary. But it closes on November 27th, so you’ve only got two weeks left to enter!

Here is our original post detailing the giveaway. Basically, to gain more entries, we’re asking you to recommend books to us: either here, or on our tumblr, here.

The greatest news is that we have TWO giveaways running, so we can have people in the US and across the world winning bookish prizes. Yay!

So many links! Check out this post to get the word spreading about our little giveaway. We’re still a relatively small blog so we’d love to get our readers involved.

Our ask box is always open. Feel free to stop by and chat!

Love, Sarah

The 10 covers, 10 hours challenge (that sort of evolved)

seanderson1 Comment

I’ve always wanted to do my own take on the “30 days, 30 covers” awesomeness from the Office of Letters and Light. Though during NaNoWriMo, I barely have enough time for writing, let alone designing!

Just having had my wisdom teeth pulled out, I can’t really go anywhere or do anything. I just wanted to get started on my NaNo novel soooooo baaaad. I needed a distraction! So today I offered to make 10 covers for those who asked politely. They were all made in the thumbnail size that Nano’s website requires, so they are not large enough to print. Only big enough to enjoy.

I had so much fun, I ended up doing 15.

I had so much fun doing them all! I want to do more! If I get the chance, I would love to do the full res of each of these.

Overall, I’m happy with the challenge. Now that it’s over, I have many more ideas for how I could improve almost every cover. But it was just a fun way to spend the day stuck in bed.

Good luck for NaNoWrimo, everyone!

CoversChallenge

Sarah

Update – I kept going. Here’s day two!

CoversDay2

Thanks to everyone who gave me a chance to do this. I’m super happy.

An Anniversary Giveaway!

Shililoquy10 Comments

Wow, guys! It has been nearly a year since we launched Readcommendations and we really want to celebrate! As a thank you to all of our lovely followers, we’re going to be giving away some marvelous prizes!

World Wide Giveaway!

This one is available to anyone living anywhere in the world:
Three people will be winning their choice of any book we’ve reviewed in the past year! (Or, if you plead your case, any book, ever, within reason.)

The first winner will be getting a hardcover and the other two will be receiving paperbacks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

National Giveaway
This giveaway is only for those in the continental United States, simply because we don’t have the funds to ship anywhere at this time. Sorry about that, folks. I’ll be posting pictures of the bundles tomorrow, but we have descriptions for now.

Bundle #1
John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines paperback
Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park hardcover
A wooden book box painted with a book cover
A reading themed mug
A bookmark signed by Lindsey Leavitt
A bookmark signed by Victoria Schwab

Bundle #2
Maureen Johnson’s Name of the Star hardcover
Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Prince hardcover
A reading themed mug
A bookmark signed by Lindsey Leavitt
A bookmark signed by Victoria Schwab

Bundle #3
Miranda Sing’s Self-Help hardcover
Lili Wilkinson’s The Zigzag Effect paperback
A reading themed mug
A bookmark signed by Lindsey Leavitt
A bookmark signed by Victoria Schwab

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Both giveaways end on November 27th – the one year anniversary of our first ever post! We shall contact the winners and let them know which prize pack they have received.

We have the same posts on Tumblr, and will count recommendations there are extra entries! US giveaway – International giveaway

Good luck everyone! And I have to say, you really are fantastic readers. Thank you for making these 11 months so awesome.

We’re live on Twitter!

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Fans, friends, readers.

The time has come. At long last, we are tweetable!

Feel free to tweet at us from time to time. Send us the books YOU recommend. We’d love to read them! We’ll keep you up to date on all things novels, self pubs, and sweepstakes. We’re so excited!

Find us here at https://twitter.com/Readcommends. Tweet @Readcommends for more fun reading material!

Love,
Sarah and Kenzie

Anatomy of Publishing

ShililoquyLeave a comment

This is a bit of a break in the mold for Readcommendations, but certainly something we didn’t want our readers to miss. We know a lot of our readers aren’t only out there devouring books like us; they’re writing too. They’re plotting, researching, and having word-wars over Twitter and Tumblr.

While social media is amazing, I’ve always wanted to be able to go on a writing retreat. Just a few days in tranquility with no adorable pictures of cats to stop me from writing and other writers there to encourage. This year, I’ve heard of some great writing retreats happening, but one of my favorites has to be the Anatomy of Publishing retreat.

Anatomy of Publishing is being run by Courtney Stevens (Faking Normal, Blue-Haired Boy, Lies About Truth) and she’s written a better post than I could on her blog about this. Other awesome authors are going to be helping out, too, including Natalie Parker, Tessa Gratton, and Victoria Schwab.

The retreat focuses on making you a more confident writer with better tools, as well as discussions on how to market your book after the publication process is done. 

Court is running a contest this week for people checking out the retreat. The prizes are phenomenal!

3- $300 coupons to this Madcap Retreat:

1- 50 page manuscript critique by me (Courtney C. Stevens)

3- signed copies of Faking Normal

1- ARC of The Lies About Truth

5 – electronic copies of The Blue Haired Boy

Despite how much I want to, I can’t go to this retreat this Summer. I need you guys to go and then tell me all about it, so I can sit here and burn in a jealous rage — I mean, I’ll be happy for you, but still totally jealous.

Check it out, apply, and write awesome books that I can review on here.

I Spell a Giveaway!

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A few weeks ago, I got the great opportunity to review Spelled by Betsy Schow. Now, the publisher wants to give you all an opportunity to get a better sneak peek of this book that’s releasing next month on June 2nd!

Excerpt from Spelled:

Most of the crowd had dispersed. The final few stragglers looked at me with the all­too-common look of fear mixed with trepidation. Pix ’em. They were just servants. It wasn’t like their opinion mattered.

Only one remained, watching me with open curiosity. He looked to be in his late teens or was magically enhanced to appear so. He could have been a hundred for all I knew. I’d never seen him before in my life. He was handsome enough, for a commoner, even in his worn leather pants and cracked work boots. A foreigner, his hair was unruly and dark auburn, which complemented his tanned but dirt-smudged complexion, though the tall, dark stranger vibe was ruined by his piercing pale blue eyes.

Well, I’d had enough of being a sideshow for the day. “If you’re the new gardener, the hedges are overgrown and in need of a trim.” I pointed in the direction of my father. “While you’re there, you can help the king with the wisps.”

The young man’s expression clouded over, but he didn’t move.

I stamped my foot and pointed more forcefully. “Off with you. Courtyard’s that way. Be sure to clean those awful boots before coming back in.”

“Someone told me I’d find a princess of great worth here. One with the strength to be the hero this realm needs.” He stared at me with those unsettling blue eyes. They were cold, like ice water—made me shiver from head to toe. Then his gaze seemed to search even deeper. Finally, he looked through me, like I was nothing.

In brisk steps, he strode across the marble to the courtyard. But before crossing the threshold, he turned back to glare at me with his lip curled ever so slightly. “It seems she was mistaken.”

Just like that, I had been sifted, weighed, and found wanting.

I felt my own lip curl in response. How rude! Who the Grimm was this peasant to judge me? I was wearing a Glenda original. Original! Not some fairy-godmother knockoff worn by those servant girls turned royal. I was a crown princess, for the love of fairy, and no one dismissed me.

Before I could put the boy in his place—down in the dirt, where he belonged—a clatter came from behind, making me nearly jump out of my shoes. I checked and was relieved that Sterling had simply dropped his sword. By the time I looked back, the gardener was gone.

After stowing his blade, Sterling held up his shield, not in defense of the entrance but so he could look at his reflection. “Clearly he’s blind and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

I didn’t ask for Sterling’s opinion, but it made me feel better.

Until he opened his mouth again.

“Worth, pffft. I mean, look around at all the jewels. Your palace has everything you could ever want. Honestly, I don’t know what you’re fussing about. Why would anyone want to leave?”

Because a cage is still a cage, no matter how big or glittering the bars are.

And I would find a way free, no matter the cost.

Hooked yet? I know I was!

Keep your eyes open for this; it’ll be out on the shelves soon!

Now for the best part!
Sourcebooks is giving away a Spelled Gift Basket on Rafflecopter. 

 A Rafflecopter giveaway

Naomi Grim

Shililoquy1 Comment

by Tiffany Nicole Smith
Review by KM

I have to admit, I’ve had a crush on teenager Grim Reaper novels since I read Croak by Gina Damico a few years ago. After reading the summary, there was no chance that I was going to pass by Naomi Grim.

Summary

The assignment:

Collect lifestones from humans after they die.

Rebellious, sixteen-year-old Naomi craves a normal life, but unfortunately, she’s a Grim by birth. That’s right, she sees dead people and hoards their living essence in a stone. Not a fun occupation.

In order to be good at her job, she must live among human teenagers for weeks at a time. But Naomi soon becomes attached to the kids she’s been assigned to watch over. And knowing that these teens are gonna die under less than ideal circumstances, she has the opportunity to prevent their deaths from occurring. Only one big problem, interfering with death is the worst crime a Grim can commit. If she intervenes, she’ll put herself and her family in danger.

Naomi must make the hardest choice of her career, go against the sacred covenant or watch her new friends walk blindly to their deaths.

Musings

The first half of the book wasn’t spectacular; it kept me intrigued, enough that I wanted to read more, but I was so certain that I knew what was going to happen. It seemed predictable. I was wrong.

BAM! The second half of the book was this fast-paced action-packed adventure that made everything worth it. Pieces came together in a way that I never would have expected; some character’s motivations were revealed, while others remain a mystery to discover in the sequel, Keira Grim. 

There is one frustration I held with the novel, but it a frustration that is not limited to just this book, but most urban fantasies I’ve been reading lately. When presenting me with an entire new race that is bemused by human traits or lifestyles, it’d be great to see more than a few minor differences in the two races. The culture of the Grims only seemed to differ in lifespan, if they could earn it, and the fact they retained values humans had in the 1950’s, ignoring anything progressive. Some of the younger Grims seem frustrated with this, but seeing the same typical class system and similar prejudices that we have in our society makes me wince. It does make the plot more relatable and could be argued to be a comparison on aspects of our own culture, but it’s hard to see why more Grims can’t relate to humans when they are so similar.

I’ll definitely be reading Keira Grim, though. Naomi’s ending was compelling enough to make me want to know what happens to Nowhere.

Modern Rituals

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By J. S. Leonard

Reviewed by SA

If you loved Cabin in the Woods, or if you’re a fan of Battle Royale, then you need to stop everything and pick up Modern Rituals, the first novel of the ‘Wayward Three’ trilogy by J. S. Leonard. Thrilling, exciting, terrifying, Modern Rituals was impossible to put down, and I’m certain that this is the beginning of something great.

The Goodreads’ summary has this to say:

Manhattan, NY: The E-Train slams into James Bixby, a strapping young artist on the rise, after a life-saving rescue attempt goes awry. Belfast, Ireland: A bullet severs Olivia Young’s spinal cord while she defends a doctor colleague—the second bullet pierces her heart.
Then they awaken—unharmed.
“Selected” and thrust into a deadly ritual, James’ and Olivia’s lives—along with the lives of five others—will decide humanity’s fate: surrender to the old Gods’ rule or live on in blissful ignorance. Follow their frantic struggle as Magnus—a secret organization of enormous reach and scientific prowess—directs the ritual to its gruesome end.

The novel broke any expectation I had of it from the get-go, by simply being utterly unpredictable. As soon as it seemed to linger on a certain trope, it would switch up, change to something entirely new, leaving me clutching the book, thinking what on earth just happened? From the mysterious prologue, it then seemed to move into a superhero novel; but before anything could happen, we’re thrust into Battle Royale, followed swiftly by Cabin in the Woods, along with The Ring, maybe with a hint of Hunger Games (but just a hint), before finally it twists out of control, throwing in surprises you never could have anticipated, and suddenly defies all comparison.

I love that the author managed to give us insight into the “behind the scenes” of the situation, without this making the situation feel helpless. We learn hints about what Magnus – the corporation behind it all – has in store, slowly letting us see more and more of how far its control really goes; the influence they have is vast, and will most certainly be tackled in the next books of the trilogy… I just can’t wait.

The characters themselves are impressive, as they break away from the box they’ve been put in, even the role thrust upon them by the ones pulling the strings. James and Olivia quickly become more than just ‘the heroic man’ and the ‘innocent woman’ that they are expected to be. Both are smart, creative, resourceful in the face of danger, and can hold their own when horrifying things come their way. Then with the addition of Trevor to the ‘main cast’, so to speak,  you can be sure that things are going to get interesting.

With twists that will leave you begging for more, this novel is one you’re going to need to read sitting down, because you won’t be able to move for a few hours. Modern Rituals may be one of the most thrilling novels you’re going to read in a long time.

Meanwhile, I’m going to set a countdown for when the sequel comes out.