My Thoughts from Nanowrimo 2021
By Jessica Marie In the past I have competed in and even successfully completed all 50,000 words within the 30-day time frame of November that is nanowrimo. This was all part of my learning curve in becoming a better writer. Having done it, I know exactly how much time, energy, and daily dedication it takes to reach that mark. What other things must be sacrificed to make that goal. With my desire to make writing a joyful habit and not a chore I elected to not push myself too hard during nanowrimo. I started nano with nearly 70k words already written in my first book in The Shadows of Dawn duology that I started writing in April of this year. 50k words would have completed the book, but I have a different personal agenda. I have taken the rabbits pace in the past, sprinting hard and fast. Completing much in short periods of time, working when I have inspiration or energy and then going fallow for long periods of time. I also know how burnt out I can personally feel after trying to achieve so much in a short period of time. So, I opted to take things at my own pace, while pushing myself as hard as I reasonably can. Normally I can write around 15k words a month, upon finishing nano I had 18k words written. Which is three thousand more than usual, but still far short from the fifty thousand word mark. I don’t write every day; I usually only write 4-5 days a week. But I see myself as a person first, a person with dreams and desires. I need to put my rest, my mental, physical, and spiritual health before any activity I do. It has taken me 29 years to come to this realization and then begin to put that realization into practice. I have hustled and worked to the point of burn out. I have also taken things too easy and gotten no closer to any dream or goal I have. I have come to learn my middle ground. I have learned how to work with myself. How to have my finger in several pies and still make progress. I don’t write one project at a time, I work on several projects concurrently. I am writing my novel and a novelette, which is the first work in what I am calling my short story series Agency. I also write this blog, read, as well as work. Some people would say “that’s too much, you should focus on one thing and make more progress”. For them, that advice might be right, but not for me. I like having multiple things going, having options for my mind to work on and through. My pace might not be as fast as some people. But I’m not them. I am me. The more I compare the less I listen to myself. There is a fine line between gaining information, perspectives, and advice from others and trying to be someone else. Only you know where that line it. What it feels like. I have found mine. A pace I can keep and a method that makes progress I am content with. I may not have ‘won’ nanowrimo by having failed to write 50k words in November. But to me, I am a winner. I kept going. I watched and encouraged other writers to make their goals. Every day I progress even a little is a win, I had a net of more than zero words, that counts as a win in my book. Much Love, Jessica Marie
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November Book Reviews 2021
By Jessica Marie The Socrates Express by Eric Weiner 5/5 Stars I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have not spent much time studying philosophy, but this book was a fantastic introduction to it. Many a time did I pause and laugh or think as I enjoyed how well written this book was. He puts things in such a unique light that ranges from the hilarious to the thoughtful. I enjoyed every page and every philosopher in it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an introduction to philosophy or simply for a good non-fiction read. Devolution by Max Brooks 5/5 Stars I haven’t listened to audiobooks in quite a few years, possibly more than five years ago. In the past I would listen to music and podcasts, in the last 2-3 years I listened almost exclusively to podcasts. But I’ve grown tired of it and decided there were books I would like to have read but I may not really want to spend the time physically reading them. My friend told me about Libby a few weeks ago and I have been hooked ever since. Free audiobooks downloaded to my phone via my library card! Sign me up! One of the books I listened to on tape many years ago was World War Z and I remember loving World War Z in audio book form. When I saw this available as an audiobook I immediately clicked "borrow" from Libby. I was not disappointed! I love the full cast reading of the book and I love the realistic nature of his books. Where you can almost be convinced it's a documentary and not a novel. Where There’s Smoke by Jodi Picoult 4/5 Stars This was another audiobook that I listened to in November. This was actually a compilation of two short stories. I’ll be honest, I'm not entirely sure I like Jodi's method of writing. She goes backwards and forwards through time every other chapter. The back cover descriptions sometimes sound more supernatural but somehow the story is always very realistic, as in real world. I generally prefer my fiction stories to be something a little more fantastical unless they are touching on some interesting topic. This is the second work of hers I've read. It's a good set of short stories. She is a good writer, she tells a story well, and the careers and knowledge of the characters she writes are well researched and feel real. It is nothing more than personal preference is why I am not a huge fan. I'd give these two stories 3.5 stars but I’m rounding up to 4. Who Am I? By Kurt Rieschick 4/5 Stars My Mom and I went to the 10 cent book sale that was hosted by our local library. She picked this one up just for fun. While she cooked dinner we all sat around the kitchen and I read the book out loud as we all tried to guess the answers to the questions. If you happen to know famous people from 1999 and before, then you’re going to rock this book. It was a fun evening! Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld 3/5 Stars This is an alternative history book in which Hillary Rodham never married Bill Clinton. The author then proceeds to see how Hillary’s life as well as the American political sphere may have been impacted by this change of events. This was another audiobook I checked out from Libby. I thought this was an interesting book. I found it fascinating Hilary and Bill go from lovers to rivals to enemies. There were some fun twists in the book. Though it was really strange to have sex scenes. These are public figures, not fictional characters, so the visuals are more than a bit strange. But overall, an interesting thought experiment. I would round up to 3.5 stars but Goodreads doesn’t let you, so 3 it is. On Wings of Ash and Dust series by Brittany Wang 5/5 Stars Wings of Betrayal, Palace of Potions, and Sea of Secrets are the three books in her series of six I finished in the month of November. I am going to hold off on giving a full book review on these until I finish the entire series. It is a fantasy series that takes place in a world where faeries rule and they are currently fighting for the crown to rule all of Faylan. There is a competition between all of the princes and princesses in each of the six kingdoms to compete against each other to win the crown for their kingdom, their family, and themselves forever. I was a little skeptical or rather trepidatious as I always am when starting a book from a new author. Especially one about faeries as it can be cliched or otherwise. But this series caught me from the start! I was and continue to be interested in the characters, the world, and the outcome. I am still really on my toes about what is going to happen as a lot is starting to pile up. If you are looking for a great new fantasy series (each book is around 100 pages long) I would suggest this one! Currently Reading: Forest of Blood by Brittany Wang The End of America by Naomi Wolf The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien Podcasts I'm Currently Listening to: Breaking Points Wise Traditions |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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