It's that time of year again; the time for setting goals. I'm not one for New Year's resolutions, but I do like to set one major goal for myself and my writing. Last year I decided to strive towards a finished first draft of my current WIP by Valentine's Day. I tend to revise as I go. So while I have some pretty polished segments already, I sill don't have a start-to-finish draft. Knowing I had a deadline has really helped, and as of today, I am Oh So Close. I do believe I will meet that deadline! The other goal I set for myself was a reading goal. I joined Amanda's Novels In Verse Reading challenge, signing on to read 9-12 novels in verse. I reviewed them all here on my blog, but below is a recap.
The verse novels I read last year were:
I've joined Amanda's Novels in Verse Reading Challenge for 2013 and I look forward to another year of discovering new voices. All of the books on my wish list are by authors I've never read before.
Titles on my wish list are:
Would you like to participate in the challenge? You can join by committing to read just ONE book. Find the details here.
What's the one book you can't wait to get your hands on this year?
I've been waiting what seems like forever to get my hands on The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.
ReplyDeleteI just added The Good Braider, from your list, to add to my to be read pile. Thanks for sharing.
Oooo, I like the title. I'll have to look it up =)
DeleteGood luck on reaching your deadline! I find that deadlines do help to motivate me, even if they're self imposed. They give me structure.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah :)
DeleteOh good luck on reaching your goal line. I like deadlines in writing. I find it helps to keep me focused.
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Deadlines are great! It's the only way I can stay on track. Thanks for the link to the Novels in Verse Reading Challenge - I'm all signed up, and so excited! Thanks, Ruth.
ReplyDeleteYay! So glad you decided to sign up, Victoria. I look forward to reading your reviews.
DeleteSo many intriguing novels in verse! I've come to appreciate those in a way I didn't think I would, but the sparse language and concentrating on words that really matter adds something special to the story.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are a bit of an acquired taste, I guess.
DeleteEven though I've read some of these, I'm too chicken to sign on. But I will be cheering you every step of your poetic way. I can't wait for yours, which you better believe I will read, vow declared right here.
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks, Mirka. That means a lot =)
DeleteI'm so backed up in my reading that I've stopped adding books to my list for a while. My Kindle is crammed; my desk is stack ten high with hardcopies and my mind is filled with titles I find intriguing. If I could give up things like sleeping, I might get ahead.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your challenge, Ruth.
I know what you mean, Lee. It can get overwhelming.
DeleteI'm so happy you enjoyed the challenge last year and signed up again this year! Thanks for sharing the books you hope to read as part of the challenge, you found some I hadn't heard of before! I look forward to adding them to my list as well =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting the challenge again, Amanda. I know it's a lot of work.
DeleteGood luck with the challenge Ruth!
ReplyDeleteI think this is the first year that I'm not actively anticipating a specific book. Because I have SO many books on my tbr pile. It's good to always have something to read though. :)
Thanks Coleen. You're right, it's good to have lots of titles to look forward to. Happy reading!
DeleteI keep meaning to explore some novels in verse - the idea appeals to me and yet I never seem to get around to reading any! Maybe this year... which one of the 10 you read did you like best and why? Good luck getting your draft done!!!
ReplyDeleteOooo, that's tough, Susanna. I enjoyed many of them, but if I had to pick a favorite, I'd choose May B by Caroline Starr Rose. Do let me know if you read it ;)
DeleteThanks for the rec. I'll let you know if I get a chance to read it!
DeleteI really enjoyed 'In and Out Again' last year and I'm looking forward to reading another Karen Hesse novel (not in-verse, though her 'Witness' was excellent.) Thanks for sharing these, Ruth, and have a great time reading them! I'll be putting few of them on my to-read shelf as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Claudine.
DeleteWow! I've never heard of this! What a cool thing. I've got a friend who writes BRILLIANTLY in verse... it's such a talent...
ReplyDeleteOh! And good luck, of course!!!!
DeleteI love that there are so many verse titles out there to choose from. What is the title of your friends book? Of course, I know you're a dancer, so I'm thinking you have lots of dancer friends and my mind goes straight to Stasia Ward Kehoe's Audition.
DeleteThanks so much for this great list! And good luck finishing your novel, Ruth. I've read After the Kiss, I can't wait to pick out some more.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Catherine =)
DeleteNovels in verse are my favorite! Thanks for the list. There are a few on there I haven't read. ^_^
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading, Angelina!
DeleteI love verse novels.. in fact I'm writing one right now! I'll have to check out that challenge.
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I'm a big fan of novels in verse. Loved Inside Out and Back Again. Jacqueline Woodson and Lisa Schroeder have also written excellent novels in verse. I'll have to check out the titles on your list.
ReplyDeleteI've read many of these -- and many not! So many good ones.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these yet! Many of them are on my TBR list. I love reading things in verse- and am hoping to try a few novels in verse this year. :) Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks for these books. I've read 8 and I'll see if I can purchase the rest.
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