Monday, January 6, 2014

Good Books, Good Music, Good Food & Good Feedback

I'm a creature of habit. I sit in the same seat at church every week, I have been known to eat the same thing for breakfast for years, and I read a lot of contemporary YA. It's easy to get stuck in ruts. So in the interest of breaking away from the norm, for my first read of the new year, I pulled out a Lisa Genova novel (not YA) that I got last Christmas. I devoured it in a day and a half.



 I'm thinking of reading a fantasy/sci fi novel next. I never read fantasy/sci fi, but I do have an ARC of The Bone Season kicking around here somewhere.



I usually write in silence, but I discovered The Lumineers album and I'm finding it impossible to turn off. Thankfully, I'm also finding it easy to write to. This song, Stubborn Love, is currently my favorite.



I'm totally enjoying revising one of my novels. This is the power of good feedback: when someone points you in the right direction and you can take off without looking back. That's where I'm at right now, and I'm so grateful.

For breakfast, I have given up my maple-flavored oatmeal for blueberry pancakes, fruit salads, Portuguese muffins and peanut butter/banana milkshakes (not all at once). But I confess, I still sat in the same seat at church this week.

Do you have new things on the horizon for 2014? What are you looking forward to most?


35 comments:

  1. Sometimes I come across music that really inspires me and it becomes kind of like a soundtrack to the story I'm writing. Otherwise I write in silence too.

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  2. I have to have music playing while I write. I hate silence.

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  3. It is important to change things up, but it's also okay to keep them the same (as long as it's working). :-)

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  4. I can relate to sitting in the same church pew and eating the same breakfast on a regular basis, only my oatmeal is apple-cinnamon (with fresh diced strawberries when they're under $4/lb)! I'm not good with change. Maybe these rituals help to stabilize me so that I'm more able to deal with the uncontrollable things that life throws in the way. I do love that song - thanks for sharing it!

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  5. I used to write with music, for some reason I turned it off. Maybe I will turn it back. Since you have made steps to change habits, it seems like a good goal for me too.

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  6. I tend to have a set routine most days: chores in the morning; writing in the afternoon - except weekends. However, this year I've set a goal to attempt to write one draft of a short story each month during the weekends. We shall see. When I can I come over for breakfast?! It all sounds so yummy. :-) All the best, Ruth.

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  7. I need to read literature that isn't written for young'ons now and then, too. My quest is to find intelligent, insightful and literary books that don't need to be drearily obtuse with depressing endings. Because of this self-imposed limitation I usually stick to MG.

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  8. I can relate to the set routine and same breakfast! It works for me to keep that routine with only a few forays outside my usual comfort zone. :)

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  9. You obviously enjoyed the Lisa Genova book. Fantasy sci-fi is such a broad subject - may I suggest my own favourites Terry Pratchett and Philip Pullman_ not so much YA as EY - Eternally Young!

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  10. It's always good to mix things up. I sit at the same seat at church too, unless someone takes it from me as happened several times over the holidays. Grumble. Guess I should be nice to visitors. :)

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  11. I love the Lumineers too! I'm also a creature of habit, but I try to come from an open place when there's an opportunity. :)
    I'm curious about Portuguese muffins now.

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  12. Love the Bruce Coville's "Unicorn Chronicles." Great fantasy! I read a lot of different things. And, thanks to you and Amanda, I'm reading more books in verse.

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  13. We sit in the same seats at church as well. And...I confess, I've been eating Cheerios for years. :)

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  14. Wow, you really are going out on a limb this year, aren't you! :D I need to follow your example. We actually sit in the same place at church too, and I hate to admit, but it throws me a bit if we must sit elsewhere. Have to acclimate to a new spot, I suppose! LOL

    Thanks so much for sharing your review of my book on Amazon, etc. It was sweet of you to take the time to do so, and I really appreciate it.

    Hope you are staying warm and getting lots of writing done.

    Happy New Year!

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  15. I had to smile when I got to your not all at once line! I just started reading a non- fiction book, my first in years. There's just something about the new year!

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  16. I can write to music but only if it doesn't have words. As for reading, I'm already extremely eclectic and breakfast is varied. So... I need to start my morning and end my day with a yoga stretch.:)

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  17. We sit in the same place at church too! Although I do like to switch things up and read different genres here and there. It seems like I have mood swings when it comes to what I read/write and what I listen to also!

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  18. Maybe that's the best resolution someone can have: "Try new things." We often do get stuck in a rut, and straying off that path can be liberating!

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  19. YES! That's my resolution. Just say yes--to the things that freak you out, to the opportunities you might otherwise deem impossible. Yes is the answer, because until we try, we don't know what's possible. =)

    Here's to an amazing 2014, and I hope you continue to LOVE every second of your revisions. =)

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  20. Those peanut butter and banana milkshakes sound dee-lish! Sometimes it can be refreshing to write or read in a genre that's outside of our usual comfort zone. I think it opens my head and helps me to see things and think about stuff outside the box.

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  21. Love the Lumineers. I'm trying to mix up my reading with some classics and adult novels. I just love YA though.

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  22. I am a creature of habit too! I eat the same thing for breakfast each day. It is comforting and obviously I love it. :) Your breakfast sounds yummy.

    Awesome that you branched out and read a book you enjoyed. The Bone Season is on my list- I have heard it is great. I hope you read it soon and that you love this fantasy. :) Oh- and I love to listen to the Lumineers when I am writing. Great song!

    Happy writing!
    ~Jess

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  23. I love the feeling after a revision. During? Not as fun. ;)

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  24. For me it's oatmeal with brown sugar. Maybe I need to mix things up a little. LOL

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  25. I haven't heard of The Lumineers but I really enjoy Stubborn Love here. I listen to Mark Pinkus's piano pieces as I work these days. I'm painting a bit more this year, and for my writing, I'm branching out to older readers (MG level) though I'm also still planning for another picture book. It's great receiving spot-on feedback on our manuscripts. Have a great time editing, Ruth!

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  26. I've eaten peanut butter toast for breakfast all my life but unfortunately, I have to change that habit for the diet I'm on. Dang! I'm a creature of habit too but I also like change.
    I don't listen to music while I write but am thinking I need to change that as I normally have the TV on and it can be distracting! Hmmm, you've given me an idea for something I need to change! Thanks

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  27. The Lumineers are great, and now you've put me in a mood to listen to them!

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  28. That song is amazing!

    I need to get out of a reading rut and read more adult books.

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  29. I think everybody sits in the same seat at church every week. :D

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  30. Nice post! Great idea to shake things up a little. Thanks for sharing the great song, too. I'm enjoying it as I type. :)

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  31. I'm a bit of a creature of habit too. Every week I go walking with a girlfriend, end up in the same restaurant, and order the same type of pizza. Yay for you getting out of your rut! Maybe you'll inspire me to try new things, too. :)

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  32. Well, aren't you being bold and daring starting out the new year? I'm with you about sitting the same place in church but try to find variety in other areas. Still have my breakfast favorites but have several. Your choices sound yummy!

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  33. The Bone Season seems to be popping up everywhere. I think I should finally check it out. Thank you for sharing.

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  34. I'm still eating Cheerios for breakfast and bought a couple of boxes today that were on sale (with a coupon, of course).

    I discovered a new author, who writes in a similar genre. Parker Hudson's book, The Enemy in the Room, kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm looking forward to getting his other two books.

    It's nice to branch out and try new things. Maybe I'll even get a different cereal next time. :)

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