Wednesday, July 31, 2013

What's Up Wednesday and SD31DBBB

It's time for my check-in with Jaime Morrow's What's Up Wednesday blog hop!

What I'm Reading

The list remains the same as last week, with two exceptions.

1. I finished The Poor Bastard by Joe Matt. Our book club meeting got switched until next Monday, so we'll see if anyone in the group had better feelings about this book than I did. The only thing I can say (as I wrote on Goodreads) is that I don't think I have ever read a more appropriately titled book!


Shop Indie Bookstores 2. I am now also reading Doctor Who: Who-ology. With this book I have now taken my fandom to a whole different level of geekdom. I can NOT believe that I am actually enjoying reading timelines based on a television series! Any minute now I expect my husband to call the sanitarium. In the meantime, I will be all kinds of ready for the fiftieth anniversary episode on November 23, 2013 (who's counting down the minutes? NOT ME!)

Quick Updates on a couple of the other reads:

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is just plain brilliant. I am intentionally taking my time with it because I don't want it to end.


Shop Indie Bookstores
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green reached a level of hilarity yesterday that I actually found myself laughing out loud while sitting by myself in the Barnes & Noble Cafe. Who doesn't love when that happens?

Shop Indie Bookstores

The Fantastic Family Whipple by Matthew Ward reached a point where I put the book down, turned to my husband and said, "This is just plain ridiculousness." At that moment I was annoyed by it. A couple of hours later I picked up the book telling myself it was time for some ridiculousness and I started flying through the story. Isn't it interesting how much your mood can affect how you enjoy a book?

Shop Indie Bookstores
What I'm Writing

Tomorrow begins StoryDam's Open House Extravaganza (relaunch of storydam.com), so I have been doing A LOT of prep for that. I rewrote the entire beginning of Dear 302 and realized that, while I am extremely excited about the direction the novel is taking, I will not be able to do what needs to be done there until the site's relaunch is complete.


In the meantime, since I want to make sure I am still writing and staying creative, I am looking forward to participating in tomorrow's trifecta writing challenge again. I am happy with what I came up with for last week, so hopefully I can do something fun for tomorrow!

What I've Been Up To

Blogging, preparing for blogging, helping with grad school work and recovering. Tuesday I had to take a three hour nap to sleep off the mother of all headaches from overwhelm. I pray the same thing doesn't happen again today.

On Saturday I went to my writing group and had a lot of fun catching up with everyone since I missed the last meeting. The group is growing! I RSVPed "No" to this Saturday's meeting because it is my FIVE YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, but I fear my husband's HW may eat up any truly exciting plans...

The only other excitement I can think of is that last night I made pizza! This is very exciting in my gluten free dairy free life. I promise it wasn't inedible - my gluten and dairy loving husband insisted on me making a second pie! If you have the same restrictions, I highly recommend Bob's Red Mill Gluten free pizza dough mix and Daiya's dairy free mozzarella shreds.

If you are a writer and a blogger, check this out!
What Inspires Me Right Now

Possibility.

I'm getting ready to start the StoryDam 31 Days to Build A Better Blog Challenge, StoryDam's relaunch is coming and I feel like we are rounding the corner to see the end of my husband's Master's program. All of these things are bubbling over with great possibility.  Right now I am inspired by all of the "might be"s in my life. 

How has your week been? 
Any new reads or fantastic writing happening in your world?
Where are you finding your inspiration RIGHT NOW?
Posted by at
2 comments:
Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Top 10 Best Book Beginnings and Endings

This week's topic from The Broke and The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday is:

Top 10 Best Book Beginnings and Endings

 I decided to go with both. I have five top beginnings and five top endings. I hope you like them!

MY TOP FIVE BOOK BEGINNINGS


Shop Indie Bookstores1. The Monster At The End Of This Book by Jon Stone
This book begins on the cover. By page one Grover is already freaking out and begging you not to keep turning pages. But, really, what's funnier than an overly dramatic Grover? This continues to be one of my favorite books of all time and it is all about how fantastically it hooks you. (This was a very close contender for Best ending as well - this book just rocks!).


Shop Indie Bookstores2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
A series so fantastic begins on Privet Drive. It's so boring, so mundane, so bland! I love the juxtaposition of Harry's life with his family compared to that which is his destiny is nothing less than brilliant. It makes the ride even more magical when you know where Harry came from.


Shop Indie Bookstores3. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
This is my favorite Shakespeare work, so whenever I hear or read the opening words, it gives me chills. Witches brewing up some evil magics let the reader (or the audience, in the case of the play) know exactly the type of trouble in store. Who doesn't get excited about what's coming next with an intro like that?


Shop Indie Bookstores4. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Tolkien introduces my dream life - hobbit living - in the first pages of his wonderful novel. I knew nothing about it before I read those pages, but immediately Middle Earth, the Shire and hobbut holes all came to life in my imagination never to be erased again.


Shop Indie Bookstores5. Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman
I don't know how Gaiman does it, but in his latest novel he simultaneously captures childhood, magic and nostalgia all at once. However, what is even more unbelievable is that he manages to capture and deliver that on the book's first page. He is a master storyteller - when I started that book I just wanted to grab a cup of tea, curl up in a big comfy chair and be swept away.



MY TOP FIVE BOOK ENDINGS (beware of possibly spoiler-y discussion)


Shop Indie Bookstores1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
I loved the adventure in every page of this book. However, when I reached the end of the book I was struck dumb with the depth of every page that I had just experienced. I went out of my mind trying to find anyone who had read the book just so I could talk to them about it!


Shop Indie Bookstores2. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Tears. Beautiful. Perfect ending to this wonderful book about how we live, how we love and how we hurt. I sobbed.


Shop Indie Bookstores3. Tale of Sand by Jim Henson, Jerry Juhl and Ramon Perez
This is a graphic novel based on a screenplay written by Jim Henson and his long time writing partner Jerry Juhl. It's an incredibly quick read and when you reach the final page, it'll knock you out!


Shop Indie Bookstores4. Asterios Polyp by David Mazzuchelli
Another graphic novel. Mazzuchelli masterfully brings every aspect of the medium to its fullest purpose when he brings together another otherwise ordinary story of a man. The ending of the book reminds us why it is often the ordinary lives which teach us such extraordinary life lessons.


Shop Indie Bookstores
5. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
On the last page, you will find the following:
"...Atticus, he was real nice..."
His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me.
"Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them."
There is nothing I believe more deeply in my soul than these words. Thank you, Harper Lee, for it all.

Which book beginnings and endings have stuck with you the longest?

Don't forget, when you are done here, head over to storydam.com to get ready for this week's Open House Extravaganza!
Posted by at
16 comments:
Labels: , , ,

Monday, July 29, 2013

Meeting My Fellow Trifectans

When I entered my first ever trifecta writing challenge last week, I messed up on a number of levels. First, I missed the window to vote in the community-based voting for the challenge. Secondly, I didn't see this "Meet Your Fellow Trifectans" meme. At least, in the second situation, I can do something about it now. Here are the questions the meme asks as well as my answers:





  • What is your name (real or otherwise)? 
  • Describe your writing style in three words. 
  • How long have you been writing online? 
  • Which, if any, other writing challenges do you participate in? 
  • Describe one way in which you could improve your writing. 
  • What is the best writing advice you’ve ever been given? 
  • Who is your favorite author?  
  • How do you make time to write?
  • Give us one word we should consider using as a prompt. Remember--it must have a third definition.
  • Direct us to one blog post of yours that we shouldn't miss reading.
    • - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/01/meet-your-fellow-trifectans.html#sthash.Voek1RTP.dpuf
    What is your name (real or otherwise)?

    My name is Nicole Rivera. I've never been one to have a nickname, so I stick to the reality of it. Closest I came to a nickname was when my students just called me "Miss." I'd probably still respond to that if anyone called it out. Also, there's "riverand" which is my twitter handle and username almost everywhere virtual.


    But wait, this reminds me... For some reason I have been unable to explain, many people often think my name is Michelle. It happens so often, in fact, that when I know someone casually, I will turn my head any time they say "Michelle." It is truly frightening how many times they really were talking to me!

    Describe your writing style in three words?

    Brain thoughts printed.


    How long have you been writing online?

    In terms of personal blogging (I had a couple of blogs/websites for my classes while teaching), I have been writing online for three years. Here is the first blog post I ever wrote.

    Which, if any, other writing challenges do you participate in?

    I started out with the Write On Edge community, but I have not warmed up to the "Write At the Merge" prompts since they started. I do, however, seem to have some sort of NaNoWriMo addiction!

    Describe one way in which you could improve your writing.

    I think if I could commit to doing it every day, consistently I would see all types of improvements. I also need to maintain faith in my ideas after I have completed my first draft.

    What is the best writing advice you've ever been given?

    I'm paraphrasing, but, in essence the advice is "JUST DO IT." In other words, if you want to be a writer, then go ahead, no one is stopping you - start writing. Once you are doing it, you are a writer and no one can take that away from you! Now... if you want to be an author and you want to be published, that's another thing entirely, but being a writer is as easy as taking action.


    Who is your favorite author?

    Honestly. Am I supposed to pick only one? Well, I suppose I will go with my current obsession: Neil Gaiman. Can this man do any wrong? This is not to say that every word he has written has been flawless, but he is so prolific, so passionate, and super cool with his readers. What's not to love?

    How do you make time to write?

     If you saw my house, in its C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) status, the "how" of it all would make perfect sense.


    Give us one word we should consider using as a prompt. Remember -- it must have a third definition.

    coach
    (Paying homage to my previous profession as a math coach!)

     Direct us to one blog post of yours we shouldn't miss reading.


    To know me is to understand book love. This post began a wonderful series on my blog surrounding the question What Was Your First Book Love? If you read this post and feel like you'd like to share your answer with the readers of Rivera Runs Through It, please don't hesitate to email me!

    So that's it about me... pick at least one of these questions to answer about yourself in the comments so I can get to know YOU!

    Also, when you finish up here, please don't forget to stop over at StoryDam.com to read about the upcoming excitement this week: our Open House Extravaganza! I truly do hope you will join the party!




  • What is your name (real or otherwise)? 
  • Describe your writing style in three words. 
  • How long have you been writing online? 
  • Which, if any, other writing challenges do you participate in? 
  • Describe one way in which you could improve your writing. 
  • What is the best writing advice you’ve ever been given? 
  • Who is your favorite author?  
  • How do you make time to write?
  • Give us one word we should consider using as a prompt. Remember--it must have a third definition.
  • Direct us to one blog post of yours that we shouldn't miss reading.
    • - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/01/meet-your-fellow-trifectans.html#sthash.Voek1RTP.dpuf




  • What is your name (real or otherwise)? 
  • Describe your writing style in three words. 
  • How long have you been writing online? 
  • Which, if any, other writing challenges do you participate in? 
  • Describe one way in which you could improve your writing. 
  • What is the best writing advice you’ve ever been given? 
  • Who is your favorite author?  
  • How do you make time to write?
  • Give us one word we should consider using as a prompt. Remember--it must have a third definition.
  • Direct us to one blog post of yours that we shouldn't miss reading.
    • - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/01/meet-your-fellow-trifectans.html#sthash.Voek1RTP.dpuf
    Posted by at
    No comments:
    Labels: , ,

    Friday, July 26, 2013

    How Do You Organize Your Books to Read?



    Billy Burgess from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer is asking us how we organize our books to read in this week's Book Blogger Hop. When I first read the question, I thought I would have nothing to say beyond "size order," but after really thinking about it I realized I do have a couple of "rules" with my book collections.

    Advanced Reader Copies

    I have an entire shelf of books I received from this year's BookExpo America in my china cabinet. They have to be read, reviewed and, for the most part, given away. Last year I was terrible at keeping up with this and one of the reasons was every time I finished a book, I just wouldn't know what to do next. This year I came up with a plan! I organized the books in order of publication date! Since publishers and authors both prefer that the review is closer to the release date, I figured I needed to work that way. Now when I finish a book, there's no confusion about what I should read next - I just grab what's next on the shelf.


    Graphic Novels/Comic Books

    This summer my husband and I bought an enormous bookshelf/entertainment center for our living room. We were very excited about having a new shelf for all of our books. After we filled it we realized we couldn't fit much more past our graphic novels! They were put on the shelves in number order and then in size order.


    Teaching/Math Books

    Three years out of the classroom and well aware I am not heading back, but I still have a bookshelf full of all of my teaching resources. How are they organized? Mostly by size order, but in between, if you look very carefully, you will also see some content-area breakdown.

    Current Reads

    Much to the chagrin of my spouse, there is zero organization when it comes to what is in my "current reads" focus. They can be under the bed, in my night stand, under my pillow, on the end tables in the living room, on the couch, in my pocketbook, on the kitchen counter, pretty much anywhere I've been. This wouldn't be so bad if I were only "currently reading" one book at a time, but if you check out my goodread profile, you will quickly notice this is a serious problem!

    So how do you organize your books? 

    Posted by at
    11 comments:
    Labels: , ,

    Thursday, July 25, 2013

    To Capture A Miracle

    The breeze carried the first smells of green instead of the bite of white. The rising sun shed a yellow glow instead of an empty bright. I smelled the grass and knew the flowers weren't far behind. Spring was on its way. I walked the dewy grasses knowing this would be the day. I carried my camera with the hopes that this year I would capture the miracle, the tiny dance that starts it all.

    I found my position on the floor beneath a tree on the edge of the meadow and waited for the sun to cook the dew off the blades of grass. As the final drop dissipated into the ether, a robin landed in the meadow. The forest fell silent. The wind was still. The robin stood royally among the blades of green for a heartbeat before it began to sing. It sang a single note followed by a melody so beautiful that I am sure it's the one that torments the dreams of every composer who has tried, impossibly,  to replicate it.

    I lifted my camera silently from the ground and fixed my lens on the miracle. I watched the robin charm a red, wriggling, half-dormant worm from the soil. Its body swayed inconceivably upward from the foot of the robin to the space beneath its singing beak. The robin finished its song. My fingers stood still. It was as if nature would not allow me to capture this impossibility. It was as if, I, too, was under the robin's spell. For a moment longer everything remained silent, everything but the worm remained still. Then the robin tilted its head, snapped up the worm and took flight.

    When the bird's feet separated from the soil, the spell was broken. I could smell the flowers on the new breeze and feel the warmth of the sun. My camera came maniacally to life capturing nothing but a moment lost. The forest came back to life. Spring had officially begun.


    CHARM (verb)

    1a : to affect by or as if by magic : compel
      b : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction<charms customers with his suave manner>
    2: to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms; also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences
    3: to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) <charm a snake>
    - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf

    ************************************************************************************************************
    TrifectaPicture11-1This is my response to the Trifecta weekly challenge, which is to write a 33 to 333-word response (mine is exactly 333) using the following word and its third definition

    CHARM (verb)

    1a : to affect by or as if by magic : compel
      b : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction<charms customers with his suave manner>
    2: to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms; also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences
    3: to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) <charm a snake> - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf
     CHARM (verb)
    3: to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) <charm a snake>
    to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf

    1a : to affect by or as if by magic : compel
      b : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction<charms customers with his suave manner>
    2: to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms; also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences
    3: to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) <charm a snake> - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf
    CHARM (verb)

    1a : to affect by or as if by magic : compel
      b : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction<charms customers with his suave manner>
    2: to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms; also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences
    3: to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) <charm a snake> - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf

    Remember:
    • Your response must be between 33 and 333 words. 
    • You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post. 
    • The word itself needs to be included in your response. 
    • You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. 
    • Only one entry per writer. 
    • If your post doesn't meet our requirements, please leave your link in the comments section, not in the linkz. 
    • Trifecta is open to everyone. Please join us. 
    This week's challenge is community judged.
    • For the 14 hours following the close of the challenge, voting will be enabled on links.  
    • In order to vote, return to this post where stars will appear next to each link.  To vote, simply click the star that corresponds with your favorite post.
    • You can vote for your top three favorite posts.
    • Voting is open to everyone. 
    • You have 14 hours to vote.  It's not much time, so be diligent! We'll send out reminders on Twitter and Facebook.
    • The winners will be announced in the comments of Friday's post and will be posted in our typical fashion in the post on the following Monday.
    This week's word is charm.

    Or use the new Add link method ?

    (Submissions will close / voting starts in 21h 24m)
    Link tool by inlinkz.com
    at 10:00 PM 8 comments
    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
    - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf
    1a : to affect by or as if by magic : compel
      b : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction<charms customers with his suave manner>
    2: to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms; also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences
    3: to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) <charm a snake> - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf

    CHARM (verb)

    1a : to affect by or as if by magic : compel
      b : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction<charms customers with his suave manner>
    2: to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms; also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences
    3: to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) <charm a snake>
    - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf
    CHARM (verb)

    1a : to affect by or as if by magic : compel
      b : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction<charms customers with his suave manner>
    2: to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms; also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences
    3: to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music) <charm a snake> - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.pfKAby6g.dpuf
    This week's challenge is community judged meaning for the 14 hours after the challenge is closed readers can vote on their top three posts. To vote, head over to this week's Trifecta post and click on the stars next to your favorites (the stars will appear only after the challenge is closed)!

    ************************************************************************************************************
    Posted by at
    5 comments:
    Labels: , , , , ,
    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)