gnsnow

[gnsnow]

Starting today, I'm helping my partner edit his book...

Any helpful tips to edit a book like a good book editor will be greatly appreciated! I have a degree in English and creative writing, so technically I could be a book editor if I trained up... I just have no idea where to even begin.

[gnsnow]

Genres & Themes

I've always been a little confused as to what defines YA and Adult as well as specific genres like Sci-Fi and Fantasy. I always get stuck on particular details to the point where I'm not sure where they belong...Does anyone else struggle with this?

[gnsnow]

Book Review: An Academy For Liars (3.5 stars⭐⭐⭐)

Book Title: An Academy For Liars

Book Author: Alexis Henderson

Publish Date: Sep 2024

Stars given: 3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐* (I wish there were a half star emoji!)

Emojis: 🏫 🦋 🐀

Review:

This book starts off by telling us a little about Lennon, our main character, who has found herself newly single. Instead of finding herself accepting her ex’s apologies, she decides it’s time for a new start, but before she can begin, it seems a new start has found her with the ring of a bell. A phone call that truly changes her life on so many levels (If you read the book, you’ll know what I did there).

There is a hint of ‘magic’ but it can be seen by the readers and characters as either magic or will. It is never fully defined what it is, just that it is changing to the reality around them. As Lennon gets a grasp on her ‘magic’, the story takes a few twists and turns that can surprise even the reader at times. It is a book that you absolutely must pay attention to at all times, otherwise you may miss something that will come up later on.

Now, the story itself is interesting and well written. The reason I have given this book 3 stars is down to personal preference in my reading choices and pacing. It’s a perfectly good book, I just wasn’t particularly hooked throughout.

[gnsnow]

Hi♡ are you working on anything in particular at the moment? Or do you have an OC you love the most?

Hihi! I'm currently trying to bring some old folklore stories to life with a bit of a longer narrative :D I have a couple of OC's I love that have paired so well with some others that my friends made, so I'm hoping to weave them into some future stories haha. How about you? (P.S. Thankies for the ask!!) <3

[gnsnow]

“I’m Pretending I Don’t Love You” Behaviors

(for that beautiful, painful flavor of self-denial that authors LIVE FOR)

✦ Making fun of everything they do...gently. Like it’s the only way you can touch them.

✦ Telling them to be careful, but saying it like an insult.

✦ Correcting people who get their name wrong, then pretending it didn’t matter.

✦ Staring just a little too long—and then making a sarcastic comment to cover the slip.

✦ Showing up to things “coincidentally” wherever they are. All the time.

✦ Knowing exactly what food they like, but acting like it was a random choice.

✦ Volunteering to be on their team, share their tent, go with them, whatever excuse works.

✦ Looking away fast when they laugh. Too fast. Like it hurts.

✦ Caring for them when they’re hurt, but muttering, “Don’t read into this.”

✦ Being furious when someone else flirts with them and not being able to explain why.

[gnsnow]

Sharing is caring 🤗

Hey all,

I'm looking over my old creative writing uni degree things...

If anyone wants me to post helpful tips n tricks, lemme know, as I'm going to be doing my best to get my creative writing butt in gear to write my stories and ultimately my novel..Also:

Anyone wanna be writing besties?

Share writing exercises they love doing or ones they find helpful?

Or perhaps, you want to gush about your original characters?

[gnsnow]

For the first time in over a year I had enough energy to lift up my arms for ten minutes of violin practice.

It's a small win, but still a win nonetheless!

Screw you fibromyalgia, I WILL learn to play the violin eventually 💜🎻

[gnsnow]

I've finally finished my coding course, which means I can now focus more on my writing, reading and chitty chatting to all of you folks!

I started up a lil discord where other writers can chitty chat and share any pieces that they want some feedback on and other writers can read and give their opinions. It can be *any* type of writing, so we ask that you be 18+ due to the nature of some of the content that may be written about. (Yes, we do like a bit of smut haha)

I'd love to meet some new lovelies over in the Inkpot writing community https://discord.gg/DKaBzsa9KR I used to do a lot of RP a few years back, but found that I missed writing in general. So this is a great place to be for all kinds of writing.

[gnsnow]

Trying so hard to fit in and act like an able-bodied person in a social setting is

exhausting.

[gnsnow]

Write for yourself

Writing for yourself to explain what you're thinking can be such a good way to get a big weight off your chest.

It doesn't always have to be stories and fun when you're writing for yourself.

It doesn't need to be published, but just putting these thoughts into solid words can be therapeutic.

[gnsnow]

My socials have been quiet for the past week or so due to my health being so poor.

The best thing about being a writer is that your writing isn't going anywhere. You can take some time off and return when you feel okay to resume. It's not life or death if you step away for a while.

[gnsnow]

Book Review Time!

Bat Eater: Kylie Lee Baker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A fantastic insight into the mind of a crime scene cleaner during the pandemic. Times are tough, so in order to make enough money to survive pandemic stricken New York, Cora cleans crime scenes. In uncertain times, not knowing your own mind can be tricky enough, but Cora has to prove to her family and herself that she’s strong enough to survive the pandemic and the people of New York.

I really enjoyed every aspect of this book. From the descriptive gore to the historical heritage of Cora’s ancestry. I also really enjoyed the easter eggs the author mentions throughout the book that reference real life events that occurred during the actual pandemic.

The author really captures the essence of how people were acting during the pandemic, which I believe only adds to the authentic vibe of this book as you continue through Cora’s journey.

I'd easily give this book a 5 star review <3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[gnsnow]

Bringing up the past...

I'm re-learning how to write. I fell out of love with reading and writing when I studied English and Creative Writing at university years ago and only recently regained my love of reading. It took over 10 years. I spent a while mulling over my thoughts about why I fell out of love with this passion, and it all comes down to one comment.

"This is meaningless".

Critique I received from a tutor on an essay I wrote. I didn't realise it at the time, but that comment sunk deeper than I thought it did and truly sucked the life out of my work. Anything I wrote felt meaningless. I wasn't offered any further critique on how to improve or why they thought it was 'meaningless', only that it was.

My resilience was not good back then, and only recently has it got better. It's never easy, hearing that your work that you've toiled over is terrible, but hearing critique is good for growth and learning new things.

I aim to get better at writing and to be more resilient with critique I get in the future. I want to get better. Not only that, but I don't want to be bullied into losing my love of reading and writing again.

All that I research, that I find useful, I will be sharing here. Grammar. Writing plot outlines. Writing techniques. I'll share what I learn.

[gnsnow]

Here ya go @ellastrix

[gnsnow]

Mermaid (Poem)

Below the surface, a silence between love.

Seaweed sways between the salty liquid.

It remains peaceful below, but above

The seagulls call, their bodies drifted

apart.

Sun rays stream through the murkiest of waters,

A slice of light reflects from the plankton.

I am among others of the merman's daughters,

of the seas, we act like phantoms

a mirage in the water.

'Hold your tongue' father once told us.

'We must not speak to the land dwellers'.

He was protective, for he had prayed enough

over the women of the land, sellers

of souls through lust.

Father passed quickly, but before he did

'Stay true to the waters child, only

they will protect you and keep you hid.

Seek not the land in the times you are lonely.

Oceans love is safe'.

And so, I took to the land. As one defiantly does.

To spy upon the land and its form.

A young dweller proclaimed love

from the shore. Oh father, what was there to warn

us from?

I surfaced and became betrothed ,

After a time he revealed his true

intentions. Eyes filled with lust, he disrobed,

would not take no for an answer, I knew

Father was right.

I took back to the waters, he followed

enraged and dangerous. 'You are my

property, you cannot run' he bellowed.

A silent prayer I sent and sighed.

Oceans eyes answered.

Seconds passed and my old love wrapped

around my waist, swirling my hair.

Shimmering scales transformed me back,

outstretched arms, we make quite a pair.

I shall never leave again.

Enemies yells grow stronger, angrier

Ocean guides me to his feet, kicking above

I pull him under, too much to longer

for him to cuss and yell. My only love

helped defend my honour.

He lies among the seaweed, swaying

as a reminder of the past.

Salty water purifies his soul, repaying

the evil he once cast

over my ocean cold heart.

I spend the days watching the sun

slice through the waters. A calm quiet breeze

above. No more betrothed, I am done

exploring the land. I keep to the seas

protecting my honour and love.

[gnsnow]

*looks back to that one time I tried Yoga and was bedbound for 2 weeks* 

[gnsnow]

Living with a chronic illness SUCKS.