What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed* Showing 2,401-2,450 of 13,523

[Jan]

Emanuela ~Zstyx~ wrote: "Am I the only one in the world who hasn't read Harry Potter?"

Nope I've never read the books or seen the films apart from the first one! I have absolutely no interest in them.

[Cheryl]

I've also never read Harry Potter, never watched any of the movies, and never really had an interest in changing that.

[Cleon Lee]

Josh wrote: "I'm just burnt out. That's really what it's about because I love the idea of contributing a story to this world and working with the BEBs. But I never really had a chance to recover from my existing burnout. I've got a reduced schedule, yes, but it still means producing steadily all the time.

ALL. THE. TIME.

Now, I think some of my best stuff is coming out of this -- Yellow Sands for example -- but I'm still tired and the old enthusiasm just isn't there. Can I produce under pressure? Sure. I'm a pro. But it's work. It's some of the hardest work I've ever done.

On the other hand, why shouldn't it be? Writing is work and good writing takes effort. So why should I get to skate?

I just need a good long break, but the fear of no projects for what might translate into months, maybe a year is pretty scary. "

Is there anything we can do to help? Not writing your stories, though, your readers will skin us alive for butchering your voice. :P.

There are some jobs that are harder to do when we are burnt out and I imagine writing is near at the top of that list. But even at regular job, we can take vacation. I think what's the point of having a dream job if we end up hating it? Remember that you commented on a book that was technically good but somehow you couldn't connect with it? It'd be a tragedy if you just produce work automatically. Your works are some of the most emotionally intense in this genre, without being too overboard or emotionally manipulating the readers.

I am sure there are a lot of projects waiting for you when you're ready. After all, this is a blooming genre. Also, perhaps you just need to do something a bit different? You could edit an anthology, perhaps?

ETA: I apologize if I overstep my bounds though.

[Barb]

I am amazed at the ability a writer has to put out x-amount of words on demand; and trust me i am a person quite able to give 100 words when a couple would do - but i am all flannel - josh is pure silk! (gosh that sounds like i try to write, NEVER would - i read it, and then weep - or laugh, depends on what Josh is aiming for because he always seems to hit his mark!)but you know Josh there are lots of authors who put out one book a year - surely you are entitled to take a long holiday... we would happily wait for you to refresh and recharge! (says she who is only half way through your back collection LOL) so i am good!

[Calathea]

Josh wrote: "Anne wrote: "Liade wrote: "Josh wrote: "The idea is there's this special branch of law enforcement called the Irregulars, and they're ta..."

I loved the idea in Hell Cops of three different auth..."

Speaking from my own experience, it's time to take off for a lengthy phase of rest and recuperation if you feel this way. I ignored the signs and am now paying for it. After a break down with burn out it is even to hard to get up in the morning for the first few weeks and recovery takes months and months. :-(
Don't want to scare anyone with this but it's better to take some time for vacation (the longer the better) when it's still a choice.

[mc]

I second Calathea's comment, with an unsolicited opinion. I, too, let the warning signs go, and it affected my physical health in a way I did not foresee (though my close friends apparently saw the oncoming truck!).

I absolutely loved my job, and couldn't imagine how I could get off the treadmill, because 'what would happen!?!?!?!' until the treadmill kicked me off. Hard lesson to learn, though I'm not sorry about what happened, ultimately.

If I could help in any way, I will - for one thing, though I'm new here, I've been following you for a long time; for another, like Calathea, having gone through such an experience, I would be very happy to prevent it from happening to anyone else.

I think it's great that you're talking about it, though, because a really bad sign is when you don't even know that you're burning out. (I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm totally fine!!!)

[Calathea]

mc wrote: "like Calathea, having gone through such an experience, I would be very happy to prevent it from happening to anyone else."

*nod* yes, that too.

[Anne]

Josh wrote: "I just need a good long break, but the fear of no projects for what might translate into months, maybe a year is pretty scary. "

I feel for you. :(

And I wish I had some kind of constuctive option for you, but all I can do is tell you that when I'm burnt (on life, not on writing -- way too much of a neophyte for that) I take off on a mini-sabbatical. I always end up taking life with me, but somehow it's easier to deal with at the beach.

[Anne]

Calathea wrote: "Josh wrote: "Anne wrote: "Liade wrote: "Josh wrote: "The idea is there's this special branch of law enforcement called the Irregulars, and they're ta..."

I loved the idea in Hell Cops of three dif..."

Wow, Calathea, any kind of recovery sucks, good luck. Not to foist my beliefs on anyone, but you might want to look into mindfulness therapy -- it helped me tons with recovery from not only long-term illness, but the dependance on pain-killers that came along with it.

ETA: Way to go, mc. :)

[mc]

Back at you, Anne. :)

Loved Hobbit and Lord of the Rings when I first read them, but I admit, I have never seen the movies.

I tend to be reading many things at the same time, in a variety of genres.

I started reading a mystery a few days ago, and about halfway through, I realize that I've read it before. Sadly, I don't remember who the killer is, so I figure I'll read it through to the end again. It's pretty mockable that I can't figure out who the killer is this far into the book, SINCE I ALREADY KNOW WHO IT IS.

I've already mentioned that I have an e-pile of books that I haven't read yet; I'm embarrassed to admit that because of that, I have more than once bought the same book twice. Seriously, how pathetic is that? The authors should love me, though.

I started to create a master list of books on excel a while back, though I've fallen behind on that.

[Anne]

mc wrote: "I started reading a mystery a few days ago, and about halfway through, I realize that I've read it before. Sadly, I don't remember who the killer is, so I figure I'll read it through to the end again. It's pretty mockable that I can't figure out who the killer is this far into the book, SINCE I ALREADY KNOW WHO IT IS.

I've already mentioned that I have an e-pile of books that I haven't read yet; I'm embarrassed to admit that because of that, I have more than once bought the same book twice. Seriously, how pathetic is that? The authors should love me, though.

I started to create a master list of books on excel a while back, though I've fallen behind on that. ."

Ha! I've done both of those things! It's a sign of our dependance (told you guys this was a support group).

I use a book database called Bookpedia, which isn't supported by Mac anymore so I'm trying to find a new one. I'm trying Bookcrawler, now. I keep them on my iPhone.

But, sadly, I both re-read and re-purchased books even after using the database.

[Josh]

Pssst. It's still only SATURDAY TODAY. You have a whole 24 more hours to the weekend than you thought you had. :) :).

:-D

True!

[[deleted user]]

Josh wrote:but it still means producing steadily all the time.

ALL. THE. TIME.

Now, I think some of my best stuff is coming out of this -- Yellow Sands for example -- but I'm still tired and the old enthusiasm just isn't there. Can I produce under pressure? Sure. I'm a pro. But it's work. It's some of the hardest work I've ever done.

Creating, specially words that make sense and have an effect is hard...I write for a living...not sexy awesome stuff like you do...but grant writing for humanitarian relief organizations...so when I don't do my job well little children in Africa don't get books...or food...So yeah Pffffttt, No Pressure :O) You're so prolific and diverse with your writing , it really is a wonder to me how you do it...and totally get the exhaustion feeling.

BTW-Now I'm even more desperate for Yellow Sands!!

[Josh]

And you know, if you ever want encouragement, you have a whole slough of folks who'll be there to boost your spirits. And I think we might even get the mental juices going - take a firehose to that mental sludge.

I do. And I appeciate that.

[Josh]

No, it's not terrible. Just don't expect it to happen. :)

I won't hold my breath, no. :-)

[[deleted user]]

Josh wrote: "No, it's not terrible. Just don't expect it to happen. :)

I won't hold my breath, no. :-)"

Oooohhh you're totally breaching "No GR on Weekends" rule today :O)

[Josh]

Right now, I think writing a series sucks.

There's pleasure in revisiting characters and a world you already know. But there are also built-in restrictions for that. You have to keep close track of what you've already created, and sometimes what you've created gets in the way of where you'd ultimately like to go.

[Josh]

I am a judge, too, and not for the first time did I get a book from a series without any info about prequels. Should I kick more?

I think typically when series books are submitted to awards, there is no effort to bring the judges up to speed. That's the risk in submitting a series book. Ideally the book stands on its own and the essential backstory has been covered (enough) within the current text.

[Josh]

I loved the idea in Hell Cops of three different authors writing in the same universe, with three very different stories in three different styles. So I'm really looking forward to the new anthology.

I really enjoyed them both. The first one, in particular, did a great job of meshing characters from the other stories. I loved how they did that.

[Josh]

I should note here, in the interest of world peace, that I love Tolkien. Hated the movies, though. Now I'm ducking.

I loved the film The Fellowship of the Ring. None of the other films quite lived up to that, and none of the films lived up to my feelings about the books. I read the books in high school. I don't know if I would feel the same about them now, granted.

[[deleted user]]

Josh wrote: "And you know, if you ever want encouragement, you have a whole slough of folks who'll be there to boost your spirits. And I think we might even get the mental juices going - take a firehose to that..."

Josh wrote: "And you know, if you ever want encouragement, you have a whole slough of folks who'll be there to boost your spirits. And I think we might even get the mental juices going - take a firehose to that..."

oh, hunny bunny- I'm sorry you're in such a rough place. I second or third the motion about unplugging. I've hardly read any fiction the last few years, not like I read before I was a writer- and sometimes I wonder if not reading is good for me. I've used reading a good book as the major form of stress management in my life forever, it feels like- and while writing is wonderful in its own way, it doesn't soothe my shattered mind like reading does. I just finished last night The Book Thief- I've had it forever- maybe it was just waiting for me until I needed it- YA, set in Germany during 1939-42, and the narrator is Death- great writing, wonderful storytelling. I'm about to start Border Songs by Jim Lynch. My plan is to not let myself write until the story is about to explode out of my head. But I hear your concerns about production. Valid, real concern. But we only have one beautiful life.

[Josh]

Josh, when you come up with a character, or an idea, do you think in terms of series? Or do you see how it goes, and then feel there's more to write about? Are there pressures from publishers to continue a popular character when you might not have as much interest? Should I take this to the appropriate thread instead?

Usually I know early on. Certainly by the midway point I'm sure and I start deciding what threads to plant for future stories and what plot points to leave unresolved.

An exception was Fair Game. I wanted it to be a stand alone. As I was writing it I kept thinking, it would be fun to follow what happens once Roland's book is released and that I'd like to further examine Tucker's background. I didn't want to do a series, though, and finally it occurred to me that I could just do a sequel. Every book doesn't have to turn into a full series. Sometimes a sequel or a trilogy is plenty.

And some books are just going to have more impact as a stand alone. Yellow Sands is an example of that.

[Josh]

Perhaps you're just burned out. Although not in fiction, I really really understand the feeling.

I think a lot of people understand the feeling because it's pretty much a regular facet of all our lives. Maybe burn out has become an intrinsic part of our modern professional lives? And the point is not to try and avoid it so much as figure out how to manage it? :-D

[Josh]

Josh, when was the last time you took a "real" vacation? Completely unplugged from the matrix? Left the laptop at home? Dug your toes in the sand and let your mind dance to its own tune? If you don't remember, its time to go. We'll all be here when you get back. :-)

I've been thinking of this. It's been...hmmm...four years? I think what I have to do is be ruthless enough to not schedule anything for the first half of next year (unless it's something already written this year.

Of course that's a terrifying prospect because not writing anything in the first half of the year means no releases in the second half which could mean quite a lean financial period.

Or not. Because I do have one sizeable backlist at this point. And I'll have an even more sizeable backlist by the end of this year.

And I could also self-publish through Kindle -- and probably will anyway -- so if things get too lean, there's always recourse for when the bread and water runs low. :-D

[Candice]

Josh talked about the fear of shutting down for a bit and coming back to no projects...

I know it's easy for me to say and I don't know the life of a professional writer. But certain things are there. You have a faithful and enthusiastic following. People do these 2-story anthologies with Josh Lanyon; not the other way around. I don't say that to inflate your head--A real well-wisher isn't going to do that--but to remind you that you have something special to offer. A lot of people, the people who publish your work, who organize said "projects," money people, if you will, seem to be well aware of that. You walk away for a time, and I really believe you will be in greater demand after, not less.

Sometimes people get our number and they say, maybe even believe, they care about us, at the same time knowing and putting to use the fact that we can't say no, or can't do it often enough.

I hope you find your pace, the one that provides for you well enough and keeps you loving what you love.

[Josh]

Josh, certainly not terrible, but unfortunately just a little unrealistic since no one can write like you. Perhaps you need to focus on why you wanted to be part of this project in the first place. I do hope you are able to regain your enthusiasm for it. And if your schedule permits, take some time and remove yourself from all writing for awhile - not only your stories, but the social media too. Just a thought. :)

Well, the funny thing is, I'm as enthusiastic about the *idea* of all my stories as ever. But when the time comes to write...it's like I have a three second attention span. And before I know it, I realize I've been staring into space for five minutes.

[Josh]

I'd just gotten so sick of staring at a computer screen, and going back to handwriting was rather refreshing, I must say.

I was thinking about that -- it might be good to try working somewhere else or using a different medium. Maybe pen and paper...hmmm...

[Josh]

Maybe you need to find yourself a Saturday job *g*. Some mindless job waiting on people while watching them gathering ideas for new stories.

No kidding! I should take a really awful part time job and then I'd remember exactly how lucky I am.

[Josh]

ETA: I apologize if I overstep my bounds though.

Of course not! I'm the one who brought it up. I could hardly complain because I get lots and lots of great advice and warm encouragement. :-)

[Cleon Lee]

Josh wrote: "Maybe you need to find yourself a Saturday job *g*. Some mindless job waiting on people while watching them gathering ideas for new stories.

No kidding! I should take a really awful part time j..."

In that case, you can try web content writing. *whistle innocently*

[Josh]

Lauraadriana wrote: "Josh wrote: "No, it's not terrible. Just don't expect it to happen. :)

I won't hold my breath, no. :-)"

Oooohhh you're totally breaching "No GR on Weekends" rule today :O)"

I know. I did. Well, I had these chats so I was online anyway. YES, I DO HAVE A PROBLEM, I KNOW THAT. :-D But admitting it is the first step, right?

I'll be totally off line for the next couple of days while I focus on getting some stuff done. Scouts honor.

Meanwhile thank you all for the kindness and the words of wisdom.

[Cheryl]

Josh wrote: "Maybe you need to find yourself a Saturday job *g*. Some mindless job waiting on people while watching them gathering ideas for new stories.

No kidding! I should take a really awful part time j..."

Does anyone else watch The Big Bang Theory? That reminds me of the episode where Sheldon starts working at The Cheesecake Factory so the drudge work will help him with his physics theorems.

[[deleted user]]

Josh wrote:I know. I did. Well, I had these chats so I was online anyway. YES, I DO HAVE A PROBLEM, I KNOW THAT. :-D But admitting it is the first step, right? "

It is the first step...but I kinda like it when you fall off the wagon :O)

Good luck on your lock down! We'll miss ya...but will be here when you come back :O)

[Anne]

Josh wrote: "Right now, I think writing a series sucks.

There's pleasure in revisiting characters and a world you already know. But there are also built-in restrictions for that. You have to keep close track..."

But doesn't it seem amazingly serendipical when some random thing you wrote fits so perfectly into where you eventually end up? I do love that. Sometimes the restrictions you have-- self-imposed or otherwise -- result in the best work. Maybe that's why you like Yellow Sands so much?

And now I can't wait for it, either.

[ns]

Anne wrote: "Maybe that's why you like Yellow Sands so much?"

Apropos of nothing, for those of us keeping count and interested in starting a pool on which jumps next:


titles with the word "Dark" in them (full or part): 4
titles with the word "Strange/Stranger": 3*
titles with the word "Shadow/s" in them: 3**
titles with the word "Heat" in them: 2
titles with the word "Hell" in them: 2
titles with the word "Yellow" in them: 2
titles with the word "Ghost" in them: 2
titles with the word "Dangerous in them: 2
titles with the word "Something" in them: 2***


* : all three were actually different semantic words
**: Assuming Spain/Doyle #2 = "Shadow in the Sun"
*** : Series commonality

Yes, I have insomnia.

[ns]

My April reading list was sparser, but I made up in quality what I lacked in volume this month, I think:

Cream of the M/M: JCP, Lanyon, Allen

Rifters2 -- Hale
Rifters1 -- Hale
Tangled Threads -- Estep
This Rough Magic -- Lanyon
American Vampire -- Rain
Sympathy -- JCP
Sleepwalker -- JCP
Body Art -- JCP
Hell Cop2 -- Amara, Kimberling, Hale
Whistling in the Dark -- Allen
The Only Gold -- Allen
Bodyguards in Love -- Lynne
Lessons in Love: -- Cochrane
Con and Conjure -- Lisa Shearin
Something Like Summer -- Jay Bell
Hiroshima Mon Amour -- Margaruite Duras
The Ethics of Ambiguity -- Beauvoir
As You Are -- Day
Zero at the Bone -- Seville
GhostTV -- JCP
Camp Hell -- JCP
Body & Soul -- JCP
Secrets -- JCP
Criss Cross -- JCP
Among the Living -- JCP
Dash and Dingo -- Ford, Kennedy
A Separate Peace -- Knowles
If the Dead Rise Not -- Kerr
Like Pizza and Beer -- Parker
The King's Harem -- Derr
Immortality -- Kundera
The Ministry of Fear -- Greene

[Sylvia]

Great list! A lot of it I've read and the rest is on my to read list or I will put it there.

[Cheryl]

ns, I also tore through the PSycop series this month, and now I'm rereading all of them. Have you read any of the short stories? Striking Sparks is amazing and one of the hottest reads out there.

[Anne]

ns wrote: "My April reading list was sparser, but I made up in quality what I lacked in volume this month, I think:

Cream of the M/M: JCP, Lanyon, Allen

Rifters2 -- Hale
Rifters1 -- Hale
Tangled Threads -- ..."

How did you find "Like Pizza and Beer"? I keep thinking about it, then buying something else.

[[deleted user]]

Anne wrote:How did you find "Like Pizza and Beer"? I keep thinking about it, then buying something else.

I loved Liked Coffee and Dougnuts...but just liked Like Pizza and Beer it felt a bit disjointed at times and I thought the end was a little scrambled...but I still really liked the MCs. I'll buy the third one for sure.

[mc]

ns, I've never read much of that m/m list, so thanks for something to check out (for example, I haven't read any JCP or Hale, though I read one Carol Lynne many, many moons ago.)

I remember Hiroshima Mon Amour, the Beauvoir work and of course, A Separate Peace. I think I have the Kundera, but yes, it is in the 'bought, but not yet read,' pile.

Love the range of your reading.

[Blaine]

Josh wrote: "Well, the funny thing is, I'm as enthusiastic about the *idea* of all my stories as ever. But when the time comes to write...it's like I have a three second attention span. And before I know it, I realize I've been staring into space for five minutes. "

Exactly!!!
I'm 'only' writing a short story (and to write that I pushed working on my novel back a bit ...) and this happens to me constantly.
I do something called 'the Morning Pages', which means you write (longhand) three A4 pages every morning to start your day, though I have to admit I usually don't bother doing them on weekends, because I get up much later then ;)
Sometimes while writing them, I'm full of ideas for where my story needs to go, but by the time I sit down to actually write the story (after turning my tv and wifi off and all the other programmes that only interfere), it's like I've lost my way. I stare at the screen, reread the last scene and write about 100 words an hour ... if not less.
And some days I can't stop writing and my family is nagging about dinner while I'm still smack in the middle of an idea I NEED to write RIGHT NOW!

I have no idea what to suggest you do, Josh, I think most of the advice given here is sound enough. Of course, a couple of days of Paris (or whatever your ideal holiday location is) doesn't sound bad :)
Just, don't overwork yourself. We'll still be here to hang on your every word if you decide to take a break.

Anyway, lots of posts, not that much time (preparing to leave the country for a partnership ceremony on Friday and I have no idea what to wear *sigh*).
You all have certainly been very prolific.
Reading wise I'm still on the first part of Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series, still thoroughly enjoying it. Hopefully I can get on to 'This Rough Magic' after that (unless I get distracted and move on to the next part in the Nightrunner series.
Of course, I'll have plenty of time to read on Friday, since it'll be about a 9 hour trip. Although, I might just decide to write :)

[Calathea]

Anne wrote: "Not to foist my beliefs on anyone, but you might want to look into mindfulness therapy --"

@Anne: Thanks for the advice! :)

[Cleon Lee]

Calathea wrote: "Anne wrote: "Not to foist my beliefs on anyone, but you might want to look into mindfulness therapy --"

@Anne: Thanks for the advice! :)"

I had a session of mindfulness meditation a while back, and I got a couple of mindfulness books from Jon Kabat Zinn, that I finally dropped. I think I need to take a look at those books again. Thanks for reminding us about this therapy, Anne!

[ns]

Sylvia wrote: "Great list! A lot of it I've read and the rest is on my to read list or I will put it there."

Hey Sylvia,

That was my full "read" list, I didn't axe the books I didn't actually like particularly (there were so few).

I would probably drop Dingo and Bodyguards from that list -- although many people liked both books (YMMV :)).

It's a constant battle of trying to find authors who can not only write well but write about something interesting, compelling and original.

The books I have on my non-cream M/M were the usual: authors who dreamt up interesting worlds, fun plots, but had annoying writing, and authors who were good writers but weren't writing about anything very compelling or fresh.

This may not bother anyone else, but I illustrate here with examples as I dislike whining without evidence:

-- "And he had his own case to worry about, beyond anything he could do to help Brian extricate himself from this mess."
-- "But as ugly as the world around him was, he couldn't just go back to the condo."
-- "And Brian had to come to terms with the fact..."
-- "But then he remembered the way ..."
-- "And just because the idea of therapy...."

Take the 45 seconds to review your sentence and delete all the "And" and "But" droppings, damn it. They contribute NOTHING to your sentence, semantically. Empty calories.

After some time, all you notice are the crutch words. Rather than the reader running on a clean, flat, fast cinder track, they're running an obstacle race on shaky sand with boulders strewn in their way. Grrrrrr. I'd like to place some authors on a vocabulary diet and take away their cheesy, calorific bloat words. Live lean, people, live lean.

[ns]

Cheryl wrote: "ns, I also tore through the PSycop series this month, and now I'm rereading all of them. Have you read any of the short stories? Striking Sparks is amazing and one of the hottest reads out there."

Definitely going to and looking forward to it very much.

I have the rest of JCP's backlist (the few left) on my reading list for this month. She's definitely one of my auto-buys in m/m, along with Harper Fox, Tamara Allen, Megan Derr and Josh Lanyon. I think LB Gregg is de-facto there, too, really. JCP is the only one of those who I've still got a few left unread (I may be subconsciously hoarding, I think ;))>

[Anne]

Lauraadriana wrote: "Anne wrote:How did you find "Like Pizza and Beer"? I keep thinking about it, then buying something else.

I loved Liked Coffee and Dougnuts...but just liked Like Pizza and Beer it felt a bit disj..."

Ah, I thought Pizza and Beer was first. I'll check it out again. Thanks :)

[Anne]

Blaine D. wrote: "I do something called 'the Morning Pages', which means you write (longhand) three A4 pages every morning to start your day, though I have to admit I usually don't bother doing them on weekends, because I get up much later then ;)"

-cringe- Morning Pages... I need to do those again. But don't I do enough writing? I did feel incredibly creative when I did them.

[Anne]

Re: Mindfulness -- There's a really great Youtube video where Shen Zen (or is it Shenzen?) spends about an hour describing mindfulness. I recommend that as a great place to start.

Personally, I find mindfulness a lot of work, but the benefits are immeasurable. If I didn't see my 'teacher' once a week, though, I'd never stick with it.

[ns]

Anne wrote: "How did you find "Like Pizza and Beer"? I keep thinking about it, then buying something else. "

Yeah, I think the law of diminishing returns might be in effect here. One of the attractions of Coffee and Doughnuts (which I loved) was the freshness, the originality of it. I loved her different take on stereotypes -- she breaks moulds and enjoys doing it.

So Pizza and Beer suffers a little from having the focus be on the same MCs and their relationship (but really, while there was some growth, it wasn't enough to be sufficient because she did a great job in closing the deal on it in the first book).

I loved some of the new characters -- the loan shark who can cook was a terrific touch. As the focus of the book is still the relationship between the MCs, it's not as meaty. The plot/mystery stuff was good, but not very different, unique or arresting enough (mostly because it was largely impacting a third character whom I did not care that much about).

Still, enjoyed reading it. I'm likely going to be a sucker enough to buy the next one, too.