2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Well, I joined NaNoWriMo. It is another intriguing challenge. I am exploring the site and learning how to go into this endeavor with some sound advice and structure. I read some of the Twitter responses and it sounds like fun. Thank you for the suggestion, Brian, Craig, and Kara.
I did (and won) nanowrimo last year - really want to try again this year! It's a lot of fun, though it can be nightmareish on those days where stringing together sentences comes about as naturally as breathing underwater.
I wrote purely for my own pleasure but I do hope to one day but something t there for real. I just have to get motivated to do more than just a few chapters!
Craig: Last year my project was much more "just write something and prove it possible" than "write something good". ;) My plot was something like this: A young woman moves out on her own, and discovers IKEA offers a line of magical wardrobes. She falls through the wardrobe while struggling to assemble it in her apartment, and has to make her way through a strangely commercially sponsored fairyland, overcoming social anxiety and roving bands of bandit surgeons....Not exactly fine art. ;) But the great thing about writing it was just re-learning to let go and make stuff up. Like a kid with action figures or dolls. Nanowrimo is playtime!
Um, Karina, I would totally read that. Did you write it in English? :D
Karina wrote: "Craig: Last year my project was much more "just write something and prove it possible" than "write something good". ;) My plot was something like this: A young woman moves out on her own, and disc..."Karina, your description of your book sounds like fun. It makes me laugh already. Some of the deciding factors for me registering are the Twitter remarks by past participants. I learn so much when I visit the site by watching the tutorial videos. I am excited and very happy for you that you won last year. I have no such expectations but plan on learning so much with the journey. Goodreads has certainly perked up my life for the best.
Kara/Craig: I'd say I wrote it in gibberish, but, well, it wasn't English, in any case. :) I like writing in English, but am easily embarrassed about my grammar. Currently reading You've Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams, which I'll recommend to anyone looking to be convinced to try nanowrimo!
I'm doing NaNo, and unlike the first two years I did it, I'm already preparing for it, so I hope this year will go better :). I've tried it without an outline and with just a sketchy outline and discovered that that's not for me.
George R. R. Martin talks about writers as either architects or gardeners; architects go to work with blueprints and sketches and exact measurements, while the gardener may have some idea what sort of seeds he's sowing, but not how the soil and weather is going to affect what it eventually grows into. For me, the gardener type of approach seems to work best, but I really wish I was a planner!
Karina wrote: "Kara/Craig: I'd say I wrote it in gibberish, but, well, it wasn't English, in any case. :) I like writing in English, but am easily embarrassed about my grammar. Currently reading You've Got a..."
Thank you for the book recommendation, Karina.
I'm most definitely a pantser. I had no idea what I was going to do for NaNo last year until I sat down to write in and then during camp I had this whole idea laid down and then when I sat down to start writing an unrelated story pounced on me and I wrote that instead.
Karina wrote: "George R. R. Martin talks about writers as either architects or gardeners; architects go to work with blueprints and sketches and exact measurements, while the gardener may have some idea what sort..."Yes Karina, I thought I was more of a gardener at first too. Apparently not. But Brandon Sanderson said that it's a sliding scale, so maybe you can do a bit of both as well. Like empty spots in an outline or something.
I am a novice at this. I do know myself, however, and I need structure, first. Then I can rebel against the limitations with imagination. I cannot wait until I become a gardener. Now, to till the soil, pull the weeds within the confines of the structure, tried and true, built by landscapers who came before me.
Stefani - SpelingExpirt wrote: "I'm most definitely a pantser. I had no idea what I was going to do for NaNo last year until I sat down to write in and then during camp I had this whole idea laid down and then when I sat down to ..."Lol. Hey, that sounds like a great story in itself.
Kara wrote: "Is anyone planning to participate in NaNoWriMo?For those who haven't heard of it, NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month: http://nanowrimo.org/
I've never participated before but have always ..."
I'm signed up and am going to attempt it! I have no idea what to expect, since I've never written fiction longer than a short story. But I like the whole approach of "just write, edit later" because I tend to become paralyzed by details and planning.
Whitney wrote: "Kara wrote: "Is anyone planning to participate in NaNoWriMo?For those who haven't heard of it, NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month: http://nanowrimo.org/
I've never participated before but..."
I like that idea as well, Whitney, "just write, edit later". I wrote articles and comments before but never got further than jotting down ideas for a book.
As there seem to be quite a few of us thinking about participating, I've created a new thread just for NaNoWriMo: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
Karina wrote: "Craig: Last year my project was much more "just write something and prove it possible" than "write something good". ;) My plot was something like this: A young woman moves out on her own, and disc..."Wow, I would love to read that! Is there anyway for us to read it? =)
I just found out that The Giver will be turned into a movie. They just casted Meryl Streep as Chief Elder. I´m very curious how they are going to translate the story to film. Is it just me or are more and more movies that are released based on books? I´m quite skeptic about the movie adaptation of Ender's Game, but I´m really looking forward to The Book Thief.
Lianne wrote: "I just found out that The Giver will be turned into a movie. They just casted Meryl Streep as Chief Elder. I´m very curious how they are going to translate the story to film. Is it just me or are..."
I finally just read The Giver a few days ago. Is the rest of the series just as good?
Ender's Game I have to watch because Harrison Ford is the teacher guy and I just have to see that. I think that is funny...plus I have always loved Harrison Ford.
Jodi wrote: "Lianne wrote: "I just found out that The Giver will be turned into a movie. They just casted Meryl Streep as Chief Elder. I´m very curious how they are going to translate the story to film. Is it..."
I'm looking forward to seeing all three adaptations as well
Funny - Harrison Ford was part of my private "How I would cast this as a film" for Ender's Game from the very first time I read it. I also had Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman in there, though, so I wasn't quite spot-on. ;)
Jodi, I haven't read the rest of the series yet, but they are on my TBR list. It is a big plus that Harrison Ford will be in Ender's Game. I just hope the movie will stay true to the book. I can't wait to see battle school come to live though.
I wonder whether they will keep all the subtle points of Ender's Game, and I wonder whether they will change the ending. It didn't strike me as a typical Hollywood movie when I read it.
Lianne wrote: "Jodi, I haven't read the rest of the series yet, but they are on my TBR list. It is a big plus that Harrison Ford will be in Ender's Game. I just hope the movie will stay true to the book. I can'..."
I want to read Speaker for the Dead this month. I hope the movie is good.
Karina wrote: "Funny - Harrison Ford was part of my private "How I would cast this as a film" for Ender's Game from the very first time I read it. I also had Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman in there, though, s..."Ender's Game is on my TBR list since I read a review from on of our members. I love your choices of actors, Karina, not even knowing the story.
Nathaly wrote: "I know this is goint to sound crazy but I've never read The Giver"Count me in that crazy group, Nathaly.
Just a thought: We make a list of books we think we should have read already, say no more than 3 per member, then make it a monthly challenge to read 4 from that list.
Jack, I think you're a little bit of a psychic. We actually have a challenge around a list from group members planned for 2014.
Oh my God! It's not long till 2014 now, I've just realised! It seems like no time ago that we were discussing new challenges for 2013. Wow, time really does fly.
Lilac wrote: "Oh my God! It's not long till 2014 now, I've just realised! It seems like no time ago that we were discussing new challenges for 2013. Wow, time really does fly."I know! I can't believe next week's October already!!
Kara wrote: "Jack, I think you're a little bit of a psychic. We actually have a challenge around a list from group members planned for 2014."I blame this group for overstimulating my synapses by contemplating synopses.
Jack wrote: "Kara wrote: "Jack, I think you're a little bit of a psychic. We actually have a challenge around a list from group members planned for 2014."I blame this group for overstimulating my synapses by contemplating synopses."
It's surely an honour to be blamed for something like that?!
Also yay for the challenge, I'm excited for 2014 already.
That challenge sounds fantastic. I hope it is a quarterly challenge so that I can read lots of the books.
Hey everyone! I have missed you all so much! I'm hoping to be on here a little more than not at all. That just wasn't working for me, but everything was extremely hectic.We aren't slowing down much, but I needed my reading buddies again.
We got moved into our new apartment. My Husband has applied to residency programs, and has so far gotten 8 bites for interviews (all in the Southeast US). So, we'll be traveling from the end of October through the 2nd week of January going to residency interviews!
My brother-in-law was just deployed on his first deployment, so that was pretty emotional. Hopefully, he will return to us safe next Spring.
I'm so glad to see our new moderators in action. The page looks awesome!
I'll see you readers back on here soon! Take care and...Happy reading! :)
It's so good to hear from you, Ashley! Good luck with everything, and keep checking in. :)
Hey, everyone - speaking of challenges, check out the fun new Quarterly challenge that Craig has posted! 4th Quarter Challenge -- Holiday Celebrations features quite a few tasks that are inspired by the holidays that are coming in October through December! I'm leading that challenge so I wanted to give it a special shout-out here in the group in case anyone has missed the thread. :)We have another quarterly challenge, as well and it is also pretty cool. It is the Looking Back on 2013 Challenge and it allows us to revisit one task from each of the monthly challenges of 2013, from January through to September. Kaitlin is leading that one!
DISASTER: I'm about to head to China for two weeks, and I somehow managed to pack my nook case but not my nook. Looks like I'm going to need to grab a couple of paperbacks on my layover. Looks like I will not be able to get going on group/buddy/twin reads on this terribly long flight. This is also to say that I will be in China for the next two weeks, so I will likely not be on Goodreads as much as usual.
And in the next episode of BOOKTASTROPHE, I left one of the two paperback books I brought with me in the seat pocket of the connecting commuter flight. Sometimes I'm such a spaz.I was down to one book when my boyfriend saved the day by reminding me that I have an iPad also capable of reading books.
Take a few deep breaths!! You are obviously under stress, hope all is well and you have a safe trip.
I admire your calm in the face of booklessness, Kara! I would have turned into a knot of angry stress. In a situation like that, the ipad screen DOES start to look like a viable reading option. :p
I used kindle on my phone once. That was awful. Sorry for your loss of books, Kara!
I've just realised that I missed the October 24 hour read-a-thon. I've done the last 3 and love it so I'm gutted that I forgot about this one. Now I have to wait until April, which right now seems ages away :(
Lilac wrote: "I've just realised that I missed the October 24 hour read-a-thon. I've done the last 3 and love it so I'm gutted that I forgot about this one. Now I have to wait until April, which right now seems ..."What? Where? Meh. Me too.
Hello everyone! Sorry I have not been around much this fall. Just returned from a 15 day holiday in England. While in London, I saw stage adaptations of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and The Commitments. Loved the former and was not too taken with the later. Also attended a literature festival in Cheltenham where I heard Roddy Doyle, A.S. Byatt and Dylan Jones author of The Eighties: One Day, One Decade all speak. It was amazing.
Toni wrote: "Hello everyone! Sorry I have not been around much this fall. Just returned from a 15 day holiday in England. While in London, I saw stage adaptations of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nig..."I loved The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
I loved curious incident too!! I somehow ended up with two copies of the book - I think an ex-boyfriend left one at my house, but anyway it's been a few years since I've read it. I had no idea there a stage adaptation!! I'd love to see it. I wonder if it has hit Broadway yet. Looking for a birthday present for my sister in November and I usually get her a ticket to a broadway show :)
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Golem and the Jinni (other topics)The Twistrose Key (other topics)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (other topics)
The Commitments (other topics)
The Eighties: One Day, One Decade (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
A.S. Byatt (other topics)Roddy Doyle (other topics)
Dylan Jones (other topics)
Douglas Adams (other topics)
Jane Austen (other topics)
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Thank you, Kara. Sounds like "Baby Talk." I'll check it out.