If you hadn’t seen the reading log post for a while, I bet you don’t even remember when it was the last time I posted something about my writing progresses!
So I’d say it’s about time! This post was really overdue!
If I think this way, I realize that I managed to be a shame even as aspiring writer, other than as mum and generally speaking as human being!
I opened this blog mainly to speak about writing and not being able to write more often about writing seems a bit silly.
However, let’s see whether I’ll manage to avoid a too long rant and keep going with the update on my writing status!
If you thought I’m doing a big mess with books, reading my previous post, you can easily guess I’m doing the same with writing.
And you’d be right!
I have so many notebooks, pieces of paper, apps on writing, drives connected to my emails, files on my computer and laptop, that I really have a huge mess going on.
In other words, I don’t know what is where!
Despite that, in the attempt to give a tidy up of this endless sea of bytes and paper I narrowed down to four, at lease for the moment, the number of notebooks that I always have at hand.
Here you have them in the pictures!
From the left:
Orange notebook – In here I’m jotting down the elements of the new project, the urban fantasy about hunters. I’m putting notes of my researches, notes on the world building, notes about the plots and the characters.
Sheep notebook – In this one I’m trying to tidy up and give a more or less definitive form to the plots about my high fantasy world. Each plot is followed or is going to be followed by the list of characters, maps and main information about the world or the particular nation.
Gray notebook – It’s where I’m writing the actual book. A part from the fact that I had too many files on the computer, I realized that I couldn’t stay in front of the screen too long anymore. As I’m working in front of a computer now, I barely manage to update this blog, so in order to keep writing I’m using pen and paper…old style!
It seems that it’s working at the moment, let’s keep the fingers crossed!
I’ll curse myself for sure when I’ll have to pass all the writing into the computer – eventually I’ll have to – but for the moment it’s important to move on!
Small notebook – As you might read on the cover, this one is the notebook where I write the ideas I have for the blog. I usually bring it with me at all the times, everywhere, so I won’t lose any idea anymore.
Of course this means that also weird dreams and ideas for my books are going in there, but at least I know where they are…at least for now.
Once these notebooks will be finished and I’ll have to start a new one, I wonder whether I’ll be able to find them a place in where I’ll always be able to find them or they’ll get lost as the previous ones.
It might seem that I treat them like I didn’t care, but it’s not so. I’m just messy.
So, aspiring writers out there, can you give me an advice on how to tidy up the mess or sort the situation?
How do you do?
How do you organize your writing?
How do you manage not to lose your stuff?
Please, please, please write to me in the comments below!
It seems that lately, however, I’ve managed to find a slightly better balance and I’m managing to read a bit more. A bit on the train and a bit during the lunch break.
If I’m lucky, I even have five to ten minutes before bed.
I have to say I’m quite happy for it and I’ll enjoy until it lasts.
I won’t put here, as I did before, a comment for each book I’m reading as it would be repetitive. Also there won’t be many news, as one of the new books I’ve started absorbed completely my attention, so the other 10 books I was readying are more or less at the same point!
I’m very sorry, now that I think about it, but I haven’t kept the promise I made of not starting new books. It really seems I cannot resist to the charm or obsessive-compulsive feeling more likely!
So following is the listing of the books I’ve finished from last time and also the status of the ones I’m now reading.
Outlander– It’s one of the new entries. I’ve mentioned it in my previous post, so I won’t get lost in the summary of the story. Mostly because TV shows really sticks to the book, although book –of course- is slightly better!
So for this I’m at page 344 on 863.
Hunger– Here no news, I’m at page 234 on 586.
Irish ghost stories– Here no news, I’m at page 42 on 1102.
Wizards first rule– Here no news, I’m at page 114 on 764.
Memorie del sottosuolo– I lost it momentarily, probably it’s in a bag somewhere, but I’ll find it for the October update! I’m a shame, I know!
Delitto e castigo– Here no news, I’m at page 56 on 684.
Ancient appetites – Finished, I’ve started the second volume:
The wisdom of the dead man – I’m at page 37 on 469.
A Song of Ice and Fire – volume three- Here no news, I’m at page 192 on 569.
The maze runner– Finished! Loved it. I’ve started the second volume:
The scorch trials– I’m at page 54 on 359.
City of bones – Another new entry. I’m at page 12 on 506.
The book thief – Another new entry. I’m at page 58 on 554.
Enciclopedia. Tutta la seconda Guerra Mondiale-volume 1– Another new entry to be considered a reference reading as it’s an encyclopedia on the Second World War. I’m at page 53 on 493.
Madame Bovary– It’s lost in the phone somewhere but haven’t touch it from the last time!
The ghost pirates– Finished. Loved it!
Carmilla– Finished as well. Love it so much!
Dracula– Audio book. Finished as well!
Shadowmagic– On going, cannot exactly quantify as it’s an audiobook too!
Actually, writing the whole thing down, I realized I’ve more on my plate than I thought, and it was a lot already. 12 books, one PDF, 1 Audio book…no seriously, I have to stop! It’s getting out of hand!
Question is: how do you stop? Is there anybody else with this obsessive compulsive push in starting new books?
The funny bit is that I don’t mix them up at all, and my friend keep asking how do I do. I have no clue. Can someone, maybe having the same habit, explain this to me?
I’ll leave out the considerations for a hopefully shorter post in October…who am I trying to convince here?
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Oh and before you walk the plank, ye scurvy dogs: Happy talk like pirate day!!!!
Sorry I just love them! I don’t own the image tho!
On September 13th we, poor obsessed fellows, celebrate Supernatural Day.
I’m one of this lot.
You know I love the show. To me it has been a mile stone for different reason: it helped to feel a bit braver to watch horror, it gave me inspiration to start planning my book and it helped in meeting a dear friend.
On the top of that, I think that the messages sent through the lines are nice and healthy. Also the cast give us the sensation to be there for their fan, they’re involved in the society and charity as, and sometimes even more than normal people in order to set a good example.
They brought thousands of people to feel like they were part of the big family. And personally, I love them all a lot just for this.
Jensen and Jared are saying in the following video that they want us to see celebrating the day sharing what we think are the funniest moments of the show.
Off the top of my head the following are the funniest! Rather the plain laugh, often I prefer the sarcastic tone of Dean and Bobby. Which is why they’re my favorite characters ever.
It’s pretty obvious that I’m a big fan of books, I love to read them, collect them, smell them, reread the ones I loved most.
But you know also, if you’ve followed this blog for a while, that I love films and TV shows. Watching the screen sometimes it’s just relaxing, in particular at the end of the day, when the brain goes on strike…let’s tell the truth.
But how about adaptations?
Sooner or later, if you’re book and film lover, you’ll cross your path with a book that has been turned into a film or a TV show.
I have to be honest, I’m not a big fan of adaptations but sometimes there are exceptions to the rules.
I could gather here my best moments and experiences.
I think that the very first film adapted from a book I’ve ever seen was “The name of the rose” by Umberto Eco.
In that case, I read the book before and I absolutely loved it. It was a thriller but set in a medieval monastery of friars.
Then I realized that there was a film adaptation made. Actually the actors in this film, Christian Slater and Sean Connery, were giving me a guarantee of a good film. However, form the great expectation the fantastic book gave to me, I was left with just a disappointing feeling of emptiness and disappointment. Useless to say, I read the book a second time.
I think that following that experience, I tried to avoid adaptations for a while. Some of them really not worth to be mentioned.
Then here it is “Harry Potter” series of books. 7 books to read. I lost the count really of how many times I read the lot of them. I love the ideas, I love the feelings they give you, I love the way Queen Rowling unfolded the story and the details.
Then the films were released.
I don’t mind them. I admit that I love the books more, but I don’t mind the adaptations either. My curiosity and wonder are actually stimulated by the special effects, and the way I’m able to see on the screen something I’ve always only imagined.
Also I like the actors, I’m not an expert on the matter, but I think that the quality of acting in these films is pretty high. And of course I love Gary Oldman and Alan Rickman, they are two of my favorites.
Let’s mention too the cameo of David Tennant, whose interpretation was something powerful and fantastic.
This means that I don’t mind to watch them all over again. In this way I’m double satisfied, I can watch the films many times and reread with pleasure the volumes.
True, the film cut a lot from the books, and they decided for an unnecessary 8th film, but still no major disaster was made.
Afterwards I came across “Game of Thrones”. I started with the TV shows. Then, when I had the awful feedback from the editor about my writing, I bought all the books. The reason of this abrupt purchase was that the only advice- no advice that she gave to me was to read in English.
Actually how it went was more or less like: “Can you give me an advice on how to improve my English?” “Well, I’d say you should read in English, but I assume you’re doing it already”
Yes, I was doing it, but I thought that was a nice excuse to buy a book or better many.
Anyway, the point is that for a while I read the books and watched the series at the same time and then I realized that the choice of the actors wasn’t that bad, also the story was pretty much faithfully narrated.
But I cannot be 100% sure, as for some reason I decided to not to spoil myself and not to watch it constantly. I started to follow the series when they decided to change the story and detach from the books.
So I feel I cannot really judge this adaptation, but I assume my feeling is more positive than negative.
After GOT I found “Hunger Games”. To be honest with you, I didn’t really like the first film, as I thought it was like a bad mash of “Contenders” and “Battle Royale”.
However, in one of my visit at Eason’s I found the trilogy sitting on the shelf, the covers very charming. I got closer out of curiosity. I opened the cover and went to the first page. First person, present tense.
My eyes locked to the page and I exited the shop with the three books.
I loved them ever since and I reread them at least three times.
Now, for the sake of this post, in this case I have to record something weird that happened related to this example.
A few days ago I was talking with a friend who claimed that reading the books after having watched the films means spoiling your imagination in favor of the way characters are represented on the screen.
This is true but only in part, at least for me. A good example is “Hunger Games”.
Having read the books only after having seen the first film, at the very beginning the faces of the actors were kind of forcing their way into my imagination.
However, going on with the reading, my own imagination took over and characters were represented in a totally different way.
The biggest example is Peeta, who you all know I love very much. I felt almost offended by the choice they made for the cast. Peeta in my head, from the book description, was totally different.
Also all the cuts they made in the story and the ploys they found to direct the story, including a not- necessary- at -all 4th film, made me a bit cross. At the end of the day though, I don’t mind watching them.
Last example I want to make is with “Outlanders”.
I started to watch the TV show and I liked it.
Looking for spoilers, as usual, I realized that there were books at the base of the TV show and I went to look for information.
I found out that there are actually 8 books and the 9th should be on the way. They’re written by Diana Gabaldon.
I immediately bought the first three to have a look at how they were.
I have to admit they’re simply written, nothing much complicated, but the first person narration and the kind of writing, simple without killing the story with description, makes it pleasant.
It won’t be the best book written in the world, but I like it.
Besides, reading the book and having the first episodes of the series fresh in my head I could understand how similar they are.
The narration and the dialogues are exactly the same, sometimes using the same words.
So far, so good.
But I reserve the right of changing idea when I’ll go on with the story. You never know!
Concluding, leaving aside the massacre they made with “Vampire Assistant” (I don’t even want to talk about it or maybe I will in another post, but I might result kind of unpleasant, so much they ruined “Cirque du freak” series of books), I know at least a couple of TV show, cartoons and films more that I found out are based on books.
Sooner or later, very slowly, I think I’ll be able to buy and read.
What do you think about it?
Do you prefer books or films?
If you prefer books, what do you do in case you come across the representation before?
Dr.Franny and Mrs.Myself 