Want to join my read along?

I hope that your Thursday was really good! It’s almost Friday so don’t worry. I wanted to invite you guys to a read along that I am hosting on my YouTube channel! We ( me and my subscribers) do a weekly read a long where we vote on books to read together. This has been so successful and I wanted my subscribers here to join in. I will posting DAILY reading updates about the book and what I have read thus far and my thoughts. The readathon will start on Monday, September 18,2017 at 12am. We will be 75 pages a day  of this book here!

This will be my FIRST Bronte book so I am excited to see how it is. I did watch the movie a while ago and I fell in love with it. Hopefully, the book will not disappoint. If you had read this book before, please let me know what you thought about it. I hope that some of my subscribers here are able to join me!

 

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Book Review: Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Title: Bird Box

Author: Josh Malerman

My Edition: Paperback

Page Numbers: 262

My Rating: 3 Stars

My Review: Before I started to read this book, I looked at reviews on Goodreads. There were so many 5 star’s that it made me very excited. But, as I started to read the book, I noticed that it was the first half was very slow. The plot twist was very interesting and it made me want to continue the book. Bird Box is about a girl named Calorie who lives in a town where people have died and disappeared due to a creature. She lost her sister and is now on her own with her unborn child. She sees an ad in the paper regarding shelter in house where others live. The key is to keep your eyes closed, because once you see something, you will die. This thriller was a little drastic for me in terms of the storyline. I am not going to give any spoilers aways, but I will say every reader is different and this book was just okay for me.

Want A Paid Writing Gig?

My fellow writers! I have a GEM for you! I know how we writers want to make a living writing or at least be appreciated for what we have to bring to the table, right? I came across this online paid magazine by networking right here on wordpress. I started to read other’s blogs and BOOM there it was! Yes, I am talking about this banner right here:

This is totally legit! I even signed a contract and met other writers for the magazine as well. This is a new magazine and I must say that I very excited to accept the position of a columnist! My areas of expertise will be for Bookish News and Reviews, Writer’s Life and Fashion & Beauty sections. I could not be more proud to be a part of a great magazine. If you have more questions please do hesitate to email the editor at EDITOR@CONSCIOUSTALKMAG.COM.

My Thoughts:

If you look back on my  What’s On Your Writer’s Bucket List?  back in 2013, I stated that I wanted to write for a company. I did not specify what type of company because it could be anything. I have been a contributing writer for a few magazines, but never having my own column(s). This opportunity is so exciting for me. You have no idea. I want all of my writer friends to join in on this venture with me if you are interested and have the time.

Writing Woes

Hey readers! It’s Wednesday and that usually is the least favorite day of the week for most. If you are like me, I rather enjoy this day. It is in the middle. If you have writing goals like I do, then it should be a good day. Today, I am focusing on reading, but getting my writing schedule together for tomorrow. I have a story that I need to finish. I had stopped it to complete my latest project, but now I am thinking about the story more and more. What do you do when you can not get a story out of your head? You write!!

As a writer we have so much on your minds with life that the woes can bring our writing down. At times we can be so lost in ourselves that our craft suffers. I know I have had my share of woes this year. With trying to find a job and still thinking about my writing, the writing woes has really done a number on me. But, if you focus on the positive, the negative will eliminate itself. Or so it should. Channel the positive energy with your life and your writing. It took me a few years to eliminate negative things and people from my life. At one point, I thought they had to stay because we used to be close or it was being ” nice. Well, not anymore. I am happy with where my life is headed for the most part. The only thing left to do is get an agent so that I can write books for a living full time. It’s almost every writers dream, right?

Life can be much and it also happens. We can not control the things that are going to happen. Meaning, in our lives what we can control is how we react to things and people. The last thing I want is my writing to suffer because of things that are out of my control. Writing woe is not me and it most certainly will be you. Make a schedule and write just a little bit a day. At the end of the day, when you feel that you have no one and life is not perfect, your words are always there to carry you through.

Book Review: Water For Elephants

This book review is going to be different from what I used to do here on my blog. My YouTube subscribers and I did a read along with them. We read 50 pages a day until we finished the book. This book was amazing! I never read a book where I got a lesson that was needed for my life right now. The message that I learned was that your gift will always be around you in some way and make room for you. This book is about a guy named Jacob Jankowski who is a soon -to-be veterinarian from Connell University. A tragic event happens that keeps Jake from not achieving his goal, but he still gets to do what he loves. He even finds love for himself! I will give go into anymore detail about this book. You must pick it up for yourself. But, I will say that I absolutely loved this book and I gave it 5 stars!

I highly recommend that everyone reads this book.

How Often Do You DNF A Book?

Good morning! I hope that everyone is doing fabulous on this great Tuesday! I have so many books on my TBR shelf and that I am currently reading it is a shame. But, I still have my July TBR and Booktubeathon starts next week. Not to mention the books that I got in the mail that need to be reviewed. Where does one find the time? Any who, I wanted to get your guys opinion on DNF’ing a book. Is there really a proper way to stop reading something that is no longer interesting to you? How many pages do you give it? Sure, they can be some good parts and bad parts, but for you what do you do when you are like, ” Okay, I am not finishing this, I will be DNF’ng it.”

I have read many books that are slow and does not pick up fast enough for me. Granted, I read slow already, but if the book looses interest so do I. Does that make sense? If I read a book,I want it to be enjoyable from the beginning to end. On the other hand, I start to wonder if a part of the book is slow and then it just starts to pick up and still turns out good. You never know unless you read the entire book. One of my goals this year is to not DNF books so much.

What I DNF’D This Year:

I know that some of you maybe thinking, what?! Let me explain. Home going is a book that was making me cry with every page that I was reading. The book is sad, but real. Unfortunately for me, the sad and gruesome parts overwhelmed me. An Ember In The Ashes, was good, I was listening to that book on audiobook. I still have it and can always go back to it, but it started to be slow as well. I want a book that is fast paced and if it is slow, i want to be slow because it is building the world or the characters POV ( point of view).  I can always pick both back up, but as for now I am going to read and try to get through other books. Tell me in the comment, what books have you currently DNF’d thus far?

Having A Good Writing Flow

Happy Monday!

I know this day is gruesome for some, but try to keep an open mind. For those writers who are doing Camp NanoWriMo, how is it going? As for me, I just hit a little over 27k and I am loving the progress of this story. It is really coming along nicely. My total word count goal is 70k so please keep my fingers and mind in your prayers.

It is imperative to have a good writing flow once you are finish with your outline. This can be creating an awesome schedule, writing with a writing buddy or participating in sprints. Sprints are when you write for a certain amount of time by yourself or with others. They are really fun. At times the flow of writing can be so good that you forget to eat meals or even do other things that were on your to-do list. Yesterday, I started to write in the afternoon and I did that for 2 hours then took a break. Then I started back up at about 9pm until 11 and I wrote 4000 words! I surpassed my goal by more than half. I was so proud of myself.

Having a good writing flow is important, but allow yourself some time to take a break. The last thing that you want to do is suffer from burnout. Burnout to writing is like unemployment to workers. It does not mix at all. There are some people that are mood writers and like to write when they feel lead to. I used to be like that, but since I want to write for a living like Stephen King, I have to  write and read daily. Reading is just as important when you are taking a break from your writing flow. It keeps you fresh and innovative in my opinion. Whether you are writing every day or sporadically, enjoy the writing flow and let it take your story to another level.

My BookTubeAThon TBR For 2017

Hey Readers!

Happy Tuesday! I hope that is well. I know you are wondering by the title, ” Krystol are you crazy, you are writing a book?” I know. I participated in this read a thon two years in a row and failed miserably. I want to redeem myself and have a great experience with reading. Granted, I am already reading so many things that are posted on my TBR, but I can try and squeeze in a few more goodies. This read a thon starts on July 24-July 30th, 2017. I hope that you are able to participate with me. If you are, please let me know in the comments what books are you going to be reading.

Click here to see my TBR video. Also subscribe if you have not! 

Book Review: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Lux Consequences ( Opal)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pages: 395

My Copy: Paperback Bind Up of 2 Books

My Rating: 4 Stars

My Review:

I am really enjoying this series very much! Katy, a girl who moved to Virginia with her mother after the death of father tries to make friend. After seeing her neighbor who is just the most cutest and arrogant, Katy develops a crush and a new friend, Dee. Damien is the boy she wants to know more about even though he’s a real jerk. Katy notices something different about Dee and Damien that she just can’t put her finger on until its too late. I won’t give out any spoilers because this book is a series. I highly recommend this series to everyone!!

A Lost Post On A Monday

Happy Monday! I know that it’s been a while, but I am here. Thanks to the new subscribers that have subscribed to my blog. I have been reading a book by Nicholas Sparks and it is my first book. It is a slow paced read for me but I am really enjoying it so far. Right now, the main character Russell, is going through a lot and he feels like his life is upside down. I am kind of feeling the same way, but I know it will have a happy ending, lol. Has anyone read this book?

I am really  liking it. This book is 481 pages and I started it last week. My ADD or the fact that it isn’t grabbing my attention as I’d hope is allowing it to be slow,but good. So, what are you currently reading? What page are you on?