Eeeeeeeek!!! This is my first time I have ever reached 50,000 words on one project. It’s so crazy. I reached this milestone on August 20, 2020 (then immediately forgot I wrote this post and am now just putting it up.)
It’s so crazy to think how a few years ago I thought it was almost impossible to find the time or ideas to write a full length novel. Just a few months ago I was wondering if I had enough to write about to get to this mark. Turns out I did and still have a lot to write about. It’s hard to guess, but maybe 60,000-70,000 words by the time I’m finished.
How I Did It:
I had 12 or 14,000 words in November, most of it from a Camp NaNoWriMo. I wrote everyday in November and ended up with 25,000 words. That’s when I found that I could actually, probably do this. I finally pushed myself to set a deadline. I wanted to finish my first draft by the end of 2020. I was in school and really only had time to write on Saturdays, so I figured if I wrote 500 words every Saturday and then write extra in the summer, I would get to 50,000 by the end of August. I set it all up in my planner with notes like “you should be at 30,000 by the end of this month,” so that I could keep track of my pace. And I did it!
I use Pinterest a lot for ideas, so here are a few that inspired me for this book.
Title: City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4)
Published: 2011
Length: 425 pages
Clary is now training to become a Shadowhunter and Simon is busy juggling girlfriends and trying to hide the fact that he is a vampire from his mom. Someone is killing Shadowhunters and Downworlders. A new guy is added to Simon’s band. Luke and Jocelyn get married. Jace keeps killing Clary in his dreams.
This was such a bridge novel. Nothing happened, except for all of the above, which wasn’t enough to waste a whole book on. I really think she could have stopped at the first three books. They were the best and probably why I couldn’t remember anything from the books following.
Also, Simon!! You player! Dating Isabelle and Maya?!
But also being his awkward, confused self. I did like that we followed Simon around more.
GUESS WHO’S BACK! BACK AGAIN!
Unfortunately this is the last book that Ed Westwick has read for Cassandra Clare. I am so glad that he got to read a Mortal Instruments book because of the accents!
Ed is such a good worried mother. Simon’s mom finds blood in his closet and Ed is so adorable worrying over Simon’s well-being. Then he does a Spanish accent for Rafael! Hahaha he sounds like Antonio Banderas in Puss n’ Boots! He was the best part of this book.
Not very much else happens except to introduce new characters and create the beginnings of a new plot for the next books. I mean you could probably just read the end of this book and then go straight to the next two.
I also noticed that Cassandra Clare really likes her descriptions, especially of rooms. If she cut all of her lengthy descriptions of a room that they just walked into, the book could be half as long.
Hi, I know I said this was a challenge for June, but it took me a little longer than I thought it would. These are all books that I was recommended to read based on my zodiac sign, which is cancer.
I read six books and watched one TV show. I’ve talked about most of them in monthly wrap-ups, so you probably know already how I feel.
So let’s start with my favorites or at least that I liked.
Save the Date by Morgan Matson – This was a great pick. It was funny and just what I needed.
Brave, Not Perfectby Reshma Saujani – This was great for a cancer! This is a non-fiction book that I listened to and it felt like I was listening to a podcast. I might listen to more non-fiction books then. I feel like she described me a few times and had a lot of things to say that changed my perspective.
The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz – There wasn’t enough thrills, not enough mystery? It was just off for me and I was bored through most of it.
Antisocialby Jillian Blake – It was just a lot of high school drama. I don’t know what I was expecting. It had good message at the end. Maybe if you like 13 Reasons Why, you may like this.
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I didn’t even finish The Anatomy of a Misfit. City of Girls was interesting and I watched Normal People. I got through half the series, it was okay, but I don’t really like the on-again-off-again relationship. I probably won’t finish it.
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The Verdict: I do not match my sign when it comes to reading. I like to use reading as an escape and is probably why I like fantasy so much. I really liked Save the Date because it was so cute and funny. That was probably the best book that I chose from the recommendations.
I got a lot read in July. I think some of it is thanks to the Reading Rush and my Christmas weekend. I read 17 books and participated in the Romanceathon, Christmas in July, Reading Rush, and finished my Fortune Teller picks.
The Code of Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor – This is an arc and will be out in October. I love the cover and it’s a good retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, but it was a little juvenile for me. I skimmed a bit of it. YA contemporaries have been falling flat for me, especially if most of it is set in school, because it’s not relatable to me and I just don’t have that teenage mindset anymore.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
The Secret of Ella & Micha(1) and Forever Ella & Micha (2)by Jessica Sorensen – This was a train wreck and I can’t stop watching. So you’ll see the third book in my wrap-up next month.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne – This is a Jane Eyre retelling set in outer space. I much rather read retellings than the original book (I’ve read about a 1/4 of the classic.) I was surprised when a virus and quarantine showed up in the book, especially during the Covid-19 age. I can never read about viruses the same ever again. But I really liked this book! Retellings have been really good to me this year.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
Antisocial by Jillian Blake – It’s hard to have thoughts about high school dramas. I finish it, shrug, and then go “Okay, next!” It had a good message in the end.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber – It felt like I started in the middle of the book because the characters were already in love with each other. Maybe I was supposed to read another book before this one?
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
One Enchanted Moment by Sarah Morgan – I love the “you have to share a room” trope. It’s also a hate to love and I like how their relationship grows throughout the book.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
It Started One Christmas by Susan Mallery – This was a novella, so it was really quick to read. It covers a span of Christmases as relationships and romance grow. It’d probably be more enjoyable if I had read the first book. I keep having that problem.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti – My brother thought it was crazy that I had never read Percy Jackson, so I picked this up. It’s a lot like the movie. Maybe I’ll eventually read the book, but so far I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco – I love this series and am sad that it’s about to be over. Another great adventure with Audrey Rose and I love the author notes at the back of all of these books. I thought what Audrey Rose and Mephistopheles’ were bargaining for was a little weak, but other than that it was magnifique.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
First World by Jaymin Eve – A nice short fantasy. I actually enjoyed it and kind of want to read the other books because they are a part of this journey they were heading on at the end.
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Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt – Just gonna say it, the film is waaaay better. It makes so much more sense with Winnie being older. Because 17 year old Jesse saying he’ll marry 10 year old Winnie is just creepy.
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Rating: 2 out of 5.
Far Too Tempting by Lauren Blakely – I have read a few books that have been set in the music industry and this is the best one I’ve read.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews – It’s like an edgy Hallmark movie. She goes and fixes up this house, falls in love with “guy next door,” and gets her former boss to admit all the crimes he committed as a politician, so that the FBI can lock him up. One thing, the romance came out of nowhere. I must have missed something because I don’t remember any flirting, but all of the sudden they’re making out.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes – I’m bummed that the third book was never written and I don’t know if I should read the second book or not because of it. People need to read it, so that she’ll finish it. I really liked it because of the fantasy, alternative perspectives, and the cultish society. My favorite perspectives were Crystal and Farrell and they weren’t even in the fantasy world. Maybe I like urban fantasy the best.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
A Christmas Date by Camilla Isley – I mean it has my favorite trope, fake dating. She hires this guy to be her boyfriend when she goes home for Christmas because her sister just announced she’s getting married to the main girl’s crush. Since then, I have been wanting to watch The Wedding Date.
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Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins – This is fake dating too. The guy needs a green card and she decides to marry him because like the last one the guy she liked is getting married to her best friend. I wish the two main characters had started liking each other sooner though, it seemed like they weren’t into each other until the end.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
What is your favorite urban fantasy? Give me recs.
I actually finished a little early and then took the rest of the month off. Then began this month by writing almost 1,000 words this morning, haha. But I think camp really helped me move on in my story and get closer to the end.
The next writing event I’m excited for is happening next weekend, August 15. It’s a worldwide writeathon.
This is the last N.E.W.T.S exam ever. G from Bookroast has decided to end it in light of the J.K. Rowling things. BUT, she is planning on creating another readathon that’s like this just not Harry Potter themed and I am excited to see what she comes up with.
Okay, so here are the prompts for my Mind Medic career.
Charms
A – humorous book – Soulless by Gail Carriger
E- set in winter – The Ever After of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen
O – manga – Not sure yet, either Lords of the Underworld, Disney Manga, or Faeries Landing
Defense Against the Dark Ages (Cassandra Clare readalong alert!)
A – horror/thriller – You by Caroline Kepnes
E – demons or water theme – City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
O – epic fantasy – A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
Muggle Studies
A – comic – Blood Work – Kim Harrison
E – an author of a different race than you – Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
Potions
A – sky in title or on cover – We Are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian
E – author’s name starts with “D” – Beauty and the Boss by Diane Alberts
Transfiguration
A – animal on cover/title – Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie
E – dragons or fire on title/cover – Talon by Julie Kagawa
Magical Shop Management Seminar
Arithmancy
A – Non-fiction – Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani
Also, Darling Desi has created an Affectionately Austen book club. Where we’ll read a Jane Austen book every two months. August and September is Pride and Prejudice.
See Girl Read 