Week 11: Famous Last Words

(Image by: Rosa Blue)

My Reading This Week:
In mythology, I read part of Alice in Wonderland. I meant to read the whole thing, but I didn't get around to it. So, I'll read the second half in Week 12. (Can you believe we're already in Week 12?)

In my free time I've finished reading A Shade of Vampire by: Bella Forrest. It's a Young Adult vampire book series.

If you like vampire books, give A Shade of Vampire a try! It's part of a large series of books!
I've started reading The Black Dagger Brotherhood, by J.R. Ward, which is another vampire book (and also part of a large series of books.  This is an Adult vampire book series, so if you prefer reading Adult over Young Adult, this is the vampire book series for you.
If you've read my Storybook, then you shouldn't be surprised that most of what I read are vampire books!

I've been reading more for inspiration. But, as per usual, the more reading I'm doing, the more it's helping with my writing.

My Best Writing This WeeK:
As I mentioned in my Growth Mindset post, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo (or the National Novel Writing Month) for the first time. I started a book in my capstone course, and I am trying to complete it by the end of November. I've been able to meet my word count which is 1,500. If I do that everyday, I will finish this novel by the end of November.


Seriously people, reading and writing go hand in hand. Reading will help you write better! It gives you inspiration and also helps with grammer, paragraph structure, sentence structure, and dialogue.


And no one can find time, you have to MAKE time. So if you want to be a better writer, read at least an hour a day!

Week 8: Famous Last Words

My Reading This Week:

There was no reading for this class, but I read a lot this week!

I had a lot to read in my other classes and in my free time!

In my other classes, I was happy with everything that I read. I feel like I am not rushing as much, and I am reading closely. As a result I a, comprehending the content more, and it's impacting me more!

In European Modernism and Beyond, I read "No Exit" by: Jean-Paul Sartre and "The Myth of Sisyphus" by: Albert Camus. Both of these pieces were very eye opening. It was also my first time hearing the Greek myth of Sisyphus, which is pretty intense to read about! 

I highly recommend reading "No Exit," it has a really interesting story and it isn't very long. Also, take a look at the actual myth of Sisyphus before looking at Camus' "The Myth of Sisyphus".

(Hell is other people by: Duncan C)

The best and most mind-blowing quote, in my opinion from No Exit is, "Hell is other people." (Sartre) If you've ever heard that quote, that's where it's from! I know it's kind of negative sounding, but just think about it. It really made me look at things a little differently.

In Mystery and Suspense, I read And Then There Were None by: Agatha Christie. This was my second time reading it, but it was still a joy to see the Queen of Mystery at her best!

Philosophy not your thing? Then I highly recommend reading And Then There Were None if you enjoy mysteries! It has such great twists and turns.

In my free time I've been reading A Shade of Vampire by: Bella Forrest. I have only started it but I am LOVING IT! 

If you like vampire books, give A Shade of Vampire a try! It's part of a large series of books!

My Best Writing this Week:

I wrote the next 4,000 words of my novel! I am up to 50 pages, and I'm really happy with how it's turning out. It's a Young Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance with vampires! I'll be designing the cover of my book soon, so I'll post that when that's made. That will give you a good idea of what my book is about.

Other People's Writing:
I am learning more and more the importance of reading your work out loud! That's also been my most popular comment that I've given to people this week. It really does make GOOD stories, GREAT, you guys! So, read your stuff out loud!

Famous Last Words

My Reading This Week:
This week's reading was enjoyable. It was also easy to understand and to follow. I didn't do my usual speed read, and so I think that helped with the comprehension. Also, I've liked how I've been doing my reading diaries lately.

My Best Writing this Week:
Once again, my best reading for this week was for this class. Here's my Storytelling Post. I'm also excited about a story idea that I came up with for my Mystery and Suspense class. It pains me to say for, I think the third week in a row, that I have not been working on my novel. I need to get on track, and I plan to just that this week, I will force myself to sit down for one hour and WRITE!

Other People's Writing:
I was reminded to spellcheck EVERYTHING, and to re-read what I write several times,

My Other Classes:
This week slowed down, compared to last week, and for that I am thankful. This coming week is going to be much busier though. I have a lot of homework due in all my classes, and I have an Exam this week. The hardest thing to do, surprisingly, is to find free time.

Someone told me recently, "When you're an adult, you don't find free time--you MAKE IT." This statement is becoming abundantly clear to me. However, I am still trying to figure out how to make it. I mean, I do spend time doing things I enjoy, like researching Norse Mythology and lurking on Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr. But I have found a hard time trying to find time to read novels that are awaiting on my Kindle, or shows lined up on my Netflix queue. I'll figure it out in time.

Besides, the New Moon is October 12th, and this is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts!

Something Cool I Found:
If you don't know that I am in love with Norse Mythology, then you haven't been reading my Curation Spaces (which you should! I find a lot of cool stuff!) In addition to those things, I found a news article from February that I thought was really cool. Apparently there is being an Asatru Temple or "hof"  being built in Iceland. (Asatru is a modern day adaptation of the original Norse Pagan Religion.) There has not been a temple of such built in about 1,000 years!

(Thor, the Norse God by Logan Zawacki) 

Well, all this talk about Norse Mythology, I part with an image of my favorite God: Thor!

Week 5: Famous Last Words

My Reading This Week:
I was happy with my reading this week. I was able to understand the stories quite well, and I really enjoyed the Persian Tales. My favorite reading were the Welsh Fairy Tales that I chose for my Extra Reading, though! I fell in love with the idea of a fairy circle. In fact, I may have found one in my backyard!

Possible Fairy Circle? Photo Taken by ME.

My Best Writing this Week:
My best writing this week was my storytelling post this week. Unfortunately once again, I've been too tired, and too busy to write my novel. But, I did write a really good mystery/suspense short story for my mystery/suspense class!

Other People's Writing:
I learned to keep things simple. Sometimes simplicity is a better thing! I am finding this more and more.

My Other Classes:
My other classes were incredibly stressful. I had two short stories, one essay, one book to read, and some ones's novel to edit. Oh, and I had to keep up with my Vegan Food Blog. Cook dinners, desserts, and somehow find time to just relax--which I am finding I am unable to do more and more. But I am hanging in there!

Something Cool I Found:
The Super Blood Moon was tonight, and it was truly amazing. I sat and watched it from when it rose to the sky, peaked at it's fullest, and then ever so slowly became eclipsed. It was truly an incredible experience, and an experience I won't get again for another 30 years. I am okay with that, because I will hold these memories strong. I really never will forget it. It's sort of like Haley's Comet, it sticks with you. I also made moon cakes for the occasion (,vegan-ized of course) and they were great. I reccomend making them every Full Moon for a mini-celebration! 

Famous Last Words: Rare Moon Event!

My Reading This Week:
I was happy with my reading this week. I tried to slow down and really pay attention to each story! I do think I could improve my Reading Diaries though. A classmate of mine told me that I should separate the notes into the different sections of the myths, and I thought that was a great idea! To be honest, I'm not sure why I haven't been doing that all along!

My Best Writing this Week:
My best writing this week was my storytelling post this week. Unfortunately I have been too tired, and too busy to write my novel.

Other People's Writing:
I am reminded to check for typos, which is something I always seem to miss--even if I look over it a couple of times!

I did notice people's stories are shorter, and that goes in with my Growth Mindset post this week. So, I'm going to try to write more concisely. My literary idol, Ernest Hemingway would certainly approve.

My Other Classes:
My other classes are stressful, as always, but I'm hanging in there. There's just always something to do, no not just something, someTHINGS. There is always something to do, and even if my homework it done, I still have my novel to write! Oh, and then that little thing called spare time. Something that I am forgetting about more and more.

Something Cool I Found:
On Sunday, September 27th there will be a Full Moon. But, not just any Full Moon. It'll be a Supermoon (bigger, and higher in the sky.) That's not all! It'll also be a Lunar Eclipse. So,  there will be a Supermoon and a Lunar Eclipse on the same night! This only happens every 30 years, and the last time was in 1982

I encourage you to go check it out! After All, it won't happen again until 2033! Read more about this awesome astronomical event here.

(Image from: PixaBay)

Week 3: Famous Last Words

This Week's Readings:

I chose Ovid for this week's readings, and I really enjoyed reading Metamorphosis. The Reading A and B were great, but the extra reading was quite difficult. I'm not sure why it was, but it was more difficult. The only thing that I could think of is that it didn't have the notes. But, other than that I'm not sure.

This Week's Best Writing:

I really liked my story for this week's storytelling post! I already have a world in my Young Adult Novel that I have created, yes it has vampires (of course!) But I created a new world with vampires for my storytelling posts! I think that I'm going to even use the new world that I created, for my Storybook.

My Novel didn't go as smoothly this week. Reason being Labor Day Weekend. It got me off track, and I didn't write as much. I'm trying to correct that though, and I am resuming my thing where I set a timer for 1 hour and sit and write (even if I don't feel like it.)

Other People's Writing:

I noticed a lot of people didn't separate their stories into paragraphs (and so I made a few comments about that.) I was reminded of how very important it to to separate your story into paragraphs. Especially with dialogue, that always needs their own paragraphs.

My Classes:

Labor Day Weekend kind of threw me off in my other classes as well. But I'm trying to get back up into the game. As I've mentioned, my classes all have so much reading and writing, and that is hard to deal with at times. I think I'm adjusting though. Fortunately, reading and writing are my two favorite things to do.

Outside of School:
I went to Anime Fest over Labor Day Weekend, and I had a blast! It was four days long, which was awesome because conventions are usually three days long.

(Me with the Anime Fest Badge. Image is Mine)

(My Boyfriend and I at AnimeFest. Image is Mine)

Week 2: Famous Last Words

This Week's Readings:
This week had a minor hiccup. I misunderstood and thought that we could reading literally ANY of the reading units. As a result, I read Dante's Inferno, and did the reading diary for it. After all of that, I found out that I did it all incorrectly! I was happy that I could use Dante's Inferno as extra credit, but it was still a little annoying, since I wanted to get ahead.

When I finally did read the correct thing, I chose Cupid and Psyche. I really enjoyed this reading. I had enough time to do both reading, and the diary. I just wasn't exactly able to work ahead. I think next week I'm going to choose a Classical unit again. (I took Bible as Literature last semester, so I'm a little burned out on that topic.)

This Week's Best Writing:

I was quite happy with a Young Adult Vampire Romance that I wrote for my Storytelling post this week! If you haven't read it yet, click here to check it out.

My absolute best writing was with my novel that I am writing for my Professional Writing Capstone course, however I do intend to publish it upon its completion. I have learned so much about writing this week.

This week I read the book Living Write by: Kelly L. Stone, and I highly recommend it. It has great tips for writers, and it is very motivational. So if you're in a bit of a writer's block, go read that book!

The main thing I took from that book was that you must ALWAYS write! So I have created a schedule for all my classes, like X time I will do X homework.

I have additionally decided that at a certain time each day, I will sit down and write for one hour--even if I don't feel like writing. I have found that I often end up writing for more than an hour! I'm extremely happy with how my novel is going. All I'll say about it, is that it is a Young Adult Fantasy! As for any more info, well, you'll just have to wait for it to be published!

Other People's Writing:
I have learned two things from reading other people's writing:

1. Always proofread--spellcheck does not catch everything.
2. Remember to add in emotions, and all five sense into your writing.

My Other Classes:
My other classes are going great. All of them have a lot of reading and writing, so that can be tiring at times--but I am managing, and enjoying the process. Taking mythology is really helping me in my two Professional Writing courses: my capstone course and a mystery and suspense course.

Outside of School:
As I've mentioned, tomorrow until Monday I am going to Anime Fest! I am so excited and cannot wait. I am a little bummed about it, because I found out that there are all of these Star Wars events at Target, Hot Topic, and Amazon! Alas, I will be in Dallas spending all of my money on anime merchandise. But, I am going to try to save some money so that when I return to Norman I can spend it all on Star Wars merchandise!

(Image from ImgFlip) 

Week1: Famous Last Words

This week went really well. It was a great start to the semester.

I was really proud of my storytelling post for this week! I was also proud of an outline that I wrote for my Professional Writing Capstone course. I had writer's block, when it came to fiction, all summer and only worked on my Vegan Food Blog, HappyHealthyNoms. So, I'm glad I'm finally back in the swing of things.

I also made a work schedule for myself, to try to avoid my natural habit of procrastination. I was able to stick with that this week, and hope to stick to it next week as well. My schedule will help me to work ahead.

I especially need to work ahead next week and finish everything before friday, because I'll be going to the Anime Fest anime convention next Friday-Monday, It's a little stressful to have to do so much ahead of time, but it will be doable and worth it.

(Anime Fest, Image from: Anime Fest's Facebook)