On Books, Writing, and Editing
Pic from Unsplash
What did you consume today? Have you read/ viewed any of the above? Do leave and comment and let me know.
Bought two books yesterday.
I read ‘Second Time Around’ by Ranjani Rao from ‘Desi Modern Love’ – An anthology of true stories, which I had bought a while back.
Got back to reading ‘Andaleeb Wajid’s’ The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove. I’m 43% done with the book and it’s available on Kindle Unlimited. Liking what I’ve read so far.
Will be dipping into ‘The Penguin Book of Indian Poets’ now. Glad I own it. I treasure the copy.
What are you reading?
Usually, when a person keeps exploding, it is because they have kept quiet for far too long and it has resulted in a pressure-cooker-like situation. One of the reasons could be micro-aggressions caused to the person.
Here are some examples:
I would appreciate it if readers just thought about this. Please do not respond with comments or with further examples. Thank you.
When I first started this blog, it was in 2007 or so and I wanted to keep posting only copy-editing-related content. In 2014, my friend suggested I start a book blog, and rather than start a new blog, I decided to post content on this blog itself. In 2017, I decided I wanted a separate space to talk about books, so I started one on Blogspot. Then I wanted a separate domain, so I started a Wix blog. However, I found WordPress was more user-friendly. So I decided to scrap my Wix blog and came back to this WordPress blog. Meanwhile, I had started a bookstagram called ashtalksbooks, so I changed my mymewse blog to ashtalksbooks.blogspot.in. I hadn’t posted for about two months on this blog coz I had called it ‘Aishwariya’s LittLog. So I felt it had to be a place for only literary content and not my own stories. Finally, I decided I will just do whatever I want and so here I am posting away. Phew! All this points to the need for a good content strategy. Also, it is okay to change your mind and do what you want. It’s your life and your blog (for whoever needed to hear this today).
This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop.
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. Each week, you’re supposed to let your readers know what you’re currently reading, what you recently finished, and what you think you’ll read next.
I’m currently reading – The Murder at Lemon Tree Grove: Iqra Investigates( Aunty Millennial Book 1) by Andaleeb Wajid
What I recently finished – Paati Vs. Uncle by Meera Ganapathy and the audiobook of ‘The Werewolf’s 15 Minutes’ by Jonathan Maberry.
What I think I’ll read next – Atonement by Ian Mc Ewan
This post is for Alex Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writers Support Group (click the link for details on what that means and how to join.) On the first Wednesday of every month, we all post our thoughts, fears, or words of encouragement for fellow writers.
This month’s question — When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?
When I set out to write a story, it is usually to a prompt. I just let the words flow out. A lot of it depends on what I’m thinking of at that moment and what’s running through my mind in relation to the prompt.
I’m not sure who my readers are …leave alone know what they want. I mean who are those people who are actually reading my stories other than the handful that click like on my post ( in case it’s a blog) or those who reach out? Sometimes, I feel things go into a black hole, even though I relentlessly share my work.
So just a couple of days ago, I shared a Bookish Blog Tag that I saw posted by @booksare42 on Twitter. Today, she posted a great question for a book blogger hop that I’m answering.
If you are listening to an audiobook, do you follow along with the print version?
I haven’t had much success with audiobooks. My mind drifts when I listen to an audiobook. But your idea of following along with the print version is pretty good and maybe I should try it.
Drawing on my instructional design knowledge, I can give some gyan that we are all different types of learners. Some of us need to see words on a page, while others do better when they listen. ( auditory learners). I belong to the former category, but my eyes are being overstrained.
So maybe I will try it out a bit later:)
What about you, dear reader?
The Bookish Blog Tag
I follow @BooksAre42(on Twitter) and subscribe to her blog. Today she tagged her readers, so since I’m one of them, I’m taking up the tag.
What are 1-3 of your favourite books of all time?
Gone with the wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Harry Potter series
Rosy is my Relative by Gerald Durrell
What are 1-3 of your favourite authors of all time?
Enid Blyton
Jeffrey Archer
Sue Townsend
Who is your favourite female character of all time?
It has to be Scarlett O’ Hara. She was brave, bold and beautiful but was also coquettish and not without her flaws. She was a human being.
Who is your favourite male character in a book?
Call me crazy, but it’s Rhett Butler.
What is your favourite mythical world?
Potterverse
What book has your favourite cover?
Any of Sharanya Manivannan’s books.
What is your favourite book-to-movie adaptation?
The Great Gatsby
If you could make any book into a movie, what would it be?
More cosy mysteries should be made into movies. Preferably with cats in them.
What was your favourite childhood book?
The Magic Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton
Fantasy or sci-fi? (Or neither?)
A little bit of fantasy and a little bit of sci-fi.
Now, tag you’re it! Do tag me on social media if you decide to take up these questions. I’d love to read your answers:)
The moon has always called out to me. I recall camping on my terrace with friends as a child and gazing upon the moon from inside my makeshift tent. I recall writing an essay on the cosmos and drawing upon my knowledge of Colin A. Ronan’s ‘The Skywatcher’s handbook’ and including a few lines about the moon. I remember Moonface from Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree. And how can I forget the Tintin comics ‘Destination Moon’ and ‘Explorers on the moon’ that I read as a child and re-read in my adolescence? Or staying up and watching the sky for the comet Hyakutake when I was in college and gazing upon the moon from my friend’s terrace.
The moon reminds me of Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter books. The moon also reminds me of some anthologies that are being sent there as time capsules. It brings to mind Sharanya Manivannan’s book ‘Mermaids in the Moonlight,’ which is filled with fabulous fables, myths and legends by the author who creates powerful imagery through her words and verse.
I associate the moon with quirkiness, coolness and calmness. Interestingly, it’s a place that man has landed on earlier. As far back as 1969. That’s enough to give it an aura of familiarity when compared with aggressive red planet Mars- the planet that is supposedly where men are from if one is to go by ‘Men are from Mars and women are from Venus’ by John Gray, which I read as while doing my Masters’ degree.
With so many things going for the moon at least in my head, how does Mars stand a chance? If I were to draw up a list of pros and cons for the moon vs. mars, the moon would win hands down. Mars couldn’t hold a candle to the moon!
So, go ahead, present me with the voting button and let me press the one for the moon…who knows? Maybe it will propel me to the moon one day. If not, I will have to get there on the wings of my imagination😊
This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop.
Aishwariya's LittLog 