A Reading Binge

I haven't been a very disciplined writer in the past week or so (not that I ever am). I've worked a lot and felt burnt out by the time I got home from the office, so I've been on a reading binge.

A friend loaned me "Matched" by Ally Condie and I had been waiting patiently to read it, so once I had it in my hands I read it in a matter of days. Now, I'm reading "The Scorch Trials" by James Dashner, the sequel to his "Maze Runner," but I don't feel as rushed to finish that book. It's pretty violent, which isn't really my thing, but the emotional duress that the boys in the story are under is pretty interesting to follow.

In a week and a half, some books that I am anxious to read will be out in stores -- the fourth book in Cassandra Clare's "Mortal Instruments" series and the sequel to "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman, which is called "Where She Went." "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett will be out in paperback soon too, and I've been dying to read that again.

I'm still reading/editing a chapter at a time in my own completed book then rewarding myself after each chapter by working on another book that's about one-third finished. It's an effective compromise, but a slow writing process. It's fulfilling to work on something new, but a little frustrating that the old project is going so slowly. That's the nature of a compromise, I guess.

Slow Progress

I broke down and bought Maggie Stiefvater's "Linger" -- the sequel to "Shiver" -- on Friday night and read it over the weekend, so I didn't get much writing and editing done. This week, I'm trying to be more disciplined.

For instance, "The Scorch Trials" by James Dashner is calling my name, but instead I'm going to finish reading "It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini. I'm reading it only during my lunch breaks at work and maybe for a few minutes before I go to bed at night, so that I can get some writing and editing done in the evenings. I'm trying to be disciplined. I swear.

My strategy of editing a chapter in my finished book before I allow myself to do a little writing on another book is still working out well. It's a slower process than just plowing through the editing, but it keeps me motivated. I want to finish editing my completed novel, but I'm really itching to finish another one before my revitalized writing self-esteem from San Diego Writers Conference at the end of January wears off.

If only I didn't need to sleep ... just think of how much writing AND reading I could get done!

I'm a Reading and Writing Fool

My new strategy (see previous post) is working well. I read a chapter or two in my completed novel then reward myself by working on another book that I'd put on hold for a while. It's refreshing to wrap my head around a new cast of characters while also making progress on my last read-through of the finished book.

I've also been reading like crazy. Right now, I'm working on "Clockwork Angel" by Clarissa Clare, the first book in her "Infernal Devices" series and the prequel to her "Mortal Instruments" series, which I loved (and have read twice). I also finished "Paper Towns" by John Green, which was hilarious, but kind of sad, yet gratifying. As you can see, I'm on a young adult binge. It's research. And just fun.

I also recently read "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater and now I'm dying to read the next book in the series, "Linger." I'd call them werewolf stories, but they're shape-shifting wolves, not monsters. It's also a love story, so as a fan of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight," the series is right up my alley.

Tonight, I'm in a quandary, because I want to keep reading "Clockwork Angel," but I didn't do much writing and editing this weekend, and I also could stand to do a little bit of writing for work. I'm leaning toward reading, especially since it's a little chilly outside and my favorite thing to do when it's cold is curl up in the corner of the couch and get lost in a book. Decisions, decisions ...