Thursday 29 December 2011

Resolutions and Books

It's that time of year again when most people want to do better in the coming new year than they did in the one just gone. It's a strange beast this need to make resolutions and promises to improve ourselves. I'm not one for religiously making New Year Resolutions but I always feel a sense of optimism and a desire to get going, to be more motivated and organised as one year closes and another begins. And this year is no different. I think I worked very hard over the last twelve months. I've certainly written a lot of words and when I totalled up the amount I had written I was very surprised by my productivity. The end result has not produced a finished and polished novel, but I have achieved more than I ever thought I could: two completed first drafts and a couple of novels that are about a quarter of the way through. That's quite an accomplishment. Now what I want to do is to take that a step (or two) further. Myself and two of my CPs have already set ourselves each a deadline to have a working draft completed by the end of February and I still intend to work to that. What I should be doing next is polishing that draft and... *takes deep breath*... submitting it. I'm not promising that submission is what I will do, but I shall make the effort to get to that stage. That sounds like a cop out, doesn't it? Yeah, well, maybe it is or maybe I'm just being realistic and taking it in manageable steps at a time. We'll just leave it there for now.

I'm not a prolific reader although I'm always reading something, and there's usually a book tucked in my handbag - just in case. Sadly, I just can't read terribly fast and much to the distress of me and my credit card, the to-be-read pile just keeps growing at a rate not in keeping with the speed at which I read. So, the intention is to try and reduce the ever growing pile over the next year.

Of the books I have read here is a list (not exhaustive):

TOP READS
Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James (Faber & Faber)
Flirting with Italian by Liz Fielding (Harlequin Romance)
House of Silence by Linda Gillard (Kindle)
Inherited Bride by Maisey Yates (M&B Modern)
Not Fit for a King by Jane Porter (M&B Modern)
Ordinary Girl in a Tiara by Jessica Hart (Riva)
To Marry a Prince by Sophie Page (Arrow Books)
Taken by the Bad Boy by Kelly Hunter (Riva)
The Ice Prince by Sandra Marton (M&B Modern)
Secret Princess by Jessica Hart (Harlequin Presents)
Starting Over by Sue Moorcroft


BOOKS READ AND ENJOYED
A Mistake, A Prince and A Pregnancy by Maisey Yates (M&B Modern)
Cavelli's Lost Heir by Lynn Raye Harris (M&B Modern)
Innocent in the Ivory Tower by Lucy Ellis (M&B Modern)
Girl in the Bedouin Tent by Annie West (M&B Modern)
Molly Cooper's Dream Date by Barbara Hannay (Riva)
Once a Good Girl by Wendy S Marcus (M&B Medical Romance)
Tempted by Trouble by Liz Fielding (Riva)
The First Night of Christmas by Heidi Rice (Riva)
Tortured Rake by Sarah Morgan (M&B Bad Blood series)
Strangers in the Desert by Lynn Raye Harris (M&B Modern)
Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger by Heidi Rice (M&B Modern)

10 comments:

  1. Many familiar names in that reading list:-) I'm with you on the ever growing tbr pile, though I have made a dent in it over the Christmas period. Just need to stop buying new ones...

    Good luck with your writing endeavours! And a Happy New Year :-)

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  2. Hi Doris! Easier said than done not buying any more books, isn't it? I've managed to do some reading over the Christmas period too and it's been quite pleasant to read rather than write. Happy New Year to you too. :o)

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  3. Some great books on those lists :0)

    I also don't read fast - but I do feel I get value for money from every single word.

    Submitting is scary and you're wise not to push yourself into it. You'll know when you're ready.

    Lots of luck when you do submit and Happy New Year.

    X

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  4. Happy New Year! I don't seem to get enough time to read as much as I'd like, I have a huge wish list of reading to get through. Must try harder!

    Submitting is scary but get to the point where you're as happy as you can be with it and then bite the bullet. I'm sure you will do brilliantly!

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  5. I just bought another 15 books in the Kindle sale *sigh*. That's a brilliant tally of work in 2011! Two completed novels is an amazing accomplishment, this year is the year to submit. Looking forward to seeing that working draft at the end of Feb x

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  6. Hello Suzanne - I think that is the key - knowing when the time is right. I've just joined the RNA New Writer's Scheme and hope to get an idea of where my weaknesses are. Happy New Year to you. :o)

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  7. Happy New Year, Charlotte!! Thanks for the vote of confidence. Oh, I know, so many books, so little time... :o) Hope your novel is progressing well.

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  8. Hi Rose Red - And I bet you'll have those 15 books read before the end of the month!! Looking forward to reading your working draft at the end of February too! x

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  9. Now how have I missed the fact that you blog? As one of my fave Twitter pals who I always think I'd adore in what we laughingly refer to as real life, I am thrilled to find you here. And your gorgeous photos - even though they're so much better than mine. Hello. Happy New Year. Wishing you words aplenty and happiness. This is going to be a good year for you. Yay!

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  10. Thanks for the mention! I'm so glad you enjoyed Once a Good Girl...

    Like Rose Red, I have a bit of a Kindle addiction myself. Point and click. It's so easy...until the credit card bill comes. Don't know when I'll get to all the books waiting for me, but I feel if I don't buy them when I see them I'll forget about them and miss out on a great read!

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