Six Books You Should Read if You Like to Write.

How to Write a Novel by Nathan Bransford

Good for...getting the inside scoop from someone who has been both an author and an agent. 

“Writing a novel is extremely complicated. So complicated, in fact, that you cannot possibly hold your entire novel in your head all at once. And that’s okay.” 

90 Days to Your Novel by Sarah Domet

Good for...90 days of exercises that will help you get better at sitting down and writing, rather than sitting down and thinking about writing.


A Novel in a Year: From First Page to Last in 52 Weeks by Louise Doughty


Good for...writers who like to-do lists. 


On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King 


Good for...when you want to be reminded of why you love writing so much in the first place. 

Where Do You Get Your Ideas? by Fred White

Good for...learning how to transform creative ideas into story-form. 

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Good for...when you need inspiration that also reminds you of how necessary hard work is. If you like to write, please read this book. It is wonderful. 

“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.” 

What's your favorite book about writing?

Your New Favorite Blog: Jenna Grace

My name is Jenna Grace Adendorff and my blog is www.jenna-grace.com.

Inspirational

(in more aspects than one I hope!)

I’ve always loved writing and I’ve had blogs in the past, but I started regularly blogging a few months ago because I got very sick at college and had to come home for the rest of the semester. I was bored, lonely, and wanted a creative outlet, so I started blogging and instantly loved the whole process of it. 

This one is SO hard. I think I’ll have to go with A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving because it made me feel just about every emotion and it stuck with me for ages. I didn’t want it to end!

My blog is very eclectic. I have things about fashion inspiration, food inspiration, and just life inspiration in general where I write on a more vulnerable level. Like I said before, I hope each post is just as inspiring as the next, but I don’t really have a favorite because I’m in the mood for what I post when I post it… so I guess the current post is always my favorite because that’s what I’m passionate about on that day!

Whenever my sister and I are home on break my family watches Psych episodes. I think we’ve seen pretty much all of them but they just never stop being funny.

Jenna's blog is always so authentic and inspiring! She's one of those people where you feel like you get a real sense of who she is when you read her blog--it's not just posts about current fads and things like that. 

So what are you waiting for? Go check out her blog! You can also find her on bloglovin', instagram, twitter, and pinterest!

6 Ways to be Brave This Year.

By nature, I'm not a very brave person in all areas of my life. I hover somewhere between being a firecracker who wants to live life out loud and having crippling anxiety over the thought of confrontation. 

In 2014, my word for the year was brave. All year long, I worked on living life more bravely. And it was fantastic. 

1. Say yes to something new once a week. I've heard the saying, "Say yes to something that scares you once a day." But that just seems a little excessive to me.

You don't have to constantly be throwing things you're afraid of in your face to be brave. Just try new things--order something new at your favorite restaurant or do something new to your hair or read something you normally wouldn't. Say yes to new things.

2. Plan out your dream. Sometimes, you know what you're dream is. But you're afraid to make a plan to follow it, much less tell someone about it, because you don't know if you'll succeed or not. 

But who cares? You definitely won't succeed if you don't ever start, so start. Make a plan. Make a plan that includes your biggest, wildest dreams. Write it down, talk about it, and follow it. 

3. Go somewhere new. A new coffee shop, a new city, a new country...just explore. 

4. Say what you want out loud. Saying what you want doesn't make you rude. 

5. Learn something new. What's something you want to know how to do, but think you wouldn't be very good at? Try to learn. So what if you're not good at it? 

6. Don't be afraid to disagree. This is so hard for me, because I hate confrontation. I'll make reservations somewhere and ask for a booth, and then not bring it up when they give us a table instead. Or I'll order a drink with no ice, and then just drink it when they put ice in it anyway, because I hate confronting people, no matter how small. 

This doesn't get any easier for me, but the more I speak up, the more confident I feel. Even if it's over something as stupid as ice. 

Bravery is something I'll probably have to work on for the rest of my life. I just don't want to one day look back and think that my life could have been so different had I spoken up more, or it could have been better had I not been afraid to say yes more often. 

So cheers to bravery in 2015. 

just write: simply go.

Considering my blog's name, I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that I love writing. Books, papers, stories, poems...I love it all. It's my favorite thing to do. 

I haven't shared too much creative writing on my blog for the simple reason that I'm nervous. What if no one likes it? What if it's the one blog post that never gets any comments? What if it gets negative comments? What if? 

But in the spirit of 2015 and all I want this year to be, I'm trying my best to say, "So what?" to all of those questions that pop into my head. 

So here we go. 

I love to write. 

I love to write poems. 

And I'm going to start sharing them on here. 

And I really, really hope you like them. 

she had magic behind her eyelids,
freedom running through her veins.
and those who said they knew her,
barely knew her name.
for she could never settle
in one place for all that long,
she'd spend a few nights, call it home,
and in the morning she'd be gone.
for she knew life's great secret,
that we all wish to know.
she knew that if she wanted to see it all,
then she must simply go.

Do you write creatively? What's your favorite thing to write? 

5 Books I Read in 2014 & Whether or Not You Should Read Them.

Reading is my favorite pastime, but I rarely talk about the books I've read on here. That's something I want to change in 2015! I read tons of books in 2014, but these were the first five that came to mind.

Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

Plot: When Charlotte helps Julia Buchanan, she doesn't expect it will result in a friendship. But soon, she is drawn into the magical world of the most popular girl in school—a world of midnight rendezvous, dazzling parties, palatial vacation homes, and fizzy champagne cocktails. And then Charlotte meets, and begins falling for, Julia’s handsome older brother, Sebastian.

But behind her self-assured smiles and toasts to the future, Charlotte soon realizes that Julia is still suffering from a tragedy. A tragedy that the Buchanan family has kept hidden... until now. -adapted from goodreads, read full plot here.

Favorite Quote: "Even knowing, as I do now, that grace, power, and yes, love, can hide the darkest elements of the human heart, I would do it all again."

My Thoughts: This book is full of flawed characters, which is what makes it so good. It reminded me of The Great Gatsby in the sense that it was full of people who you could relate to, people who you wish you could relate to, and people who you absolutely do not want to relate to. I missed the characters immediately after closing the book. Also, the writing was stunning in a way that's uncommon for YA fiction. I adored it.

Should You Read it?: Absolutely yes. Why are you still reading this? GO GET THIS BOOK.

Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah

Plot: "After her little sister, Ella, is viscously attacked in a situation with unclear circumstances, seventeen-year-old Claire Graham flees to Manhattan to escape her guilt over the night that still haunts her.

Despite what her psychiatrist says, Claire is convinced that the same wolves she knows attacked her sister are after her. When Ella mysteriously vanishes, Claire must return home to find her and ensure her safety.

Through a series of cryptic diary entries, Claire must unlock the keys to Ella's past—and her own—in order to stop another tragedy in the making, while realizing that not all things that are lost are meant to be found." -adapted from goodreads, you can read the full plot here.

Favorite Quote: "Sometimes, the unknown is far scarier than what's really there, when you're ready to look." 

My Thoughts: It's pretty impossible to really talk about this one without spoiling it. I'll just say that it was an incredible mind-bender that left me a little bit disappointed, but that will stay with me for a long time.

Should You Read it?: Maybe? If you're in the mood to get lost in a mental mystery, yes. It's a book I'm hesitant to recommend it because I don't know if I actually liked it or not, but I still think it's worth a read. If you do read it, be sure to read the author's follow up post here AFTER you finish the book.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Plot: You already know what this one is about. If, by chance, you don't, read about it here.

Favorite Quote: “It’s a very difficult era in which to be a person, just a real, actual person, instead of a collection of personality traits selected from an endless Automat of characters.”

My Thoughts: Once I finally hopped on the bandwagon, I could not put this book down. I had to know what was going on. It's a book so full of twists that it keeps you reading, even though you spend most of your time having no clue what's happening. I kept going back and forth--do I like that character? Do I hate them? Is that person guilty? No, it's that one. Right? It was fantastic. 

I was reading this book on my phone. Once I got to the part where I realized what was happening, I dropped my phone in my coffee. It was that good.

Should You Read it?: Yes. But it does have some adult content in it that I would not recommend. Don't read this book and then get mad at me about it--look it up first if that's something you're uncomfortable with.

Sharp Objects by Gilligan Flynn
Plot: "Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion while investigating a string of violent crimes, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming." -via goodreads

Favorite Quote: “I'm here, I said, and it felt shockingly comforting, those words. When I'm panicked, I say them aloud to myself. I'm here. I don't usually feel that I am.”

My Thoughts: Flynn is an incredible author and has the ability to write books that surprise and enthrall readers. Much like Gone Girl, I finished this book in two days--not because it was an easy read, but because I couldn't put it down until I knew what had happened. There's something to be said for that kind of writing.

For me, though, it was much too dark. There was a lot of shock value for the sake of shock value instead of the story. Once I was finished with it, I really thought I may throw up. Props to her for imagining a story that has that big of an impact, but if I knew how it was going to be, I wouldn't read it again.

Should You Read it?: No. Unless you never want to sleep again and want to be sickened forever, then go for it.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Plot: "A beautiful and distinguished family. 

A private island.

A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.

A group of four friends--the Liars--whose friendship turns destructive. 

A revolution. An accident. A secret. 

Lies upon lies.

True love. 

The truth.

Read it. 

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE." -via goodreads

Favorite Quote: "Someone once wrote that a novel should deliver a series of small astonishments. I get the same thing spending an hour with you."

My Thoughts: This book was very popular over the summer, but it was one of those that you either loved or you hated. I loved it, but my favorite reading partner hated it. 

I think it's so freaking cool that the author just straight up asks you not to tell people how this ends, right there on the back of the book. So I'm going to honor her wishes and lie to all of you and say that I have no idea how this book ends, but you should probably read it and find out.

Should You Read it? Yes.

Have you read any of these?

Happy to be Alive, Because: 5 Ways to be Happy in 2015.

Ready or not, 2015 is here! And no matter what your resolutions or goals or dreams for this year are, there's a pretty good chance that wanting to be happy is involved.

1. Think about the moments in 2014 when you were the happiest. Then do more of those things. If going to the pool made you happy, spend more days by the pool. If you were happiest when you were planning your best friend's wedding shower, then throw more parties. Sometimes being happy isn't as hard as we make it out to be.

2. Read more books. It's my opinion that if you don't like to read, you simply haven't found a book you like yet. One of my best friends hated reading until she tried The Fault in Our Stars, and now she's a reading machine.

So if you like to read, do more of it this year. Branch out and read books you've never heard of. Re-read old favorites. Just read. If you don't like to read, keep trying until you find a book that hooks you. This is your year to become a reader, I just know it.

3. Have clear priorities about your year. Nothing sucks the happiness out of the year like setting yourself up for failure. If you want to spend this year relaxing and having fun, great! Go for it. But don't have the idea that this is going to be the year that you chase your dreams and make big changes, and then spend the year just relaxing and having fun. Because then at some point in July, you'll wake up super frustrated at your lack of progress and convince yourself you have to wait until January to change anything.

Don't get crazy, but make a few priorities for your year, and review them every now and then.

4. Get rid of stuff you don't like.  If you don't use it or love it, get rid of it. Don't surround yourself with stuff that's not going to make you happy.

5. Take care of yourself. There's a reason that health resolutions always land on our New Year's list. I think there are two really simple ways to take care of yourself: Be more active than you were last year, and drink more water. I swear, drinking more water fixes all kinds of problems. Magic, I tell you.

Don't forget to enter the New Year giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How are you working on being happier in 2015?

Spending 2015: 52 Things to do This Year + $150 Giveaway!

1. Pick a word you want to embody your year. When you're confused about what you want to do or what decision you should make, think about that word.

2. Make resolutions that will be helpful and that you'll actually stick to. Dropping five sizes probably won't happen. But going for more walks or staying on top of your laundry might.

3. Learn a new skill. Speaking a new language? Gardening? Changing a tire? This is your year, my friend.

4. Send a letter. Who doesn't like getting mail? Sending it is almost as fun.

5. Learn how to make your favorite cocktail at home. And coincidently save yourself roughly three thousand dollars in the process.

6. Go for a walk with your bare feet. 

7. Make a 5 year dream plan. If your next five years could be planned according to your wildest dreams, what would they look like?

8. Spend a day thrifting. 

9. Make something with your hands. 

10. Buy a planner. And actually use it this time.

11. Make yourself an "I'm totally going to win 2015" playlist. At any point this year when you feel overwhelmed, rock out to said playlist.

12. Learn to enjoy nights in. They're cheaper, cozier, and can make for some pretty good memories. That's nothing to scoff at.

13. Go to an outdoor concert. And dance your little heart out.

14. Keep a dreams and goals and good ideas journal. 

15. Do something nice for someone who has no way of repaying you.

16. Have a movie night with movies that you know nothing about. Go to Red Box and pick the first three movies that look interesting.

17. Say yes more. When your first instinct is to say no just because it's something you'd usually say no to, consider saying yes.

18. Say no more. To things you don't enjoy and feel obligated to do.

19. Call someone. Your parents, your grandparents, your college roommate...anyone who would enjoy hearing from you.

20. Journal every day for a month. It's a good habit to have.

21. Look up copycat recipes for your favorite restaurants. Seriously a game changer.

22. Clean out your closet. Are you really going to ever wear those tie-dyed leggings that you bought for that one rave that you never went to? Probably not.

23. Watch more sunrises. 

24. Do something new and don't tell anyone about it. Don't instagram it or snapchat it or tweet about it. Have a memory just for yourself.

25. Have nights out. Because life is short, so go dancing sometimes.

26. Remove one unhealthy thing from your life. Whether it's soda or a toxic relationship, get rid of it.

27. Read a book you've never even heard of before. Support indie authors!

28. Get organized. 

29. Do that one thing you've always wanted to do to your hair. It's hair, and it will grow back.

30. Start working out. 

31. Learn how to make a killer breakfast, because breakfast food is always appropriate at any given time.  

32. Make a bucket list. Do one thing on it.

33. Start a morning routine. Reading a chapter and having a cup of coffee before you start your day sure sets a different tone than pressing snooze four times and flying out the door without time to take a shower does.

34. Get a library card. Free books, people!

35. Keep a list of reasons you're happy to be alive.

36. Redecorate. Wherever you live, you should like the way it looks.

37. Paint something.

38. Question what you believe. If someone asked you what you believed, would you be able to explain why?

39. Make a scrapbook.

40. Stand up for yourself at least once. 

41. Start drinking more water. And then watch your skin get better and your headaches disappear.

42. Write something.

43. When you think of things you want to do, write them down.  

44. Next time you see something that you like, but it doesn't look like something you'd normally wear, buy it. And then wear it, because life is short.

45. Make gratitude a part of your day.

46. Stand up for someone who isn't there to stand up for themselves. 

47. Have a game night date night.

48. Go somewhere you've never been before. A new coffee shop or a new country, explore this year.

49. Go out without makeup on. You're beautiful. Give your skin a break.

50. Go on a picnic. 

51. Practice thinking. Think before you talk, before you buy, before everything. Just think.

52. Work on becoming the best version of yourself. Because 2015 is a great year to become someone you're really proud of.

Also, it wouldn't hurt to start 2015 off with a little extra cash, right? I've teamed up with some of my favorites to help you start this year on a high note with $150. Happy entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway