It’s so great to be able to be back writing this post. Now that summer is creeping up on us (although it still feels like winter!!) time is speeding past me and I can’t believe how many things are right around the corner. I feel so underprepared.
But worries aside, there’s been something that has been on my mind for the past few weeks…and it is on shelving books.
As authors, I think we feel conflicted whenever we have to set aside our beloved WIPs. It’s even harder when your identity as an author is tied to that book. For me, I came to the tough decision of “permanently shelving” a WIP I’ve been working on for the past five years–and went right back to it this week. (I know, indecisiveness is key to all writers. Or maybe it’s just me, IDK.)
So for today’s Author Health, I’ll be looking at 4 Questions to Ask Before Shelving Your Book.
Without further ado, let us commence!
A. Are you hungry? (Or simply tired?)
Yup. That’s a legitimate question to be asking yourself. I find that when I’m physically running on empty, I tend to get cranky and moody. Everything is falling apart! My book is falling apart! Wahhhh!!
That automatically makes me sound like a toddler, but are we actually that different from adolescents? Like, really?
So take a break and eat real food. Boil pasta, bake bread, eat curry-on-rice, what have you. Chances are, you’ll be able to make a better decision after that.
Food is life. Be more like Sasha.
B. Does this story matter to you?
This sounds obvious, but take a deep look at yourself and ask, Does this story matter to me?
One of the biggest reasons I thought I had to “shelve” my WIP was because I didn’t feel like this story mattered to me anymore. My siblings kept cheering me on (in fact, this was the only story they were waiting for me to write) but I didn’t think it mattered as much to me as it did back when I started. A lot of this was due to question A–I was probably hungry. (Okay, that’s oversimplifying the matter but it’s true! I wasn’t eating well.)
If you don’t know why the story matters to you, then it’s a big warning to take a pause and list all the reasons it matters to you. When you know the story matters to you and why, you can keep going on even when it gets tough.
Mikasa’s reason for everything.
C. Do you love any of these characters?
A big tell to shelve a book temporarily or permanently (hopefully never) is if you, the author, do not love any of the characters you write about. Now, I’d say this is probably rare. However, I did have instances when the plot took superiority and just dragged the characters away. This spells disaster because characters are what makes your story come alive. I know some people may disagree with me over plot over character over prose (sometimes), but if you don’t care about your characters, neither will the reader.
Contrarily, if you love your characters to pieces no matter how terrible the story seems to be, there’s hope. Take a moment to reflect on each of your character’s stories and listen to how they play off each other.
How can you not love this boy??
D. Can you stop thinking about your book?
Lastly, even if you’ve answered no to all of the above, if your answer is yes to this last question, don’t shelve your book just yet! I have so many ideas and I often don’t know where to start (or stop). That’s just because they’re all in different stages of creation.
One WIP has been on my mind for four years and I’ve written a third of the story and have it stewing.
One WIP takes a long time to write, but when I do write, I can pound as many word counts in it as I need.
One WIP is still brewing in the clouds although I know perfectly how the story begins and ends.
Sometimes, all you need to do is to sit back and let your mind roam free. Try not to think about your book. If you can’t, then it’s still probably dying to be told.
IDK, I’m nostalgic for Narnia…
Practical steps to take:
Eat real food.
List out all the reasons the story matters to you.
Listen to your character’s stories.
Try to stop thinking about your book.
NOTE: Also, shelving books doesn’t have to be permanent. It can always be temporary!
And that’s it for today!
Thank you for reading! What did you think? How do you find out if you need to shelve a book? Have you shelved books before? Let me know your thoughts in the comment below; I’d love to chat with you!
I’m so excited for today, not simply because I get an excuse to ramble on about my favourite things, but also because I get to share with you some of the awesome things I’ve been able to be a part of.
Yes, you heard it right. There’s a brand new devotional feat. manga & anime and it’s the one thing you didn’t know was missing from your life ™.
About Finding God in Anime
Being a Christian can be tough. Being an otaku can be tough. But being both at once?
Sometimes it seems easier to become Hokage rather than explaining your faith and passions to others. That is why we otaku have united in this devotional: To encourage otaku like you spiritually and through a medium we all cherish.
In this devotional, you will find God in the animes you know and love. Each devotional presents spiritual lessons found in animes ranging from the world-famous Attack on Titan to fan-favorite Haikyu!! to beloved classics like Cowboy Bebop. Each piece will feature a different theme such as:
Human Will vs. The Holy Spirit in Yona of the Dawn
Choosing to be Free in Free! Swim Club
Not by My Might in My Hero Academia
…and many others! We believe that God can be seen throughout His creation—even in places where people might not intend! So pull out your cosplay and snuggle close with your plushies as you join us in Finding God in Anime.
About the Organizers
Laura and Moriah’s life consists of giving each other manga recommendations until they see whose TBR pile will fall on them first. Rest assured they’re both still safe…until another manga releases. In the meantime, they enjoy sharing beautiful pictures of Japan and trying to make each other laugh with anime memes. They both have an appreciation for cute stickers, samurai, and pins. If they’re not chatting about all things otaku, you can find them trying to write their next story or surviving on ramen and pocky after their latest manga order.
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MY REVIEW:
First off, how cool is it that you get your devotions done and spend time reminiscing about your favourite manga & anime?? I spent this week and the last reading from FGiA, and it has been a blast…and let me explain why you should be using this devotional as well.
Reason #1: My mum and I have recently reached the conclusion that it’s impossible not to see biblical themes reciprocated in certain manga/anime, starting from Ghibli and extending to AoT, TPN, &c. We often spend time discussing aspects of our favourite manga & anime and tying it into our personal devotions. So, if you don’t have someone like my Mum, you can still have this discussion with FGiA!
Reason #2: As an anthology, FGiA consists of short devotional entries that’s easy to follow and enjoy even if you don’t know the specific story. It’s a great pick-me-up first thing in the morning (even if you slept in) or the go-to for those small snippets of time you might have on hand.
Reason #3: All of the stories featured in FGiA are certified to be clean and God-honouring, even if some of them are darker than the others. It’s a great way to find out more about other manga & anime you were interested in but weren’t sure. I for one was reminded I was really into Yona of the Dawn a few years back and am thinking of giving Naruto Shippuden another read.
And lastly, just a personal side note: I was super hyped Renée Le Vine included Precure. I basically grew up watching Precure since it started and it has a special place in my heart! I also love Nausicaa (esp. the manga), so I was pleasantly surprised it was featured on more than one occasion. 🙂
So, if you’re an avid manga-reader or anime-lover and would love to explore biblical themes within them, this devotional is absolutely for you!
I also got to be a part of the Capsule ARC team! Mel Torrefranca’s first novel, Leaving Wishville, has been one of my highlight reads of 2021 and I’m super excited for her second book to come out on July 10th!
Capsule
Rating: 4.5/5 stars, PG13
Contents: Thematic elements, mild romance, crime, accident, some swearing (no f-words)
Two students from Brookwood High School mysteriously go missing on the same night.
The first is Peter Moon, a heartless pescatarian who bashes students from Brookwood on his blog, turning everyone against him. The second is the adored Kat Pike, an audacious girl desperate to boost her adrenaline. Three days pass. No leads.
Indifferent to the disappearances, sixteen-year-old Jackie Mendoza remains immersed in her virtual world of video games and online friends.
When a menacing app by the name of Capsule downloads itself onto Jackie’s phone, she enters a game interlaced with reality. A game threatening to erase Peter and Kat forever. Only Jackie can save them now—but Capsule is the most ruthless game she’s ever played.
Mel Torrefranca delivers a heart-wrenching thriller about unlikely friendships, bittersweet memories, and a never-ending search for answers best left forgotten.
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MY REVIEW:
I was super excited to be able to ARC read this book as I enjoyed Mel Torrefranca’s first book, and needless to say, I was not disappointed!!!
Note: I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
1. Theme–It’s honestly refreshing how Capsule visits the themes of family, siblings, friendships, and being present in your life. I just loved how streamlined the themes were in the sense it was completely natural. I also loved the way it subtly made me think of my online presence and IRL friends.
2. Prose–Again, I’m super picky about prose, but with Mel’s books I never have to worry about it. 😉 It’s vivid and imaginative, setting a clear tone to the story as well as offering an insightful narrative.
3. Characters–I usually like “unlikeable” characters, and I found I was really drawn to all three of the main cast–Jackie, Peter, and Kat. Jackie is into online games, something I’m not interested in, but I could feel her seclusion. (Not to mention I adored the brother-sister relationship between Jay and Jackie.) Also, her character arch was really encouraging. Peter was probably my favourite character because…(trying to think of all the good things about him)…he’s human? IRL, I think he would be the type of person I’d avoid, but it made me reconsider people who might look one way but are really another. Also, I shouldn’t be laughing, but some of his comebacks and remarks about other characters were funny. I initially thought I wouldn’t like Kat, but I think three chapters in about her made me reconsider everything and she also became another character I rooted for. Or not. But I did love the way the characters all blossomed!
4. Plot–The plot is straightforward, and I was expecting it to be more sci-fi but Capsule reads like a contemporary. (I know, sorry I keep saying *insert book title* reads like contemporary. It just does!) Where Leaving Wishville had a decided dystopian/sci-fi undertone vibe, Capsule was lighter on the genre expectation which I think was refreshing because TBH, I wouldn’t have connected to the story as much as I did if it was all about gaming. #sorrynotsorry I personally love countdowns since they give a clear visual of the story. I think that although the story is simple, the ending gives it a nice twist and sharpens the focus. (Open-endings are the way to go!!)
5. Execution–Overall, Mel Torrefranca did an excellent job with Capsule’s composition. I think I would have liked one more thing, but it’s really emotionally gutting and thrilling.
If you like:
a) Contemporary with soft sci-fi elements
b) Strong relationship between characters
c) An alternate look at life vibes
This book is for you!
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And that’s it for today!
Thank you for reading! What did you think? Are you a manga and/or anime lover? What are some of your favourite manga/anime? Are you excited for Capsule to come out? Let me know in the comments below; I’d love to chat with you!
It’s that time of the week again where I get to share another snippet of my writing-reading inspired life. (Btw, don’t let all the sparkly aspects fool you. I was stuck in a reading slump for the past three weeks and it has just been really…Oof!)
I don’t know why, but I’m craving Mister Donut, and I told Mum about it who also has the same craving. It’s a sad fact they’re literally across the sea.
Well, for today, I thought I’ll share some of my favourite podcasts! I started listening to podcasts while I was taking a bath, and I’ve compiled 4 + 1 of writing-bookish podcasts among them.
So, without further ado, let me introduce to you…4 + 1 Favourite Writing Podcasts I Listen To!
1: The Kate and Abby Show
This is probably my absolute favourite podcast about writing. Like, ever. It’s one of the first writing podcasts I met and it’s always extremely inspiring, especially when I’m feeling down in my writing. Kate and Abby’s books are also amazing as well as their sister-writer relationship with each other!
Favourite Episodes: #23 How to Believe in Yourself As A Writer (When Nobody Else Does), #52 How to Start Writing The Book of Your Dreams
2: The Happy Writer with Marissa Meyer
Marissa Meyer should officially be called “the Happiest Writer”. I just love listening to her podcast, partly because her voice is so cute (!!) and partly because her podcast is filled to the brim with positive vibes. If there’s something tough going on, this is the go-to podcast. She interviews YA and MG authors about their latest books and chat about what their writing/reading life looks like. Also, I love the Happy Writer lightning round at the end. 🙂
Favourite Episodes:Leigh Bardugo, Ally Carter, V. E. Schwab, Mary Weber, Abigail Hing Wen, Marie Lu
3: Story Embers Podcast
The SE Podcast was the first podcast I listened to, as well as the first writing podcast I’ve discovered. SE also means a lot to me because it was the starting point in my writing journey. My favourite thing about their podcast is how they tackle tough themes of being an authentic Christian writer, combining theological discussion with the nitty-gritty details of authorship. If you’re a writer, a Christian, and passionate about combining the two, this podcast is for you!
Favourite Episodes: #1 The State of Christian Fiction Today, #14-15 Balancing Creativity and Orthodoxy as a Christian Storyteller, #9 Interview with Nadine Brandes about Fawkes
4: The Hope Prose Podcast
I don’t listen to this podcast as much as the other ones, but when there’s a topic/author spotlight I’m curious about, I listen to this one! It’s also by a Canadian and faith-based with a decidedly warm writer community feel, so it’s one I’m hoping to listen to more. 😉
Favourite Episodes: #44 The Marvels of Japan and A Dream Becomes Reality, #42 I Can & I Will
I discovered this podcast a few weeks ago and have been listening to it since! This show is hosted by Barnes and Noble, so it focuses more on books than writing, per se, but it’s really fun to tune into author interviews–how they came up with their book, their writing journey, and random fun facts about themselves! It’s been a great encouragement to me listening to various authors I look up to and how they came to be who they are now.
Favourite Episodes: Cassandra Clare, Margaret Rogerson, Emily A. Duncan, Christine Riccio
And that’s it for now!
Thanks for reading! Do you listen to podcasts? If so, what are some of your favourite shows? Are you a podcast person, or would like to become one? Let me know in the comments below; I’d love to chat with you!
