Monthly Wrap || November 2020

November 2020

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s the end of November 2020, and at the same time? I just did NaNoWriMo, so my sense of time is all kinds of skewed. I know only word counts and deadlines, and nothing else.

Okay, maybe I know more than that. But it’s mostly what already happened. The future is a big ball of mystery still, mostly because I can’t really see where anything is headed more than a couple hours in advance. My planning abilities are just plain pooped, folks. Just all tuckered out. Oof.

Life Beyond the Blog

There is no life, there is only NaNoWriMo.

Such is the joy and/or curse of November, year in and year out. For the sixth time, I’ve taken a crack at NaNoWriMo, and for the sixth time, I’ve won. (I think; as I draft this, I’m close enough to the finish line that it feels safe to call it pre-emptively. Tune in tomorrow to see whether or not I seriously goofed up my estimate!) It’s actually starting to feel easier to write 50k in a month, perhaps because I’m no longer balancing it with schoolwork, or maybe because I’m gaining confidence in my ability to just stick the words on the gosh darn page.

Either way, I’m overall pleased with the results, even if I didn’t exactly do what I initially set out to do. RIP, Angsty Sentient Weapons idea. You’re going back on the shelf for a little while until I find your details.

Beyond that, though, I’ve been spending a lot of time at work due to the rising holiday rush, and using my free hours to watch TV and play video games while I recover. Lucifer is my new TV obsession of choice (though shout-out to S8 of The Great British Bake-Off for bringing me lots of baking joy!), and I’ve spent an almost shameful amount of hours on the new Hyrule Warriors installment. Age of Calamity scratches the itch for a linear game brimming with side-quests, and it does wonders to expand on the lore from Breath of the Wild. I’m thoroughly smitten. And possibly writing fic, since that’s most of what I do these days. 🤷

And though it isn’t strictly beyond the blog, I’m in the early stages of planning a readathon to span the course of 2021! I’m hoping it’ll be accessible at any point in the year, even for folks who discover it late, and I’m also planning to offer prizes for participating. Keep your eyes on this space, especially if you’ve been thinking of revisiting some books, especially if you’re revisiting series! 😉

 

Books Read and Reviewed

This month is actually my worst reading month of the entire year, tied with September! I only read three books (Those Who Prey, Dark and Deepest Red, and Warmaidens). That said, it’s not much of a surprise. November 2020 was for NaNoWriMo, not for reading.

Now that I’ve said that, though, my Goodreads challenge is making threatening gestures in the background. Send help. 😳

 

Next Month’s Reads

Well, the big question for December is whether or not I can get any reading done. So far, this just has not been the year for it.

That said, I have a list of books I mean to get through before the year is up. This includes The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, A Universe of Wishes, Deeplight, Mexican Gothic, and Ruinsong. Any books beyond that will just be a nice little cherry on top of a very lopsided cake, you know?

 

My Top 3 Posts

It’s always tough to narrow this section down, but I do it anyways. Why? Well, maybe I like showing off my work. After all, I did spend a fair bit of time on it, and it’s my hope you’ll spend a little time on it in return. 😅 If you’re stumped for options, though, these are the three, I’m far and away the most proud of for November 2020!

1. Q&A with Kelly Coon, Author of Warmaidens

2. How Habitica Helps Me Do All the Things!

3. Dark and Deepest Red Review

 

Favorites From Around the Blogging World

I haven’t blog hopped until writing this post, since I’ve been busy throwing words at the page to see what sticks, but let me tell you: you guys make it so easy to find some gems every month! These are just a few of the shining stars I’ve found while wrapping things up.

Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books talks about why she believes book bloggers should get paid!

Kal @ Reader Voracious saves us some holiday shopping stress with seven gift recs for book lovers!

Lauren @ Northern Plunder offers veteran advice on self-promoting your blog, and all the hard work that comes with it!

Fanna @ Fanna For Books dissects her very first ARC review (and checks out how much she’s grown since)!

Vicky @ Vicky Again puts together a fun graphic to help you choose your next brutal YA read!

Charlotte @ Reads Rainbow makes sure we know that it’s all about the queer yearning (and which books we can pick up next just for that one thing alone)!

CW @ The Quiet Pond explains the work that went into revamping The Quiet Pond, and shares some advice for any blog renovations you’re thinking about too!

 

There you have it! November 2020, wrapped up nice and neat. I hope you’ve all had a good month, and that I see you around for the last stretch of 2020. Stay safe, friends, and read well!