One Quirk Later #11 || the Voted Most Likely tag

Don't the months just fly around fast! 

Without further ado (and don't these intros seem to be getting short... may as well get to the good bit, I suppose), may I point you, o discerning guests and those without anything better to do on a fine Monday, towards the March Quirk prompt.

One Quirk Later: Prompt #11

  my Pinterest. if you don't follow me you should! I have some excellently-curated boards! too many boards! please help me!

One Quirk Later #9 || 2022

 hello hello hello

Coming back here always makes me feel... nostalgic, I guess? I was but a tiny child when I began (...actually, how old was I?? I think... must have been nineteen? feels like I was a lot younger) and there are so many memories here. 

...Of course, if I would stop leAVING UNEXPECTEDLY, my blog wouldn't feel like it was full of long-past ghosts.

Huh. That's a thought.

But you didn't come here for my 3am-style questioning of identity and self. Thus, a Quirk. 

*brushes nostalgia ghosts into a corner*  unless, of course, I decide the prompt calls for ghosts?? 👀

One Quirk Later #8 || The Jolly Genre Jubilee Tag

 

Good moooorning! 

Or as I always hear it in my head: 

So I'm here with a quirk, as I said I would be? And you're here reading it, as you said I hoped you would be? So we're all men of our word, really, except for Elizabeth, who is, in fact, a woman.

In conclusion: 

to celebrate the weekend,

a Quirk. *waves arms vaguely*

 

One Quirk Later: Prompt #8

  Oh look, it's a link to my Pinterest. Enable your procrastination and my own by following the link and me. 

 

So first of all, we have a reference to murder! this is definitely not a theme with the quirks! nothing to see here, folks! 

( I feel like there might be a change in tone with this Quirk, though? It does seem a little different to previous ones. Although that... might just be the presence of actual colour.....)

Secondly, I have no idea what I'm doing with this Quirk. Which is... kind of the point, really. I try to build the story around the pictures, not the pictures around the story in my head. It means I'm scratching around thinking of ideas just like you!

...Because, of course, you will be joining in. *nod nod*

Choose your own fairy tale adventure! | February Fantasy Month

 

Apparently February is Fantasy Month! which is Exciting! my Quirk will almost definitely fit the theme, seeing as there are dragons, but my Quirks are often fantasy-adjacent anyway. I believe Feburary Fantasy Month is an invention by Jenelle Schmidt? so all the confetti for her! 

Today, I shall be doing a link-up from Fairy Tale Central, called The "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure" Fairy Tale Tag. It looks both fun and comprehensive?? There has definitely been some thought put into these questions. 

Hopefully I've put some thought into the answers...

THE QUESTIONS

– Your father the king has declared a contest for your hand in marriage. But he’s allowing you to decide what kind of competition it will be. What do you choose? Is there a penalty for losing, or do the losers just go home while the winner remains to marry you?

I... really have no idea what kind of competition it would be. I guess something involving common sense, because that seems an important feature for a fairy tale world. 

...but, y'know, common sense applied to fairy tale logic. Not regular common sense.

There's no penalty for losing. But the competition is set up in such a way that anyone who makes a bad decision (by which I mean a decision which proves they're a Bad Person) gets Consequences. Booby traps or stray curses providing a face full of pus-filled blisters or something.

– You’ve just been told that you’re the Chosen One – the heir to your kingdom’s throne. Of course you demanded proof, but you didn’t expect quite so much of it to be brought forward. You grudgingly ask the state of the land. Your kingdom is at war with two neighboring kingdoms, a third kingdom is expecting your kingdom to ally with theirs and help them fight in agreement with an old treaty, there is famine in two counties in the north, and the barons of the kingdom are fighting over who will supply the palace with food for the next year. What do you do first?

1. Find out who was ruling before I got there. Are they flat-out evil? If not, they're now my right-hand person. I also need some other experienced people for advisors.
   
2. Reach out to Third Kingdom. Explain that we are not in a position at the moment to be able to help fight, but we do wish to renew our friendship and will help in the future.
3. See if negotiation can be made with Two Neighbouring Kingdoms. I'm actually really interested in the psychology of human interaction and negotiation and mediation and all that kind of thing. It's possible – considering how characters in fairy tales act – that the whole thing could have been blown out of proportion, and an apology for a perceived insult or something would go a long way? (Just. Seeing if we really need to be at war. If we really do, I'm all out of ideas, oops.)
   
4. Meet with the barons. They'll all be supplying food, relative to how much they've produced, but the palace shall be diverting a lot of it to the Two Hungry Counties. If the barons complain, well, if their county gets in trouble in the future, they'll also receive support. Also it's an opportunity for the barons to look good, why are they complaining. I'm just going to... assume... the kingdom has enough money to pay these barons for all this food.
   
5. What caused the famine in the north? Drought? maybe look into infrastructure, dams or wells or something. Attacks by raiders? secure the border. Poor management? check for corruption, replace with more experienced leaders. 

The first step being politics and not, say, food production, is probably further evidence of my Slytherin-ness. Also I didn't realise I had such an involved plan for running a kingdom, if anyone's looking for a queen I am currently open to offers–

the Spring Cleaning Tag || contains tiny snippets

Is it spring?

No.

Do I, regardless of the season, feel like doing a tag that forces me to hash out my goals and WIP status, with the extra option of actual spring cleaning?

...absolutely.

SO. The Spring Cleaning Tag it is!

I was tagged by Sarah at Dreams and Dragons - you might not remember, Sarah, as this was, uh, a full two years ago. *dies*

–{{1. Dust-bunnies and Plot-bunnies: Reorganize Your Writing Goals (Or Make New Ones)

1. Heavy investigation of a plot for Three Sisters. 

I know there's one somewhere?? It seems to have forgotten to write itself down in my notes, which is rude, but I need it so I can get onto my second goal:

2. Second draft of Three Sisters. 

Because I wrote "THE END" on my first draft.

forging the Fellowship | how could I NOT do this tag

Julia at Lit Aflame created a new tag (*cough* in 2018) and it's LotR themed. So. Even though she tagged me approximately 365 years ago, I'm still going to do it, and with thanks. :D

So for this tag, I "forge my own Fellowship" out of book characters. Which is cool! I get to pick my own party! (To try to cut down on the infinite possibilities [and also, once I drag these characters out of their storyworlds, awkward explanations] I'm going to limit myself to characters from books that are at least partly fantasy.

The Questions

1. [The Ring Bearer]: If you could choose, which of the four races would you be: Elf, Dwarf, Human, or Hobbit?

Hobbit. Their lives are sO SOFT AND DOMESTIC. Lovely rambling houses and green hills and good food. Parties and soft curly hair and bare feet and fireworks. Books and armchairs and fireplaces.

Yes, the occasional hobbit gets picked for the Death Trials (aka holding the One Ring), but that was, like, two in the the history of hobbits?? I'll be fine.

(*rereads question* ...wait, am I supposed to be the ring bearer? NOOO I wanted to be a regular hobbit!!)

Fine. If I had to be the ring bearer, I'd rather be an elf. (Even though canonically only hobbits can handle holding the One Ring.) Because elves can run fast and I can't imagine trying to cross Middle Earth on hobbit legs. Ugh.

2. [Gandalf the Grey]: A wise/powerful elder/mentor character:

you made a difference: a tag {about blogs}

Me: look at all those tags I was supposed to do like a year ago
Brain: that's a lot
Me: if I'm back to blogging again, one of those would be perfect-
Brain: no
Me: what
Brain: *hands me a new tag* 
Me: how exactly are you helping

So this tag is a little different to most.

You know how you normally answer questions and then tag someone else?

For this one, the answers to the questions are the people you're tagging. (Well, some of them. Some might not be around anymore.)


It's sort of a shout-out to the cool people who have influenced your blogging journey.

forgive me if this is already a thing. I'll blame Brain.

• • • • • • •

| Old friends | 

Who was the first blogger you followed?

Note: If you don't remember the exact answer, throw up all the names that were significant to you when you started!

Firstly, I'd like to thank myself for putting the above loophole in. Truly inspired.

WIP Special Part 5 || I harass my characters

I won't beat around the bush and bore you with a long and rambly introduction. We all know who you're here to talk to, and it's not me. *tragic sniff* Today I have some special guests - the cast of Three Sisters, particularly, Billie!


Billie: I would rather be forced to behave through a full formal tea with Count Laszlo.

Jem: She's still a little rattled from meeting her author.

Billie: It's just wrong.

Jem: Unfortunate. We will also be having bloggers from the audience asking the cast questions! which will be so fun!

Billie: Fun, like a wild animal attack.

Jem: Thanks, Billie. With that said, I'd like to introduce Ceci, with our first question! *hands over mic*

Ceci: Billie, have you ever run out of things to say?

Billie: ...

Billie: wow. So that's going to be the style of this interview, Jem.

Jem: Answer the question.

Billie: ...

Billie: Never.

WIP Special part 4 || lots of side characters, seriously

WHOOO *runs around screaming* It's week four of the WIP Special! and of NaNoWriMo! 

and I'm not screaming because things are going great, if you were wondering.

I'm screaming as a replacement for Dedication™, Work Ethic™, and all those other lovely strong abstract nouns.

Look, if Billie can go through life relying on snark and bitterness alone, I can use screaming and procrastination, okay??

No. bad Jem. you cannot use the habits you gave your character as an excuse for your own bad habits.

ALSO: see the end of the post for *ad voice* your chance to feature in the next installment of Jem's Three Sisters WIP Special!

........

Week Four: Side Character (SC) Questions and Story Building

–{{1. List your SCs, state one of their main hobbies, and tell us how they influence your MC in the story.

*cracks knuckles*

*actually no I never crack my knuckles ever, ignore that* *shivers*

Elsie: the middle sister; hobby: writing; her gentleness influences Billie to be tougher.

Josie: the youngest sister; hobby: riding through the forest/hunting; impulsive and slightly wild, which influences Billie to sacrifice herself.

Count Laszlo/the Beast: grumpy talking tiger-bear-thing from the forest; hobby: reading, pottering around conservatory; influences Billie to act like more of a wild beastie than he is (simply because he is 0% wild beastie and he irritates her) but also to use manners as a new weapon.

Rowan: leader (or so he claims) of the bandits; hobby: snark (do you see where I'm going with him, dO YOU); his similarities with Billie influence her to open up (just a crack, though, seriously) and trust him to help her.

Kik: would be Rowan's right-hand-man except he denies Rowan's actually in charge; hobby: insulting Rowan (as fictional friends do); has not yet met Billie?? but I suppose might influence her actions through not sending (or making Rowan send) Josie home away from the bandits.


Zephyr: from another country I haven't named, he's the literal sweetest and I'm sorry I hurt him; hobby: not sure?? maybe poetry; his presence influences Billie's actions in that she starts freaking out for spoiler reasons.

Count Yala: the voice of common sense and competence; hobby: making sure Zephyr's okay (he does not have a life); he influences Billie by not taking Zephyr away.

–{{2. Who is the SC that is the closest to your MC?

part 3 || the antagonist [apparently not the author??]

concerning the title: it's true. We authors are all the true antagonists. We are the ones that stop the protagonists from getting what they want. Our goals are in direct conflict with theirs: they want a happily-ever-after, we want conflict and excitement.

This is in no way an attempt to blow up your minds so you don't notice that my answers to the following questions mostly consist of me avoiding the questions.

–{{1. Introduce the main antagonist of your book!

...the cruel world.

Look, okay. There's one character Billie despises and does a lot of stuff just to spite. Even though this character will never know she did it, so there's no point. This character is never 'on screen'.

There's another character who does turn up, but not really until the climax? still. I suppose she's the main antagonist. Her name is Georgeanne, because I hate naming characters and gave up before I found the perfect one, and I have no idea what she looks like.

I could go find out, but then I'd be trawling Pinterest for the rest of the evening and I'm feeling crazed enough already.

Her backstory is - *radio crackling*

She's an acquaintance of - *semi roars past*

 And she's working with- *super-loud crickets*

  Let's move on, shall we?

Shared WIP Tag #2 || Billie, ball of snark and bitterness

Me: this week my post will be earlier! I will be the earliest! because I live in Australia so I get to Friday before the Americans! just have to beat Melissa...
Friday: are you aware you have swimming groceries basketball piano groceries and need to get your glasses adjusted and pick up a family member from work.
Me: ...
Me: ...Saturday?
Saturday: Sorry ma'am, you need to clean the house, your laptop has a tantrum scheduled, and then you're going for dinner with family and to see a live stream of the ballet.
Me: ...
Me: next week, I will be prepared early! earlier than this week! I will be the earliest!!

...welcome to week two:

MC Questions!

("main character", if you're not familiar with the abbreviation.)

Which means... *gasps* we get to talk about Billie!

(Wonderful ball of bitterness and snark that she is.)

If you weren't around when the last WIP Special was on, I did a post on Billie here, and it has a few more details (also a few of the same ones).

........

–{{1. Introduce your MC a little, and tell us something quirky about her.

Billie || Isobel || never Bill, because Old Bill is the horse

it liiiives!! || part 1: the Shared WIP Tag returns

You know how there's this writing thing on called NaNa or something?

And you know how I've also been (shall we say) sporadic at best at keeping active in the blogosphere? (or in real life – keeping active, ugh – but I digress.)

I've signed up to do something which will help me fail in combine both of those things!

You may have heard of it. I've done it twice before, and there are a lot more bloggers joining in this time. It is...

*overdramatic drumroll*

The Shared WIP Tag!

And! because I have no imagination! and am a NaNo rebel! I am focusing on Three Sisters, aGAIN, because I have not! yet! finished!

........

–{{1. Introducing: Three Sisters!

the Nameless Book Tag (second time around)

On the first day of this most excellent and productive year of 2018 (productive? hm. Any 'yes' votes for that? I'm going with 'no'...), Olivia at Important Nothings tagged me! And because I am an irresponsible human with way more procrastination than one person should be allowed to have, I'm doing it now! *counts on fingers* ... literally a quarter of a year later.  
HI SMALL UPDATE FOR MID-YEAR ME, IT'S NOW SEPTEMBER. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.  
Uh. Literally eight months later?


Sorry, Olivia! (I do appreciate being tagged, people [even if I take forever] - partly for the post idea, and mostly just knowing that someone thought of me ;)

I have done the Nameless Book Tag before (although it came to me under a slightly different name: The Mysteriously Nameless Tag of Doom). Since the questions are the same, I've decided to attempt a slightly different approach this time (with updated answers, obviously, because last time was allll the way back in November! and my blog was still a smol thing that didn't have a clue what it was doing!), and also this time may involve more gifs.

–{{What book has been on your shelf the longest?

Well this one's the same as last time: Anne of Green Gables. Haven't read it in forever, though.

Quick question, slightly unrelated: does anyone ever read that first page? You know, the one that's "only" two sentences long??

–{{What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next?

Um, so, I'm having an anniversary? || #MyFirstPostRevisited

"What??" I hear you say. "Jem's going to be posting on Friday! She can't be posting today - she only posts once a week!"

Well, yes. I only post once a week (maximum) because I don't want to go raising your expectations. But today is special! so of course it's 7pm and I've just remembered I needed to actually write this post.

........

Everyone in the blogosphere (it seems) has been having an anniversary. Several blogs reached one year old over the last few months - and they're so lovely-looking for baby bloggers that I'm in awe - but one of note is turning seven. Seven. Wow. (Go congratulate Christine, okay?)

Anyway, I'm jumping on this trend: I, too, am having a blog anniversary! Blogoversary! Blog... birthday?? 

One year ago today, I started this blog. I didn't have any huge ambitions for it, or even any idea what I was going to do with it, but my TAFE studies required me to start a social media platform (just to show I could), and the alternative was Facebook.

I've seen my grandmother's Facebook feed. It frankly scares me. 

So! It's been one year. I gradually developed a kind-of aim, although I'm still pretty scattered in my topics, and I joined the community of young Christian writers. It was intimidating at first, because everyone knew each other and the blogs all seemed to be huge famous things that wouldn't want me there.

(I have since discovered that's a crazy way to think and that everyone here is welcoming and a lovely person.) But I still get intimidated. *sighs at self*

I now have 43 followers on the Blogger gadget, and at least 12 email followers! You all are amazing and quite possibly slightly crazy. Thank you for reading what I have to say. <3 And to everyone who reads and/or comments, whether or not you're following, I extend a huge thank you as well! Every comment is special to me, however short or long it is. (or: however formal or scream-y.)

*throws lamingtons and TimTams at you all* *no confetti, because that would get in the food*

........

And, back in December, Melissa Gravitis tagged me for the #MyFirstPostRevisited hop. I decided to save it for this particular occasion, because there's really no better way to celebrate than by looking back at your past self and cringing, right?

The Rules for the hop, originally started by Sarah:

• No cheating. You must highlight your first post. Not your second post, not one you love… the first post only.
• Link back to the person who tagged you (thank them if you feel like it or, if not, curse them with a plague of ladybugs).
• Cut and paste your old post into a new post or reblog your own bad self. (Either way is fine, but NO editing.)
• Put the hashtag #MyFirstPostRevisited in your title.
• Tag five (5) other bloggers to take up this challenge.
• Notify your tags in the comment section of their blog (don’t just hope they notice a pingback somewhere in their spam).
• Feel free to cut and paste the badge to use in your post.
• Include “the rules” in your post.

Thanks, Melissa! *starts scavenging for a few friendly ladybugs because I'm not sure how to feel about this tag*

'kay, here we go.

........

So I seem to have a blog.

?

Well, at the moment you can probably expect casual posts about writing - including encouragement, the details of a few points of grammar, occasional rants on the writing life, and hopefully some flash fiction prompts. Also, I'll probably write about reading and libraries, and no doubt there'll be fandom references.

Of course, there will be deviations from the writerly theme when I find a new favourite thing, so please excuse. (Mug cakes. So cool. I'll stuff them under 'writing life', actually, because they're quick and easy and gooey and there's just something about eating cake out of a mug that has me enthralled.)

........

(Sadly, the mug cakes sort of... died.)

That was not as bad as I'd maybe anticipated?? *sends Melissa happy yellow ladybugs* It was also not very exciting. But to be fair, my only known audience for my first post was my TAFE lecturer. See if you don't think that would cramp your style.

Tagging:

1. Cait Drews
2. The author of that debut YA novel titled "A Thousand Perfect Notes" (it won't be too unprofessional of a post, I'm sure??)
3. Paper Fury
4. The Dragon Queen who's planning on taking over earth from her base on Jupiter
5. ...guess who?

Look. I can't find the archives, okay? And once or twice she's threatened terrible things to anyone who hunts through her old posts. She's such a successful blogger, considering she routinely threatens her audience, and I want to see where she started from.

I dare you, Cait. I daaaare you. *puppy eyes*

........

So... that's my blogoversary. I'd have done a Q&A, but I'm too secretive I wasn't very organised. Or organised at all. So, since you might have to wait for next year's blogoversary, I hope there was nothing dreadfully urgent you wanted to ask me!

(If there was - "what are your opinions on pineapple on pizza", for example, which is obviously a very urgent question and is also one I stole from Evangeline's recent Q&A - you would have to ask me in the comments. I promise I would answer. As long as this hypothetical question was urgent. And important. Like "would an alpaca or a goat be a more dangerous ride for a small child". Urgent questions, see.)

How long have you been blogging? Don't there seem to be a lot of blogs turning one in the last few months? If yours was one of them, tell me in the comments! Also ask any urgent questions you may have. If you're a follower of Paper Fury, are you anxious to see her first post? (answer: yes.) Have you found the young writers circles of the blogosphere to be wonderfully welcoming? (if not, tell me, and I'll give you more lamingtons. as a welcome.)

Also, shoutout to Miss March (who runs a beautifully classic/period drama appreciation style of blog) for being my first ever commenter (and the only commenter on my first, oh, five posts?) It meant a lot to me. <3

Tag In Which I Invite Several Characters I Shouldn't To Dinner

*creeps back into blogosphere*

*points accusingly at Life*

Let's just move on.

(Unless, of course, you didn't even notice I was gone for an extra week two weeks nearly a month. In which case, we need to Talk.)

Today we have a tag about books. And food. (I have been told food is popular. I'm not sure why.) (I mean, who wants to eat, right?? apart from me 65.31% of the time?)

But, to mix things up a bit, I'm going to focus on one book series. One I think deserves more attention. I mean, I can't seem to find the fandom?? which is ridiculous. Not even on Pinterest, apart from a few boards with amateur fanart.

(I shouldn't say that, or it'll turn out to be someone here's art, and then I will die of embarassment... The fanart is better than any I've done, okay?)

The Literary Dinner Party Tag

Featuring: Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer)

Rising Author Tag || times two

So I was reading Kendra Lynne's blog, and she did a post called the Rising Author tag. (Apparently, it was the fifth time she'd done it.)

I was intrigued by the questions, thought I'd steal them, and told her so. (She was lovely about it :)

That was in September 2017. Because MASTER PROCRASTINATOR HERE.

Then I was tagged - legally! - by Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee (at A Looong Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away) and I will refer to forevermore to her as "Ani" because that's what Anidori got called in the book. (even though her name seems to be... Cecelia? maybe? the irony is killing me?) (If you haven't read Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl, do so. It starts off a bit slow, but it's lovely.) Thank you for tagging me, Ani!

So I'm going to answer two lots of questions.

The Rising Author Tag || x2 because I procrastinate like that

(The "Rising Author Tag" - that makes it sound like I'm going places! apart from between my bed, my desk, and the kitchen! which is cool! mostly untrue, but cool!)

The Rules:
#1: No tagging back
#2: Tag Four People
#3: Thank The Person Who Tagged You

........

Ani's questions first!

--{ 1: What is your "go-to" song for writing? }--

9 Truths, 2 Lies (a short post?? who's writing this???)

In my Liebster Award post I promised I was saving the eleven random facts (about me!) for another post. This is that post.

But I lied.

I'm only going to give you nine. And two lies.

It's your job to tell me which you think is which.

(One of them I've mentioned before - little hint for those of you who've been reading my blog a while. ;)

 When I was [various stages of] young (such a long time ago!), I:

1. Could not BEAR shortbread

2. Tipped a jar of baby powder on my brother and then explained, "...it's snowing"

3. Learned to drive the tractor standing up so I could reach the pedal

4. Planned to marry my brother

5. Said I was going to run away as soon as I turned 18 because I hated the speargrass on our new property

6. Put my glasses down on the trampoline that oNE TIME

7. Hit a tree in the farm ute while fleeing a fire

8. Internally judged those who'd read LotR

9. Put a cereal box on my head and, according to unfortunate video footage, flapped my arms like a T-Rex doing breaststroke

10. Tore strips off pages of library books and ate the paper

11. Never had a nickname (beyond a shortening of my full name)


...I was going to put "Thought 'socialization' meant 'meet new bookcases'," but figured that one would be fairly easy to identify as truth...

This is probably unfairly hard? since I've never talked much about my life beyond what books I spend my time reading... but hey, you get to test out your guessing skills!

Which two do you think are the lies? Put them in the comments, and on - (ahhh - Saturday?) - ...Saturday! I will update this post to include the answers! 

(Also, do you have any comments to make about any of these facts? because I do. What were you doing, young me. What.)

Also also. This is one of my shortest posts in a looong time. Which is probably good?? they've been getting a bit unwieldy... xD

-------

Annnd... here's the update with the answers.

Liebster Award || just ONE OF THE MANY tags I'm behind on

Okay so hERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF MY PROCRASTINATION LEVELS for you.


In October, Lila Kims at The Cheapskate Bibliomaniac nominated my blog for the 2017 Liebster Award. I accepted and had every intention of writing the post.

Five days later, Mary Katherine from Sarcastic Scribblings nominated my blog for the 2017 Liebster Award. Again, I accepted, and increased the urgency level for writing my post.

Come December, and The Temperamental Writer at All Things Trivial and Insignificant nOMINATED MY BLOG BECAUSE GUESS WHAT I HAVEN'T WRITTEN THE POST YET.

*slaps self*

I'd done a Liebster Award post before, back in July, but there was a bit of confusion about what that actually meant, and it got treated basically like a tag. This time, however, there were lovely clear lists of rules/guidelines in the posts:

........

1. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog. Try to include a little promotion for the person who nominated you. They will thank you for it and those whom you nominate will also help you out as well. (Or, as MK put it, gush about how wonderful the person who nominated you is.)

2. Display the award on your blog – by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (There are lots of options for pictures if you go here!)

3. Write a 150-300 word rave about your favorite blog that is not your own. Explain why you like the blog, provide links.

4. Nominate 5–11 blogs – who have less than 200 followers – that you feel deserve the award.

5. List these rules in your post.

6. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post. (They might not have ever heard of it!)

7. Post a comment in the comments of the award post so your post and blog can be viewed. (This... was only open until mid-December... oh well ;)

Additionally, some included the rules:

1. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger gives you
2. Give 11 random facts about yourself
3. Give the bloggers you tag 11 questions to answer

...this is going to be a long post. xD

Weak excuses + The Writer's Book Tag

Over the last week, I disappeared off the face of the earth blogosphere.

This was not, good idea though it would have been, so I could focus on NaNo. No. It was... so I could... that is, I've been... doing...

I don't know.

I don't know why for a whole week I didn't have any time to comment on blogs, since I did not write a. single. word. on my NaNo draft either??

Here's what I know I did do:

• One morning: Spent an hour on remedial reading with a  at a local primary school
• One evening: Submitted last TAFE assessment for this year. 
• One morning: Swimming instructor for a bunch of homeschooling kids
• One weekend: Read 5 books (and a frankly embarrassing amount of fanfiction throughout the week)
• Over two days: Read a 300+ fancomic series. I have now caught up. I am displeased. 
• One evening: Watched The Battle of the Five Armies with my brother (the one I'm slowly converting to the fandom. Only he has an actual job and studies full-time, so he doesn't usually have time. He makes me feel so lazy :P)
• This morning: Got on the tractor and buried a feral pig Dad shot. 

And it doesn't feel like that's enough serious things happening to justify a word count that's gone up by zero??

...

I always knew I was a Master Procrastinator. 


Anyway, here's a book tag! Because I've been reading far more this month than anyone doing NaNo has a right to do. The Temperamental Writer (well, her ghost, at least ;) at All Things Trivial and Insignificant tagged me for the Writer's Book Tag, and I love the way it uses various elements of a writer's life as book categories.

The Mysteriously Nameless Tag of Doom

HEEEY ALL

- it's 10pm November 1st
- NaNo is here
- I am hiding from NaNo
- shhh
- I have succeeded in hiding from NaNo for *counts on fingers* 22 hours so far??
- it's working
- this is going to be my most productive month ever
- in everything except writing

Except I NEED to write at least 20k because I joined a dare/threat thing?? The NaNo Dare Squad (courtesy of Kenzie)! Each person gives their goal and privately submits a dare; anyone who doesn't end up achieving their goals will randomly get one of the other people's dares. The dares are secret until half-way through the month or something?? so you don't know what horrors potentially await.

BUT if everyone but Kenzie achieves their goals, she gets to do ALL the submitted dares herself, if I'm understanding this correctly?? so. I live in hope.

(She's a super good sport to suggest this xD)

...ANYWAY I HAD A POINT HERE. *rereads title*

. . . . . . . .

A little while back [my catchphrase...] [it was like 2 months now?? SORRY KATE] Kate Marie tagged me for something she called "The Mysteriously Nameless Tag of Doom". I have since realized why it is a 'tag of doom':

It asks very difficult questions about books. I know you all sympathize.

So. I might waffle. Avoid the point. Talk around the question. I'll try not to outright refuse to answer... but you never know what may be necessary.

--{ What book has been on your shelf the longest? }--

I'm not sure - maybe Anne of Green Gables, or The Chronicles of Narnia? (both gifts from grandparents when I was young). Or maybe one of my "children's classics" - that term meaning, basically, "book that once was good but has been revised and edited so it's shorter and simpler and [an unfortunate but inescapable side effect] much more boring". E.g. The Railway Children is a good book? but my children's classic edition is so boring as to be unbearable. They take out the beauty of the writing style!

--{ What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next? }--

Currently reading: nothing, because a) I don't have any unread books at the moment; and b) upcoming assessments and NaNo
Last read: Leave it to Psmith, P.G. Wodehouse. (Reread.)
Next read: I don't know - it depends on what I can get my hands on.

--{ What book did everyone like, but you hated? }--

Who's "everyone"? People I know? Bloggers? Goodreads users?

Goodreads and I probably have the most disagreements. For example, I seem to recall that the reviews for Flame in the Mist (Renee Ahdieh) were overwhelmingly positive. Personally, I had no idea what was going on, didn't like the MC, hated the love triangle, didn't appreciate the "romance", and overall hated the book.

(Apparently it's supposed to be a Mulan retelling?? which I didn't know and didn't see.)

--{ What book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t? }--

There are multiple classics I feel like I should read, but haven't and probably won't. Jane Eyre is one. Most of Dickens' work is also on the list - I've read Great Expectations and a kids' version of Oliver Twist, but that's all.

--{ What book are you saving for retirement? }--

Why would I save a good book for retirement?? I might never live that long! I might DIE and NEVER get to read it! Or I might go blind! Or not like that kind of book any more!

--{ Last page: read it first, or wait ’til the end? }--

Wait until the end.

Usually.

But if I don't like the way the book's going, if the quality of the content seems to be going downhill, or if the book's just boring, I'll check the end to see if I should continue.

And then continue anyway, because DNFing a book is not something I do except in extraordinary circumstances.

--{ Acknowledgement: waste of paper and ink, or interesting aside? }--

While I'm sure it's an amazing experience for those mentioned in the acknowledgements, I normally skip that page.

But then there's these kinds of acknowledgements:

I believe these are from the Percy Jackson series? but I've only read the first book so I can't confirm.

--{ Which book character would you switch places with? }--

Which character would I be able to fill in for without dying or causing the end of the world??

I'd love to be Will from The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1). Buuut [as I have previously mentioned] I would die. Of pain. Because I am not fit at all, and Halt is a super-tough mentor. (But I'd love to be able to shoot and ride and throw knives and Trust the cloak and everything.)

Also, I would fail in Will's responsibilities, plot-wise, and then the Kalkara would kill Halt and me and everyone. And there would be no more books. The end.

--{ Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life? (Place, time, person?) }--

I have two books which were birthday gifts from two friends, and whenever I look at them I remember that these people knew me well enough to give me a book :')

(Or, okay, it was obvious that I would appreciate a book. BUT THEY GAVE ME A BOOK which is all that matters and I am very grateful.)

--{ Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way. }--

I...

Most of my books were either gifted to me (for birthdays/Christmas) or I bought them myself at a thrift shop? I can't think of any particularly interesting acquisition stories. Sadly. (Those stories would certainly spice up my book collection.)

--{ Have you ever given a book away for a special reason to a special person? }--

No.

I am a book dragon. I hoard books. I do not get rid of them. (Unless they're below standard.)

(Fine. I sometimes give people books. Because that's the best gift I can give. But they're typically new and not from my book hoard, just saying.)

--{ Which book has been with you most places? }--

Technically my little Gideons' Bible - you know the tiny ones with the NT + Psalms + Proverbs? It's in my handbag. Other than that, I'd take whichever book I was reading at the time with me for a trip in the car and I would get terribly carsick. Not that it stopped me.

(Me @ my bad life choices)

--{ Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad later? }--

 I was not impressed when I was told we'd be doing Pride and Prejudice for English in Grade 12.

Buuut I loved it. When I got over my "it's a classic it mUST BE BORING" prejudices. And I watched both movies. And moved on to reading Emma and Sense and Sensibility (my least favourite) and Persuasion. Haven't read her other [more Gothic] novels, though.

--{ Used or brand new? }--

Used. Thrift shops are the best. I can buy the entire first 10 of the 39 Clues series (okay, #9 wasn't there, but Cahills vs. Vespers #1 was) for $2 each. They're basically in brand new condition?? what fool threw them out??

Books are super expensive when they're brand new, so I don't buy them unless it's for a special reason.

--{ Have you ever read a Dan Brown book? }--

No?

--{ Have you ever seen a movie you liked more than the book? }--

Love Comes Softly.

--{ Have you ever read a book that’s made you hungry, cookbooks included? }--

Not that I'm aware of. (Who reads cookbooks anyway?) (scratch that, as kids my siblings and I would go through all the Sweet Treats-style cookbooks and pick out all the things we'd like. Probably that made us hungry. Or at least grumpy.)

--{ Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take? }--

...

Not sure. My mum used to pre-read our books, and she has some pretty good advice, but our tastes have started diverging. (She seems to tend towards heavier reading, e.g. children in the Holocaust.)

As for anyone else... "always" is a bit inflexible? there are people whose tastes are similar to mine, but that doesn't mean we're going to agree all the time on what books are good.

--{ Is there a book out of your comfort zone (e.g., outside your usual reading genre) that you ended up loving? }--

The Lost Girl of Astor Street is historical fiction - in the jazz era. I don't believe I've read any other book set then, and I'm not usually big on historical itself. But I picked up Lost Girl because I "knew" Stephanie Morrill from Go Teen Writers. And I am so glad I did, because it was amazing.

. . . . . . . .

So that's the Mysteriously Nameless Tag of Doom done. Thanks for tagging me, Kate, and I now tag:

Lila @ Cheapskate Bibliomaniac
Evangeline @ I Just Happened
Jazzy @ thriving hope

Only if you want to, of course!

I didn't receive any rules with the tag? which suits me anyway :) #IdowhatIwant #youcantoo!


Have you read any of these? Are any on your TBR?  Where do you buy your books? Which movie was better than its book? Are you a book hoarder, or a giver? What character would you swap places with? Jane Austen - yea or nay? Am I missing out by not reading Dickens?

Do you have any random ramblings about books? (I am here for all the book ramblings <3)