Suzanna's Writing and Reading Goals for 2024: February Update

 

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The second month was successful with my reading goals. I made great progress on the publishing course, though I still have quite a bit to go. It has been lovely to think of how I want to reach my writing and publishing goals.

Here are my writing goals for 2024:

1. Write 50,000 words in 30 days as part of a NaNo project (Camp in April, Camp in July, or NaNo in November).
2. Write at least one children's book.
3. Write at least one new short story.
4. Edit at least one short story from my undergrad days.
5. Write at least twelve poems.
6. Put together a poetry collection.
7. Work on the draft of the graphic novel.
8. Take a course on publishing. (in progress)

1. Read 12 literary magazines. (0/12)
2. Read 12 novels. (24/12)
1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (read by Andy Serkis)
2. The Wolf of Oren-Yaro
3. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
4. Green Rider by Kristen Britain
5. The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake
6. Rival Demons by Sarra Cannon
7. Demons Forever by Sarra Cannon
8. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
9. Emerald Darkness by Sarra Cannon
3. Read 12 short story collections. (0/12)
4. Read 12 poetry collections. (0/12)
5. Read 12 graphic novels. (7/12)
1. Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman
2. A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll
3. The Dark Matter of Mona Starr by Laura Lee Gulledge
4. Everything is Teeth by Evie Wyld
5. Fables: Book Six by Bill Willingham
6. Read 12 children's books. (6/12)
1. The Adventures of Chad and the feelings of Glad, Mad and Sad by Dustin Wright
2. We're Different, We're the Same by Bobbi Jane Kates
3. Mulla Husayn: The Story of the Declaration of the Bab for Young Children by Alhan Rahimi
4. Naw-Ruz in My Family by Alhan Rahimi
5. Garden of Ridvan by Alhan Rahimi
7. Read lots of books (nonfiction, fiber, etc). (9/12)
1. Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
2. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher
8. Participate in every Kindle Reading Challenge this year and get at least 90% of the badges. 
1. On target to finish all of the badges!

What are some of your writing and reading goals for 2024? How was February for you?

Suzanna's Writing and Reading Goals for 2024: January Update

 

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It's time to reflect on the first month of 2024! How did I do?

Here are my writing goals for 2024:

1. Write 50,000 words in 30 days as part of a NaNo project (Camp in April, Camp in July, or NaNo in November).
2. Write at least one children's book.
3. Write at least one new short story.
4. Edit at least one short story from my undergrad days.
5. Write at least twelve poems.
6. Put together a poetry collection.
7. Work on the draft of the graphic novel.
8. Take a course on publishing.
1. The 6 week course starts in February, and it will be exciting to think about writing and publishing in a new way. I am looking forward to learning so much.

Of course as a writer, I also need to read. I read 25 books in January. Only 225 to hit my goal, which is about 4.5 books a week.

1. Read 12 literary magazines. (0/12)
1. (selected one but haven't finished)
2. Read 12 novels. (15/12)
1. Inner Demons by Sarra Cannon
2. Popcorn and Poltergeists by Nancy Warren
3. Bitter Demons by Sarra Cannon
4. Shadow Demons by Sarra Cannon
5. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
6. Golden Son by Pierce Brown
7. Garters and Gargoyles by Nancy Warren
8. Morning Star by Pierce Brown
9. Diamonds and Daggers by Nancy Warren
10. Ribbing and Runes by Nancy Warren
11. Herringbones and Hexes by Nancy Warren
12. Mosaics and Magic by Nancy Warren
13. Tangles and Treason by Nancy Warren
14. Iron Gold by Pierce Brown
15. Cat's Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren
3. Read 12 short story collections. (0/12)
1. (selected one but haven't finished)
4. Read 12 poetry collections. (0/12)
1. (selected one but haven't finished)
5. Read 12 graphic novels. (2/12)
1. Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman
2. Heartstopper: Volume Three by Alice Oseman
6. Read 12 children's books. (1/12)
1. The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken
7. Read lots of books (nonfiction, fiber, etc). (7/12)
1. Weaving Big on a Little Loom by Fiona Daly
2. A Handbook of Weaves by Gustaf Hermann Oelsner
3. Pattern Weaving by Rabbit Goody
4. Polysecure by Jessica Fern
5. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
6. The Gift by Edith Eger
7. The Polysecure Workbook by Jessica Fern
8. Participate in every Kindle Reading Challenge this year and get at least 90% of the badges.
1. I am on target with 8 achievements so far.  

What are some of your writing and reading goals for 2024? How did January go for you?

Suzanna's Writing and Reading Goals for 2024

 

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Wow, I can't believe that January is halfway over already! I decided to do something a little different this year. In December 2023, I took the Heart Breathings HB90 Bootcamp by Sarra Cannon to break the year into quarters by making goals and planning projects each quarter. I've been trying for years (and years) to develop tools from others and discover my preferences with planners, tracking progress, making goals, and completing goals.

And with all those years of experimenting, I have had little success with follow through. I make all of these wonderful goals at the beginning of the year. I start off great, but then the Suzanna Train loses steam and screeches off the track. Sure, I've reached some of my goals, but I have been anything but consistent, except during NaNo. Somehow, I can do NaNo. I even made it to 100 K with my double NaNo goal in 2023. YAY!

While I am still experimenting with my planner system, I'm thrilled that I took the HB90 Bootcamp course. I can already feel a difference with the progress I've made so far on my goals. 

• I'm not beating myself up when I fail to meet my daily or weekly to do list.
• Each day is a fresh start. Today is a good day to have a good day.
• It is really hard to make habits, but progress is progress.
• Life will throw curveballs no matter how much I plan. Gotta get up.

So, I want to continue writing, reading, and making progress on my personal goals. Here goes the start of a new quarter.

Here are my writing goals for 2024:

1. Write 50,000 words in 30 days as part of a NaNo project (Camp in April, Camp in July, or NaNo in November).
2. Write at least one children's book.
3. Write at least one new short story.
4. Edit at least one short story from my undergrad days.
5. Write at least twelve poems.
6. Put together a poetry collection.
7. Work on the draft of the graphic novel.
8. Take a course on publishing.

Of course as a writer, I also need to read. Can I make it to 250 this year? I made it to 247 last year.

1. Read 12 literary magazines.
2. Read 12 novels.
3. Read 12 short story collections.
4. Read 12 poetry collections.
5. Read 12 graphic novels.
6. Read 12 children's books.
7. Participate in every Kindle Reading Challenge this year and get at least 90% of the badges. 

What are some of your writing and reading goals for 2024?

Children's Books Explorations: Concept Books

What is a Concept Book?

A type of picture book made to explain or introduce an idea or activity. This includes the alphabet, counting, colors, times, and shapes.

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The Concept Books I read: 

1. Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
2. I Feel! A book of Emotions by Juana Medina
3. Mouse Magic by Ellen Stoll Walsh
4. Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly! by Mo Willems
5. What's Your Sound, Hound the Hound? by Mo Willems

What I learned: 

I have taken fine art courses at undergraduate programs, and I still struggle with the color wheel when it comes to tertiary colors. I was impressed by how Mouse Paint and Mouse Magic by Ellen Stoll Walsh introduced art concepts of colors. I even learned something! I'm rather sad that I did not read them as a child.

I Feel! A book of Emotions by Juana Medina showed a variety of emotions with facial expressions and colors. I thought the order of emotions was interesting. It was fascinating to see that there are several emotion wheels. I have certain emotions that I connect to specific colors, and I really like the shades used in the following wheel. Are there certain colors that you associate with emotions? Is anger only red? Is joy only yellow? 

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The work of Mo Willems was musical and lyrical. I can imagine how much fun it would be to read with a child. Friends was a concept in both Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly! and What's Your Sound, Hound the Hound?. It was neat to see how the characters moved on the page and interacted with each other.

Do you have a favorite Concept Book? And what colors do you associate with emotions? Comment below.

#BookLover Thoughts Opinions and Experiences #NationalBookLoversDay

 Well, I'm a book lover.  Anyone who knows me knows this about me.  I'm always running off to the library or in a state of near panic because I might run out of things to read.

I prefer reading physical books to e-books, but having the Kindle app on my phone means that fear of running out of things to read, or being stuck waiting somewhere without a book has been alleviated somewhat.  

My favourite place to read is in the bath.  A nice hot bath with a cup of relaxing herbal tea and a good book is my idea of heaven.  Unfortunately I occasionally get too relaxed and fall asleep and that leads to the library getting some slightly fatter books back into their collection!  It's usually just a corner that dips into the water, so not too hard to dry out.  I've only had to buy the book a couple of times.  Unfortunately they're always the books I didn't enjoy so much so don't really want to own...  I guess that's why I fell asleep in the first place!

Where is your favourite place to read?

Kindle Challenge Update--January 2021

 

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It was a wonderful surprise to open my email from Amazon with a Kindle Challeng in January. My goal is to read 35 books in 2021 and track my progress on Goodreads. So far I have finished 9 electronic book and 10 physical books. Earning badges still reminded me of National Novel Writing Month. 

I earned 9 badges out of 12. I was not going to unregister my Kindle device and risk issues with syncing my account, and I missed reading two days, so I did not earn the Read 30 days in January badge. Since I missed two badges, I did not earn the badge Overachiever because I did not get all of the badges for the January Challenge. Oh well.

 

My Earned Badges are as follows:

(Earned) Bronze Reader: Read 7 days in January

(Earned) Silver Reader: Read 15 days in January

Gold Reader: Read 30 days in January

(Earned) Goal Setter: Create a reading goal for 2021

Easy on the Eyes: Register a Kindle E-reader device

(Earned) I’m a Fan!: Follow an author

(Earned) Book-in-Hand: Purchase any Kindle eBook from Amazon

(Earned) Kindle Unlimited Reader: Borrow any title from Kindle Unlimited

(Earned) Series Starter: Start reading any series title

(Earned) Quitters Day: Read on January 19^th, the day most people quit on their New Year’s resolutions

(Earned) Finisher: Complete any Kindle eBook in January

Overachiever: Earn all available badges in Kindle Challenge

 

I will keep reading regardless. 

What are your reading goals for February 2021? How are you doing with your overall reading goals for 2021? What are you currently reading?

 

 

 

Kindle Challenge

 

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It was a wonderful surprise to open my email from Amazon with a Kindle Challenge. My goal is to read 35 books in 2021 and track my progress on Goodreads. So far I have finished one electronic book from the library. I am intrigued with the Kindle Challenge quests. It reminds me of earning badges during National Novel Writing Month.

 

My Badges are as follows:

Bronze Reader: Read 7 days in January

Silver Reader: Read 15 days in January

Gold Reader: Read 30 days in January

Goal Setter: Create a reading goal for 2021

Easy on the Eyes: Register a Kindle E-reader device

I’m a Fan!: Follow an author

Book-in-Hand: Purchase any Kindle eBook from Amazon

Kindle Unlimited Reader: Borrow any title from Kindle Unlimited

Series Starter: Start reading any series title

Quitters Day: Read on January 19^th, the day most people quit on their New Year’s resolutions

Finisher: Complete any Kindle eBook in January

Overachiever: Earn all available badges in Kindle Challenge

I shall give an update in February of my progress. What are your reading goals for January 2021?

 

 

Reading Goals for 2021

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I am amazed at how much I read this year, over 100 books. I was not expecting to read very many books for fun because of my required reading for grad school. Since I have read many more books than I expected, I hope to finish the year strong with a couple more books before midnight on the 31st.

2020 Reading Highlights in no particular order:

• Several by Jason Reynolds (so many good ones, it's hard to pick one)
• Radical Compassion by Tara Brach
• The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
• Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley
• Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley
• Sing for Your Life by Daniel Bergner
• The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
• Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker
• The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
• Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
• Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist
• The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
• Nothing Was the Same by Kay Redfield Jamison
• Trauma-Informed Treatment: The Restorative Approach by Patricia D. Wilcox
• The Wounded Healer by David Sedgwick

Books I intend to reread:

• How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
• Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit by Mary Frances Winters

I shall set my 2021 reading goals to include the books I want to reread, as well as another reading of The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. It is a book I have reread several times. 

What books do you intend to reread? What are your reading goals for 2021?

Q: What Are You Reading? A: Young Adult Fantasy

 

So you want to write Young Adult Fantasy? It’s time to read some! But what stories are considered Fantasy? According to StoryGrid, Fantasy should have the reader suspend disbelief when encountering an imaginative world has a protagonist negotiating a core event or controlling idea, particularly with combining fantasy with other genres like thriller or horror. Check StoryGrid for more information.

 

What stories are considered young adult? Some resources are available about the differences between adult fiction and young adult fiction. Check them out here, here, and here.

 

Some examples of Young Adult Fantasy are An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, Sabriel by Garth Nix, and We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal. Check out a list of more Young Adult Fantasy titles here, here, and here. Personally, I love everything by Sabaa Tahir and Leigh Bardugo.

 

Upcoming Young Adult Fantasy titles can be found here, here, and here.

 

Check out OA’s recent blog posts on how you can support #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Authors and Videos of Support #WeNeedDiverseBooks 

Support Black Lives Matter

 

This blog post is part of a series called Q: What Are You Reading? by Suzanna Anderson on Operation Awesome. Please note that this book list is not comprehensive. This list is a starting point, an introduction to Young Adult Fantasy titles. Suzanna reads a book and usually finds at least ten more books to read. Use this list as inspiration to check out titles at your local library, support your local bookstores with purchases, or wherever you get your books. Please do read, share, and write reviews (if you want to). Comment below what you’ve read and what you’re excited to read next!

 

What are you reading?