Writers Unite! Introduction

It's three days from November and we all know what November means...National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo is a crazy 30 day event in which aspiring novelists attempt to hit 50 000 words. It's MUCH harder than it sounds so I'm happy that this year, Charlotte and Paola have created Writers Unite!, a support group for NaNoWriMo participants. If you're interested, you can find more information here.

And now for the first order of the day: Writers Unite! Introduction post. 

If you don't already know my name, it's Annie and I am a teenager from Canada. I really love books and hazelnut macchiatos from Starbucks as well as Kit Kats. I spend way too much time on Tumblr than is healthy. My favourite color is blue, I'm an only child and I have no pets. I don't know how to ride a bike nor do I know how to play a guitar. I like watching New Girl and hockey and playing Temple Run and Candy Crush on my phone. 

I've been interested in writing since the fourth grade and have actually had dreams of becoming a novelist when I grew older. I don't know if that's the route I want to take any more but I do know that I would still love to study English or Literature in university. When I first learned of NaNoWriMo last year, I was really excited to get my hands dirty with some writing again but I failed. Miserably. I think I wrote three thousand words. After that mess, I decided to try again with Camp NaNoWriMo and I did even worse. I only wrote two thousand words. So here's my third time trying my hand at NaNoWriMo and hopefully, third time's the charm! 

I don't have a very strict goal for NaNoWriMo this month because I know I cannot write well under pressure. I really need time to think things through so I'm aiming for 30 000 words by the end of this month. I know the common goal for NaNoWriMo is 50 000 words and of course, I'd love to accomplish that but knowing myself, I think 30 000 is a much more realistic target and I'd be over the moon if I could get that done, even if that means I don't technically win NaNoWriMo. 

As for what novel I'm writing, well, I haven't gotten that far in my planning. Honestly, I have ZERO ideas so I'm thinking I might end up pantsing the story. I don't even know what genre it's going to be! I'm leaning towards contemporary but I think I might go with fantasy or historical fiction because I want to do something outside my comfort zone. And of course, because they'd be so much fun! 

So that's my Writers Unite! introduction! I'm super excited for this month and I can't wait to get writing with all of you! It's going to be crazy but hopefully, we'll be able to support each other along the way! 

The Rule of Thirds by Chantel Guertin

The Rule of Thirds by Chantel Guertin
Published October 1, 2013 by ECW Press
Paperback, 196 pages
Received from publisher through NetGalley -- thanks!

Pippa Greene is an aspiring photographer but it's in her blood. After all, her father was a photographer too. So when the annual Vantage Point photography competition is in just three weeks, Pippa is eager to get started on her shooting. But unfortunately, with the introduction of two cute boys and a volunteer position at the local hospital - one place she NEVER wanted to enter again - Vantage Point isn't the only thing on her mind.

I have to extend a huge thank you to this book for making me feel less stifled. Honestly, The Rule of Thirds could NOT have come at a better time. Thank you for making me feel light and fizzy when I really needed it! 

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

With that out of the way, I really have to talk about how much I loved Pippa! I totally felt like we could have been best friends if she weren't, um, you know, a fictional character. She was such a likeable character and her narration was absolutely HILARIOUS and totally spot on. Finally, a teen that sounds like a teen! 

There wasn't much character development in The Rule of Thirds since it was such a short book but I felt it wasn't needed. This, to me, seemed more plot-driven than character-driven and again, for 196 pages, a very simple straightforward storyline is enough to carry the story which was wholly enjoyable! Let me tell you, this book was a real page-turner! Even despite the bad parts...

Namely, Pippa's best friend Dace who was SO annoying and SUCH a bad example for Pippa. See, Dace has this idea that dating two guys at the same time is totally fine, and even more so when they're both jerks. You do not know how much I wanted to punch this girl in the brains! No, Dace, NO. Cheating is not right, ever. Not even when they're jerks! But obviously, she doesn't get that because she sprouts up a line like this:

"I couldn't settle on just one. I guess I like my bikinis like I like my boys. Two at a time," she says, laying her towel on her lounge chair. (88)

And then there's Ben Baxter whom I might have disliked even MORE than Dace, if that's even possible. He was a jerk and it was clear right off the bat. Well, to everyone except for Pippa. Seriously, she should have noticed the signs and stayed away from him. Because see what happened to her when she didn't? He manipulated her and stole her pictures to win the competition. And she totally let him get away with it! That was so annoying. I felt like the book just wasn't complete because the whole Ben Baxter situation wasn't resolved!

I also wished for there to be more photography in this book. I'm currently in photography which has been really fun so I was excited to find out that this book was about a girl who loves photography! Going into this book, I thought there was going to be a much larger emphasis on that than there really was. Which taught me to really treasure the few moments where I got to see Pippa the photographer in action. I admit, I have learned a thing or two from her regarding pictures to take.

But never mind that because Dylan McCutter makes everything BETTER. He was such a sweetheart and if the amount of times Pippa thought of him was any indication, she totally should have just decided to be with him! I was rooting for Pippa and Dylan to make it and in the end, they did which made me really happy.

The Rule of Thirds by Chantel Guertin was a very cute book! I flipped through this one in a day! Pippa was a great narrator who was very funny too! I felt her voice was very authentic and she was someone I would totally want to be best friends with in real life! I also enjoyed Dylan, one of the love interests. He was such a cutie (though I may be a bit biased because we all know how I feel towards Dylan O'Brien...don't ask) and I have trouble understanding why Pippa did not go with him immediately because it was so obvious that he was the better of the two. Dace and Ben, I was not such a fan of but ultimately, everything else was too great for that to bring this book down! I don't have very much to say about this book other than that! It was great!

people searching for light and fast reads who like a cute romance in their stories. If you enjoy books by Elizabeth Eulberg and the like, I think you'll have fun with this!

The Novel Report: October 27-November 2, 2013

I'm always a big fan of keeping track of the books I read so I created 'The Novel Report' to help me do just that! If you have any comments about books I'm reading or will read, leave a comment! I'd love to hear what you think!

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

I heard so many great reviews for Second Chance Summer and I was NOT disappointed. You can see more of my thoughts in my review!


The Rule of Thirds by Chantel Guertin
I just finished this book yesterday and it was so delightful! As a photography student, I really enjoyed the photography aspect in this book. Really wonderful and review to come...tomorrow, actually!

I'm still being slow at reading my books. Blame it on the weather or school, but I wish my reading would get back to normal! Lately, it seems all I want to do is play Candy Crush and watch New Girl.

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

I honestly have not gotten very far in this book. I'm maybe on the third chapter? It sounds very interesting but I'm not sure if I can get into it.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

YES, I am still reading this book! I really need to get a move on because I need to finish this book for my independent reading assignment in two weeks and I've only read 32 pages! I'm going to make myself not read anything else but this for the next week. I HAVE to finish this.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

Tell me - what are some books you've been reading lately? Have you read any of the books on this week's list? If so, what did you think of them? Speak your mind in the comments!