NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS // 2017

Saturday, December 2, 2017
*barges in with carols and cookies and Christmas trees* MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! Yes, I know there are still twenty-three days until Christmas, but who doesn't love a little extra Christmas cheer? 

At least I need some extra Christmas cheer. Even though it's December, it doesn't feel like Christmas. All of the snow we had on the ground melted, I haven't listened to much Christmas music, and our tree isn't even set up. O.O (not to mention all of the cards and presents I haven't started on... *cries because I am the worst gift giver*)

ANYWAY, I'm here to talk about the highlights of November, so let's get into them!

THE INFINITY WARS TRAILER. PLEASE TELL ME YOU'VE SEEN IT SO WE CAN FREAK OUT TOGETHER. (here's the link if you haven't) I've already watched it five times and have freaked out every time. I only shed a couple tears out of excitement, so be proud. *absolutely cannot wait* (only 152 days away!!) It's been fun to see the internet explode with the conjoined excitement for this movie. :D

Speaking of movies, I watched more movies than I read books this month. (can I even call myself a bookworm?? o.o) It was a good mix -- Wonder, Thor: Ragnarok, Murder on the Orient Express, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Wonder Woman. I feel like there was maybe one other I watched, but my mind is blanking, so it must've not been that memorable. :P

The other "big happening" of November is that I repainted my room! Guys, painting takes so long. It took several days of me working from after lunch until nine at night to complete this project, but the finished result was worth it. *happy squeal* (is it okay if I dump a few pictures on you? Because that's totally what I'm going to do)


There aren't as many highlights as usual, but it's proving difficult to think past, "wait, I did other things than write this month??" #NaNoWriMoProbs


The Book of Lost Things [3.5/5] - for some reason I thought this was a middle grade book, but... #nope It was kind of a mashup of fairytales, each of them taking an unexpectedly dark twist. Very unique! But also somewhat scattered.

Eliza and her Monsters [5/5] - THIS BOOK. *hugs it* It's about a webcomic writer whose work goes viral, and how she deals with the confusing meld of her online life and "real" life. I really, really loved it and could relate. <3

The Girl Who Drank the Moon [3/5] - I wanted to love this book, but... it kind of dragged on and on and not much happened. :/

December is going to be my month of BOOKS. I have a long list on my phone of books I want to read in December, so we'll see if it's possible to get through all of them. Renegades is my next read! Also look -- I received pretty buttons for preordering it. <3

*tries to refrain from mentioning the obvious* *fails* So, NaNoWriMo happened. (duhhh) Instead of repeating more rambles about the insanity, here are the links to my wrap up posts:


If you don't want to commit to reading through all of those posts, here's a short rundown:

  • Coffeemaker broke 
  • Sadness over coffeemaker
  • New coffeemaker bought!
  • Words written
  • Lots of words written
  • Words deleted (not on purpose. bothersome crashing computer -.-)
  • Some despair
  • Some excitement
  • MORE words written
  • YAY I HIT 50k
  • So many characters, much character problems
  • Strange lacking of pizza eating
  • Lots of yawning
  • Lots of staring at the ceiling
  • Lots of procrastination
  • LOTS OF WRITING
  • Wrote The End!
  • Time to sleep
  • Poor sore fingers

I saw this challenge below on my Facebook feed and couldn't help but participate: Scroll through your manuscript. Let the cursor fall where it may and you have one terrible title.

1. Weak Attempts At Talking
2. The Bottom
3. A Strange Experience
4. Kind Of A Mess
5. Screamed And Dropped
6. I Could Fly
7. Her Parents' Planters
8. Worrying About Life 

It's so hard for me to even choose a favorite. The last one is hilariously and unfortunately relatable, but "Kind Of A Mess" describes the novel's current state well. xD

What's next for me writing-wise? I usually take a writing break in December, but I'm so eager to start editing Where Shadows Lie again that I might just take it slowly. I ordered a coil-bound draft from Lulu for making scene edits which should be super fun. I've never edited on paper before. o.o

And I also ordered my first-draft copy of my superhero novel! (when I first wrote that sentence I accidentally wrote first draft coffee. #fail) I cannot wait to add it to my collection. I don't think I ever shared this in my NaNo posts, but there's a really special significance about my superhero story that I just realized. The whole concept is about superheros losing their powers at age eighteen, yeah? It's all about growing up and moving on from childhood, which is crazy because this is my last novel I wrote as a teen. o.o *sniff* I just thought that was really special. <3

Congrats to all the NaNoWriMo winners! It was neat scrolling through Twitter and seeing all the "winner" badges. But honestly congrats to anyone who managed to write words during this crazy month. You guys are all superheroes. <3

December is my annual blogging break! Which is sad, but I am looking forward to a break. Here's what the month will look like:

2nd - this post! yay for monthly highlights!
9th - a lovely guest post by a certain lovely author. (there may or may not be a giveaway, so be here for that!)
16th - no post! 
23rd - no post, but ON THIS DAY THERE WILL JUST BE TWO DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS. o.o
30th - end of the year wrap-up post!

I hope you all enjoy your December! This is the last month of the year, so let's try to make it count. 

<3,
katie grace

so. how are you nanoers?
what did you come up with in the "terrible title" challenge? xD

53 comments :

  1. I hope I get to read Eliza and her monsters soon!

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  2. *squeals at your dramatic, Christmas-y entrance* I SAW THE TRAILER FOR INFINITY WAR AND OH MY WORD. My brother and I were soooo excited. I WILL GLAD GEEK OUT WITH YOU. IT WAS AHIODHJBK.
    Your NaNo novel sounds so awesome Katie! (I feel like it would be so fun to write a superhero novel, but so hard too?) Congrats on finishing!
    Ok, so for the challenge, whatever your cursor lands on, you have to come up with a title for that part? (Sorry *is a little confused* *hides*) Yours titles are great!
    I LOVVVVVVE YOUR ROOM. So neat and pretty and wow. I'm a little obsessed. Merry *early* Christmas!!

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    Replies
    1. AHHH YES IT WAS SO AMAZING. I'M SO EXCITED BUT YET TERRIFIED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANY OF THEM TO DIEEE.

      No worries! I was a little confused at first, too. If you cursor lands on a certain word, take the phrase around them and type it as a title. So if I did this for the last sentence in your comment it would be, "A Little Obsessed." Kind of make sense? It's just supposed to be a fun little game. xD

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  3. Your first into paragraph summed up exactly how I'm feeling right about now. XD

    Those titles are marvelous, and now I really want to try that. XD

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  4. Great post, Katie. Your room looks wonderful. WHITE WALLS, ALWAYS. How was Murder on the Orient Express? I've been wanting to see it. Did you read the book first, or just take the movie plunge? XD
    Check out this link, btw: https://importantnothingsweb.wordpress.com/2017/12/01/2017-liebster-award/ ((:

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    1. YES. MINIMALIST WALLS ALWAYS.

      I watched the movie first! Thought I really want to read the book at some point. *nodnod* Have you read the book?

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    2. You should have read the book first because it was so different from the movie although the movie was good too! Also am waiting for Infinity War!

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  5. *scurries off to go find my hilarious titles*
    *returns with a collage of titles*

    1. Is It What Everyone Says It Is?
    2. I Believe
    3. Flinch (it sounds like a bad spoof on Aimee's novel, Finch!)
    4. I Don't Care (#Mylife)
    5. Our Foreheads Touch (cheesy romance anyone?)
    6. Stare At The Ceiling (sounds like an asylum novel lol)
    7. Curse My Father (*laughs for hours because this sounds sarcastic but it's actually a very serious part of the novel*)

    Thanks Katie Grace, this was way too much fun, omw.

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    1. Thanks Kendra! I thought they were pretty funny too XD

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    2. HAHA. I love these -- especially "I Don't Care." That one made me giggle. XD

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  6. AAAH, the Infinity War trailer!! I watched it at least five times and I'm still freaking out over the amazingness. Tho Black Widow is blond? Not sure if I like that:). And where's Ant-Man and Hawkeye?? SO EXCITED!! :)
    I love reading your wrap-up posts! I hope you have a restful December :).

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    1. oh, and I saw Murder on the Orient Express too! I LOVED it!! Did you read the book first? :) Agatha Christie is hands-down one of my favorite authors of all time. :)

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    2. AHHH SAME. *flails wildly* I'm just assuming that Ant-Man was in every frame because he was so tiny, hehe. BUT YEAH, MORE HAWKEYE PLEASE BECAUSE HE'S AMAZING.


      I haven't read the book yet! So I went into the movie without knowing the giant twist. O.O But I definitely want to read the book at some point. :D

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  7. Can I just say how much I love your room?? Those quotes on the clipboards + the plants + the skinny bookshelf. So pretty!!

    I did not see the trailer for Infinity Wars. But…I'm hearing all about it from my brother - it's all he talks about really.

    Ohhh, excited for the guest posts! Enjoy your blogging break to it's fullest. Sometimes it's good to take a break from the internet and such and spend more time in the real world.

    cheers.
    k.

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    Replies
    1. EEP thank you. <3 <3

      Your brother sounds like me, haha.

      Yes, I'm rather excited about that. Thanks so much, Keira! <3

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  8. I came up with:
    1. He Dropped Ruben
    2. She Checked His Wound
    3. Strapping His Sword-Belt
    4. Out Of The Window
    5. Experience And Guilt

    LOL that was fun. XP

    These are always such interesting updates! I am hoping to see Murder on the Orient Express soon (as I said in a previous comment on a previous post).
    For some reason I didn't read very many books either. Probably because i was writing, but not for NaNo. Next year, though! :)

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    1. Those are great. I like Out Of The Window, makes it sound like the whole novel is about a girl sneaking out of her window lol! The first two are so fantasy-like, you should really consider He Dropped Ruben, that's a cool one. ;D

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    2. NOOO, DON'T DROP RUBEN! Poor dude. Sounds like he's in for a rough bit in the novel. :P

      Were the books you read good, at least?

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    3. @MusicGirl121:
      It certainly does sound like that! XD
      Hey that's because it IS a fantasy novel! I'm glad that it sounds like one.
      Haha! Yeah, I don't think I'll make it the title. :P

      @Katie Grace:
      I know! He sure is. AND he's my favorite character; I love him so much. He's one of my two MCs. <3

      Yes, they were for the most part. My favorites were The Hobbit (which I have now read six times) and Mara Daughter of the Nile (by Eloise Jarvis McGraw), which I have read a few times before also.

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  9. I NEVER CEASE TO FLAIL OVER YOUR POSTS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO AESTHETIC I MEAN HOW...???

    So first, congrats on Nano. You are superhuman, no question.

    Me too about Christmas cards!! I'm scrambling to make them all now!!
    And your room!! I love it!!
    And I am gonna read Renegades this month too!! I bought it on whim at the bookstore :D

    Lisa
    www.thisinkwell.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. PSHHH AWHH THANKS, LISA. <3 <3

      I know I have a giant stack of cards I need to make. I'm trying not to stress over them TOO much, hehe.

      YAY WE CAN READ IT TOGETHER! I can't wait to hear what you think. :D

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  10. I love the clipboards on your wall! It's always fun to spice up your room with something fun like paint colors :D Congrats on finishing NaNo!

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  11. AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OH MY WORD OH MY WORD. *endless screaming* I HADN'T SEEN THE INFINITY WARS TRAILER BUT I WATCHED IT AND AAAAHHHH HELP HELP NO NO NOOOO. O-O
    I haven't seen the other Avengers movies but I reeaaally want to see this because it's got Peter/Spiderman in it and argh HE IS TOO PRECIOUS. And also the Guardians of the galaxy are pretty darn cool and ALSO BUCKY. AND STEVE. AND ALL THOSE OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE MOVIES I WANT TO WATCH BUT HAVEN'T YET. *screams*

    *deep breath*

    I'm cool. I'm good.

    Anyway. XD

    YOUR ROOM LOOKS AH-MAZING. *flails over it* Just aaahhh to preeetty.

    "Kind of a Mess" XD I'm giggling so much over here, that's the best. XP

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    1. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK. I KNOW. MY FEELINGS EXACTLY. I CANNOT STOP FLAILING OVER IT. It's been a whole day since I've watched it so I think I need to replay it again. xD *hugs spiderman and bucky* *they better stay safe*

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  12. Your room looks amazing! I wish I could paint mine, but I'm going to have to stick to frames/quotey things/mason jars of pencils. AND WAIT A SECOND INFINITY WAR HAS A TRAILER?!?!?!?! *runs off to see it*

    Micaiah @ Notebooks and Novels

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    Replies
    1. AHH WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE TRAILER?? ISN'T IT AMAZING??

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  13. Ackkk I'm really nervous as to whether or not I'll like Renegades. I'M ENTERING IT WITH AN OPEN MIND AND A HOPEFUL HEART. :P

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  14. I just want to start by saying that HEY I'M ACTUALLY EATING PIZZA WHILE READING THIS. You should be proud. xD

    HA, "Screamed and Dropped" is hilarious. xD Although I must say, "I Could Fly" actually sounds like a super awesome book title...
    Just to grab a few from my NaNo novel... "And He Kissed Her, Too", "Stayed in the Woods", and "As A Person" were what I came up with. xD

    So this was not my proudest NaNo year... I came out with around 20,000 words. With work, Thanksgiving, and everything, it was just so hard to settle down every day and focus on writing for too long. But a lot of what kept me from writing were things like watching Christmas movies and spending time with my family, so I was kind of okay with it. And I was able to discover a couple things: next year I need to be a little more intentional with setting aside time to write and work hard to not get behind on my word count; and this particular novel will probably end up being shorter.
    Soo, I got a feel for my story and got to know my characters a little. So even though I didn't even make it halfway to 50,000 words, I still accomplished something. :-)

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    1. WHAAAT. THAT IS AWESOME. YOU DESERVE ALL THE AWARDS. I WISH I COULD EAT PIZZA WITH YOU. XD

      Oooh, Stayed in the Woods sounds rather creepy. Either that, or it could be about a random hermit. :P

      Hey, 20,000 is still awesome, and I'm glad you're okay with it. Sometimes life happens and you need to pay attention to what's going on in "real" life.

      Proud of you!!

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  15. Yay movies! Your room is SO AESTHETIC DANG.

    Hailey
    www.haileyhudson.wordpress.com

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  16. Also I just put Eliza and Her Monsters on hold at my library and I am ridiculously excited!

    Hailey
    www.haileyhudson.wordpress.com

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    Replies
    1. Yay yay yay!! I can't wait to hear what you think. :D

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  17. For starters: your room! The aesthetics!! #goals So beautiful.

    Also, the Infinity Wars trailer. #canteven *Flails* I'm so excited to see the movie!

    I laughed a little too hard at your titles. Those were hilarious.

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    1. I. CANNOT. WAIT. FOR. INFINITY WARS. Ugh, I get more excited each time I think about it. xD

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  18. Your bedroom is so lovely and minimalist. <3 <3

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  19. I enjoyed this wrap up post... but I had to kind of laugh at the significance of your story paragraph... because you realize you basically said that you are losing the power to write books now, right ;)?...
    Love, Bri
    www.forget-not-his-benefits.blogspot.com

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    1. *GASP* Uh oh. I quickly need to figure out how to become permanently seventeen... :P

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  20. Hope your December is amazing! Merry early Christmas!

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  21. I loved this post! I tried doing Nano but I completely failed - too much stuff going on! Hope you have wonderful December! :)

    www.letmecrossover.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Aww that's completely understandable. I hope you were able to get a couple words down, at least! <3

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  22. *attempts to remain calm*
    *fails*
    *FLAILS UNCONTROLLABLY OVER INFINITY WAR TRAILER* O___O AGGGGHHHH I CAN'T WAAAAAAIT. I'm actually writing a Marvel-themed post to celebrate! :D

    OH MY GOSH YOUR ROOM IS GORGEOUS. <333

    ACK I have Eliza and Her Monsters on my shelf!! I really need to read it soon...

    Haha, I think 'Kind of a Mess' just about sums up all of my novels I've ever written. XD

    Have a splendiferous December! See you next year, haha! ^_^

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    1. AHHH REALLY?? OKAY I'LL HAVE TO READ YOUR MARVEL POST ASAP BECAUSE I COULD ALWAYS USE MORE REASONS TO FLAIL OVER MARVEL. o.o

      Ha, I agree. At least they're only "kind of" a mess instead of "a complete mess?" :P

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  23. *repeatedly chokes on a laugh*

    I did the "terrible title" thing, with "Until the Stars Fall." xD Some of these are actually pretty cool. ^~^

    1. He Still Gripped His Spear
    2. Good night, Mirror
    3. As If the Woman's Cry Was Normal
    4. She Wouldn't be Any Help
    5. And a Crooked Smile
    6. The City was Hidden
    7. Is It Something I Said?
    8. It's All an Act

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    1. Oooh. I love Good Night, Mirror. Number three sounds somewhat creepy. And number six -- a hidden city could be interesting. And number seven just makes me laugh. xD

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  24. Oh my goodness Katie, your room looks absolutely gorgeous!! It's so aesthetic!!

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  25. I MISS YOU DUUUUUDDEEEEEEEEEE OH MAN.
    I loved reading this post to catch up with you a bit YOU DID SO WELL WITH NANO and gosh the significance of that book wow <3
    also can i pls pls plssssss read the superhero book as soon as you are willing to let me read it????????? <3 I LOVE YOU

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