A massive on-going blog post featuring all of my monthly Spotify playlists that I started creating back in 2017 featuring a variety of genres.
Tag: playlist
My First Novel: Breaking Through (5/12/19)
A few days after my last post I had a breakthrough. I was working on my daily writing one morning and finally got up enough courage to look over the rough draft of my book I’ve been working on. I ended up editing and rewriting a few pages and before I knew it I had worked my way all the way to Part 3 of my book. I was surprised, after more than a month of struggling I had just slipped back into working on my book. After a couple more days I finished my third rough draft of my book at a local coffee shop. The final chapters still need quite a bit of work and I need to solidify a final ending but the climax action scenes (the most important stuff) is all done.
I am so relieved that I was finally able to break through my wall, whatever it was. The expectations, the stress, the pain of doubting myself and my work. I know there is still more work to be done and I’m barely even close to having a finished manuscript but the progress I’ve made this last week pushes me to continue.
What else have I been up to?
I’m currently reading Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin, I forgot that I have read this book before and I get a sneaky feeling it might’ve been last year. I love the way this story is written and Levin’s style is something that I respond to, how he synthesizes facts and real-world events with the otherworldly and supernatural. By grounding his horrifying story with descriptions pulled from the real-world, he creates a foundation in which I can easily find myself falling for the trick of ‘is this possible?’ (of course not).
I”m also reading, Leonard Cohen’s Beautiful Losers. This work feels like a surreal dreamscape interwoven with sex. It is compelling, funny, and a little disorienting but I like Cohen’s writing. His style is different, free-flowing and almost scattered but when I take a closer look, I think it only feels ‘scattered’ because Cohen wants me to think it is.
What I’m listening to:
Thank you for reading and following me on my journey,
-Alina
My First Novel: Week #3 Break (Feb.14th, 2019)
Today is Valentines Day. I have plans tonight with my partner but for now, I am reading and reading and reading. It is my third week on a break from working on my novel. I’ve been enjoying this time, running errands, cleaning and even baking. But now I am starting to feel that I need to get back to work.
I want to wait out the rest of the week and maybe start next week by reading through my second draft again. I’ve done a good job of ignoring my draft and printed manuscript this entire time, trying to put some space between me and my work. I need fresh eyes the next time I read my draft. I’ve been trying not to think about my characters too much and I think it’s been a healthy break. During the last few months, my obsession with writing my novel and working on my characters was taking over my life. I was thinking about my characters all the time, jotting down notes and backstories, analyzing them and trying to shape them into real people. But until I get back into my obsession, I’ll take advantage of this time by reading.
Here is my Goodreads list of what I am currently reading,
What I am listening to:
Thank you for reading about my journey writing my first novel!
-Alina
General Announcement + My Summer Playlist Featuring Dilly Dally, Goat Girl, Ride, Snail Mail, Pulp, Nothing and More
I used to have this great habit of creating playlists of my (new) favorite songs every month, especially during school. This summer has been chaotic for me and full of so much change I feel like I’m just finally getting back to normality and my playlists…
The Summer Chaos…I graduated from college and switched between two jobs. I have spent the last couple of months adjusting to the idea I don’t have any more school. What do I do now? (Relax) I now have my BA in English and plenty of time to read whatever I want and as much as I want…(I will be posting a list of what I am currently reading right now soon, a staggering 12-14 books)…
ALSO, I’m not sure if anyone has noticed but I have transitioned from a wordpress.com blog to an official wordpress.org site with my own domain name and everything (very official) this transition was two months of hard work, including registering my domain, figuring out wordpress.org, loading themes and working out the details…my new site is a little over a week old now and I’m so relieved it’s over with!
So I have finally had time to put together some playlists on my Spotify I haven’t shared my playlists publically before but I think it’s about time. I spend most of my spare time listening to music, reading, and writing as well as painting the odd painting here and there. My music drives me, gives me focus, and helps me work out problems, obstacles, and creative challenges that come my way. Without my music, I think I would be a very dull and very quiet person…
MA PLAYLITZ!!!
I want to say thank you to all my followers, regular readers, and everyone who takes time out of their day to read my words (poems, scatterbrain thoughts, book reviews, whatever). I am so grateful to you all!
I am planning on posting more content with a more regular schedule in the following weeks. This will include continuing the Bertha Short Story Series, writing more book reviews, and music/film discussions.
As usual, I am open to any suggestions for discussion topics from readers that would love to read my response or criticism on literature, poetry, film, music, or art. Please leave any suggestions or comments below!
-Alina