I'm back with another post about Camp Nanowrimo, this one mostly on time! I just have to say that I am glad that Camp Nanowrimo isn't this much because I have had so much that is going on this month. I've been working on planning while trying to get ahead on other stuff to have more time for writing in April. Planning, Plantsing, and Pantsing Before planning, you first have to decide how much you want to plan, if even at all. Some people will have nothing prepared for April. Others will have enough paper to write a dissertation on their future novel that they will be writing. There is no wrong way to do it. This is all about what is best for your personal preferences. I have prepared stuff in a variety of ways, but through trial and error, I have found I really need to have some stuff that is written down, especially in terms of names and knowing in general what has to happen next. I'm happy with what I've been doing so far so I'm going to share my proces...

Title: The Next to Last Mistake Author: Amelie Jahn Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance Trigger Warning: Bullying, death of a loved one Rating: 5 stars Release Date: March 19, 2019 Synopsis Tess Goodwin’s life in rural Iowa is sheltered and uncomplicated. Although she chooses to spend most of her free time playing chess with her best friend Zander, the farm-boy from next door, her skills as a bovine midwife and tractor mechanic ensure that she fits in with the other kids at East Chester High. But when her veteran father reenlists in the Army, moving her family halfway across the country to North Carolina, Tess is forced out of her comfort zone into a world she knows nothing about. Tess approaches the move as she would a new game of chess, plotting her course through the unfamiliar reality of her new life. While heeding Zander’s long-distance advice for making new friends and strategizing a means to endure her dad’s immi...

I didn't end up doing a Top Ten Tuesday post last week because I was struggling to come up with characters that I'd like to switch places with. Maybe it's the kind of books I like. I'm not quite sure. But I am excited to return with this week's prompt, which is about standalone books that need a sequel. I love series and have thought this after finishing multiple books. Still, I loved all of these books I just wish that I was able to have some more of them. I only stuck with five because all of these five are fun and/or great. 1. The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls by Elise Primavera From all I can figure, this was initially supposed to be a series but I guess there just weren't enough sales. This group of four girls is really fun to read and a great whirlwind of a middle grade Oz spin off. I haven't read it in a while, but if I recall correctly the ending has so many hints towards a sequel that just never happened. I'd love to know what el...

I was going to post this over the weekend but life got in the way and I didn't have it finished. But here it is now! Better late than never. You can check out my introduction post here . How to Make Your Goal Camp Nanowrimo is a lot more flexible than Nanowrimo. In the November challenge, your set goal is 50,000 words. Sure, some people have individual goals, especially the overachievers (in the Beyond 50k forum ) but this is what is officially winning. In Camp, your goal can be set in words, hours, minutes, lines, and pages. This leads to a variety of projects and stages within those projects. Writing a screenplay? A goal in lines might be ideal. Planning and editing are good to measure in time, but some people may use pages. Everything is literally up to you. I'm focusing primarily on the first draft, but I love how you can measure in anything. I stick with words because timing things annoys me and words Is a more concrete way to measure. I definitely see the pros of u...

Title: What Happens When Author: Samantha Boyette Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance Trigger Warning: Homophobic language and actions, bullying, toxic relationship, alcohol abuse Rating:  3 Stars Release Date: March 12, 2019 Synopsis For Molly Kennan, senior year is already an epic disaster. It feels like the whole school knows she made out with Lily at that party, and now she’s accidentally outed herself as a lesbian. Her ex-best friend is trying to ruin her life, and school generally sucks. All she wants is to drown her sorrows in sweet potato fries, but she finds herself tongue-tied by the diner’s new waitress, Zia. Zia is way out of Molly’s league. Older, beautiful, and definitely way more sophisticated. It’s probably just wishful thinking, but Molly can’t help wondering if maybe Zia is flirting with her. Despite Zia’s always-there boyfriend, Molly falls hard for her, and Zia says she feels the same way. So then why do...

Title: Cold Day in the Sun Author: Sara Biren Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance Trigger Warning:   Rating:  4 Stars Release Date: March 12, 2019 Synopsis Holland Delviss wants to be known for her talent as a hockey player, not a hockey player who happens to be a girl. But when her school team is selected to be featured and televised as part of HockeyFest, her status as the only girl on the boys’ team makes her the lead story. Not everyone is thrilled with Holland’s new fame, but there’s one person who fiercely supports her, and it’s the last person she expects (and definitely the last person she should be falling for): her bossy team captain, Wes. Review A special thank you to Netgalley and Amulet Books (ABRAMS Kids) for providing a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I love Holland and all of the things that make up her character. She is very complex and seems real because she has many interests and ...

Title: The Truth About Leaving Author: Natalie Blitt Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance Trigger Warning:   Rating: 5 Stars Release Date: March 5, 2019 Synopsis Lucy Green thought she had her senior year in the bag. Cute boyfriend? Check. College plan? Check. But when her boyfriend dumps her the week before school starts and she literally stumbles into Dov, the new Israeli transfer student, on her first day of school, Lucy’s carefully mapped-out future crumbles. Determined to have a good senior year, and too busy trying to hold her family together while her mom is across the country working, Lucy ignores the attraction she feels to Dov. But soon, Lucy and Dov’s connection is undeniable. Lucy begins to realize that sometimes, you have to open yourself up to chance. Even if the wrong person at the wrong time is a boy whose bravery you admire and who helps you find your way back to yourself. Review Thanks to Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing ...