The Writer Diaries (Or, I Try To Come Up With Excuses)

OK, what excuses can I possibly have for not writing more of my 'Cracked Glass Slipper: Cinderella' instalments?

(Just as a reminder: I had this brainwave a few months ago, that I was going to write crack-fic-style fairy-tale retellings, starting with Cinderella.

And I did actually start with the first part of Cinderella! It just... didn't actually go further than that.)

Well, it could be that I was kidnapped by a herd of travelling nuns, who forbade me from writing random retellings on pain of having to clean the loos.

Or I may have been blackmailed never to write about Sin again by Time Masters/Lords (dependent on your geek-ly preferences) and threatened every time I try to open the word document (or, y'know, start a document for part 2... oops!)

Or I may've decided to become a guru in the art of spoon-bending, and left for an exciting new life!

Or it could just be that I got distracted by shiny things, self-doubt, and life-stuff, and forgot all about it...

I'm sorry!

I do fully intend to keep going! It just may take a little longer than I originally thought it would...



But in the mean-time, you can remind yourself of part one here. :)

Nerd Church - What Do They Do For Us?

As I said last week, the EU isn't sexy.

I plan on making it more interesting by sticking in random gifs and generally being my wacky self.

So stay with me! I WILL make this interesting... somehow.

via GIPHY

(See? Phoebe thinks I can make it exciting >.<)

So, if you live outside the UK, or under a rock within it, let me explain: we're having a referendum on June 23rd to decide whether we leave the European Union (or EU for short.)

The EU is not just about migration!

(No, really, that's just the bit the media and politicians distract us with because they don't want us to ask real questions.

I'm not a conspiracy nut, I'm a pragmatist with A-levels in Media Studies and Law. One of my topics for Law was the EU - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and all that jazz.)





'What has the EU ever done for me?!' - I hear you cry.

(If you live in the UK, it's more than you think.)




Well, dearest nerdlets, let me give you just a few examples:

• Because of the EU, we don't need a Visa to travel or work abroad in Europe - this means that weekend getaway to Paris or that job in Ibiza over the summer is quicker and simpler to achieve. No paperwork, no rejection of your right to work in that country.

• Because of the EU, we have strict bans and controls on the use of pesticides - this means that chemicals that have been found to be harmful to bees, for example, are banned or regulated.

(I can make things sexier - look! Hiddles! Hiddles makes everything sexy, just by being Hiddles.)

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(Hiddles can make anything sexy. Even the EU.)

• Because of the EU, we have more access to further education - many universities throughout the EU offer reduced rates, or even free tuition, for EU citizens. We have more access to studying abroad, and broadening our horizons.

• The EU gives grants and funding to projects and organisations, for various purposes, throughout it's member states.

• Because of EU arts funding, many UK projects have been financed - from the drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll, to Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas (and if you don't like Shaun the Sheep, you are NOT British,) from university arts programmes, to theatres, to film. Our culture has benefited from the EU.

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• Trade, business, and imports/exports are easier in the EU - just trust me. They are.

• Because of the EU, we have standardised workers rights. We are protected by these rights. Things are hard enough in this country, but luckily we have the EU watching our backs. Thanks to the EU we have the right to 4 weeks paid leave per year, and we have the right to statutory rest and breaks.

So don't make a decision based on fear.

Don't listen to Nigel Farage (our Donald Trump to you non-UK-readers.) 

He's a toad who a witch turned into a man. The toad was unhappy with his lot - he missed being a toad. So he decided to make everyone suffer for it. And make everyone miserable and afraid, just like him.

I've only given a few examples - just to prove to you that the EU is more than you think it is.

The EU benefits our culture, business, and worker's rights. It's involved in safety regulations, access to further education, and grants.

We need the EU. We are protected by the EU. Let's stay in the EU.

(And I remind you that anything can be made sexy by adding Tom Hiddleston.)

via GIPHY

Nerd Church is a weekly post where I get all political and/or moral on your a*ses and rant on about various issues.

If you liked this post, and don't want us to leave the EU, please spread the word and share!

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• Nerd Church - Use Your Vote, Raise Your Voice

Review Time! (Woop!) - Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Landline

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Genre: Contemporary, Chick Lit, Magic Realism, Romance* (*ish)

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I saw a copy of this at the library... and it had a pink cover. Like, a bright pink cover.

So yours truly obviously had to borrow it. Because I'm that easily distracted. True story.

Also, I'd reviewed Carry On (UK - US) previously, and enjoyed it a lot.

(And Rainbow Rowell liked one of my tweets of that review, and I nearly fell off the sofa in shock.)

So I figured that I'd try another book by Rowell, and see how it went.

Premise:

Georgie McCool's marriage is in trouble. Sure, she knows that.

But her husband's just gone home for Christmas.

He hasn't left her.

Yes, Neal took the kids. No, he hasn't answered any of her calls... but he hasn't left her...right?

But then there's the phone. Ah, yes, the phone.

As time-machines go, it's pretty useless - all she can do is call 1998-Neal. It's 2013-Neal she needs to deal with, right?

So why does she keep calling?

Best bits:

I love Rainbow Rowell's wit and quirkiness - she can make normal conversations hilarious. And that's a talent worth having.

(Believe me. Everyone could do with that talent at some point in their lives...)

This book is incredibly readable - light-hearted and fun, it's one you just sort of... keep reading.

(And then you're like - I had stuff to do book! You win this round!)

I love Heather, Georgie's sister, she's great. She rocks in the 'sarcastic, but will defend her sister to her last breath,' kind of way.

Oh, and the name Georgie McCool? Dude, it's just fab. :)

The main crowning glory of this book though is that IT SOMEHOW MANAGES TO AVOID THE AWKWARD CLICHES!

Seriously, it could've gotten so cringey, but Rowell manages to side-step most of that and plump instead for realism and originality - and I always love me some originality. ;)

Not so great bits:

I guess I was maybe expecting a little more drama here than there ended up being.

This is probably my fault - I'm far too used to violent deaths and supernatural creatures in my books, and this doesn't have that.

I found the kids, Noomi and Alice, annoying. But that's mainly because Naomi was pet-named Noomi, and also because kids often bug me.

I also wasn't sure I wanted Neal and Georgie to work things out. I kind of felt at various points that she'd be better off with Seth.

But then, Georgie isn't sure whether she wants to work things out with Neal - so maybe it's just the tone reflecting the character's indecision.

Oh, and there's swearing here - which I found pretty hilarious in its usage, but I will warn you about as part of my blogger-ly duty (*salutes smartly*).

Verdict:

Despite the Christmas time-frame, this is equally suited to a hot summer's day, maybe even the beach.

It's light, it's fun, and it will definitely keep you reading.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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Friday Fics Fix! - Stuck Together

I've been reading Stucky one-shots this week.

(Fangirling notes:

Stucky is a romantic/sexual relationship between Captain America (Steve Rogers,) and Bucky Barnes.

One-shots are fics which are only comprised of one part/chapter.)

I'm a Stucky fan (make it canon Marvel! Make. It. Canon,) so I've kind of given in to the whole Stucky-ness this week.

There's something about the combination of Steve and Bucky that just feels so awesomely right.

You don't spend 3 films looking for a bloke, with such intensity and fervour, if he's just your bestie from 70 years ago. Y'just don't.

via GIPHY

One-shots are usually quite short - and so are great for fitting into lunch-breaks, coffee-breaks, or those times when work is driving you round the proverbial bend (it's hard being a ninja princess assassin sometimes.)

This week's fic is a sweet one-shot that's full o' the feels.

(Fangirling note:

The feels are indescribably intense feelings experienced by fangirls and fanboys in reaction to various situations characters find themselves in.)

via GIPHY

So, this week's fic rec. then, is:

Tongue Tied by SereneCalamity

And there're no sexy-times! Another week of relatively 'clean' fanfiction folks!

...Must be a blue moon or something.

So for a sweet love-story with just a touch of angst, give this one a shot.

(Yes, it's a little clunky in places, but what fanfiction isn't?)

via GIPHY

Like this post? Try these:

• Friday Fics Fix - Sweet Stucky Fluff
• Friday Fics Fix - Stuck in the AU
• Friday Fics Fix! - Stucky Time

Comics Wrap Up - People Like Us, We Don't Need That Much

Graphic Novels

This week I read Malice in Ovenland, Vol 1 (UK - US) - a graphic novel due out in August 2016 from Rosarium Publishing.

Rosarium are a growing, and relatively new, publishers who focus on sci-fi, fantasy, graphic novels, etc., with an emphasis on multiculturalism.

Malice in Ovenland is semi Alice in Wonderland inspired... only there's magical world in Lily's oven. Yeah... just go with it.

It's target audience is clearly kids (which makes a change from the stuff I normally read) and it's pretty entertaining (and more than a little gross in the way that kids like.)

I'll be writing a review nearer to the publishing date, so keep your eyes peeled.






Other Stuff


Two fans showed Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan (and the world,) what real heroes look like when they cosplayed Captain America and the Winter Soldier at the Wizard World Con in Philadelphia.

They brought #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend (the social media campaign to do just that,) back into the limelight by kissing in front of Chris 'n' Seb.

Well done guys, you're true heroes.

-0-

Marvel Super Heroes, What The--? rocks. Just... just watch the thing and all of the randomness. So very, very, random.

Like this post? Try these:

• Comics Wrap Up - Wonder If They'll Ever Know
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Mini-review! - Life Blood by V M Black

Title: Life Blood

Author: V M Black

Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Novella

Series: Cora's Choice #1

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

I picked this book up because free e-books are my kryptonite. Particularly paranormal romances. They're like alcopops or junk food to me, honestly.

So yeah... this went on the e-reader!

This is one of those 'get-you-hooked' series-starter novellas. Like a drug dealer who gives you the first hit for free.

(Reading is an addiction - I keep telling you people this.)

As such, it's pretty short, and is series-foundation-setting rather than a full-blooded (ha! Blooded. Vampires. I just noticed that,) romance in and of itself.

The sexy-times only start to appear near the end, and aren't all that graphic (but I still don't want you young 'uns reading this! It does get a li'l steamy.)

And I'm not entirely sure I'm sold on the love-interest/s.

Luckily, the main romantic-al feller/vampire is more a lust-interest at this stage, so has time to develop in other books into (potentially) something deeper before everyone starts declaring undying love, or whatever.

Oh, and personal-safety-wise? It was nice to see Cora being careful to tell people where she is... even if some of her other decisions are a little ill-advised to say the least.

At least someone would be able to find the body if she was murdered and left in a ditch. Better than what most heroines manage, Cora - 10 points to Gryffindor!

(I don't know if she's in Gryffindor... I just kind of assumed...) (No, I actually haven't had coffee - which is more worrying than having it to be honest...)

This, then, is a short and very readable para-romance novella. If vampire romance is your thing, you'll probably devour this. :)

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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The 6 P's of Blogging

Now, I'm far from a blogging master - but over the past year-and-a-half of blogging, I've picked up a few things.

(Hopefully. Maybe. Kind of.)




6 of these things start with the letter P.

So, here are my 6 P's of blogging - handy little words I keep in mind when throwing my brain onto the page (screen? Still trying to figure that out,) for your amusement, enjoyment, education, and possible traumatisation.

I hope they help with your own bloggy-ness, or at the very least, provide light entertainment for your coffee-break.




Passion

(Not that type - gutter-brains!)


This one is a bit of a no-brainer. If you're not interested in what you're writing about - it's going to show.

So if you blog, blog from the heart (cheesy grin and thumbs up.)

Blog about something you honestly care about - and just give it your best shot.





Patience


Very few blogs grow quickly.

Yes, you may see all these success stories on the interwebs, but those are the minority.

Your blog? It's going to take some time.

It's going to grow so slowly that sometimes you feel like you're going backwards with it.

Unfortunately, I'm not a patient person. So this is one I kind of have to work on. A lot. (Grow blog, GROW!)



Perseverance


This is kind of tied-in to patience - you have to ride things out, you have to keep going.

Blogs fail. A lot.

The internet is littered with the abandoned half-formed blogs of dreamers and bored dabblers alike.

The key? Keep going.

Keep posting. Keep social media-ing. Keep sharing your posts.

Perseverance is half the battle; you have to give yourself the time to succeed. (And I mean years, not weeks.)

via GIPHY

Personality


This is your little corner of the Internet. Own it, and be yourself.

You don't have to be all-out and in-your-face to blog. Some of the best bloggers are actually the quiet ones (you always have to watch out for the quiet ones...)

So let the bit that's you shine through - it's what'll keep people coming back (hopefully!)





Politeness


Be nice. Don't be a jerk.

Respect other people. Don't be a jerk.

Basically, don't be a jerk - I don't think I can say this enough. Nice will win out in the end.

(Oh, and other bloggers will appreciate it and support you in return if you comment, retweet, share, etc. other people's blogs.)

Progress


Keep making progress - writing new things, trying new formats and images, etc.

And celebrate the small victories - progress is progress, and should be appreciated for being a step forward, no matter how small. :)





So there you have it - 6 handy little P's to keep in mind when blogging. Enjoy :)



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