Tag Archives: dayreading

10 Literary Twitter Hashtags Worth Your Attention

Haven’t got the resources to spend a summer at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop? Why not fashion your own cyber community using Twitter? Follow any or all of these hashtag writing exercises and other prompts and you might just finish your novel after all.

 


 

1. #FridayFlash

Exercise brevity with these hashtag challenges asking that you get to the point in around 5 words. Or at the most 1000. Flash fiction is a worthy exercise to get perspective on the weight of your words. And it’s also great fun.

 

 


 

2. #BookFaceFriday

Ever feel like you really got into a story? Take it to the next level by posing with your favorite classic books or modern fiction books and use this hashtag to share book-face meld shots easily worth a 1000 words.

 

 


 

3. #AskAgent

Literary agents worldwide are on the Twitter sphere to answer your pressing questions about the writing business. Follow to hear fellow writers’ concerns about publishing as well as what’s happening with new media like digital books.

 


 

4. #WritingPrompt

Most workshops recommend free writing to explore lurking ideas, and quick visual or verbal cues can sometimes spawn an entire short story. See where it takes you.    


 

5. #BookStoreBingo

Booksellers hear the darndest things. And they share them on this hashtag which acts as a compendium of all the strange things people ask bookstore staff. Get to know your future audience.

 


 

6. #NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month is probably the internet’s most demanding writers’ challenge. One month, one novel. The community of support though, might be just the thing to make it happen.  

 


 

7. #PubTip

Another utility hashtag to get to the details of the publishing business, writers can use it to learn about things like what genres are currently oversaturating publishers, and other market facts.    

   


 

8. #WriteGoal

Everyone knows the anecdotes about stating a goal to achieve it. It really does work. So tag your aspirational word counts or chapter completions, and get one step closer to your dream.

 

 


 

9. #ReadWomen2015 (and 2014)

Created by writer Joanna Walsh (@badaude), this hashtag points readers to books, essays and articles about women in the writing and publishing fields.  

   


 

10. #WeNeedMoreDiverseBooks

Hopefully we’ll just call it #books one day, but for the moment, follow this hashtag for stories inclusive of more diverse perspectives and cultures.

 

5 Inspiring Mark Twain Quotes to Read with Your Morning Coffee

#SorryNotSorry that the only mug we really want to see in the morning is for coffee, and then follow it with some light reading – something like this list of Mark Twain quotes, compiled to get your day started with some wisdom by one of the best authors of all time.

 

1. Stop complicating things.

Mark Twain Quote_1

2. You can do this one today.

 

Mark Twain Quote_2

3. Express yourself whatever it takes.

 

Mark Twain Quote_3

4. It’s ok to be terrified!

 

Mark Twain Quote_4

5. Sometimes, it’s the smartest answer.

 

Mark Twain Quote_5

 

Photos via BrainyQuote.com

Top 5 Book Boyfriends to Swoon Over

Few things compare to the enduring pleasure of falling in love with men who live in the worlds of words. With outsized passions or masculine overtures, they’re not called heroes for nothing. Who is your favorite book boyfriend? Here’s a list of book heroes we love falling in love with, from the Beyond Words Team.

1. Mr. Darcy

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Mr Darcy Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The consummate “don’t you see you’re in love?!” story, Pride and Prejudice stars Mr. Darcy who makes the book list for striking the perfect balance between conceited rich guy and noble humanist of convictions. Restrained passions between him and Elizabeth Bennet in Austen’s 19th-century tale eventually lead them to discover one fine day that they’re really, truly, mad for each other. Kiss. Deliver a letter.

 

2. Noah Calhoun

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Ryan Gosling - The Notebook

It’s 1946 and Noah Calhoun spends a sweaty day fixing up a house that’s almost 200 years old, to come home and quote some Whitman with a cup of tea. Need we say more? Dashing Noah Calhoun is the summer boyfriend of our dreams. And winter love, and spring love…

 

 

3. Heathcliff

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Laurence Olivier Merle Oberon Wuthering Heights

Love. It’s all about hate. Or at least acute episodes of brooding 18th-century passion. Heathcliff makes the list for his total dedication to loving Catherine as much as he can’t stand her. Their love blossoms as kids when social class is not an issue, but the fickle Catherine opts to marry for money and status, leaving Heathcliff to cut off his nose to spite his face. We understand the smoldering nature of your intense desire, Heathcliff, even if Catherine never quite does.

 

4. Rhett Butler

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Rhett and Bonnie Blue Butler

Wiles don’t work. Tears don’t do the trick. Straight up pleading neither. Rhett Butler is the rebel with a cause. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows we are stronger than we think we are. And while he is the epitome of all that is enterprising, cunning, and masculine, the velvet of his true heart comes to life when he has a daughter. Sigh.

 

5. Gideon Cross

The Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

Henry Cavill

“Gideon Cross was an impossibly gorgeous man, so beautiful that people stopped and stared when he walked by. I’d once thought of him as a sex god, and his frequent–and enthusiastic–displays of prowess constantly proved me right, but I also knew he was all too human.” – Entwined with You

Yes.

How to Create the Perfect Reading Nook

Curling up with a good book becomes heavenly when you have a great place to curl up. The best part of a “nook” is that it’s literally all you need space-wise. Use what you have and see how easy it is to create your very own imagination station, aka reading nook.

 


 

1. Spot the spot

Take a look around your living area for any of the following: a window, an alcove, a corner, extra closet, space under the stairs. All count as excellent choices for a reading nook. Move around a few things to uncover tucked away spots. Ideally, you want a space away from TVs. If possible, use natural light as your focal point.

 

reading nook
Photo by: flickr/Wicker Paradise under license CC BY 2.0


 

2. Brighten it up

Nothing beats sunlight for daytime reading but you definitely want a good reading light for all the pages consumed after dark. Keeping your reading space uncluttered is best, so keep things minimal with a book light or a serpentine lamp (the ones with long, flexible necks). Clamped lights also offer versatility for limited options because you can affix them almost anywhere.

 

Cory Doctorow reading monkey lamp
Photo by: flickr/Cory Doctorow under license CC BY-SA 2.0

 

3. Have a seat

This might be the most important part of creating your perfect reading spot. A cozy, fluffy place to sink into, like an oversized chair, a beanbag, or even a spare mattress (with some modification) can offer a relaxing place to soak up your stories. Work with your space. Sometimes, cushions might be all you really need.

 

reading nook
Photo by: flickr/Peter Alfred Hess under license CC BY 2.0

 

4. Secure a surface

A small end table or upturned crate can give you just the space you need for a mug of hot chocolate or glass of Malbec. Some readers like to have pens and a notepad to jot down ideas while they read. If you have the space, consider a DIY bookshelf to include within your nook.

 

reading table
Photo by: flickr/Wicker Paradise under license CC BY 2.0

 

5. Remove yourself

If you need privacy or like to feel enswathed in a cocoon, consider curtains, wall dividers, or Japanese screens to partition yourself off from the rest of the room. These simple solutions can really carve out a space where you thought there was none.

 

wicker chair nook
Photo by: flickr/Peter Alfred Hess under license CC BY 2.0

 

Remember, you might need to experiment with a few spots to see what works well. That’s part of the fun. Raid the linens and hit vintage shops for more ideas about how to decorate your nook. A few interesting textiles can take you on a journey of room decorating ideas.

And, of course, now it’s time to get busy on your home library.

Why You Need to Know Cindy Sherman

These days, anyone with an Instagram account is intimately familiar with the idea of stylized self-representation. But long before “selfie” was a word and Kim Kardashian dominated the medium, Cindy Sherman was producing experimental photography using herself as the subject.

Cindy Sherman
Cindy Sherman (Photo by M. Von Holden/WireImage for Springer/Chicoine PR)

She came to prominence in the late 70s with her black-and-white series, Untitled Film Stills. In all 69 photos, a twenty-three-year-old Sherman takes on the persona of a young starlet, appropriating the look of the 8-by-10 glossy images put out by film studios in the 1940s-60s. Uncanny, surreal and completely captivating, the images show Sherman encompassing all the clichés and tropes of femininity from the big screen. They’re photos of her, but at the same time, her identity is nowhere to be found in them.

In the 35 years since then, Sherman has created an extensive body of work that, for the most part, uses her own body as a way to explore the roles women are meant to play in society. Using makeup, prostheses, costumes, and an astonishing ability to control her facial muscles, she has transformed herself into hundreds of completely unique characters. Brutal, in-your-face (pun fully intended) directness dominates her imagery whether she’s channeling an Upper East Side matriarch, 18th-century courtesan, or demented clown with melting face paint. Unlike Kardashian, Sherman doesn’t have a glam squad or assistants. She works alone in her New York City studio, applying makeup and adjusting lighting until she’s satisfied.

Cindy Sherman published by Hatje Cantz
Hatje Cantz just released, Cindy Sherman, an extensive collection of photographs from the prolific artist. As discussions of how women are portrayed in the media, the changing face of feminism and how we present ourselves through photography are trending daily, it’s the perfect time to take an in-depth look at this groundbreaking artist. Now available on Artbook, here.

(GERMANY OUT) Germany - Berlin - Kreuzberg (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg): Martin-Gropius-Bau, retrospective of the American artist Cindy Sherman (Photo by Martin Sachse/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
(GERMANY OUT) Germany – Berlin – Kreuzberg (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg): Martin-Gropius-Bau, retrospective of the American artist Cindy Sherman (Photo by Martin Sachse/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

7 Songs to Inspire Your Story

Some writers swear by music and others need perfect silence when creating. Whatever your writing process, these songs can help energize you, transport you to another world for a moment, and help you focus on getting your story out. Listen online before or during your writing session and feel the music move you.


 

Brave Sara Bareilles

 

“Say what you wanna say. Let the words fall out.” Sara Bareilles’ wisdom when it comes to love and bravery applies to writing, too.


 

Nothing Else Matters Metallica

 

Let everything else slip away. It’s just you, your characters and your story.


 

You and Me Penny & the Quarters

 

Ryan Gosling himself suggested that director Derek Cianfrance use this undiscovered demo track as the leitmotif in Blue Valentine. The raw vocals of Penny will make you feel all kinds of feelings.


 

Tongue Tied Grouplove

 

For when the story is on the tip of your tongue, but you need a little oomph to get the words on the page, turn on this exuberant pick-me-up.


 

Ritual Union Little Dragon

 

A writing ritual can help trigger inspiration, too.


 

What Makes a Good Man? The Heavy

 

Ask yourself questions as you write, particularly about your characters.


 

Ave Maria Céline Dion

 

And if you’re still stuck, a little divine intervention could do the trick.

Films You Didn’t Know Were Books First

Looking for new books to add to your book list? Browse your library of streaming movies. You read that right. Bookstores are great for discovering new titles but sometimes it’s the silver screen that introduces you to stories worth reading. Check out this list of lesser-known books that are movies.

 

The Rules of Attraction

The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis

Plenty of dystopian college kids identified with this 2002 film about disengaged intellectuals smoking too many cigarettes. TRoA was Ellis’ second book (after his breakout novel Less Than Zero) and it continued his brand of nihilistic characters talking about indie bands and philosophers. If you enjoyed the antipathy in the movie, there are many more paragraphs of it in the book.

 


 

Madame Doubtfire

Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine

OK, maybe there can be no Mrs. Doubtfire without Robin Williams, but the lovable trans-manny character was actually the brainchild of Anne Fine and her British novel of a slightly different name published in 1987. When your streaming services run out of good movies about creative childcare, delve into the pages of this delightful novel.

 


 

Jaws

Jaws by Peter Benchley

This is one of those movies that’s a great teaser for an even better book. Benchley’s terrifying tome was based on a real-life series of shark attacks on the Jersey shore. If you enjoyed the adventure of the film, the book has even more vivid character development and, believe it or not, heightened tension.

 


 

He's Just Not That Into You

He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo

This movie was a book. A self-help book. Originally meant to be a real talk dating advice manual, it took its title from an episode of Sex and the City where Behrendt was a script consultant. The movie took a humorous approach with cutting loose the players, but the book offers specific advice on finding (and holding onto) love.

 


 

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Here’s a film adaptation with a unique twist: casting actual people from the 1994 non-fiction book. Berendt’s riveting New York Times bestseller chronicles the stories of the eccentric people he met during a stay in Savannah, Georgia. Reading like the best crime fiction, it’s one of those stories that’ll have you espousing “truth is stranger than fiction.”