Bookcase Lust

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I ♥ the wallpaper, the open bookcase, and how some books are vertical while others are horizontal. Oh, and the chandelier!

via Sharon Domingues via WeHeartIt

Sooo many books, sooo much color, and sooo much storage. (And another chandelier!)

via MadeItDotCom via WeHeartIt
This slim, space-saving bookcase takes me back to the days of children's programs at the public library. I would love to have one of these in my house because it allows for the covers to be displayed.

via Livbit via WeHeartIt

This tree-inspired bookshelf is unlike any book storage I've ever seen! Very cute.

via BooksCakesnKisses via WeHeartIt

My bed is my favorite place to reading, so having books handy is an essential. I love the juxtaposition of all the white and clean lines with the gilt framed portrait.

via Flickr via WeHeartIt

White and pink is always pretty. I'm swooning over the long and low bookcase that lines the back wall and comes up just below the windows. Great lighting, too.

via Tumblr via WeHeartIt
I saved the best for last. Is this bookcase not absolutely splendid?!

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P.S. I know this blog is devoted primarily to the reading, writing, and researching of historical fiction... but one of my other passions is interior design. Books should not be tucked away and hidden from view. I like to see them out in the open---you can tell so much about a person by skimming over the titles on their bookshelf! I love seeing how other bookworms decorate with and store away their many books. So from now on under the Miscellaneous label you may be seeing some book decor features from time to time.

Put that book down, baby

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What do you use to write? MyNovel, yWriter5, StoryBox?

As a little girl, I wrote little stories. In junior high, my stories developed into longer mini-books that usually comprised of between fifty to one-hundred pages. And in high school, I began writing novels and novellas. So it wasn't until high school that I developed a need for a way to organize the historical research, character profiles, plot points, setting info, and the writing itself.

All through high school and into college, I utilized Microsoft Works Word Processor. I used it for everything. I'd have a document full of characters, another full of all the historical research I'd done. I had a plot outline saved somewhere else. And the story itself would be contained in one massive document that just got longer and longer as I continued to type each day. This seemed to work for me just fine. I even used the same system for my first NaNoWriMo in 2008, though I did save each chapter as a separate word processor document.

It wasn't until this past fall right before NaNoWriMo 2009 that I decided I needed a new system. I just wasn't satisfied with word processor anymore. I was tired of all the documents. I was tired of how I felt constantly compelled to edit, correct, grammar/spell check, and mess with the format on word processor.

Fellow writers on the NaNo boards are sooo helpful! I was given many suggestions of different writing programs, all of which I tried out. (Except for Mac-based programs like Scrivenor, since I'm a PC-user.)

I first tried MyNovel. Since I'm a poor college student, I only downloaded the free demo. It was... okay. I put all my plotting ideas, character stuff, and research into it all in one afternoon. Then I happily exited out. When I opened it up again, all my work was nowhere to be found. Apparently (in my excited haste) I skipped over the text on the website that said you can't print or save with the demo version. *sigh* Luckily, this all happened in September so it wasn't a terrible ordeal. Just a slight disappointment and annoyance at my own stupidity.

(above image: MyNovel)

Then I went on to test out yWriter5. This download is free and was actually developed by a NaNoWriMo participant. And let me tell you, this writing program is ideal for reaching your 50k word goal. As you write, your novel is divided into chapters that are ultimately divided into scenes. It keeps track of your wordcount for those individual scenes and chapters, plus compiles a master wordcount. Plus, there's space to organize your characters, locations, and items of research or inspiration. Considering I was taking two English courses that required lots of writing last November, I honestly owe my 50k success largely in part to this program. It kept me sane, focused, and organized.

(above image: yWriter5)

Now it's been several months since NaNoWriMo. I did write the 50k words, but didn't come close to finishing my novel. So I've been doing more research, making some plot changes, cutting and adding some characters, digging up more inspiration, and getting ready to start fresh sometime this spring. While yWriter5 was ideal for NaNo, I didn't find it ideal for this fresh start. I wanted something with a bit more oomph so that I could put all of my stuff in one place. (With yWriter5, I still found myself saving most of my research and character profiles to individual word documents.)

So I tried out StoryBox, which was also recommended on the NaNoWriMo forums. It was hard to get used to at first, especially after having been so used to the simplicity of yWriter5. Storybox seemed a little complicated with all of its features, but I caught on quickly and immediately fell into love. It has a lot of features, yes, but you get to choose which ones you want to show up and which ones you want to hide. And it's sooooo versatile. Not only can you divide your novel into chapters and scenes as you write, but you can pretty much do anything else. I keep records on my characters and settings. I organize all of my historical research into categories and sub-categories. I keep track of plot notes, random ideas I come up with, inspiring quotes/poetry/etc. and have my synopsis handy at all times to keep myself going down the right path. And this is all in the same place! It's all located in the left-hand sidebar, organized into little folders that conveniently collapse and expand. Everything is within easy reach but clean and uncluttered.

Plus, this program has an amazing auto save. Aaand if that's not appealing, anything you ever "delete" in a current project goes to the trash folder. So it's not ever gone forever. (Haven't you ever deleted something and a few weeks later wished you hadn't only to find that your trash bin had been flushed? Well, that won't happen here. You can delete, but if you ever need it it'll be right there in the trash can waiting for you.) Oh, and it's also super easy to move scenes and chapters around according to your everchanging writerly desires. :)

(above: Storybox)

Personally, I'm glad I didn't pay for MyNovel when there's such amazing programs available for free. Like I said, yWriter5 is completely free and ideal for NaNoWriMo. And while StoryBox is available for free use, which is so generous of the software designer. But every time you open the program, it will remind you how nice it is to pay for using software. As soon I as have a job and the money to spare, I plan on paying the extremely reasonable price of $25 to support this fantastic software. And while I liked yWriter5, I'm pretty set on sticking to StoryBox. I'm in love with it. I think I'll even use it to organize my school writing assignments and research papers. :)

Soo... what do you use to write and organize your writing? Are you a fan of the basic word processor documents? Do you utilize software programs like yWriter5, MyNovel, and StoryBox? Are you a Mac-user who swoons over Scrivenor? Or do you opt for an old fashioned system of spiral tablets and notebook cards?

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Water for Elephants Movie News

I've been head-over-heels excited since rumors circulated a few years ago about Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants being turned into a movie. Well, I'm happy to say that it is definitely a reality. And after waiting for seemingly forrrrever... some big news came out.

Reese Witherspoon has signed on to play the role of beautiful circus-equestrian Marlena! I am ecstatic about that casting and can easily imagine Reese portraying Marlena. Although it's been over two years since I read the novel, I remember Marlena being described as petite and pretty with light-brown hair. While Reese's blonde hair is always gorgeous, I really hope she goes brunette for the movie. I like it when films are true to the novel when it comes to character depiction. Also, Sean Penn might be playing August. I'd be okay with that.

And here's what really blows my mind: Robert Pattinson might be playing the main character Jacob. I've only seen Pattinson in Twilight. The movie was good; he's not bad looking. But I'm really not into the whole vampire craze. I think this would be an excellent opportunity for Pattinson to branch out beyond the "Edward Cullen" persona. He isn't exactly what I had in mind for Jacob, but I do think he is a good actor and could pull it off. Look at him pre-Twilight: clean cut hair that doesn't stick out all over and health skin that looks like it has seen sunlight in the last millennia. I think this is the most gorgeous picture of him I've ever seen. Now throw on some Depression-era trousers and suspenders... and then I think we might have a promising, rather fetching, Jacob Jankowski.

Gah! I'm just so excited about this movie!

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Choosing a POV

I'm currently re-writing the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo this past November. I'm doing additional historical research, re-profiling some of the characters, and making some major plot changes. However, I'm finding myself completely stumped when it comes to what point-of-view to write in.

The options I've come up with:

#1) First person POV from the main female character's perspective.
Pros: More intimate. I know this character really well and it wouldn't be difficult to get inside her head. There would probably be more suspense since she can't possibly know some of the other goings-on in the story or what the other characters are thinking/feeling.
Cons: Limiting. There are some other characters (mainly the male main character) who I feel should be explored. And there are some other important events/back-story that need to be part of the story, but would be impossible from FMC's.

#2) First person POV from both FMC and MMC.
Pros: I would be able to convey a personal perspective from both of these main characters, who end up having a romantic relationship. Their lives differ in many, many ways. And there are some personal events in both their lives that need to be a part of the story.
Cons: This is a difficult way to write. I could alternate the POV by chapter and specifying whose point of view at the beginning of each chapter, but I would have to be sure to write/speak entirely different depending on whose perspective that chapter was coming from. And I'm not sure I have that intimate of a grasp on the MMC to know his voice.

#3) Third person POV focusing on both FMC and MMC.
Pros: I would be able to write from an outsider's perspective but know the intimate details of both of these characters. I would be able to include both of their deepest feelings, histories, thoughts, etc.
Cons: I'd need to be sure to avoid "head-jumping." And sometimes I feel that third-person can feel so distant.

What do you think? What POV do you find most interesting to read? to write?

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What Character Would You Be?

I was asked a question on Formspring.me and thought it was an excellent inquiry to share here at my book blog.

The question was:

If you could live the life
of a character in a book,
who would it be?

My first thought was, "What a great question!" And then I thought, "...What a difficult question." All of the main female characters from my favorite books started bombarding my mind. Most of my favorite novels are about women who led less-than-ideal lives.

Marie Antoinette (from Abundance) got to wear gorgeous gowns, attend fabulous soirees, and rule as Queen of France. Not to mention, she got to indulge in a romantic affair with the handsome Count Fersen. But I wouldn't want to have been her because she was the scapegoat of the Revolution, was terrorized by her haters, and had her head chopped off in the end.

Marlena (from Water for Elephants) was a beautiful and talented circus performer who had a loving pet elephant named Rosie. However, she suffered abuse from her possessive husband.

Claudia (from Pilate's Wife) came from a wealthy Roman family and lived during my favorite time in history. She married Pontius Pilate, loved a good-looking gladiator, and traveled the empire. But she was tormented by nightmares that came true (including Jesus' crucifixion) and a Roman emperor that had it out for her family members.

And Queen Caroline Mathilde (from The Royal Physician's Visit) ruled as queen of Denmark and found true love in a romantic reformer. However, she had to marry an unstable and childlike king. And her love affair came to a rather bloody end.

So... who of all my favorite characters would I actually want to be in the shoes of?

My answer:

Scarlet O'Hara from
'Gone with the Wind'...
but I'd never let that
dashing Rhett Butler
get away from me!!!
He'd be mine, all mine. ;)

If you have a question to ask me, click here. It's totally anonymous.

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