The 2015 VIDA Count

Check out my latest post about The 2015 VIDA count on Mocha Girls Read.

VIDA is a research organization whose aims to “increase critical attention to contemporary women’s writing as well as further transparency around gender equality issues in contemporary literature culture.” One of the ways VIDA does this is with The Count. Beginning in 2010 and every year since, VIDA counts the rates of publication of male and female authors in various prestigious magazines that published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry during the prior year. The organization looks at whose books were reviewed, who did the reviewing, which authors were interviewed, who the interviewers were and more.

Learn more VIDA and find the full report at http://www.vidaweb.org/the-2015-vida-count/.





 

Bookish Podcasts

I recently began writing for Mocha Girls Read, an online and in-person book club, of which I'm a member. My first post was published today. Check it out and find out about The Wonderful World of Bookish Podcasts. Maybe you already are fans of these podcast, or perhaps you'll discover a new one to enjoy.

Happy reading and listening!

Happy Reading in 2014!

Finally, it is 2014!  I have been waiting for the new year to start so I could get started on my reading challenges for this year.  I expect good things in 2014, reading and otherwise.  I am also glad and grateful to continue writing this blog.  It began in 2012 as a challenge to myself to learn about blogging and writing book reviews.  It has been challenging and loads of fun.  There is still a lot I have to learn about blogging and hopefully I'll learn a few of those lessons in the coming year and will be able to make the Passport Books blog even better.

In addition to blogging, I hope to write more generally.  For the last two years I have participated in National Novel Writing Month.  I wrote over 50,000 words in November 2012 and again in November 2013.  Now it is time for editing.  With some luck, this year I'll get around to editing at least one of the novels.  Who knows, maybe I'll post a few excerpts on this blog.  I would also like to include posts on other pop culture and/or lifestyle issues (like exercise as I try to train for a half-marathon), or maybe posts about the culture and business of books more generally (as opposed to just book reviews).  There are so many possibilities to consider.   While those possibilities take time to form, I'll get started on my reading goals.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading

I'm a NaNoWriMo Winner!

At the beginning of November I decided to write a novel.  I did it in connection with National Novel Writing Month where thousands (maybe millions) of people aimed to write at least 50,000 words in thirty days.  I wrote 673 words the first day then, well I didn't exactly forget about it, I just got busy.  The NaNoWriMo website has this nifty little statistics widget that tells novel writers how many total words they've written so far, number of words written that day, daily average of words written, how many words are left till the 50,000 goal is reached, and the the predicted time a writer will finish if he or she continues writing at the then current average.  other information.  On day four I logged in to the the website and found that I was far behind.  With a measly 673 words written, according to the numbers I wouldn't finish until mid-January!  From that day forward I made myself sit down and write everyday.  It wasn't easy.  There were many nights spent writing to midnight trying to meet my word count for the day. Eventually, on November 27th, I finished, coming in at 50,457!

Now, whether what I wrote is any good, whether it will ever see the light of day - that I don't know.  November was for writing, next month will be the beginning of the editing.  No matter how it turns out I'm glad I wrote it.  I have always wanted to write.  I've always thought there was a story or two inside me.  Many times I started to write, opened to a new page in a notebook to jot down my ideas, a new Microsoft document, but then I would I always get distracted.  National Novel Writing Month provided the necessary motivation.  So thank you National Novel Writing Month, thank you.

National Novel Writing Month

I haven't been able to read as much this month because I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month.  Thousands of people around the world have signed up to write at least 50,000 words in 30 days.  As I participate in this I have gained an even greater appreciation for writers.  It's hard work.  Participating in National Novel Writing makes it a little easier.  Knowing that so many people are writing at the same time creates a sense of community.  It is encouraging.  Having a deadline helps to.  So far it has been a lot of fun.  I'm about 20,000 words in and have a ways to go.  Wish me luck!