It's spring! I know many people don't think it starts until the equinox, but it's my favourite season so I prefer to start it as early as possible. The garden is looking great and I've been taking lots of photos. Partly to share on social media, but also because I'm learning more about photography and need to practise the techniques.
A bonus from my photography training is that as it's Gary's job, and I'm acting as his assistant, we're allowed to leave the house occasionally, despite lockdown restrictions. Keeping socially distanced is easier at night ... Right, I think that's enough clues for you to guess which one wasn't taken in the garden!
If you'd like to see more of my photos, you can find them on Instagram. That's something else I'm having to learn! I'm sure it'll be easier once I have a smart phone...
This month's optional question is – Everyone has a favourite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?
My default reading choices are cosy crime, historical fiction and gardening books.
This year I'm taking part in a Goodreads challenge to read 52 different books, at least half of them in other genres, or on different subjects. My plan is to get through some of the books I have downloaded on my kindle – many of them by online writing friends.
Another thing I'm trying to learn more about is promotion for my writing. There are several things I'm trying, and which I'll report on once I know if they work, but I'm very much in the early stages of the process. Helpfully tonight's #WritingChat topic is promotional tools. If you'd like to join in you'll be very welcome. Just tweet 8-9 UK time, using the hashtag.
This is already quite a long post, so I'll save the free to enter writing competitions for a few days time. Will you be back for them?
19 comments:
Good luck with all your projects Patsy. Just to say your garden looks so pretty and tranquil.
Wish it was mine! Linda
Those gorgeous spring flowers! I hope Gary is pleased with the apprenticeship you are serving :)I am trying to broaden my reading. It was all crime/noir and ghosties but I am now dabbling in romance, horror and fantasy.
Love your pictures. It won't be spring here for four to six weeks. Awesome that you are assisting your husband. And it's great that you're doing a reading challenge. I am reading in lots more genres these days and enjoying expanding my horizons.
I like the sounds of that Goodreads challenge. I did a Around the World in 80 Books challenge once and it was great for getting me to read out of my comfort zone (I tend to stick with a few fave genres). I should make an effort to read different kinds of books this year.
Lovely photos :)
Glad you guys are getting out some. Hope you find some great books in different genres during that challenge.
Love your photos and your garden! Spring hasn't hit here yet but am hoping it will soon!
Beautiful photos! I've read a ton by my online friends as well - so many great stories!
Love the spring flower photos, Patsy. How lucky to have a photography tutor on hand!
It snowed several inches yesterday, so we're nowhere near Spring yet. In fact, we often get snow into April, so I'm not seeing pretty flowers like yours anytime soon!
I love your pictures, especially the flower ones. As for reading matter, I tend to go for contemporary literary fiction (not too literary though as I find some of them pretentious) but I like the occasional thriller or psychological thriller or comedy (not many of them around.) I agree it's good to try something different every now and again.
It's too late for me to join the chat tonight, but I'll check it out for next time. Thanks for the tip. It'll be a little while before our flowers start popping up here in Michigan., so I'll have to settle for looking at your beautiful pictures.
Love your garden and your excellent pics. You're obviously a very good student! Reading wise I used to read a lot of thrillers, but it all got a bit to heart-racing. Anyone ever read Void moon? I could only read it for fifteen minutes at a time! I'm good to read most things, can't stop reading at the moment. I used to be a reading addict and had to wean myself off, but I'm back there during Lockdown. Like Lindsey, I find some literary stuff very pretentious. I'm forcing myself through an award winning literary novel at the moment - just to wean me off my reading addiction. It's one of those books that once you've put it down you never want to pick it up again! Good wishes to all. Kate Hogan
Thanks for visiting my blog and for the pics with the post. That 52-book a year challenge sounds really fun. I keep saying that I'm going to spend more time on Goodreads.
Hope you have a great March!
Anne from annehiga.com
I thought I read a lot. Whew! Beautiful photos of your gorgeous garden BTW. Happy IWSG!
Following you on Instagram now. Good post. I like the pictures.
I love reading a wide variety of genres. I posted for IWSG day today. My post includes a new book by a friend, a note about a free book next week, a tweet about a query contest (LGBTQ romance this round), and a quick message about April Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
J Lenni Dorner~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
Your garden is lovely! I tend to consider the seasons as starting at the beginning of the applicable month. September's fall, March is spring, etc. So I'm with you there.
I think we have similar taste in fiction. I don't really read gardening books, though, but I probably should. It would improve my attempts at growing things!
Lovely pictures! Flowers always brighten up my day!
Beautiful photos! I wrote mostly short stories and poetry. I read literary fiction, dystopian SF and very occasionally read crime novels. I read a lot of non-fiction, specially books about nature or environmental issues, languages and sciences. I read poetry and short stories too
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