Welcome back to Top Ten Tuesday! Once hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, it is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It’s a weekly book feature where a topical list-prompt is posted and readers respond with their top ten for that prompt. Yours truly tends to go over ten, but hey, what can a passionate reader do?
This week’s topic is: Outrageous or Uncharacteristic Things I’ve Done for the Love of Books
I’m really excited to see the lists that everyone else comes up with, because I feel like mine isn’t going to be that exciting, in comparison (although, maybe you found it riveting instead of boring, who knows!). But if you’re a book lover, I have a feeling you might be able to relate to these.
If you’re not, well…you prolly always knew I wasn’t your ordinary human to begin with.
Lost Sleep: If you know me at all, you know that I love sleep. Like, I love sleep. I’ve actually lost friendships with night owls in college because I wanted to go to bed at a decent hour and get a solid eight hours every night, instead of staying up late and hanging out on school nights. They might not be pleased to know that books, however, have definitely caused me to sacrifice sleep, in order to read just one more chapter, but hey, sometimes, they are just that good.
All-Nighters: Did I pull an all-nighter to read Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows in one sitting so I could finish the entire thing before my Mom got to read it “first” in the morning, after we bought a single copy (I know, our mistake) at the midnight launch, because I didn’t want to wait for her to read it to find out how it all ends?
Why yes, yes I did.
Midnight Launches: I haven’t gone to too many midnight launches (mostly because there aren’t a lot of them in my area; or, are then even a common thing, really?) but I will sacrifice sleep to get my hands on the next book I really want before I sacrifice almost anything else, honestly.
Pay Money: This might seem like a weird one to include, but I am FRUGAL. Like, really, really, really frugal. I hate to spend money on practically anything, so I avoid it like the plague. But my one weakness, that one thing friends and family know will break this streak: books.
Hibernation: I am definitely on outdoors person, in the sense that I love to be outside and doing something (even if that something is reading out in the backyard). But a good book will keep me locked up inside almost more than anything else. Plus, especially in high school, I was known to lock myself up in my room for the entire weekend and not come out, just reading the days away.
Lying: Have I lied to loved ones and claimed, “I was busy” or “I was unavailable” when they asked if I wanted to go do something so I can stay in alone and finish a chapter?
Why yes, yes I have.
Becoming Extroverted: I used to claim I was an extrovert, but I know myself better than that and know now that was definitely never the case. I’m an introvert by heart and by nature, but there are two things that will almost always bring the extrovert out in me to strangers: dogs and books. I’ll avoid making eye contact with strangers all day long, but when you see someone holding a copy of Age of Assassins by R.J. Barker at your local Barnes and Noble, obviously on the fence about whether or not they should purchase it, you bet I casually freaked out to them why the book was incredible and then panicked-ran away after the conversation was over.
Cosplay: The ultimate moment of becoming extroverted was when my friends and I all dressed up as characters from Harry Potter for the final film premiere (hi, I’m Luna Lovegood who made her own version of The Quibbler and wore real radishes as earrings) and then proceeded to fight death eaters in an epic wand battle in the middle of the theatre as we waited for the film to start, with everyone watching us.
My heart hammers even now to think that I did this.
Tattoos: I feel like this one doesn’t count, because I was always going to get tattoos (it was everyone else who didn’t believe me and thought it was outrageously uncharacteristic when 16 year old me claimed this), but my LOTR sleeve is definitely a tribute to the Father of Fantasy and, in a way, all the books I love.
Books Meetings: I also joined our local chapter of the Tolkien Society, which requires monthly meetings to discuss readings with strangers (who have, since then, become friends!) that also requires me to drive on the highway to get to (which, huge case of driving anxiety, over here).
I don’t make these kind of sacrifices for just anything, people!
Attending (and speaking at !!) Cons: I also don’t think I’d ever have been to a Con, without my intense love of writing and reading books. I even presented (!!) at a Tolkien Convention last year and am considering doing it again this fall, who am I.
Well, there is my list! I struggled to make it at first, but then I realized, there are quite a few things that I do in the name of my love of books that I might not have done otherwise or normally do usually. It was really fun to write and think about, so I hope you enjoyed it. Please share your own Top Ten Tuesday lists with my down below and let me know what you thought of mine!
Cheers.
Looking For Adventurers!
Welcome to Inkpot Droplets, a quarterly newsletter that shares highlights from the past three months! One day, this is going to be the first place you'll hear news about my books and publication journey.
Footer
Thoughts Stained With Ink
Home to SFF Writer, Editor and Blogger Nicole Evans
Let's Adventure Together!![Hello writers, storytellers and wordsmiths! This month, Thoughts Stained With Ink Editorial turns 3! 🎉
To celebrate, I wrote a really sappy blog post about it, which you can read linked below. On that blog post is also a special thank you, including 10% discount for anyone who books a full manuscript edit this month AND three query critique giveaways (open until 8/12).
Thank you all for the wonderful three years of editing. I cannot wait for see what the next three hold.
Read the blog post and enter the giveaway here: https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/celebrating-my-freelance-editing-anniversary/
[ID in alt text.]
#writing #writinghelp #editing #amediting #amrevising #edits #freelanceeditor #SFFWriters #fantasywriters #writingcommunity #writing #querying #amquerying #writersofinstagram #writersofig #WIP #editorial #developmentalediting #nowbooking #queerwriters #edits](https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” — J.R.R. Tolkien
What a list! Yeah books really do change your life and how you act if you love them enough!!
Right!?
I really enjoyed reading your list! I could have probably added more to mine.
Ha, thank you! At first, I didn’t think I’d be able to come up with enough, but then I started working on it and discovered a lot more than I thought!
I think a lot of readers/book bloggers share your top 10! Last night I picked up a book that did NOT look interesting. I said I’d just read one page and go to bed. A frickin’ third of the book later, and way past my bedtime, I finally put the compelling book down!
That is the BEST feeling, though, when you’re kinda feeling “eh” about a book and then it surprises you in the best way!
Lots of late nights and money spent on books for me as well. I love that you have done cosplay – I’ve never done it but it looks like so much fun.
I only did it once, but I definitely would love to do it again! It was really fun!
I’m a morning person so I don’t typically stay up late to read, but I have woken up early to read! Your tattoo sounds interesting! I love tattoos and have a very large back piece. Here is our Top Ten Tuesday
I wish I was a morning person! I need to do better becoming one. Thank you, I love it. What’s your back piece of? I’m excited to go and check out your post!
Yes, I hope you have time to check out the post and Long and Short Reviews, My fellow reviewer, Astilbe wrote the list this week. On my tattoo, I have pink roses starting in my lower back, twisting and climbing around my spine, and branching out to my shoulder blades. It is a nod to my favorite fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. My mother-in-law designed it for me. 🙂
WOW, that tattoo sounds INCREDIBLE.
I love literary tattoos!
ME TOO.
I’ve definitely stayed up late to read before. Midnight releases aren’t really a thing except for Harry Potter books, I don’t think? I went to one for Cursed Child when it came out, my friend and I took a diversion on the way home to stop and pick it up.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/top-ten-tuesday-206/
Yeah, I don’t think they are a common thing, but I kinda wish they were, because I had a blast doing that.
Thanks for sharing your post, I’ll definitely go and check it out!
I discovered from one midnight film screening that midnight releases are not really my thing-I was so exhausted the next day!
Oh, I definitely feel you on that. I can did it on a rare occasion, but I don’t think I could ever make it a regular thing!
I love your list and many of the things on here ring true for me and I’m sure other readers. I’ve definitely jumped in to convince somebody to buy a book in a shop before now.
Lynn 😀
I’ve only done it once, but I could definitely see myself doing it again, especially if it’s for a book that is underrated. 🙂
Midnight launches have been a pretty popular answer so far this week! They sound fun.
My post.
I’m super impressed that you have spoken at a Con! That is pretty cool. I love your list, and I also have a book related tattoo, although not a whole sleeve:-)
It was terrifying. 😛 But it was also a lot of fun! Really? What’s your book related tattoo?
It’s the word “book” in English and Japanese, silly but I love it! If you go to my Instagram feed you can see it there.
That’s not silly at all! If it means something to you, then that’s amazing. <3
Ahh I loved your list! Staying up late to read has definitely been something I’ve done on multiple occasions 😩😅 And I’m pretty good with money usually,,, BUT THEN BOOKS HAPPENED. 🤭😂
Right!? It’s like I have a wonderful budget and don’t spend too much and suddenly, you leave me in a bookstore and my wallet’s empty and I’m back on ramen for two months. 😛
WHY IS THIS ME AJSJS 😂😂
I always pull all nighters too. I can’t help it when a book is just that good!
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Exactly!
I dressed up like Tris at one of the Divergent movies.
Oh and the picture of the Zootopia rabbit… I’ve joked that I need to just send some authors my bitcoin private keys and as long as they keep writing, they can keep taking my money.
That’s awesome!
😛 That’s a good way to look at it, because I’m definitely feeling that way, too.
I also consider myself a frugal person, but not when it comes to books. I still think I do a pretty good job, but sometimes, I make a few unwise purchases.
Yeah, I definitely relate to this pretty hard.
This is such a great list! I have all nighter on my list too haha but in my case it was for An Ember in the Ashes. I couldn’t help it. That book was super addicting and my eyes were glued to the pages. And I can perfectly understand your case with Harry Potter as well! Those were the books which I could not put down for one second LOL
Aw, thank you so much! I love it when I find those books, too. They are seriously the best.
I’m the same way with my money! I’ll happily spend it on books, but any other non-essential things? Nope.
I’m also a frugal kind of person, but when it comes to books, I tend to make exceptions haha, I just can’t help it I guess 😛 I think it’s so, so amazing and heartwarming to read all of the things you did for the love of books and how you went cosplaying, got a tattoo, somehow conquered your driving anxiety to go to book meetings, honestly this is amazing! <3
I can’t help it, either. Thank goodness the nearest bookstore is an hour away from me in all directions. 😛 Aww, thank you so much! I had a lot of fun writing this post, so it means the world that you enjoyed it! <3
So many yeses! Sleep, hibernation, $$$$. I will buy a book Every. Damn. Time. It’s ridiculous.
Also, did not know about the epic wand battle – jealous.
Also, did not know that you might present again – do it.
Also, Easter Monday for phone chat?
Right!?
I did, yes! It was terrifying, but really fun at the same time!
I think I will. I’ll have to tell you about it.
Yes, I can do that day, most definitely! I still have to work, but I don’t go in until 2pm my time, so let’s do between 11am-12pm CST?
Soudn great! Lots to tell you!
Awesome, I can’t wait! Same!