A Rant In Regards To Reading

This post may or may not be a rant depending on your definition, but it will be about reading.

I think it’s important to read what you want and to enjoy your reading experience. No, you might not love everything about a certain book, but try to find something you do like.

Even though I read as an escape from real life, reading for me is almost akin to living in a way. I get to live different lives through fictional characters.

Maybe I’m using reading as a metaphor or analogy for living. I’m not too sure. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not an English major.

I just hope readers don’t feel pressured to read what they don’t want to just because everyone else is. Case in point: Herminia and Harry Potter.

I also do my best to finish what I start, especially if I chose to buy the book with the thought I’ll enjoy the story. Or at least, enjoy some aspect of the work. Sometimes, it’s the writing. Other times, I’m a fan of the plot or I’m fond of the characters.

Besides, reading what you enjoy will always win out over the alternative of not enjoying yourself.

Am I ranting or rambling? I’m not even sure at this point. Now that I’m older and wiser, I hope going forward, I will decide what’s best for my interests. Not allow others to decide for me.

So go ahead, read what you want. If you realize you aren’t enjoying the book, read something else.

It’s perfectly fine to pick up another novel if you aren’t enjoying the one you’re on right now.

Reading, like life, is about timing. Perhaps you don’t appreciate a certain book at this exact moment. But maybe in the future, you will.

That might mean you’ll grow out of books. Stories you loved in the past might not have the same effect on you years later. This is okay.

After all, readers should read what their heart desires.

Live your life. Read the books you want. Have fun. Enjoy yourself while reading.

You don’t get that time back.

Ranting About Grades

I should stop checking my grades. I did this for a couple of months last year because I hated how I felt after I checked. It usually led to disappointment or frustration. To be honest, a combination of both sounds about right. 

I feel like I can never be satisfied with my grades. No matter how “good” they are.

Admittedly they aren’t great this year. This semester especially. But even when I do well by someone else’s standards, I don’t feel satisfied. Because I’m meeting (or not meeting) other people’s expectations rather than my own. I’m writing for someone else who isn’t myself. And I’ve found having to do the very thing you love most for a grade is messed up in a way.

Let me be the first to tell you I often get too caught up with the creative process and the words themselves that I neglect everything else. The assignment instructions. My argument and evidence. I could go on.

Also, I hate the idea of someone five years older than me deciding my entire grade. Something there doesn’t sit well with me. Actually many things. It’s not my main problem with grades though.

It’s feeling like a number or percentage defines me. As if one grade defines my value or worth. Since when did I care for numbers? I’m a writer after all.

A Rant About Talking And Writing

Talk all you want. But please don’t talk down to other human beings.

Write whatever you want. But don’t write off someone.

Just don’t.

I don’t care who you are. I don’t care who the person you’re talking to is. There’s no reason why you should talk down to them.

Same goes for writing. You can’t and shouldn’t assume superiority on your part or stupidity on someone else’s behalf.

I’m done.

Current Pet Peeve

So many things peeve me. Humans—non-writers in particular—have a tendency to test my patience, which is non-existent as you can tell.

While my pet peeves are a never-ending list, my current one is as follows:

When people say one school (university, college, etc.) is more prestigious than another. I’m annoyed anytime anyone claims one school is better or more well-known based upon very biased opinions.

Editors and agents won’t care where I went for post-secondary. On the other hand, the industry does care if writers can write. By write, I mean write well. Like really well.

Everyone needs to stop telling me to go to a specific school solely because the institution has seemingly established a name for itself.

Rant over. Anger absolved…slightly.

Confession From An Above Average Intelligence Individual

It’s hard being smart.

It isn’t easy watching people make silly errors.

It isn’t fun listening to people speak gibberish.

It isn’t pleasant when people around don’t use the cells in their brain.

I’m in a foul mood. I don’t want to offend anybody, but I can’t keep my frustrations inside any longer. Forgive me.

This rant is officially over. Tomorrow’s post will be more lighthearted and maybe even optimistic.

Things To Never Say To An Editor

A rant-like post written by yours truly. What? Did you expect anything less?

“Can you edit something for me…by today? Like right now? I need this edited before tomorrow.” 

Why, sure of course! Thanks for telling me in advance! Great time management there buddy. I’m sure I will do a stellar job editing five pages of gibberish in five minutes.

“It isn’t done yet.” 

So why am I editing “it” then? Writing comes first. Editing comes later. Got it? You never write something, go to editor with an unfinished piece, write some more, bother the editor a second time, fix another mistake you were too careless to correct the first time, and then send it back to the editor again for a third time. I don’t have that kind of patience. Sorry. The expectation that you at least finish the piece before you go to an editor is an unwritten rule in the industry.  

“Can you help me rework this sentence and revise this paragraph and rewrite this section?” 

An editor is simply an editor. He or she will not help write the entire story or essay for you. That is not their job. I’ll edit an entire manuscript for you, however, I refuse to write even half a sentence for you.  

I can’t say I will ever encounter any of these situations in the real world but in high school, everything is possible.

End of rant.

Respect Yourself And The People Around You

I cannot stand people who don’t respect themselves. These people make no sense to me.

We are all human beings. I get it. Still if you make a mistake and just happen to tarnish your reputation, you owe it to yourself to rectify your wrongdoings.

I hate to rant and take my anger out on my fellow readers whom have done nothing wrong. Still, I learned early on that to succeed in any industry, you must respect yourself and the people around you. And if you make a mistake, admit to it. Don’t play the denial game.

Now that I am writing about it, I could go on and on about the idea of respect. But I won’t because I respect my readers and ultimately, myself. Wouldn’t want to tarnish my reputation since I’ve built a good rapport through hard work, commitment, and respect.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Friday Night Ranting

The thing is I’ve forgotten how good it felt to write. I mean to really write. To write for yourself and no one else. To write and enjoy it. Not to impress. Not to please. Not to be someone others want you to be.

Forget the labels. Forget the stereotypes. Forget the preconceived notions. For just a second. Forget what you are supposed to be and be you. Only you.

As they say, leave your problems at the door. Leave your baggage behind you right this moment. Leave the past where it belongs.

Stay in the present moment. Focus on the here and now.

You probably hear this one a lot too; dance like no one is watching. Well, apply that to writing. Write like nobody is judging you. Write even if it means you break every rule in the book. Write because you cannot imagine yourself doing anything else.

Who cares what others think or say? I know this rant is not going anywhere. Rather it’s like a derailed train travelling without a specific destination in mind. As for the title of this post (Friday Night Ranting), it isn’t descriptive, intriguing, attention-grabbing. But that makes no difference to me.

Writing much like living should be enjoyable. Some days you have to write and you have to live without limitations, without following rules, without being perfect.

Oh yeah, happy Friday. If you have read up until this point, meaning you wasted a few valuable minutes reading this semi-rant, I shall thank you.

Semi-rant isn’t a word; I invented it right now. Hey, a girl’s got to live a little. Isn’t that right?