Relocation!!

     So, for a while, I've been considering moving over to WordPress because it seems to be easier to use, and no offense, but Blogger's HTML setting are not exactly perfect! I finally did that yesterday and in the process changed the name of the blog, also something I've been considering for a while. So, from now on I'll be posting at strugglingbookaddict.wordpress.com. The new name is Struggling Book Addict, which I feel accurately represents me as a person. I feel that this is a really important step for me, and will allow me to separate who I was as a 10 year old and who I am now. However, I don't want to completely erase my past, and for this reason I figured out how to transfer all my old posts over to the new blog using this tutorial! Now that I have this new blog, please go leave a follow, and I'd be delighted if you would comment on my next post!

High School Activities

     So, school is starting soon, and for me, that means constant stress. Because I'm an overachiever and also slightly insane (who am I kidding, I'm completely insane) I'm doing like 5,000,000 activities this year (ok maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit), along with attempting to find volunteer opportunities and keep up with the blog. This is all in the hopes of getting into an Ivy League college, and I only have 2 more years until I start applying. So, I've decided to make a list of all the things I'm doing (or hope to be doing) this school year. Both to inform you a little bit more about my life and keep myself organized. So, I invite you to read all about my hectic life and feel free to comment below if you have experience with any of these!

The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz

The Four Agreements

by don Miguel Ruiz

• Nonfiction, Psychology, Self-Improvement
• 12+ for complex ideas and theories
• Published November 7, 1997 by Amber-Allen Publishing
• ★★★★★

The Four Agreements: A Summary

    This post is in correspondence with my review of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, which will go up on Wednesday. However, I loved the book and idea so much that I'm going to summarize the four agreements and how you can apply them to day to day life. Honestly, I plan to start following these, as I believe they could greatly improve my life and generally make me happier and more accepting of myself and others.

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor E. Frankl

• Nonfiction, Holocaust, Psychology
• 14+ for complex ideas and theories
• Published 1945
• ★★★★★

A to Z Bookish Survey Tag

     So, seeing as I start school in about a month and I still have tons of summer work to do, my creativity is currently down in the dumps. However, I realized that I needed a post and decided to google some fun book blog tags. From there I clicked the first one I saw (laziness at it's finest!) which lead me to Brin's Book Blog, and now we're here! So enjoy my post and be warned, I happen to be very weird, so the answers reflect that. 

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

by Roger Lancelyn Green

• Classic, Fiction, Fantasy, YA
• 13+ for violence and complex plots
• Published March 1st, 1995 by Puffin
• ★★★★★

5 Ways to Procrastinate Productively: Pro Tips From a Lazy Overacheiver

     Everybody knows that feeling. You have something you really need to do but you don't feel like it at the moment so you'll do literally ANYTHING else to avoid it.

 "Go do your homework!"

"Sorry mom I can't I'm cleaning my room!" 

Does this sound familiar to you? Of course it does because we've all done it at one point or another. But the true question is, are we being productive or wasting our time procrastinating what we'll inevitably have to do anyway? Well, I'm going to give you tips on how to successfully procrastinate while also doing productive things to improve your blog.

Mess around on Twitter

     This is what I do instead of work, and it's actually helped a lot. I've increased my following by about 150%, found some amazing bloggers, and also got an invitation to connect with an author with 37 books, 1 of which is being filmed! Honestly, I'm so happy that I decided to mess with Twitter, and found the amazing blogs I did. If you're going to go on social media anyway, at least go pretend to be productive on Twitter, it actually works!

Write a stupid/funny post (like I'm doing right now)

     I mean, you had to post anyway, why not make a post that you can schedule for a day. That's one less post to write later, and you'll have fun doing it. Like honestly doing this right now takes almost no thinking and is actually pretty relaxing. Who doesn't like to read a funny post every once in a while on a blog that's always serious? (who am I kidding, I'm almost never serious) Anyways, these are the perfect types of posts to draw attention to your blog, as they're easy and typically unique. How many posts do you know of detailing how to be productive while procrastinating? I don't think I've ever heard of one, much less read one.

Read

     Now, if you're like me, you're possibly avoiding reading at this very minute. Honestly, while I'm writing this the book I'm supposed to read for school is sitting next to me on the coach. But, sometimes you're supposed to write a review or read that ARC and you Just. Can't. Do. It. I understand that, which is why I prefer to put that book down and read a random story for a little while, preferably Harry Potter, to get my mind off the stress that's weighing me down. This way, when you go back to what you're actually supposed to be doing your mind will be a lot clearer than before. Also, bonus if it's a story you've never read you have a book to write a book review on, or even if it's an old one you can update an old review.

Make a to-do list

    This may not be the most entertaining task on this list, but it's definitely helpful. Whether you write down the tasks on your phone or make a full fledged color-coded calendar, it's all the same. Once you've written down everything you need to do, you'll be a lot more motivated to actually work. It could also inspire you, allowing you to work faster and possibly write a blog post.

Read other blogs

     I love looking through other blogs, not only to make new friends or find new books, but also for inspiration. I confess that I steal ideas from other blogs, but I typically put my own spin on them. Sometimes while I'm looking through them I'll notice a really tiny detail and write my own post about that detail. Overall, stalking blogs is as a great way to find inspiration and friends (not that I have much experience with those).

Press Kits 101

     Now, while I've never written a book, and most definitely never published one, I have had quite the experience with press kits. Throughout my years of blogging (it's been 5 years, I can't believe it!) I've worked with authors, publicity agents and even publishers of various backgrounds, all of which had a different approach to pitching a book. However, one of the best things I've seen across the board is those who pitch a book and include a press kit. Now, if you don't know what a press kit is, it's basically a compilation of all basic information and materials a reviewer, publisher, etc. might need when dealing with your book. While the items vary there are a couple basic items that I wish all authors would include when requesting a review. So, without further ado, let's get started on what goes inside a press kit and how to go about making one.

The Stereotypical Romance

     So, as you probably know, I hate romance plots in literature, television, movies, pretty much everywhere. I believe it's totally overused and tends to overshadow more important things, as well as making at least one character look like a total idiot fawning over the other. However, as I have no way to express this idea through words, I've decided to show you the typical romance plot as I see it, which is featured in everything from Disney movies, to books about serial killers (yes this is said from recent experience).

Dragonsoul by Kayl Karadjian

*This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects or influences my opinion of the book.*

Dragonsoul

by Kayl Karadjian

• Fiction, Fantasy, YA
• 11+ for minimal violence and language
• Published October 19th, 2016 by Kayl Karadjian
• ★★★★★

Required Reading

via GIPHY      Obviously, I love reading. I run a book blog for goodness sake, I'm not exactly hiding it. However, there are circumstances in life that can make even the biggest bookworm refuse to read. For me, that circumstance is required reading. Whether it's for a class or my mom making me read it, required reading always puts me in a book slump, and it can be hard to come out of.

Escape From Asylum by Madeleine Roux

Escape From Asylum

by Madeleine Roux

• Fiction, Horror, YA
• 13+ for mild violence
• Trigger Warning: violence, homophobia, transphobia
• Published June 14th, 2016 by Harper Collins
• ★★★★★

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

 13 Reasons Why

by Jay Asher

• Fiction, Realistic Fiction, YA
• 13+ for complex themes and mature content
• Trigger Warning: suicide, sexual assault, rape, self-harm, bullying, adult content 
• Published October 18th, 2007 by Razorbill
• ★★★★★

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Wuthering Heights

by Emily Brontë

• Classic, Fiction, Gothic, Romantic
• 16+ for complex themes and vocabulary
• Published September 5th, 1847 by Thomas Cautley Newby
• ★★★★★