Aless

https://www.goodreads.com/alesstheintrovert

Aless’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (94)
currently-reading‎ (5)
read‎ (377)
did-not-finish‎ (70)
read-at-a-later-time‎ (19)
audiobook-listens‎ (97)

addictive‎ (51)
favorites‎ (42)
school-reads‎ (35)
unexpected-favorites‎ (35)
netgalley-arcs‎ (17)
2019-favorites‎ (13)

2022-favorites‎ (12)
2020-favorites‎ (8)
2024-favorites‎ (8)
2021-favorites‎ (7)
annotated‎ (6)
gifted-for-review‎ (4)

unreleased‎ (3)
2023-favorites‎ (2)
beta-read‎ (1)

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Aless is Currently Reading

Aless is currently reading

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, #1)

by Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: favorites, audiobook-listens, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

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progress:

(59%)
"Hopefully I don't let this sit in almost finished hell *crosses fingers*" — Apr 02, 2026 01:52PM

Apr 02, 2026 01:52PM

Aless is currently reading

Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt (Harland Creek Mystery Quilters, #1)

by Jodi Allen Brice (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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progress:

(page 118 of 214)
"118 of 187 pgs" — Feb 03, 2026 09:43PM

Feb 03, 2026 09:43PM

Aless is currently reading

1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round

by Jami Attenberg (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: unexpected-favorites, 2024-favorites, favorites, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in August 2024

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Aless said: " The only time I pick up nonfiction is for writing craft books. This is the first craft book since Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels, that I did not skim read or get bored while reading. I read this on the recommendation of Kate C The only time I pick up nonfiction is for writing craft books. This is the first craft book since Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels, that I did not skim read or get bored while reading. I read this on the recommendation of Kate Cavanaugh Writes latest video where she tried the 1000 words bootcamp challenge.

I enjoyed this more than I expected. I love that it was written as a conversation instead of this is how writing should be or how you should attack. It was written for a modern audience who has access to a greater writing community that is searching for advice and experiences from other writers. I appreciate that all the authors and Attenberg referred to authors and writers I have never heard of, including ones who wrote a letter. Now, I am like 30 years younger than Attenberg, but one of the ways that I think the U.S. education fails us is by showing us artists of a certain status and background. The examples and authors mentioned are still likely of a white background, but there was something more interesting that the author writing the letter found so impactful. (I'm not sure if that made sense, but I can't think of a way to reword it right now.)

Also, having this reflect on the time between 2018-2021 was interesting. That time feels like a blur and as if 2018/2019 was the end of the world as we thought of it. So hearing how all these creatives went from finding a routine to rediscovering creativity while put into a bubble was enjoyable.

ALSO! As an art student going into her senior year, there were so many quotes that I will be taking with me into my approach as an artist who is struggling to create art for herself. I write what I want and tell the stories I want. But I make art works that I think other people will enjoy. I have maybe 4 pieces from the last 3 years that I am so happy with and proud with because I made them for my enjoyment. Not the grade or critique of my peers and professors.

I have found this summer that writing to a word count does not work for me. I write a scene(s) until I don't have anything left to say for that day/session. I have surprised myself with the word count I have by the end of the day. I still track it, just to find the pattern in when I write and finding my flow. I struggled to write a chapter yesterday but I sat with it all day and I like what I ended with. Today, I feel like my brain is mush. I wanted to read a fiction work, but I was so intrigued by this craft book so I read it first. I didn't even listen to the audiobook. I sat with the text and the words from all these authors. I have so many ideas as a writer, artist, person, for my current project, my last project, future ones, and so many things.

I finally found a writing craft book that made me think and appreciate art and life. This book doesn't gatekeep the writing community or writing. ...more "

progress:

(page 52 of 272)
— Jan 22, 2026 06:46PM

Aug 13, 2024 04:26PM · see review

See all 5 books that Aless is reading…

Aless’s Quotes

“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
And in the taste confounds the appetite.
Therefore love moderately; long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

tags: romeo-and-juliet, shakespeare

4293 likes

“Life isn't about learning how to weather the storm. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.”
― Vivian Greene

tags: difficulties, life-lessons, trials, tribulations

8 likes

“Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings.”
― Anais Nin

tags: death, love

22185 likes

“This is the stupidest plan I have ever in my career participated in," Xenophon said.
"I love stupid plans," said Eugenides.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, The Queen of Attolia

tags: attolia, gen

231 likes

“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.”
― Vivian Greene

61 likes

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