Niki FloricaNot every book we read is going to be a fave, but every book *can* teach us something about the craft. Especially if we read with our writer brains on...
Note: I may eventually do a true review of Marissa Meyer's "Gilded" and discuss some of my content concerns in more detail. For now, Common Sense Media provides a helpful breakdown of key issues: commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/gilded-0.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.
This is NOT a Book Review // turning an okay read into an epic writing lessonNiki Florica2024-02-15 | Not every book we read is going to be a fave, but every book *can* teach us something about the craft. Especially if we read with our writer brains on...
Note: I may eventually do a true review of Marissa Meyer's "Gilded" and discuss some of my content concerns in more detail. For now, Common Sense Media provides a helpful breakdown of key issues: commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/gilded-0.
Find me on Insta @nikifloricawrites or on the ol' blog at www.nikiflorica.com.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.Cracking Down on my BAD HABITS for My Last Semester 😬Niki Florica2024-09-25 | Forget the unrealistic writing goals (you know, the ones I *never* meet 😅). This fall, we're trying something new!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.
Music by: Bensound Royalty Free Music: bensound.com License code: EC9BOLMNP7LLMYB9Why I REGRET Self-Publishing as a TeenNiki Florica2024-08-29 | From one young writer to another, here's what I've learned about rushing the process...
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always. :)I Come Clean About My First Book // and Celebrate a New One! 🎉Niki Florica2024-08-07 | Here's to wonderful new books (congrats, Kimmie Kay and HA Pruitt!) aaaaaand to not-so-wonderful old ones. 🤷♀️
Find me on Insta @nikifloricawrites or on the ol' blog at nikiflorica.com. All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.Why Do I Find Book Reviews SO HARD?!Niki Florica2024-07-03 | If you've ever wanted to know why I don't do more book reviews, buckle up! 😅
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.Letting Go of a Messy Draft // and why it takes me soooooo long 🤓Niki Florica2024-06-05 | Okay, so I am getting better at messy first drafts... but that doesn't mean it's always easy to let go of Plan A and start fresh with Plan B.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always. :)Lets Talk Soft Writing (while I try not to spill tea all over myself) ☕️Niki Florica2024-05-15 | Turns out there's a technical term for "daydreaming." Who knew?
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always!I Gave Myself 7 Days to FINISH Writing Operation Prequel 👀Niki Florica2024-05-03 | One week. Nine scenes to write. Doable? Yes. Way more than I bargained for? Also yes.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always!Should I Redeem My Villain // my latest writing conundrumNiki Florica2024-03-27 | I think I may need some help with this one, writers!
All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always!Writing *Realistic* or for Realism? // unrealistic fiction elements I loveNiki Florica2024-03-01 | Stories aren't real life. If they were, we wouldn't love them the same way! And while we should always try to capture a sense of realism in our writing, that doesn't mean we ALWAYS have to be "realistic"...
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.Thats a Wrap! // bookish photoshoot + final thoughts on Jennifer Kropfs Winter Souls seriesNiki Florica2024-01-31 | It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a book series as much as this one!! Here are some thoughts on the last two books in Jennifer Kropf's delightfully Christmas-y and gut-punchingly profound fantasy series, "The Winter Souls."
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.Reading Vlog // some bookish hits and misses Ive had latelyNiki Florica2024-01-17 | Who's hyped for Blood of Kings: Legends?! It's character reveal week, so check out all of these fabulous Legends authors on IG for the latest!
Jill Williamson: @jill_williamson_author Andrew Swearingen: @andrewswearingenauthor Kelly Fernlake: @kellyfernlake Me :) @nikifloricawrites
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being GOOD, always.2024 Writing Goals // my bookish hopes for the new year!Niki Florica2024-01-03 | Happy 2024, fellow writers! What are your writing goals for the shiny new year?
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for a beautiful new year and for being good, always.BOOK REVIEW// some thoughts on Jennifer Kropfs A Heart as Red as PaintNiki Florica2023-12-27 | Christmas may be over, but why not keep the magic going with a cozy Christmas fantasy??? Here are some of my thoughts on book two of Jennifer Kropf's Winter Souls book series!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being truly GOOD, always!Bookish Thoughts // Victor Hugos *Les Miserables* // Reading VlogNiki Florica2023-12-20 | Haven't done a reading vlog in a while! Here are some of my *spoiler-free* thoughts on Victor Hugo's beautiful book, Les Miserables—at least so far!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always!Writing My First Chapbook // + introducing Niles, my new(ish) rideNiki Florica2023-12-13 | It's been a crazy few weeks with finals, writing my first chapbook, and saying goodbye to my old car, Felix. :) As always, though, God is good and I have lots of writerish thoughts to share!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always!Book Review! // A Soul as Cold as Frost, by Jennifer KropfNiki Florica2023-11-29 | Introducing Jennifer Kropf's "A Soul as Cold as Frost"!
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good fright…”
The Quarrel of Sword and Bone was a death sentence for anyone who stepped into the arena with the deranged Queen, whose soul had crisped to frost in an age long since past.
What if St. Nicholas was really a young, mad trickster and you had the one thing he wanted? What if the only person who agreed to protect you from him had a dark past of letting those he’s meant to protect die? What if one day you’re walking in the city and suddenly you can see a whole other world tucked into the cracks of your own?
Sixteen-year-old Helen Bell understood tragedy better than most kids growing up. She knew what it was like to wear clothes from donation bins and be mocked in school. She thought those brutal experiences made her ready for anything, but when an encounter leaves her able to see a species of invisible people walking among us, and a young, handsome Winter guardian appears to aid her in a crisis, all the holiday legends she heard as a child begin to haunt her. After magical happenings infiltrate her daily life, and a train horn begins calling to her from across the city, she finds herself in the middle of a war of good versus evil.
Blurb from Amazon.ca.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.Writing More TENSION into Project Prequel // my mistakes so farNiki Florica2023-11-15 | Writing Project Prequel, I know I've been missing something. Here's what I've discovered.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.I Took a Sick Day // a much-needed writing break and what I learnedNiki Florica2023-11-08 | Sometimes, writer friends, we just need to take a day.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always!Poetry and Stuff // memorizing T.S. Eliot and channelling Poe this week!INiki Florica2023-11-01 | So... apparently I like poetry and semi-gothic flash fiction now? Thanks to T.S. Eliot and Edgar Allen Poe for the inspiration!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for the opportunities to stretch my writing muscles in new ways!Im Doing NaNoWriMo! (sort of) // writing announcement + cloak (!)Niki Florica2023-10-25 | National Novel Writing Month is almost upon us. Here's my plan to take advantage of the extra writing motivation!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for the project to rewrite and this exciting chance to kickstart the process!Writing Update + Book Haul // what Ive been writing/editing/thrifting latelyNiki Florica2023-10-18 | A chill week of writing a rough draft, plotting a new draft, and revising a complete draft. Oh, plus books. :)
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for all the bookishness this week!Sometimes Writers Cry // and how it can be a good thing! 🤗Niki Florica2023-10-11 | If we poor, sensitive writers need a teensy little meltdown now and then, does it mean we don't have what it takes?
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for this writing lesson learned the hard way but the good way. :)Writing Through a Slump // some plot probs I solved this week!Niki Florica2023-10-04 | Off to a slow start this week, but with some inspiration from the Lord and a bit of writing momentum, we might just be on track again...
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for the inspiration and discipline to write this week!The Worst Chapter Ive Ever Written // to panic or to party?Niki Florica2023-09-27 | Well, I finished writing chapter 27. And what a chapter it was.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for messy first drafts and lessons learned!The Pomodoro Technique // what this writer has been doing wrong!Niki Florica2023-09-20 | The pomodoro technique is a great tool for writers, but it turns out I didn't understand it quite as well as I thought...
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for new lessons learned all the time. :)Its Been a Week! // forgetting my channel, character art, and more!Niki Florica2023-09-13 | Well, we're back to school and I've already dropped the ball. Off to a great start, eh?
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for a beautiful summer and a new chapter ahead!Why Writing Fantasy is Worthwhile // as much as I can say in 6 minutesNiki Florica2023-08-30 | It's no secret: I love writing fantasy. But I also really believe that the fantasy genre can be used to tell especially powerful stories. Here's why!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for giving us so many fascinating genres through which to glorify Him!This Chapter Drove Me Crazy! // writing and re-writing strugglesNiki Florica2023-08-23 | Sometimes a chapter writes itself; sometimes it does NOT. :)
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being with me through all stages of the writing process, even the stressful and frustrating ones!I Kinda-Not-Really Took a Vacation // writing/editing/reading updates!Niki Florica2023-08-16 | Okay, so I'm not great at taking breaks. But to be fair, what are vacations for if not for writing?? 🤷♀️
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for a beautiful vacation and for being so very good, always.Stage a Book With Me! // ft. A Soul as Could as Frost by Jennifer KropfNiki Florica2023-08-09 | Just a girl, a beautiful book, and a whole lot of Christmas stuff.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for a beautiful summer and the time to write and create.Does My Story Mean Something? // finding the message in our writingNiki Florica2023-07-26 | How do you make sure a story has meaning? Do you start with a message you want to send? Work it in later? Along the way?
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for speaking through stories in powerful ways and using humble writers to do it!My Characters Arent Making It Easy! // biggest character challenges writing Project PrequelNiki Florica2023-07-19 | Writing this prequel has been a BLAST, but my characters are not making it easy. Gotta love 'em. :)
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for the writing challenge and the sheer amount of fun I'm having with this project.A Writers Day Off // writing sprints, editing, and a new scene Im in love with!Niki Florica2023-07-12 | Just gettin' my day started on the "write" foot! (Sorry)
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for a beautiful and quiet morning!Why Im Not Doing Camp Nano // its a my brain problem!Niki Florica2023-07-05 | I wasn't on top of things this year, but I think it might be for the best. That doesn't mean I can't make my own goals and play along with Camp Nano if I want, though! How about y'all? Anyone doing Camp Nano this year?
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Stay tuned for the July 1-8 writing sprint marathon with myself and: July 1 — @kimmiekay456 July 2 — @CareenasAdventures July 3 — @authorjoannawhite July 4 — Me! July 5 — @mckennarowell July 6 — @hapruitt.anelthalien July 7 — @effiejoestockauthor July 8 — back to@kimmiekay456
All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good and true and wonderful even when my brain is a mess!Write a Draft with Us // writing sprints & chat with Candace!Niki Florica2023-07-05 | Turn your videos into live streams with Restream https://restre.am/ANIm
Day 4 of our Summer Kickoff Writing Sprint Collab! Be sure to check out the great vids that have already come out this week, and tune in for the posts dropping every day until July 8 on these amazing channels!
July 1 — @kimmiekay456 July 2 — @CareenasAdventures July 3 — @authorjoannawhite July 4 — Right here!! July 5 — @mckennarowell July 6 — @hapruitt.anelthalien July 7 — @effiejoestockauthor July 8 — @kimmiekay456
Find Candace on Insta @candace.t.arts and myself @nikifloricawrites!
All praise to our Author and Finisher for the time to write, encourage each other, and make story progress together!Book Review + BIG NEWS // Dawn of Wonder and more!!Niki Florica2023-06-28 | Some thoughts on Jonathan Renshaw's epic fantasy, Dawn of Wonder—aaaaaaand an update on one of my writing projects!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for uplifting and powerful books like this one!!!Reading Vlog // books Im into right now and what I think so farNiki Florica2023-06-21 | So lovely to have some actual READING time! I'm trying to soak it in while the summer lasts. :)
Stay tuned for the July 1-8 writing sprint marathon with myself and: @kimmiekay456 @hapruitt.anelthalien @mckennarowell @authorjoannawhite @effiejoestockauthor @CareenasAdventures Updates will be on my Insta @nikifloricawrites
All praise to my Author and Finisher for the time to read and the inspiring books to enjoy!I Read a Book that Blew My Mind! // and other bookish/writerish thoughtsNiki Florica2023-06-14 | I don't read all the time, but when I do, I want it to be as exciting as reading "Mistborn: Secret History"!!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for giving me this passion for writing and reminding me how to use it for You.Finding a Characters Voice // a tough writing week and what I learnedNiki Florica2023-06-07 | Sometimes sliding into a new POV character is easy—sometimes NOT. This week writing was a bit of a struggle, but I learned a lot about my character and how to write his voice.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for the lessons learned and for being good, always.Wheel of Time Thoughts! // some likes & dislikes (potential character spoilers from 8:00-10:00)Niki Florica2023-05-31 | So many books, so little time, but here's a teeny-tiny sample of *some* of my *many* thoughts on this genre-defining book series.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for writing the best, most epic, and most cosmically vast story in the history of storytelling—the Gospel.I Finished the Wheel of Time! // and other stuff Ive been up to this weekNiki Florica2023-05-24 | A good week for writing AND reading—two things that normally don't happen at the same time!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, ALWAYS.Book-thrifting, Leathercraft, and Mad Hatter Madness // An Awesome Week!Niki Florica2023-05-17 | A week of new experiences and inspiration. God is good!
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.WRITER Diaries // prequel project problems!Niki Florica2023-05-10 | As always, it didn't take long to find the flaws in my current writing project. But with a quick trip back to the drawing board...
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for being good, always.WRITING VLOG // 1200 words and my horrible sick voiceNiki Florica2023-05-03 | Don't mind the voice. Just trying the sandpaper vocal effect on for size.
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for the words, the honey tea, and for being good, always.WRITER DIARIES // birthday, exams, and the flu all in one week!Niki Florica2023-04-26 | Turns out you can accomplish a lot from the living room couch. At least... a lot of writing. :)
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for working in my immune system, helping me through exams, and always being good.I Started a New Novel // new writing project and why it had to happenNiki Florica2023-04-19 | Because I didn't have enough on my summer to-do list... :)
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All praise to my Author and Finisher for an exciting new idea and lots of forward momentum to enjoy!