What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up, put on by Jamie Morrow and Erin Funk. If you'd like to join click on the links above!
What I'm Reading:
Okay, I'm going to admit something. I started reading Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan about a month ago and got about twenty pages in before putting it down. After reading so many awesome reviews I was excited, then let down because it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Anyway, (there's a point here, I swear) I picked it up again yesterday, because it's due in a few days and I hate the idea of giving up so early on. I don't enjoy DNFing, and try to avoid it at all costs. What happened, you ask, the book got interesting. And now I can't stop thinking about it and can't wait to pick it up again once I've showered and the boys are at school. The moral of the story (sometimes, but not always), don't be so quick to judge. And also, if you're a writer and you are one of those who tends to judge quickly, make sure you get to the good stuff in the story early on before someone gives up on your book.
What I'm Writing:
Over 30k! Woohoo! Party over! Super excited to be over the hump. Hoping to reach between 50-60k by February 14. Also, thinking a lot about querying. I keep itching to send off a batch of queries for Restoring Casey, just to test the water, but am holding off just a little longer. I've had my query letter critiqued by some awesome ladies and I know it's in pretty good shape, but I think mentally I still need to prepare myself a little more.
What Inspires Me Right Now:
Exercise. I ran 4.5 miles yesterday, which is the longest I've ever run in, well, ever. Running inspires me. Listening to music while running not only makes the time go by faster, but it also helps me to work through any struggles I may be having with my stories. It's exhilarating creating worlds and characters no one's thought of before, and if helps to run one extra mile, then bonus points!
What Else I've Been Up To:
Puppy stuff, kid stuff, life stuff. I'm beta reading and critiquing at the moment, which is very humbling. To know these writers have enough faith to let me look at their stuff is always humbling. The writing community freaking rocks and I'm so glad to be a part of it.
What Are You Up To?
That's an important lesson about the first few pages of a novel. I don't like DNF-ing either, and thankfully I haven't had to in a long time. But as writers we need to bear in mind the importance of grabbing the reader's attention early on. And agents and publishers are far less forgiving on this point. A reader might be willing to give a book a whole chapter before deciding on whether to read on. Agents and editors may only give it the first 5 pages.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful writing week, Prerna! :)
I haven't DNF-ed in a long time (That sounded dirty, oh well). I try not to because sometimes it does take a while to get the ball rolling. I'm curious as well what attracts agents, it's frustrating and fascinating all at once.
DeleteOh, I'm so glad you got sucked into UNSPOKEN. I really enjoyed that one. But you raise an interesting point. As writers we're always told that our first pages should be knock-your-socks of awesome, but I've picked up (and continued to read) *so* many books where this isn't the case. I suppose there will be those people who DNF based on that, but it does make me wonder how books with less than amazing first pages grab agent attention.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on passing that 30K mark! I hope this week is just as productive for you. :-)
I'm glad I didn't give up! I'm also glad I waited until after the second book was released before picking it up, means less of a wait for the last one in the series!
Delete"The writing community freaking rocks and I'm so glad to be a part of it." True Dat! I love love love how easy it is to connect with other writers at every stage of the process. And everyone is always so gracious and approchable. We really are a great group of people. And to make it even better, writers always seem to be super entertaining! Funny how that works.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to connect with other writers, makes it a less lonely process.
DeleteI really enjoyed Unspoken, but sometimes it does take a while to get into a book! Congrats on passing 30K - that's a great milestone. I don't think I've ever felt 'ready' to query - I've been querying for a few weeks now and I'm still a nervous wreck whenever I open my inbox! But the amazing online writing community keeps me sane. ^_^
ReplyDeleteThank you! And yeah, not sure if I'll be prepared either, querying is always scary. Sometimes i hate opening my inbox because I dread another rejection (although I haven't queried in a while, but i still remember what it feels like).
DeleteI'm envious of your run! I'm taking a month off, but I miss it so much. Way to go on setting a personal distance record. UNSPOKEN was a slow start for me as well, but many of my trusted book friends raved about it so I pushed through and ended up liking it a lot. I'm looking forward to reading UNTOLD. And way to go an hurdling the 30K manuscript hump. It's all down hill from here. Have a great week, Prerna!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the 30k and the 4.5miles - brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you picked UNSPOKEN back up and are enjoying it. SRB is one of my favouirte authors, have you read The Demon's Lexicon? It's great.
Congratulations on hitting 30k! That's fantastic :D
ReplyDeleteI'm holding off on querying, too. It's so hard when you're so impatient. Hang in there! Better to wait than to rush it.
Have a fantastic week!
I absolutely LOVED Unspoken, and Untold is just as fabulous. I think Sarah Rees Brennan has a great narrative voice, and can definitely deliver the swoon!
ReplyDeleteWell done on the 30K! I think you are so wise to hold off on querying until you feel ready. It is definitely an emotional roller coaster.
Thank you for the writing reminder!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you- I really try to give a book a chance. Jellicoe Road is the perfect example of just getting through the first chunk and then bam, it's amazing!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reaching 30k!!!
Yay for reaching 30k!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't run but I like to go for a long walk and listen to music, it also helps me work things out. At the moment I am loving going to the gym.
I'm happy to hear you decided to give UNSPOKEN another chance. I can't remember what my impression of the first few chapters was, but all said and done I loved it and it's sequel, UNTOLD. Sorry-in-the-Vale felt a little like Godric's Hollow to me, maybe with a dash of THE SECRET GARDEN. Anyway, I like the lesson you attached to this. I hate not finishing books too.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting over 30k! That's awesome! :)
That's fantastic you've hit the 30k mark! I recently had a book I DNF. I dislike not finishing books, but I wasn't enjoying it at all. I'm working on revisions for my WIP this week.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on hitting 30K!!! That's a fantastic milestone!
ReplyDeleteAnd I couldn't agree more about the writing community being so amazing! Can you imagine slogging through all of this all by your lonesome?!
Great advice too, that as writers we need to remember to think like readers and put some of the good stuff right at the beginning. :)
Hope you have an awesome week!
Congrats on getting over 30K! That's so exciting!
ReplyDeleteThe writing community is awesome. It's so great to know you're not alone. Have fun with the puppy/kids stuff :)
Well done on getting past that 30K mark!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could run that distance, but I have increased my exercise and it makes me feel so much better in myself. And, like you say, it's the ideal time to think through those storylines.
Good job hitting 30k on the WIP! Keep it up! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the word count and the run! I'm not a runner at all, so I'm always in awe of people who do it. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you started to get into Unspoken. I loved Sarah Rees Brennan's first trilogy, so I went into Unspoken with high expectations. But I get what you mean about it not being quite what you expected. I thought I knew what kind of story/tone it was going to be, but it wasn't and that threw me off for a while too. I do love the characters though and how she plays with tropes, and I think SRB writes some of the funniest dialogue. Hope you enjoy the rest of the book!
I *need* to read a Sarah Rees Brennan book, I've heard great reviews.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on hitting 30k, and I hope the beta reading goes well. :) I'm snowed under with beta work, but it's a good problem to have.