Ready. Set. Write! Update: Week 8

Had a family camping trip last week, hence the reason for my absence last week.

How I Did On My Goals:
Write: Got it done! I was able to revise another couple of chapters!
Read: I read Map To The Stars, a super cute contemporary.
Kids: We had a blast with our family during our trip. We did lots of river floats, some kayaking, went on bike rides. All in all a success!

My Goals For This Week:
So I have to change up my goals for the rest of RSW. I received an R&R from an agent on another project I had queried a while back but had put on the back burner. She gave me some great insights and I'm so excited to get to work on them! As far as the goals go for this week, they are as follows:

-Print out a hard copy of Fading, my R&R manuscript, and start revisions on the "big" issues.
- Try to read a book, if there's time.
- Have fun with the family in between all of it.

A Favorite Line From My Story/ A Phrase That Sums Up What I Wrote/ Revised:
DRAMA. Lots of drama.

The Biggest Challenge I Faced This (last) Week:
Time constraints were an issue. It was hard to get writing in while prepping for our family trip, but I somehow managed to get some revising done.

Something I Love About My WIP:
That the characters feel like real people, not just figments of my imagination.

Good luck this week!

Ready. Set. Write! Update: Week 6

Has it already been six weeks??? Sheesh, this summer is going by fast. Here's how my goals went:

Revise another chapter or two: Yup! Got two done. Both were a little intense because I deleted old scenes and added brand new ones, but it was well worth it.

Write new words: I did this... kind of. Since I added a new scene in the project I'm currently revising, I think it counts?

Read something: I read The Wrath and the Dawn, and it was incredible! This has been the year of Fantasy, let me tell you. So many amazing books! I also started Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan and really like it so far. I've never watched the show Revenge, but the premise sounds very similar.

Spend time with my kids: We had a great week filled with activities. My father-in-law was in town for work and we got to hang out with him and the kids had a blast with their grandpa. We also finally set up the tennis net on our court after almost five years. It's main function is a basketball court, but my kids love riding their bikes and other toys on there as well. Fun times.

My Goals For This Week:

Revise!
Read!
Kids!
Nothing too specific, I just want to get SOME kind of writing done.

A Favorite Line From My Story/ Phrase That Sums Up What I Wrote/ Revised:
Friendship. The chapter I focused most of my attention was very friendship centered and it was great to see the dynamic between my MC and her bff, who is a favorite side character of mine.

The Biggest Challenge I Faced This Week:
Energy, or lack thereof. As the pregnancy progresses my energy stores deplete and this week was especially difficult. I wanted to take a nap every day!

Something I Love About My WIP:
Currently, the way it's coming together again. I changed the first third of it quite a bit and the changes have ripple effects along the whole manuscript, but they work!

Hope you all had a productive week!

Ready. Set. Write! Check In: Week 5

I was absent last week due to craziness.

How I Did On Last Weeks Goals:

- Revise a chapter: Done and done, plus another one!

- Write new words: Ehhh...nope

- Read a book: Finished Snow Like Ash by Sarah Raasch. I enjoyed it, but An Ember In The Ashes is my favorite fantasy of the year. Also I tried, like REALLY tried to get into The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi, but I just wasn't feeling it. I'm now into The Wrath and the Dawn!

- Make more memories with my kids:We had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend and my 3yo loved the fireworks!

This Weeks Goals:
- Revise another chapter (maybe two?)
- Write new words
- Read something
- Give each of my children individual attention

A Favorite Line From My Story Or One Word/ Phrase That Sums Up What I Wrote/Revised:
Family. This story is very family oriented and the last couple of chapters have focused on my MCs relationship with her deceased mother and the lack of one with her father and grandparents. I really love developing the details around their issues and how they're going to come together.

The Biggest Challenge I Faced This Week:
Time. With the holiday weekend it was hard to find any time to do anything but prepare!

Something I Love About My WIP:
The family aspect of the story. There aren't very many YA novels out there that deal with family issues as much. A lot of times parent seem to barely be there at all. I wanted to write a story that dealt with those things along with all those other issues facing teens today (like falling in love for the first time).

Cheering all you other RSW participators on!

Ready. Set. Write! Check In: Week 3

Three weeks into this and I'm making progress!

How I Did On Last Week's Goals:

Revise one chapter: Check!

Figure out what project I want to work on: Check!

Read something: I got Snow Like Ashes from the library, but the week was too busy for me to get to it.

Spend time with my kids: We went to see Jurassic World with the kids, they loved it, although my girls fell asleep. We also spent a few nights making up games to play outside, which they loved, and we went to the lake this past weekend.

My Goals For This Week:

- Revise another chapter
- Read a book!
-Write new words
- Continue building memories with my kids.

A Favorite Line From My Story Or One Word/ Phrase That Sums Up What I Wrote/Revised:
Continuity. Since the revisions I'm making change certain time lines along with a couple of plot points, I've had to be real careful about making sure it all makes sense!

The Biggest Challenge I Faced This Week:
Motivation. Sometimes just making yourself open up the document can seem like such a chore.

Something I Love About My WIP:
The setting. In both my stories I created fictional towns and I love making up the shops and characters and history.

Hope you all had a productive week!

Cover Reveal: SWAY by Melanie Stanford

I'm so excited to take part in the cover reveal of Melanie Stanford's upcoming book, SWAY.


 http://brainstormyourbiz.com/business/how-to-transform-fear-in-business-and-life/

I'm Jessie Spano EXCITED!

 I met Melanie online a few years ago when I won a critique contest she ran. She was sweet enough to read my whole manuscript and give me some great advice, and in return I had the privilege of beta reading her project back when it was a baby. I'm so happy that SWAY is going to be an actual book, all grown up. It was superbly written and being a modern version of Jane Austen's Persuasion, one of my favorite books ever, only made it sweeter.

Ava Elliot never thought she’d become a couch surfer. But with a freshly minted—and worthless—degree from Julliard, and her dad squandering the family fortune, what choice does she have?

Living with her old high school friends, though, has its own drawbacks. Especially when her ex-fiancé Eric Wentworth drops back into her life. Eight years ago, she was too young, too scared of being poor, and too scared of her dad’s disapproval. Dumping him was a big mistake.

In the most ironic of role reversals, Eric is rolling in musical success, and Ava’s starting at the bottom to build her career. Worse, every song Eric sings is an arrow aimed straight for her regrets.

One encounter, one song too many, and Ava can’t go on like this. It’s time to tell Eric the truth, and make a choice. Finally let go of the past, or risk her heart for a second chance with her first love. If he can forgive her…and she can forgive herself.

Without further ado, presenting the cover of SWAY......


Ready?

........

Here it comes!

.........

It's SO PRETTY and goes along perfectly with the story and the characters' passion: music. 

The release date is this winter, but for a more official date be sure to follow up on Melanie's blog for updates. And speaking of the author, here's a bit more about her:

Melanie Stanford reads too much, plays music too loud, is sometimes dancing, and always daydreaming. She would also like her very own TARDIS, but only to travel to the past. She lives outside Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband, four kids, and ridiculous amounts of snow.

Be sure to check out Melanie's website: melaniestanfordbooks.com for more information and follow her on Twitter @MelMStandford! 

Ready. Set. Write! Check in: Week 2

Can't believe one week has already flown by! Here is my update, so far...

How I Did On Last Week's Goals:

Not too shabby. My goals for last week were:
- Revise a chapter: I got a chapter revised! Woohoo!
-Write 2k on another project: BUT only write a few hundred words on another project. I'm really struggling to figure out which of my many ideas I want to work on and feel pulled in so many different directions.
-Read Something: On the plus side I DID read Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee and it was wonderful!


My Goals For This Week:

- Revise another chapter (maybe 2?)
- Figure out what other project I want to work on and go from there
- Read another book

A Favorite Line From My Story Or One Word/ Phrase That Sums Up What I Wrote/Revised:
Stripes of street lights shifted along my skin and I drew in a breath. It was scary how well Kyle knew my dad. Better than me, it seemed. 

The Biggest Challenge I Faced This Week:

Time. We had a very busy family week. Almost every night, because of the heat, we had water fights and then played on the trampoline afterwards to cool down. I think I might add another goal for this summer: spend as much quality time as possible with my kids before baby gets here!

Something I Love About My WIP:

The romantic subplot. It's not the main focus, but man do I love me some swoon worthy scenes!

That's all from me, folks! Hope you all have a great writing and goal checking week!

Ready. Set. Write! Goal Setting

It's baaaaack! And I'm so grateful for it since I need some serious writing motivation. Here are my goals for this week.

Summer goals:
- Finish revising Restoring Casey
- Finish first draft of another story (I have several at different stages of the drafting process)
- Read some quality books

Goals for this week:
Revise one chapter and write up to 2k on another project. And if I can manage it, read something.

Good luck to everyone participating!