What's Up Wednesday

                                                    

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:
I got into some great titles. I finished This Is Not A Test, which was brilliant  and hella creepy and somewhat depressing, and I'm so excited about the sequel! The Summer I Met You was a perfect summer romance read. And Behind the Scenes was sexy and fun with plenty of heart.

What I'm Writing:
After getting some amazing notes from my CP, Molly, I'm now revising a few chapters of Fading while also working on my new contemp. Which is in 3rd POV. Which I've never attempted before. Oh, and there's the dreaded query I'm still trying to figure out. Ugh.

What Inspires Me Right Now:
Watching the journey of other writers as they succeed in various ways. Whether by self-pubbing or getting that agent or that magical book deal. It gives me hope.

What Else I've Been Up To:
I found out I'll be heading to Miami in September with my husband! It's still several weeks away, but I can't wait to hit the beach, each authentic Cuban food, and maybe even go dancing (thankfully I married a man that has rhythm). Until then I'll be typing away.

What's Up With You?

Ready. Set. WRITE!

How I did on last week's goals:
I'd say I had a successful week. My goals from last week were:
1. Add more romantic scenes between my two MCs in Fading: Check!
2. Add 1-2k on my psychological thriller: Well...I kind of succeeded. I did write almost 3k. But it was on a different project. Another YA contemporary.

My goal for this week:
1. Work on my query for Fading. This is going to be interesting since I SUCK at queries!
2. Add 1-2k on another project, probably my new contemporary since that's the one I'm feeling at the moment.

One word that sums up what I wrote/revised:
Sexy! It's still new and I need to revise it, which is why I'm not posting any lines...yet!

The biggest challenge I faced this week:
Impatience. I want to get everything done now! I want to be done with Fading so I can start querying, I want my first draft of my new project done so I can start revising. I had to take a step back and look at the big picture. Slowing it down so I can appreciate the process and continue to learn is what really matters. If I rush everything it'll show through my writing and my chances of landing an agent are slim to none.

Something I love about my WIP:
Second chances. Both my MCs have made mistakes and are trying to overcome them. I'm glad I get to watch them grow up and move on from those mistakes.

Ready. Set. WRITE!

How I did on last week's goal:
Goal accomplished! Pretty proud of myself for getting through another round of revisions.

My goals for this week:
I have two.
1. First off I realized I need more scenes with my two romantic leads along with some more...mmmhmmm...tension in the sexual nature. So I'll be going back and fixing those things, which of course causes a slight shift in the timeline which I will also have to fix.

2. I would like to add between 1-2k on my psychological thriller, Haunted Ashes.

A favorite line from my WIP:
The tightness in my throat roped the edges left untouched. I didn’t want to cry in front of Corey on our first date, but talking about Danny was the quickest way to bring on the tears. I took in a deep breath and shut my eyes for a few seconds to gather the scattered sorrow and release it with a breath.

The biggest challenge I faced this week:
Trying to figure out the sequence of events. When I realized I needed to add some more scenes to my story I knew I'd have to shift things around. It took a while to get it all in order and make the notes necessary so I wouldn't forget later. 

Something I love about my WIP:
Love is in the air. I'm a hopeless romantic and the romance in the story makes me happy. Can't write a book without a good kissing scene!

Ready.Set.WRITE! Week 6

How I Did On Last Week's Goal:
After a week of no computer because of a dang virus, last week I was finally able to get some revisions done. About fifty pages!

My Goals For This Week:
Finish the final pages of revisions.

A Favorite Line From My WIP:
I loved the end of winter, when snow melted into piles of black and brown sludge, as the grass grew greener day by day, and the trees lost their ice ridden tips.

The Biggest Challenge I Faced This Week:
Motivation. Once I got into the story I was great, but it was that first step, the one that requires you to open up your document, that got me. This week I'm setting a specific schedule for writing so I'll keep from slacking.

Something I Love About My WIP:
The friendships. I love the relationship my MC Tessa has with her best friend Paige. They're there for each other without having to be there. Know what I mean?

Ready. Set. WRITE! Week 4 Update

This is actually my first official update since I have been out of town. It's nice to be home, I have to tell you. I've been away from my computer, my books, my normal life for too long. Although I loved the much needed vacay, I'm glad it's over.

Okay so let's get this thing started.

Goals for this week:
 Finish fifty pages of revisions. Read a book.

A favorite line from my story OR phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised:
Nada. That would be it. Haven't done a thing in two weeks.

The biggest challenge I faced this week:
Not being home and away from my laptop.

Something I love about my WIP:
The honesty of the characters. They are both facing things I have never gone through myself and I love watching them grow and overcome those obstacles.

Ready.Set.Write. Week 1

It's that time of year again! Just when I thought I was going to slump it during the summer the awesome Jaime Morrow, Alison Miller, Katy Upperman, and Erin Funk brought back RSW. I definitely need the motivation. So my goal for this week is to get twenty fives of one last pass through of Fading done. I would try and get some drafting done as well, but I'm getting ready to leave for a two week vacation on Saturday. The timing isn't great, especially since RSW is just kicking off, but I'll have the rest of the summer to make up for it! 

Goal for this week: Twenty fives of revisions

Summer Goals: Get Fading out to readers by July! Finish first draft of psychological thriller, Haunted Ashes. Here's to an amazing summer of writing and fun!

What's Up Wednesday

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, we have A LOT to recap. Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour. If you have read anything by her then may I suggest you do so now! The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancy. I know, I know, once again late to the party, Prerna, but at least I got there! I really liked this, but I did have some issues with the female voice, but I ignored it due to the awesome, fast paced plot. Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst which is so creepy, let me tell you, but a little bit confused by what it wanted to be. Mystery? Horror? Paranormal? Either way it pulled me in. Then there's Dreams of Gods and Monsters. Laini Taylor is a genius with words, I can't even begin to comprehend that amount of talent. Given all of that I did think the book dragged a bit. The ending was a little disappointing, but all in all brilliant!

What I'm Writing:
Revisions are done! Thanks to a last minute push and YA Buccaneers Boot Camp, I was able to get there! I'm really happy with how the story has turned out. Now I just have to go through it one more time before sending it out to some peeps for feedback.

What Inspires Me Right Now:
Summer! Beach! Vacations! I'm so excited because we get to hit up my old stomping grounds, Washington DC, in less than two weeks! I haven't been back in YEARS and am desperate to see my old home, my friends, and family. It's going to be amazing.

What Else I've Been Up To:
Schools out for summer! As of today, anyway. Now I just have to figure out how to keep all the kiddos entertained for the next two and half months. Yikes!

What's Up With You?