Ready, Set, Write! Preparing for Camp

Ready, Set, Write is a weekly writing intensive hosted Jamie Marrow,  Erin Funk, Alison Miller,and Katy Upperman.
Over the next few months I will be checking in with Jamie and the gang to answer a few questions about my writing week.


1.  How I did on last week’s goals: I didn't touch my synopsis. I'm not worried though. I won't need it for a while. I did finally work out a ending for my July NaNo novel and it has a title: "Bring Me Your Dreams." So that's good.

2.  My goal(s) for this week: My goal this week is to write at least 1,667 words a day for my Camp NaNo novel. If you want to stay updated on my project and progress go here.

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised: 

“Humans are not your playthings," Xander said. "There’s a balance, an order.”

“Hop off the soapbox Golden Boy, you’re sounding like my father.”

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week: The biggest challenge this week staying focused. Once I was away from the computer, I had my best ideas.

5.  Something I love about my WIP: I started working on minor characters for "Bring Me Your Dreams" and I really enjoyed coming up with backstorys for my MC's six brothers. Since she and her family are immortal, her brothers were born in different time periods and countries (Ancient Greece, China, England, France, India, and America). Lots of research ahead.

What are you're goals this week?

Reading, Writing and Brownies

So I realized I only blog when I'm doing Ready, Set, Write! or What's Up Wednesday. I love the community behind it, and it's great motivator to blog weekly. But it's time for me to branch out on my own and write posts for me. Monday and Wednesday are still Ready, Set, Write! and What's Up Wednesday. I just want to try my own thing.

Used to do a recap in reading, writing and chocolate. RSW and WUW kind of already cover the first two, but I'll try not to rehash things I've said before.

Cluttered bookshelf

In Reading: I used to be a very avid reader. In 2009 I read 100 books in a year. Then I went to college and that spark for reading disappeared. I guess I was so overwhelmed by classes and college life, I just forgot what I loved about reading. I gradually got back into the game. I want to go to the library, but I own so many books I haven't even cracked open. I'll read them all eventually. Lord knows I have the free time.

In Writing: I was talking to a writer friend and I mentioned my attempts to query my first novel when I was 17 years old. I wish 22 year old Leslie can slap 17 year old Leslie and tell her to not focus on trying to get published.I made many many many query fouls. i.e. I opened with a rhetorical question, the plot was everywhere, I wrote a bio about what I wrote in high school, etc. the list goes on and on. If I knew what I know today and wasn't so full of myself, things probably would have been different. The novel still sucked, don't get me wrong. It was beyond redemption. Five years later I've learned from my mistakes, and I'm a better writer for it.

The brownies

In Chocolate: I did a mean thing the other day. You see, when my mom bakes brownies, my older brother always claims the center piece. I didn't know what I was missing until he went to college and I tried the precious center piece for myself. Life changing. Anywho, now that we're all back under the same roof he thinks those same rules apply. Nope. He was out with his friends while mom and I baked the brownies. When they were cut, I took the center piece. Was that a jerk move? Yes. Do I regret it? No.

Happy Reading!

What's Up Wednesday 6/25/14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme for readers and writers to give updates on what's happening in their lives. If you want to find out to find out more check out Jaime Morrow's blog and sign up.

What I'm Reading: I'm still The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White. Has it been a week already? Wow, it doesn't feel like it. I'm also reading Bossypants by Tina Fey. Hilarious, of course.

What I'm Writing:  Still working on that synopsis. Camp NaNoWriMo is in a week. I'm exciting to get back into that groove and work on my new story. More details about my week here.

What Inspires Me Right Now: 
 I got some feedback on my MS from a friend this weekend. We basically spent the entire weekend texting each other about the story and characters. A lot of it was positive feedback. I had to clarify some of the pesky details I skimmed over in the MS. You know when you have a vision in your head about what you want your novel to be. Then when someone else reads it and doesn't understand, you have to explain it to them. That's really an eye opener. So now I have to take those explanations and add them into the novel.

What Else and I've Been Up To: 

I did a thing...

What's up with you? How is your week going?

Happy Reading!

Ready, Set, Write! Finding the Spark

Ready, Set, Write is a weekly writing intensive hosted Jamie Marrow,  Erin Funk, Alison Miller,and Katy Upperman.
Over the next few months I will be checking in with Jamie and the gang to answer a few questions about my writing week.


1.  How I did on last week’s goals: I did okay. The synopsis didn't really change, but I've found working on a new story refreshing. I jotted down a few ideas and some scenes for my July novel (is that cheating? eh, I don't care)

2.  My goal(s) for this week: Finish Camp NaNo outline or at least figure out how to end it.

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised: 
“I was Prom Queen once,” he said, “in the nineties. You’re not missing much."

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week: The biggest challenge this week was the the internet. Rewatched every episode of Teen Wolf before the new season airs today. It was mainly a distraction

5.  Something I love about my WIP: I mentioned last week how I loved how vicious my MC was, and how she wasn't going to change by the end of the book. That's still true, however in outlining I discovered I still need my MC to show some development or else what's the point of the book. She can't be one layer of mean. So I'm giving her flaws and mistakes that she can learn from, while still maintaining that lovable maliciousness. It will defiantly be a challenge that I'm up for.

What are you're goals this week?

What's Up Wednesday 6/18/14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme for readers and writers to give updates on what's happening in their lives. If you want to find out to find out more check out Jamie Morrow's blog and sign up.

What I'm Reading: I stated The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White. It's really good, very different from Kiersten's other books. There is a lot of Egyptian mythology mixed in there. I know some basics thanks to my theatre history class and the TV show House of Anubis (don't judge me.)

What I'm Writing: As I mentioned earlier this week, I finished my edits and set them off to a beta reader. While I'm waiting, I'm polishing my synopsis and outlining my Camp NaNo novel for July.

What Inspires Me Right Now: 
 I'm just really excited to be working on this new project. One of my characters is from 17th century Japan. So I'm doing a lot of research on kabuki and the male performers for my character's backstory. I don't know how much will get in the novel, but it's just nice to know where the character came from.

What Else and I've Been Up To: 

Boredom. Sheer boredom. 

What's up with you? How is your week going?

Happy Reading!

Ready, Set, Write: Moving Forward

Ready, Set, Write is a weekly writing intensive hosted Jamie Marrow,  Erin Funk, Alison Miller,and Katy Upperman.
Over the next few months I will be checking in with Jamie and the gang to answer a few questions about my writing week. It's a great way to stay motivated and it might just be the kick in the pants I need to get my life in order.


1.  How I did on last week’s goals: I rocked it. I finished my edits and sent it off to a beta reader. I spent a
few hours to work on a two paged synopsis. I also started my outline for my Camp NaNoWriMo novel.

2.  My goal(s) for this week: I'm keeping it simple this week. I'm going to continue on the outline and work on the synopsis.

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised: This is the funniest mistake I found in my manuscript:: "I fell to the ground, the knife still impaling me abdomen."

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week: The biggest challenge I faced was defiantly the synopsis. It forever to boil down the main plot point. Now I need to make sure it makes sense and add a little voice.

5.  Something I love about my WIP: Since I stated outlining my new WIP I really started to love my MC. I'm really interested in creating a main character who is malicious and doesn't change at the end of the novel. She's still going to be likable, but her actions and intentions throughout the novel aren't exactly pure.

What are you're goals this week?

What's Up Wednesday 6/11/14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme for readers and writers to give updates on what's happening in their lives. If you want to find out to find out more check out Jamie Morrow's blog and sign up.

What I'm Reading: Does Tumblr count? haha. Um, yeah, I've been slacking on the reading portion. The edits are all I can think about. I bought several ebooks on sale and I'll start reading when I finish these edits. I promise.

What I'm Writing: I had a burst of motivation yesterday. While working on my edits I on a whim decided to restructure an entire chapter. I cut 1500 words, but the chapter flows much better now. Once that was out of the way, felt motivated to continue with the edits. I only have a couple chapters left!
Since Ready, Set, Write started the other day, I felt extra motivated. It's so great to have a community of writers cheer you on.

What Inspires Me Right Now: 
 I kind of hate myself for this, but I've been reading up on Query Shark these past couple days, just because. I am in no way shape or form ready to query. But reading these makes me feel better about myself. There were a lot of people who did't know what they're doing. I wish I read these when I was querying my first novel. I made so many rookie mistakes, I felt embarrassed. But the past is in the past. I'm inspired by the people who have used Query Shark to perfect their query letter and find representation.

What Else and I've Been Up To: 

For those of you who don't know. I'm a theatre kid. I majored in theatre in college and I love, love, love musicals. Sunday I watched the Tony Awards hosted by Hugh Jackman and I loved it. I just want to see all the shows. NPH killed it during his performance from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I've been watching this on replay at least twice a day. 

What's up with you? How is your week going?

Happy Reading!

Ready, Set, Write: Goals

Ready, Set, Write is a weekly writing intensive hosted Jamie Marrow,  Erin Funk, Alison Miller,and Katy Upperman.
Over the next few months I will be checking in with Jamie and the gang to answer a few questions about my writing week. It's a great way to stay motivated and it might just be the kick in the pants I need to get my life in order.

The questions are:

1.  How I did on last week’s goals
2.  My goal(s) for this week
3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised
4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week
5.  Something I love about my WIP

This first week, we are just stating or goals.

Week 1: Goals
Finish SoD edits before sending it to beta reader.
Start synopsis
Outline Camp NaNoWriMo Novel

Overall Goals:
Have SoD query ready.

Check back next week to see what lame excuses I come up with when I don't finish these edits.

What's Up Wednesday 6/4/14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme for readers and writers to give updates on what's happening in their lives. If you want to find out to find out more check out Jamie Morrow's blog and sign up.

What I'm Reading: Oops. I didn't read this week. I've been so busy with these edits and stuff, I just kind of forgot...

What I'm Writing: I'm so close with these edits. It's defiantly taking longer than I thought. I'm adding bits and smoothing out transitions. I knocked out a large chunk the other day and then the next day I barely dented it. It's really a mental thing. I honestly need one more day like that. But I am participating in Ready, Set, Write, that might be the kick in the pants I need.

What Inspires Me Right Now: 
 I've been chatting with some writers around my age  from Camp NaNoWriMo. We met through the forums and really clicked. It's great talking with writers and bouncing ideas off them. They're really going to help me with the

What Else and I've Been Up To: 
I'm not as bored now that I have my writing group. I still miss, you know, human contact, but it's nice to have people to talk to. We've been sharing book recommendations and It's great to talk with people who are in the same age group that have a serious love for writing. Especially ones who understand the stress of college and writing. I'm excited to see what's in store.
I'M GOING TO SEE THE FAULT IN OUR STARS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!
I bought my ticket to The Night Before Our Stars and I'm super excited. I'm going to ugly cry during this movie. I'm glad I'm going by myself because I don't want to cry in front of my friends.I'm so grateful that the fans are lucky enough to have this experience. I've been following John Green's vlogs throughout this journey, and if he loves the movie, I'll love the movie. A lot of book-to-film adaptations suck because they loose the essence of the books when translated to the screen. I don't care if scenes happen in the wrong place or "that's not how that line goes." As long as the movie understands the story it's telling and the impact it has on so many lives, than it will be fantastic.

What's up with you? How is your week going?

Happy Reading!