What's Up Wednesday 3/18/15

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 Erin Funk's blog to sign up.

What I'm Reading: Blargh, I need to actually read.

What I'm Writing:  I finally decided what I'm going to write for the April session of Camp NaNoWriMo. The story idea has been stuck in my head for years, but I never had the drive to start it. Now I've got a spark and I'm just going to roll with it. The challenge with this novel is that it's in duel first person POV.  It's new, but I'm up for it.

My goal this week is start a basic outline and character sheets.

What Works For Me:  Learning about my characters. Before I start writing, I fill up pages in notebooks with physical descriptions, personality, objective, like and dislikes. It helps me get the voice down pact for when it's time to actually start writing. Doing two POVs means two distinct voices so that's going to be fun.  


What Else I've Been Up To: MY BIRTHDAY IS IN 2 DAYS!!!

What's Up Wednesday 3/11/15

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 Erin Funk's blog to sign up.

What I'm Reading: I read Unethical and Foolproof by my Sun vs. Snow mentor Jenn Blackwood. My first time reading NA and it did not disappoint. I'm going to attempt to reread the Harry Potter books, but I haven't actually open it...

What I'm Writing:  I finished my revision this week finally. It's still very rough. I'm at that scary point where I'm not attached, but can't move forward without some outside critique and feedback. It's weird, because in the past I didn't share my work until I was completely happy with it at like draft #5. But it was harder for me to receive critiques. But this one is different, I'm letting my baby go. I guess I'm growing and learning as a writer.

It's also, #pitmad today. I told myself no more contest, but I thought why not? It's only a day. I learned how to schedule tweets, because I'll be at my internship all day. That will keep my mind busy.

I'm also participating in the April session of Camp NaNoWriMo. I have know idea what to write. I'll either try to complete my unfinished MS from November or finally start the story the that's been in my head for years. I'm not sure what to do yet.

My goal this week is just to take it easy and not stress out. Maybe start an outline for April.

What Works For Me:  Did you really think I had an answer to this one?

What Else I've Been Up To: Working hard. It's been snowing a lot and it's finally warming up, that means my birthday is near. It's in less than 2 weeks, and I'm excited. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but it's going to be great. Whoot.
Other than that I'm doing all right in the life department. I'm not complaining, yet.
Oh, I marathoned Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt last weekend. Soooo good. The theme has been stuck in my head for days.

Troll the respawn, Jeremy.

What's Up Wednesday 2/18/15

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 Erin Funk's blog to sign up.

What I'm Reading: A I'm getting back into The Witch Must Burn by Danielle Paige. I loved Dorothy Must Die, and these prequel novella's are holding me over until the next book.

What I'm Writing:  Plucking and plucking and plucking and plucking. I've been a little lazy so that doesn't help either.
Now that Sun vs. Snow is over, I dove right back into the slush with my shiny new query. Fingers crossed you guys.

What Works For Me: I'm just going to leave this blank...

What Else I've Been Up To: It's cold and gross out and as much as I would love snuggling up, I can't cuz I got responsibilities. Adulting is hard.
As much as I would like to tell you about exciting things happening in my life, I really can't. Not now anyway. If anything happens you will be the third to know (after my parent and Facebook)
What's up with you? How is your week going?

Happy Reading!

What's Up Wednesday 2/11/15

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 Erin Funk's blog to sign up.

What I'm Reading: A week flies by so fast doesn't it? Life happens you get busy and forget to pick up a book. I intend to finish Heir of Fire this week, but I left it at my internship and I won't be able to pick it up until later today.

What I'm Writing:  Plucking away at these revisions. Nothing special. I'm not at the place where I'm discovering something new about the story and characters. Bits and pieces yes, but there wasn't an ah-ha moment. The story needs to be torn apart, I'm not attached enough so that's good.
I need a critique partner or two. I've searching for one for a while. In the past I've tried, but it was a mixture of not clicking and bad timing. Hopefully I can find someone to work with and it will last.
Thankfully, I've had help, one of my closest friends reads for me. She helped me substantially with SoD edits and revisions.

What Works For Me: ????

What Else I've Been Up To: Sun vs Snow has kind of overshadowed my thoughts these past few weeks. It will be over soon. It's so stressful. I mean, it's one thing to query and pitch to agents privately. But this adds an extra layer of stress and pressure. No more contests after this. I'm going back in the slush where it's safe.
On the plus side of things, I've made some friends on twitter. It's great to have a support group. W all share a common goal, and I know one day we will.

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

Happy Reading!

What's Up Wednesday 2/4/15

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 Erin Funk's blog to sign up.

What I'm Reading: I just bought Fairest by Marissa Meyer. IT WAS SO GOOD. I was concerned about reading a novel from the POV of the series' antagonist. I didn't want to like her, especially Marissa created a well rounded character, I understand her and her motives, but in the end, she is a villain, I want to see her defeated.  It's surprisingly short for a Lunar Chronicles book, I finished it on the bus.
I also have so many half started books that I need to dive into. I need a weekend devoted to reading.

What I'm Writing:  I made it into the Sun vs. Snow contest. I'm reppin' Team Sun and I'm so freaking excited. My awesome mentor Jen Blackwood and I have been emailing back and forth about my entry to make it perfect for the agent round next week.
This really gave me the boost of confidence I needed. Trying to break into this industry is so difficult, and at times the process gets to you. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's so subjective. All I can do is keep writing and growing. It only takes one yes.

What Works For Me: Blarg. Um actually writing?

What Else I've Been Up To: I've been keeping myself busy with work, the internship and writing.

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

Happy Reading!

What's Up Wednesday 1/28/15

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 Erin Funk's blog to sign up.

After a long blogging hiatus, I'm back at full swing-ish

What I'm Reading: I just bought Fairest by Marissa Meyer. I love the Lunar Chronicles. When I heard that we would be getting prequel before the last book, Winter comes out, I immediately thought "I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG!" But I'm excited to read more about the villain of the tale. Plus, we still get to meet Winter.

What I'm Writing:  Revising the novel I wrote over the summer. I want to finish these revisions within the next few weeks. I have to make an effort not to go at a glacier pace when working on a revisions.

What Works For Me: I still don't like this question, because I'm still figuring it out.

What Else I've Been Up To: I recently started an internship at a local theatre. I still have my day job, but this is giving me a great opportunity to network with more professionals in my field.

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I entered the Sun vs. Snow pitch contest. I'm having a good time bonding with the other participants on Twitter. We won't know who gets selected until next week, so cross your fingers.

What's up with you? How is your week going? Seriously, let me know. I feel like I've lost touch with this crew.

Happy Reading!

Hiding Under a Rock

Hi everyone, happy 2015. Just poking my head up from under a rock to give you an update.

If you didn't already know, I'm deep in the query trenches. It's brutal. So I've been hiding under a rock for God knows how long.

It's hard to go at it alone, sometimes you feel like you're the only one facing the rejection and pain, but you're not. There are hundreds of writers out there at the same point in the process as you.
I personally haven't even tried reaching out many querying writers, but I know they're out there. My fellow blogger Miss Cole has been chronicling her adventures in querying and Coping with Rejection. It's nice keeping track of other's progress and as I slowly rejoin the community, hopefully I'll find other writers under that rock as well.

That being said, I'm going to try to get back in the swing of things. I'll be getting back into What's Up Wednesday. I miss that community. Maybe I'll do independent posts and updates every couple weeks. In the meantime, I have a  books to read, a novel to revise, chocolate to consume.

Speaking of chocolate, the chocolate side of "Reading, Writing and Chocolate" hasn't been as prominent as the other two features. That will change.

Right now on the East Coast we're about to be hit by a huge blizzard. While I'm not in the heart of the storm, it's still freezing up here. On a cold winter day I love snuggling up in a blanket and drinking hot chocolate. I don't like reading and drinking hot chocolate in danger of ruining the book. I'm clumsy.

Happy Reading!