The lovelies Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk came up with the WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY meme. Here’s Jaime’s explanation about it: “It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. You’re invited to join us if you’re looking for something to blog about, a way to let your blog friends know what’s been going on with you.”
WHAT I’M READING
I’ve started a certain book last week, on Thursday I think, but I didn’t get too far. Just went to 18% and, well, it’s not that I gave up, it’s just that it wasn’t compelling enough to make me want to go back to it, so I didn’t. While I thought about maybe reading this book, I could have been reading something else. Ugh. Hate when I feel like I wasted precious reading time. Anyway …
I’m almost done with The Plot Whisperer by Martha Alderson. Great, great book so far. It’s not that I’m learning anything new, but it’s always good to see how others do the same thing in different ways, and that helps our own creation and process. Plus, she keeps saying over and over that we should just sit down and write. Finish the first draft. Worry if it’s good or not, about revising it, about changing the entire first quarter later, adding subplot, or cutting one one, later. First, finish it! And it’s sooooo true. I wish I could tattoo that in my brain so I don’t ever forget about this simple advice again.
WHAT I’M WRITING
Playing Pretend is still with my editor, going through the second pass of edits. I should have it back later this week, and then I’ll do my thing and send it back to my editor for another pass of edits. Oi!
I finally stopped plotting Breaking Fences and started writing it! Yesterday I wrote 4031 words! My writing time is reduced today, but even so I hope to write at least 2000 words, and then another 4k tomorrow and Friday!
Meanwhile, my brain is always trying to skip ahead, right, trying to plot out the next thing I’ll write. It has been like that forever and it’ll always be like that … So, on the side, I’ve been plotting The Everlasting Circle (The Everlast Trilogy #3). Well, actually, it’s more like a taking-notes-of-whatever-comes-to-mind phase, and then later I’ll transform these ideas into a plot.
WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW
My own writing. Not because I think my writing is good—believe me, I think most of what I write is crap, most of the time lol I always need someone else telling me it’s not crap like 500 times before I start believing it—but because the words are flowing and nothing feels better than actually getting the words down and being productive. I love seeing the word count go up!
Oh, and I just saw this ad this morning, while I was on the elliptical, and well, it’s a ad for Jaguar but it’s so awesome. Go watch it:
WHAT ELSE I’VE BEEN UP TO
Not much. Let’s see …
Ginger and I had our write-in last week here at my house. It was good – and too quiet lol I think I’m used to our write-ins being in places like Panera or Starbucks, where it’s always loud!
The lawyers finally sent our Greencard petition to the government (only about 6 months late, but I won’t bore you with the details about it now) – if all goes well, we should have Greencards by the end of the year!
Oh, our sofa broke right in the middle! We bought a cheap one from Ikea when we moved back to the US in March 2012, because we thought, well one day we’ll buy a house and then we’ll want to choose a different sofa to go with the pretty new house. We bought the pretty new house in April 2013 and we didn’t buy a new sofa. But I think the cheap sofa was so tired of us and wanted us to keep our promise, it just gave up and died LOL So now we’re sofa hunting, though I don’t want to buy it in a rush. I want to look for something good, durable, but not too expensive. Any recs of good furniture stores? :)
In book related news, I’m organizing a Release Day Event for Playing Pretend with Grapevine Book Tours for March 3rd to 5th.
And I created a goodreads giveaway for 2 signed paperbacks of Playing Pretend:
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Playing Pretend
by Juliana Haygert
Giveaway ends March 27, 2014.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Now tell me, WHAT’S UP WITH YOU?
Don’t forget to stop by Erin’s blog and check out the linky list of the awesome writers who are participating of this meme!
Cheers,
Four thousand words in one day? That is impressive!
Yay for making progress! Those word counts are fabulous. I hope you have a great week.
Fantastic! Moving from plotting to writing is a huge milestone! It’s hard to know when to do that… how much to “just sit down and write” and how much to plot first. I started with the writing, but then got really stuck, so am back at brainstorming/plotting, hoping to keep myself better on track once I finally start writing again. Sounds like you have found a good balance. Keep up those 4k days!!!
I own quite a bit of IKEA furniture, but I am not a fan of their couches. I had one for awhile, passed on to me, which we passed on to a friend. It was more like a first apartment sofa, which is exactly what it was. Are you in the U.S.? I bought my new sofa last year at Macy’s. They have sales which were reasonable, and more stylish choices than a lot of the furniture stores around me.
A write-in with a friend sounds like a fabulous idea! I should try that with one of my critique group friends.
I love that it’s your own writing that’s inspiring you right now, Juliana. I have days like that too, where I’m just super impressed with my productivity. Come to think of it, I think I’m due for some of those days soon!
Best of luck with your edits and the sofa hunting!
It’s so frustrating when you get that far into a book and then can’t decide whether to keep reading or not. You don’t want to waste your time with a book you don’t love, but then there’s the fear that you might be missing out on something really good in that remaining 80%.
I’ve been tempted to check out that Plot Whisperer book because I need help with plotting lol. Good to hear it’s worth it. Have a great week, Juliana!
Congrats on all the writing progress! 4000 words in a day is pretty impressive. Have a great week!
You always seem so busy with all your writing. May it continue to go very well :D
4000 words is fantastic! It’s so inspiring when they start to flow. Hope you find a good new sofa! I need one, too–although the thought of having to move out the old sofabed we have now is terrifying. (It’s so heavy!)
I’ve become more discriminating about what’s a DNF for me. I don’t want to waste time with something I’m just not feeling just to say I finished it or because I feel obligated.
Target has some decent furniture, and Pier One.
I put down a book and decided not to finish it this week too. So frustrating! There are just too many books to read to waste time on something boring. This one had a cool cover and was by an author I like, so I was very disappointed. Ah well.
That’s crazy about your couch! I’m just waiting for mine to kick the bucket one of these days, seeing as I spend way too many hours writing on it lol. Have a great week!
When the words are flowing, that is ABSOLUTELY the best motivation/inspiration to keep going :)
Have fun sofa-hunting!
I’m definitely a believer in just writing the first draft without worrying too much about how wonderful your writing is. Write it first, fix it later. There are some people who can edit as they go, but it slows me down too much.
That must have been a surprise when your sofa broke! I hope you find your dream seating. :) And how exciting about the green card–I’ve been there so I know exactly what the process is like. :)
All the best to you this week, Juliana! :D
Hiya
I love your books, which means your writing is not crap :) I have enjoyed every single one of your stories and can’t wait to read some more. I will do the reviews on my blog and Goodreads soon, i just haven’t found the time yet.
I can’t wait to get back into writing again. I have been doing bits and pieces, but to actually sit down and finish a first draft I think i will be over the moon.
I have planned for this Monday (USA Sunday) to start because the kids will be totally in school and hubby will be back at work. I also plan to do some spring cleaning, i hate the holiday clutter that seems to grow over the school holidays.
Have a great week.
Angel
So, I happen to love my Ikea sofa. We’ve had the Karlstad since 2008 or so and it still looks great and feels comfortable. I don’t have experience with any other Ikea sofa, but the Karlstad gets a thumbs up from me. Otherwise, check out Crate and Barrel or West Elm!
I started reading The Plot Whisperer a while back but then never finished it. I need to get back to it! I agree – it’s nice to read another person’s perspective on plotting.
Happy writing!
First drafts are rough. I really hate them, but they’re always a success if you can just get done with them. No one ever writes something perfect on the first go :)
It’s exciting that you’re editor is going over your book for a second time. Hopefully there won’t be much (or anything) to do when you hear back!