Juliana Haygert

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Categories: #ROW80, My writing

ROW80 Check-in 02/12

Hello guys!

First, let me start with shiny news … I’m going back to the US! Yes! It’ll take about 1-2 months yet, while we get all documents ready, pack our things and close our house, but we should be there soon!

What this means? Well, I will slack on my ROW80 goals until after the move. The list of things to do before going is huge, plus I have family to visit before leaving. Actually, I believe the first couple of weeks back in the US will be very busy too … finding new house, buying everything new, finding a school for my daughter, etc … *phew* I get tired of thinking about it.

But it is very exciting too.

Unfortunately, the moving will require much of my writing time, so I will have to do something I didn’t want, but I don’t see other way out.

The other news, not so good: I’m dropping off ROW80 for this round.

I hope to be in the US and get things settled before the next round, so I can join you all again.

Well, guys, I’ll try to check on you all when I can. Good luck to all of you!

I’ll see you around ;)

Cheers,

Categories: #ROW80, My life, My writing

ROW80 Check-in 02/05

Hello my friends!

Here we are for another check-in.

And I’m here to report some slacking.

My hubby went into a job trip  to the US last Sunday, so every member of my family expects to be visited while he is away. Since I write full-time, I’m jobless, you see, and I have tons of free time, so it won’t matter if I do nothing for many days. What they want, of course, is to spend time with my daughter, not me lol

These past few days I’ve been hanging with my mother-in-law or my brother, his wife and his daughter—they live in the same city. Then today, Sunday, I’m going to our family house at the beach. I’ll stay there until Wednesday WITHOUT ANY INTERNET CONNECTION!

Which means: not getting much done.

 

My goals:

  • Participate of the EditPalooza workshop offered by Savvy Authors from Jan/2 to Feb/4. (I’ve been warned this is super hard work and consumes many hours of the day. Let’s see if I can keep up!)
  • Write a novel (or get as far as I can with it).
  • Read 5 books each month (year total = 60).
  • Social network: blog at least once a week (not counting #ROW80 checkins), comment on blogs every other day, and tweet a little everyday.

 

Social Media: Hard to comment on blog through the phone. Hard to keep up with twitter through the phone, but I’m trying.

EditPalooza: On Monday, 4 assignments were posted. Then 2 more on Thursday. Now that I’m on “vacation” I’m feeling overwhelmed.

Reading: Read James Scott Bell’s book last week. Even though the workshop is not done yet, I just wanted to finish the book.

Reading Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvager.

Writing: Monday, I worked on some plot and outline. Don’t know how many words I wrote, but it was quite a few. And then I got nothing else done.

 

Hope you guys are doing WAY better than me!

Wanna check on my friends ROWers? Click here and scroll down to the post check-in from today.

Cheers,

 

Note: since I’m without internet for the next few days, forgive me for not getting back to you guys right away. I’ll catch up when I’m back!

Categories: #ROW80, My writing

ROW80 Checkin 01/25

Hey guys! How are you all?

First, let me explain why I’m posting this today, instead of Sundays, which is the day I usually post check-ins. Because I’ll be out of town from today (Thursday) to Sunday, and, since there was a check-in for ROW80 yesterday and I’m not gonna do anything new until Sunday, why not just post it now? So, here I am!

Another piece of news: because some of you encouraged me to finish the novelette, I went for it. I finished the novelette. However, I won’t even start the novella lol I crossed it out from my goals list and revised my novel writing. My intention is to dig in my novel right now and go somewhere with it ;)

My revised goals:

  • Participate of the EditPalooza workshop offered by Savvy Authors from Jan/2 to Feb/4. (I’ve been warned this is super hard work and consumes many hours of the day. Let’s see if I can keep up!)
  • Write a novelette (10-15,000 words), revise it and sub it (due Feb 1st).
  • Write a novella (20-40,000 words), revise it and sub it (due April 1st).
  • Write a novel (or get as far as I can with it).
  • Read 2 book every 3 weeks.
  • Social network: blog at least once a week (not counting #ROW80 checkins), comment on blogs every other day, and tweet a little everyday.

 

Social Media: All done.

Reading: Read Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols.

Still reading Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell. Honestly, lost the count of how many chapters we’ve read (we’re not reading it in order).

Gonna start Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally this weekend.

EditPalooza: Started slow this week. Then we had two assignments on Wed. It’s going well. My group is by far the most active on the forums ;)

Writing: Monday = 1306 words. Tuesday = 1,695 and I finished the novelette. Reread it, fixed the errors that jumped out at me,  and sent to beta-reader. Wednesday = re-writing an old novel. Got 2053 words and about other 500 that ended up deleted ;)

 

How are you guys doing? Kicking ROW’s butt? I hope so.

To check other members’ progress, you can go to the click here.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Cheers,

Categories: Blogging, Music, My writing

I Challenge You

Usually, I participate on RTW from YA Highway on Wednesday, but I confess I wasn’t too inspired to do what they asked today.

So my friend Jani came up with an idea. A challenge actually.

Here it is, in Jani’s words: My challenge to you.  Blog about a song that reflects one of your main character’s characteristics.  I want to get to know your MC and what better way than to have some fun with it, right?  

For more details (and to see her entry), check Jani’s blog.

Wow, this ain’t gonna be easy =P

Let’s see.

First, I should choose one protag right? Or perhaps I can choose two or three and post their songs too? =P

 

Okay, then, I give you:

 

Nadine from DESTINY GIFT

 

Mirella from GYPSY HEART

 

Ellanue from ENERGY

 

I really think these song resemble who they are and their quest in my stories ;)

Now it’s your turn!

So go blog your song and link me in the comment section!

Cheers,

Categories: #ROW80, My writing

ROW80 Checkin 01/22

Hey guys!

How are you all doing? Everyone still kicking ROW’s butt? Well, not me. I feel like I slacked this week a little.

Note: post written on Thursday night and scheduled to go live on Sunday morning. Friday my parents will be around and Sat and Sun are for family.

 

My goals:

  • Participate of the EditPalooza workshop offered by Savvy Authors from Jan/2 to Feb/4. (I’ve been warned this is super hard work and consumes many hours of the day. Let’s see if I can keep up!)
  • Write a novelette (10-15,000 words), revise it and sub it (due Feb 1st).
  • Write a novella (20-40,000 words), revise it and sub it (due April 1st).
  • Write a novel (or get as far as I can with it). Actually I’m thinking about re-writing some of my old novels, the ones I wrote when I just started down this path. The stories are good, but the writing isn’t lol I keep saying I need to re-write them, so this might be the time to choose one and get it over with.
  • Read 2 book every 3 weeks.
  • Social network: tweet, comment on blogs, and blog at least once a week (not counting #ROW80 checkins).

 

Confession time. I’m losing the interest in writing shorter pieces, so I might cross the novelette and the novella from my list. I just need more 2k words to finish the novelette, but the end is so … simple, I think. My problem is that I love a good, long, complicated plot and when I have to come up with shorter, simpler stuff, it doesn’t happen too well.

Some other things are happening here (I’ll tell you all about it next Sunday), and I think I’ll cut the novelette and the novella form my goal. I know, I know, I was almost done with the novelette, but I’m just not feeling it. So, there you have it.

 

Social Media: All done (or more).

Reading: Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell for the workshop. We’ve read about 10 chapters so far.

Finally finished Across the Universe by Beth Revis on Sat.

EditPalooza: Working on Scene Structure, Middles, and Endings.

Writing: Much slower than my usual routine, but I think the workshop has me compromised. Mon = 1079 words. Tue = 3482 words. Wed = wrote only 500 words. Not in the mood. Thur = wrote another 500 words only. Then start critiquing my CP’s manuscript. Frid, Sat, Sun = with family.

 

How are you guys doing? Hope all is well!

If you want to check on the other members, you can hop on ROW80 blog and click on the post for today’s check-in ;)

Cheers,

 

PS: guys, like usual, I’m gonna be out of town on Sunday and commenting on your blogs through my phone would be a pain in the *ss. So, I’ll stop by on Monday, okay? Thanks!

Categories: Contests, My writing

Can You Hit A Perfect Pitch? Contest!

Can you hit a perfect pitch for your Young Adult or Middle Grade manuscripts to agent Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency?

Brenda Drake is hosting this amazing contest!

Rules: On January 15th post a two sentence pitch (no more than 35 words) along with the first 150 words (if it falls in the middle of a sentence, go to the end of that sentence) of your finished Young Adult or Middle Grade manuscript to your blogs. From January 15th-16thhop around each others’ blogs and critique or praise them. Revise your entries, if you want, and post them by 8:00am (EST) January 17th to the official entry post.

 

Here is mine:

DESTINY GIFT – Older YA paranormal romance with a post-apocalyptic feel – 80,300 words

 

Pitch: In a world of chaos, Nadine has visions she doesn’t understand—she believes she might be hallucinating. Until she meets the guy who haunts her visions and everything starts to change … even the world.

 

First 150 words: 

If telepathy, soul-seeing, or palm-reading existed, Dr. Brown was using her powers and performing one of those, if not all, on me.

Behind her cat like glasses, her eyes were uncanny and cold. She was analyzing me. My posture, my body gesture, my eyes.

I averted my gaze from hers and sat on top of my hands, hoping they would stop shaking.

“Nadine Sterling,” she began, her tone almost caring. “What brings you to me today?”

The insanity of mind, I could say. Or that my regular psychologist was busy, and since I had to follow the school’s policy and have my weekly section today, I had no choice but to meet with her. Besides, there were no rules specifying I should open up to her, so I didn’t say anything.

“Nadine?” Her tone became more pressing.

I glanced back at her. Her knuckles were white around her pen, her foot swung rapidly from her crossed legs, her hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail and it gave me the impression she would freak if any strand fell loose. I didn’t like her. I didn’t feel at ease with her.

 

This is Nadine ;)

 

What did you think? Any suggestions?

To check the other contestants and comment on their entries, you can hop on Brenda’s blog post here.

Cheers,

Categories: #ROW80, My writing

ROW80 Checkin 01/15

Heya, partners! =)

Welcome back for another ROW80 check-in!

As usual, this post was scheduled on Friday night to go live on Sunday morning, so nothing to report for the weekend.

Recalling my goals:

  • Participate of the EditPalooza workshop offered by Savvy Authors from Jan/2 to Feb/4. (I’ve been warned this is super hard work and consumes many hours of the day. Let’s see if I can keep up!)
  • Write a novelette (10-15,000 words), revise it and sub it (due Feb 1st).
  • Write a novella (20-40,000 words), revise it and sub it (due April 1st).
  • Write a novel (or get as far as I can with it). Actually I’m thinking about re-writing some of my old novels, the ones I wrote when I just started down this path. The stories are good, but the writing isn’t lol I keep saying I need to re-write them, so this might be the time to choose one and get it over with.
  • Read 2 book every 3 weeks.
  • Social network: tweet, comment on blogs, and blog at least once a week (not counting #ROW80 checkins).

 

Social Network: All done.

Reading: Read Divergent by Veronica Roth. PERFECT!

Still reading Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell for the workshop. We’ve read about 6 or 7 chapters so far.

If my plans stay on course, I should start reading Across the Universe by Beth Revis on Saturday ;)

EditPalooza: Working on theme, and LOCK (lead, objective, confrontation, and knock-out), and scene structure.

My group has 7 writers, and we’ve shared first chapters and critiqued each others’ works. And I’m up to date with assignments.

Writing: I’ve been critiquing queries and synopsis from my CPs this week. I also received a full manuscript to critique, but, since my CP said she is in no hurry, I may leave it for when I have more time to breathe lol Though, I wish I could do this quick, because I know she is anxious. I would be =P

As for my novelette: wrote 1784 words on Tuesday, 1374 words on Thursday, and  1064 words on Friday. That adds to 4222 words—almost halfway there. I hope to finish it by next Tuesday. Let’s see …

 

How are you guys doing? Hope all is well!

If you want to check on the other members, you can hop on ROW80 blog and click on the post for today’s check-in ;)

Cheers,

 

PS: guys, I’m gonna be out of town on Sunday and commenting on your blogs through my phone would be a pain in the *ss. So, I’ll stop by on Monday, okay? Thanks!