Ghosts, Camp, and Forts

What's Up Wednesday is a writer's blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk.  You can find out more about it and how to play along by clicking here.

What I'm Reading:  This week I read LIESL and PO by Lauren Oliver.  She is just an amazing writer and this MG Ghost story dealt with death and grief so beautifully.  I am trying to read more MG since that is what I most enjoy writing, so I would love any recommendations that you guys have.

What I'm Writing:  I worked on a two page synopsis for my MG Sci-Fi that I am about to query.  You all know that those two pages are sometimes more challenging than the whole damn novel.  But I think that it is probably ok enough now that it could be sent out if absolutely necessary.

What Works for Me:  I think I've mentioned before that Nano events really work for me.  I have written 3 out of my 5 finished works during some sort of National Novel Writing event.  My goals are to finish querying UNDER THE BLUE and get my next WIP outlined before April, so that I can draft during a Camp Nano session.  It is just super motivating for me to have a deadline and group of people that I am competing with... Uh, I mean encouraging.

What Else is Going On:  We are going a little batty around here.  The weather has been wintry and bleak.  The kids have made a fort out of the entire basement.

The sun is shining today, so I have plans to kick the kids out in the backyard for some much needed vitamin D!

The Love Post

Is it Wednesday already?  That must mean it's time for another addition of What's Up Wednesday, a blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk.  For more info click here.

What I'm Reading:  I just finished A MAD WICKED FOLLY by Sharon Biggs Waller.  I had everything that I love in a great YA Historical Fic.  Love, Love, Love.

What I'm Writing:  I am in the fun and exciting part of writing wherein you don't actually write that much.  I have a shiny new idea, so I have been Pintresting, Wikapedia-ing, and daydreaming.  So far, I think I have a pretty good start.  This one is gonna be another MG, because me thinks that is my strong suit.  

I am also editing my MG Sci-Fi Adventure, UNDER THE BLUE.  I am waiting for comments from one more CP and one beta reader, and then that one should be ready to query.  

What Works for Me:  I am really trying to come up with a better way of outlining.  For real.  I don't like using Scrivener for it, because I need MORE ROOM.  I want my outline to be more detailed this time so I don't end up with 1500 words I am supposed to write about "Something bad happens..."  LOL.  

What Else is Happening:  My kiddos were some pretty sweet valentines.  Hope you had a day full of love as well!

Bootlegger's and Balls

What's Up Wednesday is a writer's blog hop created by Jaimie Morrow and Erin Funk.  To find out more and see how you can play along, click here.

So, I missed you all last week!  I was without the internets for THREE WHOLE DAYS.  It was like a third world country around here.  I just took naps and used my phone's 4G like it was going out of style!

What I'm Reading:  I read two great books in the last two weeks.  

 I thought WE WERE LIARS was beautifully written.  The story was touching and horrifying at the same time.

I am a huge groupie of anything Rainbow Rowell writes, and this book did not disappoint.  She has a way of creating these characters that are so darn real you'd swear you'd met them before.  This one would probably fall under the category of magical realism, but that's not why you'd want to read it.  The relationship between the married couple is raw and amazing, so that's why I gave it a million stars.  

What I'm Writing:  I finished THE BOOTLEGGER'S LETTERS!!!  WOO-HOO!  I think it might be a hot mess, but at least it is first-draft-done.  I worked on editing my MG Sci-Fi UNDER THE BLUE, and have passed it on to another round of Beta readers, including my BFF's 5th grade class!  Truth: That scares me more than sending it off to agents!  LOL

I am in the super fun brainstorming portion of a shiny new idea.  I think it might be MG for me from here on out.  I just really hate writing kissing scenes.

What Works for Me:  For my last three novels I have written the query letter before I started drafting. That is an easy way to tell if your stakes are high enough, and if your hook is strong enough.  Always start a new WIP by asking yourself.  Who is my MC?  What does he/she want?  What will happen if he/she doesn't get it?

What Else is Happening:  My handsome husband took me to the Policeman's Ball last weekend!  It was amazingly fun, and I looked super hot, if I do say so myself.  LOL.

Robot Eye Editing

Hello, writerly friends, and welcome to another installment of What's Up Wednesday.  WUW is a blog hop created by Jaimi Morrow and Erin Funk to keep writers connected and encouraged.  For more information, check this out.

What I'm Reading:  This week's read was UNDER THE NEVER SKY...

I gotta say, while I love a good dystopian, this one just felt a little too familiar to me.  There isn't enough that's different about it to grab me.

What I'm Writing:   Last week-

This week-

So, not the 5K I dreamed about, BUT I did A LOT of editing on my MG Sci-Fi UNDER THE BLUE, which I entered in Sun vs. Snow.

What Works for Me-  I thought of something!  When editing, I like to copy and paste a chapter at a time into www.hemingwayap.com.  That way robot eyes can check for passive voice, adverbs, and super long sentences. Just yesterday I learned about www.editminion.com, which is the same sort of thing but checks for even more stuff.

What else is going on:  I entered Sun Vs. Snow this week, so I have been editing HARDCORE.  

This is my FACE after removing  70+ instances of the word FACE from my MS.  Look out JUST and APPARENTLY.  I'm coming for ya.

Hope you had a great week!

Upside Down and Drafting

Hello, writerly friends, and welcome to another installment of What's Up Wednesday.  WUW is a blog hop created by Jaimi Morrow and Erin Funk to keep writers connected and encouraged.  For more information, check this out.

What I'm Reading:  I stayed up late last night finishing UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.  It is about a family who endures Hurricane Katrina.  This is a heartbreaking read.  Like, I got real tears.  And amazing MG voice.  I highly recommend.

What I'm Writing:  Last week I was about here:

And today I am here:

You will note that the progress bar has turned green, so that is exciting!  But the ending to this thing is getting out of control.  I see some major rewriting in my future.  But maybe it will be one of those things where I put it away for a while and when I come back to it I find that it is bloody brilliant???  Maybe???  We shall see.  Oh, and my goal would be to get to 50K by next week.

What works for Me:  

I am running out of things that work for me.  And right now I am not entirely sure any of it is working for me.  Blah.  Sometimes writing is like, super hard.  :/

What Else is Going On:

We got a break from arctic temperatures here in Kansas City this last week, and my kid enjoyed some time outside.  

So what's up with all of you???

An Editing Checklist

Hello, writerly friends, and welcome to another installment of What's Up Wednesday.  WUW is a blog hop created by Jaimi Morrow and Erin Funk to keep writers connected and encouraged.  For more information, check this out.

What I'm Reading:  I am currently reading AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES, by the masterful John Green.  If you have ever watched Mr. Green's vlog and thought to yourself, "THIS is the guy who wrote THE FAULT IN OUR STARS???  All heart wrenching and romantic???  This guy is a goof ball!"  

Well, I'm not sure what happened there... but my point is AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES has had me laugh-snorting every other pages.  Some of that John-Green-Quirkiness made it into the book this time, and I am loving it.  

What I am Writing:  My WIP (THE BOOTLEGGER's LETTERS) went from this:

To This:

But you will notice that I haven't worked on it today yet, so I hope I can add another 1K.  I did have one afternoon where my three-year-old was having a birthday party so writing went out the window.  So my goal for next week would be to add another 5K.  That would be good... yeah I'll try that.

I did get a few chapters of my MG Sci-Fi edited.  Some more.  Again.  I am hoping to have that thing ready to query sometime this year.

What Works for Me:  I haven't actually tried this yet but I think I need to develop some sort of editing checklist, because my biggest problem with editing is that I don't really have a plan.  I need to be able to check things off the list (like you can with drafting).  Problem is, I don't really know what that list should have on it.  Here's what I got so far:

1- Fix obvious mistakes (spelling, grammar, parts where I forgot people's names...)

2.  Go back and check for "to be" verbs, was, were, ing

3.  Check to make sure each scene is important and in the right order

4.  Voice check- make sure each characters voice remains constant

5.  Overused words- In scrivener you can go to Projects and then Text Statistics to see what words you use the most.  This is an important tool!

What else should be on my editing list?  Help a noob out!

What Else is Going On: My baby boy had his third birthday party at Legoland.  It was epic.

A Blizzard of Books

Hello Friends!  It seems like it's been FOREVER since our last What's Up Wednesday, so let's do one now, mmmkay?  What's up Wednesday is a blog hop created by Jaimi Morrow and Erin Funk to help writers stay connected and share what we are working on.  To find out more go here.

What I'm Reading:  I have read a blizzard of books over winter break (see what I did there?) and quite a few four stars in a row (yay!)  My favorites were:

I LOVE a good historical fiction.  And if you can add ghosts and time travel and swoony boys you will always get my vote!  Plus I feel like I learned a little more about the French Revolution (because all my prior knowledge was based on Les Miserables).

So much love for this book!  I can't say I even remember the last time I read a collection of short stories, but I really enjoyed it.  Didn't hurt that this one contained some of the most badass YA authors around... can we say Laini Taylor?  Rainbow Rowell?  Ironically, when I think about this book, the story that sticks out to me the most was by an author I've never read before- Matt De La Pena.  Boy can write a romance, let me tell ya!

Then THIS happened... AHHH.  What a great ending to this series.  Seriously, everything tied up nicely and that thing that we need at the end of a dystopian series... a sea of hope.  

I don't even think that was all the books I read since the last time I blogged, but those were the standouts.  Lots of time snuggled up with my babies, book in hand.

What I'm Writing:  A freakin' novel, that's what!  And it is coming along nicely.  I think my goal when I posted last was to add another 5K over the holidays.  So here was last time:

And HERE WAS TODAY:

BOOM.  That just happened.  I honestly don't really know how it happened, but it happened.

What Works for Me:  Extra eyes.  I am always looking for people who are better writers than me to read my stuff and help a girl out.  It just helps to have someone you like tell you why it sucks before an agent or editor can.  LOL.  Just kidding, I kid.  But seriously... CP's are the bomb.

What Else is Going On:  I am not one of those parents who are all excited to shoving the kids back in school.  I had a blast over Christmas break, and it makes me really excited for SUMMER.  I really like my kids.  Oh, and I am lazy.  

Look at these little cuties...

Who wouldn't want to spend her days with these guys?  Dang Kindergarten.  Dang preschool.  Sigh.  Well, we had a great Christmas, and are already off to a fabulous new year.  Cheers to you all!  Can't wait to catch up with you!