Its time for What's up Wednesday and IWSG!What I'm Reading I am still reading" Story Bound" by Marissa Burt and I also started reading "Lament" by Maggie Stiefvater. As always, I am mesmerized by her writing style and characters. I was in the mood for something informative so I began "Life Management for Busy Women" by Elizabeth George. I'm only a few chapters into it and I'm already loving her sound advice. My children and I are still reading "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" and its still making us giggle!
What I'm Writing I am still drafting my YA novel Simmer. I have a horrible cold right now so this week has been a bit slow so far. I was feeling a bit lost after finishing JuNoWriMo so I joined Ready. Set. Write! My hope is that I will find the motivation to finish this first draft. I only have 10k or so to go but I tend to get stuck near the end.
My Ready. Set. Write! goals for this week are:
- add 5k to "Simmer"
- write a children's story for Children's Writer Kindergarten story contest.
- read through a scene a day of my first WIP and answer questions on it to help me see what needs to be done in revisions. I started this a couple of months ago but I took a break for JuNoWriMo.
What Inspires Me Right Now My inspiration this week is jasmine green tea. It is not only delicious but it has given me a character idea for the next book in my series . That idea will have to be stored for later but I am still excited about it. I am also inspired by the Elizabeth George book I am reading. It has helped my perspective immensely.
Now for Alex J. Cavanaugh's IWSG!
I have been a mixture of secure and wildly insecure about my writing this past month. I love the book I am working on but writing it has shown me so many areas in my first book that need to be rewritten or fixed in some way. I guess that is a good thing. It means that I am learning. I entered a few short story contests and I didn't place in any of them. I didn't really expect to but it would be nice to have some concrete evidence that my work is worth reading. I reacted by selecting another contest to enter. I will not give up!
Now it is time for me to curl up with a nice cup of... Yup! Jasmine tea.
I'm in the same boat with the tea and the cold. Feel better! I've also felt slummy about my writing lately, mostly because I've come across some plot issues that need attention, and I'm wondering if my central plot device even works. So naturally, I'm working on something else instead :)
ReplyDeleteI really liked The Scorpio Races, and would like to read Raven Boys. One of those meaning-to-get-to books.
I hope that you feel better soon too! Most of my troubles seem to be plot related. I love my setting, my characters and all but my plot and villain need serious work. I'm not sure where to start...
DeleteThe Scorpio Races is probably my favorite of hers so far. Raven Boys is a great read too.
I hope you feel better soon - being sick is absolutely no fun. Although I typically get more reading done when I'm sick.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your writing goals for the week!
Thank you! I seem to be getting more reading done too. Its easier to do while curled up in nest of pillows than writing is :)
DeleteI love Maggie Stiefvater's writing. It's so beautiful/poetic. I haven't read Lament but I did enjoy Ballad. I hope you get feel better soon, and I hope the rest of your wip goes smoothly.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
It is beautiful. I am hoping to get Ballad next time I go to the library.
DeleteThanks for the encouragement!
If you happen to have an extra cup, I'll take one too :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to read Maggie Stiefvater. I've been wanting to, but as always, just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Don't worry about short story contests - they're fun to enter, but I wouldn't take it as a judge of your writing. Just tell that self-doubt monster to go away ;)
She is a very talented writer.
DeleteThanks for the encouraging words. I'm trying not to dwell on my failings but its hard sometimes!
Hi, this is my first vidit to this place. Good to be here, great task ahrad have tes and go ahead. 😊
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
DeleteMmmm tea is the best! I absolutely love it! Hope you feel much better soon :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Tea is pretty amazing :)
DeleteKeep going. You will learn and grow and get better and better. It's okay to have a learning curve, we all do.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Sometimes that learning curve is really steep!
DeleteWow! You have been super busy. You just have the most amazing attitude and whenever I read you blog I have a smile on my face. Not giving up is the right attitude to have and you got it in the bucket loads, so truly keep at it. Enjoy the tea.
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteYou're a busy woman! That's awesome you went and submitted your story again. I always pause for ice cream when I lose or get a rejection. I celebrate with ice cream too. Hmm... I see a trend.
ReplyDeleteMmm. Ice cream sounds like a great idea!
DeleteI hate being sick, it's the worst! I love Maggie Stiefvater, she's so good at what she does! Hope you have a great week full of writing.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely makes it harder to get things done. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI really need to write some short stories to enter in contests, or submit to magazines. So far I've given away all the short stories I've written (see my blog!), and on hindsight I wonder if that was a wise move. Not that I don't like sharing, but some of them might have been worthy of publication (with a little more work, perhaps). Oh well. :) I hope you win, or at least manage to get something published, Sarah. Not only will it look good on your resume (so to speak), but it would be very affirming to you as a writer.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you get well soon. Hot tea is a great remedy for colds... or just about anything. :)
I tend to share most of mine on my blog too. I have at least 30 posted, I think... I am trying to keep more of what I write because I really do want to get something published so I'm not merely a wannabe. Thanks for the encouragement!
DeleteI love tea! It's my beverage of choice, no matter what the weather.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading and writing!
Writer In Transit
I tend to be a coffee fanatic but lately I've been gravitating towards tea. It really is perfect for any weather.
DeleteHope you feel better very soon! And crossing my fingers for the contests you're entering!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your goals this week :-)
Thank you!
DeleteSorry to hear you're feeling under the weather! I hope the tea helps! That's awesome you decided to join RSW! Good luck with your goals this week, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I decided I needed some accountability to get the rest of this book written :)
DeleteFeel better soon...and keep writing. It all gets better with time. This time last year I was knee deep in flash fiction. Since then I've written and published two novels and am working on my third. It all gets better with time. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow! That is so inspiring to hear!
DeleteI hope you feel better soon. Good luck with your writing goals this week. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteMay your cold bugs go bug elsewhere, like now!
ReplyDeleteIt's encouraging to hear that you're not giving up on the contests. It's so hard for me to keep going sometimes, when I don't even get a placing. But like you said, just can't give up! Keep up the hard work with editing. You know it'll pay of big in the end. Writer’s Mark
I'm hoping that I will learn a lot from writing and entering contests even if I fail. Its discouraging sometimes though. Thanks for the encouragement!
DeleteSo glad you're joining us for Ready. Set. Write! You've set some great goals for yourself this week. I hope you're feeling better soon. Being sick in the summer is just the worst. This post is making me want tea! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am excited to be a part of the group.
DeleteGood luck with your goals and I hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteKeep at it, Sarah.
ReplyDeleteDetermination is something ALL writers must have to continue on their journeys to success. I've been on mine now for four years and I am still learning and growing. It is a process and the time is take is different for us all.
ALL THE BEST in your endeavors.
Thank you :) I found your words very encouraging.
DeleteTea is awesome and those are some awesome goals, good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteEvery story we write helps us improve and we learn something new with each one!
ReplyDeleteVery true! Thanks for stopping by.
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