It's time for What's Up Wednesday!What I'm reading I am still reading "Two Year's Before the Mast" and "A Prayer for Owen Meany. I'm also reading "Life After Theft" by Aprilynne Pike. I loved her "Wings" series and couldn't resist reading her latest work.
The kids and I are still reading "The Story of Doctor Dolittle".
What I'm writing I am still working on the first draft of "Simmer". I tend to have trouble towards the end of my stories. I froze for weeks with my first novel. It's like I start second guessing the rest of the story or something. I did decent on my Ready. Set. Write! goal of writing everyday. I did miss a few days but I made progress and I am feeling much more motivated than I was.
My goal for this week is to:
finish my first draft!
I'm not sure how many words that will end up being but it shouldn't be more than 7k. I refuse to freeze at the end this time.
What Inspires me right now YaBuccaneers! I have been having so much fun with this site the past week. They have writing and reading challenges and a great pirate them which is so fitting since my WIP takes place on the ocean and has pirates.
What Else I've been up to I have been trying to keep my two year old in one piece. How can a kid with a broken leg and a cast up to his hip be so busy? He figured out how to run in his cast (with no balance, I might add) and he can climb as well as ever. Scary.
I am crocheting a blanket for my sister-in-law's baby boy who is due in November. It is a great way to relax after a busy day of chasing my wobbly toddler and keeping up with my other kids.
I'm impressed that you're finding time to write among caring for an injured toddler and other kids. You are a real inspiration! I know that sounds corny but I mean it. Congrats on keeping to your goals.
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks! I feel like I must be crazy for trying it sometimes but I love the balance writing adds to my life. Its a dream I can pursue from home and I love that about it.
DeleteOwn that first draft! Go for it :D
ReplyDeleteWow, crocheting! That always looks so difficult. Please share photos when you've finished!
Thanks! I am making serious progress in the right direction. Hopefully I can post that it's done next Wednesday!
DeleteI love to crochet. Its not so hard once you learn the basic stiches.
Yay! I am so, so glad to hear that the YA Buccaneers site is inspiring you! That totally gives me warm fuzzies. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about freezing near the end of first drafts - ZOMG. That's happening with me and my current WIP right now - it's killing me, but like you said, I'm second-guessing pretty much every character arc, plot line, etc. in the story. Participating in things like the YAB Word Sprints is helping (less thinking, more writing), but it's still a challenge. What makes it even more frustrating is that I have a shiny new project idea just waiting to be started ... SIGH.
Anyhow, good luck finishing your first draft. You've totally got this. I'll be cheering you on! :)
I'm so glad that I'm not the only one! Word sprints are amazing for pushing past the doubts. I have some new ideas teasing me too... I'm trying to ignore them but its not working lol.
DeleteI hope that you get your draft finished too :)
Endings are so hard to write, but you can do it! We're all rooting for you. :) You're making awesome progress from the sounds of it. Thanks for the YA Buccaneers shout-out. I'm glad you're enjoying it so much. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! They are SO hard! I'm working steadily in the right direction.
DeleteI broke through one of my "walls" during the YA Buccaneers writing sprints :)
As awful as it sounds, it sounds like your child temporarily needs a leash so you can keep him close and safe! Good luck with the writing.
ReplyDeleteHahaha. Yes, I've been wishing that they make one of those plastic hamster balls for toddlers. Then he could move around and not bump into anything :)
DeleteI have a first draft of a novel that I might go back to one day, but I really really REALLY don't like the ending. I wrote that ending just so the novel will have an end, knowing that if I ever wanted to do anything with it, I would re-write it. Perhaps that's preferable to being stuck? Just write an ending and resolve to fix it in revisions. Maybe going back through the story after will inspire a better ending? Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteTwo-year-olds can be as fearless as teenagers, though I have this cute picture in my head of your son wobbling around in a cast. :)
May you have a blessed week, Sarah!
Yes, I think you are right. I think one learns so much every time they write something, even if its not perfect. Going through the rest of the story should help me have a clearer vision of any loose ends that I'm forgetting about.
DeleteOh no. They are this scary as teenagers? Yikes.
A Prayer For Owen Meany was one of my absolute favorite books in high school. It's been more than fifteen years since I read it, but I still remember a lot of it. It was one of those books that just hit me hard, and I doubt I'll ever forget it. So yay, that people are still reading it. Also good luck with finishing your frist draft and keeping up with your toddling toddler and everything else.
ReplyDeleteIt is unlike anything I've ever read. So far I'm enjoying it and I'm hoping I have lots of time to read it this weekend!
DeleteI'll have to check out that site, thanks!
ReplyDelete:) I hope that you love it!
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