What's Up Wednesday

It's time for What's Up Wednesday!

What I'm Reading

   I'm still struggling to fit in reading this school year. It usually takes me a bit to get into the rhythm of lesson planning, homeschooling and my other activities so I guess I will have to be patient. My oldest son and I are listening to The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart on Audible and I've been reading aloud many books on bats (we are learning about them in science). I'm reading Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. I love her writing, especially her world building. At this pace I might be reading it until Christmas... but at least I'm reading! I'm also reading Fire Up Your Fiction by Jodie Renner. It goes along with my revisions quite nicely.

What I'm Writing

  I'm revising Mirrors and Ice and like usually I'm trying not to get stuck revising the same words over and over. I should be working on the big picture, not all my word choices at this point but its so hard not to get obsessed with all the fine tuning.  My goal is to be done with this round by Oct. 31. 

What Inspires Me Right Now

 I can go outside without instantly breaking into a sweat! It's divine. It's still warm enough to swim and wear shorts though so it's not exactly cool, but I'll take it anyway. I should be able to read outside without leaving sweat prints on the pages. I can't wait to give it a try. 

What Else I've Been Up To

   I've been using the cooler weather as an excuse to do some extra baking. I love making fresh breads, muffins and of course, cookies :) I think I might go make some right now.

   

What's Up Wednesday

It's time for What's Up Wednesday!

I meant to blog earlier in the day but at least it is still Wednesday... 

What I'm Reading

 It's the beginning of the school year and I've been reading aloud to my children constantly. It seems that I've been reading to them so much I haven't really had much time to read anything that isn't children's literature. Fortunately, I love children's literature so I don't really mind. 

  We just finished reading The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame. What a fun book! I loved it and even my three year old was in love with the dragon. We are currently reading Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink and several other books that shadow our lessons. 

  I am slowly reading Heir of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. I did manage to fit in How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell and it was the perfect book to read right as begin digging into revisions. 

What I'm Writing

  I am taking part in the YA Buccaneers Fall Writing Bootcamp and my goal is to revise Mirrors and Ice, my YA fairytale novel. So far I have read through 90% of it, writing detailed notes as I go. I hope to start the actual revision process this weekend.

What Inspires Me Right Now

  Lately when I tiptoe to check on my children late at night I find my seven year old curled up with a book on his head that must have landed there when he drifted to sleep. Occasionally I find that he is still reading... and I have to remind him that he really does need sleep. I love it!

What Else I've Been Up To

   I've had a cold, one of those nasty ones that gets in your chest and lingers, so I'm not really sure what I've been up to. I've been in a fog. A fog that is full of books and children and large mugs of tea. It seems to be getting better though!

IWSG and What's Up Wednesday

  It doesn't feel like September to me. I should be able to go outside without my glasses steaming over in September and I shouldn't have to wait until it's almost dark to be outside with only a moderate amount of sweat, or so says the part of of me that is clinging to my northern roots. Despite the steamy weather, I still love this month. I love the beginning of school and all the books that come with it. What I don't love is my lack of balance. It is my main insecurity right now. I can homeschool my children and fill their lives with books and educational opportunities but I struggle to find a rhythm that fits in writing and all the other things I need or want to do. I know that it is a common struggle and the one I blog about the most.
  I keep thinking of my favorite poem by Vera Pavlova:

                                                               "I walk the tightrope.

                                                                A kid on each arm 

                                                                for balance. "

Except I have one on each arm and one that's a wild card, hopping from my feet to my head and back again, causing me to teeter feebly every few steps. He's three if that's an indicator of his busyness...

  What is amazing is that even without a proper rhythm or the consistency I want, I am still making progress in my writing, and I'm doing it while keeping my little ones first. I can't really complain about that. 

And now it's time for What's Up Wednesday! I've missed the last several weeks and can't wait to catch up with everyone.

What I'm Reading

  I read several books in the last week and a half or so. Usually I like the majority of what I read but lately I've ran into a few books that I really didn't enjoy for various reasons. I did find some winners though. I raced through Second Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn. It's the second book in her bollywood/steampunk trilogy and it didn't disappoint. Not at all. I can't wait for book three! I also read Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo (love!) and sitting on my shelf (calling my name) is Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. I can not wait until tonight when I have time to read it!!!

What I'm Writing

 I am reading through my fairytale novel that I finished in June. I see plenty of room for improvement but I am still loving this story and it is much more structurally sound than my previous novel's first draft. 

What Inspires Me Right Now

This!

I can't wait to see my first draft into a final one :)

What Else I've Been Up To

 I decided to walk more this fall. A lot more. My goal is to walk 100 miles before December. We'll see how that goes, but it's motivating me so far. Not even the black bear I ran into is going to detour me (Or so I hope. If I see him again and he smacks his lips at me that could be a different story).

  Homeschooling and  co-directing a homeschool group story hour has been keeping me, shall we say, not bored. I've been attempting to learn to knit whenever I have a moment that isn't filled with kids or books. So far I have a modern take of the Doctor Who scarf.