It's time for What's Up Wednesday!
WHAT I'M READING
I've been listening to the Read-Aloud Revival podcast for some time now and have been inspired to start a 100 day read-aloud streak with my children. We read regularly already but I usually slack off on the weekends or on busy days so this challenge should help us be more consent, I hope! For the reading streak I need to read at least 15 minutes every day for 100 days. I'm doing a mixture of picture books and chapter books. Right now the we are reading one of my childhood favorites, 101 Dalmatians. If you've never read the original, non-disney version, I highly recommend it. It still makes me laugh!
For myself, I've been reading Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and Paragon, a novella by Autumn Kalquist. I also did something I've never done before. I pre-ordered a three episode serial and am reading the episodes as they come out. I had to. You see, I recently finished watching the last episode of Fringe and this serial promised to be Fringe meets Castle. So yup. I had to buy and read them. The serial is Gingerbread Man by Lee Strauss and the first episode (Run Run Run) was free yesterday... it might still be. Episode two came out today. Yay!!!
WHAT I'M WRITING (+ WRITING GOAL)
I took a break from revisions and started writing something just for the fun of it. I'm really not sure what it is. Its MG sci/fi for sure and I'm writing it for my son but I don't know if its going to be long or short, novel or serial. Whatever it it, its fun to write and has helped me get back into a rhythm after the holidays.
My goal is to write five hours this week.
WHAT WORKS FOR ME
Making time goals is working for me right now. I love how I feel free to sit and write what I want or to split my time between revisions and drafting. Eventually I might need a set goal or deadline but for now this is helping me get back into a steady writing pattern.
WHAT ELSE IS NEW
I got a bike trailer for my birthday last month so I've been loading up my three year old and going for bike rides with my older children. It's a double trailer so I even have room for one of his buddies to ride along. There is nothing better than getting exercise to a chorus of giggles and a commentary that can only come from the mind of a three year old.
Time Goals sound good, I should get back into doing that. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm liking it so far!
DeleteGood luck with your goals, and with the MG scifi. One of my goals this year is to write a MG book, but I have a hard time finding the right voice, so if you have any tips, I'd love to hear them.
ReplyDeleteMy WuW post.
I feel like I'm cheating haha. I have an eight year old that reads a lot so I pay attention to what sort of characters and books speak to him. I also watch the way he and his friends react in situations and build on that.
DeleteTime goals is going to be my focus this week as well. I don't know about you, but right now it's just about squeezing in some writing and not so much about word count. Here's hoping we both find this useful! Have a great week, Sarah! :D
ReplyDeleteSame here! I want to build good habits again and get so hopelessly addicted that I can add more complex goals later.
DeleteMG and sci-fi are the writing categories that scare me most. I'm so impressed by people who take them on, especially in combination. Best of luck with it, Sarah, and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteMy son is into MG sci-fi so it inspired me :) I'm actually scared of contemporary... sticking to real life is hard for me.
DeleteYour read aloud challenge sounds fun! I still read to my son even though he's fourteen. I think it's some of the best time you can spend with your kids. I love that you're writing an MG sci-fi with your son in mind. Very cool! Glad to hear you're getting back into the rhythm of writing after the holidays! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful way to get quality time and I like how it opens up discussions in all sorts of areas I'd never think of on my own.
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)
I have written two MGs (one Sci-fi and one fantasy). Would you ever wanna swap manuscripts? I plan to query both of these this year so I need to get them shaped up.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested. I'm not sure where this one is going but I want to get it polished and ready for anything. My email is sarechafin@outlook.com.
DeleteBelated Happy Birthday, fellow December baby :D
ReplyDeleteTrying out something new sounds brilliant. Good luck to you ^_^
Happy New Year!
The serial sounds fun! I've always wanted to read one, but I haven't heard of any really stand out ones...I'll have to try that one out. I love reading to my son even though he's 10. The challenge is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm having fun with this one. I haven't read many others because of the same reason you stated.
DeleteI'm enjoying the reading challenge. My oldest is eight and I've noticed reading aloud has helped him in his own reading because he knows so many more words and pronunciations than he would have (and it's just fun!).
That podcast looks amazing! Thanks for sharing - I can't wait to check it out :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's one of my favorites.
DeleteI didn't know that 101 Dalmatians existed before Disney adapted it. Interesting. Best of luck with your reading and writing. Reading to children really does help them in the long run, I know that from being read to a lot when I was very young.
ReplyDeleteIt's written by Dodie Smith and is wonderfully quirky.
DeleteI think reading to them, especially longer works, helps them organically pick up on story structure and even basic grammar. My 6 and 8 year olds are both starting to write stories of their own, just for the fun of it. I love that!
I like the idea of time goals. Word count goals don't work as well for me, because half the time I'm just sitting there thinking about what I want to write. But putting in the time...yes that might just work.
ReplyDeleteAnd go you on reading aloud to your kids. Not to mention pulling them behind the bike. I think that earns you about a billion "good mom" points. My dad used to read aloud to us every night, and now that he's gone, I can go back and read books and still hear his voice in my head. (including the parts he laughed at) Priceless. Truly.
Hope you have a brilliant week!
I'm loving time goals. If I have a goal like a drafting a scene a day or something I inevitably want to revise or vice versa. This way I go with what works that day and actually make progress.
DeleteIt's so encouraging to here of your wonderful read-aloud memories! Thanks for sharing.
I love the idea of reading to your kids every day. And yay for finding a series you like. Good luck on all your goals for 2015!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I’ve taken over hosting the Celebrate the Small Things hop, and we have a new linky for 2015. If you're still interested, you can drop by my blog and sign up, so hop members can see your link and visit you.
http://lexacain.blogspot.com/2015/01/celebrate-small-things.html
My parents used to read to me and my little brother all the time. I would say it helps to inculcate a love of reading, but my brother has never been an avid reader, to say the very least. My parents and I still don't understand how he's the odd one out in such a bibliophilic family.
ReplyDelete