Welcome to my third What's Up Wednesday of 2014! It's a weekly meme run by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow and is a great way for readers and writers to catch up on what we've been up to.
What I'm reading
This week, I read The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, and I loved it! It's strange and moving and beautifully written, like all Gaiman's work.
I also read Unwind by Neil Shusterman. It's the first time I've been really gripped by a dystopian in a long while, but this is one intense and thought-provoking read. Brilliant stuff.
Now, I'm reading an anthology, Grim, which features dark and awesome fairy tale retellings from some amazing YA authors.
What I'm writing
Well... yesterday, I FINISHED the first draft of my YA post-apocalyptic fantastical oddity of a WIP!!!!!!!!!
Yes, it's only a first draft, and it's genre-confused and weird to say the least, but it's done! Now I need to get it to my CP's so they can help me decide what to do with it. :P
Yes, it's only a first draft, and it's genre-confused and weird to say the least, but it's done! Now I need to get it to my CP's so they can help me decide what to do with it. :P
What else I've been up to
Not much! I spent most of the week at that point in the WIP where it commandeered 90% of my attention and everything else fell by the wayside for a bit. I did get my hair dyed red last week, however. ^_^
I was also interviewed by Lindsay at Burning Tree Reads about the Darkworld series, which was fun. :)
I was also interviewed by Lindsay at Burning Tree Reads about the Darkworld series, which was fun. :)
What inspires me right now
Being SO CLOSE to finishing a book that it's all I can think about and it's like a crazy adrenaline rush. I literally can't stop writing/trying to pull all the plot threads together. Possibly, it's impeding my ability to do things in the real world like interact with other human beings.
And then finishing that book and being really confused. Solution? Start another book!
And then finishing that book and being really confused. Solution? Start another book!
So glad the writing's going well. I can't wait to be finished my coursework so I can get back to reading and writing obsessively, I miss it. :)
ReplyDeleteAww, I hope you get back to writing soon! :)
DeleteCongrats on finishing your first draft!!! That is so exciting! And I love it that it is genre confused...I think we need more books that don't fit in a pigeon hole, or cookie cutter category.
ReplyDeleteSo go you!! And I hope your week is marvelous. :)
Thank you! I hope so, too. :)
DeleteWell done, Emma! I'm with you on that "Yay, it's finished!" feeling--though technically it's not finished because there are critiques and further revisions to come. But being to the point where you're sharing the novel with others is a huge milestone. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, time to start something new. :)
Thank you! :) Yep, I know it'll need a lot of work, but starting something new/revisions is always fun!
DeleteCongrats on finishing your rough draft! Even if you still have a lot of work ahead of you, you also have a lot of work behind you. So celebrate this accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great week.
Thank you! :D
DeleteCongrats on making it through your first draft on this story! What a great feeling. :-) I think it's fantastic that you can be so sucked into a story that you're working on that it's all-consuming. I can't wait to feel that way again. Have a great week, Emma!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :D I hope you get to feel that way again soon!
DeleteCongrats on finishing the first draft!
ReplyDeleteI love your hair! When I start dyeing hair, I'll definitely try red too ;)
Have fun starting a new book!
Thank you! :) Red's a fun colour to try - it's so bright!
DeleteDouble congrats on finishing your WiP and on the interview! It's super inspiring to be finishing a project, and be consumed by it. I love that feeling, even if it is completely manic and terrifying for others to watch.
ReplyDeleteYes, Unwind is heartbreaking and thought provoking. The scene with Roland destroyed me. I was a sobbing, broken mess.
Thank you! :) Yep, I think I did scare a few people. :P
DeleteOh, god. That scene...
Congratulations on finishing your book! It feels like a bit of a high after you finish a book, particularly if you've been working on it for a long time. From personal experience, I'd recommend taking a bit of a breather instead of immediately beginning the next book in the series or a new project. There needs to be an unwinding period so creativity and inspiration won't suffer.
ReplyDeleteThank you! That sounds like good advice. I'm definitely taking it easy for a bit!
DeleteCongrats on finishing your draft, Emma! What an amazing accomplishment! Best of luck as you start figuring your your revisions. I'm glad to hear that you liked THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE. That's one that's intrigued me for a long time. I'll have to keep an eye out for it. Hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :) It's definitely worth a read!
DeleteCongratulations on finishing that first draft :D
ReplyDeleteThank you! :D
DeleteHair dyeing is always fun! I used to do it just for fun (since age 15) but now I have little wisps of gray at my temples so I HAVE to! I knew this day would come but I thought I'd be older... :)I'm looking forward to reading that Neil Gaiman novel.
ReplyDeleteLol, I don't think I'll want to go back to my normal colour! I love all of Neil Gaiman's books.
DeleteCongrats on finishing your first draft! That's so exciting! Love the new red hair on you, but as a redhead myself, I'm biased of course! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteYay on finishing your WIP. And i love the red hair. Have a awesome week.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
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ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your first draft!! That's so exciting. First drafts are always the hardest for me. I love revising :)
ReplyDeleteI also loved The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is just so talented, isn't he? That moment with the worm in his foot genuinely freaked me out.
Wow! Congratulations on finishing the post-apocalyptic!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, so lucky you have you hands on Grim. I can't get it over here for another month!