Welcome to What's Up Wednesday, a weekly meme run by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow. Here's what I've been up to this past week!What I'm reading
I've been reading lots of children's/MG books this week, to get in the right mindset for revising my MG steampunk fantasy (as up until now I've been working on my dark, angsty post-apocalyptic sequel and needed to read something more light and upbeat!).
I read Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve, which for some reason, I haven't read before. I have no idea why! It's about a world where bigger towns eat smaller ones. Yep. It's wonderfully creative and original! I bought the whole series and read them in three days!
I also read The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand, which is fabulously sinister and creepy! It's like Roald Dahl crossed with Tim Burton. Awesomeness.
What I'm writing
I finished my draft!!!!! In an insane day-long writing session in which I wrote over 6000 words, beating my lifetime record! I've mentioned before that I'm a slow writer most of the time, so I'm still convinced an alien took over my brain for the day. Or possibly a demon.
I'm also working on my YA contemporary fantasy draft. But my main focus is now on...
...revising my MG steampunk fantasy! :) This went better than I expected, considering what a mess I thought the draft was in when I finished it in December. Looking at it with fresh eyes got me excited about it again! It's now ready to send to CP's/beta readers. Yay! :D I'm actually *gasp* tentatively hopeful about this one. If anyone's interested in beta-ing for me (it's a fairly short book, seeing as it's middle-grade), then I'd really appreciate the help - and I'd be happy to return the favour! :)
What else I've been up to
Other than work and catching up with reviews...not much! Now the lovely weather's departed, I'm back into hermit mode.
What inspires me
Progress! :D That insane adrenaline rush when the end is in sight and you just want to keep typing and typing!
And rediscovering the love for an old story! I love this odd tale of alternative universes and dragons and clockwork monsters. I love the eccentric characters. It's a very "me" kind of book, which naturally means it's totally bizarre. :D
It is so true that you have to be reading in the genre you want to write whenever you are trying to write. This seriously works!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your manuscript--those last 6000 words. And the fact that it is so you, basically means it is something you would love to read, not to mention anybody else who is into clockwork monsters. Count me in!
Definitely! I know some writers can't read in the same genre they're writing, but I really find it helps set the mood.
DeleteI hope so! :)
You finished your draft!!!! I'm eating cheese to celebrate with you. Way to go! I think I once wrote as many as 20 pages in 6 hours (single spaced) but my brain was fried for the next two days. You do have those moments.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the cheese! :D I do love those inspired days.
DeleteCongrats on finishing your draft! What a great feeling!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteMortal Engines is one of my favourite books. I haven't read it in years, but it's really stuck in my mind. Such a brilliant concept.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your MS! :D
Have an amazing week!
I love the series! I can't believe I've never read them before.
DeleteThank you! :D
Well done on finishing your draft! :) I'd love to help out and be a beta reader but I'm a little too busy with MA stuff to be of any use. :s
ReplyDeleteHave fun with those revisions! :)
That's fine, I know you're busy! :) Good luck with your novel!
DeleteHi, Emma. Good job finishing your draft!! That's such a great feeling. Have fun working on your revisions!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Thank you! :)
DeleteAwesome about your draft! And 6K in one day? Wow! That's amazing. :-) You've got so many great projects on the go from the sounds of it. I've picked up both MORTAL ENGINES and THE CAVENDISH HOME... a couple of times, wondering if they were good. I'll have to make sure I add them to my TBR pile now. Hope you're having an awesome week, Emma!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :) It was a great day!
DeleteI recommend both of them. So much fun!
Congrats on finishing your draft!!! That is one heck of a writing session you had :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was fun! :D
DeleteWow, 6k in one day! Woo! And I just came from Miss Cole's blog where she reported 27k in 6 days. I'll have whatever you guys are having! :) Or, maybe I'll just have to settle for being inspired by you guys. Congrats on finishing the draft! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI very rarely have days like that, so I'm still surprised! Thank you! :D
DeleteCongrats! I have also done some marathon writing sessions--draining but the feeling of victory afterward is great.
ReplyDeleteThanks! :) Yeah, it's a pretty awesome feeling!
DeleteYay for completing your draft!!! Congrats, lady! And I think I need to get my hands on CAVENDISH. Roald Dahl crossed with Tim Burton sounds awesome. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I recommend it! :)
DeleteFirst of all, congratulations on finishing your draft AND beating your word count record! Both are huge accomplishments!
ReplyDeleteI have some of Philip Reeve's books on my shelf, but I've never gotten around to reading them yet. They look fun though!
Good luck with those MG steampunk revisions! :)
Thank you! :D
DeleteCongratulations on finishing your draft, Emma! Yay! I hope you're celebrating in style ;)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with revisions, you're onto the easy part now that you've written the darn thing!
- Caitie
I'm going to have to check out The Cavendish Home. I was such a huge Ronald Dahl fan back in the day. ^_^
ReplyDeleteI love love LOVE that adrenaline rush! I almost wish I had it all the way through, but then of course if I did my brain would most definitely melt out of my head. Congratulations on beating your record!! ^_^
If you still need some beta readers, I'd be happy to help! I'm hoping to finish my WIP after this weekend so I'll have lots of free time after that, for about a week anyway. Lol! It sounds exciting.
Yay, do check it out!
DeleteYep - I'd love to have that feeling all the time, but I always need a while to recover from a major writing sprint!
Awesome, thank you! :) I'm looking to get as many eyes on it as possible so I'd love your input!
Congratulations on finishing your draft and on revising! You sound super excited about both projects, which is so great! Good luck with everything this week.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :D
DeleteHuge kudos for finishing. Not many people do that simple thing. I know I haven't lately.
ReplyDeleteThanks! :) I hope you get back into writing soon!
DeleteCongrats on finishing your draft! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteBig towns eating smaller ones? Now that sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your draft :)
It's such an amazing series! Thank you! :)
DeleteOoo Roald Dahl crossed with Tim Burton? That sounds pretty cool! =D I think I've seen some reviews for that book which all highly praised the story. I'll definitely have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteDo! :) It's a really good read.
DeleteI have limited experience with MG, but I devour fantasy of all kinds, so I'll totally beta for you if you still need someone! (You can DM me on Twitter if you want me to.)
ReplyDeleteAnd that's SO AWESOME that you wrote that many words in one day! The thought of that is making my brain hurt, haha. I feel you on the slow writing thing. I'm a very slow writer, especially when I'm drafting.