It's time for 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'm happily back to reading again! I read Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard, which is a fantastic historical-paranormal with zombies. I also read Incarnate by Jodi Meadows, which is fabulous - really unique and original worldbuilding. I've ordered the second book already!
I also read The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. It's a really gripping YA dystopian with an awesome paranormal twist!
Now I'm reading The Oathbreaker's Shadow by Amy McCulloch, another YA fantasy with excellent worldbuilding.
What I'm writing
It's such a relief to be writing again! I finished the short story I was working on, aka shiny secret micro-project! I say "secret" because I'm not 100% sure what to do with it yet. It's 6000 words long and related to the Darkworld series, so that's a big clue. But once I've got feedback, I'll be able to talk about it more! :)
And I'm carrying on with my artsy YA urban fantasy. ^_^ As I'm mired in the Evil Middle of the draft, every day has been a battle with the blank page and I've only added 5000 words to it this month thanks to the Plague. *hangs head* I'm determined to meet my Ready. Set. Write! goal this week, though!
What inspires me
Feeling almost normal again! Wheeeeeee! :D
Also, this post on Janice Hardy's blog. While I don't self-publish (yet!), the tips are so helpful for all authors - particularly about avoiding triggers for self-doubt post-publication (*cough reviews cough*), keeping a "feel-good file" or email folder (I actually have some nice reviews and positive things stuck on my walls to keep me motivated!), and remembering WHY you write. Great advice all around!
Other awesome posts, including this one about how being published doesn't automatically fill you with self-confidence (I can attest to that!); this superb post from Martina Boone about what she learned before getting an agent; and this very relatable post about the struggles of the querying writer!What else I've been up to
Enjoying the sun! :) Until the thunderstorms came back. Ah, British summer...
I've also been re-watching Doctor Who and anime! Puella Magi Madoka Magica, which Miss Cole recommended to me a while ago (and which is amazing and broke my heart), and Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood (which is always awesome).^_^
And I received an email containing something very shiny and (*whispers*) book-cover-shaped. Or possibly several somethings. And yes, I will be sharing them. In good time. *evil writer laugh*
(I'm just waiting for confirmation on something from my publishers. I wouldn't be that cruel for no reason! ;) )
Madoka is amazing, isn't it? It hurts so much, and yet I rewatch it all the time because it has such a powerful story.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I am in awe of all the projects you're balancing. And you managed to get a ton of reading done, too. Wow!
Have a great week :D
oooh...shiny, secret book-covered shaped things - now I'm curious :)
ReplyDeleteINCARNATE is one of those series I need to finish, I'm hoping to this summer.
Glad you're feeling better! And for someone who was recently under the weather, you are getting a ton of stuff done. Go you!
ReplyDeleteAnd way to tease people with you cover-shaped hints. :)
Hope you have a great week!
Congrats for getting back to reading and writing! Ooo, the shiny, secret book cover shaped thing has piqued my curiosity. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't started Something Strange & Deadly, but it's on the top of my TBR pile. Congrats on finishing your short story. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed SS&D, so I'm glad I'm you did too, Emma. That Pub Hub article about the query trenches is absolutely spot on. That's exactly where I am, waiting for responses, and trying to keep a good perspective on the rejections. As for the next project, I was in the same quandary as the writer trying to pick one to work on next. In the end the decision was made for me because one project's first chapter came together in my head, and it had all the right elements: introduced characters, set up the novel, and had action. It really could be a great opening chapter to the novel. If the rest of the plot comes together as well, this could be my next novel. And it'll be VERY different to the one I'm querying.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Shiny book-cover shaped things are very exciting! There is never a wrong time for a Doctor Who rewatch. I'm well overdue for one myself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about Something Strange and Deadly. I have that on my Kindle and haven't gotten around to reading it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for the writing links.
That's a lovely picture. I want a green pathway like that near me! I freaking live on a black mountain the middle of the Vegas desert!
ReplyDeleteRe-watching Doctor Who is always a wonderful thing to do. I love that show so much! You got a lot of reading done and it looks like they were all great books. I have had Something Strange And Deadly on my Kindle for a long LONG time and I haven't gotten around to read it, so I'll definitely have to get to that.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeling better and YAY for book-cover shaped things. I can't wait to hear about it. :)
Sounds like you're having a great week all around. :-) Lots of reading and writing and a little bit of sunshine. I need to reread both SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY and INCARNATE so I can continue on with the rest of the series. I've also had THE DARKEST MINDS sitting on my shelf for ages now and need to get to it. Can't wait to see these several somethings, specifically the book-shaped one! :D
ReplyDelete5000 words is better than nothing! I wouldn't hang my head over that.
ReplyDeleteThat email sounds like an exciting gift. Yay!
Cole - Thanks for recommending the series to me! :)
ReplyDeleteJennifer - I need to order the third book, too! (And all in good time! ;) )
Kris - Thank you! Hehehe.
Cherie - Thanks! Hope I can share it soon!
Leslie - Thank you! Hope you enjoy SS&D.
Colin - It's such a great post, isn't it! I hope the rest of your plot comes together soon. :)
Rachael - It's been too long, so I figured I could do worse when I was stuck in bed with the plague all day! :P
Ken - No problem! :)
Jessie - Thank you! It's actually my back garden. I wish the nice weather was back, though!
Raven - Thank you! SS&D is definitely worth a read! :)
Jaime - It has been a nice week! :) My copy of ASUNDER arrived yesterday, so I can't wait to dive in!
Loni - Very true! I'm behind on my goals, but it's still progress! :)
Yay for recovery!
ReplyDeleteI have Incarnate on my TBR list. :)
5000 words is great in a month filled with the plague! I'm positive you'll make your goal for the week. ^_^ I can't wait for the shiny email news!
So glad you're on the mend! Being sick AND mired in the Evil Middle of your WIP would be doubly exhausting. Good luck in the drafting trenches! I'm hoping to start drafting again sometime soon, so I'll be battling the blank page too. Even with an outline that's daunting. Also, congrats on finishing your secret micro-project! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYay for book covers and feeling normal again! Ah, I was tweeting with Miss Cole about FMA because I haven't seen the Brotherhood series. I ought to get on that.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your RSW goals for the week!
Re: movies - I hope you get to watch one or both TFiOS or HTTYD2 soon! I recommend tissues for the first, but I think you knew that. :) And yeah, I was so surprised when I was approved for Heir of Fire. I'm trying not to read it all too fast, but as expected, it is very addictive!
Ah, INCARNATE has been on my TBR list forever! One of these days. :) Happy to hear you're feeling "normal" - you don't know how good that feels until you've had to do without it for a while, right?! Congrats on finishing the secret micro-project. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKrystal - Thank you! :) (And thanks again for reading my MG fantasy! ^^)
ReplyDeleteErin - Thanks! Best of luck with your own battles against the blank page!
Krispy - Do! Brotherhood is fabulous (and I personally prefer it to the original because it follows the manga :))
I hope I do, too! I'll be ordering HoF as soon as it's available!
Kitty - Thank you! :) Yes, I'm super-grateful to be able to do ordinary things again!
I loved Madoka Magica, and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is my all time favourite anime. Good choices!
ReplyDeleteBooks! So fun! I read SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY - love the zombies + historical thing. And Susan Dennard is so cool. INCARNATE was good too ... but now I can't remember if I read the sequel ... so I guess I'll just have to re-read that. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you're feeling better. Best of luck with your writing goals!
Hello Emma and happy Friday! Nice to meet you! Kudos on writing again. And I hope the storms subside soon. We've been having a lot of storms of late here in my neck of the woods. I really need to see Dr. Who. Everyone raves about it!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day :) Carpe Diem!
Great set of links. SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY sounds like a book I'd enjoy. What's one more book to add on my growing list of titles to read. Thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteUghhhhh middle parts of drafts are my nemesis. Hopefully you get through it soon so you can move on to more fun things!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've got your MS penciled in for this week, so you should finally be getting that back soon now that my mini-vacations are all over :)