Wednesday, June 26, 2013

What's Up Wednesday & Ready Set Write


It's Wednesday already! I'm checking in for Ready. Set. Write! (details in the link) along with what's been going on over the week.

What I've Been Reading

Well, writing wasn't going so well this week--I had one of those slumps where the plot holes I haven't yet figured out really stalled my progress. So instead of writing for most of the week, I read two really great books:

Just One Day (Just One Day, #1) 
Just One Day by Gayle Forman
THIS BOOK! The author is now solidy on my favorites list. She wrote a love story that is not really about the boy, which was so inspiring to me. This book starts out like a lot of YA, but it goes pretty deep. Parts of this were tough to get through, only because the character is depressed and not able to shake it, and I just hurt for her. So much of this story that could seem cliche or toss-away was explored, characters that could have been one-note were not. Such a great example of how complex YA fiction can be.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kahling

This ended up being one of my favorite memoirs. Mindy was a head writer for The Office and she now has her own NBC show The Mindy Project (which I have the entire season save for the first episode unwatched on my DVR). She talks about growing up with immigrant professional working parents who while strict still nurtured her artistic side, being bullied as a fat kid by an exchange student who everyone was afraid of offending, and discrimination as a woman writing comedy, all with a breeziness that does not elicit sympathy, but instead is quite empowering. You want to cry with her when a magazine shoot specifically for her only offers up size 0 samples, but she tells it in such a funny way, you don't pity her. (she also says this was her rare diva moment where she told the stylist to make it work and promptly picked out her favorite size 0 sample and had them affix a back panel  to make it fit, at least for the camera). I was highly amused how several times she names a rivalry with Rainn Wilson, Dwight from The Office, and never says "oh just kidding." I'm sure she is, but it's really funny how she seeds it in what an egomaniac Rainn is and never follows up with examples. Like an inside joke, which is subtle enough to be really, really funny. I totally want to hang out with her after reading this.


What I'm Writing

Not all a lost cause: I did end up acheiving my writing goals for the week. I caught up editing about 4 chapters of my current project, liberally noting [issues] within brackets that I can easily search for later to fill in. I don't like this in-between draft where I'm polishing stuff but I still have plot issues to work out. This is the part when Writing is Hard.

I also did some intel on a new retelling of a classic movie. I hate to be all hush hush but well, TRADE SECRETS! (Not really). It's so fun coming up with ideas, and I even wrote some very rough intro lines, but that's the fun part of writing--coming up with characters and setting and what you want to do with the story.

For next week's goals, I'd like to:

  • Continue revising WIP (untitled YA contemporary story) 4-5 chapters
  • Brainstorm how to work through my plot issues--I may need to reconsider one of my central conflicts. At the very least, define the motivation more clearly
  • Write rough general outline of new WIP (untitled YA which I will covertly name Project Audrey)
  • Recruit a writer or two to brainstorm ideas with for new project

I don't tend to be much of an outliner. I mean, I've already written the first page of my new project and I haven't even named the characters yet. But I do want to get some ideas solidifed to see how my concept will work.

What Else I've Been Up To

My husband helped re-design my blog to look a little more customized than generic Blogger options and I now have my custom domain name pointing to my blog (yay!). Things I've been meaning to do for awhile. I wanted to get that done before making business cards that I've been told I will need for hob-nobbing at RWA Nationals and the Midwest Writers Workshop next month. And when I say next month, that's really next week, and all of it is creeping up pretty quick.

What's up with you, readers? Read any good books? Do you watch The Mindy Project, and do you like it? Do you have reading or writing goals?

23 comments:

  1. slumps are a given in this line of work, but it doesn't make them any easier, but I'm excited that you still were able to reach your goal. And I really want to read Mindy Kaling's book, I adore her!

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  2. I love your blog's design! It's awesome, especially the header! :D

    Good luck with all your goals!

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  3. Your blog looks great! I also want to read Mindy's book, it sounds hilarious. Good luck with your writing!

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  4. I love your header! So cool and retro. It totally goes with the description of your book in your about section.

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    1. Thanks! That was the goal :) I appreciate the feedback.

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  5. Congrats on making your goals! I'd like to read Mindy's book. I do watch the Mindy Project from time to time and it always makes me laugh.

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  6. I hate plot hole writing slumps. I started off the week going through that too. I'm glad you managed to reach your weekly goal in spite of that though. Hope things go smoothly in the writing department this week! Oh, and your new blog design looks great! Love the fun astronaut header!

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  7. Oh, JUST ONE DAY! That's the book I keep forgetting to get. I've heard so much good buzz about it but can never remember the name when time comes to order.

    Your super-secret-classic-movie-retelling sounds AWESOME even without knowing what movie it is. Is that the Audrey project, or is that something else? *raises eyebrow*

    Best of luck with your continued revisions and outline this week!

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    1. Yes, the Audrey Project is the classic movie retelling. It's definitely a challenge to take existing themes and ideas and spin them in a modern way. It's almost easier to invent something entirely new, I'm discovering...

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  8. Mindy's book sounds like the kind of thing I'd enjoy. I love reading memoirs.

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  9. Loving your blog's new look! You and your hubby did a fantastic job! JUST ONE DAY is one of my favorite reads so far this year. I totally related to Allyson and her first-year-of-college issues. I can't wait to read JUST ONE YEAR! Best of luck with your revisions and writing this week. It sounds like you've got plenty to keep you busy, and I can't wait to see how it goes when I check in next week. :-)

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    1. I was so excited to see a companion book is in the works. I just bought Where She Went since I hadn't read the follow up to If I Stay, which I also loved. I'm trying to cram in as much writing stuff as I can in the next few weeks before I take off on my various July trips.

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  10. Love your header!

    The Mindy Kahling book sounds great, brilliant title too!

    Good Luck with your writing goals! The Audrey Project has me wondering what film you're thinking of :)

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  11. I'm SO curious about your new project! And I personally love the brainstorming period. Good luck with your writing goals this week!

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  12. I love the new look, Stephanie! That vintage female in the spacesuit is great. :)

    You know, I've heard a lot about Mindy Kaling's book, but I still haven't read it yet. It sounds like something I'd love. I watched the first few episodes of her show on a plane to New York and really enjoyed it. But then I kind of forgot about it. Whoops!

    Happy to hear that your writing is coming along well. I'm especially excited about new project. New projects are wonderful. I have to say that planning is one of my all-time favourite parts of the process. Have fun!

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  13. Man, I wish I could figure out how to do that stuff to my blog.

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  14. I really liked IF I STAY. I didn't care as much for the next one and I haven't tried JUST ONE DAY. I've read a few books lately that I liked but didn't love. Hoping to change that soon! :)

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  15. Oh I love the Mindy Project. To me it's really funny. All the characters are great and they have their own story lines which I love to see on TV. Besides Mindy, Morgan and Jeremy are probably my favorite characters on the show. You should totally watch it! I listened to her memoir which is hilarious! Mindy narrates the book which is awesome, it's like she's telling me her story. I'm with you, I want to be her best friend! Good luck with your writing goals for the week! Have a great weekend!

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  16. Mindy Kahling is funny and smart, and so is her TV show, The Mindy Project. I give high praise to IF I STAY. It's one of my favorite books. JUST ONE DAY is on my "to read" list.

    I like the new blog layout and design. It looks inviting and easy on the eyes. :)

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  17. YAY for Gayle Forman love! I also adored Just One Day, even though it was at times frustrating. I just connected so much with the character and what she was going through. I can't wait for the companion book. I definitely recommend Gayle Forman's IF I STAY, which is also a love story that doesn't just focus on the love story. It's quite lovely. I still haven't read the sequel to that yet, but I keep hearing that it's even better than the first!

    Congrats on you meeting your writing goals! I'm a pantser too, but I'd also like to get into the habit of outlining. I think it kind of helps to know where I'm going, haha. Also, HAVE FUN at the RWA and Workshop! Seems like you've got a lot of stuff on your plate too!

    It's always nice to meet another reader/writer/fellow geek and Tom Hiddleston fan! :)

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  18. I like your blog though I didn't see the old one. Either way, it looks great. I've been thinking about doing the custom domain name, too. I'm going to check out Mindy's book. I haven't seen her new show, but I loved the office, and the book sounds great! Good luck with your goals this next week. I'm not much of an outliner either.

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  19. Ah, I'm dying to read Gayle's new book. Thanks for your quick review! I'll be sure to pick it up. Good luck with your goals next week! Sometimes I really think we need to hold/marinate/keep still instead of trying to push through plot issues. Hope you connect those dots soon! :)

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