Link your post here.
What I'm Reading
Finished up Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky on audio book. This is women's fiction at its best, about a group of women coming to terms with their teenage daughter's pregnancy pact. Yeah--whoa! This was my first book by the author and I will definitely read more of her books. If you're a fan of Jodi Picoult, I think you would like her work.
I always have to have an audio book going, so I picked up Judy Blume's Tiger Eyes, which I've never read. I missed the film this summer, so I'll have to wait for the DVD.
What I'm Writing
Ready. Set. Write! update (click here for details)
So, I'm pretty excited about this. Last week my update was that I wrote 2,000 words to start my new project, and my goal for the next week was to write every day. Something clicked for me and I'm up to... 20,000 words! I managed to write 18k words this week. Yeah!
To accomplish this, I ignored coworkers during my lunch break, stayed late a few days to write to use up some extra time before heading to the gym, and used my work from home days to my advantage where my time is more flexible (no commute, lunch at home). Plus last weekend was my first weekend home since the end of June, so I wanted to be there and not anywhere else (though I saw The Heat and it was super funny and rather crass. Melissa McCarthy is awesome.).
What Inspires Me
You all! My goal to write every day, well it sure helped, and I wouldn't have been as motivated on my own. So thank you! I wouldn't have racked up 20k words if I'd just saved my writing time for the weekend.
Also, I'm back on the WriteOnCon forums chatting with other writers and commenting/critiquing queries and first pages. Next week is the free online conference focused on kidlit (picture book, MG, YA, and this year New Adult (not kidlit but... well, NA is kind of it's own growing thing I suppose)). WriteOnCon helped me out a lot in past years. To think, last August I was tweaking my query, and this year that same book is in publisher's hands! (think good thoughts for me!)
What Else I've Been Up To
A month of traveling and vacations sent me off my routine, and I can feel a few extra pounds which I am not a fan of. So I'm back on the My Fitness Pal app to monitor what I'm eating and how much I'm exercising. I tend to lose interest in tracking all that, but it really helps. I'm especially motivated to add that exercise in (so I can consume more daily calories, duh!). I usually make it to the gym once or twice a week, and this week I'm aiming for 4 days to get back on track. Yesterday I returned to Spinning class, I used to go once a week, but I've changed it up for other classes. It's so hard at first but worth it.
Please leave a comment and let me know how your week's writing, reading, or summer happenings. Don't forget to check the other blogs linked at the What's Up Wednesday post!
Posts
Omg - 18K!?!?!?! That's AMAZING! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll see you on the writeoncon forums. I will probably post my stuff this weekend. Very excited about the conference - always so many inspiring and helpful posts!
I'm going to add that Delinsky book to my TBR list...unless it's already there, which is possible. :)
ReplyDeleteWell done on all the writing and getting back to the gym! Very inspiring! :)
18,000 words is phenomenal, Stephanie! Go you! I've often wondered whether I could kick a story's butt if I carved more time out of the day for writing. You know, instead of watching TV and getting sucked into the big ole interwebz vortex. I'm definitely inspired by your writing week! And everyone talking about the exercise they're getting is making me feel like I need to get up off my butt and follow suit. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSome weeks I write very little. I am not consistent at all :)
DeleteCongrats on hitting 20k words so fast. There is nothing better than starting a new project and getting so sucked into it that you don't want to do anything but write. Here's to hoping you can keep the momentum going as you get deeper into the story!
ReplyDeleteWow, congrats on 18K in one week! You are on fire!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd WriteOnCon really snuck up on me this year. How has it been a year already?!!
Congrats on hitting 20k so fast! That's impressive!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on hitting 18k! That's awesome ^_^
ReplyDeleteI loved WriteOnCon last year. Oooh, good luck to you with publishers! Even if it didn't land me an agent, it helped me tweak things here and there. I'm really hoping I can find the time to take part this year.
There's a spinning class at the pool I go to, but I think I'll stick with swimming ;)
Wow! 18k is amazing! Your keyboard must be smoking :)
ReplyDeleteWriteOnCon is shooting up on me too fast this year. Seems to happen every year, but it is an amazing thing.
Hope this week is as great as your last one!
Wow 18k in a week! You are my inspiration! I must plan my time better, instead of wasting time in Tumblr!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your return to exercise too. I've run 3 times this week and I do enjoy having done it :)
Stephanie, your word count blows me away! This is such good news, yay! I bet your brain is a little fried, but the good kind of fried that results from mind-bending accomplishments. I too have been trying to exercise more frequently (two to three days a week) because otherwise I feel slouchy. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDelete18000k in one week is incredible! I don't think I've ever had a week that productive. Hope the inspiration continues this week!
ReplyDeleteI thought of doing Write On Con this year, but it fell at a really bad time for me, so I had to opt out. Best of luck with writing, the new exercise regime, and with the ms that the publisher's have. Crossing my fingers for you on that last one!
I am impressed by your time management skills!It's been a looooong time since I wrote 18k in 1 week. See you at WriteOnCon!
ReplyDeleteAwesome word count for the week, Stephanie! Well done!! I'm glad so many of my blog friends are participating in WOC this year. I'm not quite ready to post anything to the forums, but I hope to after the weekend. I look forward to seeing you around. And please offer your thoughts on the work I submit. I'm really hoping to get some good feedback before I revise again and send to beta readers.
ReplyDeleteI'm not submitting either, but reading when I can and commenting. Trying to be helpful if possible :)
DeleteThat's a great output for one writing week! When you're really feeling a project, it's like the book is writing you instead of you writing the book. I think I'll be at WriteOnCon again this year, just to see what other unpublished writers have in the historical genre. Last year, it gave me some hope that serious historicals are still being written in YA, in spite of the prevalence of other genres.
ReplyDeleteGo you with that crazy word count! Also, way to go for putting writing as your top priority! That's definitely something I need to work on as laziness usually wins out for me. :P
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of laziness, I need to get back on my exercise routine too! I've been traveling and doing fun stuff these last few weeks too and it has totally thrown off my gym schedule. Unfortunately, I'm still not back on it. Fortunately, Comic Con actually caused me to lose a pound or two (probably from erratic eating + lots of walking). I'm sure I've gained them all back by now though. Eeesh. But your dedication is inspiring me to get it together and get back out there! Thanks! :)
Congrats on blowing your word count goal out of the water. 18k…you were on fire!
ReplyDeleteI'm joining WriteOnCon, too. User name Natasha Hanova if you want to friend me. :-) Congrats on landing a book deal, BTW.
Keep on exercising and writing!
No book deal yet, but crossing my fingers. I'm on the WOC boards now so I'll look for you!
Delete18,000 words in a week?? HOLY FREAKING COW! You are a wonder woman!! Go get yourself something awesome because you rock!
ReplyDelete