Ready. Set. Write! Check-in June 29

Ready. Set. Write! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing.  This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Elodie Nowodazkij, and Katy Upperman. All the details are HERE. 

Also check out #RSWrite on twitter.

Now it's time for GOALS and CHECK IN!

1.  How I did on last week’s goals:

• More specific planning for new project. Character worksheet filled out, more notes.
• YES! I'm doing Camp NaNoWriMo starting July 1, so in lieu of diving in, I spent time doing prep work. I wrote first person journal type brainstorming in each of the main character's point of view. SUPER helpful. 
• Finish polishing WIP and send to either reader or agent.
• YES! I sent 2 chapters to a reader and waiting on that. We chatted via email and I made some changes. Soon to the agent :)
• Attend RWA meeting about crafting characters. Get ideas!
• YES! This was such a fun class taught by an instructor from Story Studio Chicago. One cool exercise we did was to describe 5 characteristics of a person we know, then we assigned a physical attribute to that quality. So an impatient woman might wear sloppy clothes. This was really fun and gave me ideas for my new story.
• I also met up at coffee shops twice this week with writers from my chapter. Yes, we spent time talking, but story questions and plot problems found resolution! 
• Finish reading current book and start another.
• YES! Finished P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, and now onto Tiny, Pretty, Things all about an elite ballet academy and backstabbing. Very Black Swan.
• Work in fitness classes 3-4 days this week (I've been slacking last 2 weeks) And back to using My Fitness Pal tracking.
• I did 2 classes at the gym and 1 night I met with a group of women to walk a 3 mile circuit on a wonderful park path by me. That was great because I got to catch up, some I haven't seen in a few years! I also tracked fitness/calories for all of the weekdays, but I usually end up trailing off on weekends.

2.  My goal(s) for this week:

• Start Camp NaNoWrimo! Very pumped to get this new story going. My code name title is YA Road Trip Story. My wordcount goal for July is 30k. This week I'd like to get 5-8k written (factoring in Friday day off from work, no planned meetings this week, and I already have notes that may add to my wordcount).
• Submit entry (completed WIP) to RWA chapter contest; deadline June 30
• Host the first #YARWAChat on twitter, Tuesday 6/30 9 pm EST. All of you reading are invited to jump in! Our first topic is romance in YA since we are a chapter from Romance Writers of America.
• Attend 3 classes at gym and/or 1-2 days of walking, biking, fitness video. Use My Fitness Pal for tracking during the week.

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised:

• A factor in my mostly-finished WIP I discovered is somewhat inaccurate after chatting with a reader/ subject matter expert. Finding a variety of readers is so important!

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week:

• Not starting my new project! I resisted diving into the story to get more planning down.

5.  Something I love about my WiP:

• The one I'm finishing is heartfelt and has a lot of potential. Even better it's basically done. ;)

Please share what you've been writing, reading, or plan to do for the next week. Don't forget to check the other blogs linked above and provide support!

Friday Fun: Ebook Deals, Summer TV, YouTube

Happy Friday everyone. How was your week?

First, before the fun stuff, I want to recognize the nine people whose lives were taken in a Charleston church last week. It's a horrible tragedy, but I sadly can't say it's unthinkable. The U.S. is politically divided with deeply entrenched racism that threatens the daily lives of African Americans. We need to work as a nation to address this toxic racism. I urge you to be an ally and support the voices who need to be heard.

If you feel led to support the Charleston AME church, they have a donation button on their website. You can also donate to Charleston Public Library. One of the victims of the massacre was a librarian. Libraries are cornerstones of communities that do far more than supply books.

Ebook Deals Round-up:

So you might already know about BookBub and Read Cheaply (and if you don't, what are you waiting for? Get customized ebook deal alerts emailed to your liking!), but did you know some bloggers do the work for you by gathering deals too?

The Book Vixen: Kindle Deals and Freebies These are $2.99 or lower deals on romance and all subgenres, and some YA and mainstream non-genre fiction. Updated once a week.

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books: Books on Sale (archive)I think these are compiled at least weekly. You can also sign up for the weekly deal alert newsletter. These are romance and related subgenre and some YA.

Summer TV:

I watched two new summer shows this week:

Another Period on Comedy Central is like Downton Abbey meets Real Housewives with a cast of seasoned comedians and up-and-comers. Fans of The State and Drunk History will see familiar faces. Bonus: Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome who star as spoiled rotten wealthy sisters also create, write, and produce. Go women!

Mr. Robot on USA, Hulu: the hubz saw this early on Hulu and sort of freaked out. It's basically Chosen One wish fulfillment for the Reddit crowd, where a socially inept hacker is discovered and offered the opportunity to start a revolution. Bonus: person of color lead, artistic filmmaking, and a show that takes its time with a highly introverted main character.

YouTube:

Do you know about the Whiskey, Wine, & Writing videos? I will probably get the origins wrong, but I first found out about this last year as part of Pitch Wars. Writers/bloggers use this format to chat about publishing, writing, and you know, sometimes alcoholic beverages. Here's a recent ep featuring author Rachel Caine:



Watch adorably snarky puppets celebrate 10 years of YouTube:



Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Please leave a comment, I love to hear from you!

Ready. Set. Write! Update

Ready. Set. Write! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing.  This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Elodie Nowodazkij, and Katy Upperman. All the details are HERE. 

Also check out #RSWrite on twitter.

Now it's time for GOALS and CHECK IN!

1.  How I did on last week’s goals:

• Complete critique group reading. Implement changes to chapter sent for review.
• YES all complete! And critique group really helped. Plus, a member of my group just had a manuscript final in a prestigious RWA chapter contest, The Maggies! 
• More brainstorming, outlining, planning/prep for Shiny New Project.  
• YES! More notes and brainstorming after reading a writing craft book.
• Sign up for Camp Nanowrimo in July. Plan a wordcount goal for July.
• YES! Signed up. 30k planned. Anyone else doing Camp Nano and want to put together a cabin with me?
• Query Kombat commenting (I'm a judge for this online pitch contest going on now)
• YES! Lots of great entries in QK. Bonus: flexing my query critiquing muscles is always helpful to my own writing.

2.  My goal(s) for this week:

• More specific planning for new project. Character worksheet filled out, more notes.
• Finish polishing WIP and send to either reader or agent.
• Attend RWA meeting about crafting characters. Get ideas!
• Finish reading current book and start another.
• Work in fitness classes 3-4 days this week (I've been slacking last 2 weeks) And back to using My Fitness Pal tracking.

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised:

• This relates to a quote about not blocking the whole sky with the palm of your hand:
• My sky is letting what needs to break, break, and to live each day, cracks and all.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week:

• Getting the right rhythm to a pivotal scene.

5.  Something I love about my WiP:

• Some scenes really come together! Proud of that even though I have mixed feelings about this manuscript (probably too close to it; overworked).

Please share what you've been writing, reading, or plan to do for the next week. Don't forget to check the other blogs linked above and provide support!

Clara Kensie's Deception So Deadly

Today I'm sharing about Clara Kensie's 2015 RITA Award nominated YA suspense series: Deception So Deadly. Originally released as a serial series beginning with Run to You, the whole series is now together into two volumes.

DECEPTION SO DEADLY (Run to You Book One)

by Clara Kensie 

Release Date: 05/01/15

Harlequin Teen

325 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Deception So Deadly is the complete first novel in the two-book Run to You series, a riveting romantic thriller about a family on the run from a deadly past and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…

Sarah Spencer has a secret: her real name is Tessa Carson, and to stay alive, she can tell no one the truth about her psychically gifted family and the danger they are running from. As the new girl in the latest of countless schools, she also runs from her attraction to Tristan Walker—after all, she can't even tell him her real name. But Tristan won't be put off by a few secrets. Not even dangerous ones that might rip Tessa from his arms before they even kiss…

Run to You is Tessa and Tristan's story—two full-length books about psychic gifts, secret lives and dangerous loves. Danger. Deception. Betrayal. It must be true love.

My Review:

What I love most about this book is the pacing. The action starts from the very first page, and even with action slows down, there is always an underlying tension since the family is on the run, It's not a book that stops to explain very often, so you have to just go with it and trust that the details will be revealed as the story progresses. 

In a new town and new school once again, Tessa is conflicted about letting herself get close to a boy she meets on the running trail near her house. While her older sister flirts and dates without shame, she's seen the heartbreak it caused when their family had to flee. Tessa's identity changes frequently due to her family relocating whenever the mysterious man hunting her family gets close to finding them, all due to Tessa's family's psychic and telekinetic abilities. All abilities Tessa doesn't have herself. There are no goodbyes in their world. Only new identities, hotels and rental homes paid in cash, and fires set to their old belongings.

Only this time is different. Tristan is trustworthy--it's just Tessa can't tell her family that. Soon she discovers trusting Tristan was a huge mistake. Or, is it her own family she put her faith in who have failed her most?

So many twists here! I recommend this for a fast paced, suspenseful read. 

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│iBooks

About the Author:

Clara Kensie grew up near Chicago, reading every book she could find and using her diary to write stories about a girl with psychic powers who solved mysteries. She purposely did not hide her diary, hoping someone would read it and assume she was writing about herself. Since then, she’s swapped her diary for a computer and admits her characters are fictional, but otherwise she hasn’t changed one bit.

Today Clara is the author of dark fiction for young adults. Her debut series is the romantic thriller RUN TO YOU: Deception So Deadly and Deception So Dark.

Her favorite foods are guacamole and cookie dough. But not together. That would be gross.

Find Clara online:

Website   Twitter   Facebook   Tumblr   Instagram   Goodreads  Newsletter

Find the RUN TO YOU series at your favorite e-tailers, including:

Amazon   B&N   iBooks   Google Play Books   Harlequin   Kobo

Ready. Set. Write! Check In

Ready. Set. Write! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing.  This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Elodie Nowodazkij, and Katy Upperman. All the details are HERE. 

Also check out #RSWrite on twitter.

Now it's time for GOALS and CHECK IN!

1.  How I did on last week’s goals:

• Finish last details on The Revision That Won't Die. Send it off to either another reader or to agent. It just needs to leave my sight. 
• YES! I finished! I wrote the last scene. What I sent off so far is a key scene to my critique group who meets this week. Then, either send to agent/reader.
• Brainstorm SHINY NEW PROJECT! It's a YA contemporary *likely* with 3 character points of view. I'd like to draft initial character goals and arcs, attempt to use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet (every project I try; every project I abandon it). Scribble in my cheapie story notebook to get ideas more fully formed.
• I didn't get as far as character or beat sheets, but I wrote two pages of notes on the characters. Also, I determined something really cool and geeky and awesome in how I'm going to write this novel. SUPER EXCITED. 
• Finish at least 1-2 of the 5+ books I have started.
• YES! I finished Jane Eyre which I've been reading since April or so, and finished another book and read a graphic novel.

2.  My goal(s) for this week:

• Complete critique group reading. Implement changes to chapter sent for review.
• More brainstorming, outlining, planning/prep for Shiny New Project. 
• Sign up for Camp Nanowrimo in July. Plan a wordcount goal for July.
• Query Kombat commenting (I'm a judge for this online pitch contest going on now)

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised:

• Final snapshot. Here are some fun images from my Pinterest inspiration board for the story.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week:

• Summarizing a whole novel and theme into an ending shot that feels satisfying.

5.  Something I love about my WiP:

• I'm done writing it :) For now. So ready to be on to the next.

Please share what you've been writing, reading, or plan to do for the next week. Don't forget to check the other blogs linked above and provide support!

Friday Fun: Reading Lists, YouTube, Links

Happy Friday!

First, it's Summer Reading List Check-in. Not too late to join in with YABuccaneers.
I probably won't do a blog check in each week, but to get started I thought it would be fun to show the progress:

Freebie: The Art of Falling by Jenny Kasczorowski (YA contemporary--art, friends, family)
Road Trip Book: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson (YA contemporary)
Rory Gilmore Book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (finally! I finished!)

Links

Writers: Kristen Lamb's Warrior Writer blog has a fantastic writing series going on. Here's a link to part one of Writing Deep Point of View.

Food For Thought; The downside of fandom; MTV.com interview with authors Cassandra Clare and Maggie Stiefvater where they discuss fan expectations, angry threats (!), and the divisiveness of intense fandom. Also, the difference between perception of women in media and men. It's a great interview. (Credit to Forever Young Adult for point it out.)

YouTube

I've been surfing around YouTube lately and thought I'd share any fun videos and channels I've found. There's a whole world of book bloggers on the 'Tube. Here's an immensely popular blogger, Jesse the Reader. Follow him if you want the scoop on YA fiction. He's a pro!

He shares his experience from Book Expo America's fan day, which is like Christmas for book bloggers and fans. Advanced Reader Copy books by the bucketfull.



Enjoy the weekend, lovelies. I'm off to see Jurassic World in 3D IMAX in a few hours :) I've missed so many great movies in the theatre the past year (book writing has its sacrifices), so making up for that time with the biggest dino explosion movie EVAR.

Check out some of these links or just let me know what you're reading! <3 comments :)

Ready. Set. Write! Goals

Coming in a day late here. Ready. Set. Write! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing.  This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Elodie Nowodazkij, and Katy Upperman. All the details are HERE. Also check out #RSWrite on twitter.

I'm doing this again because goal setting with my writing WORKS. Did you know books don't get written by themselves? I also discovered this unsettling fact. And the harsh reality is, this genius, blooming idea I have is not going anywhere unless I type those words into a document. And given the recent announcement from Bethesda games that Fallout 4 is coming, and probably this fall, the countdown clock has begun.

Goals for the Summer:

• SHINY NEW PROJECT! If RSW is through the end of August, I'd love to have a rough first draft completed. OR at least 35k - 55k words drafted.
• Participate in Camp Nanowrimo for word count goals and motivation/support
• Revisions for contracted work (waiting on these, so I'll need to make plans/deadlines once I know what the editor wants. (Squee!))
• Summer Reading Challenge YA Buccaneers
• Maintain my regular fitness classes each week and add in walking and biking

Goals for this Week:

• Finish last details on The Revision That Won't Die. Send it off to either another reader or to agent. It just needs to leave my sight.
• Brainstorm SHINY NEW PROJECT! It's a YA contemporary *likely* with 3 character points of view. I'd like to draft initial character goals and arcs, attempt to use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet (every project I try; every project I abandon it). Scribble in my cheapie story notebook to get ideas more fully formed.
• Finish at least 1-2 of the 5+ books I have started.

The World of Wattpad: Tell Me What You Know!

Let's talk Wattpad. I'm new.

Help.


(In the above scenario, I am the little kitty slipping backward down the slide). 

So I'm registered for Wattpad--a website that's all about free reading and sharing your writing--and have already found a few familiar authors who have partials of their published work posted, or new material. I've tagged some fanfic (Supernatural, in case you were wondering) and have been browsing all the pretty profiles.

Are any of you fans of Wattpad? Reader or author, either way, I'd love to know how you use Wattpad, who you connect with, and what you post.

For those more newb than me, here is a link to Wattpad's About Page.

And here's my profile in case you want to friend me! Wattpad User Stephsco

Please share All The Things Wattpad with me!

Summer Reading Check-in!

What's summer without an organized, bingo-themed reading challenge check-off?

It's nothing!

Joint YA Buccanneers for their Summer Reading List and check in each week with a blog post, or tweet using the #YABSummerReads tag:

Road Trip Book
I'm midway through Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Set on a Different Continent
I have 100 pages left of Jane Eyre, which I already started prior to the challenge, but I'm eager to finish.



Recommendation:

What I read this week that I'll use for my Freebie is The Art of Falling by Jenny Kaczorowski. It's all about upturning stereotypes, and what happens when the artistic vegan punk falls for the preppy jock. Plus, lots of layered friendship and family issues, which I love in YA!


Feel free to share your summer reads and/or tag on twitter #YABSummerReads

Insecure Writers Support Group JUNE 3

Welcome to Insecure Writer's Support Group, where we all confess we don't have the biz figured out and commiserate together. For more mental support, check out the IWSG Facebook page.

It may be time for me to move on from Blogger. I'm embarking on creating a website, and possibly keeping this blog as a link from the site. I say "possibly" because I'm a bit overwhelmed. There are SO MANY options for how and what my site will look like. Right now I'm thinking a Squarespace site and either designing myself or looking into a designer for branding: font choice, custom image.

Sometimes I think writing is the easier part in all of this.

So writers, tell me which websites are your favorite--design-wise, content-wise. This could be an author site or something else. If you have any advice about what works for you and your own website, feel free to share, along with a link so I can visit!

If you're feeling charitable and interested in updates, go ahead and Like my brand new author Facebook page here: 
Stephanie Scott, Young Adult Author page

Make sure to stop by a few participating IWSG blogs linked here.