Week in Review – 2013/05/27 – 2013/06/02

WRITING:

JuNoWriMo and Kiwi Writers SoCNoC are off to a good start. I’ve been posting word count updates on Twitter using the #JuNoWriMo and #SoCNoC hashtags. Great people chugging along doing sprints and giving each other support.

Fractured Fairytale Series Word Count: 6,752 words

READING:

I’m enjoying DREAMLANDER by the fabulous K.M. Weiland. It’s a testament as to why I keep going back to her writing blog and podcasts. As I know my word counts might suffer this week (though I love the Keysmashing Tots and I don’t consider it a loss), I’ll comb through my TBR list to find a second book to read so I can hack into as many books as I can for the 30 Books in 90 Days Challenge.

BLOGGING:

I believe I’m all caught up on my blog comments. WordPress ate my initial round. Aside from today’s #ROW80 post, I’ll be checking in with the lovely #wipmadness community tomorrow on Kim Baccellia’s blog.

It’s June, people. We’re past the halfway mark, the Mid-Point of the story that is 2013, if you will. Let’s make it a good one!

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June Writing/Reading Goals

Say hello to 2013, Part Two.

Half the year gone already? It’s unreal. To keep me grounded in the harsh reality of the quasi-masochistic writing life I’ve got some intense goals lined up for the month of June.

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(via http://bit.ly/1aMeINy)

WRITING:

1) JuNoWriMoLike Camp NaNoWriMo but not in April or July. Go fig. I’ve written at length of how awesome WriMos are so this is self-explanatory–and exciting. I can’t believe it’s already Day 01 and I’m here gushing about it instead of writing my novel!

2) Kiwi Writers SoCNoC. Southern Cross Novel Challenge. Much like JuNoWriMo, which is much like Camp NaNoWriMo… well, you get the idea… I’m not a Kiwi but they’ve welcomed me into the fold just the same. The SoCNoC also has mini-challenges throughout the month such as 6K in a day or for those who can’t complete 50K in a month, they can do 25K. Considering the next challenge below, I don’t think this will be an issue.

3) 25,000 Words in 7 Days. June 10th to June 16th. Last time I nearly reached 100 pages in 7 Days. Since I’m doing triple-duty for my Fractured Fairy Tale Series this month, I’m sure this’ll be a cakewalk, right? Here’s to hoping.

4) WRITE YOUR NOVEL THIS SUMMERJune 21st to September 21st. This will serve as a nice crossover into July’s Camp NaNoWriMo and yes, there’s a JulNoWriMo and an AugNoWriMo in my future. Go big or go home.

5) Just kidding. Do I really need any other writing challenges? Knowing me, I’d probably find some new challenge along the way and sign-up. I’ll keep ya posted.

READING:

So I wanted to continue the awesomeness that was #middlegrademay. Sadly, it is May no longer. The reading joy, however, continues.

1) 30 Books in 90 DaysI read ten for May, so this is possible… eeps. I came up with a list last night but it’s not set in stone. The first book I’ll be reading is DREAMLANDER by the fabulous K.M. WeilandThe second book is DOUBLE VISION by the equally fabulous F.T. BradleyI suddenly have the urge to create a penname with initials.

2) 48 Hour Book ChallengeJune 7th to June 9th. This challenge laughs in the face of 90 Days and orders me to read like mad for two days straight. And I say, bring it–well, maybe with some breaks and sleep and stuff.

Two’s good. We’re good here. Remember, I’m still writing in between the reading.

BLOGGING:

1) #ROW80It’s the last month for the check-ins every Sunday and Wednesday. After that’s over, I’ll still have my week in review each Sunday, but this has been a great way to maintain accountability. I can share my woes of reading through all my words and others and together commiserate and celebrate the beauty of storytelling.

2) #wipmadnessWe still have check-ins every Monday. Another group of wonderful people to help me keep accountable and sane in all things writerly.

BONUS:

For kicks, because, why not? I’m also making use of the treadmill while the Keysmashing Tots snooze. That’s until, of course, the weather improves. But since we live in Raincouver, treadmill it is. I say this looking out my window at a canvas of greys. For instance, there is gainsboro, light grey, silver, and dark grey, so far. But I digress. On the brighter side of grey, (every cloud has a gainsboro lining, it seems), this guarantees I have a minimum of thirty minutes everyday to devote to reading. Dontcha love multitasking?

Lastly, I’ve stopped using this wonderful app, but I might pick it up again. I love Duolingo and will continue with the Spanish lessons therein. I’d like to eventually learn all the languages they offer. Linguistics falls under the reading/writing scope and it’s also another fun way to fire up the synapses.

*phew* My fingers are tired from this post. I think I’ve got the second half of the year well in hand, yes?

Barring anything too crazy happening this month such as

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(via http://bit.ly/14hmxHH)

In the words of Joey Tribbiani, “How you doin’?”

#middlegrademay: A Fond Farewell

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Thought it would be nice to show the covers of all the highs and lows of my May reading. 🙂

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It’s was a cornucopia of interesting characters. If I had to pick a favorite from the bunch, I’d have to go with THE FALSE PRINCE. I was really taken from the first line. That’s not to say that it was all downhill from there. As you know from my previous posts, there were UPs as well as DOWNs. haha

Overall, it was a good experience and I can’t wait to do it again. I’m so eager, in fact, that I’m jumping right into another reading challenge this June. THE 48 HOUR BOOK CHALLENGE will keep me occupied. Of course, I’ll keep reading regardless of when and have so many titles on my TBR pile to choose from.

Thanks again to Deb for hosting #middlegrademay. It was great. I’m looking forward to the dynamic duo of you and Akoss for next year. My only regret is that we have to wait eleven more months for another dose.

Happy reading, MG Lovers!

#ROW80 Mid-Week Check-In 2013/05/29

WRITING:

July’s Camp NaNoWriMo is a month away. I decided to forego the extra masochism and NOT do JunoWriMo as originally planned. More worldbuilding, character sketches and plot development prep for Camp. I’m excited because I want to write the darned thing already–no. I will NOT join in JuNoWriMo… hehe (I have three days to decide. Man, I need to join WA: Writers Anonymous). *sigh* Something tells me I’m going to be doing JunoWriMo in some way or another especially with the challenge I’m about to tell ya about below.

In the meantime, there’s also WRITE YOUR NOVEL THIS SUMMER where we write our novel from June 21st to September 21st. I’ll give my current book in the series a tweak here in there while prepping for Camp. I love me some multitasking!

READING:

A few days left in the #middlegrademay challenge has me scrambling to read a few more titles. I still can’t believe I read seven books this month. *pats self on back* I’ll try for a couple more. I’m currently reading THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND IN A SHIP OF HER OWN MAKING by Catherynne M. Valente and INKHEART by Cornelia Funke. I’m excited that I’ve been such a reading machine. I’d like to continue the joy.

I’m ashamed and slightly appalled that I’ve read more this month than I have all last year. I mean, self kudos for the May Reading Challenge but super tsk tsk for letting the mental workouts slide. Reading is just as important to a writer’s arsenal as the act of writing itself. One enhances the appreciation for the other. It’s a symbiotic relationship that needs constant TLC. To that end, I’m considering a couple of reading challenges in June and will continue reading regardless of genre throughout the year because it’s the right thing to do.

==> 48 Hour Book Challenge from June 7-9 during which I shall read/blog like mad.

==> 30 Books in 90 Days begins June 1st. It’s pretty self-explanatory. Seeing my progress this month, I think I can up the ante and also vary the genres to keep things fresh. Oh, and I’ll still read more than one book at a time. LOL

BLOGGING:

The #ROW80 updates continue. Check-ins twice a week and also there are #wipmadness check-ins every Monday. I’ll keep everyone posted (and myself accountable) of my progress and my roadblocks.

Clear skies ahead… even in Raincouver! SO. EXCITED.

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#middlegrademay Check-In Week 4

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Last check-in for the challenge already? Say it ain’t so!

This week, I dove into the world of SISTERS GRIMM with THE FAIRYTALE DETECTIVES by Michael Buckley and Peter Ferguson and SEPTIMUS HEAP with MAGYK by Angie Sage and Mark Zug.

Both offerings were not what I expected. Here’s the good, bad, and ugly of both.

THE FAIRYTALE DETECTIVES:

I sequestered myself during Camp NaNo to ensure no outside influence would affect the development of my fractured fairytale series. I even denied myself the weekly treat of Once Upon a Time and Grimm to the point that my PVR groans at me with disdain. I believe I have distanced myself enough to know how to approach my own work and feel it’s time to read other fairytale redos to see what works and what doesn’t. As this was a Middle Grade challenge, I decided on SISTERS GRIMM over CINDER by Marissa Meyer (but that’s on my TBR list). I wanted to enjoy this story more but I couldn’t do it. There are two protags in this one. Sisters Sabrina (aged eleven) and Daphne (aged seven). I suppose Daphne’s constant questions seem realistic enough but I don’t think that it gave them licence to just name drop fairy tale character names for the sake of doing so. I can’t begin to compare any fairytale mashup with my own, not to mention the fact that mine is a YA story, however, I’m hoping that readers will understand which characters are unfolding through context, dialogue and other interaction rather than just having a full-on announcement of their arrival in the story. Yikes. I didn’t mean to start with the bad right away.

Switching to good. I enjoyed Daphne, despite her questions. She came off as a genuine seven year-old. I also enjoyed Granny and Mr. Canis. I’m all for quirky supporting cast. I ended up relating to Daphne the most, which is fine as she falls within the MG parameters for a protag.

Now, here’s the ugly. Of course, this is completely subjective coming from the POV of a reader and not a writer. Have I been out of touch with the evolution of MG books? Sure we have precocious adolescents, mischievous, too, however, I was actually put off by the Sabrina character. I’m all for assertive female characters in any genre and age group literature has to offer but Sabrina went from assertive to arrogant to aggressive to downright abrasive faster than you can say Hufflepuff. I didn’t find it working within this category but if someone can direct me to other MG stories with similar characters please contribute to my edification. I’m completely flummoxed with Sabrina and unable to connect or sympathize with her despite the circumstances that most likely turned her into a curmudgeon-in-waiting. Sadly, I’m on the fence of whether or not I’d like to continue with these books. If I do, I’ll be reading a boatload of other stories before coming back to this series and that deserves a frowny face. –>  😦

Deep cleansing breaths.

MAGYK:

I disliked this story less. How’s that for starters?! The worldbuilding was a little smoother to digest. Good. There were heavy doses of infodumping in the “As you know…” sort of way. Bad. There were chunks of pedestrian prose but nothing to the point of making me hurl accusations of UGLY. So, that’s moving back to good, right? Please?

I wanted to like these stories and I know they are well received. Of course, that’s part of the game. It’s all subjective and I need to keep that in mind when it comes time that my books come under the literary microscope.

We still have a handful of days left in the month to keep chugging along. Next up, THE LOST HERO by Rick Riordan and/or THE RED PYRAMID by Rick Riordan. I liked PERCY JACKSON and didn’t mind Riordan’s contribution to THE 39 CLUES #1: MAP OF BONES. For some female protag love, I’ll try INKHEART by Cornelia Funke and/or CORALINE by Neil Gaiman. That should keep me busy for the week amongst other writerly duties.

I’m excited that I got back into reading what I love. Thank you, Deb, for making #middlegrademay a fun ride. I can’t believe I read five books this month. I’m hoping to read at least two more or all of the ones listed in the previous paragraph. Crazier things have happened.

Read on, Lit Lovers!