beta reads – Textploits of the Writerly Persuasion

WRITING:

Last Week in Review for September and I’m already thinking about November writing challenges. More info on Entangled Smackdown over at SavvyAuthors. Turns out if I’m signed up for that I can’t do the SavvyAuthors NaNo Bootcamp because that’s on a different forum. I suppose I can live with that. haha Less crazy for this crazy gal. My desired suspense imprint isn’t among those participating. The only one that would fit my potential story is their Flirt Imprint. Since the challenge is to write 50K in November and this imprint is for novellas of 10K-15K words in length, maybe I can write a series or episodes? More pondering in the next six weeks.

READING:

Aside from the classes, beta reads, critiques, and my WIPs, I’ll be reading craft books in preparation for November. This is a serious one. Woot.

NETWORKING:

I’m super embarrassed that I missed the chat last Wednesday. Not that this is a defence, but it was my birthday and the familiar wanted to cheer me up because of my fracture. It’s weird because I’m always an hour early to those things and that day, I completely spaced for the first time. Huh. I’ll get on the ball for the next one. Also looking forward to the teams for Entangled Smackdown. Should be fun.

LEARNING:

I’m on Level 10 in Spanish and Level 7 in French on Duolingo. I’m considering starting a third language next month–or rather, in two days. Portuguese, German, or Italian? I’d flip a coin if I had one with three sides.

Jamming with Bilbo aside, I can’t stop thinking about my WIP to be for November. I suppose that’s a good thing, right? Soooo excited!

WRITING:

Doc says the thumb shouldn’t bother me–in about six months! Grr. Could’ve been worse. Healed fracture is better than a broken digit. Silver lining?

That said, my writing has suffered since my last report. I’ve been doing more reading (of my writing) and minor edits than full-on revisions and that makes me sad.

I know it’s a temporary setback. I’d just rather it be over already.

Despite the physical issues, I edited my novella and am at a better stage of revisions than I was a month ago. My current WIP has stalled slightly due to life’s continuous snafus, but I shall chug ahead. Even though the path of the WIP and trajectory of it’s completion has changed, I think these changes are for the betterment of the story and for myself as a growing writer.

On deck: More revisions for my Spec Fic Thriller Imprint and more work on my YA Fantasy Aaralyn’s Song.

READING:

Lots of reading in lieu of writing. Critiques, beta reads, and reviews… oh my. Whatever problems are in my way, I’m still getting some work done, but seriously. Ugh much?

So much to read and I haven’t taken that speed reading course yet! I need to reassess my work-life balance. (See ‘On deck’ below.)

On deck: read through lessons for various workshops. One, oddly enough, is about balancing the chaos and overwhelming nature of multitasking.

NETWORKING:

Speaking of, I need to get cracking on my FRIDAY FORAGE blog post research. I’d hoped to have a few advanced posts tucked away but life had other plans. No worries. It’ll get done.

These check-ins have been super helpful so I can keep track of my ups and downs. Despite the endless list of tasks on my to-do list, my TBR list, and everything else, I think adding more responsibility to my plate, including modding for the WFWA Forums and SavvyAuthors, is forcing me into focus. That’s a good thing.

On deck: I have a chat to moderate tonight over at Savvy Authors. It’s called The Two Strings Technique: Adding Contrast and Interest to Our Writing and will be conducted by L. Jagi Lamplighter. Should be fun. Wednesday nights have become a staple of good fun.

LEARNING:

I’m on Level 9 in Spanish and Level 6 in French on Duolingo. Keeping busy rather than moping about fractured thumbs and whatnot.

I’m supposed to increase mobility and will look into physio. Maybe I should just play more ukelele. 🙂

Languages abound. I plan on adding another language to my learning repertoire in October. More on that soon.

On deck: lingo and lyrics, conjugations and chords. Fun times.

How’s your September treating you?