Tag Archives: #ROW80

Week in Review – 2013/05/20 – 2013/05/26

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WRITING:

Fell behind on my workshops. Boo. Caught up on worldbuilding and discovered new realms of awesomeness for my fairytale series. Yay! Haven’t received feedback on the assignments even though I had a day left in the class. Boo. But I learned a lot in character and setting development from working through the exercises. Yay!

READING:

THE FAIRYTALE DETECTIVES by Michael Buckley and Peter Ferguson and MAGYK by Angie Sage and Mark Zug.

I’ll have more insight or maybe even a full report on tomorrow’s #middlegrademay check-in on Deb Marshall’s site. I had higher hopes for the Grimm Sisters and I’ll tell you why I’m enjoying the story but only sorta. I’m digging MAGYK more. The setting is easy to fall into and I like the pacing. More on these tomorrow. I’m pleased that I met my reading goals for the month. I’m already at five but I’m hoping to add a couple more before the end of the month. 🙂

BLOGGING:

Hello, fellow bloggers. How art thou? I like keeping in touch and reading what other folks are up to in their neck of the cyberwoods.

For those in the States, enjoy the long weekend. I see many words in my future–written by me and others.

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#ROW80 Mid-Week Check-In 2013/05/22

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WRITING:

More worldbuilding and prep for the fairytale series. I believe this will be the subject of my writing updates for at least the next handful of months. I’m also excited now that I’ve allowed myself to read fairytale inspired tomes. I even watched Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters the other night. I like the feel and the setting, clothing, and even glimpses of steampunkiness are a good feel for what I’m after in my fairytale universe. I think keeping it a nondescript year and do a mishmash of tech that seems to fit with the ‘times’ is a good way to go on this one.

MAY READING CHALLENGE:

THEODORE BOONE by John Grisham ended abruptly, but I gather that it continues in the second book of the series. I’ll get to it after I’ve explored more middle grade marvels. I did like the story though I’m still trying to connect with the voice. THE PECULIAR by Stefan Bachmann brought me to an interesting world that I almost believe to be real. 🙂 However, I’m not sure I liked the way two of the main characters literally bumped into each other in the latter third of the book. I stuck with the story because individually, I was drawn to the characters. I’d like to think that collectively there’s more potential. I’m almost finished this book but wanted to start on the next two already.

Next round of books:  THE FAIRYTALE DETECTIVES by Michael Buckley and Peter Ferguson and SEPTIMUS HEAP with MAGYK by Angie Sage and Mark Zug. I literally just loaded them onto their respective apps. Good thing, too, so I can switch back and forth from Kindle to Kobo without having to bookmark and exit out of an opened book. I’ll have more insight or maybe even a full report on Monday’s #middlegrademay check-in on Deb Marshall’s site.

Once #middlegrademay is finished, I’m going to immerse myself in all the fairytale inspired novels out there that I’ve held back on while I wrote the first instalment of the series. I will also treat myself to a Once Upon a Time marathon because my PVR is mad that I’ve neglected my favorite shows. Keeping in the genre will help maintain the writing spirit as this writing journey continues.

BLOGGING:

Speaking of writing… the blog goes well and I’m excited to share my progress and ideas with my fellow writing community. I’m on the hunt for new challenges in the coming months, but I’ll eventually get to fixing up the blog both in content and aesthetics. More on that in the coming weeks.

Hope everyone’s May hasn’t flown by too quickly. 🙂

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#ROW80 Mid-Week Check-In 2013/05/15

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The month is half gone. Before I know it, I’ll be hearing Christmas carols on the radio. These past couple of weeks, I tried something different. I’ve been offline more than on and, despite missing the online writing community (and, admittedly, falling behind in my workshops), it’s been a refreshing experience.

I’ve missed the analog world. Even though not everything was a leisurely pursuit, the simple fact of kickin’ it old school gave my brain and digits a much needed rest after such an intense write-a-palooza. The timing is nice, too, because July’s Camp NaNo is creeping up fast. I’d like to spend the next two weeks in continuous planning, worldbuildling, & drafting mode for my fairytale series but at a much less intense pace as April.

For the month of June, I’d like to get organized and truly prepare for Camp. Previous instalments had my prep going from a few days to just under a week. While I’ve won every NaNo I’ve joined, I think I can achieve so much more with some solid organization–with room to play, of course. And by play, I mean wiggle room, not actual play, though, fun is to be had but this tangent has fallen off another tangent…

Anyhoo, onto the Reading Challenge. THEODORE BOONE by John Grisham and THE PECULIAR by Stefan Bachmann. Two very different books and with characters from very different realities. Since, my writing has fallen in the realm of fantastical, as of late, I find myself immediately drawn to the peculiarities of THE PECULIAR. Add to that, a Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family that we had playing in the background of our hotel while in Seattle this weekend. I’m really digging the genre and hope I can sink my teeth into something special with my upcoming fairytale series. THEODORE BOONE, however, is slightly different. I’m having a bit of trouble connecting with the narrative voice. I’m still chugging through it as the plot is interesting but I hope I find some emotional pull to the characters soon. Of course, more on these books in Monday’s post for the #middlegrademay check-in on Deb Marshall’s site.

Until Sunday, fellow #ROW80 friends, Happy Hump Day and see you on the weekend!

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Week in Review – 2013/05/06 – 2013/05/12

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers out there.

This weekend, my sister and I took Mother Superior to Seattle to honor her for all that she does for us. After such a busy April with writing, May has taken a different turn. I’ve had a lovely reminder that taking time away from the organized chaos is an essential way to recharge and refuel the muse.

WRITING:

My work for HAMELIN continues. Worldbuilding and character development have kept me on my toes in between writing new scenes for this first in a series of twisted fairytales. I haven’t written as much as I’d like, but switching gears is helping rest my frenzied brain rather than burn out my creativity.

I need to catch up in my workshops, as well. I’ve decided to forego any future enrolments until I’m all caught up or at least reviewed the downloaded lessons of workshops wherein I wasn’t able to participate.

READING:

I loved THE FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer A. Nielsen. I’ll get into more detail in tomorrow’s #middlegrademay check-in post. I have a couple new books I’ve started but want to read a few more chapters each before bringing them into the check-ins. I’d forgotten how much I relished the immersion into a new world. I’m grateful that this reading challenge allows me to keep with my goals and enjoy the love of books.

BLOGGING:

Because I was out of town, I only had time to post my nominations for the Liebster Award and the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Now that I’m back-ish, I’ll inform the awesome people of their awards this coming week.

How’s everyone else doing as we reach the halfway point in May?

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#ROW80 Mid-Week Check-In

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~ WRITING, BLOGGING, READING & TECHNICAL GLITCHES ~

For a writer in this technological age, not having access to a computer makes the day incomplete. Not having access for three days is a travesty.

100 Pages in 7 Days Challenge – I managed 67 out of 100 for the first seven days this month. Respectable and it all went towards gussying up my pretty fairytale mashup from Camp NaNo, so I don’t consider it a loss by any means. 🙂

The Blog – Sunday I’m greeted with a Liebster Award from Julia Stevenson. Monday morning, A Very Inspring Blog Award from Tommia’s Tablet. I’m doubly honored. I need to pre-write my Friday blog post and spend what little time left before then to do the research on fellow bloggers I’d meant to do with the computer I lacked. Made sense, right?

MIDDLE GRADE MAY – Ugh. The twisted relationship I have with the interwebs this week is akin to a lovelorn character on a telenovela. Nonetheless, despite my hectic offline schedule, I’m on Chapter 22 of 54 on Jennifer A. Nielsen’s THE FALSE PRINCE. I quite like it and will get it to it more in my #middlegrademay thread. I’ll fix this week’s post and prep for next week’s line up. I love that I get to increase my reading time with check-ins at Deb Marshall’s blog. She’s also hosting May’s #wipmadness check-ins. So I’m guaranteed triple accountability this month!

Catching up in a major way with my workshops, writing, and all things computerly… yep, that’s a word in my personal dictionary. And with a busy weekend ahead, I hope I can stay afloat. Of course, I’ll give a play-by-play in my weekly review, fingers and toes crossed.

How’s everyone else doing? 🙂

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