WRITING:
Although it was in the final stretch of the month that I learned of the news, I was able to get switched to a more appropriate imprint for November’s Entangled Smackdown over at SavvyAuthors. I’ll be writing this novel for NaNoWriMo, as well. That will be the writing in the ‘fresh words department.’
WRITING:
I got an email last night that allowed me to switch from the novella imprint to the suspense imprint for November’s Entangled Smackdown over at SavvyAuthors. I appreciate how the editor gave me the option of switching imprints so I wouldn’t have to compromise the integrity of the story I want to write. I’m excited. 🙂
I’m also doubling up by entering this story for NaNoWriMo. The added accountability and online progress chart (that I’d be forced to enter each day before the cut-off) will help make November super productive.
READING:
Much of the same. My WIPs, writing reference, critiques, and beta reads. My TBR list is taking a back seat for the next few weeks, but that’s okay. It’s pretty much non stop.
NETWORKING:
Hopefully, I’ll be able to attend the in-person NaNo Write-Ins, weather and sniffles permitting. I hate drastic weather changes. I’ve got the online sprint partners via Twitter‘s #1k1hr. There’s also the online community at SavvyAuthors and the NaNo forums among many others. The world will be busy this November reaching those word counts.
LEARNING:
I’m tucking back into my treasure trove of already downloaded and purchased webinars to see what’s applicable for my WIP for November. That and my current fix of languages and genealogy should keep me busy.
=8=
It’s one thing to say that November is only two days away. But it’s crazy to think that November is already here. What are your big writing plans for November?
WRITING:
Prep work goes well for Entangled Smackdown over at SavvyAuthors. I already have an idea for the complementary shorter novella. We need to write 50K for the month and break that up accordingly. The previous idea I had will simmer for the time being because after this writing challenge, I’ve promised myself not to write anything new without getting through my revisions for the other stories I’ve written this year.
From my recent excursion to Ontario, I’ve come up with the following story prompts/ideas (that I’ll use at a later time. *ahem*):
1) Black tube (for holding blueprints, etc.) left in departure/ boarding area but no one claimed it when the crew brought it on the plane to inquire
– As a writer, you know how many story ideas zipped through my head and we hadn’t even left YVR yet! No one claimed it. I suppose they left it with personnel at the airport, but I really wanted to see what was inside!
2) The plane taxied down the runway and two of the flight attendants stop in the aisle right beside the Sisterhood. I look up and they’re talking about a sound that’s louder than normal coming from the bulkhead.
– Fantastic. I love when people start talking when they think you’re not paying attention. I also read lips so I found it interesting. We still took off and the flight was uneventful, but hey…
3) In Toronto, on our way to dinner at a yummy Korean BBQ place. I saw a man in a suit sitting on the sidewalk, back against the building, three piece suit, so it caught my eye. What else grabbed my attention? Something that looked like a small dog in the distance. It turned out to be two dolls. The large kind with fancy dresses and the eyes that close when you lay them down.
– CreepsVille much? I would like to think that those were gifts for his daughter(s). However, he was unkempt enough to make me believe, or at least wonder, if he those were his dolls just because.
4) Leaving Toronto was bittersweet. I’d just had my boarding pass scanned and went through to the walkway. I waited for the sisterhood and wondered what was taking so long. Turns out, right when she was about to get her pass scanned, the computer at which supposedly never breaks down does and they manually check people in
– What could go wrong? Well, considering how many news stories reveal children managing to get onboard flights they didn’t pay for or belong on, this could spark many story options.
5) In line with the previous, a member of the crew who did the manual check-in, came onboard. Remember, we were in the first row now thanks to the Sisterhood upgrading our seats. More lip reading came, though they spoke in not-so hushed whispers. He needed to check for two passenger’s IDs because–his words–mistaken identity, whether intentional or not, happened several times previously.
– Oh, come on. I was hoping for a U.S. Marshall to show up or something exciting while at the same time praying that nothing of the weird and sketchy sort would happen on our flight home.
Good stuff and those were just five of many.
READING:
I’m reading class lectures, writing reference, and blog posts aplenty in preparation for November’s writing challenge. Bring it!
NETWORKING:
I’m going to try super hard to go to the NaNo Write-Ins in the coming weeks. The online community’s been great, but seeing and supporting each other in person once in a while also helps.
LEARNING:
Duolingo‘s been great. I’ve recently found Internet Polyglot, an online language learning hub. Whoa nelly.
Last Friday I attended a cooking class with the Sisterhood (who also had a hand in the curriculum) and we made British pub food. Great learning experience and good fun. I also got nostalgic about growing up in the UK. Memo to the Sisterhood: SOON!!!
All of the culture and history I breathed in while in Ontario made me rekindle my passion for Genealogy and history, in general. I’ve been watching Who Do You Think You Are? on YouTube. Fascinating. It makes me want to dig into the archives of my own life, as well. That’s a project I’m looking forward to tackling sometime in the future.
So much stuff packed in the last couple of weeks. Busy, busy.
Last Quarter of 2013: Are you Ready?
( via freimaurer32 )
To borrow a phrase from one of my favorite shows, here’s THE ROAD SO FAR:
WRITING:
This year, I came up with four new stories: Hamelin, The Curse of Briar Rose (a reframing of the story premise morphed it into Aaralyn’s Song), all YA Fantasy, A Love Less Ordinary, a contemporary (possibly Women’s Fiction), and a boatload of new story ideas.
I did the Blogging A to Z Challenge in April, along with Camp NaNoWriMo, SavvyAuthors Boot Camp.
I also participated in JuNoWriMo, July’s Camp NaNoWriMo, JulNoWriMo, and AugNoWriMo.
Just when I thought I was WriMo’d out, I spent September revising Imprint, a Spec Fiction Thriller.
All this writing was just for my WIP. I also had various workshop assignment, as well, as my blog posts along with my FRIDAY FORAGE series.
READING:
I think I’ve read close to thirty-five books this year. Lately, the focus has been on writing reference or anything to do with how the brain works.
Outside of actual books, I’ve been eyeballs-deep in critiques, beta reads, and book reviews. I suppose all the strain on the eyes was to make up for the exhaustion on the digits from the writing.
For those who don’t know, I’ve been dealing with a fractured thumb and seasonal allergies. The allergy shot regimen has made all the aforementioned tasks an interesting challenge.
NETWORKING:
The writing community continues to grow and now that I’m a mod at SavvyAuthors and the WFWA Forums, the reach seems to be boundless.
LEARNING:
I’ve expanded my horizons with Udemy, and Duolingo. More learning experiences are coming up this month with Coursera. Gotta keep the brain active. 🙂
All that plus some mad ukelele playing and I’m all set.
=8=
OCTOBER WRITING:
Major prep needed for my upcoming November challenge with Entangled Smackdown. It was supposed to be a Thriller but since that imprint isn’t included in the challenge, I think I’ll write for the novella imprint. Problem is, what word count will I focus on? The imprint requires 10K-15K words but the challenge is 50K. Do I write multiple novellas? Good thing I have a month to plan. This time, actually plan. No matter how many times I have the intent to plan for a WriMo, something happens and I end up outlining in a forty-eight hour window.
I’ll still work on my other WIPs, old and not-as-old. The writing never stops.
OCTOBER READING:
The reading tasks haven’t changed. In fact, they’ve increased. All good stuff, however. I’m keeping an open mind–and still looking for a speed reading course.
OCTOBER NETWORKING:
Modding and communicating with the writing world continues. Accountability keeps us moving forward and that’s what it’s all about.
OCTOBER LEARNING:
More brain boosts with Udemy, Coursera, Duolingo. I’m on Level 10 in Spanish and Level 7 in French. I’m adding German to the mix, just because. With the other learning opportunities, I’m learning about writing, time management, fitness, and everything in between. It’s an exciting time and fortuitous to have the internet. There’s no limit to attaining knowledge and bettering ourselves.
=8=
The last three months of this highly productive year are about to roll on. I’m excited to see what happens next.
Care to join me?
( via 00_jack_00 )
WRITING:
JuNoWriMo and Kiwi Writers SoCNoC Tweeting also using #JuNoWriMo and #SoCNoC hashtags. As expected, my daily word counts dwindled this week as opposed to the frenzied start over the weekend.
Fractured Fairytale Series Word Count: 27,167 words
I think the added pressure–ahem–motivation from the 25,000 Words in 7 Days challenge has helped me churn out the words. So far, it’s been between 8:30pm and 11:30pm, though tonight I lost an hour and gained more wrestling time with TKT. (Totally their idea, not mine. Honest. But hey, I couldn’t resist.)
READING:
See, this his how messed my eyes are. I keep checking my calender and think that this week is my break between reading challenges. It turns out that I have another week of reprieve. However, I have a few books to finish and reviewed, so I’m getting through those as well as catching up on my backlog of workshop lessons and writing reference reading. Any and all education to better hone the craft is essential in any writer’s toolkit. So, basically, I’m reading a lot of stuff. Some made up, some not. All good. 🙂
BLOGGING:
As you can see, I continue the updates with #ROW80 posts and check-ins with the awesome #wipmadness community on Kim Baccellia’s blog. On last Sunday’s Week in Review I posted my entry for FLASH MOB 2013. That should be interesting and we’ll see how it goes. There are a couple of short story submissions I’m working on but as I’ve yet to focus on them, I’m just blogging about the advent of their existence. 🙂
This month, let alone the year, is going by so fast. I hope everyone’s doing well with their goals. I can’t believe eighty days are almost up. It’s been quite the ride. I’m going to assess my current goals and start planning for the next round. I really appreciate how #ROW80 has kept me going. I anticipate the latter half of 2013 will be just as splendiferous–and equally exhausting! Happy writing/reading/blogging the rest of the week, everyone!
Textploits of the Writerly Persuasion 