What's Up Wednesday - 1.14.15

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch
base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.

How's everyone doing? I hope your New Year has kicked off excellently and you are keeping to all your reading/writing/exercise goals! <3

What I'm Reading

I am completely in love with Caitlin Moran's HOW TO BUILD A GIRL. Teenage Valerie would've been great friends with Johanna AKA Dolly Wilde. We would've listened to Hole cranked up loud and worn preppy private school girl skirts with ripped tights and combat boots and smoked cigarettes where we'd known we'd get caught.

But seriously, I love this book. It's completely how I remember being a teenager. The story captures the stagnant simplicity of living in a boring town and only having your music to push back that overwhelming feeling of I HAVE TO LEAVE AND BE WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE. For Dolly, it's London. For me, it was New York.

Stay strong, Dollys of the world. You'll get out. <3
Also, read this book.

What I'm Writing 

A whole lotta nothing! I'm taking a small time out while I collect some feedback on a manuscript. It's always strange at first, having nothing to do or write. It reminds me of how when I was in college, once I finished my last final, there was that strange limbo where my body was still running on pure adrenaline and also crashing because it was forced to stop. Either way, I've slowed down and am enjoying it.

What Else I'm Up To

Cross stitching! After being in awe of Leigh Ann Kopans' adorable sassy cross stitches, I made my reward for finishing my MS to learn how to cross stitch. Be prepared, my friends. I plan to stitch the word "bitch" on everything!

For now, I'm learning on these hummingbirds.

Have an awesome week! <3

What's Up Wednesday - 11.5.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.


I can't believe it's November already! What happened to Fall?





What I'm Reading

It's been a slower reading week for me. I'm concentrating on writing and finishing my own book, so I've refused to plan out my monthly reading. My plan is to just pick things up when I feel like it. While I was on vacation, I read Cynthia Hand's Unearthly and really loved it. I have the second book on my Kindle and have been starting and stopping it periodically when I have time to read. It's such a fun series!

I've also been listening to The Selection series on audio book--which I am so late to the party, but love! I'm finishing up The One this week.

 

What I'm Writing / What Works For Me

I had to replot my entire story over the weekend. I've been using this Post-It method to help me juggle all of the pieces of my story. I used blue and pink Post-Its to mark my two external conflicts, and the purple is for any flash back scenes (which I use very sparingly).

I drew red boxes around any clashes with the antagonists and tabs for scenes where I have holes or still need to write from scratch. So, hopefully, I'll be flying through this in November.

What Else I'm Up To

Post-vacation, I'm easing back into working and trying to take care of Nelly, my thirteen-year-old cocker spaniel. We've had her since she was a puppy and she's been having a lot of health problems lately. We've been going back and forth to the vet and it looks like we may have to make "The Decision" soon (something Shannon and I are just not prepared to do just yet).

But the good thing is that we've been spending a lot of time with her and I'm trying to keep the focus on taking things day by day. This is a picture of a good day! :)

Have an awesome week--see you next Wednesday! <3

777 Challenge

Mandie Baxter, all around cool girl and fellow redhead, tagged me in the 777 challenge.

The 777 challenge is when a writer is challenged by another writer to post the seven lines of text, seven lines down on the seventh page of their work-in-progress.

 You can check out Mandie's 777 here on her blog. And, from my current WIP (that is still in first draft mode and currently killing me), here's mine...

When I leaned over to rub at a bit of dirt smudged on the rubber toe of my shoes, Charlotte Lafleur raised an eyebrow at me. She was a small girl with silky dark hair and judgey little eyes. She’d been flashing them at me all morning. In homeroom when I sat Dad’s ratty army bag on the floor next to her designer-looking purse. In science when I’d pulled out a crumbly spiral-bound notebook and everyone else flipped open their laptops. At the bathroom sink when I’d brought my sudsy hands to my nose to smell the lavender and chamomile soap.

And the meme says I have to tag a few peeps, soooo: 

Stephanie Scott, Dana Elmendorf, and Erica Chapman, you guys are up next! <3

What's Up Wednesday - 10.29.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.


Mmm apples...





What I'm Reading

I'm back from vacation--and I'll do a reading wrap up post soon, but I've hit that 105 books read mark! This week I'm reading an eARC of Jennifer Niven's ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES and ohhhmygosh it's so good! 

It's being pitched as The Fault In Our Stars meets Eleanor & Park, which I think is a really lofty comparison to live up to, but definitely worthy. The book is so good. I hope this one gets more pick up as the pub date grows closer. I'm definitely going to put Jennifer Niven on my list of authors to watch for in 2015. Check it out on GoodReads. 

What I'm Writing

I did that thing where I wrote a complete first draft, and then had to rip it up and completely replot the middle and end. I actually had to sit down and rewrite out:

• What is the problem?
• What is the solution?
• Who are the antagonists? What do they want and how does it conflict?

What Works For Me

When I used to paint, we were taught to always take steps back to look at the whole picture. I feel it's the same way with writing. I can focus on a scene or a section, but I have to keep taking steps back to look at the whole picture.

That's why my plotting post-it method works so well for me. It sucked having to rip them all down and start over, but I think I'm going to have a stronger story for it.

From this:

To this:

What Else I'm Up To

I'm back from vacation! We traveled from Miami down to the Virgin Islands and then up to the Bahamas. We hit up St. Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk. I read many books and got quite a bit of sun (as much as my pasty self can!) and ate much chocolate cake.

Want to see some pictures?

Have an awesome week--see you next Wednesday! <3

Whats Up Wednesday - 10.8.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.


This new pic still makes me want an apple...





What I'm Reading

I'm still nursing a horrible reading hangover. So I've been listening to a lot of audio books while commuting to work. This week I'm really into The Tyrant's Daughter! It has an awesome voice and such an intriguing premise. Has anyone read this one?

What I'm Writing

I'm kinda kicking myself in the ass. A few of my RWA friends and I created this #BICHOKathon event over the weekend. We were going to write and get a lot of words down. I started off okay Friday night with 1,300 words, but then Saturday I fell apart with a migraine. I was starting to beat myself up pretty bad when I figured, "hey--one day doesn't matter. Just pick yourself back up and keep going."

I'm going to keep using the hashtag to meet my word goals. Anyone can join anytime!

What Else I'm Up To

One more week til vacation. One more week til vacation. One more week til vacation!!!

That is the only thing I am fixated on right now. It is my finish line in the form of a huge cruise ship with virgin pina colatas (since I don't drink) and comfy chairs to read in. 

Whats Up Wednesday - 10.1.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.

Woot! What's Up Wednesday! I love this new photo! It makes me want a honey crisp apple NAOW! :)

PS--OMG When did October happen!?


What I'm Reading

Oof...I don't know...I just finished two AMAZING books and have total book hangover! Stacey Lee's Under A Painted Sky and Cynthia Hand's The Last Time We Say Goodbye were such perfect books. I have a huge stack, and nothing's really grabbing at me...which might be a good thing because I need to do some serious damage on my own word count.

What I'm Writing

I'm around 30K on my current WIP. I had a little issue when I wrote myself into a corner, had to back up, and figure out which new way to go. I still a little green at plotting, and sometimes that plotting doesn't get the story moving how I want it to.

Before I started writing, I painted a lot. I learned that you should never focus on one small piece for too long and keep taking steps back to look at the whole picture. So I've been trying to look at the whole picture to figure out what I need in that one small piece that is screwing up my pacing.

What Inspires Me

Last weekend I went to the Chapter By Chapter BookRave in New Rochelle, NY. Everyone was there. EVERYONE! Including BFF Kelly and me.

But overall a huge thanks (and watch me drop all these names) to Jodi Meadows, Joy Hensley, Lee Bross, CJ Redwine, Elizabeth Eulberg, Megan Whitmer, Kelsey Macke, Dahlia Adler and Sarah Guillory (Sarah--I'm sorry I didn't talk to you longer!) for being there and being awesome.

Oooh! Also, Jay Crownover was there! She is so cute in person and was giving out ARCs of Rowdy, (plus a ton of tattooed boy swag!). If you want a fun NA romance to cuddle up to and like your boys inked, check out her Marked Men series.

What Else I'm Up To

I'm in full-blown vacation mode. I have three weeks until I board a cruise ship for the Caribbean and I've started throwing all my sundresses in a suitcase and stacking up which books I want to take with me. I am ready to go! 

I will end this post with pictures of where I will be in three weeks so we can all ooh and ahh. Ready?

OOOOOH!

AHHHH!

[photo credit: Carnival Cruise Line]

What's Up Wednesday - 8.27.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.

I went back to the old school logo from last year. When I took my hiatus this winter, I missed out on all the new WUW logos.

What I'm Reading

Okay, so currently I'm reading FORBIDDEN (which, I'm enjoying but also having a hard time wrapping my brain around some of the character development. I mean, the book is so controversial and I love those types of books that challenges ideas and pushes taboo, but... alas...)

However, I am really excited about what I have up on deck! WILDLIFE by Fiona Wood was available on NetGalley (thanks, LBKids!) and I jumped at the opportunity to read. Kelly Jensen over at Stacked was recommending it pretty fiercely (and I typically agree with her reviews...speaking of which, check out her blog for some really awesome insights into contemp YA!).

What I'm Writing

The writing is going well! I blew through 12K last night. Because of the day job, I set small, consistent goals to hit every night (between 500-1,000 words) and am keeping up well. My hope is to have a first draft ready in November. Last night I got to write a big, climatic argument (which are my favorite because you just get to GIVE it to the other character).

What Inspires Me

A few things right now. So first, let's talk about Ariana Grande. She is the most ADORABLE pop star out there right now. I also have her entire album on repeat this week. But I think my favorite thing about her is her ponytail. Seriously, if a Twitter/Tumblr account called Ariana's Ponytail appears out of nowhere this weekend, it's probably because I caved and started it.

During the VMAs, she was twirling around on stage in those thigh high boots and her hair was so gorgeous. (I wish mine was long enough to rock the high up ponytail!) But I was thinking, THAT! That's what it's about. Pop culture in general gets so much shade thrown at it because we just won't allow ourselves to have fun. So do me a favor this week and don't be self conscious to let your inner pop star show. Bust a move in the middle of the grocery store. Sing a little louder in your cubicle. Flip that hair when you cross the street. 

Okay, so the second thing is also Ariana Grande-related. And it's her brother, Frankie who is competing on Big Brother. I have been glued to my TV all summer over this show and I've completely fallen in ship (is that a thing?) with Zankie (Zach and Frankie). Look at these two! Aren't they adorable?? Except (SPOILER) Zach was just evicted from the Big Brother house and now their showmance is no more. Agent Lauren and I am sad, but we will forever have this gif. 

<3 Have an awesome week and rock your inner pop star! <3

What's Up Wednesday - 8.20.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.

What I'm Reading

This week has been all about reading ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. I'm a pretty speedy reader, but this one I wanted to take in sip by sip. I missed Stephanie Perkins' work so much and this one was SO worth the wait.

What I'm Writing

This summer I started a new project. Typically, I like to write the first few chapters--set up the world, characters and establish the stakes--then throw the MS out to a few trusted readers. I got the green light on this MS and then Agent Lauren and I set a November deadline, so I'm working bit by bit. I've been outlining and plotting pretty meticulously, so I know where I'm going. The characters are a lot of fun and I feel like I'm found the voice pretty easily.

What Inspires Me

I will be the first to admit that I have a really strange sense of style. I tend to like anything that belongs on a twelve year old or a Japanese school girl. I blame Catholic school and growing up in the 90s and a huge love for anime because I could never shake my wardrobe choices of plaid skirts and Mary Janes. (When I was 16, I still wore lacy socks that I cuffed...and had Minnie Mouse on them!)  

So when I found THIS PURSE at one of those carts in the middle of the mall, I HAD to have it. I found out it's a knock off FURLA bag. While mine is made out of plastic, theirs is made of rubber and leather. I love it!

When I took my new bag out for a lunch at the local cafe, I had several compliments from complete strangers. One nice lady remarked at how roomy it looked, and I responded with an over-enthusiastic, "I HAVE A BOOK IN HERE!" (Because, you know, why would I respond like a normal person with a polite "thank you"?)

What Else I've Been Up To

My birthday is on Sunday! For the last seven years, Shannon and I've spent every single birthday on the beach, but this year life is getting in the way. He has to work and my back up birthday plans in NYC with BFF Kelly fell through too. It might be the first birthday I've ever spent alone, but I'm looking forward to it. Since I have some writing to do, I'm thinking about camping out in a fun Philly spot to write. Any suggestions?

<3 Have an awesome week! <3

What's Up Wednesday - 8.5.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.

What I'm Reading

I'm so behind in my reading, but I got caught up in this really awesome ARC from Simon & Schuster. The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley was so good. It's not released until 2015 but you can request from Edelweiss. I was completely swept away when I found out this was about a boy who hid out and lived at a hospital after his parents and sister were killed. He's constantly dodging the social worker (who he calls Death), but more importantly he floats into all of these peoples' lives. I just loved the entire concept.

What I'm Writing

A lot. I'm settling into a new project and having a lot of fun. Rather than set word count goals (which stresses me out), I've decided to make the goals less numerical. So instead, my goals are to write a specific scene or finish a chapter or think out the dialogue for that part. It's working well and I've found that I'm less worried about hitting a target or racing to the finish. After years of being stressed out, I'm enjoying writing again.

What Inspires Me

Have you ever categorized the stories you've written? Last week, I posted this blog about The Types of Stories I've Written, and I've been thinking about it ever since. It seems like there's always That One that felt like it would never be right or The One that made writing seem so easy.

I'd say right now I'm writing The One I Swore I'd Never Write--which is loosely based on my own childhood. Which One are you writing now?

What Else I've Been Up To

Ever since we moved into this house seven years ago, I've had this really ugly orange carpet. It was always in the plan to switch it out to something neutral--especially when I insisted on having pink walls. I mean, really? Could I write stories in any other room that was not pink?

So for the longest time, I had this really bad mismatched room. BUT NOT ANYMORE!

LOOK! (Yeah, that's a faerie statue in the corner. Don't hate. haha.)

And that meant that all of these books needed to go back on the shelf, so I finally made a rainbow shelf. I have no idea where anything is anymore and am rethinking that I might go in and tighten up the gradients, but I LOVE it.

See ya next week!

What's Up Wednesday - 7.30.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.

What I'm Reading

Oh my gosh! I came home to this awesomeness sitting on my stoop! I am so excited for Kiss, Kill, Vanish--especially because I remember reading Jessica Martinez tweeting about how much she loved writing it. That's the coolest part about the publishing process is being around to see projects grow into sales and ARCs and actual books we see on the shelf at B&N.

I also have Rainbow Rowell's Landline on deck.

What I'm Writing

Right now...not a lot. I had so much going on this week, I gave myself a break, but I'm ready to dive back in and get my daily word counts in. I think I have >3K right now and am hoping to make that 5K this weekend. It's so hard writing in the summer because every weekend is filled with get-togethers and cook outs and SO MANY THINGS. I always write best in the dead of winter, so I know if I wait it out, the pace will pick back up.

What Inspires Me

I might catch some eye rolls from this one, but I DO NOT CARE. I am absolutely addicted to the Kim Kardashian Game. It's SO much fun, and reminds me a lot of how obsessed I was with playing The Sims back in the day. Really, though. Look at that A List status! I'm such a baller. :)

What Else I've Been Up To

Our friends Stef and Dave were married this weekend so we flew out to Dayton, Ohio. BFF Kelly's husband and Shannon were the groomsmen and the reception was in this gorgeous theater building in downtown Dayton. A big, public congrats to Stef and Dave! Thanks so much for letting us share in your special day (and eat shrimp on a chip at your reception!).

Have an awesome week!

What's Up Wednesday - 6.25.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.

Woot! It's Wednesday! Which means this time next week, I'll be at the beach.

What I'm Reading
I hit my 2014 GoodReads Reading Challenge this month and have no intension of slowing down. My local indie bookstore (Children's Book World, holla!) had a Sidewalk Sale last weekend and I walked away with this stack. I'm really want to attack this pile next. Any suggestions?

What I'm Writing

The cork board is filling up with lots of good ideas. I'm starting to move the post-its around and plot out the story. I'm using the blue post-its to mark each Act and what the focus and turning points in each are. Pink is for any scenes where the MC is moving closer to her goal. Purple is for scenes that take her farther from it. I use the smaller flags to indicate subplot ups and downs. It's a little complicated, especially when the story becomes more layered and the post-its start to stack up on top of each other, but it helps a lot to get the basic structure down.

The multi-colored post-its on the sides of the board have writing advice written on them. These say things like:

• EFF DOUBT; JUST WRITE.
• Conflict! Happen. Happen. Happen.
• Who are the characters that would end up in situations like this?
• Goal: Everything takes her closer or farther away from it.

What Else I've Been Up To

Shannon's guitars are taking over the house! I went to sit in this chair on Saturday to read and it was like "Haha! Nope! Guess again." Also, his work is gorgeous and I love showing it off. I want his guitar building career to take off almost as badly as I want to be published one day. It's awesome being married to someone who has a creative passion and understands the need to put something awesome out into this world. 

Have an awesome week!

What's Up Wednesday - 6.4.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.

You can participate by going to Jaime's blog here. Or Erin's blog there.

I'm back! I'm back! I'm back! I took a very looooong blogging hiatus over the winter. I needed some necessary unplugging so I could finish up a project and get another one started. I missed this meme a lot. I'm so excited to be jumping back in--and I love the new tree design! -->

What I'm Reading

I've been majorly book binging. My husband recently had back surgery so we've been doing a lot of hanging around the house the last few weekends. I've been devouring my TBR pile--which was perfect because it was becoming a bit unmanageable. Here were some of my faves from the last few weeks:

I can't recommend these enough! If you loved Eleanor and Park, try Like No Other. If you want a Tarzan retelling, try Wild. And Second Star is up there with Tiger Lily for my favorite contemporary Peter Pan retelling.

Right now, I'm reading Todd Strasser's NO PLACE. I've been really into grittier contemps that show teens living in diverse settings (i.e., not in the suburbs). If you have any recos, let me know!

What I'm Writing

I'm between projects right now, but I'm starting to daydream and plot out something really fun to write this summer. I recently participated in the My Writing Process bloghop and talked a bit about my cork board process. 

What Inspires Me Right Now

I know it's a tad self-promo-y, but I love the Writers Like Us series on my blog. I started it as a joke with Jodi Meadows when she mentioned she gets asked the same questions a lot in interviews. So I set out to come up with a list that was a little different--what made us all the same as writers.

I think it's really fun to see what authors still have issues with when they write. Most say things like wrapping up their endings or plotting or things I alway struggle with. Also, I love seeing what a typical comment from their critique parters is. Michelle Krys had an awesome this week, "slow your roll, 50 Shades. This is a YA novel!"

Check out the series here.

What Else I've Been Up To

Other than being a complete bookaholic, I also lovingly call myself a product ho. I've been signed up with BirchBox for six months now and have been collecting more samples than I know what to do with! I wish there was a product swap meet up so I could unload some of these. 

I actually got to the point where I looked at this box and thought, "Okay, this is officially ridiculous." So I might spend the rest of this week reading while covered in lotions and lip gloss samples.

See you next week!