So it’s been FOREVER since I’ve done a Road Trip Wednesday….Happy to be back!
Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
This Week’s Topic:
Quarterly check-ins! We’re already 1/4 of the way through the year–where are you on your reading and writing goals?
In terms of reading I didn’t set myself any specific goals except the Debut Author Challenge. And I need to review the books I’v read because WOW I’ve gotten lost in some amazing stories!
And I’ve been doing a lot of beta-reading and critiquing. Let me tell you: I’m VERY lucky I get to read all those manuscripts and pages! They’re wonderful!!!!
When it comes to my writing?
- I finished the extensive revision of ONE TWO THREE and it’s back in Query Land (plus, it got two requests via Cupid’s contest, yay! and it’s off to the agents of the Submission mailbox of YAlitchat.org)
- To get my mind off querying and because my fingers itched to draft again, I started SHINY NEW WIP, i.e. GUILTY…It was supposed to be a YA contemporary romance novel it’s turning into a YA romantic suspense novel. And I’m excited!
One of my goals was to be more appreciative and to find balance. Well…let’s just say I have to work even harder to find this balance I’m longing for. Work has been very very busy, hubby is traveling a lot and let’s just say it can get overwhelming.
But…
I have some coping ways:
- The sun is shining again. That ought to help brighten the mood.
- We’re moving closer to the train station, which means: YAY project and YAY having some office space and YAY no more waiting for the bus and missing my train because of it.
- Writing and reading.
- Spending time with my hubby
- Enjoying the small things.
- Listening to my cat purring (or snoring
)
Plus, I need to disconnect from times to times, not from Twitter, no but from my blackberry, that should help
My writing goal is to finish the first draft of GUILTY by the end of April…that gives me about 2 months and I already wrote 10k in the past couple of weeks!
Tell me, how are you doing these days? Did you accomplish some of your goals?
Alexa
/ March 6, 2013Congratulations on finishing your revision and starting querying and good luck with the new WIP
I working hard to appreciate the little things too. Doesn’t the sunshine make everything better though? I hope Spring is here to stay.
Alison Miller
/ March 6, 2013Yay to the progress on the new story! And yes to number five. Enjoy the small things. I’m trying to do that – even with the busy schedule. And you know what I’m working on – and I’m getting there.
Oh, and sunshine FTW – cannot wait for warm weather!
Jaime
/ March 6, 2013New stories are exciting, aren’t they? I keep kind of piddling around with planning another story even though I need to be working on ANNIE. My plan for today is to work more on the latter. I would like to be done the first draft by the end of this month or sometime in April. Then we can start sharing perhaps?
I’m happy you get to move closer to the train so you don’t have to scramble every morning hoping you won’t be late. And more space? Awesome.
Rebekah
/ March 6, 2013Congrats on the Revision/Query news! Well done. And well done on beginning something new. I understand the being close to the train joy, that’s a big one to be thankful for.
Melanie
/ March 6, 2013Sounds like you’re totally on track with your goals. Good luck with the querying! I just sent in an R&R and I’m hoping to have another MS ready to query by next month. *chews nails anxiously*
Nickie Anderson
/ March 6, 2013If you find balance, please tell me how! I’ve been struggling with balancing work and writing recently (but funny how reading always manages to squeeze its way into my schedule).
Good luck on your new WIP!
Robin Moran
/ March 6, 2013Everyone seems to have had a really good start to 2013 with their goals. Congratulations on your achievements so far. I’m sure you’ll manage the first draft in two months.
Rachael
/ March 6, 2013Congrats on finishing revisions, and good luck with querying and the new WIP! I haven’t been writing much on my WIP recently, but I’m hoping to get back to it very soon.
Jessica Silverstein
/ March 6, 2013Dang, girl, you are a writing MACHINE! That’s awesome. And moving! That’s so exciting! As stressed as I was about our move this summer, it also felt SO good to really go through everything we owned and decide that it was either worth packing, cataloging, and putting on a truck…or not. Even six months later, I feel so good about the stuff we have in our place–like, it’s here intentionally, it didn’t just creep up on us. So enjoy the move, and enjoy your new project!!!
Erin L. Funk
/ March 6, 2013Good luck with your shiny new WIP! A YA romantic suspense novel sounds awesome!
Natasha M. Heck
/ March 6, 2013Sounds like you are having a great start to the year! Good luck with the WIP and submission!
Miss Jersey
/ March 6, 2013Good luck with the submissions! The sun always cheers people up. I try to sit outside in the sun for at least half an hour during my workday, so I go back inside happy, for a while at least.
katyupperman
/ March 7, 2013Your posts are always such an inspiration, Elodie. Thank you for reminding me to see the good things (however small) even when it seems like nothing is going quite right. I can’t wait to hear about the books you’ve read for the DAC, and I’d LOVE to hear more about GUILTY. I’m already intrigued!
katyupperman
/ March 7, 2013Oh! And BEST of luck querying! <3
Maria Cope
/ March 7, 2013Congratulations on finishing your revision and starting querying and good luck with the new WIP! About this balance you speak of . . . let me know if you find it. I am in need of such wisdom.
Athena Franco
/ March 7, 2013I get so distracted when a new WiP idea tries to muscle in on my current work. It can be tough to stay on target!
Best of luck with your goals!
Ghenet Myrthil
/ March 7, 2013You’re doing great with your goals! I’m excited you’re sending ONE TWO THREE into the world and crossing my fingers for you! You new book sounds so interesting. Good luck finishing the first draft! I’ll be first drafting right along with you.
As for balance, I totally hear you. That’s great that you’ll be able to cut your commute down a bit when you move. Having that extra time will make a difference, I’m sure!
Valia
/ March 7, 2013Awesome!! Querying is always so nervewracking!! Ugh! I’m in the same boat with that one. Crossing fingers for you, for sure!!! Thanks for sharing!
http://wordsareinnermusic.blogspot.com/2013/03/road-trip-wednesday-check-in.html
Rebecca B
/ March 8, 2013I hear you about the being a little overwhelmed due to work (and moving!). It’s so hard to find balance–so far, my way has been slacking on blogging and Twitter.
But I love your coping suggestions. Happy Friday!