TGw9L - Week Three & Growth

So during week three I got sick. Like super sick. The sneezing, aching, hacking phlegm kind of sick, that still lingers. Spring colds are the worst. One day I was so sick and bedridden, I didn't even have the energy to turn on my computer and write even one word. Instead, I watched season 1 of Mr. Selfridge while falling in and out of sleep. It was horrible and awful, and I hope I don't get sick for a very long time!

So my progress....
Week 3: 10,045
Total: 35,041

I have reached the halfway mark! Whoo!

Week three was all about growth for me. Expanding the characters and setting up the environment for them to grow and change. The character arcs are taking shape and I am so excited to see where they go.

In this MS, I'm dealing with a big and intricate cast of characters, so it's interesting to see how all of their lives intertwine and how they affect the trajectory of each other's arcs. There's one scene where there's a huge fallout between two characters that truly made the MC doubt herself and what she believes in. It's a huge turning point for her, and though she regains her confidence in the face of doubt, she finds that she's also changed from that moment. It's a good change, but also bad, as it leads to her letting her guard down. Which is awesome, because as a writer, I get to make things very bad for her. *evil laugh* Show me your mettle, MC!

I didn't get a whole lot of words written this week, but it's okay, because I found the quality of words made up for it (so nothing to trash this week, which is a relief).

So this past weekend I tweeted this:

Last week, I was all about the cooking and baking metaphors, this week I'm all about the plants. The image of a leaf sprouting from the dirt came to me this week because my basil seeds have finally sprouted! I have a tiny herb garden and I've been waiting for the basil to show that it's, you know, alive and not just wet dirt. It's exciting to see that vibrant color pop up against the brown earth, and it's the same feeling I got this week while writing.

I got to the point in this chapter where I was like whoa, this character man, she's so complex and my heart weeps for her, but she can totally stand on her own. It was the first time she popped on the page--as if to say, I'm real; take notice! From then on, she ceased to be just a character on the page. These momentous character turning points are like little leaves. And like a plant, more leaves will emerge from the stalk, growing and growing until it finally blooms. And man, I can't wait to see her bloom. She just has to get through all the crap I throw at her, but once she does, her perfume will be unforgettable.

Which brings me to another point about growth. I've been reading The EveryGirl's Guide to Diet & Fitness by Maria Menounos and she had this quote in the text: If you aren't growing, you're dying. This one quote really stuck with me and made me examine my life. When you think about a plant, it continues to grow, right? Because if it isn't, then it's dying. Shouldn't this relate to every aspect of our life? For example, if I'm not working on a story, or reading a book, I feel like I've wasted time that I'm never going to get back. I've lost the opportunity to grow as a writer and a reader. But if I continue to do it every day then I will feel better about my productivity and will see my growth as I progress. It's not about doing things quickly, rather, it's about doing a little bit each day. It's like the saying goes: 'to be a writer, you must be writing.'

This frame of thought has helped me this past week because it allowed me to slow down and not rush my writing. It also led me to think about my lifestyle. I always say I want to eat better, or be more active. I'm always up and down with it though. Sometimes I'll be really good, and then really bad and stop caring. This is an awful cycle. I get discouraged because I don't see immediate results. However, growth takes time, and if I don't respect that, I'll never bloom in the way I want to.

Think about aspects in your life where you can continue to grow. How do you feel when you aren't in constant pursuit of it? Do you ever feel like you're dying (figuratively) when you aren't working toward a dream or goal? Comment below if you'd like, or connect with me on social media via Direct Message. I'd love to hear your take on your own growth.

TGw9L - Week Two & Food For Inspiration

Week two of drafting and getting to ~25K! AKA the point in drafting where the idea is going somewhere so might as well finish the darn thing ;)

Week 2: 11,036
Total: 24,996

So the week started pretty great as I started to build the frame of the narrative and the layers of the characters. But then toward the weekend, I wrote myself into a corner. It happens. And when it does, it sucks majorly. So what should you do? Well, I can't speak for all writers, but here are my suggestions:

• Take a break. Step away from your work so you can get a fresh mind and a clear perspective. You'll find that doing so will often (if not most likely) help solve the issue.
• Figure out the point in which you deviated in the plot that led to the dead end. Ever get lost when you're on the road driving? Same situation. You drive along, scenery looks great until it doesn't anymore. You get an inkling that you aren't headed where you want to go. You pull over, try to get your bearings, and realize where you went turned out to be the wrong way, and it helps to back track.
• Do something else that you love or inspires you. Sometimes you just need to switch gears to avoid burnout. For me, it's playing my guitar, reading, or good food. Which brings me to my next topic.

Food for thought. No seriously. Do you ever think about the food you eat and how it can affect you or your creative spirit? When I wrote myself into a corner I turned to food. But not in the binge and eat my feels kind of way (though I'll admit I do that sometimes). I like to think of food as a sensory art. Ever had that moment when you ate something that brought up a memory, or was so delicious you thought you might cry? Food, like books, tell a story. From the ingredients that make it up, to the time it takes to prepare, to the final presentation. It's beautiful and such a wonderful, momentous experience, like reading an amazing story that touches your soul.

Michael and I ate some amazing food during the weekend when I wrote myself into a corner (note I will probably trash like 3K of what was written this week), and it really consoled and reassured me that it's okay sometimes to get lost. It's okay to accidentally add too much salt in a recipe, you'll just know not to the next time you make it. To get a recipe at its absolute best, you need the exact measurements, the perfect temperature, and the necessary amount of time, to pull that tasteful masterpiece together; and that happens with a little tweaking, a dash of practice, and a sprinkle of experimentation.

So yeah, I wrote myself into a corner this week. But it wasn't so bad once I had some amazing food to give me a tasteful perspective. The lesson I learned this week: making delicious food is like creating a magical manuscript. Once you get it just right--the flavors, the colors, the scents, the sights--all of it will be an unforgettable and sensory experience.

TGw9L - Week One

So, I'm drafting again. I know, I know. I should take a break, but I'm too addicted to writing to stop completely. But, I am taking it slower. No more rushing for me. No more writing scared.

But you remember Delilah, right? The character I can't stop talking about? Well, I'm writing her complicated and twisty tale, and it's been challenging and different. Michael read an excerpt of it this past weekend, and I asked him, "If you didn't know I wrote this, would you have expected this to come from the writer of TJE?" He said no, but in a good way. I am pulling off the voice of the character--a voice so different from my own.

So, week one!

Week 1: 13,960
Total: 13,960

I've been pretty steady. Trying to aim for 1,430 words a day so I can get to approx. 70,000 words by the end of seven weeks (10K per week). Considering I about killed my social life to draft ADKOU, this is pretty doable. And if you've been with me on the blog long, you'll notice that this is the same wc and length of time for TJE. Even crazier, I am starting this whole journey during the same time I did TJE last year. I guess you can say I have a thing for cycles, so it's only natural that I do these weekly progress summaries like I did for TJE, right? Ha, okay. Maybe I'm going overboard with the cycles, but hey, I hope it all works out.

With all drafts, I love writing the set up, and I always have an end/climax in mind. The middle is where I hit the panic button (but more on that next week). First 10K is relatively easy. You get so excited about everything, but it also needs to be carefully done. It's the groundwork, the first impression--it sets the tone. Thankfully, I love my beginning! After sharing it with some CP's, their enthusiasm really got me excited to see how the story pans out.

How about you? Are you currently drafting, revising, or editing? How do you mark your progress? Comment below!

Bookish Feels: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

The Book: Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option? (From Goodreads)

My Feels: I felt like this was a fun book to read. Again, this one comes recommended by Michella! The rollercoaster of emotions Kate goes through pulled at my heartstrings. I couldn't help but be sympathetic to her character and her plight. Getting pulled into the spotlight and trying to acclimate to a new family is dizzying for sure, and I thought Kate did it well. In addition to her, I thought the character arcs were excellent. I liked the changes that everyone went through. Like Meg, the stepmother who could have been really awful, but wasn't. The twins who were both different in their own ways. The book was a little long at times, but I think the pacing made up for it. If you like political dramas YA contemp style. This one's for you.

Parachute Concert & Rebounds

Last weekend Michael and I went to the Parachute concert. I absolutely ADORE this band. I've followed them since their inception and have seen them live 3 times. And each time is always better than the last. Needless to say, we had a blast!

Lately I've been focusing on trying to relax. After ADKOU (the WIP I've been working on for the past two months) flopped, I knew I needed to do something to take the pressure off myself so I can fall in lovewith a story again. Oddly, the situation reminds me of dating. During my first break-up with a long term boyfriend, I found myself rebounding, hard. I did this because I needed a distraction from the gaping hole that was my chest. With more clarity, I realized me jumping into ADKOU was the same thing. I just wanted to write something and finish it, because I absolutely loved THE JEWELED EMPRESS. And I still love it. So it's hard going from a project you love to absolutely nothing. So I ended up jumping in too quickly just for the sake of doing something--for the sake of progress. But the thing about rebounding is that you can always learn from it, and sometimes they show you a different path, or they're a stepping stone to something better.

So a few things I learned from ADKOU:

• I can finish things. I should already know this, considering I've completed and revised two MS's before ADKOU, but it's a good reminder.
• I don't need to finish what I start. Just because I start a story, doesn't mean I necessarily need to finish. If I know the spark isn't there, why force it? It's like forcing yourself to be with someone even though deep down you know they aren't the one (sorry for all the dating references, but apparently I'm on a roll with this theme).
• I can write fast. Even though I have a full-time job and I have other obligations, I am capable of producing material in a short amount of time. But that doesn't mean I need to. Sometimes, you shouldn't rush a good thing because you may just ruin it. It's akin to wanting to take 'the next step' even though your S.O. isn't ready for it yet. Or taking out muffins from the oven when it hasn't had time to bake. That said, I know I have to trust the process and respect my creativity instead of cracking the whip at it.

A different path ADKOU showed me:

• I am more than one story and I am more than a writer. We can't have one thing defining us.
• Keeping a balanced life and living life fully are more important than using all my free time to write. Don't get me wrong. I love to write, and I love spending the whole day writing. And that's good on occasion. Six straight weeks, however, can make for a bad relationship with writing (the exception to this is if your job is to write, but if you're like me, struggling to balance writing with work, school, family, etc, it's not easy to do!) and that's what happened with ADKOU. I blocked out everything with the mantra, Write! Write! Write!, blaring in my head. It led to finishing, but it didn't make me feel accomplished like I thought it would.

A stepping stone to something better:

• Finally at peace with shelving the MS, I filled my time with things I love and enjoy: like people's company, food, sunshine, books, and TURN (currently obsessed with that show).
• Delilah's been lingering in my head. She wants her story told, so I started dabbling with the opening chapters. And I reallllly like it. I'm getting fluttery butterflies in my stomach. I'm taking it as a good sign. I sent the rough pages to my CP and she really liked it, too. I'm onto something I think. It's so awesome too because she was a character who came to me (on April 2nd) of her own accord. I didn't have to force this story out and I'm not rushing to finish it either. I am starting to grow attached to it, however, so I suspect I will finish it because I am excited to see how it turns out.

To sum up, no writing is ever wasted. Live life and enjoy it. Don't fall victim to the pressure you put on yourself. Give yourself a break once and awhile. And watch TURN so I can squee with you ;)

Bookish Feels: Please Don't Tell by Laura Tims

The Book: Joy killed Adam Gordon—at least, that’s what she thinks. The night of the party is hazy at best. But she knows what Adam did to her twin sister, Grace, and she knows he had to pay for it.

What Joy doesn’t expect is that someone else saw what happened. And one night a note is shoved through her open window, threatening Joy that all will be revealed. Now the anonymous blackmailer starts using Joy to expose the secrets of their placid hometown. And as the demands escalate, Joy must somehow uncover the blackmailer’s identity before Joy is forced to make a terrible choice.

In this darkly compelling narrative, debut author Laura Tims explores the complicated relationship between two sisters, and what one will do for the other. It’s a story that will keep readers turning pages and questioning their own sense of right and wrong. (From Goodreads)

My Feels: OMG. THIS BOOK. So dark, complicated, compelling, and twisty. Laura Tims is a debut author to watch out for.

A million thanks to my friend, and book blogger extraordinaire, Michella! She was kind enough to share her ARC with me despite us being on opposite coasts (she's the best, isn't she?).

If you like complicated stories, with interesting characters, and a side of tension. This is for you.

First, you have these two twins, Grace and Joy, who have a complicated sibling relationship seen through each of their POVs. The characters are just so raw and real, I found myself enraptured the whole time. Then throw in a blackmailer and you also get some mystery into the mix. Granted, I kind of knew who the blackmailer was, but that didn't detract the enjoyment I got from seeing the story unravel.

What I loved about this story were the layers. This is a book about sisters. About friendships. About rape. And also, revenge. Issues were woven into the story that elevated the piece as more than just a book. The characters (even the secondary ones) came to life (I love, love, love Grace's POV and Levi as a character). They, along with the plot, captivated me in such a way I couldn't do anything but finish the book. So my fair warning to you is to let yourself have a space of time where you can read this uninterrupted.

This book is so multi-dimensional. I love it. I can't wait to buy my copy on May 24th. It's just one of those books I know I will reread. Now, mark your calendars for the release day!

Bookish Feels: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

The Book: Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.

As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.

Yet not all promises can be kept.

Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.

My Feels: Historical fiction. I am in awe of writers who can weave a story and capture the essence of a pivotal time--like times of war. To be honest, I never knew about the tragedy that takes place in the book. So thank you Sepetys for making me fully aware.

There is so much to love about this story. The characters who all have their own story and inner turmoil that haunt them as they seek passage. The beautiful writing and different POVs. The stark truth to the horrors and atrocities that have occurred during this time. The pacing and tension, which made me blow through this book in two days. All of it was so captivating and I hope more books like this come to the YA genre.

I only wish the ending wasn't so abrupt. I found myself unsatisfied, since it felt a bit jarring. Probably because I grew attached to the characters and wanted the ending to be revealed just a little bit more. Despite my own subjective preference to the ending, I highly recommend this book, and I thank Joan for recommending it to me.