Audrey, Wait! and Morning Sunlight

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway. Seriously one of the best voices I have ever encountered in realistic YA fiction. Audrey is my dream BFF. I just loved every sentence of it.

2. Going to the library and finding twenty new books to read. Can you beat free books? It’s amazing having a library card again, and my new library is in what looks like an old church with a kickass young adult section, so I’m in love.

3. Leftovers! So many helpings of turkey and mashed potatoes and pie left over from Thanksgiving. I’ll be eating well all week :)

4. A good book that drags you away from everything else and keeps you up until three in the morning because you just have to finish it.

5. Morning sunlight. Is there anything softer or more hopeful than that?

Happy Monday, everyone! Anything making you happy this week?

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Hey, all! I'm unplugging for the week to spend time with family for Thanksgiving and to get closer to my November goal of finishing the first draft of my WiP. I'm close! I just have to write the ending and then go back and fill in all the holes. I've left a lot of scenes out because I wasn't feeling inspired at the time to write them, but now I have to figure everything out. Hopefully I will end up with a story that makes some amount of sense!

To all my American followers, have a beautiful and happy Thanksgiving! Good luck to everyone doing NaNo--I'm sending productive vibes your way. You can do it!

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

1. It’s Harry Potter day! Who went to the midnight premiere last night? I’m not going until Sunday, so I’m attempting to avoid all spoilers, but it sounds like another ridiculously fabulous movie!

2. Is it bad that I’m compiling a playlist for my shiny new idea while I’m working on my current WiP? I’m trying my best not to pay the SNI too much attention, but it’s so tempting!

3. Is anyone else excited for the new royal wedding? I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed, because I had a huge crush on Prince William when I was younger, but I still can’t wait to see all the details of the wedding!

4. Fall has sort of arrived here in Houston. Well, it’s in the 60s, and the leaves are dying and falling off the trees (they only really change into brown here, no red or gold). I love it!

5. Thank you all so much for your advice and encouragement on Wednesday’s post. I did a whole bunch of brainstorming, and I think I’ve found the idea that might pull me out of the writing slump, so we’ll see how the writing goes this weekend. I’m definitely more excited about the plot now!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Frustration

Well, okay. I’ve reached the dreaded point where I think my WiP is hopeless. That point where I think I’m never going to finish it. Where I think I shouldn’t ever finish it.

I’m going to finish it. I am. Because I know in another week or so, I’m going to fall in love with it again. But that’s going to take some work. Right now, I need to stop writing and take a hard look at my outline again. I need to figure out how to tighten the plot to make it into an actual book instead of a compilation of scenes. I need to look at my characters and their emotional arcs and their conflicts with each other. I need to make sure every scene is important. Basically, I need to figure out what this WiP is all about.

I’m hoping for that one idea, the idea that changes everything. The idea that makes me fall back in love with the book. It better be coming soon.

Has anyone else had this feeling with a WiP before? Do you have any advice?

Scottish Highlands and Lazy Saturdays

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Planning an itinerary for a trip, even if I’m not going to actually go. I’ve been mapping out my dream Scottish Highlands hiking trip, and it’s been so much fun to peruse the guidebooks.

2. Spying on first dates. I love going to a restaurant and finding people who are clearly on a first date—their body language is just fascinating. Hey, I’m a writer, I’m allowed to be sketchy.

3. Dawson’s Creek. I’ve been watching some of it this week as a reward for getting work done, and it’s making me feel like a thirteen year old again. Team Pacey for life.

4. Browsing through a bookstore and finding so many new books I can’t wait to read. Then ordering them from the library because I’ve already maxed out my book budget.

5. A day of snuggling on the couch and watching college football and Harry Potter. Yep, that was my Saturday.

Happy Monday, everyone! Anything making you happy this week?

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

1. The search to make my apartment like a real home continues. My project this week is to find bookshelves, because though my books do look pretty piled on the floor like this, it’s not the most convenient system.

2. I’ve started using cleaning as a procrastination tool, which I’m finding very ironic. If the writing’s not going well, I’ll do the dishes or fold clothes or do some mindless work as I brainstorm. It’s kind of freaking me out.

3. I’ve finally started watching the new Sherlock Holmes TV show. Is anyone else as in love with Sherlock as I am? He’s just so cute and hilarious in this version. I want to be his best friend.

4. They have pumpkin coffee at the new coffee house I’ve been going to, and it’s making me so happy. I’ve had a great week of writing and sipping pumpkin coffee in one of their comfy chairs as it rains outside—it’s just perfect.

5. My word count for NaNo is now 14,000 words! I’m getting there…sort of :) How’s everyone else doing?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

My Own Strange NaNo

NaNo has not been going exactly as planned. I’ve found that I can’t turn my inner editor as I write, so my progress has been a bit slow. And I’m okay with that. I’ve written just over 10,000 words since November 1st, but they’re good words. Words I hopefully won’t have to revise too much.

My characters, as they always do, are changing the plot on me, and I’ve been revising my outline to keep up, which has taken up more of my time. But I’m getting more and more excited about where the book is going now, and I’m still all wrapped up in it, spending every free moment brainstorming and jotting down ideas when I can.

So I’m still loving NaNo, even though I’m changing the rules around to suit me. It’s been a productive month so far.

What about you? How has NaNo been going? Are your goals shifting as you go along?

Big Texas Sky and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Wide open roads and the big Texas sky. It makes everything seem…possible, if that makes any sense.

2. The previews for the new Disney movie, Tangled. Does anyone else think it looks hilarious?

3. Damon Salvatore. If you watch the epic show The Vampire Diaries, you know how awesome he is.

4. Mornings of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and a big mug of chai tea and lots of productive writing. Made my Saturday morning one of the best ever.

5. Jennie’s contest for reaching 100 followers! At her blog, Garden Full of Lily, she’s giving away $50 to either Barnes & Noble or Starbucks (yay for books and caffeine!). CLICK HERE to enter! And if you're not following her, you should be :)

Happy Monday, everyone! Anything making you happy this week? Is everyone loving Daylight Savings, or is that just me?

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

1. Last week, I went to Smithville, Texas. Mainly because it was a gorgeous day. But also because it’s the kind of town the MC in my WiP grew up in. Look how pretty! It’s where they filmed Hope Floats, for any of you who have seen that spectacular movie (no sarcasm. I really love that movie.).



2. I am now hopelessly addicted to My So-Called Life, a TV series that ran for one season in the early 90s. Okay, really, I’m addicted to Jordan Catalano/Jared Leto. Such great commentary on being a teenager. And so much plaid!

3. I won an ARC from Julie Karr of her new book, XVI. I’m totally loving it! It’s such an intriguing dystopian, and I adore the main character.

4. Okay, so since Halloween’s over, I can listen to Christmas carols, right? I’m so excited for the holiday season. Coats and mittens and hot chocolate and sparkly lights everywhere—so much fun!

5. Absolutely cannot wait for the new Harry Potter movie to come out! Thank goodness they split this last one into two movies—I don’t want it to be over yet!

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun plans? Or will the weekend be full of NaNo?

How NaNo is Making Me a Better Writer

So NaNo is off and running! I’m loving this sense of adrenaline to write as much as I can, whenever I can. I only hope I can keep it up! I’m bringing my journal with me everywhere I go so that I can jot down paragraphs or scene ideas or whatever comes to mind. People in the voting line yesterday thought I was crazy, but if I want to write 50,000 more words on my Birdie WiP, I have to resort to some crazy.

I’ve always liked reading before I go to sleep, but the past few days, I’ve been writing in bed until I pass out. It’s an untapped time of productivity for me: I shut my email, refuse to look at anything on the Internet, and just write. And I get so much done! Why was I not doing this before?

Any time that I absolutely cannot write, like when I’m jogging or driving, I’m brainstorming. I’m going over the plot in my mind and thinking up new ways to put my characters in horrible situations :) It seems like every moment I have these days is dedicated to my WiP, and I’m loving it.

Has writing overtaken your life now that NaNo’s started? Or were you always this dedicated?

Writing Space Blogfest

Summer over at ...and this time, concentrate! is hosting a blogfest where we post pictures of where we write. CLICK HERE to see the details and the other people participating! Also, if you're not already following Summer, you should be :)

Well, I was going to post pictures of my favorite table at my favorite coffee shop, but it burned down two nights ago. I'm not kidding. It happened during a costume party, and luckily no one was hurt, but I have to find a new favorite coffee shop. So, until then, I'm writing here:

Ok, well I'm supposed to be writing at my beautiful new desk. Really, though, I tend to write here:

My comfy Urban Outfitters chair is just too tempting! I've just moved into a new apartment, so I haven't gotten around to decorating my writing spaces and making them my own, but I'm on the hunt for fun ideas. Can't wait to see everyone else's space :)

Happy Monday, everyone!