What's Up Wednesday - 18th September

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What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to tell the bloggy world what you're up to, in both reading and writing and anything else that's going on for you.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              

                  

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What I'm reading:

 

I'm currently re-reading my way through the wonderful 13th Floor Series by Christine Rains.

She's having a month long blog tour in October to celebrate the release of her stories in one collection, and to join in the celebrations I've been giving my thoughts on each story in the series as part of my new 'Book Thoughts on Thursday' feature.

 

http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.co.uk/

 

What I'm writing: 

 

writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.co.uk

 

I've been working on a piece of flash fiction that will feature in the next installment of Write ... Edit ... Publish. 

This is a monthly hop with a different theme each month. This months theme is 'Moving On', and those of us already signed up will be posting this Friday, 20th September. 

It's not too late to join in, so head on over to sign up yourself! 

 

 

 

What else I've been up to:

 

notboxed.com

 

 

My new course materials arrived last week for my first creative writing course with the Open University. I've enjoyed having the rest from study over the summer and I'm now ready to get back into it. 

As soon as the parcel arrived I sat straight down with my books, schedule and diary to mark out all the important dates for the assignments and End of Course Assessment. No exam this time! 

 

 

 

 

 

What inspires me right now:

 

I know the start date isn't officially until 5th October, but I've made a tentative start on the course book. It's kick-started my freewriting habit and introduced me to clustering as well. Clustering is a lot like mind maps, with a key word in the middle of the page, from which you branch off different ideas as they present themselves.

I've never tried this technique before, but I find I'm quite liking it, and I'm having more ideas than I thought I would. It's definitely inspired me in the writing stakes.

 

 

What have you been up to this week? Read any good books? Have you tried clustering?

 

Happy Wednesday everyone!

 

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What's Up Wednesday - A Ready, Set, Write! Round Up

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What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to tell the bloggy world what you're up to, in both reading and writing and anything else that's going on for you.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              

                  

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What I'm reading:

The guys and I in the A Song of Ice and Fire Book Club have just embarked on the last stretch of A Game of Thrones. Only 200 more pages and I'll be ready for the next one.

 

 

 I've also just finished reading Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, about a thirty-something guy who runs a record shop and has just been dumped by his girlfriend. He has a list of his top five break-ups and blames them for how his life has turned out.

It's not my usual kind of read, but was chosen by one of the members of my other book group. It was enjoyable enough I suppose, and only took two sittings to get through it, but I couldn't honestly say if it was because I actually enjoyed it or whether I just wanted to get it done and dusted. 

I was certainly glad back to my fantasy worlds!

 

 

What I'm writing:

 

A Ready, Set, Write! round up.

 

 

 

I got a lot out of this exercise, set by the What's Up hosts. It helped me to focus my writing and to plan my projects to get things actually finished. Thanks to my weekly goal setting I managed to submit my first competition entry, and it's helped with my regular blogging schedule.

A huge thanks must go to the hosts for a wonderful summer challenge, and I hope I can keep up the good work that I've started. Onwards and upwards!

 

What else I've been up to:

 

There are plenty of blog hops and tours coming up in the next couple of months, so I've been doing lots of reading and rereading for reviews and author interviews. There are so many hops doing the rounds that I've had to put my foot down and tell myself I've signed up for enough. It's difficult though, they all sound so much fun!

 

What inspires me right now?

 

The sunshine! We've had some beautiful weather over the past couple of weeks, and it's nice to have a proper summer. It really fills you with hope and makes you feel like you can achieve anything you want.

I'm certainly going to enjoy it while it lasts, autumn will be here soon enough.

 

 

Happy Wednesday everyone!

 

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What's Up Wednesday - 14th Aug

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What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to tell the bloggy world what you're up to, in both reading and writing and anything else that's going on for you.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              

                  

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What I'm reading:

You guessed it -

 

 

On page 401 now!

What I'm writing:

Ready, Set, Write! goals, week 8:

1. Edit and submit short story for August competition.

Eek! It's gone, submitted today. I went through the usual doubts about whether it's any good or if anyone will like it. In the end I thought 'what the hey' I won't know until it goes. If nothing else it's given me an experience of actually submitting something. It feels good, you know, I might do it more often.

 
     2.  Keep going with planning the novel idea that has forced itself upon me this week.

 

This has been plodding along whenever I've had a spare half an hour. At the moment I'm writing a very rough outline of all my ideas in a little notebook, before making a start on a more focused scene-by-scene plot outline.

 
      3.  Write and post something for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.

 

Yeah, back on track with the blog hop this week. You can check it out here.

 

 

 

 

 

Goals for week 9:

1. Write a 1000 word story for the theme of Vacation for new bloghop Write...Edit...Publish.
2. Do character profiles for at least two out of the three main characters on new WIP.
3. Write and post something for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.

 

What else I've been up to:

I've become very aware of all the books in a growing stack waiting to be read, as well as all the ones on my Kindle and on my Goodreads TBR list. I'm in the process of putting together a comprehensive list of them all so I know what I'm up against with what's pending. I need to concentrate on knocking things off this list before adding anymore to it.

 

What inspires me right now:

Actually getting something submitted to a competition has been a real boost for me. It doesn't matter if it's useless and doesn't get anywhere, at least I know it will get read and judged. It's a nice feeling to have something completed and submitted, one that I could get used to.

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

 

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What's Up Wednesday! - 7th Aug edition

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What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to tell the bloggy world what you're up to, in both reading and writing and anything else that's going on for you.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              

                  

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First of all, I send my apologies for my absence last week in the What's Up Wednesday hop. Those of you who follow me regularly will know that I've been experiencing some internet issue, but now it's all sorted I'm back with a vengeance! Well, sort of ...

What I'm reading:

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. (Ha! and I bet you all thought it was going to be A Game of Thrones!)

Some buds at work and I have started another mini book club and have all put two books into a pot. The next read is pulled out of the hat by an independent adjudicator. I have a suspicion that one girl has put the new J K Rowling/Robert Galbraith book in, to which one of the others has strong opinion. When that's pulled out it could be interesting!

I'm enjoying Harold Fry at the moment, it's going along at a nice pace. It's a nice departure from A Game of Thrones.

Oh yeah, and I'm still reading that too ;-)  On page 251 now!

What I'm writing:

Ready, Set, Write! goals, week 6 and 7:

 

1. Do first draft of short story for August competition.

My first draft is complete, and I have even gone old-school and written it all by hand in my notebook. There are some benefits to having no internet!

 
     2.  Keep going with Camp NaNo.

 

Overall I managed 10,500 of my 25,000 word count. I'm not getting too upset about it, it's more words than I usually produce in a month so I'm taking away that positive. It's helped me establish ways that I prefer to do my writing, which means I'm wiser than when I started. I probably won't take on such a challenge again for a while, I know now just how much I can get done alongside everything else in my life.

 

     3.  Write and post something for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.

 

I have managed one out of the two blog hop prompts, which you can view here. I haven't been able to access he details of the other one in time for the link up, but I'll still be posting my contribution to it this week.

 
      4.  Try and write one page of free writing in my notebook every day.

 

This is the goal I have struggled the most with. If I'm honest (and this is going to sound ridiculous) but I'm just not sure about free writing. I know there is no set way to do it, but I just can't get my head around it. This is probably one of the daftest things to admit to, but I just can't focus on it. It's definitely on my list of things to improve.

 

 

 

 

 

Goals for week 6:

1. Edit and submit short story for August competition.
2. Keep going with planning the novel idea that has forced itself upon me this week.
3. Write and post something for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.

 

What else I've been up to:

I have written what was supposed to be a scene for a wonderful blog hop being run by Christine Rains and Ceclia Robert, which is entitled More Than Just a Kiss Blogfest. The idea is to write a kissing scene in no more than 250 words and post it in the designated time period.

Well, my first go at this came in at nearly 500 words, but I was so caught up in the scene and the characters that they are all I can think about at the moment. I have a story forming in my head and I was up until nearly midnight the other night writing down ideas for the story. I'm quite excited by this so I'm making it my new WIP to keep me going. Hopefully I'll have an update on my progress next week.
 

What inspires me right now:

Strangely, work is inspiring me right now. It's pretty safe to say that I don't really enjoy my day job very much, and the last couple of weeks have been particularly difficult. I'm on holiday for two weeks now which means it'll be hard to go back. It really gives me the impetus to get on with my writing, and to try my best to do it well. If only I could do it well enough to give up the day job, then I'd be the happiest person in the world!

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

 

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What's Up Wednesday - 24th July

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What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to tell the bloggy world what you're up to, in both reading and writing and anything else that's going on for you.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              

                  

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What I'm reading:

      

  

Still on A Game of Thrones ...  

What I'm writing:

Ready, Set, Write! goals, week 5:

1. Plan a 1500 word short story for another competition. 

So, I've achieved this goal, but I've cheated a little bit. I've been going through my Dropbox folders of story ideas and first drafts that are half done, and I realise that there are a lot. I've found one that I like and that will fit in with the criteria set for the competition, all I have to tweak are a couple of details but nothing too drastic.

      2.  Keep going with Camp NaNo.
 

I'm steadily approaching the 10,000 word mark. I haven't been able to write every single day, but when I get a chance I'm churning out 1500 words at a go. Overall I'm chuffed with this progress, even if I am only half way to where I should be.

   

     3.  Write and post something for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.
 

I was a couple of days late with my Wednesday Blog Hop this week, and I almost forgot to finish it and get it up on my blog. I managed it though and it is here if you fancy a peek.

 
      4.  Try and achieve 30mins free writing every day.
 

I know it really shouldn't be difficult to find 30 minutes each day to do some free writing, but they way I've been trying to do it is. I've been trying to find 30 minutes of peaceful, quiet time to write something, but we all know how unlikely that is to find every single day. I've managed 4/7 days this week like that. I'm changing tactics next week, and removing the time limit. If I grab a few minutes to write in my notebook then I'll be happy.

 

Goals for week 6:

1. Do first draft of short story for August competition.
2. Keep going with Camp NaNo.
3. Write and post something for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.
4. Try and write one page of free writing in my notebook every day.

 

What else I've been up to:

I've discovered Netflix this week, which I can also have on my phone. It does mean I'll probably become more unsociable at lunchtimes while I watch some comedy or other for half an hour, but I think I can cope with that :-)

 

What inspires me right now:

It might sound odd, but I inspire myself right now. I'm pleased with my efforts in getting my NaNo count up to the 10,000 mark and now I know I can do it I just want to keep going. My story is growing and taking shape as I write, going in directions I'd never expected, and it's brilliant. I just want to write more to see what else is going to happen.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

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What's Up Wednesday - 17th July

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What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to tell the bloggy world what you're up to, in both reading and writing and anything else that's going on for you.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              

                  

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What I'm reading:

      

  

Still on A Game of Thrones ...  

I am reading this as a part of the 'A Song of Ice and Fire Book Club', fronted by mithrilwisdom.com. Click here to check out the schedule for the first four books. 

What I'm writing:

Ready, Set, Write! goals, week 4:

1. Submit story for short story competition in July.

So, I didn't submit my story for the particular competition it was intended because I was reluctant to rush it just to get it sent out. I had a very long debate with myself about whether to just get it sent as good practice for submitting, but decided to let the finished draft sit for a little while before editing.

I have another place that I'm thinking of sending it so all is not completely lost. I finished the story so I'm pleased with that effort at least.  

     2. Get caught up with my Camp NaNo word count.
  

I have made good progress this weekend, my word count is now a little over 6500. Technically I'm still behind but this is the most words I've written on one project in a long time so I'm dwelling on that aspect. I don't expect to complete my 25,000 by the end of the month but if I get halfway there I'll be happy.
 

     3.  Write and post something again for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.

Yep, done! So far this is the only goal I'm managing to achieve every week. My latest offering is here.

     4.  Continue with 30mins free writing every day.

I've managed four out of seven days, so I'm up on last week. Progress again!

 

Goals for week 5:

1. Plan a 1500 word short story for another competition.
2. Keep going with Camp NaNo.
3. Write and post something for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.
4. Try and achieve 30mins free writing every day.

What else I've been up to:

I discovered a new website this week called Scribophile. I've been reading a lot about the value of critique partners (CPs), and how giving critique can help with your own writing.

This site allows you to critique the work of others, and you earn points as you do so which you then use to put your own work up for critique too.

I don't have a CP at the moment, and would like to build some experience in offering advice on the work of others. I'm giving the site a go to see if it helps at all with my writing and critiquing.

There are so many sites out there to help writers with so many aspects of their craft, I think I'll give some of them a go until I find what works for me.

What inspires me right now:

As so many of you out there, the sunshine is keeping me inspired at the moment. It's wonderful how it gives you so much positive energy, you feel like you can do just about anything with a smile on your face. It's helping me to feel very positive about my writing life at the moment.


How about the rest of you? How goes your Wednesday?

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What's Up Wednesday - 10th July

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What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to tell the bloggy world what you're up to, in both reading and writing and anything else that's going on for you.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              

                  

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What I'm reading:

      

  

Still on A Game of Thrones ...

 

 

What I'm writing:

 

Ready, Set, Write! goals, week 3:

1. Finish and do revisions for short story competition in July. Possibly submit, eek!

I'm not really ready for submission of my short story yet, it is still sat in the same state as last week I'm sorry to say :-(

     2.  Keep up with my 800 word a day target for my Camp NaNo project.

 

I have done some work on my NaNo project, I'm currently at about 3500. At this point though I should be over 6000, but there's plenty of time to catch up. *she says, buzzing with optimism*  

 

     3.  Write and post something again for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.

This is the only thing I managed to achieve with my writing goals this week. To check out my latest story head over here.

     4.  Continue with 30mins free writing every day.

 

After quite a good week of free writing, I'm ashamed to say I haven't done a single session of it this week. Although I've been busy I thought it would be easier to find just a half an hour a day. All I can say is, must do better.

 

 

  

 

Goals for week 4:

 

1. Submit story for short story competition in July.
2. Get caught up with my Camp NaNo word count.
3. Write and post something again for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.
4. Continue with 30mins free writing every day.

 

 

What else I've been up to:

 

I've downloaded and will be trialling the Scrivener software this week. I've heard different things about it, but haven't had much inclination towards it until now.

I'm hoping to use it to organise my projects, large and small, so I can keep track of them all simultaneously. Ideally I could do with some kind of project management software for tracking too, but my searches for one haven't proved fruitful as yet.

 

 

What inspires me right now:

 

Right now I'm inspired by Laura, author of My Baffling Brain. She has been doing Camp NaNoWriMo too and has reached over 6000 words already. It makes my 3000 words look pretty lame, but reading her update has spurred me on to catch up with mine and more. I want my graph to be over the target line like hers is.

 

Thanks Laura for spurring me on before I get too far behind!

 

 

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