IWSG and What's Up Wednesday

April went so quickly, I can't believe it's May already!
The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh as a place where writers can talk about their insecurities once a month, and receive encouragement and support from other writers. It's such an amazing group, it even has its own website now, which you can visit here.


Now that the A to Z challenge is over, I can focus on my NaNo novel - I've been trying to find time to get started on edits and revisions for months now. It seems one thing after another crops up so I can't get started properly - illness, work, blogging. 

However, I'm determined to get started on them properly this month. I'm going on holiday next week, but I'm hoping to do a little before I go, so that I'll have a place to start from when I get back. Otherwise I'll just keep pushing back and I'll never start them. 

So that's really all I'm insecure about today - first actually getting started on my revisions, then the process of doing them. It's the first full novel that I'll have tried revising, and I know it's pretty hard! I'm looking forward to it, though - I know what I need to change in the story, and I have a plan of attack. I'm confident that I can make a good start to it before the month ends. 


Now it's time for What's Up Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow. The idea is to let other bloggers know where you are with any writing and reading goals you may have.

It's been a few weeks since I took part in this meme due to the A to Z challenge, but I'm glad to be participating again - I've missed it!



1. What I'm reading

Since my last post, I've read: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare, The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, The Assassins Blade by Sarah J. Maas, The Elite by Kiera Cass, and Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick. My favourite was The Assassins Blade, even if it was devastatingly sad at the end. 

I'm now reading Half Bad by Sally Green, which I've heard is quite good, and Game On by Kyra Lennon, which I've had on my Kindle for ages but have only just got around to reading. 

2. What I'm writing

At the minute? Not much. I'm still recovering from the A to Z challenge! I'm hoping to get started on my NaNo edits before I go on holiday next week, though.

3. What else I've been up to

I've mainly been focusing on the A to Z challenge this past month, so it hasn't left much time for anything else! I went round to my sister's new house with my mum on Easter Sunday, and we mowed her grass for the first time since she'd moved in in December, so that was pretty fun! It had gotten really long, so we took turns and had to go over it twice.

4. What inspires me right now

Successfully completing the A to Z challenge is pretty inspiring, and I feel really motivated to get started on my NaNo edits now that I have more time. 

Comments

  1. Unknown7 May 2014 at 15:31

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh7 May 2014 at 15:36

    You did a great job with the Challenge!
    Sometimes editing is easier in small chunks. Just don't let it overwhelm you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Heather Musk7 May 2014 at 17:15

    Good luck with starting on your revisions. Once you get going with them I'm sure it'll get easier. Of course, I have no idea about editing a large project like that yet but I'm sure you'll be fine once you find your rhythm :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chrys Fey7 May 2014 at 17:42

    Life certainly does get in the way of writing. I hope you can find editing time soon. Focus on editing one chapter at a time. Don't rush. You can do it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rob Z Tobor7 May 2014 at 17:53

    AH DAMN the A to Z is over . . When did that happen I have already started again........ I hope you get back into the swing of writing soon, you are rather good at it. I think my trick is Edit nothing and hope for the best. . . . I think folk can tell.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Click7 May 2014 at 18:26

    You'll have to share what you think of The 5th Wave because I keep seeing it advertised in The Book People catalogue and I'm kind of intrigued.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Susan Gourley/Kelley7 May 2014 at 19:27

    My daughter and I loved The Assassin's Blade. Congrats on the finishing. I love doing edits after the first draft. Hope you have fun with them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jennifer7 May 2014 at 19:39

    Congrats on finishing A to Z and good luck with revisions.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sheena-kay Graham7 May 2014 at 21:11

    You got in some good reading. I finished Blood Crown by ali cross early Tuesday morning. Congrats on completing A-Z and best of luck editing your Nano novel Laura.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Inger7 May 2014 at 22:44

    I am not a writer, just an avid reader, who writes a blog or just leaves pictures on my blog, but I have connected with many writers through the A to Z, some you lose contact with others become true blogger friends. I have come to understand that writing a book and then getting it published is very difficult these days. And then of course it needs to be promoted and sold. I certainly can see how this group will provide support for writers. And now I have become interested in The Assassin's Blade. Hope it is on the Kindle.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Erin L. Funk8 May 2014 at 00:29

    I really need to read Sarah J. Maas's novellas soon. They're sitting on my ereader and I can't believe I haven't devoured them yet. Hope the edits go well this week on your NaNo project! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jessie Humphries8 May 2014 at 01:54

    Dang, you've read a butt load! Excuse my French ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. SK Anthony8 May 2014 at 02:30

    I really enjoyed your A to Z Egypt posts! I'm glad the challenge is over now so we can both focus on our WIPs. Get started and keep on going . . . (now let me follow my own advice lol)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Tonja Drecker8 May 2014 at 02:44

    I think A-Z is an amazing writing feat anyway. And your Egyptian posts were interesting. I think a lot of people need a break after April, but you'll get it! Go revisions! (see the pompoms?)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Krista McLaughlin8 May 2014 at 03:33

    Great job on completing the A to Z! Revisions can definitely be overwhelming. I'm about to start them on my Camp NaNo novel, but for once I'm actually excited to do them. It's good to go into it knowing some of the things you need to work and you'll see the others. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Frankie Miller8 May 2014 at 12:28

    Congratulations on having completed the A-Z, Laura.
    It's difficult to get back into a routine - especially after all the blogging. Writers do get very frustrated when they're disrupted. I suppose it's a good thing in a way; it probably means that we'll figure out a way to carry on.
    All the best with your revision of your novel. It's not a bad thing to rest a while and let your subconscious figure it all out.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Michael Di Gesu8 May 2014 at 14:14

    Completing the challenge and now going into rewrites... Good for you! I know you'll get a good start before you holiday. Determination is the key!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nick Wilford8 May 2014 at 18:57

    I always have trouble getting started with any new project or any revisions. Doesn't matter how many WIPs I've already written! Like with anything, just do small goals at a time - one chapter a week, say. You'll get there!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Annalisa Crawford9 May 2014 at 16:13

    Make sure you read the whole novel first. When I was revising my novella, my character described heaven in one chapter and said she didn't believe in it in the very next one. I might not have caught that going from chapter to chapter... Or is that what everyone does already?? :-/

    ReplyDelete
  20. Suzanne Furness9 May 2014 at 19:37

    Good luck with your revisions, it sounds like you have a plan to forge ahead with it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Clare11 May 2014 at 13:29

    Good luck with your revisions, and enjoy your holiday. It sounds like you have a good plan in mind, so I'm sure that will see you though. :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WEP August - Change of Heart

Image
So I actually wrote this piece for April's WEP, but I was ill so didn't get to post it in the end. I'm quite glad, as it suits this month's theme so much more. Change of Heart ‘Are you ready for this?’ Paul asked. Brian nodded, trying to steady his shaking hands. ‘You’re the only one who can defeat him,’ Molly said. ‘We believe in you.’ She stepped back to join Paul. Brian balled his fists as he looked at the huge stone doors before him. He took a deep breath and pushed them open. Before the doors closed, Brian glimpsed Paul and Molly turn and begin to walk away. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness inside. With a whispered word he created light in the palm of his hand, raising it so it would light up the room. It was empty apart from another doorway, much smaller than the first, hidden away in the corner. Brian marched through it and found himself in a large chamber, lit by many flickering candles mounted along the walls. Someone stoo...
Read more

IWSG

Image
The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh as a place where writers can talk about their insecurities once a month, and receive encouragement and support from other writers. It's such an amazing group, it even has its own website now, which you can visit here . This week I'm a co-host! Be sure to go to Alex's page and visit the other people who are co-hosting.  I had such great plans for my writing this month, but not one of them came through. There were three short stories I wanted to get written, and I also wanted to get back to my NaNo edits, but none of that happened. I still have a little time for one of the short stories, though; it's for Kyra Lennon's cat anthology , and it's due Friday! Not much time to do it, but I made a commitment and I will follow through with it!  Even though I haven't got much writing done in the last month (or the couple before that!) I'm not going to let it get me down. I...
Read more

A is for Arachne and Arlee!

Before I get to my Greek Mythology part of this post, at the request of Alex J. Cavanaugh  (great idea by the way, Alex!), I'd first like to thank Arlee Bird for coming up with the challenge in the first place. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be taking part in this amazing experience every year. Thanks, Arlee! This is one of my favourite tales from Greek mythology, so naturally I chose it for my first letter. Arachne was the daughter of a shepherd, and was famous for the beautiful tapestries she weaved. Nymphs would travel from all over to see her work, and to watch her weave. One day, a nymph asked her if her talent was a gift from the goddess Athena. Arachne protested, saying her skill was all her own, and that her weaving was better than Athena's. Athena heard of this, and challenged the girl to a weaving contest. Both sat at their looms and began to weave, nymphs gathering round to watch. Athena weaved a tapestry based on the glories of the gods, showing the...
Read more