Yay, it´s time for Happy Friday 😀 Looking forward to know what made you smile this week!
This was my first week at work after more than 3 weeks away, after our wonderful honeymoon and while I was happy to be back and to see my colleagues, I am tired 😀
Looking back at the past 7 days, quite a lot made me smile, so here is a little recap:
Reading: I almost read all the books which were on my Spring Reading List (I´ll do a recap soon). This week, I read two wonderful stories: IF I STAY and WHERE SHE WENT (both by Gayle Forman).  The way they were written inspired me to work even harder on my WiP. I read the second one in the train and yep, trying to fight the tears. Again. If you haven’t read them, you should!
                                   
   
Writing: On Monday, I reread my YA Contemporary romance WiP and I surprised by myself: I really like it 😀 but then I froze: where is the story going? That’s when I decided that I needed to get my creativity going before sitting my butt in the train and powering through on it. Enters Christa and her fantastic idea to compile flash fiction with the theme “This one time at band camp” stories. And I wrote it in two days. And I loved it. But then I froze again: what if I got everything wrong (grammar, feelings…) and I turned to Jaime for help. Have I said before that Jaime is amazing? And that if you get a CP like her you’re one lucky writer? 😀 So yep, I am ready to send it off to Christa…
Jogging: I decided to take up jogging again. I need a way to burn stress…I started this week and while I can’t run that far yet, the feeling after I was done was one of calmness and happiness…All those happy hormones, you know 😀 Plus I get to jog by the Rhine so it’s pretty cool (and with my hubby if he’s patient enough to let me run with him)
Last but not least…the view from the train as I was coming back from work yesterday. I was tired, the train was late which made me a bit cranky (I know if hubby is reading this, he is rolling his eyes: yes, I was only a bit cranky :D) but as always, looking outside of the train window while getting closer to where I live, made me smile and feel more serene (for a little while at least :D)
So, tell me what made you smile this week?
Elodie Nowodazkij 
Welcome back! I loved (loved loved loved) IF I STAY, but I haven’t read WHERE SHE WENT yet. It’s been on my list forever, but I think I forgot about it. Time to bump it up. And yay on jogging again! I love jogging, but only if I have pretty scenery. Otherwise it’s so.boring. Running against the Rhine sounds fabulous!
Thanks Meredith! Right after reading IF I STAY, I wasn´t sure if I should dive into WHERE SHE WENT right away but somebody convinced me that it was at least as good if not better 😀 And she was right… I am not (yet) that good at jogging, I get tired easily but I do love the feeling afterwards 😀
Most people would be saying “*Groan*… back to work!” It’s great that you have colleagues that make returning to work something to look forward to!
This week I smiled at life–but I generally do. Nothing in particular made me extra-special smiley. Except perhaps my family. But then, that’s normal. 🙂
My colleagues are great 😀 And I think that it´s wonderful that you see how much your family makes you happy 😀 Hope you´re having a nice weekend, Colin!
Aw, thanks, Elodie. 🙂 You’re a pretty great CP too! So that’s one thing that’s made me smile this week. Another? Figuring out the major plot/conflict/big reveal problem in my WiP. For months now it’s been bothering me that my some of the conflict didn’t really come to a head, to some kind of blowout, if you will. I had all the elements, I just wasn’t using them to their maximum potential. A brief talk with my sister helped me sort it all out, and now I think my WiP will be WAY better. That definitely made me smile. 😀
😀 I am glad that a talk with your sister helped you towards a big blowout 😀 Sometimes even if we have all elements, writing that big conflict or its resolution is a tad scary or we don´t see how we can make it happen! Hope you´re having a wonderful weekend, Jaime!
I had a pretty rough week, so not much made me smile. However, I did win an ARC of Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone, which I’m excited about! That made me smile. 🙂 I also got an email from someone I hadn’t talked to in awhile, which was nice.
I’ve read both of those books. I really loved Where She Went! That is great about your WIP–always good to read over stuff and like what you wrote. 🙂
Ohhh sorry to hear you had a rough week! Hope next one is better! I remember you winning that ARC from Katy 😀 Can´t wait to hear your thoughts about it 😀
I had a great writing week which has made me smile a lot! I haven’t read Where She Went yet because I need to prepare myself first but I looooved If I Stay…mega tears though!
Yay for a great writing week Rebecca 😀 Hope next one is as good or even better! The emotions in WHERE SHE WENT are different than in IF I STAY but also so powerful, dealing with grief and how it can all come back to you in a second… And I loved the voice, I was scared at first because I´m not used of reading from a guy´s point of view but it was really great! Would love to hear your thoughts on it once you´ve read it 😀
Welcome back!
Sounds like an amazing trip and only natural to be a little disoriented when so close to but not quite home. I remember when I was away for 3 months in Asia, the last 3 days I was not able to enjoy myself, because part of me was already somewhere else, I ended up changing my ticket and leaving early – just waiting for a train that is late – the way you described it reminded me of that moment 🙂
Thanks Claire 😀 The trip was really amazing! Sometimes, the brain just goes faster than the feet can 😀 I would love to read about your trip to Asia, did you blog about it at some point? Hope you´re having a great time!