Category: Ready Set Write

Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Katy Upperman and myself. (For the detailed information about RSW, including  the wonderful buttons created by the lovely Jaime, click here)

Disclaimer: I’m in Europe this week, so I might be slow making my way through the blogs. Sorry about that, but I’ll try to do a bit of cheering each day!

IMPORTANT REMINDER –> The last week of Ready. Set. Write! (8-24 – 8-31) we’ll be holding a fun virtual event called Manuscripts and Manicures. We’ll each be painting our nails in a way that reflects our current WiP, then posting a photo of our manicure creations.

And don’t forget, if you’re on Twitter, we check and cheer each other on using #RSWrite

1.  How I did on last week’s goals.

• Finish drafting this manuscript. –> ALMOST. I wrote about 5000 words last week which isn’t too bad, since we left for Europe on Tuesday.
• Finalize its blurb for the cover reveal. –> NOPE.
• Send the feedback on a wonderful manuscript I’m beta reading. So. Good. So so so good! –> YES (and this book is simply AMAZING) I finished reading it on the plane from DC to Frankfurt and I couldn’t put it down. Loved. It.

2.  My goal(s) for this week.

• Blurb
• Finish drafting. I’m going to write at least 1000 words each day.

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.

And he kisses me. Tender and passionate. Desperate and hopeful.
I forget myself into his lips. Into the way he tastes, the way my entire body reacts to his, the way his arms tighten around my waist.
“What do you think you’re doing?” My father’s voice booms.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).

I’m currently in Europe and want to enjoy every second of it, but I also need to make sure I finish drafting this manuscript…

5.  Something I love about my WiP.

That a scene unlocked itself.

Are you participating in RSW? 
Don’t forget to link to your  update below!

It’s time for our third giveaway! This lovely package has been assembled by Katy

GIVEAWAY Winner

The winner of Alison’s wonderful giveaway package is Crystal Schubert 🙂 Congrats Crystal!

And it’s giveaway time again!

This time the lovely package has been prepared by the wonderful Katy!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

(giveaway is open internationally – to RSW participants only)

Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Katy Upperman and myself. (For the detailed information about RSW, including  the wonderful buttons created by the lovely Jaime, click here)

And don’t forget, if you’re on Twitter, we check and cheer each other on using #RSWrite

1.  How I did on last week’s goals.

I shifted priority to writing, writing, writing this week. Always Second Best comes out on October 6th and I need the e-ARCs ready by September…so I am writing, writing, writing.

• Set up the bilingual version of One Dream Only –> NOPE.
• Set up the paperback German version of One Dream Only –> NOPE.
• Set up the paperback bilingual version of One Dream Only –> NOPE.
• Write, write, write. Every single day for at least 4 hours. –> YES, I did write 16030 words this week.  So that’s a definite YAY!
• Run at least twice and yoga twice –> I did run twice and walked a lot…but no yoga.
• Write a selfpub post on Wednesday –> NOPE

And I did get to enjoy one amazing evening with Katy and her fun daughter: great restaurant and wonderful book event where I got to meet Dahlia who was my mentor in #PitchWars three years ago 🙂 and Miranda Kenneally (I’m such a huge huge fan of her books) and Lindsay Smith (her books sound super intriguing) and Jessica Spotswood (I can’t wait to start Born Wicked!)

2.  My goal(s) for this week.

We’re leaving for Europe for vacations on Tuesday, but due to my deadline I will need to squeeze in some writing time. So I have one goal and one goal only (actually I have three)

• Finish drafting this manuscript.
• Finalize its blurb for the cover reveal.
• Send the feedback on a wonderful manuscript I’m beta reading. So. Good. So so so good!

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.

“I don’t care if you’re first or last in the showcase. I don’t care if you go on to become a professional ballerina. I don’t care about all that.” I run my finger on her cheek, dying to kiss her. “I care about the way you always try to put other people first, I care about the way you always find something to smile about, I care about the way you make me feel.”
“And how is that?”
“Like I’m the King of the World.”
She cracks a smile. It’s small but it’s there, and I do feel like the King of the World. “I can’t believe you’re referencing Titanic, you said that movie was way too long and that they could have both fit on that wooden panel at the end.”

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).

Catching up.

5.  Something I love about my WiP.

The romance. All the romance.

Are you participating in RSW? 
Don’t forget to link to your  update below!

It’s time for our third giveaway! This lovely package has been assembled by  Erin

GIVEAWAY Winner

The winner of Erin’s wonderful giveaway package is Tonja Drecker 🙂 Congrats Tonja!

And it’s giveaway time again!

This time the lovely package has been prepared by the wonderful Alison!

Giveaway open internationally, to RSW participants only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am SO very much looking forward to reading all about your progress!

(oh and stay tuned for tomorrow’s post….it seems the Chemical Engineer may be back on those pages…)

Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Katy Upperman and myself. (For the detailed information about RSW, including  the wonderful buttons created by the lovely Jaime, click here)

And don’t forget, if you’re on Twitter, we check and cheer each other on using #RSWrite

1.  How I did on last week’s goals.

Whomp. Whomp. Part Deux? 🙂 And DEFINITELY YAY!!!! I released A Summer Like No Other so that’s a definite highlight! (did you see the giveaway I‘m running ;))

• My book is coming out on Thursday sooooooooo enjoying it without stressing too too much is one of my goals…–> CHECK!!! 🙂 I enjoyed my release day. So. Much. Thanks to my husband and spending the day with Katy and Riley and thanks to all my amazing friends and all the encouraging words, tweets, retweets, comments, phone call from my parents and so on that made this day oh so special!

• Write at least 2000 words a day (except on Thursday) –> WHOMP WHOMP. BIG FAIL. Silver lining? I did do my cover for Always Second Best (sooooo happy with it, thanks to Katy, Riley and my husband for the comments and feedback :)), and I did figure out parts of my plot. Now, I just have to buckle down and write it.
• Run twice this week, work out once and do yoga twice –> YES!
• Continuing my online class –> somewhat yes.
• Prepare for my release on Thursday (send information to bloggers who signed up for my Book Blitz, newsletter, teasers, newsletter) –> YES!
• Write a selfpub post –>Nope
• Set up One Dream Only in German (the ebook) –> YES!

2.  My goal(s) for this week.

• Set up the bilingual version of One Dream Only
• Set up the paperback German version of One Dream Only
• Set up the paperback bilingual version of One Dream Only
• Write, write, write. Every single day for at least 4 hours.
• Run at least twice and yoga twice
• Write a selfpub post on Wednesday

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.

Whomp. Whomp. —> the summary of my writing this week.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).

Finding the time to write.

5.  Something I love about my WiP.

Its cover 🙂

Are you participating in RSW? 
Don’t forget to link to your  update below!

It’s time for our third giveaway! This lovely package has been assembled by  Erin

GIVEAWAY Time

Erin’s package includes: “Embrace the Journey” journal with cork cover, “Enjoy the Little Things” notepad, Ink Joy mini pens, 2 pack of “Write On!” mini notebooks, Scrabble pencils that say: jot, note, write, create, compose, andinscribe, “Do One Thing Every Day That Makes You Happy” pencil case, 2 packs of paperclips shaped like rabbits and crocodiles, manicure kit, Eos Fresh Flowers hand lotion, Revlon Fashionista nail polish (teal), David’s PomTango tea  (makes 34 oz.), Strawberry Fusion Tic Tacs, Cadbury Jelly Popping Candy chocolate bar, and Trident Very Berry gum.

Giveaway open internationally, to RSW participants only.
To enter, click the link below!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway!

I am SO very much looking forward to reading all about your progress!

Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Katy Upperman and myself. (For the detailed information about RSW, including  the wonderful buttons created by the lovely Jaime, click here)

And don’t forget, if you’re on Twitter, we check and cheer each other on using #RSWrite

1.  How I did on last week’s goals.

Womp. Womp. And yay? I forgot how hard it was to draft while trying to get everything ready for a release…

• Write 10000 words in ASB i.e write at least 2000 words a day. –> I wrote about 3000 words
• Continue yoga at least 3 times a week and if my back feels better, run at least once. –> my back has been better but I didn’t do any workout this week.
• Catch-up on my online class –> Yep
• Write a selfpub post –> Done.
• Finish timeline and create timeline for Always Second Best –> Tough one but a bit more clarity.
• Write newsletter for Thursday –> Done 🙂

2.  My goal(s) for this week.

• My book is coming out on Thursday sooooooooo enjoying it without stressing too too much is one of my goals…
• Write at least 2000 words a day (except on Thursday)
• Run twice this week, work out once and do yoga twice
• Continuing my online class
• Prepare for my release on Thursday (send information to bloggers who signed up for my Book Blitz, newsletter, teasers, newsletter)
• Write a selfpub post
• Set up One Dream Only in German (the ebook)

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.

Surprising. Em & Nick have a mind of their own, that’s for sure.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).

Balancing my release and writing.

5.  Something I love about my WiP.

My side characters. I love that they also “speak” to me ❤

Are you participating in RSW? 
Don’t forget to link to your  update below!

I am SO very much looking forward to reading all about your progress!

Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Katy Upperman and myself. (For the detailed information about RSW, including  the wonderful buttons created by the lovely Jaime, click here)

And don’t forget, if you’re on Twitter, we check and cheer each other on using #RSWrite

1.  How I did on last week’s goals.

Hmmm. Not so good. I threw my back and…that wasn’t really conducive to productivity. I have decided I should never mop again

• Write 10000 words in ASB (back in Scrivener) – NOPE. I did move my document to Scrivener and I’m also working on getting my plot right thanks to an online class. But not being able to move for a few days made it hard and I have a lot to catch up…I can sit again properly so yay!
• Finalize the ASLNO e-Arcs and send them out first to FB group and then set it up on Netgalley. –> Done and the first reviews are coming in. Always so nerve-wracking.
• Finalize the paperback version of ASLNO –> Almost done. I did the last read-through and reuploaded the files..

• Work out 3 times and run 2 times –> I did Yoga almost every single day this week, but didn’t run.
• Work on the detailed timeline to release date –> In progress.
• Write post on self-publishing –> Yes 🙂

2.  My goal(s) for this week.

• Write 10000 words in ASB i.e write at least 2000 words a day.
• Continue yoga at least 3 times a week and if my back feels better, run at least once.
• Catch-up on my online class
• Write a selfpub post
• Finish timeline and create timeline for Always Second Best
• Write newsletter for Thursday

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.

I’ve done quite a bit of re-reading this week as I finalized the files for A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER to make my pre-order date…and I played around with some quotes…this was my Teaser Tuesday quote and I kind of love it 🙂

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).

My back.

5.  Something I love about my WiP.

Nick & Em. I really do love Nick & Em and I’m so happy I get to spend more time with them.

Are you participating in RSW? 
Don’t forget to link to your  update below!

I am SO very much looking forward to reading all about your progress!