Tag: Sara Biren

It´s the last post for #WriterRecharge this year and wow, time really does fly!  Don´t forget to post your update on Sara´s blog.

How did I do?

This past week, I did pretty well (except in the exercising part) but I used the bonus weekend to revise and edit ONE, TWO, THREE…I spent about 10 hours on it and I still have quite a bit to do, but I AM SO EXCITED about the changes I´m currently making. There´s still a lot to do afterwards: sending it back to my editor, and then to my copy editor for another read before the final proofread.

I was able to do a lot this weekend thanks to my wonderful and patient husband.

This was our conversation on Saturday morning

What did I want to achieve?

• Follow a writing schedule (I need to write 5 days a week)
• Revise 8 chapters of my YA thriller DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL (two chapters a week)
• Write 10 000 of a new YA contemporary romance (companion of ONE TWO THREE) called ALWAYS SECOND BEST (I need to update my projects’ page very soon).
• I need to work out at least twice a week. How is this writing related you may ask? Well…my word for 2014 is balance and making sure I get some exercise in will help me with my balance and thus, with my writing. 

And?

• I did follow a writing schedule (4 to 5 days a week)
• I revised  4 chapters of my YA thriller
• I wrote about 6000 words of ALWAYS SECOND BEST
• Worked out at least twice a week (almost managed, yay!)
• AND….I revised + edited 11 chapters of ONE, TWO, THREE…

February has been really productive! Thank you so much Sara for including me in this, thank you so much to the other wonderful co-hosts ( Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Liz Parker)  and to everyone who joined us! (yes this sounds like an Oscar speech :-))

Let´s make March even greater (whichever way we feel is right for us!)

If you want to learn more about #WriterRecharge, just click here. The short story: brainchild of Sara Biren, it´s a way to keep motivated during the month of February.  Your hosts and cheerleaders: Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Liz Parker,  Sara Biren and me. Every Monday in February, update your progress via your blog or twitter. Link your blog posts at Sara’s Monday posts. And throughout the month, don´t forget to use the hashtag to connect with other writers, have writing parties, and cheer one another on!

How did I do?

Hmmm I had a wonderful weekend in France but the trip there took a bit longer than planned…so no writing time for me. But I enjoyed the time with my family and ate a lot of yummy food. The rest of the week was productive and even the drive to France included brainstorming with my husband…

• Did a lot of plotting this week…
• Wrote 2000 words in my new YA contemporary: ALWAYS SECOND BEST (yay! new words!)
• Worked out two times (I had planned two so :-))
• Wrote or revised 4 days during the week (yay!)

What are my goals for this week?

• I will need to edit, edit, edit and edit this week. My wonderful editor is sending me back my manuscript with I’m sure very helpful notes.
• Write 2000  words in my YA contemporary
• Work out 3 times this week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
• Write or revise 5 days this week

Can’t wait to cheer you on! 🙂

If you want to learn more about #WriterRecharge, just click here. The short story: brainchild of Sara Biren, it´s a way to keep motivated during the month of February.  Your hosts and cheerleaders: Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Liz Parker,  Sara Biren and me. Every Monday in February, update your progress via your blog or twitter. Link your blog posts at Sara’s Monday posts. And throughout the month, don´t forget to use the hashtag to connect with other writers, have writing parties, and cheer one another on!

How did I do during my second week?

I´m still amazed by the on-going support: THANK YOU! I haven´t done as much as I wished this week. As most of you know, I announced my self-publishing adventure…I I took a bit of time to work on my Facebook page and made sure to reply to all amazing comments on my little blog, on Facebook, on Twitter or per email. Really, I´m so grateful!

So, here´s what I did:

• Revised 1 a chapter of my YA thriller: DADDY´S LITTLE GIRL (a bit less than planned but progress nonetheless)
• Wrote 1000 words in my new YA contemporary: ALWAYS SECOND BEST (not as many as what I wanted. But I did do some planning which will help.)
• Worked out two times (I had planned three. Doh!)
• Wrote or revised 4 days during the week (yay!)

Here´s an excerpt of ALWAYS SECOND BEST. It´s in drafting mode, i.e. not yet edited. It´s the companion novel from ONE, TWO, THREE…and will come out in October 2014.

“I´m so happy you´re here! I´m trying something new and you need to taste it!”

I shrug off my coat and she eyes me up and down. “Actually, I´ll give you two, you look too skinny.”

I shake my head. While I pay attention to what I eat, that´s another thing playing against me: I don´t have the typical ballerina body. I´m slim but not that thin and I´ve got boobs. “One will be fine, Nonna.”

“Two.” She frowns. “I saw a movie on Lifetime the other day about a ballerina who was throwing up everything she ate. You don´t do that, right?” She takes my face between her hands. “Because you are beautiful. Bellissima.”

It´s hard to articulate, when she holds my face like this, so I mumble. “I don´t.”

My Nonna´s addicted to Lifetime movies. My Nonno used to say he came fourth in her heart. “First, the bambini. Then, the movies from that channel she loves, third the restaurant and forth…me.”

I believe he always came first.

“Come.” She pulls me into the kitchen and my mouth gapes open. There´s a guy there. In my kingdom. Sunday morning´s my time with Nonna.

“You need to meet Lorenzo. His cannelloni are to die for.” Nonna winks at me. She´s either matchmaking me to yet another Italian American or he really is a good cook. Nonna only winks for love or for food.

What are my goals for this week?

• Revise one chapter of my YA thriller
• Write 3000  words in my YA contemporary ALWAYS SECOND BEST
• Work out 3 times  (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
• Write or revise 4 days this week

Can’t wait to cheer you on! 🙂

If you want to learn more about #WriterRecharge, just click here. The short story: brainchild of Sara Biren, it´s a way to keep motivated during the month of February.  Your hosts and cheerleaders: Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Liz Parker,  Sara Biren and me. Every Monday in February, update your progress via your blog or twitter. Link your blog posts at Sara’s Monday posts. And throughout the month, don´t forget to use the hashtag to connect with other writers, have writing parties, and cheer one another on!

How did I do during my first week?

Honestly, WriterRecharge kept me motivated. Waking up to tweets of people encouraging one another is pretty awesome and did push me. So, THANK YOU!

• Revised 1 and 1/2 chapters of my YA thriller: DADDY´S LITTLE GIRL (a bit less than planned but progress nonetheless)
• Wrote 1500 words in my new YA contemporary: ALWAYS SECOND BEST (yay! new words!)
• Worked out three times (I had planned two so :-))
• Wrote or revised 5 days during the week (yay!)

What are my goals for this week?

• Revise two chapter of my YA thriller
• Write 2000  words in my YA contemporary
• Work out 3 times this week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
• Write or revise 4 days this week

Can’t wait to cheer you on! 🙂