Welcome
to Update Thursday, my own personal meme of sorts where I post an
update of the goings on at my blog, with reading, with writing, and
beyond. Feel free to borrow the idea from me for your own bookish
musings.
~*~
On the Blog this week:
- The indie author panel tackles Establishing Yourself Online in the eighth installment of my blog post series, The Journey of Self Publishing.
- My review of Perfect by Ellen Hopkins.
- Are you a Castle Fan? See my review of Richard Castle's Heat Wave.
- Important information for fellow bloggers on the usage of pictures on your blog.
- Don't forget to fill out my blog survey. I want to know what you think of my blog and what kind of things you like and don't like on blogs. ^_^
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Reading...
Books I finished this week:
Books I'm reading now (and some still):
577 of 1026 E.E. Cummings poems finished (-0- this week)
~*~
Writing...
~ If Only We ~ 30,010 ~
~ Before We Knew ~ 11, 449 ~
~ Whatever This Is ~ outlining ~
~ Under Enchanted Skies ~ 1,550/plotting ~
~ Beyond The Horizon ~ plotting ~
~ So I Thought ~ plotting ~
~ Hold Your Breath ~ plotting ~
~ Under Enchanted Skies ~ 1,550/plotting ~
~ Beyond The Horizon ~ plotting ~
~ So I Thought ~ plotting ~
~ Hold Your Breath ~ plotting ~
So... nothing word count wise to report. I've actually been thinking lately that I haven't been too focused on my writing at all. It kind of makes me a little mad at myself. I made a goal to get published by the end of the year and what do I do? Not dedicate time to writing. I was doing good for a little while there, but I hit a wall because I didn't have much back story or character background developed. You don't realize how important it is to have solid definitions of those things until your story reaches a point where they become necessary to move the plot along.
Last night, I dedicated a few hours to writing. I spent some time writing on paper certain details for the first few chapters. Then I got on the computer and started typing. I didn't gain anything for my word count total because I was starting over on my first two chapters. I sat down and added in more details to the back story and had to tweak the mention of it in the beginning. I also started the chapter differently, reworked what I needed to include, took out what I didn't need to include... and it feels better.
I think reading well written books has been helping me. I'm reading more as a writer in search of the right way to tell a story. It's making all the difference.
SO... I am telling all of you that I am not giving up on my goal. I am determined to reach it. How determined? I am spending the rest of the summer (now until August 31st) dedicated to getting as much done with my novel as possible. I may not finish, but I am going to get as close as I possibly can.
~*~
Otherwise...
One of my coworkers quit, so I'm going to be working an extra day here and there in the coming weeks. It won't mess up my schedule too much. I am pretty well ahead on blog posts and my online sale listings. I do need to go through all my postings for pictures that need to be removed/changed (that's going to be quite a task, I wish I could get it all done in one sitting, but that won't happen). I'll still be able to focus on my writing. I probably won't be able to keep up with a lot of my internet surfing, so don't worry if I'm not around commenting on here or visiting other blogs. I'll still be here. I'll still be keeping you all updated on the latest. ^_^
Until next time!
~Jessica
What did you think of Meant to Be? I love the cover. I really should pick it up...unless you hated it :-)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adored it! I would highly recommend it. The story was so cute, I was just pulled right into it. Definitely pick it up! :D
DeleteI've actually been thinking lately that I haven't been too focused on my writing at all. It kind of makes me a little mad at myself. I made a goal to get published by the end of the year and what do I do? Not dedicate time to writing. -- That sounds exactly like me. I made a goal in January to really work on my writing, but I just haven't.
ReplyDeleteThere's still a good part of the year left, you can do it!
I made the same goal. :) I fell into the thinking that I can always work on it tomorrow. Thanks hon! I know you can do it too. :)
DeleteI am dreading the task of going through my blog and getting rid of all the pics. So much so that it's stopping me from blogging.
ReplyDeleteI've been having the same writing problems as well. I keep reminding myself that my goal was to publish by the end of this year but when I actually sit down to write, nothing seems to come out :( Hope we both get some inspiration soon.
Here Lan: http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/jessasank/
DeleteThat's my Photobucket page. Feel free to use any photos I put up on there. I'm working on uploading all of what I have on my laptop to there. I have bunches of scenery and pet shots. I'll have plenty of LOLcats to make out of them, hehehe. I've only gone thru maybe the last 3 months or so. It'll take me awhile, I'm not super motivated on that front.
I know you'll get some inspiration! :) Hang in there.
I can't wait to read your reviews of Meant To Be and For Darkness Shows The Stars. I have Meant to Be from NetGalley, and I'm thinking it'll probably be my next ebook. I'm glad that reading is helping you with your writing - I find that, too. You get an idea of what's out there, what works and what doesn't work, sentence structure, variation, etc. One thing I've been paying attention to is synonyms for 'said' - my editor told me I used 'said' too much in BSD, so I've been trying to vary it. Something so small, but it makes a difference. I'll be rooting for you...if you hear cheering, that's me all the way from Belleville lol. I find sometimes when I have a deadline, I go the opposite way and a wall forms. It's ridiculous, but I find excuses not to write, or I let fear take over. I keep hoping it'll get better, but three books in and I still do it. I think it's fairly common - like your post from awhile ago about the whole lot of us being insane. Something we all share haha ;-) You'll get there, I have faith in you!
ReplyDeleteOh! And I'm seriously paranoid about the pictures now. I try to use my own or CC as often as possible, but now I'm thinking 'omg when did I just find a picture and use it??' I've been wanting to update my old reviews and now this? I don't have the time! Ugh. I guess making the time would be better than being sued though, eh? *sigh*
DeletePS - What do you think of The Princess Bride so far? I've been considering buying it when I get my next paycheque.
My review of For Darkness Shows The Stars is up on Goodreads (will be up in a week on here). :) I'm glad you'll be reading Meant To Be next, you will LOVE it... Exactly! Sentence structure, description, what you should note, what you don't need to note--everything! I've been trying not to overdo said too--by the same token not add in too many odd synonyms either. :P Yay! Cheering from Belleville! I've got a lot of motivation because I want so much to finish writing this book and to share it with people. As I get older, I realize how much I haven't done (or even missed out on entirely) because I procrastinated, and I don't want to keep falling into that trap. Probably part of being closer to 30 than 20 anymore, hahaha! I'm glad you have faith in me, Marie!!!
DeleteOh, the pictures, I know! I'm so irritated with it. I haven't even done much with regard to it, been too preoccupied with writing and other things. I figure if it takes me a couple weeks to take care of it all, it wouldn't hurt. I should write down a list of all the months I've been blogging, then do one month at a time.
The Princess Bride, OH SO GOOD. If you loved the movie, you will love the book equally, if not more. It's awesome to see books brought to life on screen, but this one just has something so enchanting and adorable about it. ^_^
I will go check it out! And yay now I'm even more excited to read Meant to Be! Would you believe I haven't seen the movie for Princess Bride? I feel so deprived lol. Maybe I should buy the book AND the movie haha.
DeleteI completely agree with feeling like you've missed out because of procrastination. I feel like I wasted so much time doing things that didn't matter. But I guess what matters is that we're doing it now. I have a friend who says she's going to do this, that, and the other and gets NOTHING done. And I mean nothing. If she ever got anything done or followed through with anything I'd probably die of shock. I know that doesn't sound very nice but I get so frustrated with her because I bust my ass day in and day out and she doesn't do ANYTHING, plus she's older than I am. So I hear ya on the being closer to 30 than 20 thing, too. You're awesome and you're a star, I know you'll succeed!
I won't be one of those people who freaks out because you haven't seen The Princess Bride, because it wasn't until I was in my 20's that I saw it for the first time! But definitely do both. :D
DeleteI know a few friends like that too, and I get irritated because of it. It's like, OMG JUST DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING! Lol. It is good that we're both putting ourselves out there and reaching for the stars. There are so many who don't bother. I'm glad I have someone to walk along this path with! :)