Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In #12

My first week of Bootcamp went well. I made progress on my goals and completed one! Hooray!

I attended my first meeting with a new writing meetup group. Basically we meet in a lounge at a local university center, there's no shortage of schools around here. After talking and discussing what we're going to be working on that night, we write. Writing with other people, even though we weren't working together or talking, was awesome. I've always had a lot of success writing in public, the presence of other people keeps me focused. This was even better. I spent the hour and a half there revising. I'll definitely be back. The meetings are during the week which I really like as I have a hard time squeezing in writing time after work, catching up with the dog and making dinner. I might squeeze in an hour but, but most weeknights I end up reading on the couch, too tired to think about my own words or what to do with them. That leads me to another goal-

I've put a big dent in Outlander and I'm headed out of town today. I love traveling, particularly all the reading time I get while someone else is in charge of flying, driving, or conducting me to my destination.

Most importantly, since this is a writing bootcamp, I've made it through about a third of my revisions. Don't get too exuberant though, that's only a guesstimate. When I can spend hours on a paragraph, it's tough to judge how long edits will take. A third of what I know needs to be edited has been, but there's always the chance of unforeseen trouble. I would have liked to be further along at this point, but I feel good about where the story is so I'm not going to beat myself up.

May Goals

1. Finish revisions for my YA Retelling Update: About one-third of the way through revisions.
2. Read An Echo in the Bone (Outlander #7) before my library eBook expires on 5/24! Update: I'm on page 500.
3. Read Perks of Being a Wallflower before Book Club on 5/25.
4. Attend at least one Tuesday meeting of my local writer's group Completed on 5/13

Keeping The Readers Happy

Recently, I had some welcomed guests, my newlywed Harry Potter friend, Ashley and her husband, Ryan. We reminisced while we wined and dined. A naturally loquacious person, wine has the troubling tendency to increase the topics I'll ramble on about. My point is, I'm usually tight lipped about my writing, but after half a bottle. . .I'll talk about it without an end in sight.

When I described my first book which I wrote, considered editing but inevitably shoved under my dresser-don't ask why I put it there, I don't know-they were obviously impressed.

In fact, they wore his and her stunned expressions complete with open mouths. I love when couples are so perfectly matched as they are and it was a great sight to see them making the same face.

 There's not much in the world I find as impossible to resist as an attentive audience. It's like a warm chocolate chip cookie and I'm not one to just leave it on the counter to harden.

They urged me to finish the edits and please, please, if it's okay, to let them read it. I can't recall when I last felt so flattered. I've got a lot of writing projects in the works but I think it's smart to focus your energy on where the pull is strongest. Of course, it would be different if I had contracts and deadlines with publishers. Since I don't have any deadlines, I decided to do a quick edit. In addition to wanting, the intrigue still fresh in Ashley and Ryan's minds, two other beta readers are traveling to the British Virgin Isles in late July and I just know they are dying to read about magic on those white sandy beaches.

Even if the story remains unworthy of publication I'll have gained some more editing experience. Besides, it's never too soon to build your reputation as a writer who does it all for her fans.

Weathering a Storm...of Edits

Everyone is bugging out on the East Coast this week. First we had an earthquake, something unheard of around here. Now everyone's eyes are trained on Hurricane Irene headed straight for us tomorrow evening.

My weekend plans, which included a white trash 80's themed backyard BBQ* and a long drive to visit college friends have been cancelled due to the impending storm. I know it's going to be gross and destructive but in a way I am looking forward to a weekend devoid of plans. I have been so busy the last month that I have barely worked on my story. I still have 30 pages left to edit before I hand my book over to beta readers and Irene is going to force me to get them done. If she doesn't cause too much damage, I might end up grateful for this opportunity to sit down and work uninterrupted.

I will need to keep my Netbook fully charged and hope I don't lose power for longer than my battery life. I have to be sure my Nook is charged too, I just started Game of Thrones and I am in book love. Every time I read the words, "Winter is coming" I get goosebumps. Seriously, why did I wait so long to read the series?

Hope everyone stays safe this weekend.

If you are in Irene's path, how are you going to weather the storm?


*Don't worry the party has been rescheduled, which is great news because I have yet to locate my leg warmers and neon hair scrunchies.