Writing
Ho-Ho-Hohdear, It’s December
IT’S DECEMBER! IT’S WEDNESDAY! And it’s time for an update on all things me-related.
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. It was created by created by Jaime and Erin. Want to join the party? Go right ahead, and remember to leave a link to your What’s Up Wednesday post in the widget on Jaime´s blog.
What I’m Reading
I’m in the middle of an Open Uni course aimed at allowing music-lovers to clearly describe the different styles and shapes of music out there, as well as understanding the underlying techniques. So I’m reading a ton about musical form and structure. My trick is to imagine celebrities reading the words. Sometimes Johnny Lee Miller or Benedict Cumberbatch. When I’m reading about software testing it’s GlaDOS from Portal. (She loves to test.)
On the book front, I am (unsurprisingly) five books behind my yearly goal. However, by the end of the year I’ll have read at least two full novels for beta reading (three if you count my own, haha).I’m also catching up on beta reading, slowly, but surely. If I have a manuscript of yours to beta, rest assured I’m getting to it, but life’s been crazy and it’s hard to catch up. Next year I’ll cut down on beta reading requests.
What I’m Writing
I’m on a writing break for all of December, but I’m… twitchy. This recharge break means ideas are popping up out of nowhere, trying to lure me back to my stories.
But for now, reading takes priority.
What Inspires Me
Taking a break from writing is, oddly, extremely inspiring. It’s a great way to get the ideas going again. I’d forgotten how necessary brain-rest is.
Also, I’ve been really enjoying Sleepy Hollow. It has a lot of things I love about my other 2013 fav show Elementary (sarcasm, murders, male and female leads working closely together without romance, super adorable characters, brilliant female characters, varied ethnicities, interesting cops) with a whole lashing of fun supernatural elements. Also Ichabod Crane is REALLY good-looking.
It’s not a perfect show but I love it to pieces.
Also, this gallery of work by Korean artist JeeYoung Lee is amazing. She transform her tiny studio into some really surreal, beautiful designs.
What Else I’ve Been Up To
We’ve had some crazy weather here lately.
The photograph on the left is our nearest city, Inverness, where the river banks overflowed during the rain, now and gale force winds that hit us last week.
When I’ve not been surviving the crazy weather, I’ve been wrapping Christmas presents and trying to make sure everyone’s accounted for. Christmas is… stressful. It’s been years since I was in an unstable financial situation, but Christmas knocked my bank balance to the lowest it’s been in years. It brought back a lot of panic and worries, old ingrained stresses from the time when we were literally in poverty.
I sorted it all out eventually (and asked for help, eventually), but yeah. Turns out being broke and nearly homeless has long-lasting effects on your ability to enjoy the holiday season.
When not stressing, I’ve been listening to some fun music as part of my music course.
Queen — We Will Rock You
(Good example of: a very clear ‘pulse’ or beat running through a song.)
The Darkness — I Believe In A Thing Called Love
(Good example of: the 4/4 time signature, the most common time signature in rock, country, blues and pop music.)
Linkin Park — What I’ve Done
(Good example of: 4/4 common time. This style of music makes the pattern particularly easy to pick out.)
Hang On, It Was October A Second Ago
Welcome to my blog, where I am continuously confused by how time works. IT WAS THE START OCTOBER THREE BLOG POSTS AGO. But now it’s… November? And it’s December, aka Christmas-month, next month?
Next year, I hope time goes a little slower. I’m getting too old for this.
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. It was created by created by Jaime and Erin. Want to join the party? Go right ahead, and remember to leave a link to your What’s Up Wednesday post in the widget on Jaime´s blog.
What I’m Reading
I picked up THE 5TH WAVE for free at World Fantasy Con 2013, and I’m really digging it so far. It’s a YA apocalyptic story with a very creepy take on an alien invasion. Though I just finished the chapter about the main character’s mum, and I’m not sure I’ve forgiven the book for upsetting me so much so early on.
I also attempted the packed TALES OF EVE launch party. TALES OF EVE is an anthology of stories where ladies try to create a perfect man, and there’s a whole host of spins on the idea inside: time travel! Robotics! LGBT stories! Sister issues! It’s really cool to see the unique twists everyone puts on the basic concept and I love the variety.
Other than that, I’ve mostly been doing reading for my own editing.
What I’m Writing
It’s NaNoWriMo! How’s everyone doing? I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s progress in their blog posts today.
My plan for NaNoWriMo was to write 50,000 words of short stories, but you know what they say about best laid plans…
Instead, I’ve been flitting around doodling, making comics, and creeping through my editing. But I’m DOING THINGS, which is a huge improvement on last month, so I’m very excited about it all.
Am I actually doing NaNoWriMo, though? Strictly, no. I doubt I’m going to hit 50k words written, but I’m still catching a ride on the back of November’s creative rush and doing my own variation of artsy things.
My plan for this editing run was to focus on the ‘big picture’, and I tried, I really did. I wrote ‘BIG PICTURE’ in large letters on my notebook. I went offline with a Kindle and a notebook. I repeated the mantra to myself as I worked, ‘big picture only, big picture only’.
It didn’t work. I’m still making minor edits, changing word choice and structure, while I work on the larger edits. I’m going to keep trying the ‘big picture’ edit, but I suspect this editing style might just be my way. It’s like a one-pass edit, except I’ll do multiple passes this way, tweaking and rewriting in unison.
The writing process is odd. I’m slowly learning to just let whatever works, work.
What Inspires Me
NaNoWriMo, I love you. I love your energy. I love your community. Most of all, I love that you remind me it’s okay to suck and that getting things done is more important than getting things perfect.
So if you’re being creative this November, whether you’re doing NaNo or just doing your own thing, you inspire me too.
Also, this gif set of Mark Sheppard talking about fans is so sweet and true. If you are a fan, or just interested in fandom, give it a click.
What Else I’ve Been Up To
I’m just back from my first ever writing convention, World Fantasy Con 2013! There were ups and downs, but for the most part I absolutely loved it. I hope to have a post about it up some time soon, but for now I’ll point you to Laura Lam’s fantastic wrap-up.
Now, my lunch hour is ticking away so I’m heading off, but I want to hear all about your creative successes, your worries your plans in the comments below. See you there!
Fasten Your Seatbelts, October Is Now Underway
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. It was created by created by Jaime and Erin. Want to join the party? Go right ahead, and remember to leave a link to your What’s Up Wednesday post in the widget on Jaime´s blog.
What I’m Reading
I just finished reading FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell, and oh my god this book. I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK. I really need to blog about it but I suspect it would devolve into just me squealing about it.
I haven’t felt so inspired by a book since I read BIRD BY BIRD. I kept feeling like I should stop reading to write, but I didn’t want to stop reading!
Now I’m chilling out with HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, which is part of a personal project to study a few middle grade titles and examine what makes them work. I’ll probably do a blog post with my notes. So far, it’s cute, fun and surprisingly British — it’s almost Neil Gaiman-ish.
After that I’m going to try and reading some of the authors I’ll be seeing at Angry Robot’s Halloween Takeover at Forbidden Planet in London. I’m starting with Anne Lyle’s THE ALCHEMIST OF SOULS (fantasy set in Elizabethan London) and then reading Adam Christopher’s EMPIRE STATE (superheroes in a parallel prohibition-era New York).
What I’m Writing
Yeah, about that…
Last week editing was going strongly and I got some writing done on the side, but this week… nada. I’m not really sleeping properly so writing time has been cancelled while I deal with things and wrestle my sleep back into order.
I’d say I’ll be back on track next week, but POKEMON X & Y IS NEARLY HERE. POKEMON POKEMON POKEMON.
What Inspires Me
POKEMON POKEMON POKEMON have I mentioned I am excited about Pokemon because I am SO EXCITED to see them bring this game up to the next generation of consoles. And there’s a new PHOENIX WRIGHT game out at the end of the month and I just. I can’t. *flails* *plays all the video games*
But seriously, I am also very excited about the WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION 2013 at the end of the month. It’s going to be scary and expensive and empower and education and so much fun. I get to meet my writing friends in the flesh! I get to be in the same building as Sir Terry Pratchett! I have a valid reason to visit Forbidden Planet in London!
I am really looking forward to this event, the first of hopefully many cons.
What Else I’ve Been Up To
I’ve been playing ZOMBIES RUN! lately, a fun little fitness app that weaves a story into your running routine. It’s been really motivating me to get my butt off the couch and onto a treadmill, and I’ve been weaving quite a story around my Runner’s adventures. Enough that I was thinking of blogging about it.
Then today I read the YOU’VE SUBMITTED YOUR BOOK: NOW WHAT? guest post by Karina Cooper on Chuck Wendig’s Terriblemind. I took a spin over to her blog afterwords and saw that she’s had similar inspiration, writing a story to accompany her missions. I won’t be going into that much detail but it definitely inspires me to get back to my Runner’s story.
Back On Track
Welcome to another What’s Up Wednesday post, where I answer a few questions about my daily life and writing work.
What I’m Reading
I’ve been chatty on Twitter recently about my read through of GIRL OF NIGHTMARES. I’ve been loving it, though there’s been a few talking points:
“Girl of Nightmares” (“Anna Dressed in Blood” Book 2) is good, but the British-ness really feels false.
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
It’s weird because I usually have a high tolerance for that kinda stuff. Super-stereotypical Englishness is a guilty pleasure.
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
Possibly because I live my life being half haggis-and-anger Scottish stereotype and half tea-and-scones English stereotype…
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
Okay, I’m digging how “Girl of Nightmares” transplants the Aokigahara suicide forest into the Scottish Highlands.
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
Though I wonder if they’re going to mention the unScottishness of the polite “remember people love you” signs.
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
A more accurate Scottish sign would be, carved into a tree trunk: “Oi! Dinnae off y’self, ye ken?”
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
@EMaree “If you’re going to off yourself, please be sure not to litter en route as other people have to use the path too.”
— MyGodIt’sRaining (@mygoditsraining) September 22, 2013
I am really enjoying this book, flaws ‘n all.
Last week was payday, aka ‘book buying day’, so I picked up a few exciting new reads as well:
“Shadows” by Paula Weston: An angel YA novel that reviewers assure me is equally as good as “Angelfall”. I’m sold.
“The Dream Thieves” by Maggie Stiefvater: The sequel to The Raven Boys”. Really excited about this, Maggie has a way of forming a real connection between the readers and her characters.
“Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell: This’ll be my first Rainbow Rowell book. The subject matter (being a fan, being part of a fandom) is very close to my heart, so I can’t wait.
What I’m Writing
I’m still working away on LEVIATHAN RISES. Putting this project away in July has worked wonders — now that I’m back to work on it this September, I’m coming up with all sorts of unexpected ideas to pull the plot together. Right now I’m knee-deep in research about Old Testament Leviathan and Behemoth myths, and the words are flowing at a satisfying rate.
Thanks to everyone who voted in the title poll last What’s Up Wednesday. A few of you liked THE SEA BENEATH, which pleases me because it seems to ‘fit’ well next to DIVIDE THE SKY.
But there was also some love for the LEVIATHAN RISES title. The problem with that is that it’s very similar to sci-fi novel LEVIATHAN WAKES, so I’m pondering if that’ll be a problem. There’s always the potential to change it to THE LEVIATHAN RISE or THE LEVIATHAN RISES… I’ve added those options to the poll.
[poll id=”5″]
What Else I’ve Been Up To
You miiiight have noticed I had a bad week last week. A bad month, really, thanks to the unending flu-like lurgy that’s hounded me for two months solid.
In the draft of this post, I said “things are looking up”. That was a mistake. I think I jinxed it.
At this point I’m just eager for September to be over.
When I’m not reading, writing or doing housework (those rare, shining silver slivers of ‘free’ time) I’m playing Kingdom Hearts 1.5, a really nice HD remake of the first Kingdom Hearts game. It’s lots of nostalgic fun.
I’m also trying out BookLikes, a Goodreads alternative. So far I’m diggin’ it’s Tumblr-inspired interface and it seems to have all the features I need. If you’re on it, add me–I’d love to follow some more familiar faces!
September Quarterly Check-In
I’m a bit late for YA Highway’s Road Trip Wednesday, but it was a good question so I’ll tackle it anyway: Quarterly check-in: we did one in March and one in July. Now that we’re 3/4 of the way through the year, how are you doing on your goals?
Writing
So, I have three projects ongoing, and they’re all at different stages.
DIVIDE THE SKY: Young Adult Fantasy. Stepping off the school roof was supposed to fix Tyler’s problems, not land him right in the middle of a war between angels.
Status: Currently out on submission.
ALL THE BROKEN THINGS: Young Adult Urban Fantasy. Military engineer Anna will need to use her wits and robot army to fight off a bloodthirsty Wendigo stalker.
Status: Undergoing Revisions. Hope to have this round of revisions done by end-of-year.
LEVIATHAN RISES: Young Adult Urban Fantasy. Pickpocket and vagabond Tuesday tries to stop a homicidal seamonster that’s on a mission to purge the world of sinners.
Status: Finishing off the first draft. Hope to have this done in the upcoming months.
I’m working on a new title for LEVIATHAN RISES and I’d like to hear your opinions. If you can spare a moment to vote on the poll below, I’d really appreciate it.
[poll id=”5″]
Blogging
I haven’t been keeping up as much as I’d like, due to circumstances outside of my control (this infernal illness, for one thing, plus other personal stressses). But I still drop by when I can, and I still get to hear from the usual awesome crowd in the comments, so I’m content. :)
Reading
Still on-target for this, thanks to a writers block reading spree last month!