It’s Writing Wednesday… okay, it’s Thursday, shush. July means it’s CAMP NANOWRIMO, a month-long challenge to write a ton of words. Plus I’m taking part in Miss Cole’s TBR Pile Decimation Challenge.

This post is dedicated to the WordPress back-up system, which managed to restore the bulk of this blog when I thought my browser wiped it.

What I’m Writing

This months goal was to write 40,000 words. Then 30,000 words. And now the goal is just… not… happening…

This month has been absolutely nuts. At this rate I’ll be lucky if I hit 15k before month end. Lesson learned: writing can be a good distraction from a super stressful month, but don’t expect to get much of it *actually* done.

I still achieved a LOT this month though, and weathered some fierce storms, so I’m not feeling all that put-out about the wordcount failure. So it goes.

What I’m Reading

Miss Cole started up a TBR Pile Decimation Challenge, which I’m slowly chipping away at.

My JULY TBR plan was…

I finished one novella beta read, a short story beta, a lot of blog posts, the Avatar: The Last Airbender massive comic, The Infinite Sea, and Kushiel’s Dart. Plus, a comic that wasn’t in the pile — the new Ms Marvel Volume 2 paperback! Which was worth cheating on the pile with.

I started, but haven’t finished: THE GIFT OF FEAR (which is amazing, and satiates my hunger for some non-fiction). The Gift of Fear is a fantastic book, about how to recognise violent and otherwise dangerous intentions in people. It’s all based on some really interesting case studies and psychology, but written with a slight thriller style to it which makes it very accessible. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to feel a bit more safe in their day-to-day life, or wants to write realistic villains.

I’ve also started the second book in Patrick Ness’s CHAOS WALKING trilogy, and it’s *really* good! I feel like I’m reading THE ASK AND THE ANSWER at just the right time — it’s giving me a lot of practical information on how to write smoothly in first-person-present-tense, as I work on editing a first-person-present-tense story.

What I’ve Been Up To

So I watched SENSE8 recently, and oh my gosh. BEST SHOW EVER. BEST SHOW EVEERRRRR. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

Also, there’s been lots of doggy adorableness (and running!) going on.

Relaxing with a book, a nice cuppa green tea, my adorable wee buddy Gizmo. pic.twitter.com/qf63jTuA3I

— Emma Maree (@EMaree) July 9, 2015

Tonight’s run was more of a power walk thanks to my poorly disciplined trainee running buddy. pic.twitter.com/Of2RT4cLj6 — Emma Maree (@EMaree) July 15, 2015

I left Mac alone to eat his dinner for five minutes, and came back to him doing his best Emma impression. pic.twitter.com/VY6bOmLuJb

— Emma Maree (@EMaree) July 18, 2015

Anyway, here he is, happy and thinking of biscuits. pic.twitter.com/6dLYaFdFjx — Emma Maree (@EMaree) July 20, 2015

 

What Works For Me

Lately, I’ve been trying not to worry out about progress and goals, without losing sight of my end game. This is… tricky, honestly. Staying goal-focused without stressing myself out is one of my biggest challenges.

Fortunately, I’ve got a great support network of writer-buddies who keep me focused, and let me rant when I’m overthinking this sort of thing. Lately, I’ve been venting about how focusing on my own path is more important that  looking at the routes others are taking. Or, more succinctly…

Today’s words of wisdom brought to you by @EMaree : ‘Fuck those guys, my path is glorious’

— J.B. Rockwell (@Rockwell_JB) July 28, 2015

 

@Rockwell_JB THE MOST FANCY-PANTS PATH OF ALL IS THE ONE YOUR BUTT IS WALKING ON. — Emma Maree (@EMaree) July 28, 2015