“What’s Up Wednesday” is a fun weekly meme started by my friends Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. From Jaime: It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. You’re invited to join us if you’re looking for something to blog about, a way to let your blog friends know what’s been going on with you.
Before I tell you about my week, an important note for those taking part in Ready. Set. Write!: Please make sure to link your What’s Up Wednesday posts to the list on Jaime’s blog each week. That way, other participants can visit your blog and check out what you’ve been up to. In that same spirit, I urge you to visit as many new blogs as you can every Wednesday. The most awesome aspect of Ready. Set. Write! is its built-in support system. Let’s make sure we’re rooting each other on and offering as much encouragement as we can. Who knows… You might make an awesome new writing buddy, or a find a fantastic beta reader, or hook up with an amazing critique partner. I’ve met my best writing friends through my blog and theirs, and I am grateful for them every day!
And now, here’s what’s up with me this week…
What I’m Reading: I finished Strands of Bronze and Gold the other day. It was a beautifully written story, though not so much my cup of tea. I do think people who enjoy historical fiction will like it; the descriptions of life in the 1850s are fascinating. Now, thanks to Tracey Neithercott, I’m reading an ARC of Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller and I am LOVING it. It’s exactly my type of book, just as Tracey suspected it would be. Callie is an incredibly compelling protagonist, and I’m already smitten with Alex. I can’t wait to see how the story plays out. Because I’m borrowing Tracey’s ARC and can’t crack its spine so I can read it on the elliptical (I know some of you are shuddering at the thought of a cracked spine — sorry!), I also started The Particular Sweetness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. It’s an already-worn novel I checked out from the library, so I have something to read at the gym on the mornings I don’t run outdoors. So far, it’s a lovely story with a very unique concept.
What I’m Writing: I’m making forward progress on my WiP, and I give most of the credit to Ready.Set.Write! I’ve had so much fun writing with my buddies via Twitter. I met my weekly goal of 3K words on Sunday, then surpassed it, closing out the week with 4,390 words. I’ve knocked out a few scenes and, for the most part, I’m excited about how my story is coming along. Now that the manuscript has passed 13K words, though, I’m starting to suffer from occasional yet terrifying bouts of doubt. Is this story boring? Is it stupid? Will people hate it? Am I doing the concept justice? I’m doing my best to push those pesky uncertainties away, but you know how it is. Bleh…
What Else I’ve Been Up To: It’s been a busy summer already!
Last Friday I got to help my cutie prepare for a Father~Daughter Dance. She was so excited to get all dressed up and dance the night away with her daddy. I know I’m biased, but I think she looked pretty darn adorable, and she had a BLAST.
I’ve been doing lots of baking, as per usual. Last week I made an Almond Sheet Cake with Butter Frosting for a dinner party with friends and it was very well received. If you like desserts that are sweet and rich, you will love this relatively easy cake. Also, I bought a new cookie cooling rack. It slides together for easy storage and it is aWeSoMe. Thank you, Bed Bath & Beyond!
And I’ve been doing lots of this: Playing and laughing with my favorite girl. ♥
What’s Inspiring Me Now: I’ve mentioned a few times that my WiP’s plot is inspired by a Tim McGraw song. Well, that song is not Highway Don’t Care — it hadn’t yet debuted when I started working on my project — but I’m still loving this collaboration. The desperation and longing in the lyrics align perfectly with the tone I’m going for in my story, so I’ve been listening to it on loop. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate Tim McGraw’s perfection, shall we?
Tell me: What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
Awwwww that picture of your daughter and your husband is priceless 😀 And I love the one of you two cracking up. She looks like she’s having a great time!
I started Strands of Bronze and Gold a few weeks back but couldn’t get into it. I do love historical fiction but I think I wasn’t in the right mindset.
Congrats on reaching your goals, Katy! And if you want to share snippets, I’m sure we’ll let you know how NOT sucky your story is ❤
Good luck for next week 😀
Thanks, Elodie! Maybe I’ll share an excerpt next week. I wasn’t feeling terribly confident this week… Eek.
STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLDEN really is beautifully written, but it was hard for me to connect with the main character. I think because of the setting and expectations of females during that time, she wasn’t terribly proactive. I get why she needed to be that way, but it made her a little hard to relate to. Still, I think people who enjoy stories of that time period will enjoy this one.
Let’s try to write “together” on Twitter this week! 🙂
Yay for your incredible writing progress! And I am sure your story is NOT boring. Shoo those doubt bugs away please. 🙂
Also, the pics are adorable! And I have added Doller’s new one to the TBR. Still gushing over SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL. I hope you have a wonderful writing week!
I’m shooing, I’m shooing!
I think you’ll like STARS just as much as SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL, Alison. I’m starting to become a Trish Doller superfan. 🙂
Awww, great daddy/daughter pics!
Awesome cookie cooling rack – I’ve got some random handfuls of ingredients (choc chips, marshmallows, etc) I need to use up, so I might be baking soon myself.
Thanks, Jennifer! Happy baking. 🙂 How’s the writing coming along?
I LOVE Tim McGraw! ❤ I wondered for ages when he and Taylor were going to duet (when a girl titles a song after you, I feel like it's only a matter of time before you record a song together), and Highway Don't Care has been on repeat all summer for me. Now I'm super curious about your WIP and what song it's based on. My obsessive country music fan side has been unleashed!
I totally agree about Ready.Set.Write's motivation. I met my goals this week, too, and it's all thanks to everybody's posts and tweets. It's nice to know that other writers are going through the same things as me. 🙂
Congrats on meeting your goals this week, Kaitlin! It’s so much more fun to write with the support of dozens of writing buddies. I’m loving Ready. Set. Write! so far.
I’m so happy to know another Tim McGraw fan. He is my absolute favorite singer. I’ve seen him live twice and I was so giddy, screaming and cheering like an idiot both times. I think I embarrassed my husband. Totally worth it though. 😉
I LOVE that picture of C cracking up and you guys playing. What a real moment to capture. Love it.
I am jealous you read WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE. Granted my CP has a copy and she offered to send it to me but I had been such a book hoarder (a.k.a. I hadn’t sent a different book back for about 3-4 weeks to her) that I was afraid I’d never give her WTSSS back. 😛 So I wait in envy. Or maybe I’ll ask my CP to send it now 😉
I’m currently reading STAR CURSED, the sequel to BORN WICKED By Jessica Spotswood. I LOVE this trilogy. It has the strong/lovely writing of a *good* historical fiction, LOTS of swoony kissing and magic. (I reviewed on my blog 🙂 )
Good luck w/the rest of your R.S.W goals, Katy! You got this!!! 🙂
Thanks, lady!
I really need to read the BORN WICKED books. I’ve heard amazing things about them. They’re not my genre of preference, normally, but I’ll ready anything that’s beautifully written and I know these books are.
Definitely read WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE when you get the chance, Rachel. I know you’re a contemporary girl like me, and this one is fantastic!
Aw, Katy I am loving so much the picture of your sweet girl and hubby (and yes, she does look completely and totally adorable!!) and of you and your sweet girl giggling together (and surrounded by American dolls, fun!). It looks like you guys are having a wonderful summer so far, and congratulations on surpassing your writing goals for this week!! Way to go, Katy! Also, I am here to tell you that NOTHING you could ever write would ever be boring or uninteresting, and there is already a large group of us that can’t wait to read this latest WiP ❤ But,that being said, I also totally understand those feelings so let's have a farewell party to the "blahs" this week 🙂 Hugs!!
Thanks, Tem! We really are having a lovely summer so far, and I’m excited about being able to write AND play, and keep a pretty fair balance between the two. Thank you for putting my mind at ease about those pesky writing insecurities. I know we all get them (we’d be delusional to think our writing is perfect in its first draft!) but sometimes it’s hard to push through and keep going. All of the support I’ve been getting from Ready. Set. Write! buddies and from my amazing CPs makes it so much easier and so much more fun to just keep going.
Hope you’re having a great week with your sweet girls… Looking forward to reading your WUW post. ❤
Are those by any chance American Girl dolls in the picture of you and your daughter?
Congratulations on your writing progress. I’m not keeping exact count, but I can tell by my document where I record word count by chapter that I’ve probably written around 20,000 words since last week.
They are American Girl dolls — my daughter is a big fan!
And congrats on your progress too, Carrie-Anne. Sounds like you’re moving right along!
You always inspire me in terms of books TBR and recipes, Katy! Nice work on the WIP progress. I was working away on my goals last night–so much so that I didn’t get a post written up. Next week!
It says a lot that your writing came before a blog post, Rebecca, though I’m very excited to read about your progress and all the other things you’ve been up to next week.
Have you tried any good recipes lately?
I loved seeing that picture of your girlie and her Daddy heading off to the dance. So sweet! And the one of the two of you laughing is AWESOME! You look like you’re having so much fun. 🙂 Can’t wait to read WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE. It sounds fantastic! (And, yes, I did wince a bit at the spine-cracking thing. Yikes! :P) Awesome progress on your story, Katy. I know what you mean about that kind of doubt, though. You are so not alone. Good luck with this week’s goals! You can totally do it. 🙂
We’ve definitely been having lots of fun so far this summer, Jaime. And I’m excited about the balance I’ve found between writing and playing thus far. I think I might just have a productive summer after all, thanks in large part to Ready. Set. Write!
Looking forward to reading your WUW update!
Your daughter IS adorable. And I’m not the type of person who thinks all little kids are cute. ha.
I still want to know what song inspired your WIP! 😉
I totally know what you mean – I just looked over some of my WIP after ignoring it for months and I felt the same way. I’m around the same amount for my word count. Hopefully we can both get past it! I’m sure your story is great. 🙂
Thanks, lady! My goal this week is to push through those lingering insecurities and keep building words. I’ll sort them all out later. 🙂 Hope you’re writing continues to progress!
Your girlie is adorable! And the baking pics, yum!!!
Congrats on the writing goals! Nice chunk of words!! And way jealous of you getting to read Where the stars!!!!! Can’t wait for that one!
Thanks so much, Mandie! I bet you’ll love STARS. I’m becoming quite a Trish Doller fan!
So glad to hear the writing is going well!
I’ve heard even published authors who have that doubt over projects…but the fact that you’re sticking to it and keeping on is fantastic!
Thanks, Rae! I suppose it’d be pretty delusional to think that every word I type is perfection, so I’m not too concerned about the insecurities. I just have to push past them. I’m excited to hear about how your writing is progressing. 🙂
That almond sheet cake with butter frosting sounds amazing! I also really want to read WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE. Jealous!
That cake is delicious, Shana. I think it’s one of my husband’s new favorites. STARS is amazing… I bet you’ll love it! How’s your little cutie pie? I love seeing photos of her on Instagram. 🙂
I love Trish Doller,so jealous you get to read Stars! Awesome job on your word count, you’ll be done before you know it. And your daughter is such a cutie, I can’t wait until my girls can go to father daughter dances with their dad.
Thanks you! I’m becoming a big Trish Doller fan myself, and I can’t wait for STARS to debut so that everyone can read and fall in love with it.
Can’t wait to read your WUW post to see how your writing is progressing and read about what else you’ve been up to. 🙂
Push through those story doubts–I think they happen to everyone at some point but the only way to find out if your story works is to write it! And I’m sure there’s plenty in there that’s working just fine.
As always, LOVE the pictures of your family. I swear, the three of you are the most photogenic group!
Thanks, Jess! I take LOTS of pictures and there are plenty of duds, but yeah… I think my husband and my girlie are pretty darn cute. 🙂
I hope your writing is coming along… I bet you’re enjoying your summer break. Can’t wait to read about what you’ve been up to!
Tim McGraw is so hot – and I loved that performance with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban on the guitar (another hot one in my book – love). What a great source of inspiration, indeed!
And I finally signed up for Ready. Set. Write! just now. I know, late to the game – but I’ve been SO uninspired to write lately, I just didn’t want to commit if I couldn’t type a single sentence. But I understand it’s so much more than that – and I think I can use all the inspiration from all of you, I can get! So I’m ready to roll. I think. 🙂
Awesome job on exceeding your goal for last week – and best of luck hammering it out this week, too!
Love the pictures of your girlie with your hubby! What a great way to celebrate Father’s Day, too! And those pics of all your sweets…Katy, you’re slaying me.
Happy Wednesday!
Oh my God… Tim McGraw is SO hot. Like, seriously… Swoon. I’ve seen him live twice and made a total ass of myself screaming and cheering and carrying on. I’m pretty sure my husband was mortified, but it was totally worth it. 🙂
I’m so glad you’re joining us for Ready. Set. Write!, Erin! It’s been awesome so far. You’ll have to join in on our Twitter writing parties!
Congrats on surpassing your goal last week! I’m sure your story is FAR from boring.
I love all of your pics, as usual, especially the ones of you adorable daughter! That one with your husband is especially sweet. Also, I think I have the same baking racks–I just need to bake more!
I think I need to bake LESS. It’s a good think I like to run, otherwise I’d be bigger than a house. It’s such a fun, stress-relieving thing for me, though, and the outcome is always so yummy!
Thank you for your kind words about my story. It’d be silly to think that every word I type is perfection, but yeah… those doubt monsters can be ugly sometimes!
Okay, first the book you’re reading made me want to eat lemon cake… and then you baked too and OMG FOOD!!!!! GIMMIE!
Congratulations on beating your target too!
Your husband and daughter are TOO CUTE! Aaaaw!
The book I’m reading makes me want lemon cake too — especially because there’s a beautiful piece of it on the cover!
Thank so much for your sweet words. ❤
I love that song! Congrats on surpassing your writing goal!
Thanks so much, Amy!
Darn. My guess was “Highway Don’t Care.” Back to combing my Tim McGraw collection, I guess 😛
I write in my books, but I actually physically cringed at the thought of cracking their spines. To each her own, I suppose.
Congrats on beating your writing goal! And good luck beating it this week, too 🙂
Nope, but Highway Don’t Care is a truly awesome song. 🙂
Sounds like you’ve made lots of project on your project too, lady. It’s been fun Twitter-writing with you in the evenings. Let’s keep it up!
Definitely! I’ll be around on nights I don’t have to close at work 🙂
Cool! I’ll let you know when I’m writing. You do the same!
Adorable piccies.
& well done on being over your goal!
Thanks so much! I’m looking forward to visiting your blog to see how you’ve been doing with your Ready. Set. Write! goals. 🙂
I broke the spine of my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. BROKE it. So sad. Keep up the good goal meeting and breaking for another week!
Aww, that it sad. I sometimes crack my books’ spines so they’ll sit up correctly, but I’d be crushed if one actually broke!
Aw..thanks for sharing the photos! lovely family. 🙂 Stay positive, don’t let those doubts drag you down. You are doing a great job! 😀 Congrats on beating your week’s goal, and good luck with this week’s!
Thanks, Cecilia! Knowing that I’ve got to check in every week to share my progress makes it so much easier to stay on track with my goals. So glad you’re joining us for Ready. Set. Write! I can’t wait to visit your blog and learn more about your project. 🙂
I’m glad you mentioned linking the post on Jamie’s blog because I missed that step both weeks now! Whoops. I’ve been busy with work but I should have more time to visit some blogs later this week. I’ve heard great things about Trish Dollers’ books, one more author to add to the list! I’m going to buy some books next week with a coupon for my indie store–I’ve been using my library so much I haven’t bought any books in months, but there are new ones I know I want to buy. Maybe I’ll find that one and add it to the pile (especially if it’s a paperback ).
Those pictures are precious–I love the idea of a daddy/daughter dance! So cute and how fun for her to dress up.
Thanks so much, Steph! I’m glad you caught that about linking posts… Now more participants will be able to visit yours.
Definitely search for Trish Doller at your indie. Her debut, SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL is out now and it is amazing. WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE comes out in September, and I think it’s going to be very well-received. Love her writing!
I loved SLN and am so excited for Stars! Glad you’re enjoying it! Aw, how cute, a father-daughter dance. I never had one nor do I know anyone who has had one so I think that’s an American thing. Cute photos, your daughter is lovely 🙂 Oh, and that dessert look amazing! *stares at yummy pictures*
Katy, you are doing a great job and doing the story justice, I just know it. I mean, you are my favourite aspiring author blogger/awesome person for a reason! Just keep on doing what you’re doing and don’t let the doubts get you down – you can do this!
You are the sweetest, and you’ve totally made my day! ❤ Thank you, and I will do my best to push those doubts right out of my head.
I hadn't really heard of Father~Daughter Dances before we moved here. I wonder if they're popular in military communities because daddies are always coming and going? My husband and my girl both had a blast, so I hope they can go to more in the future. 🙂
What a cutie-pie you have! Love the pics. Hooray for forward progress on the WIP. Good luck with your goals this week.
Thank you! Good to you as well, Kari!
Your daughter is darling. I had boys. Love them to death but they wanted no part of dresses and hair bows. 😦
Thank you so much! Boys are awesome (I have several nephews), but I’m very, very happy that I have a girl. 🙂
Aww. Your daughter is so cute! As always, lovely pics. And now I want cake. It looks soooo good.
Doubt is a horrible thing. Hopefully you can get through it and continue with the good progress you’re making on your wip this week. I’m sending good writing vibes your way. 🙂
You should totally bake that cake, Raven. It is so worth the effort!
I’m pushing through the doubt as we speak. I wrote just short of a thousand words today and I think I’m getting my swagger back. 🙂
So jealous of your ARC of Trish Doller’s latest. I’m wanting to read that SO badly. I hope you keep plugging away at your work, best of luck to you. You all are doing so well with your goals I’m tempted to join in.
I will definitely keep plugging along. I’m ignoring the insecurities for now. I’ll worry about all the things that are wrong with this story when I’ve got a first draft done. 🙂 And you should TOTALLY join in, Adrianne! Ready. Set. Write! has been a blast so far, and it’s really helping to keep me motivated. If you decide to join in, click the Ready. Set. Write! button on my sidebar and you can sign up. Happy writing!
Definitely push those uncertainties away! I’m sure if you’re inspired by your story other people will be too! Hope the writing continues to go well this week and that you can blow your goal out of the water again! One last thing–those pictures of your daughter and husband at the dance are so sweet! She must have felt like a little princess in that dress!
The writing went well today, so that’s something. 🙂 I was excited to see how well your writing went this week! I think I need to just go ahead and make Ready. Set. Write! a way of life because it’s really helping to keep me motivated.
And for the record, I think my daughter feels like a little princess in most things she wears… Silly girl!
Gorgeous photos you daughter looks do happy in them, you’re creating some lovely memories!
I just downloaded SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL, her new book sounds great too.
Congratulations on your writing! I hope this week is as productive for you. I always get those is this boring doubts, a peril of writing contemporary maybe – no magic, or things blowing up 🙂
I do think the “boring” thing might be a side-effect of writing contemporary, especially more character-driven contemporary. Hopefully it’s mostly in my head, though. 🙂
I hope you love SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL. I finished WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE this morning and it was so beautiful. I loved it even more than SLN, which I wouldn’t have guessed was possible!
Well I’m not biased, and she does look adorable!
Why thank you, sir!