What’s Up Wednesday

WUW

“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. If you’re participating, make sure to link your What’s Up Wednesday posts to the list on Jaime’s blog each week. That way, others can visit your post and check out what you’ve been up to.And now, here’s what’s up with me this week…And now, here’s what’s up with me this week…

What I’m Reading: I finished Judy Blume’s Just as Long as We’re Together and loved it just as much as I did when I was a kid. Even though it was published way back in 1987, it’s still perfectly relevant. Recommend! I also read Veronica Roth’s Allegiant, a book that pretty much crushed me with feels. That ending… It hurt my heart, but I thought it was courageous, a fitting conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. Now I’m reading Katie Cotugno’s How To Love and oh my gosh… I love it SO MUCH. It’s such a Katy Book. Along with a spectacularly intense romance, there’s the bonus of an incredibly sweet and real mother-daughter relationship. I’m adoring everything about this one!

What I’m Writing: Guys. I am almost done with the first draft of my WiP. I’m two-and-a-half scenes from THE END (85K words… jeez!), and I’m beyond excited. I’m going to finish this thing tomorrow (Halloween!), and then I’m going to eat buckets of candy to celebrate. A little excerpt…

He pulled her close because he couldn’t stand a breath of space between them—not tonight, not when he needed her like this. He hid his face in hollow where her neck met her shoulder, where the scent of vanilla was so hypnotic he could hardly think straight. “I’m happy when I’m with you,” he said softly. 

It was the absolute truth, as well as the biggest lie he’d ever told. Nobody in the world grounded him like Dylan—thrilled him like Dylan—but that didn’t mean her presence wasn’t comparable to excavating his heart with a rusty spoon. 

What Else I’ve Been Up To: Shopping for something to wear to the wedding we’re going to this weekend. It’s in Yosemite, which I’m excited about, but I haven’t been able to find the perfect dress yet. Wish me luck!


On Saturday I ran a 10K in Big Sur with some great friends. We all have girls in first grade, so it’s fun to trade stories about our daughters’ sassy moments. 🙂 The run was awesome, beautiful scenery and not too crowded, but most of it was through a campground and the campfire smoke was not exactly conducive to clean breathing. Still, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.


I made Chewy Nutella Brownies, my very favorite brownie recipe. These babies include an entire jar of Nutella, four eggs, dark chocolate cocoa powder, mini chocolate chips, and espresso. They’re rich in the very best way. I firmly believe that homemade brownies are worth the extra time and effort. These are proof!


And… We carved pumpkins! Hard to tell, but that’s my attempt at Wonder Woman back there. She was a challenge, but my daughter requested her. Of course I fully support her love of superheroes and girl power.

What’s Inspiring Me Now: My upcoming revisions! My To-Do list is a mile long, and I can’t wait to dive in. While I find first-drafting excruciating challenging, I love to revise. Mostly because when it’s finally time to do so, I know my characters well and I’ve figured out lots of cool ways to add depth and texture to the story. Also, it’s so satisfying to fill plot holes! I’d much rather polish something that already exists than try to spin a story out of nowhere (and I call myself a writer…). Anyhow, my friend/CP Alison Miller and I decided to set some revision goals for the next month (or two?) and root each other on during the process (mostly because we REALLY want to read each other’s stories!). From time to time, we’ll blog about our progress and encourage each other, and anyone else who wants to join us. How about it? Are you up for NaNoReviseMo?


Also, this cutie pie inspires me every day. She’s so full of smiles and joy. Love her.

Tell me… What’s up with you today? 

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36 thoughts on “What’s Up Wednesday”

  1. Alison Miller says:

    Your daughter is such a cutie! Mine is no longer that young so I shall just live vicariously through your pics. 🙂 And this “Wonder Woman Wannabe” is LOVING that pumpkin! So cool!

    Also, YAY!!!!! So glad you are almost finished. Also, I LOVE that excerpt! “excavating his heart with a rusty spoon.” You are so incredibly talented. I’m so lucky to be your CP. 🙂

    Have a Happy Halloween! And I hope you’re celebrating! Oh, and have fun at the wedding!

    • katyupperman says:

      Thank you, lovely! Yes, we’re definitely celebrating Halloween. It’s one of C’s favorite holidays! Also, I cannot wait to finish this draft so I can join you in the revision cave. 🙂

  2. Sara Biren (@sbiren) says:

    First and foremost, THANK YOU for linking that Nutella Brownie recipe. I’ve been thinking about them for days and was going to email you for the recipe. 🙂

    I’m planning to revise during November as well, so – yay! Perfect! I will join you and Alison for fun and revisions. Thank goodness for the support of writerly friends! Happy Halloween!

    • katyupperman says:

      Yay! Glad you’re joining us for revisions, Sara! And please do let me know how you like those brownies. They’re most definitely my favorite. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Halloween!

  3. Jennifer Pickrell says:

    Just bumped HOW TO LOVE higher on my TBR-list. Maybe it’s because I’m not a YA, but I love parents in YA books.

    I’ll probably be revising in November, too – I’ve only got a few chapters left to rewrite and I’m hoping to be done in the next few days. It sounds like NaNoRevMo for a lot of us.

    Those brownies…*drools* My homemade brownies always seem to turn out with a weird texture, but I keep faithfully trying (and eating) different recipes. I am definitely making these!

    • katyupperman says:

      Oh my gosh, Jennifer… Please read HOW TO LOVE. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year… Love it so much! And try that brownie recipe. It’s no fail! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Halloween!

  4. Rebecca B says:

    Wonder Woman pumpkin = awesome. Love it!
    As soon as I finish of the Halloween candy (it will be soon, too, at the rate I’m nibbling) I am making those brownies.

    Love the snippet of your WIP. Congrats on almost being done!

  5. Rebekah says:

    Yay for almost being done with your draft, Katy! There are things I love about revision, but mostly, it becomes bleeding onto the page for me. It is excruciating because of how deep it can run sometimes. I enjoy drafting a new story because I love the discovery, the pure creating.

    Good luck with NaNoReviseMo! I am doing traditional NaNo, but I think we can still cheer one another on! Writing is writing, even if revising isn’t word count based.

    Love the pics of your little girl. What a cutie.

    • katyupperman says:

      Best of luck with NaNo, Rebekah! I’ll definitely be rooting for you — I bet you’re getting so excited to start your story! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Halloween!

  6. Kris F. Oliver says:

    Congrats on the final lap on your WIP!! That is so exciting.

    And the pumpkins are awesome. Halloween is the best holiday ever invented. (in my humble opinion) 🙂

    Also, I’m very impressed by the 10K. And also, now I want brownies. So you’re kind of like the little angel and the devil on my shoulder at the same time. 😉

  8. Melanie says:

    I still haven’t read Allegiant yet. I probably won’t get my hands on it until all the hype has died down which is perfectly fine with me.
    Good luck on your revisions! I’m trying NaNo for the first time this year so I’ll be neck-deep in writing.

    • katyupperman says:

      Best of luck with NaNo, Melanie! I made my first attempt last year and I “won,” so it can definitely be done. I’ll be rooting for you! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Halloween!

  9. Carrie-Anne says:

    Good luck with your coming revisions, and on finding a good dress. I’ve usually had a hard time finding dresses myself since my body type is so mismatched, a huge bust and wide hips with tiny little shoulders.

    I’ve had to slow down my writing pace to focus on schoolwork, but hopefully I’ll have more time after the semester, particularly now that my estranged roommate is almost completely gone. I like my modest Halloween decorations, and had a good time at my dearest, oldest friend’s Halloween party on Saturday night. I dressed like a nun (in a real habit, not some disrespectful short skirt), a profession I’ve long admired and respected. One of my favorite blogs is run by two younger nuns.

  11. Stephanie Allen says:

    Allegiant left me emotionally crippled, but I agree with you about the ending. I just can’t imagine it ending any other way. It’ll be interesting to see what everyone else thought when YA Book Club day comes around.

    I actually really like rewriting, because at that point I’ve figured out where the story is going to go and what I need to add or change to get it there in a way that makes sense. Also, I’ve gotten a feel for my characters and figured things out that I didn’t know when I started the first draft, so I can sprinkle those things in, also.

    Good luck with NaNoReviseMo! I’ll be cheering you all on while I try to finish my first draft 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      It seems like writers are generally satisfied with (or at least understand) VR’s ALLEGIANT conclusion, but readers who do not write appear to be up in arms. I wonder if there’s something to that?

      Best of luck with your first draft, Steph, and have a Happy Halloween!

  12. Lori M. Lee says:

    Gah. Allegiant. I spent 10 minutes sobbing in the bathroom lol.

    Congrats on almost finishing the WIP! Best feeling ever. And I’m ttly making those brownies. Homemade are the best.

  13. Alexa says:

    I loved that excerpt, your story just sounds so swoony and gorgeous from the things you’ve posted here.

    Congratulations on the race, 10k sounds far! We’re the Brownies the reward they look yummy!

    I must check out How To Love, it sounds my kind if book.

    Have a great day!

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks so much for complimenting my excerpt, Alexa. Right now, this draft is a mess, but I hope that it’ll be gorgeous and swoony one of these days. 🙂 Definitely read HOW TO LOVE… I finished this morning and LOVED it!

  14. Amy Brashear says:

    Those brownies look so good. Great excerpt! “It was the absolute truth, as well as the biggest lie he’d ever told.”– I love that line! Good luck with revisions and finding a dress. Have a great weekend!

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks, Ghenet! I’m so relieved and excited! I have a feeling you will adore HOW TO LOVE. Do yourself a favor and read it when you’re not in the middle of drafting, though… It’s the kind of amazing that made me want to throw in the towel!

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