What’s Up Wednesday

Autumn WUP

“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: Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything, which is witty and thought-provoking and highly entertaining. It’s taking me awhile to get through because I’ve been busy, but in no way does that speak to its quality. Up next… I don’t know! I’ve read through my TBR pile and I’ve got nothing on-deck. That gives me a weirdly anxious feeling. Anyone have a great recommendation?

What I’m Writing: Not much because… I finished my WiP! Yep, on Halloween I officially typed The End, concluding the first draft of the story I started in April.

Over the weekend, I took a much-needed writing break, though I did think about my upcoming revision A LOT. My To-Do list is extensive and I’ve got tons of work ahead of me, but I *think* I know what needs to be done to make my story readable. I love revising, so I’m very happy to be at this stage of the game.

What Else I’ve Been Up To: Over the weekend, my husband, daughter, and I took a trip to Yosemite National Park. None of us had been before and we weren’t sure what to expect. Yosemite did not disappoint. In fact, it’s  one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. We had an amazing time hiking and adventuring. Plus, we got to attend the wedding of two great friends, which made the trip even more awesome. Obviously I took zillions of pictures…


Tunnel View, without any sort of filter. The park is this stunning naturally.

   
Yosemite sky, also without filter. It was so blue. And I kind of love the “Speeding Kills Bears” signs, which were everywhere. There’s something oddly charming about them. We didn’t see any real bears, so the signs were the next best thing.

 
My girl had a great time! She got a kick out of the snow and the incredible views.

We hiked four strenuous uphill miles to get to Nevada Falls, then four more miles back to the truck, and I’m  proud to report that my daughter rocked it. My husband and I were wiped by the end and she had to have been too, but there was absolutely no complaining. She’s a little soldier. 😉

 
With my favorite girl at the hotel (we stayed at the Tenaya Lodge, which was fantastic) and out among the sequoias.

And, with my handsome husband at the wedding. Congrats to Ryan and Johanna!

What’s Inspiring Me Now: A post from writer Anya Monroe about the NaNo Pep Talk she gave 125 eighth graders who are participating this year, and the ways she connected with them through writing and books. Also, a super short and heartwarming story about the Xhosa culture and their I am because we are philosophy. Definitely worth the read. And finally…

 Tell me… What’s up with you today? 

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40 thoughts on “What’s Up Wednesday”

  1. Alison Miller says:

    Yay! Love all these pictures! And again-congrats on getting to THE END!!! Glad you took a much deserved rest and had a wonderful time! Yosemite is GORGEOUS!!!

    Also, glad we are in a similar stage – I need revising buddies! Good luck with your revision this month! I’m cheering you on!

  2. Elodie says:

    These pictures are absolutely stunning 🙂 And I’m glad you had such a nice weekend, Katy! I have to read the posts you mention, they sound quite inspiring indeed 🙂 Happy revising!

  8. Carrie-Anne says:

    Congratulations on finishing your book! It’s good to take a little break before getting into revisions. A new set of eyes is a must, even if you only wait a month instead of ten years like I did for some of my books!

    My maternal grandparents have been to Yosemite a few times, and I’d love to go someday too, with or without them as my guides. Your pictures are awesome.

  10. Rebekah says:

    Again, well done you for finishing your draft. I’m glad you took a break — and a beautiful one it looks like! — in honor of finishing and in preparation for revising. Your pictures are inspiring!

  11. valeriefm says:

    Congrats on finishing the WIP, Katy!!! 😀

    What’s this NaNoRevMo I hear about? Are you behind that?

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks, Valerie! NaNoReviseMo was actually Alison Miller’s idea, but she let me jump on-board, and we’re encouraging others who are revising this month to participate. It’s super casual, just us setting revision goals, cheering each other on, and writing “together” via Twitter. You should join us too!

  12. Jennie says:

    Yosemite is so beautiful. My visit was in July and there was still snow on the ground. I want to go back so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

  13. Colin says:

    You’ve read through your TBR?! Wow! I can’t imagine I’ll be through with mine until… um… ever?!! Recommendations? Hmmm… not YA, but have you read BREATH, EYES, MEMORY by Edwidge Danticat? I’ve recommended it on my blog before, but it’s a great read that you might enjoy. Beautiful writing.

    Huge congrats on getting to “The End”!! And what awesome pictures of Yosemite. Thanks for sharing, Katy. Have a great week. 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      I haven’t even heard of BREATH, EYES, MEMORY, but I’ll definitely look it up. I was just thinking that it’s been too long since I read a great adult novel. Thanks, Colin!

      Hope you have a great week too, sir. 🙂

  14. kate scott says:

    Congrats on finishing your first draft! That’s such a huge accomplishment. Although I can’t believe you only took a weekend off before jumping into revisions. I always take at least a week off, although sometimes that week turns into a month, before diving back into revising.

    • katyupperman says:

      Thank you, Kate! I’ve been keeping a running list of must-do revisions, things that I know are inconsistencies and such. After I have a truly readable first draft, I’ll definitely take some real time off before editing. Hope you have a great week, lady!

  15. Miss Cole says:

    Congratulations on finishing the draft, woo hoo!!!! 😀

    …all other intelligible thoughts have fallen out of my head because those photos are sooooooooooo amazing and inspiring and WOW.

  16. Krispy says:

    Congrats again on finishing your draft, but another congrats for finishing off your TBR pile! How?? Mine is endless and threatening to consume me!

    I loved seeing your Yosemite pictures. I’ve been there 2x, I think, but we didn’t do any real hiking. So there are so many sights I have yet to see! Glad you’re getting in some great California time – snow and sun! The best of everything. 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      I’ve been narrowing down my TBR, and visiting the library more often. I kind of like that borrowing books gives me a deadline for reading them. And yes, we’re definitely seeing the best of California. I’ll be so sad when it’s time to go!

  17. Rachelwrites007 says:

    Book recs:
    WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
    WHEN YOU WERE HERE
    THE BEGINNING OF AFTER (which I am currently reading. Think IF I STAY!)
    MEANT TO BE
    RECLAIMED by Sarah Guillory (this is SO your book Katy if you haven’t read. Gorgeous lyrical writing + a twist + Southern + contemporary YA) 🙂

    Congrats again on finishing your draft! I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to hear what V and the CPs/betas have to say. More importantly I can’t wait until one day I can READ a Katy book 😀

    • katyupperman says:

      Of those, I’ve only read MEANT TO BE, which I adored. I’ll check all of these out, but I’m most excited about RECLAIMED. I had my eye on that one awhile back, but I fell off my radar. Thanks, Rachel!

  18. Dana Elmendorf says:

    Katykinns–I can call you that right? I promise only to do it every time I talk to you. 😉 You are the most adventurous woman, so jealous. And yay with “The End” It’s the best feeling ever…and I’m about 30K away from it. I used to hate revising, but now that I’ve gotten so much better at drafting, I rather look forward to the revising. Good luck on revising your novel.

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks so much, Dana! And yes, Katykinns is perfectly fine. 🙂 Best of luck with your drafting. That’s definitely the hardest stage for me. I like making something that already exists prettier. Hope you have a wonderful week!

  19. Ghenet Myrthil says:

    Your Yosemite photos are SO gorgeous! I’d love to visit someday.
    That’s awesome you’ve finished your current TBR pile. I feel like mine is never ending! Ha. I need to stop collecting books and get to reading them all.

    Yay again for your finished draft! I figured out that if I write at least 500 words a day in my WIP, I can be finished with a 60K first draft by the first week of February. It feels doable, especially since I exceeded 500 words last night. 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      I just ordered so new books, so my TBR pile is back in action. 🙂 And yes, definitely visit Yosemite someday… I was not prepared for how beautiful it is, and for all there is to do there. Best of luck with your manuscript, Ghenet. You can totally do 500 words a day. I’m cheering you on!

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