Writer Recharge is a month-long motivational challenge similar to last summer’s Ready. Set. Write! So many of us benefited from setting goals, connecting with other writers, and social media-based accountability. So, let’s do it again! Whether you’re delighting next to the crackling fireplace of a Shiny New Idea with a warm cup of tea and or spinning out on the ice-covered roads of revisions in an attempt to avoid the snow-packed ditch, we want to write with you! Learn more HERE.
This last week has been weird. I had a lot of Army Wife Stuff to deal with (lawyerly will-drafting meetings, Family Readiness stuff, etc…) which took up more time than I would have liked. I also ended up revisiting an old story that I may or may not be breathing new life into. All things considered, I still made decent progress with my revision of my WiP, Good Girls, and I’m feeling hopeful about my goal of having a reader-ready draft by the end of February.
I mentioned in last week’s WUW post that I really like my story. I know that seems like a given, but there’ve been a few occasions where I’ve reached this point in the revision game and thought, This story is SO BORING, and threw in the towel. Because if *I* think it’s boring, certainly everyone else will too. So far, I’m not finding Good Girls boring, thank goodness, because I’ve been working on it for nearly a year . It’d suck to give up on it now!
Lots of #WriterRecharge friends shared excerpts last week and I love that idea, so I’m going to include one today…
Begrudgingly, Jenna slipped her hand from Tyler’s and shuffled down the row behind Dylan. When their feet hit the stadium steps, Dylan linked their arms and dragged her to the ladies’ room, where she chose the stall adjacent to Jenna’s.
“Spill it,” she demanded, her voice carrying under the aluminum wall that separated them.
Jenna would have preferred to pee in peace, but evasiveness would never fly.
“I’m having fun,” she said. “I like him.”
“No shit. I saw a lot of hushy-hushy conversation on your end—when I wasn’t slapping Brody’s hand away from my thigh, that is. What were you guys talking about?”
“Baseball.” Jenna smoothed her skirt and flushed the toilet with her foot. When the roar of water quieted, she added, “He wants to go out again.”
“I bet he does.” Dylan emerged from her stall and followed Jenna to the sinks.
“I think he might actually like me. But that’s crazy, right?”
“Yeah. Totally crazy.” In the cloudy bathroom mirror, Jenna saw Dylan give her eyes a cynical roll. Dylan liked to say that every guy who possessed a working pair of balls considered Jenna covetable yet unattainable. The preacher’s virgin daughter, the songbird with enviable talent, the shy girl with the fiery hair… The way Dylan described her made Jenna blush—it was ridiculous to think that boys might desire her. She was mousy and jittery, cast away in her first day of life by the person who was supposed to love her most.
“Come on, Jenny,” Dylan said, flicking water at her. “Why else would he have asked you to come tonight?”
Jenna considered. “Maybe because he’s new to town? Or because he’s nice? Or because he doesn’t know you yet?”
Goal for this week: Wrestle my story’s ending into something awesome.
Tell me: How’s #WriterRecharge going for you?
If you’re participating, don’t forget to post about your progress and share your link at Sara’s blog.
katyupperman.com 
Katy! I love the excerpt! More, please? (Did you catch the Oliver Twist reference?) 😀
Haha… yes. 🙂 And thank you so much for your kind words. ❤
Ohhhh I love this excerpt!!! Especially that line: “Maybe because he’s new to town? Or because he’s nice? Or because he doesn’t know you yet?” – there’s a lot of history in that last question 🙂
Can’t wait to read, Katy!
Hope all is well in Florida ❤
There *is* a lot of history there, and I’m glad you picked up on it. Maybe I’m doing something right? 🙂
Ha, great hook there in your excerpt! I can see how this story is motivating you to continue–not boring at all! Best of luck with your ending this week! I need to try to check in more on twitter to cheer people on …
Thank you, Kip! Your words are so motivating! Hope #WriterRecharge is going great for you… I’m looking forward to checking in at your blog. 🙂
For a while during edits, I too had a love-hate relationship with my novel, but I think I’m over that now. It’s great when you get to the point that you love your work. 🙂 And I have to say, I was intrigued by your comment about the Army wife stuff you have to do. It never occurred to me that there would be “stuff” you *have* to do–though it makes sense. There’s a story in there, I’m sure. Family Readiness… will-drafting…? It might not be YA (unless it’s told from the perspective of a teen with a military parent), but there’s a story waiting to be told. And you have the chops and the experience to write it, Katy. 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
Yeah, there’s a lot that goes along with military life that isn’t really common civilian knowledge. I’m still learning tons with every meeting/move/deployment. And yes, I perhaps one day I will tackle some sort of military-heavy story. As is, one of the characters in this WiP has a father in the Army. I just can’t get away from it! Hope #WriterRecharge is going great for you, Colin. Looking forward to checking in at your blog!
Great excerpt! Thanks for sharing, it’s fun to get a sneak peek! And I hear ya on life-dram getting in the way of writing— keep on keepin on!
Thanks so much, Anya! I’m doing my best!
It’s definitely motivating to have a challenge and to check in. It’s a good sign if you like and are excited by your story! It’s hard to admit when something isn’t working, so when it is, take that and run with it 🙂
Thanks, Stephanie! Hopefully I’ll continue to like (or love!) this one for the duration. Hope all’s going well with you and your writing. 🙂
Oh, this excerpt was PERFECTION. You can bet I’m cheering you on! I want to read this NOW. 🙂
Oh, and I totally hear you on the bored thing. And weirdly enough, my current story has yet to bore me too. Here’s hoping that’s a good sign. For both of us.
Definitely, Alison! I can’t imagine your story boring ANYONE. I’ve loved every single bit that I’ve seen! 🙂
“cast away in her first day of life by the person who was supposed to love her most.”
Such a great line. And I love friendships in YA.
Good luck with your revisions this week!
Thanks, Jennifer! This has been a really challenging (but fun!) friendship to write. I hope I’m pulling it off!
It’s so important not to get bored with your own story. I’ve stopped working on a few for that very reason. Loved the excerpt, it has me all sorts of curious about the romance. Hope you have a less busy real life week and can get some more writing in!
Thanks, Prerna! Today was another busy today, but the rest of my week is clear for writing — yay! And thank you so much for saying kind things about my excerpt. Totally made me smile. 🙂
oh my Katy! that’s a great excerpt…um…if you ever … you know …. want a second pair of eyes… i would love to read!
Thank you so much, Kim! I might just take you up on that offer once I’ve got this thing ready for readers. 🙂
LOVE the excerpt, Katy! I hope you post more soon! 🙂
Thanks so much, Kaitlin!
Great excerpt. It’s good to know you aren’t bored too. I’ve thrown in the towel on more than a few projects after I finished the first draft and then just felt like it wasn’t good enough to merit the effort of revising. So I’m glad this WiP is worth continuing to work on.
Thanks so much, Kate. Hopefully it proves to be worth all the effort. 🙂
Ahh, I love it already! “working pair of balls” is killer. 😀
Haha… Thanks, Adrianne!
Oh I love the excerpt! It’s so scary sharing your work, even on a little scale. I’m going to be a nervous wreck in a month. Anyway, keep up the great work 🙂
It is SO scary, but so motivating when people say kind things. I can only imagine how you’ll feel in a month! Thanks so much, Valia!
Love adding the excerpt!
Thank you so much!