“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’m halfway through Lauren Oliver’s Panic. I’m moving slowly, but not because I’m not enjoying it — I am! It’s just been a busy (and crazy) week and I haven’t had much time for reading. Boo. Panic‘s a trip, though, and I’m very anxious to see how it all plays out. This one’s quite a departure from Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy, but Lauren Oliver’s prose is predictably beautiful. So far, so good.
What I’m Writing: Another revision round’s nearly in the bag. CP and beta notes are helping me so much (it’s amazing what people who aren’t neck-deep in the story pick up on!), and I’m excited about how this draft of Good Girls is turning out. It’s much more layered and cohesive and interesting, and its ending is a thousand times stronger. I’m so happy with my revision progress, in fact, that I decided to go to Disney World.
What Else I’ve Been Up To: No, really — I went to Disney World! My girlie and I took a rather impromptu road trip to Orlando to meet up with some of our favorite friends for a few days and we had an incredible time! I love all things Disney so much. The parks and the magic just never get old…
Obligatory Mickey shot. 🙂
These girls had so much fun together! It’s been nearly a year since they’ve seen each other, yet they picked up right where they left off.
Possibly my new favorite photo. ❤
{There are more on Instagram. Check them out if you’re so inclined.}
What’s Inspiring Me Now: First, an awesome post from my agent, Victoria Marini, entitled On Bones and Knowing Your Characters. It’s about digging deeper and making sure your readers know your characters as well as you do. Also, a post by Corey Ann Haydu called How to Relationship (for Stacked), which talks about all of that crazy-awkward stuff that happens in the shadows between kissing and sex in YA, and how it’s pretty awesome when authors get brave and explore those shadows in authentic ways. (Obviously Corey says it way better than I do.) Highly recommend both of these articles!
Tell me… What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
SO AWESOME!! We went to Universal, but not Disney… a time and money thing. Off to check out those articles now 😀
Universal is so fun! Did did you get to explore Hogsmeade and Hogwarts? Hope you find those articles helpful!
Cute Disney photos! I haven’t been to Disney World since high school. Glad you and your daughter had a fun time. And that’s awesome about your revisions! It sounds like your story is polishing up nicely. I can’t wait until I have a couple rounds of revisions under my belt. Your thoughts on revising are encouraging though! Have a great week!
I love revising a million times more than drafting, so I am more than happy to be at this stage of the game. Finally. 🙂 Hope yours go well when you get there. And have a great week, Erin!
Love those pictures, Katy! And I am falling head over heels in love with your story. Thank you for sharing the articles, very interesting! ❤
Oh, I’m so happy to hear that you’re liking my story, Elodie! I hope it holds up for you! And have a wonderful week. 🙂
Man, I wish our Disney trips had overlapped. It would have been fun to meet up! 🙂
And thank you for the link to Victoria’s post. I’m struggling with trying to flesh out certain characters (villains, mostly), so that post was exactly what I needed to read right now!
I know! Sucks that we missed each other by only a couple days. Maybe next time. 🙂 Hope Victoria’s article is helpful — I picked up lots of awesome advice. Best of luck with those villains!
I LOVED the How to Relationship post!
Somehow I have never read any Lauren Oliver, which is crazy. BEFORE I FALL has been on my TBR-list for pretty much forever and I need to pick it up already.
Yay for trips to Disney! The face-paint pic is adorable 🙂
I can’t believe you haven’t read Lauren Oliver, Jennifer! In my opinion, BEFORE I FALL is the best of her YA. I hope you get a chance to read it soon. And have a wonderful week!
I just jumped over to Corey Ann Haydu’s article and you are so right, amazing and important stuff. I’m adding “The Symptoms of My Insanity” to the top of my TBR list right now. The in-between is the best part of life, and needs to have a place in fiction too.
Have a great week!
I know… I can’t wait to read THE SYMPTOMS OF MY INSANITY now. Totally intriguing. Hope you have a great week too, Kate!
I’ve heard good things about PANIC! I love Lauren Oliver’s writing.
Disney World sounds so much fun! Great photos. 😀
Congrats on all the revision progress! Have a great week!
Thanks, Emma! I’m nearly done with PANIC and it’s definitely holding up. Can’t wait to see how it concludes. 🙂
I love the picture of your daughter with the design on her face. It reminds me of the face-painting at a nearby butterfly garden’s arts and crafts room, where I’ve taken my nursery campers the last two years. The first time, I had my face painted too.
I’m not a huge face-paint fan, to be honest, but when at Disney World… 🙂 Have a great week, Carrie-Anne!
I agree wholeheartedly that it’s so nice to have someone else’s opinions/advice when it comes to your story. I get way too close to mine and can’t tell whether it sucks, whether it’s redeemable, whatever. It’s great that you’re getting so much out of your CPs’ and betas’ notes!
All of your Disney pics are making me want to go back. We got suckered into a timeshare just outside Orlando, so we’re probably due for a trip again soon! I will never, ever tire of anything Disney-related. 🙂 That pic of C is adorable too!
Thanks for sharing that Victoria Marini link. A lot to think about there, that’s for sure! Have a great week, Katy!
Well, if you end up suckered into a timeshare, I suppose Orlando is a pretty great place to be. I never tired of Disney either. 🙂 Best of luck with your project, and have a great week, Jaime!
Thanks for sharing your agent’s post! Lots of good things to think about. We’re headed to Universal this week for my son’s birthday–he’s reading Goblet of Fire right now. We can’t wait to get to the Wizarding World!
Have so much fun at the Wizarding World! We went a few years ago and I LOVED it. Hope you get to have some butterbeer, and happy birthday to your kiddo!
I’m looking forward to reading PANIC at some point. That’ great that your revisions are going well! And yay for Disney World! I enjoyed seeing all of your photos on Instagram. 🙂
Thanks, Ghenet. Have a great week!
I’m so glad you guys had a great time on your trip! Your photos, are wonderful as always. 🙂 I’m sure Daphne was sooo happy to have you guys home though.
And congrats on making such great progress on your revisions! And double hooray for CP’s and Betas that see things we don’t. I would be lost without mine. LOST.
Hope you have an amazing week!
Ditto on your CP comment, Kris. Totally agree! Hope you have a fantastic week, lady!
I was about to be like, “Hi, I’m the only person who hasn’t read any Lauren Oliver yet.”–but look at Jennifer up there. Lol. On the TBR list it goes!!
Disney sounds so good right about now! Especially a somewhat spur-of-the-moment trip, that’s so fun! And YAY for successful revisions. I love getting to the stage where you’re applying feedback. 😀
Oh, you should read some Lauren Oliver! She writes so beautifully! BEFORE I FALL is one of my faves. Have a wonderful week, Susan!
I’ve had some great Beta comments so far, so I totally agree with you about what a different pair of eyes can pick up on. I’m glad revisions are going well for you. I don’t think Disney World’s in the cards for me any time soon, but I hope my next (and final?) revision based on Beta feedback goes as well as yours seems to be going.
Sorry to say, I’m right there with Jennifer and Susan–I’ve had BEFORE I FALL on my TBR for ages, but just haven’t got around to it, or any other Lauren Oliver books yet. One day… some day… 🙂
Have a wonderful week! 🙂
Aaah! You ALL need to read Lauren Oliver. I’m telling you… Her prose is so beautiful! I’m so excited to hear about the great feedback you’re getting from your beta readers, Colin. They’re worth their weight in gold, aren’t they? Have a great week!
Wow! That How to Relationship was EXACTLY the post I needed to read right now!
And beta’s deserve to have a national holiday dedicated to them… I love my first readers more than they’ll ever know!
Great post and fun pictures!!
I agree about betas, Allie — indispensable! And isn’t Corey’s article awesome? Gave me lots to think about. Have a wonderful week!
I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter last year at Universal Studios but stayed away from Disneyworld. We’re planning a trip to Disneyland later this year (it’s much closer). Looks like you girls had fun!
I love Disneyland too. So charming. 🙂 We went to the Wizarding World a few years ago and had so much fun. Harry Potter’s the best. 🙂
Disney!!!!! Oh it looks like you had such a great time and what gorgeous photos!
Good luck finishing off that revision.
Thanks, Alexa! We definitely had an awesome time at Disney World. I’ll never get tired of it. Hope you have a great week!
I so want to go to Disney World! That post about characters that you linked was very helpful. Thank you for posting. I can’t wait to read Panic. I love the cover. Have a great weekend!
Thanks, Amy! Hope you get to read PANIC soon, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been. Have a great week!
Disney – Wow. Visiting Disney is on my to do list 🙂 Panic looks great.
Hope youre able to go sometime soon, Angel! And have a great week. 🙂
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I lived outside of Disney for a year when I was little and I still haven’t been… so sad! Your pics look awesome.
And I love that How to Relationship article. Thanks for the rec!
Thanks! That How to Relationship article really got me thinking. Loved it!
Those posts are really awesome, thank you for linking to them! I haven’t been to Disney for years. It’s great you had so much fun! And that you’re really loving the way your manuscript is turning out 🙂
Thanks, Kim! It’s a relief be “done” with this manuscript, at least for a bit. 🙂 Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Ah, Disney. Last time we went was Disneyland about 2 years ago. It’s about time for a return trip! My son voted for World this time, because he wants to go to the new Legoland, too 😉
We’ve never been to Legoland. My daughter and I are pretty indifferent about Legos in general, but my husband is dying to go. Go figure. 🙂 Hope you guys have a great time when you make it there!
I loved seeing your Disney World pics! That’s in my top 10 must-go destinations. Been to Disneyland tons but never Disney World! It looks like the girls had tons of fun too. I have always wanted to get my face painted, haha.
Happy to hear that revisions are going great, and thanks for pointing out those articles! I had the Bones one bookmarked but not the relationship one.
We did have a great time! I love Disneyland for it’s originality and charm, but Disney World is pretty darn amazing. It’s a whole Disney city! Hope you find that relationship article interesting. It definitely got me thinking. And enjoy the rest of your weekend!