RSW Update 1

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Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at in our writing—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, and myself. If you’ve yet to officially join, there’s still time! Find the details HERE.

* How I did on last week’s goal(s).

1. Complete a revision of my contemporary YA, Where Poppies Bloom… IN PROGRESS. I revised five scenes.

2. Complete the first draft of my contemporary YA, The Road So Far, by the close of RSW… IN PROGRESS. I wrote about 5K new words.

3. Read (on average) one YA/adult novel per week… YES! I read Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun (glorious) and Tammara Webber’s Breakable (smexy).

4. Read (on average) one MG novel with my daughter every two weeks… YES! We finished Katherine Applegate’s The One & Only Ivan (beautiful and inspiring).

5. Maintain my tan… YES! I mowed and edged my lawn, a two hour job, and soaked up plenty of sun at the beach on Saturday.

* My goal(s) for this week.

Same as above. Specifically, I hope to revise at least six scenes in Poppies, and write at least 3K new words in Road. I’ll be spending the week in Phoenix with my parents and my daughter, though, so we’ll see how that goes.

* A favorite line from my project OR a word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.

It was hard to pick just one line. I picked two — sorry! From The Road So Far…

She smiles, but her expression’s flat. “Chelsea has this whole past with you—she and Drew both do. I feel like such an outsider when I’m with the three of you.”

“You hold your own pretty well,” I tell her, which is the truth. “And besides, who cares if they have my past? My past sucks. You can have my future.”

* The biggest challenge I faced this week.

Adjusting to having my daughter home. She’s on summer break now and even though she’s super low-maintenance (ha! like she’s a plant or something ;-)), I find myself wanting to have fun with her more than I want to sit down with my WiPs. Still trying to figure out how to divide work and play.

* Something I love about my WiP. 

I love Where Poppies Bloom deeply and irrationally, which is why I’ve yet to let it go. That said, it’s former version had issues, hence the revision. And I seriously love  everything about The Road So Far. I can’t work on it enough!

How did RSW go for you this week? 

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68 thoughts on “RSW Update 1”

  1. Rebecca says:

    I love that you’re so in love with your stories (very important to keep motivated and writing) and those snippets are awesome. Good luck with revisions and happy writing!

  2. karynen says:

    Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet your goals this week! A vacation is meant to be a vacation. And enjoy your time in Phoenix. I’ve lived in Mesa (just east of Phoenix) most my life, and as soon as we’re done here in Rwanda I hope to live there the rest of my life!

    • katyupperman says:

      Oh, I want to hear more about what you’re doing in Rwanda! Looking forward to visiting your blog in a bit. 🙂 My husband (and I) have been stationed in Sierra Vista, AZ twice. While we don’t love the town, we do love the state. So fun to visit, too!

      • karynen says:

        Haha! I don’t actually talk much about Rwanda on my writing blog. When we moved here a year ago I blogged so much about the adjustments on our family blog. I got burned out after 9 months so now my husband manages that blog and I have my writing blog. We’re here for two years doing business for mission work and helping with pastor training. It’s been good, but I can’t wait to move back home! 10 more months! 😉

          • karynen says:

            Hmm, I don’t know about inspiration. It’s been therapeutic for me. There’s nothing to do out here, so it’s the first time I’ve been able to really focus on my writing, and if I didn’t have my writing, I think I would be on some anti-depressants. And that’s not a joke. Which is probably why my husband is so encouraging and supportive of my writing. 😀

            • katyupperman says:

              Yay for encouraging husbands! Writing is what’s kept me out of a padded room through multiple deployments, so I get where you’re coming from. So thankful you have writing as your outlet!

  3. Alison Miller says:

    Figuring out to divide work and play – that will be me this week. It’s so hard when I just want to take the kids to the beach! And I love that little series of lines from ROAD! So glad you shared that!

    Have a great week, Katy! And enjoy the trip to Phoenix! Hopefully we’ll be able to write some time together SOON.

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks, lady! I’m hoping to be able to write in Phoenix at least as much as I write at home. I’ll have Nana and Poppy’s help there. 🙂 I miss writing with you!

  5. Rebecca Barrow says:

    I’m impressed that you can draft and revise at the same time! I always have to turn off my mind from one to work on the other. Hope you can keep it up this week, and have some fun, too 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      I usually can’t draft and revise at the same time, but these stories are companions set in the same world, with the same tone and themes, so it’s working. So far. 😉 Looking forward to seeing how your week went, Rebecca!

  6. Rebekah says:

    Again, I love the title of your first WiP so much. I immediately want to read it. Love the lines you posted — so much angst! I am right there with you on th adjusting to your kids summer schedule. Challenge extended by summer. You got this though! Have a great week with family too!

    • katyupperman says:

      Oh, thanks! It’s had that title from day one, oddly enough, and it was easy to come by. Usually titles are such a struggle for me! Best of luck figuring out how to manage your time… Let me know if you have tips!

  7. crystalschubert says:

    Holy moly, you got so much done this week! Congrats on meeting all your goals! I hope you have fun in AZ and also manage to get some writing done while you’re there 🙂

  9. Rachelwrites007 says:

    Totally impressed you can do both – revise and draft. How do you not get confused? Have fun on your vacation with C, and so glad you loved IVAN! and Jandy’s new book! (that one is waiting for me at home) I’m currently devouring a very cute YA, I’ll be on blogging about this week and I think it’s up your alley 😀

    • katyupperman says:

      Ooh, can’t wait to hear about the YA you’re reading. And you are going to love I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN so, so much, Rachel. I can’t even describe how amazing it is. Email me after you read it! As far as my revising/drafting goes… I’m only having success with it (I think!) because the stories are companions and have the same tone/themes. Different narrators, but they’re each major characters in both stories, so it’s all working out okay. 🙂

  11. Carrie-Anne says:

    You’ve got a lot of goals to keep yourself busy with this summer! I hope I can head back into my massive WIP soon, though I’ll have to balance it with final polishes and edits on the third book I’m releasing this year.

  12. Melanie Crouse says:

    Somehow, when you said your goal was to maintain your tan, I pictured you laying out on a lawn chair next to a swimming pool. Edging sounds A LOT less fun. But great job getting so much done!

    • katyupperman says:

      The edging is a necessary evil, unfortunately. But it’s exercise and sun time, so I can’t complain too much. And I did go to the beach, so there was some relaxing involved. 🙂 Thanks, Melanie!

  13. Stephanie Scott says:

    I would love to hear any tips you have for working on multiple projects at the same time. Congrats on so many achieved goals!

    • katyupperman says:

      Ha! I wish I had some! I’ve never been able to work on multiple projects at the same time before, but the two I’ve got going now are companion stories. They’ve got different narrators, but they’re set in the same world and each narrator is a major character in both stories. And both projects have similar tones and themes, so I’m not having to make huge leaps there. I’ve been spending a few days in a row on each project. Every time I get stuck, I jump to the other until I work out whatever little kink was holding me back. And that’s about it… I doubt that’s helpful, but maybe? 🙂

      • Stephanie Scott says:

        Ah I see. That sounds interesting. I am getting better at working things in various stages.

  15. Laurel Holman says:

    Your enthusiasm for both your projects just sparkles off the screen. I found that so inspiring. Thank you for sharing, and best of luck with your goals, which sound very ambitious, by the way. Good going!!

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks so much, Laurel! I am feeling enthusiastic about writing lately. That comes and goes, of course, but it’s awesome when it’s on an upward swing. Hope you’re having a great week!

  16. mandie baxter says:

    YAY for finishing goals. Your tan….so jealous. I just get darker freckles. haha. I gave up tanning a LONG time ago.

    How are our kids so easy to handle but then put them together and we have to entertain them? That’s what the play date is for! Crazy kids.

    Those lines are INTRIGUING!

    • katyupperman says:

      L and C do get crazy when they’re together. At least they have fun, though! And I’m kind of concerned that my tan’s hit its plateau. #FirstWorldProblems 😉

  18. laboyden says:

    Wow you’re on fire. At the rate your going you’ll surpass your goals in no time. Good luck with this week’s goals. Thanks got sharing.

  19. Jaime Morrow says:

    Love the lines you shared, Katy! Especially the second one. 🙂 I feel like we’re doing very much the same thing this week and next: we accomplished almost the same things with our WiPs (plural for both of us) and set similar goals for the upcoming week. Great minds, right? Have a great week! 😀

    • katyupperman says:

      For sure! It’s nice to know I’m not the only crazy person tackling two projects (revising and drafting!) in the same summer. Solidarity, friend. 🙂

  20. Dani Duck says:

    I agree with Jamie. I like your second quote the best. It looks like you are getting a lot done, and hopefully it will continue next week!

  21. Erin Funk says:

    Revising 5 scenes and drafting 5k is great! I hope you can get lots done again this week even if you’ll be visiting family in Phoenix. Love both lines you shared, but the second is my favorite. I like the contrast of “past” and “future.” Perfect!

  22. Patrice says:

    LOVE those lines! The past/future bit is perfect.

    I totally get that about spending time with your daughter, all I want to do sometimes is relax and hang out with my younger siblings. Great job on your goal completion so far!! Good luck with this week 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks so much, Patrice! When you figure out the secret to balancing kiddo time with writing time, please do let me know. I’ll do the same for you. 😉

  23. Krispy says:

    Yay for all the progress you’re making, and I love the 2 lines you shared. Also, it’s nice to know some of the words you wrote this week were around my old NorCal haunts. 😀

    Good luck this week, and have fun in Phoenix!!

    • katyupperman says:

      They sure were! Tonight I’m going to try to work on a Mystery Spot scene. I’m still working it out in my head, but I *think* I’m almost there. 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week too, Alice. I can’t wait to check out your progress!

  25. Ghenet Myrthil says:

    I love those two lines! I’d love to read your stories some day. Nice job with your goals last week and good luck this week! Enjoy your family time, too. 🙂

  26. Jennie says:

    Writing with kids is hard. I do most of mine after they’re in bed. Good luck this week, Katy!

    • katyupperman says:

      Yeah, I’ve become an after bedtime writer since school let out. Hard to change my routine, but I’m working on it! Hope you have a great writing week, Jenny!

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks, Cortney! Yes, I love reading with my girl. She can read on her own now, but we still always have a book going together, too. I’ll miss it when she claims to be “too big” for such things. 🙂

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