What’s Up Wednesday

“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…

What I’m Reading: I finished Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid, and loved it so, so much! I chatted about it (and all of my November reads) in Monday’s Reading Wrap-Up post. I also read Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover, a fabulous contemporary NA. Loved the musical component, and a particular element of diversity (no spoilers!) I haven’t seen represented much in literature. Also, it *almost* made me cry, which is extremely rare. Yesterday, I started The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski. While fantasy is not my genre of choice, this one’s been too highly praised to pass up. It’s excellent so far! 

What I’m Writing: I took a writing break after winning National Novel Writing Month (!!!) last week. I didn’t even open my laptop over the long Thanksgiving weekend, which was a very nice recharge. Though I still need to finish the last 10K or so of my NaNo story (I shared its Love List last week), I’m putting it on the back-burner to work on a CP-recommended revision of my WiP The Road So Far. I’m so happy to be back with this story and these characters! 

What Else I’ve Been Up To: All the holiday things! Baking, buying, wrapping, mailing, decorating… It’s been a busy week…

  
I had a lovely Thanksgiving with my little family, and I made a super yummy Chocolate Pecan Pie, among many other goodies. So many leftovers! 


Last year we moved over the holidays so we didn’t get to put up any of our holiday decorations. It’s been wonderful to trim the tree and hang stockings in a house this year. My daughter is beside herself with excitement! 

What Works For Me: Perseverance, which for me, is all about shutting down the voices of uncertainty that are constantly chattering in my head. The only way I know how to do that is to continue to push on, writing-writing-writing, even when it feels like there’s no point. The busier I am, the less time I have for second-guessing. *Curious: How do you quiet the doubt monsters?

What’s up with you today? 

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28 thoughts on “What’s Up Wednesday”

  1. Erin Funk says:

    I just went and read the description for THE WINNER’S CURSE and it sounds so good! I think I need to add that one to my Christmas list too (which already has waaaaay to0 many books on it). Thanks for the recommend!

    Your philosophy of constantly writing so you don’t have time to doubt is pretty darn smart. My doubt monster is being a nuisance lately, so I’m afraid I have no tips to share on that one. Keep up that perseverance this week with those revisions and enjoy all your Christmas decorations this year! 🙂

    • Katy Upperman says:

      Thanks, Erin! I’m thinking (based on the forty pages I’ve read so far) THE WINNER’S CURSE is probably your sort of book. Fantasy based firmly in reality with beautiful writing. Let me know what you think if you check it out! Have an awesome week, lady. 🙂

  2. Miss Cole says:

    Yay for being able to decorate this year! 😀 And huge congratulations on finishing NaNo. Sounds like a break well-earned ^_^

    I silence the monsters by glaring at them and refusing to give in. Just have to keep on keeping on.

    Have a great week!

  3. Rebecca says:

    Congrats on Nano! And your love for Let’s Get Lost has my interest piqued. That quote is so spot on.

    I don’t think there’s much you can do about the doubt monsters. I think the only way to beat them is to persevere.

  5. Rachelwrites007 says:

    Congrats on winning NaNo. I LOOOOVED the world of THE WINNER’S CURSE and I hope you do too. (I wasn’t too into the romance but I love the characters so I will stick with the series.) I also freaking love the cover. La swoon!!!!

    With doubt, I do a lot of whining to my agent and CPs. Oops. I’m not sure I should do that bu they take it like a champ. I get freaked out if a book sells with what I think is a similar premise/character names/etc. I have been forbidden from going on Publisher’s Marketplace 😉 but on a serious note…I DO remind myself that the only person who can write like me…is me! Everybody could all be given the same writing prompt/story idea and write it very very different. You will see the prompt differently than me; something tiny may appeal and spark to me that you might not even think of, etc. **hugs**

    • Katy Upperman says:

      I’m super excited to get more into the romance in THE WINNER’S CURSE. I love that it’s forbidden and Forever YA gave it an 8 on the Swoonworthy Scale, so… 😉 And you’re so right about how the only person who can write like you is YOU. Sometimes that’s hard to remember, but it’s the absolute truth. Have a great week, Rach!

  6. Jennifer Pickrell says:

    Perseverance is my go-to word. I like keeping busy, too, and actually have trouble being idle, so I try to have “me time” everyday. I get lost in a book for an hour or watch something on Netflix or even just dance like crazy to an 80s pop song. No matter how crazy of a day I’m having, I take a step back for a few minutes and remind myself to breathe – it’s helpful in calming down all the voices (doubt monster included) in my head 🙂

  7. Stephanie Scott says:

    Congrats on winning Nano 🙂

    I would like more advice on pushing back the doubt. I’m pretty much shrouded in it right now. My philosophy the last year has been to Always Be Writing and have that next project on deck, which worked for me earlier, but now isn’t. I have to rewrite the next “on deck” which kind of threw me for a loop, and not revise–rewrite. I did something totally different for Nano and I still am unsure if my contemporaries are high concept enough or big enough stakes to sell.

    • Katy Upperman says:

      Dude, Stephanie, everything you wrote in your comment could have come right about of my head. I’m always, always, always thinking about what’s next, what’s on deck, what’s big enough, and doubting that I’ll ever come up with anything high concept enough to make it. Ugh. While I’m sorry you’re struggling with doubts, I do feel better knowing I’m not the only one with thoughts like these. Solidarity! Rooting you on through that rewrite — I’m confident you’ll rock it. ❤

  9. Jaime Morrow says:

    I loved THE WINNER’S CURSE and can’t wait for the sequel. After reading what you had to say about MAYBE SOMEDAY on Instagram, I ordered myself a copy. It sounds really good! I’m actually kind of craving NA lately, so that will fit the bill nicely.

    I really think you’re on to something with this pushing on mentality. The worst problems I’ve had with lack of motivation, increasing doubts, and the like have always been the result of spending time away from writing. I think I’ll take a page from your book and power through. Have a wonderful week, Katy! 😀

    • Katy Upperman says:

      Jaime, I can’t wait to hear what you think of MAYBE SOMEDAY. I had doubts because I’ve been underwhelmed by some of the NA I’ve read recently, but this one came HIGHLY recommended and I was not disappointed. Let me know! Best of luck with the writing. I am so rooting you on! ❤

  11. Krispy says:

    Your Thanksgiving pie is so pretty!! Also, congrats again on finishing NaNo early and having the holidays off. That’s the best (and what holidays are for, right?)!

    I think I feel you on this keeping busy thing. I think that’s why stress apparently brings out my muse, lol. I get too busy with other things that my brain just *has to* procrastinate creatively. 🙂

    Enjoy The Winner’s Curse! I really enjoyed it, and I’m excited for the sequel. It’s better that you’re reading it now. Less wait time!

    • Katy Upperman says:

      I am loving THE WINNER’S CURSE, Alice! I stayed up way too late reading last night, and I’m already fired up for the next book. 🙂 Have a wonderful week, lady!

  13. Kris F. Oliver says:

    How fun to be able to celebrate the Holidays in your new house! Putting down new roots is always fun and it feels like a house isn’t a home until you’ve hung stockings in it 😉

    Hope you have a great week! And tell those peach-hating trolls to suck it!

    Also, that pie! I wantssss.

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