“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 This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. It’s incredible. I’m in awe of the brilliant plotting, plus the complex characters the authors created. And, there are some wonderfully steamy moments which, of course, I loved. I also read The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson, which is poignant and evocative and cold and lonely, just as beautiful as her Tiger Lily. She’s quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. Now I’m reading All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and even though I’ve only just started, I’m loving Finch and Violet and their authentic voices.
What I’m Writing: Continuing to read through my NaNo manuscript, (which still doesn’t have a conclusion). I’ve left myself tons of notes about things I need to research/revise, and I’ve cleaned up a lot of its messiness. I’ve also got a plan for The End, which (GOAL) I’m going to carefully plot in the coming week. I’m going on a most amazing writing retreat in February (yay, yay, yay!), during which I hope to do the actual writing.
What Else I’ve Been Up To: Playing around with Tumblr. I just signed up and though I have no idea what I’m doing, I’ve enjoyed posting (reblogging?) pictures of books and Disney characters and Taylor Kitsch and inspirational images, plus quotes on writing and success. Do you Tumbl? Is that even a word? I’m HERE if you’re interested in linking up!
Spreading the word about Cavalcade of Authors West, a literary conference for Western Washington middle school students. My longtime friend Kari Bradley is one of the organizers and their list of participating authors is aMaZiNg — Kimberly Derting, Peggy Eddleman, Kristin Halbrook, Mindy McGinnis, Richelle Mead, Marissa Meyer, Alyson Noel, Lisa Schroeder, Liesl Shurtliff, and Staia Ward Kehoe, to name a few. You can learn more about COA West on the post I shared last week, or you can visit the official site. If you’re able, I highly encourage you to donate to this fantastic literary event.
And, since one of my 2015 goals was to fix more treats, I present… A plate of super rich, super delicious Rocky Road Fudge. (You’re welcome.)
What Works For Me: Vlogagrams! Author Megan Whitmer had the brilliant idea to initiate a weekly vlogagram challenge on Instagram, and it’s been so much fun! I find vlogging daunting, normally, because I’m shy and I hate the pressure of coming up with a topic and having to speak in an entertaining manner for minutes upon minutes. Vlogagrams are short (fifteen seconds) and Megan is hooking participants up with weekly themes, which makes the process much less intimidating. I’ve loved “meeting” fellow writers and building on the sense of community I’ve already found via IG. If you’re interested, check out the vlogagram hashtag. The videos I’ve done so far are HERE.
Tell me… What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
I’m even more excited to read THIS SHATTERED WORLD after your comments on it. I wanted to pick up a copy of it at the bookstore yesterday and they didn’t even have any in stock. I was not impressed. Anyway, I better order it online asap!
Hope plotting the end of your NaNo project goes well this week! I’m sure that delicious fudge will be amazing fuel while you work! 🙂
This SHATTERED WORLD impressed me for a lot of reasons, Erin. Mainly, I was in awe of how plot elements from THESE BROKEN STARS played into this follow-up. Pretty incredible. Have an awesome week, lady!
I still haven’t read These Broken Stars but I keep hearing amazing things about the series – I need to get on that soon!
Ah welcome to the world of tumblr. Prepare yourself for fangirling galore!
Best of luck with your manuscript. 🙂 You can do it!
THESE BROKEN STARS and THIS SHATTERED WORLD are both so good, Jess! I highly recommend them. Have a wonderful week!
I LOOOOVED This Shattered World. Man! I need to buy my copy (I had an ARC). 🙂 I also LOOOOVED All the Bright Places and I can’t wait to discuss with you. Prepare your tissues. And lol welcome to tumblr and fangirling 😛 Good luck with writing and plotting goes well! xo
Awesome book taste as usual. 🙂 Hope you’re feeling better, Rachel… Have a good week!
I really want to read ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES. The fudge sounds good.
ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES is so good so far, Fida… I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Have a wonderful week!
Great mind think alike – I made rocky road brownies this week 🙂 Although I had to readjust the bake time because the pan used in the recipe was larger and my marshmallows cooked WAY too long. So I should say I made rocky road hard candy. Ah well, still tasty.
THE VANISHING SEASON sounds intense.
Good luck with your plans for The End!
You should try Rocky Road fudge next time, Jennifer. No need to bake, so your marshmallows won’t get candy-fied. And you should totally read THE VANISHING SEASON! I loved it so much!
Hmmm…fudge!!! 🙂 I need to pick up some of those books, I should check if the library has them…I love the vlogagram challenge, it’s so fun to see and hear everyone! Plus the 15 seconds bit does make it manageable. But hey I get to see you soon in person *squeals* (this is still oh so surreal!)
I CAN’T WAIT FOR RETREAT WEEKEND! And yes, definitely check out the books I mentioned. I’ve had a great year of reading thus far, and I bet you’ll love them all. 🙂
Good luck with this week’s writing. Have fun plotting.
Those brownies look amazing! Yum 😀
Thanks, Cole! I highly recommend the fudge recipe. I used pecans instead of peanuts, FYI, but still… Super yummy!
I have an instagram account, I just can’t remember my username or password. Oops. But it sounds like the vlogagram is working for you and is fun also! I have a tumblr account as well, and am on there much more frequently. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be addicted!
Oh, I love Instagram! It’s probably my favorite social media outlet, along with Twitter. And yeah… I’m already finding myself visiting Tumblr as a new form of procrastination. Oops. 😉
Best of luck plotting the rest of your MS, and enjoy the writing retreat! 🙂
Thanks, Emma! I’m SO looking forward to it!
I don’t tumbl, but I think I should. Sometimes I think I’m on all the wrong social media for my personality and my reader base. I should look into that, now that I’m certain that I’ll never understand Twitter. Good luck with it!
I adore Twitter! The key is lists, I think. That way you’re following more manageable bunches. And Tumblr is really fun, so far. I like stuff that’s visual (Instagram, Pinterest, etc…) so Tumblr’s right up my alley. Have a great week, Melanie!
Good luck with your writing progress this week!
I love fudge. Last month, I made a divine chocolate peanut butter fudge with chopped peanut butter cups, all vegan except for the peanut butter cups. I’d make more fudge if I knew I could control myself and not eat so much every day!
Sounds yummy, Carrie-Anne! My husband and daughter would love it, though I don’t eat peanut butter anymore (sadly). Hope you have great week, lady!
Just starting THIS SHATTERED WORLD and I hope I love it as much as the first book. As for the other books you mentioned, I feel like I’m already getting WAY behind on the 2015 releases. I need to get caught up! Hope you’re able to find that conclusion you’re looking for. I’m super envious of your upcoming writing retreat! I’ve never done one, so I don’t know how productive I would be, but it sounds great. Have an awesome week, Katy!
I know… I already feel behind too. I didn’t even read all of the 2014 releases I wanted to (hence THE VANISHING SEASON now). I’ve never done a writing retreat either, but I am so incredibly excited. I hope and plan to get lots of writing done, but even if I don’t, I think it’ll be a great mental-health/inspirational experience. Have a great week, lady!
Good luck on your writing goals for this week! I don’t dare to look at my NaNoWriMo manuscript. It’s so messy. Your idea of leaving notes for yourself sounds smart though, I probably should’ve done that too.
My What’s Up Wednesday post.
Oh, my NaNo manuscript was a disaster, though it’s coming along now. I’ve fixed most of the repetition/telling/info dumping that comes with NaNo, and now I’ve got mostly big issues (and the end!) to tackle. Best of luck with yours!
I’ve considered joining Tumblr but I have no idea how it works! Maybe I’ll have to try it out sometime.
And yet more books to add to my TBR… 😉
I’ve just had to dive into Tumblr and play with it. I mostly “reblog” now, but I’d like to figure out how to post my own content one of these days. You should try it, Melanie! Have a great week, lady!
I would like some fudge please.
It can go along with the book I just had to put on hold at the Library (The Vanishing Season lol).
Sarah! We really should plan a meet-up one of these days. I’ll bring you fudge. 🙂 Let me know what you think of THE VANISHING SEASON — I loved it!
That Rocky Road Fudge looks amazing! I need to make it, it would be the perfect post skiing treat 🙂
I’m on Tumblr but I rarely use it now, I think I prefer the blog.
I just got ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES too, I kept seeing it everywhere and it sounded so good.
Good luck with the writing 🙂
Oh and I love your Vlogs.
That fudge would definitely be a great post-skiing treat — it travels well. Let me know what you think of ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES… I’m loving it so far! Have an awesome week, Alexa!
The Vanishing Season sounds AMAZING! I will have to pick that up soon. And I just heard about the vlogagram hashtag on Instagram today via this linkup. I’ll be going through that hashtag tonight. It sounds pretty cool. I might have to participate. 🙂
Let me know what you think about THE VANISHING SEASON, Crystal… I loved it so, so much, though it’s a very lonesome, melancholy story. Kind of my jam. Have a great week, lady!
I am jealous of your writing retreat! Hope the ending comes out the way you want!
Thanks, Niki… Me too! Have a wonderful week. 🙂
That Calvacade sounds awesome! And yay for the retreat! I hope you get a chance to write mucho on this WiP there too!
Me too! I hope to FINISH this draft… Fingers crossed!
Fuuuuudge. OMG. That looks so amazing. Good luck with the nano project! Hopefully, you can get a lot done during your retreat.
I hope so too, Adrianne! Have a great week, and whip yourself up some fudge. 🙂