“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 Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy and adored it. I thought the ending, in particular, was perfection. And Harvey! ❤ I also read Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass and loved it so much. Awesome voice, awesome characterizations, total Katy Book — pretty much the highest praise I can give. More on both of these duebuts coming Friday in my monthly reading wrap-up post. Now, I’ve started Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers, which is predictably amazing so far. It’s the only one of her novels I’ve yet to read, though I’ve owned it for years. Her writing is incredible.
What I’m Writing: I accomplished last week’s goal of replotting the last third of my NaNo project, Stars Like Dust. What a relief! I’ve got most of the big picture stuff figured out now, and I feel comfortable diving back into the actual drafting. I’m guessing I have about 15K left to write and I’m hoping to get about half of that done in the next week because on February 6th, I’m leaving for a weekend writing retreat where I’ll *hopefully* finish this first draft.
What Else I’ve Been Up To: My husband’s been traveling a lot for work, so I’ve been spending bunches quality time with my girl.
Didn’t she do a most excellent job on this cute little sewing project?!
Saturday night’s sunset. I’d much rather look at this than snow!
What Works For Me: Celebrating my friends’ successes! Two of my favorite writing buddies have signed with literary agents in the last few months: Liz Parker and Tracey Neithercott. It just so happens I’ve read both of the stories that helped them snag their new agents, and they are aMaZiNg. You should totally go congratulate them! Additionally, my former agent-mate and overall wonderful person Kris Asselin recently shared the cover of her debut, Any Way You Slice It. Check it out HERE!
Tell me… What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
Best of luck with the draft and enjoy the writing retreat! 🙂
Thanks, Emma — I can’t wait!
oooh a writing retreat. how fun. Goof luck with drafting. and thanks for sharing. 😀
Thanks! I’m going to need all the luck I can get to finish this draft. 😉
I love that darling sewing project. How fun. Enjoy your writing retreat! I’m super jealous. 🙂
That sunset photo is beautiful. And your daughter is very talented.
Good luck finishing that draft. You can do it 😀
Thanks, Cole! I can’t wait to call it “done” so I can dive into revisions. 🙂 Have a great week!
Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers is AMAZING! I absolutely love all things Summers, and that book was so good 🙂
And wow — your daughter did awesome on that sewing project. I totally would’ve failed, but it’s such a cute end result.
Love the cover for Any Way You Slice It
I finished FALL FOR ANYTHING late last night and oh my gosh… Totally blew me away. My new favorite of hers!
A writing retreat sounds wonderful! I love your daughter’s sewing project. So cute.
Thanks, Sarah! I’m so looking forward to that writing retreat. 🙂
A writing retreat sounds awesome. I also recently read LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. We will definitely have to discuss when you get a chance. I haven’t read that Courtney Summers’ book but I love her stuff so I will definitely check it out … if/whenever my TBR list isn’t crazy haha
Yes, let’s chat about LOVE & OTHER THEORIES! I’ve read some not-so-favorable reviews, but I totally loved it. I just *got* what they author was trying to do, I think, and I like that it surprised me. Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts, Rachel!
I have Love and Other Theories out from the library right now, so hopefully I’ll be reading that soon! I haven’t read any of the debuts from this year yet…
Good luck on your drafting this week!
I’m seeing mixed reviews for LOVE & OTHER THEORIES, but I happened to love it! It surprised me in a lot of (good) ways, and I think the writing and voice are fantastic. Let me know what you think, Stephanie!
So happy to hear you’ve figured out the remainder of your WiP. I’m still puttering along with my outline. It just really feels like it’s hard to get anywhere without that in place, doesn’t it? Hope it’s full speed ahead for you! I have SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY on hold at the library and need to pick it up. It has been on my radar for ages now, but after listening to that First Draft podcast with Julie (thanks for mentioning it, btw), I knew I had to get my hands on it. Have an awesome week with your girlie, with writing, and enjoying that gorgeous Florida sunshine! 😀
Thanks, Jaime! I hope you like SIDE EFFECTS. I’m even more excited for Julie’s next book, DUMPLIN’ — sounds so compelling. Best of luck with your outline. It’s taken me more than a month to figure out mine, so I hope you don’t grapple as much as I have!
Claire did amazing at this little sewing project! That’s adorable! 🙂 I have both LOVE & OTHER THEORIES and FALL FOR ANYTHING on my TBR. Maybe I should bring them to the writer retreat for some reading time 🙂 Congrats on making progress on your draft! You can do it and….when do I get to read another excerpt? Enjoy the sunshine!
You can read another excerpt when I can start remembering what I’ve sent you and what I haven’t. 🙂 I’m still trying to figure out what to read on my flight to DC next week. Too many good options. Can’t wait to see you, lady!
Loved FALL FOR ANYTHING. I think it may have been the first Courtney Summers book I read. But definitely not the last 🙂
That sewing project is adorable.
Enjoy your writing retreat!
SOME GIRLS ARE was my intro to Courtney Summers. It was one of the earliest YA books I read and I remember being shocked (and pleased!) at how far certain topics could be pushed within the age category. She’s definitely an insta-buy author for me, and I can’t wait to read ALL THE RAGE. Have a great week, Jennifer!
Aw, thank you, Katy! And congrats on hitting your goal with STARS LIKE DUST. (Which, I’ll say again, is such an awesome title.) Hopefully you’ll get a ton done on your retreat. So fun!
And tweet @ me the next time you’re working in the evening. I miss our writing parties—and the amount of work I got done during them!
I’ll definitely let you know the next time I’m writing at night (maybe tonight, actually). I miss our writing parties too, and I get so much more done when I have my accounta-buddies hassling me — I mean CHEERING for me. 🙂 And congrats on again on signing with your new agent. Wishing you all the luck in this next step!
Your daughter is very talented! I don’t think even I could make that. I really enjoyed Side Effects May Vary. Courtney Summers is so good at what she does. This Is Not A Test is one of my favorite reads.
THIS IS NOT A TEST is incredible. I can’t wait for her ALL THE RAGE! Have an awesome week, Prerna. 🙂
Yeah, I can see why you’d rather watch that sunset than snow falling. That beach looks like a little slice of heaven. Send some of that nice weather north, will ya?
Congrats on replotting the last third of your NaNo project and good luck finishing off that last 15k or so! 🙂
I will mentally shove the sunshine your way, Erin. 🙂 Have a great week!
Great job on all the writing, and I hope you finish your writing goals. Have fun on the writing retreat! The sewing project looks too cute. 🙂
My What’s Up Wednesday post.
Thanks so much! My girlie had so much fun sewing. 🙂
Congrats on finishing your outline and hooray for writing retreats!!
And holy adorable sewing project! At first I assumed you made those. I am super impressed. Annnd now I also want to make some. Do they have an AA-type meeting for people who make too many things all at once? Please sign me up if they do.
Have a ton of fun at your retreat! Write All The Beautiful Words. 🙂
Ha! We take on a lot of crafts around here, too, Kris. 🙂 Those were part of a kit put out by American Girl. She had so much fun with them! Have a great week, lady!