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 with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, Elodie Nowodazkij, and myself.
1. How I did on last week’s goals.
1. Draft at least 30K words in my new WiP. –> Over the last two weeks, I wrote a total of 4,140 words. Not as many as I’d hoped for, but still forward motion.
2. Read 12 books. –> I finished book #2 The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, which I cannot rave about enough. Loved it! (Check out my June Reading Wrap-Up tomorrow for a detailed review.)
3. Get stronger. –> I haven’t done yoga in, like, ten days, but I have to believe moving heavy boxes and unpacking mountains of junk burns a significant amount of calories and maybe even builds muscle. Right?
4. Explore. –> Big success on this goal! Over the course of our move, we made stops in Savannah, Hilton Head, and Charleston — some of my very favorite cities. Obviously I took tons of pictures…
5. Cross at least two items off my Thirty Before 35 list. –> In progress. I’m working on #17 as I draft my WiP.
2. My goal(s) for this week.
Draft at least 2,500 new words. Read one book (Devoted). Practice yoga at least three times. Completely unpack and organize our home office.
3. A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.
What comes next is fast and fluid, like a sequence of flip-book images: she inhales a sharp breath, he drags a finger over her collarbone, she scrambles back, he licks his lips, lewd and disgusting. Her eyes fill with tears, and I’m just done.
“Hey, asshole,” I say, clenching my hands tight.
He starts toward me, but before he makes a full turn, Summer’s calling his name and squaring her feet and cocking her arm back.
She throws her fist right into his face.
4. The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).
Um, that’s probably obvious. The move and the unpacking have sucked up all my time, and I didn’t get to do nearly as much writing as I would have liked. But! We’re just about settled, and I think this week’s going to go much better.
5. Something I love about my WiP.
I wrote my main characters’ first kiss last week. Kissing scenes are always fun, but first kisses are the best. ❤
Are you participating in RSW?
Don’t forget to link to your first update below!
** We don’t have WiFi at our new house yet (hurry up, Thursday!) so I’m going to do the best I can with commenting at our local Starbucks. But… the majority of my comments might come later this week. My apologies! **
katyupperman.com 
I think you did an amazing amount of writing, considering! And, by the way, although I’ve only been there once, I loved Savannah. And Tybee Island.
Hooray on being nearly settled already We’re a couple of years away from a planned move cross-country to Oregon, where my Accomplice is from, and I’m more than a little overwhelmed just thinking about all the steps between us and that point…
You are an inspiration!
And, yeah, first kisses are magical! =)
Oh, I love Oregon! I grew up in the Seattle area, and the Pacific Northwest is beautiful. I hope you love it! Have a fantastic week of writing!
I do love it. I’ve lived there before – my Accomplice hails from there, and we took the kids there for a family vacation in February. They loved it, too! Of course, it didn’t hurt anything that there was literally FEET of snow in our yard here in upstate New York, and the Willamette Valley was lush and green, with dandelions, and butterflies…and not too much rain…
I haven’t made it to Seattle, yet, but it’s on my to- get-to list…
I wholeheartedly agree that the Pacific Northwest is lovely. The only things I’ll really miss about the Adirondack foothills where we live, and where I grew up are the fall colors and the maple syrup…
Ooh, fresh maple syrup. I’d definitely miss that, too!
Maybe I’ll need to set up a connection before we move…. =)
I’m also impressed you’ve gotten anything else done around moving. I love Savannah! I was there as a kid with my mom and aunt, and still remember liking it.
Savannah’s the coolest, right? I think it’d be amazing to live on one of those park squares. So beautiful!
Yes for first kisses! And great excerpt, Katy!!! Go, Summer!
Packing and unpacking totally counts as a workout regimen 🙂
Gorgeous pictures from your trip and you know how excited I am you’re much closer now 🙂
Hope you guys are settling in ❤
Cannot wait for lunch tomorrow! It’s my reward for making it through the last week. 😉 See you soon, lady!
Don’t have time to do RSW this summer, decided to do a whole How to Write series on my blog, but I am supporting you guys!
Ooh, can’t wait to check out your series, Kim! Thanks for the heads up, and for all of the support. ❤
Yay for first kissing scenes! And so glad the move went smoothly for you! Dave was just in Charleston this past weekend (for soccer 🙂 ) and Obama was in town for the funeral and he said it was just crazy.
Oh, and that excerpt? #love I cannot wait to read this one!
Hope you have a great week, Katy!
Yay! I’m glad you love the excerpt I shared. Scary to share bits of my messy, messy WiP! Hope your writing’s going well. Can’t wait to catch up with all you’ve been up to. Have an awesome week, friend!
Yay for kissing scenes. Those are always fun. And loved the scene you shared!!!
Glad y’all are getting settled. Not sure it’s sunk in for me that you’re gone. I’m sure it will soon as I hit up Starbucks.
I went to Starbucks yesterday (yay for free WiFi) and it was sad sitting there all alone. Also, the baristas were really quiet. I just did not feel at all at home. 😦 Hope your writing’s going well. We’ll have to catch up very soon!
Sounds like you did GREAT with your goals, especially considering the chaos of moving. THE WRATH AND THE DAWN is on my TBR for sure now…seems like everyone is loving it!
Have a great week, Katy! Hope the wifi gets hooked up soon!
Oh, my gosh! THE WRATH AND THE DAWN is incredible, Kaitlin! I hope you love it as much as I do. 🙂 Have an awesome writing week, lady!
Love Savannah and Charleston! You were in my state (SC) for a while! Yay! Good job meeting your goals even in the midst of moving and traveling–that’s seriously hard to do. Hope you get to meet your goals this week too!
Jessica, I love your state! So beautiful! I want live in Charleston forever and ever. 🙂 Hope you’re having an awesome week of writing!
First kisses…yes! The best. ♥ I’m so impressed with everything you’ve accomplished over the past few weeks what with the packing, moving, unpacking and whatnot. I’ve enjoyed seeing the pictures you shared of your trek to your new home. You’ve given me ideas of places I’d like to see one day!
That snippet you shared is fantastic! If you ever need a reader… *raises hand* Have a great week, Katy! 😀
You should totally make your way to the U.S.’s southeast one of these days, Jaime. Definitely my favorite part of the country, even with the summer humidity. 🙂 Thank you a million times for your offer to read! This story is ages from being ready, but I’ll definitely let you know when it is. Your notes have been invaluable in the past! Hope you’re having an awesome week of writing! ❤
I’ve heard so many good things about THE WRATH AND THE DAWN! I’m impressed you found time for writing with so much going on!
Love the excerpt. 🙂
I *loved* THE WRATH & THE DAWN, Emma! I bet you would, too. Fantasy at its best. 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week, lady!
I absolutely LOVED your excerpt, especially the moment where She punches the guy in the face. Nice. I completely believe that moving heavy boxes and unpacking counts toward your strength goals. Good luck this week, Katy!
Yay! I’m glad you liked that excerpt. My first inclination was to have the boy doing the punching, but then I was like… screw that! 🙂 Hope you’re having a fantastic week, Rebekah.
Good luck with balancing your writing time and getting moved into your new home! That’s always a difficult challenge. Moving boxes certainly does count as a workout, particularly if it involves lugging them up the stairs.
Definitely did a lot of up-stairs and down-stairs box lugging, Carrie-Anne. So glad that’s mostly done with. Now, more writing time! Have a great week, lady!
The Wrath and the Dawn! So good 🙂 Glad you’re settled and the move went smoothly!
Right?! I loved that book so much! I need the sequel, like, yesterday. 😉 Have a wonderful week!
Hey, not to shabby on your goals given the fact you moved and all. I loved your excerpt and that she punched him. I want to high five her.
I want to high five her, too. She’s kind of a bad ass. 😉 Have an awesome week, Alicia!
Amazing that you got so much writing done with that move. And the pics are great! Cute excerpt. And have fun unpacking 😉
Thanks, Tonja! *Almost* done unpacking. I can’t wait to say that my house is free of boxes. Have a great week, lady!
It’s impressive that you got anything written at all considering you were in the middle of a move, and I can attest to that firsthand! Sounds like you guys are settling in quicker than we are. We still have tons of painting to do before we empty all the boxes. Ugh.
I’ve hears so many people raving about THE WRATH AND THE DAWN this week. I’m thinking I really need to check it out. Love the excerpt you shared, especially how it ended! And I have to agree about first kiss scenes. That’s one of the reasons I love writing YA. Have a great week, Katy, and I hope you continue to settle back into a routine!
See, we didn’t have to do any painting, since our house is a rental. 🙂 Wishing you all the luck getting settled once and for all, Erin. And yes, you DEFINITELY need to check out TW&TD. I think you’ll love it! Have an awesome week of writing, lady!
Good work on the word count. The snippet of your story is great!
Thanks so much, Martha! Have a fantastic week!
Oh kissing scenes. love it. Good luck this week. Thanks for sharing. 😀
Kissing scenes are the best, right? Best of luck with your writing this week, Leslie!
Really strong writing in your lines from your WIP. Loved it. Also–totally with you on THE WRATH AND THE DAWN. I’d love to hear more about your Savannah trip! I need to get back out there. I’ve only been there once, and while I wrote down a bunch of ideas it was long before the one for my current WIP was born.
Oh, I’d love to talk about Savannah any time! I’m no expert, but I’ve been a few times and I love it there. I’d move there (or to Charleston) in a heart beat. Hope the writing’s going well for you this week, lady!
Moving/hauling/unpacking is a hard core workout for sure. It counts. Also any words added to your work are words not there before and thus a success! You got this!
Thanks so much, Eve! I’m so glad all of the moving/hauling/unpacking is DONE. Over it. 🙂 Hope you’re having an excellent week of writing, lady!
I am totally inspired that you’re moving and burning through all those goals! Hopefully Thursday will come soon and you’ll be back up and running at full Internet speed, but I bet the quietness is so great for writing.
Thursday is finally here and YAY I’m using WiFi to respond to comments. It’s about freaking time. But yes, the quiet was definitely good for productivity. 🙂 Hope your writing is going well this week, Valerie!
I’ve loved seeing your pics as you traveled to your new place, and yay that it fulfilled one of your goals too! 🙂
You rock for getting words down despite all the movement in your life recently! Best of luck getting settled in (and for more words)!
Thanks so much, Alice. It’s been a crazy two weeks. So glad to finally feel settled. Mostly anyway. 🙂 Hope you’re writing is going well this week!
I love writing kissing scenes! Although I blush every time.
Love the excerpt you shared… I’m glad that guy got punched in the face!
Hopefully you get all settled in soon. Moving is not much fun!
Congrats on the move going well! Hilton Head is a gorgeous area, although it made me thankful for our dry heat in AZ! Good luck getting settled!
Oh, Hilton Head was crazy humid! Not so different from the FL panhandle where we came from, though, so it wasn’t *too* torturous. 🙂 It really was beautiful! Hope you’re writing is going great, Karyne!