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.
SUPER IMPORTANT REMINDER –> The last week of Ready. Set. Write! (8-24 – 8-31) we’ll be holding a fun virtual event called Manuscripts and Manicures. We’ll each be painting our nails in a way that reflects our current WiP, then posting a photo of our manicure creations. So, get inspired, and maybe treat yourself to a new bottle of nail polish! 🙂
1. How I did on last week’s goals.
1.1a. Draft at least 30K words in my new WiP by summer’s end. –> Success!
1b. Revise The Road So Far. –> Success!
No progress on my new WiP, but I did incorporate lots of beta notes into The Road So Far. Hoping to finish up with that in the coming week.
2. Read 12 books by summer’s end. –> In progress. This week I read books ten and eleven: Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica, and Play On my Michelle Smith.
3. Get stronger. –> In progress. I elliptical-ed two times and practiced yoga three times.
4. Explore a new place each week. –> Success! My girlie and I met up with some old friends (a couple of families from the kindergarten class she was in three years ago when we lived in Monterey) at the National Building Museum. They construct a new, limited-time exhibit each summer, and this year’s attraction is The Beach, which is basically a gigantic, white ball pit. It’s really cool!
5. Cross at least two items off my Thirty Before 35 list. –> In progress. I’m working on #17 as I draft my WiP, and thinking about picking up a 500 piece puzzle to work on with my daughter in these final weeks of summer.
2. My goal(s) for this week.
Finish applying beta notes to The Road So Far, and send the manuscript off to my agent. Read William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Keep up my exercise routine. Buy a puzzle. Shop for school clothes with my girlie.
3. A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.
My arms go around her and her head finds its place, the spot where my shoulder and neck fuse, and even though we’ve fixed nothing, we fit together like two pieces of wood in a dovetail joint. We’re better like this. Stronger.
4. The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).
Gilmore Girls. I’m watching the series for the first time, and I’ve got very little self-control when it comes to binging episodes. So good!
5. Something I love about my WiP.
I feel like I’ve used this answer before, but the romance. It’s what keeps me motivated and inspired. ❤
Are you participating in RSW?
Don’t forget to link to your update below.
In other news… Big congrats to Crystal Schubert, lucky winner of last week’s Ready. Set. Write! prize package!
This week we’re offering our final giveaway — a writer’s care package assembled by… me!
My package includes: “If You Obey All the Rules You Miss All the Fun” journal, floral mini sticky note pad, lined floral note pad, Jelly Bellies, starry pencil pouch, Honey Pear hand cream, Lavender Lemonade candle, peppermint mints, various washi tapes, Eos Strawberry Sorbet lip balm, writerly quote pencils, Bigelow Vanilla Chai Tea, and Twizzlers.
Giveaway open internationally, to RSW participants only.
To enter, click the link below!
katyupperman.com 
Gilmore Girls is so amazing! Love love love that show and you make me want to re-watch all episodes 🙂 And I’ve told you before but I’m so grateful I got to read THE ROAD SO FAR. Such a wonderful book and the romance went right into my heart ❤ Hope you're having a wonderful week, Katy!
I’m so grateful that you were willing to read ROAD and help me out with it! Much appreciated! Hope you’re having a wonderful time in Europe, though you’re missed here! Enjoy the rest of your trip, lady!
Whoohoo you did awesome! Success is right.
You are almost there on your summer reading goal. Only one book left!
I’m moving to day shift starting when I get off in a few (5.5 hrs) and want to start getting into a habit myself there and walking on the treadmill and stuff it’s just so intimidating. You are doing great and really hitting it!
Haha I would have dove into the pit looks like fun. I’ve been thinking of doing my own list of things to do before 30. How are you liking your list thus far?
Awe! I love it. Nothing resolved just knowing you fit together and that is enough to keep going.
I love binging on complete series of shows. That’s how I’m going to try and talk myself into the treadmill, say I can only watch if I’m on there.
Romance never dies so it’s a great answer!
Binging TV is great motivation for the treadmill, Eve! And yes — can’t wait to knock off my summer reading goal… so close! Hope you have a great week!
That ball pit looks brilliant, so much fun! Sounds like you had a great and productive week! I hope your next week is too, even with the TV show obsession. 😉
That excerpt is so lovely and utterly romantic! I can definitely see why you’re loving writing it. 🙂
The ball pit was definitely cool! I even jumped in for a bit. 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind words about my excerpt, Pax. Much appreciated! ❤ Have an awesome week!
I am so curious on your thoughts on LORD OF THE FLIES and am so glad you’re reading that (for future selfish reasons). And sounds like you had another amazing and fun week! Enjoy these last bits of summer. 😦 Mine go back to school in a week and I’m trying to soak in all the family time I can!
Aww, hope you get lots of kiddo time before yours start school — so bittersweet! C still has three weeks off, so I’m not feeling all of the mixed mom feelings yet. 🙂 We’ll definitely have to chat after I finish FLIES. Have an awesome week, lady!
Sounds like you had a successful week! I haven’t watched Gilmore Girls yet, but I hear you on the series problem. Self-control is SO hard sometimes. Good luck this week!
You should check out Gilmore Girls, Tonja — it’s SO good! But maybe wait until you meet all of your summer goals. Take it from me. 😉 Have a great week, lady!
Love that care package! And I’m excited about the manicures, can’t wait to see them all. I’m already brainstorming ideas on mine. =)
I’m brainstorming manicure ideas already, too, Leandra. I think I might have to pick up a new bottle of polish for the occasion. Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with! Hope you have an awesome week!
I am still in shock you haven’t seen GILMORE GIRLS before. I am a Jess fan (he shows up in s2 or 3 if I recall correctly.) I actually named/modelled Jesse Sinclair in OFT after him 😉 But glad you are watching it now. And oooh the manicure/manuscript idea is so interesting. Can’t wait to see what you come up with! (and no need to go to my blog I have been SUCKING at updating this month XD)
Yeah, Jess was seasons 2 & 3. I’m halfway through four and wondering if he’s ever going to make a reappearance. I feel like the just sort of dropped his character in CA and I want more! Love that he was your inspiration for Jesse Sinclair! ❤
My husband’s cousin attend the Gilmore Girls reunion in Austin, TX — that’s how big her fandom is.
I love your excerpt! I can see why the romance is so motivating — you have a knack for writing it.
Thanks so much, Kimberly! ❤ I remember hearing about that reunion, but I hadn't started watching yet so I didn't really care. Now I wish I'd paid more attention! Hope you have a wonderful week!
GILMORE GIRLS! *flails arms* Lorelai and Rory are practically religious figures in our house…we own 2 sets of the DVDs now because my mom refused to let me take them to college. So I had to rebuy them all (zero regrets, obviously). My already insane coffee consumption takes an enormous jump every time I binge-watch that show.
And CONGRATS on being almost ready to send your manuscript to your agent! That is AMAZING! 😀 Good luck with the rest of your revisions, Katy!
I love that your mom loves Gilmore Girls as much as you do, Kaitlin! I keep telling my mom she should watch, but she doesn’t do the Netflix thing yet, so I’ll have to keep hassling. 🙂 Have an awesome week, lady!
Great job this week! The ball pit looks like a lot of fun.
It was fun! Hope you have a great week, Emma!
I’ll never think of Lord of the Flies without angrily remembering my 9th grade English teacher (who taught us at the 10th grade honors level) violating the Establishment Clause with her inappropriate lecture about how Simon represented Jesus. It wasn’t just that interpretation which upset us, but how she gave a detailed religious lesson going far above and beyond merely stating there was religious symbolism.
I hope you find a great puzzle. Jigsaw puzzles are so fun, particularly when they have lots of pieces.
I found a new puzzle today, Carrie-Anne! Looking forward to starting it. 🙂 Your comments about Simon have me intrigued. I’m only 25-ish pages in, so I’ve got a ways to go in learning the characters. Crazy of your teacher to pull that lesson! Was it a public school? Anyway, hope you have an awesome week!
I saw a few other people I know posting pics from “The Beach.” It looks like a lot of fun!
Awesome on meeting your goals this week, hope next week is just as great 🙂
Thanks, Jennifer! You should check out The Beach if you get a chance — it’s fun!
Out of all of the TV we watch (and believe us, it’s A LOT) we’ve never gotten into Gilmore Girls–maybe we should remedy that? Also, we need to check ut this National Building Museum–sounds so cool! Good job this week/summer, Katy! You are truly KILLING your goals 🙂 Also, good luck with finishing out the summer strong and getting some more revisions done based on your beta notes!
Okay, I have a very strong feeling you girls would LOVE Gilmore Girls. You’ll have to check it out next time you’re looking for something awesome to binge. Hope you have a great week! ❤
If you insist…all we need is something NEW on the Netflix queue 🙂 Thanks, Katy. Enjoy your week, too!
Well, I’m nothing if not an enabler. 😉 Let me know what you think!
Confession: I’ve never watched Gilmore Girls.
Katy, you’re rocking all of your goals. It’s fantastic to see how much progress you made, especially with the multi-state move and everything. Good luck with this week’s goals!
Dude, Alicia, you must watch Gilmore Girls! I put it off forever (not sure why?) but it’s SO GOOD. Wish I would have watched much earlier. Hope you have an awesome week, lady!
Yay! I won!! So excited! 🙂
And Gilmore Girls is a completely valid use of one’s time. When I was pregnant and feeling really exhausted and hating everything, I used to binge watch Gilmore Girls like crazy. I feel like that “lalalala” theme song was the theme song of my pregnancy, lol.
Also, totally jealous you went to that exhibit! I keep hearing about it and it’s so close that I feel like we could easily do it one of these weekends, but I just can’t quite get myself motivated to drive the 2-3 hours there and 2-3 hours back. Anyway, good luck on your goals this week! 🙂
So excited that you won the giveaway this week, Crystal. Such a great package — I hope you enjoy it! I can totally see how Gilmore Girls would be sort of a “comfort” watch during a pregnancy. I’m loving it! Definitely try to make it to The Beach. It’s very cool, and I bet you’re little one would have so much fun. Have a great week, lady!
I still can’t believe you’re watching Gilmore Girls for the first time! Katy, even my husband has seen all seven seasons lol. I really hope you’re enjoying it as much as we did.
Your excerpt makes me sigh with contentment. It’s just perfect. Oh, and you can never use “romance” as a reason for loving your WIP too often. That one’s always the top answer for me too.
Good luck with all your goals this week!
I know, I know! Gilmore Girls is SUCH a Katy show. Not sure how I’ve missed it all these years. But it’s been so much fun watching for the first time, especially because I can watch episodes one after the other with no commercials in-between. Netflix rocks! Hope you have a great week, Erin!
Way to go on your goals! You are killing it. I’ll fain that I was working on my reading list this summer and give myself a pass on writing. Life gets crazy, eh?
WHOOOHOOO on all that progress!!!
I love, love, love that snippet of your WIP. WANT TO READ MORE NOW.