Words & Wonders (48)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I've begun submission of PERSEYUA and sent to 12 agents so far!! *bites nails*

In my life:

- I'm trying so damn hard to get POWERS out to you ASAP but finding time between submission is difficult.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- A couple things I forgot to bookmark. Way to go, me.

A Book I've Loved Lately:

Perfectly unsettling, upsetting, and empowering. This book excels at showing the monsters we humans can become and is unforgettable for it.

What have you written this week?

~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (47)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I'm floundering between three projects: editing filter words and other annoying nargles from PERSEYUA, 2nd drafting The Powers of Callaire, and first drafting Library Heist. I've written 3K, added a bunch of edits, and second drafted 12 POWERS pages.

In my life:

- I'm excessively colouring in my Harry Potter colouring book. My promarkers are dying but I'm having fun :)

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Nothing? Weird.

A Book I've Loved Lately:

Unexpectedly paranormal. Plus mystery, a morally grey heroine, and plenty of murder. Thoroughly awesome.

What have you written this week?

~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (46)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

Ack! Sorry this is late, guys. I've been busy finishing up PERSEYUA and totally forgot W&W!!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I edited 178 pages of PERSEYUA this week. I'm FINISHED, just got a quick final read to do and then it's off to agents with this book.

In my life:

- No time for anything but work :(

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- See: above. Very little internet time

A Book I've Loved Lately:

One of my favourite series finales of all time. I cried a bunch of times.

What have you written this week?

~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (45)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I edited 127 pages of PERSEYUA this week, along with some rewrites. I'm so close to being done.

- Written 701 words of LibraryHeist. This is my favourite book yet but I had no time to write it this week. Soon, though!!!

In my life:

- Working like mad, but I finally got my hands on The Winner's Kiss so I'm devouring that.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- This interview with Leigh Bardugo on the diversity and disability of Six Of Crows
- But- But- But - Why Does Magic Have To Make Sense?

A Book I've Loved Lately:

Renaissance Italy inspired world. Lady assassin. Perfect romance. Read it.

What have you written this week?

~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (44)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I edited 127 pages of PERSEYUA this week. I finished adding my third edits, so I'm moving onto my 4th edits and then it's just beta reading and a final read through. And then I will be DONE. Thank Gods - more than ready to move on.

- Wrote my 4 page PERSEYUA synopsis. It almost killed me but now it's done.

- Written 1,713 words of LibraryHeist. This is my favourite book yet.

- It's technically not writing but I designed two killer covers in the past few days. I can't show you either of them, but they're coming this year for sure. (The TLM bind up of books 1-3 is prettier than all my other books put together!!)

In my life:

- I'm dying to be done with PERSEYUA so I can spend more time reading!! I'm going to treat myself to double my current amount of reading time.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- I Just Don't Identify With The Character. Read it!!!
- Lessons From A Year Writing Full Time

A Book I've Loved Lately:

Super sweet romance, awesome mythical creatures, and a bit of mystery thrown in. Not to mention intersectionality - f/f romance, POC, and a non-western setting! A must read.

What have you written this week?

~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (43)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I edited 158 pages of PERSEYUA this week. Pushing through and dying to be done.

- Written 3,782 words of LibraryHeist and I love it so much. This could be my favourite book yet. (If it IS a book - still not sure if novel or novella.)

In my life:

- Had a better week, health-wise. Turns out you need actual sleep to function as a human being? Huh, who knew????

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- This brilliant post on coding. Read it!! Actually just read the whole blog.
- On trunked manuscripts by Jodi Meadows
- Diving Headfirst Into The Query Trenches
- Summarising Your Novel
- This super informative post about Purim, which I knew nothing about.

A Book I've Loved Lately:

This book took me totally by surprise. I expected a standard fantasy novel BUT NO. Exquisite, swoony romance, a realistically sheltered princess (i.e. locked in tower), a blind MC who doesn't get miraculously cured by magic, and a thoroughly fascinating world where darkness has fallen and there is no sunlight - only dark and the monsters inside it. Do yourself a favour and read it!

What have you written this week?

~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (42)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

ESSENTIAL READING: 

An In Depth Look at Sexism in YA

Putting this at the top so it doesn't get missed. Read this, whether you're a writer or a reader, or YA or adult or MG, no matter your gender. This is important, and the subject matter is disgusting, but the writing is exceptional.

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- As I explained last week, I stalled in the middle of PERSEYUA's second draft, so I moved onto the next round of edits. I did 113 pages this week, a low count because of sickness.

- Written 2,769 words of LibraryHeist and I love it. Thinking I'll take a month out of my schedule between editing PERSEYUA and POWERS for LH to give me a creative boost/recharge. Gods know I need it.

In my life:

- Sick, and sick, and more sick. It's just been one of those weeks.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- It's Not Just You, by Dahlia Adler
- This post on middles by Jodi Meadows
- More from Jodi, this time on endings
- Another endings post for the heck of it, this by Susan Dennard

What have you written this week?

~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (41)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- Oh boy. I had a pretty big crash mid week. I ran out of energy with my 2nd edits of PERSEYUA and instead of it taking  2 hours to edit 20 pages, it took me 5+ hours to do 10 pages. I smartly changed my focus because I HATE wasting time, so now I'm putting the first half of the book (to which I'd already added my 2nd draft changes) through a fourth round of edits. 

Then I plan to go back and finish the 2nd drafting (which is actually technically a third draft but names are a pain) and then fourth-edit THAT. Which is mighty confusing and a long way around but as long as it's done by May and I can send it on submission, it's alright. 

I ended up doing 147 pages all around.

- I wanted to work on THE CLONE BRIDE story that I mentioned last week but didn't have time. I did write 600 words of a story affectionately named LibraryHeist though, for no good reason. The main character kinda came out of nowhere and I had to write her. I'm thinking this is gonna be a novella/very short novel in the Fissure world (of LITGA and PERSEYUA)

In my life:

- Slowly catching up with life things after two crappy sicknesses

- Listening to a LOT of PVRIS. Also I, Prevail and Asking Alexandria's song The Black (which has single-handedly made me love a band I never liked before and made me want to buy their new album which is out this month!)

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- More like this week I forgot to collect links so there's nothing. Oops

A Book I've Loved Lately:

Good old fashioned fantasy. One of my favourite books read this year. If you haven't read it yet, why the heck not? Last I checked it was £0.99 for Kindle - treat yourself!

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (40)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

One of these weeks, I'll remember to post on time, I swear.

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I continued adding the second draft changes to my PERSEYUA manuscript (because I 2nd on paper...) I've added 146 pages of edits, cut considerable sections (including a sweet rowboat that rowed itself. Alas, it had to go) and rearranged A LOT of the first 150 pages.

 - I revived a very old short WIP with 700 words. Hoping to work on this more in the next month. It's called THE CLONE BRIDE.

In my life:

- Another February sickness, this one worse than the first. Bleh.

-  I really like this colourful photo of my books:

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- This beautifully written and heart-wrenching post about the all-white state of fantasy. I cried, I raged at the injustice, and I felt stupidly lucky to have grown up with white privilege, to always have been included in books and been able to see myself in them.

- This epic post on skinny authors writing fat characters. Minnie, one of the POV characters in POWERS is fat and while I don't consider myself skinny, some would, so I thought I'd give the post a read, and found the blog thoroughly useful. The source section alone is worth reading it but if you're a writer (of ANY kind of character) please read the whole post!

- This post on ableism and disability by Kody Keplinger, which gave me a great deal to think about.


A Book I've Loved Lately:

Don't even get me started. 
Epic world. Unforgettable characters. Give me the next book immediately!!

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (39)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I continued with my second draft of PERSEYUA. This week I did 51 pages AND FINISHED. 

- But UGHHH it's no longer a stand alone. There's another alt ending that would make the book SO much stronger, and a second book that would be SO GOOD and offer so much growth in Perseyua, and I really want to write it ... without actually having time/schedule to write it. Oh darn. Still ... stronger ending it is. PERSEYUA is now a first in series. Imagine me grumbling about it.

- I'm now adding the second draft changes to my PERSEYUA manuscript (because I 2nd on paper...) I've written 2K and added around 10 pages of edits.

In my life:

-  Nothing to report. Constantly working.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Another post on filler words
- This epically important article about white publishing and #ownvoices

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (38)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

Crap, crap, crap, sorry this is late. I scheduled it and totally didn't hit publish. D:

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I learned I am really impulsive re: pitching contests even though my MS is only 75% done. I have banned myself from them until mid March, when PERSEYUA's mass changes have been implemented. At. The. Earliest.

- Semi related: I've been working on my query, going over and over it. I think I'm at the point where I can't make it any better, so it might be time for someone else to look at it.

- I continued with my second draft of PERSEYUA. This week I did 98 pages, which is a crappy week for me :(

- I planned Le Contemp~ finally. The good news: it's now going to be 2000% better. The bad news: a character has to die and the 10K I've written has to be scrapped D:

In my life:

-  The dreaded February Sickness hit so I missed three days of work and I'm officially behind my deadline :(

-I found 2 new bands, both female fronted. PVRIS and Against The Current. I really like both but I'm leaning towards ATC (literally ALL their songs are strong but check out Fireproof, my current favourite song.)

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- This post on twitter pitches, which saved me from making a fool of myself. Authors partaking - READ THE FIRST POINT.
- Synopsis Tips From An Expert
- Questions to Ask a Prospective Agent!!!!!

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (37)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I continued with my second draft of PERSEYUA. This week I did 139 pages.

- Wrote around 1K of Le Contemp. I'm pantsing this so far and I've run out of direction, so I'll probably draft a plan soon. I'm nothing without a proper outline.

- I also wrote a couple of flash fiction pieces for the hell of it, just trying out concepts and genres.

In my life:

- My instagram feed is more active this month. I'm taking part in a challenge called #AuthorLifeMonth so you might be interested in that :)

 Click images to enlarge :)

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Eight Things To Do While You're Waiting
- Fifty Plot Twist Ideas

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders(36)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I continued with my second draft of PERSEYUA. This week I read 134 pages and honestly it's kinda draining.

- I'm working on the Lux Guardians redesign. These won't be revealed until the end of the year, but the whole series is getting a revamp along with the cover reveal of the last 2 books (which will coincide with the release.) This won't be one of those redesigns that has the last book not match the rest - there'll just be two series of designs, one paperback and one digital!

In my life:

- I discovered Enya??? Only about 20 years late...

- Planning some instagram challenges for Feb to get my feed looking clean and matchy matchy. One of these will be #AuthorLifeMonth so be sure to follow me!

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Moving Beyond Rejection

A Book I've Loved Recently:

The Diviners series is exquisitely detailed, thoughtful, and evocative. I was happily absorbed in the roaring twenties and I fell so hard in love with the characters. (Jericho is my fave, precious Jericho, and Henry, my smol gay son.) There's also pretty decent representation, with people of colour, disability, and sexuality all among the main characters.

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (36)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I started my second draft of PERSEYUA. I've read 59 pages so far.

- I'm quickly reading through my first draft of The POWERS of Callaire while I have time. (154 pages read)

- Wrote 2,447 words of Le Contemp for no good reason.

In my life:

- Been watching and listening to and generally consuming a tonne of musicals. For research, definitely not because I am slightly obsessed.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Why We Need Asexual Romances!!! 
(As someone writing an asexual romance this post MAKES ME EXTRA HAPPY!!)
- This extra important post about Feminism (and what we forget to talk about!) by Dahlia Adler

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (35)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I added 29 pages of changes from my second draft to Wicked Song, the demon girl story from my forthcoming anthology. It's ready for line editing and a final look over! Then I just have to write some more stories for the anthology....

- I'm quickly reading through my first draft of The POWERS of Callaire while I have time. Hopefully I can catch some glaring plot holes early! (74 pages read)

- I also started writing another book (4K written). Not sure why. It just told me to write it and I had time so ... it happened. It's contemporary which is kinda weird since I don't read much contemporary but it does feature musical theatre which I am hella into. Still thinking of a codename for this book, but for now I'll imaginatively call it CONTEMP. (or Le Contemp~~ because les mis is totally a big deal in this book....)

In my life:

- More Hamilton, more working, less sleep. (This is still accurate from last week so I'm leaving it. Although this week I did watch Rent for the first time. Loved it! Cried twice.)
- I finally saw TFA. Of course I adored everything. (ESPECIALLY POE AND FINN AND REY THE BAE AND LEIA AND JUST EVERYTHING/)

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- ??? I don't know where the links are so apparently nothing. I am not being helpful this week, sorry!

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (34)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- I am working my ASS off. I read through 351 pages of PERSEYUA, my YA fantasy novel in verse, to sort out the rhythm and meter. It's making my eyes twitchy and me half-dead at night but I DID complete the read through in time!

- Started adding the changes from my second draft to Wicked Song, the demon girl story from my forthcoming anthology.

In my life:

- More Hamilton, more working, less sleep.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Not on the internet, but I've been reading Paper Hearts vol 3 by Beth Revis. Lord knows I need marketing help, so this book is a Godsend.

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (33)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week:

- IT'S POSSIBLE I STARTED WORKING ON A BOOK INSPIRED BY HAMILTON AND I'M PRETTY DARN EXCITED ABOUT IT. Listen, I've been listening to this musical so much that I fall asleep thinking about it and wake up with a song in my head. I literally have a teenage crush on a musical. ANYWAY the book is middle grade and mostly about Mulligan who is weirdly enough not my fave but anyway. I basically went 'what if the revolution was run by teenagers who could totally slip under the radar, and also magic?????' (I'm thinking sewing magic because TAILOR and paper magic for encoded messages because SPYING and maybe guns are magic or something because REBELLION.) Like all my other ideas, I absolutely DON'T have time to be planning or writing it, but that's not gonna stop me. (It probably shouldn't be a mystery why a musical about a huge workaholic nerd is my favourite...)

I 100% WANT TO READ A TONNE OF BOOKS ABOUT THE REVOLUTION AND HAMILTON AND MULLIGAN (IF THERE ARE ANY) & CO. SO IF YOU HAVE BOOK RECS, SEND THEM MY WAY!!!!

- I second drafted 18 pages of Wicked Song, a short story for release in an anthology next year.

- I read through 103 pages of PERSEYUA, my YA fantasy novel in verse, to sort out the rhythm and meter. It might be free style but it doesn't need to be THAT free. I read 64 single spaced A4 pages yesterday alone and I feel 1) pretty pleased with myself and 2) half dead because I have to read as many pages today and tomorrow and the day after that and so on...

In my life:

- 100% of my existence RN is Hamilton. Kinda wish I was kidding but no regrets. Besides, it motivates me to get shit done. Would Alexander Hamilton be lying on this couch watching TV? No! He'd be writing a 10,000 page book!! You can write/read the next 10 pages if he can do that!

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Nothing. Been far too busy.

What have you written this week? And happy new year!!!
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (32)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

Sorry about the late update! Completely slipped my mind, with Christmas and everything :)

In the Writing Cave, this week I have:

- Written 4,006 words of PERSEYUA, my novel-in-verse and IT IS FINISHED!!! Please imagine me doing a very happy shuffle right now (my non-dancing version of a happy dance!) And since I'm so chuffed to be finished, here's an unedited snippet from the first draft:

- Planned several things I ought not to be planning

- Begun second drafting Wicked Song, a short story for release in an anthology next year.

In my life:

- Every time I read that little 'in my life' header my mind automatically goes 'there's been heartache and pain. I don't know if I can face it again...' Foreigner. Great song.

- I celebrated Christmas and it was EPIC.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- this post about the word when in showing vs telling
- this post on Amazon KDP + Smashwords

What have you written this week? And how was your Christmas/holidays???
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (31)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week I have:

- Written 15,755 words of PERSEYUA, my novel-in-verse. I'm AT THE END now, so it should be finished before long. By next week, fingers crossed.

- I'm in a planning mood, so I've plotted a bit more of my Fae HF and I've started fleshing out the plot of Ferocity, my spacey WIP-on-the-DL.

In my life:

- It's mostly Christmas prep and writing.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Nada. Sorry, folks. Busy writing.

A book I've recently loved:

I love it so so so so so much. Incredible characters, insane emotions, and the species are written and imagined SO WELL. I will never stop raving about this book.

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (30)

Welcome to Words & Wonders, a weekly journal of writing updates, links I've found useful or interesting, and book recommendations. I hope W&W will prove to be useful to you writers out there as well as offering an insight into my writing progress for my readers. Don't forget to leave a comment with your own writing progress!

In the Writing Cave, this week I have:

- Written 9,996 words of PERSEYUA, my novel-in-verse. I had a bad week so I haven't written as much as I'd like, but I have reached the end of another part of the book so that's something. Hopefully next week will be better.

- Planned my twelve volume Fae HF series. I absolutely should NOT be working on this, let alone plotting the stories and building the world, but when a story has taken root in my head there's little I can do... (It's still gonna be 3 years at least before anything is released in this series though - I need to prioritise finishing The Lux Guardians and The Legend Mirror!)

In my life:

- Stumbling through the month tbh. I'm excited for Christmas, and actually not too overwhelmed by everything there's left to do, but writing is going so slow lately and I want to be finished by the end of the year so it's STRESSING me out.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- This post on indie publishing by Emma L. Adams, which made me fee a fair deal better about my shitty sales :)

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh