Words & Wonders (19)

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 17,028 words of POWERS (TLM3.) I'm happy with my output this week but I'm having to sacrifice a LOT to get there (reading time, happiness, sleep, physical and mental health, all those non-essential things.)

On the internet, this week I found useful:


- This post on writing action
- Relying on Old Tropes (+ ideas for subverting them!!)

In my life:

- I have about half as much time to read as I used to have, since I'm spending so much time writing, and it's making me pretty sad. I have so many books to read, and none of them are getting read.

A book I've loved lately:

Don't even get me started on how much angst this gave me. It was horrible, but I loved every minute of it. By far one of my favourite series of all time. Perfect, wonderful, torturous romance and a unique story I won't soon forget. I cried at least 3 times.

What have you written this week?

~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (18)

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 12,057 words of POWERS (TLM3), and I'm pushing myself damn hard so I have time to finish this before moving onto my next project.

- Written a random 244 words of Siorai, my NA high fantasy.

- Chosen to postpone POWERS's release for a season so I can work on a book to send out on submission by next April. I hate to do it but I have to prioritize, and I really need to do this now if I'm going to write it at all. I hope you'll all understand and bear the wait.

In my life:

- Nothing much is happening beyond writing like mad and trying to make my mad schedule work.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- This interview with Sarah J. Maas, in which she talks about inspiration and her characters growing throughout a series.

A book I've loved lately:

It killed me but I loved every minute of it. Sarah J. Maas can never fail. (And Throne of Glass has been optioned for TV!!!! Aaaaahhhh. Please give me regular episodes of my darling Aelin.)

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (17)

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 6,143 words of The Powers of Callaire, which I will refer to in the same vein as the other books (POWERS.) I hit a stumbling block at the beginning of the week but I think I've come over that now, so we should be back on for my finish date of Nov 1. (*is foolishly optimistic*)

In my life:

- I'm reading Queen of Shadows & it's KILLING me
- Art journalling and scrapbooking are my new thing. I'm in a craft phase right now.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Elizabeth Bear's How To Title Your Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel or Series: A Tutorial in Three Parts

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (16)

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!

This is my fiftieth post on this blog!!! I'm celebrating by announcing the (definite, final, absolute) title of the next Legend Mirror novel!!

You might have seen this on the 'other books' pages in DRYAD and BEAST if you were looking closely. The title plays into the two different story arcs of this book, one that was hinted at in the first two books, which is Yasmin making a bargain with Pluto to find his lost power in return for Fray's life. While this is happening, the Red take on their own quest to find a group of powerful lost artefacts that might give them a defense against the Numina who want them dead. Fun, happy stuff :|

In the Writing Cave, this week I have:

- Written 12,647 words. I think I've finally settled into this book now. Thank gods. 

In my life:

- I discovered the app Pacifica, which is really keeping my stress levels down. I like their soundscape, where I can listen to calming forest sounds for literal hours.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Sleeping With The Enemy: Writing Outside Your Comfort Zone
- Moving Forward: Writing Smooth Transitions
 - Writing Emotional Wounds
- How To Write A Sequel That's Better Than The First Book

A Book I've Enjoyed Recently:

Awesome historical world, cool witchy concept, and heartfelt characters who I absolutely fell in love with. John has my heart, and the best thing is the romance between him and Elizabeth is the slow burn kind. I adore this book.

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh

Words & Wonders (15)

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!

THE BEAST OF CALLAIRE is finally free on Amazon. Find links on the sidebar! If you've been looking for a YA fantasy inclusive of POC and queer characters, grab a copy and read it.

In the Writing Cave, this week I have:

- Gotten into a sort of slump with TLM3, which I'm forcing my way through. I don't want to get stalled and not write anything for a month or three (like I did with The Wandering...) and now I think I've avoided that. Here's hoping, anyway. I want to keep to my schedule and get this book out at the very beginning of next year, with The Revelation and another (YA fantasy stand alone) book making up the rest of my 2016 plan.

- Written 2,923 words. Disappointing word count again, but at least it's some words - my mood and productivity has been so low that I almost ground to a halt.

In my life:

- I got a TONNE of craft supplies for my birthday so I'm making cards and art journalling a lot lately.

On the internet, this week I found useful:

- Weapenry, a publisher of nonfiction who write helpful books for indie authors (and, I'd say, all authors!) I/m looking to get both their books when the next one comes out.
- Cheap villain killin'
- Tangents and Subplots, by Jami Gold
- 5 Tips For Making Any Scene In Your Novel More Tense by Martina Boone

A Book I've Enjoyed Recently:

Awesome historical world, cool witchy concept, and heartfelt characters who I absolutely fell in love with. John has my heart, and the best thing is the romance between him and Elizabeth is the slow burn kind. I adore this book.
You can find my full review over at Syntax Reviews.

What have you written this week?
~Saruuh