"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison

Friday, March 31, 2017

Revising My Novel (in 31 Days?)

During March of this year, I decided to try Janice Hardy's At-Home Workshop to Revise Your Novel in 31 Days.
It was a well-intentioned plan.  I had have a manuscript that needs to be edited, I had a month, and now I had a plan.  I immediately started the prep work of making an editorial map.  It was exciting, and illuminating, work.

I started by printing my manuscript.  This was when I realized that even though I have written the end of the story, I have not yet typed it up (that's right, even now at the end of the month, I still have not typed the ending).  I like to write by hand and later type my words.  I've always liked filling journals and notebooks with handwritten words; I don't think I will ever stop liking it.  The ending to my story is still waiting in one of those notebooks.  Luckily I know which one.

I was not going to let that one tiny missing part of the story hold me back.  I trudged forward and started reading and creating my editorial map.... and immediately realized that this manuscript needs a lot of work, and I mean a lot.  I read through the prologue and ten chapters, answering the questions that Janice suggests:

  • What is the POV character trying to do in this scene? (the goal)
  • Why is she trying to do it? (the motivation for that goal)
  • What’s in the way of her doing it? (the conflict)
  • What happens if she doesn’t do it? (the stakes)
  • What goes wrong (or right)? (how the story moves forward)
  • What important plot or story elements are in the scene? (what you need to remember or what affects future scenes)
  • from Janice Hardy's How to Create an Editorial Map

and also adding notes about revisions that needed to occur.  I quickly realized that the prologue and the first chapter needed to be cut.  The book will begin with chapter 2, which needs a lot of work.

And then I stopped.

Not many people knew that I was trying to revise my novel.  I had mentioned it on a writing forum; no one else knew.  A few weeks into March, someone on the writing forum asked how my editorial map was going.  Ummmm.... great, I'll get right back to it.  Soon.

I really should get back to revising.  What is stopping me?  I am sitting here on the last day of my spring break.  Spring break.  A whole week with nothing to do.  And still I did not revise.  The plan failed, and I think I know why.  There was no accountability.  I have a tendency to procrastinate, especially if no one is holding me to a deadline.  

So I am making a new-ish plan.  You, my blog readers, will hopefully help me with my accountability.  I still plan to follow all the steps of Janice Hardy's revision plan, but at a slower pace.  I am allowing myself a week for each step.  I will post a weekly update on my progress as I slowly revise this manuscript and I will type the ending.  Let's see how this new-ish revision plan goes.  I am new-ishly excited!!  If you are interested in joining me in a slower version of the revision plan, I pinned all of the steps to a Pinterest board (If only I were always this organized).

Have you ever tried Janice Hardy's 31 day plan?
Are you interested in joining me on this journey?

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

2017 What I'm Reading Wednesday #7 (March 29, 2017)

I just finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, one of the books on my list for Erin's book challenge.  Yay!  More progress!

Anyway, here is my progress so far... 
2017 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 8/32
Books from TBR list: 2
Series completed: 0
*Erin's Book Challenge:  5/10  0/Bonus Round


January
1.  Midair by Kodi Scheer
*2.  And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (TBR)

February
*1.  Christine by Stephen King
2.  The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens (yup, I started a new series)

March
1.  The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens (second book in the series)
*2.  Wonder by RJ Palacio (TBR)
*3.  Matched  by Ally Condie
*4.  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Currently Reading:
*The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver


What are you reading this week?  How are your reading goals going?

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Books of Beginning Trilogy

Books of Beginning trilogy by John Stephens:

I have read the first two books in this series, The Emerald Atlas and The Fire Chronicle.  Here is what I like:

The Cover:
Yes, I know that you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the spine of the first book was the whole reason I decided to borrow it from the library.  By the way, I judge books by their covers all the time, and it usually works out.
A post shared by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on
Time Travel:
I love time travel and the paradoxes and problems that it creates.  Sometimes I get a little too caught up in it, trying to figure out how everything fits together.  These books were no exception.  

A post shared by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on
The Characters:
The siblings are so well-written.  I especially like the middle child, the only brother, Michael.  I love his obsession with dwarves and how he thinks that elves are overrated.  It is such a fun detail.  The characters in these books have full personalities that grab your attention and make you care.

Have you read these books?
What did you think?
Personally, I can't wait to read the third book! 

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

What I'm Reading Wednesday #6 (March 15, 2017)

I am currently reading Matched by Ally Condie, one of the books on my list for Erin's book challenge.  Yay!  Progress!

Anyway, here is my progress so far... 
2017 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 4/32
Books from TBR list: 1
Series completed: 0
*Erin's Book Challenge:  2/10  0/Bonus Round


January
1.  Midair by Kodi Scheer
*2.  And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (TBR)

February
*1.  Christine by Stephen King
2.  The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens (yup, I started a new series)

March
1.  The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens (second book in the series)

Currently Reading:
*Matched  by Ally Condie


What are you reading this week?  How are your reading goals going?

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Teaser Tuesday: Matched by Ally Condie

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a rand
om page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:
"I put the napkin in my pocket and I think of Ky writing out his story with his red hands, seared from the heat of the job he does.  I think of him risking everything each time he slips one napkin into his pocket.  All these years he's been so careful, but now he's willing to take a chance.  Because he's found someone who wants to know.  Someone he wants to tell."
Matched by Ally Condie

What are you reading this week?
Have you read Matched?  What did you think?

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Currently.... (March 8, 2017)

Currently...


Writing... actually editing
I am participating in Fiction University's At Home Workshop to Revise your Novel in 31 Days.  Right now I am working on my editorial map.  I'm a little behind but am already loving the process.

Reading... The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens
I'm enjoying this series and I am already almost finished with book 2.  
A post shared by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on

Listening to... Latin Pop Classics
One of my favorite stations on Pandora.  Lots of Shakira, Enrique Iglesias and ManĂ¡.
Eating... Ghirardelli squares
I especially love the dark chocolate with sea salt and caramel and the dark chocolate with chili caramel.  Yum!

Drinking... so much sparkling water
Plain, mango, apricot... so many flavors, so much yumminess.

Wearing... extra layers
When is the cold weather going to leave???  I want spring!

Feeling... anxious
I recently had an appointment with my new orthopedic surgeon, and we set a date for my surgery.  Nothing left to do but feel anxious.

Weather... cold
Yup, still cold.

Wanting... the school year to be over
I am ready for summer!

Thinking... spring break is only 3 weeks away
I can make it three more weeks :)

Watching... Face Off
Love this show!  This season is All Stars, so they are working in teams of two.  It's really interesting, and the contestants are so talented this season.

Enjoying... the Draw Riot Daily Challenge
Draw a picture every day inspired by a theme.  Lots of fun and great practice with drawing and creating.


What are you up to?
Have you watched Face Off?  Is it still cold where you live?
Have you read The Books of Beginning series?

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

What I'm Reading Wednesday #5 (March 1, 2017)

A post shared by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on
I am currently reading The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens, the second book in the Books of Beginning series.  I'm enjoying it so far.

Anyway, here is my progress so far... 
2017 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 4/32
Books from TBR list: 1
Series completed: 0
Erin's Book Challenge:  1/10  0/Bonus Round


January
1.  Midair by Kodi Scheer
2.  And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (TBR)

February
1.  Christine by Stephen King
2.  The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens (yup, I started a new series)

Currently Reading:
The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens (second book in the series)


What are you reading this week?  How are your reading goals going?