Hi everyone!
Hope your Saturdays were swell - I know that some of you had big plans and I hope they all worked out!
Wanted to give a little update on the writing - I like to let you know how things are going every one or two months; you are all incredibly supportive and it is fun for me to keep you all up-to-date.
I am still unpublished (hey - apparently this whole writer thing looks easier on TV than it is in real life!) and currently doing the edits for my second book. The thing that makes me happy is that the second book (which is the second in a middle grade series) is better than the first, which is a good thing, right? Of course, now I want to go back and work even more on the first book. sigh.. I have also written my first article, which I am shopping for publication and my first short story. It has been a busy month!
But it is about to get a lot busier!
I have signed up to do NaNoWriMo.
What is NaNoWriMo?
NaNoWriMo is the shortened name for National Novel Writing Month and challenges writers to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1st and 30th.
To quote the NaNoWriMo blog: National Novel Writing Month is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes your story matters. We organize events where kids and adults find the inspiration, encouragement, and structure they need to reach their creative potential.
NaNoWriMo is premised on the belief that lots of people have novels in them and that with some support, and the discipline of writing 1,666 words a day for 30 days, they will get that first draft done. I kind of did a version of NaNoWriMo on my own in September, writing my 55,000 word first draft in about 27 days, so I am excited to take advantage of the NaNoWriMo Community to help me write the Young Adult Fantasy novel that has been rattling about in my brain for several months.
If you have ever thought about writing that novel, by all means - sign up! I think it will be a lot of fun!
Kitchen update:
Mr. Barry got the bead board up on the wall behind the new fridge yesterday and it looks great. We hung some more artwork in the kitchen and next thing will be the pantry and fixing the ceiling and maybe a lick of paint. Very happy!
And I found two lovely French advertising prints at our local framing shop that look perfect:
For me, the only thing left is making new under-the-sink curtain in a nice ticking stripe, along with matching café curtains for the door.
Let's have some wine and some celebratory cheese and crackers, shall we?
What are you up to today? I have to take back a bunch of things that DIDN'T work on the walls and there is an antique show in town, so I think I will hit that as well!
Have a great day and stay safe out there!
Hope your Saturdays were swell - I know that some of you had big plans and I hope they all worked out!
Wanted to give a little update on the writing - I like to let you know how things are going every one or two months; you are all incredibly supportive and it is fun for me to keep you all up-to-date.
I am still unpublished (hey - apparently this whole writer thing looks easier on TV than it is in real life!) and currently doing the edits for my second book. The thing that makes me happy is that the second book (which is the second in a middle grade series) is better than the first, which is a good thing, right? Of course, now I want to go back and work even more on the first book. sigh.. I have also written my first article, which I am shopping for publication and my first short story. It has been a busy month!
But it is about to get a lot busier!
I have signed up to do NaNoWriMo.
What is NaNoWriMo?
NaNoWriMo is the shortened name for National Novel Writing Month and challenges writers to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1st and 30th.
To quote the NaNoWriMo blog: National Novel Writing Month is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes your story matters. We organize events where kids and adults find the inspiration, encouragement, and structure they need to reach their creative potential.
NaNoWriMo is premised on the belief that lots of people have novels in them and that with some support, and the discipline of writing 1,666 words a day for 30 days, they will get that first draft done. I kind of did a version of NaNoWriMo on my own in September, writing my 55,000 word first draft in about 27 days, so I am excited to take advantage of the NaNoWriMo Community to help me write the Young Adult Fantasy novel that has been rattling about in my brain for several months.
If you have ever thought about writing that novel, by all means - sign up! I think it will be a lot of fun!
Kitchen update:
Mr. Barry got the bead board up on the wall behind the new fridge yesterday and it looks great. We hung some more artwork in the kitchen and next thing will be the pantry and fixing the ceiling and maybe a lick of paint. Very happy!
And I found two lovely French advertising prints at our local framing shop that look perfect:
For me, the only thing left is making new under-the-sink curtain in a nice ticking stripe, along with matching café curtains for the door.
Let's have some wine and some celebratory cheese and crackers, shall we?
What are you up to today? I have to take back a bunch of things that DIDN'T work on the walls and there is an antique show in town, so I think I will hit that as well!
Have a great day and stay safe out there!
Hooray that you're so pleased with your second book. I'm betting they're both wonderful. I did NaNoWriMo years and years ago, and completed a book, albeit a terrible one. :) But it was a fun way to do it, so I'm excited for you!
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen looks wonderful Wendy!
Melissa! That is so cool! I am really interested in seeing how it all unfolds! This third book is a little scary to me as it is a genre I am not really confident in, but I am sally-ing forth!!!!
DeleteOh - I am now pricing tin ceilings for the kitchen... scope creep! and a marble slab for on top of the island!!!
Oh believe me, I know allllll about the creep! ;)
DeleteI bet you do!
DeleteI have never seen a fridge that big in my life, that is an AMERICAN fridge!
ReplyDeleteWhat's in the bits with the two handles, a freezer and ? You know I want to see what's inside now don't you?
Me too I have serious fridge envy!
DeleteTwo freezers - I will take pics and send them to you Tabs! It is a kick-ass Fridge - honestly, it more fridge than I deserve! On positive side, Barry has already sold the old fridge for quite a lot of money so am feeling better and better about the purchase!
DeleteIt is truly huge! ours is about a quarter of the size and far too small. I am suffering fridge envy!
DeleteYes your kitchen looks amazing, thanks for having us all by for that yummy looking cheese tray. Great choices and I love a ticking stripe, that will be perfect. I'm off to church and then I'll be cooking a big lunch. Enjoy your day darling, it sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteI need your sewing skills and machine Dani! I saved you some herb encrusted goat cheese!
DeleteBring the fabric and we'll make them here when you visit! I wonder if you could find a good ticking on etsy, I betcha.
DeleteWrite girl write. It is brunch with the Inlaws and then who knows what. Was thinking movie but it is going to be a beautiful day so who knows. Have a lovely day. Much love.
ReplyDeleteWe have pouring rain so I think I will read and edit all day! I think my next book needs a character who has been to the Galapagos, so I can interview you and Lane!
DeleteSome day we will swap stories over a great bottle...or two...of wine.
DeleteHi Wendy, good luck with NaNoWriMo! My boys have been doing it for a few years. I remember the first time Number One Son did it - he slaved away for about 12 days, then he lost the pen drive containing his writing! It was eventually found a week or so later (someone had swiped it from the school library), but of course, too late to continue.
ReplyDeleteGoing to see Enough Said today.
Oh let me know what you think of it?
DeleteYour poor soon - that is the kind of thing that would put me over the edge!
The movie was great! Very poignant at the end credits where they have a black screen with 'for Jim'.
DeleteI wish you the best of luck for your November project. Will you still have time to keep up your blog? I suppose it is a good month since it will likely be cooler and you may not want to venture outside so often.
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen looks great but I have one question. What is the function of a curtain under the sink? Sorry but I was trying to think of how that works but I am oblivious I guess. I'm ready for some cheese and are those concord grapes? Yum!
Thanks xoxo! Will keep up with the blog, though I may put a few in the "can" to help myself out!
DeleteWe originally had a door under there, but it wasn't nice at all. I have always loved the French way of having an under the sink curtain, so I just did it. It just hides all the junk! And there is always junk!
I'll be interested to hear how you like living with the doors on the fridge. I wanted that too, because it looks like it makes putting in large trays of stuff much easier, but it was too different from Himself's idea of a fridge. His concern, if I understand it, was that he would be in a hurry for something to eat, i.e., his normal state, and he would open the wrong door.
ReplyDeleteTHere was more to that last paragraph but I have edited myself because even in my sardonic moments I am essentially good at heart.
HA!!!!!! I open them wide myself and love them, but then, it is all sparkling. It really is Barry's baby though, his one true love, after airplanes, etc, etc! I think I would like to meet Himself!
DeleteWFF I think we all want to meet Himself! We'll bring snacks.
Deletesnacks = good idea, but you don't want your hands and feet near his mouth, cf Animal House.
DeleteGood luck with your writing project. That's a lot of words!! I'm not sure I have that much to say but it might be fun to try. Love your new fridge. Same questions as above. What are the middle drawers for and what is the curtain under the sink for? I'd be at the antique show with you today, but since I'm here and you're there, we are driving up to see our first grandson.!!
ReplyDeleteOh yay! Can you share the name????? Congratulations!!!! Curtain is purely decorative. The middle drawer is for freezer things you go for all the time - waffles, etc and the one below is really deep and more for longer term storage! I wish you were there with me today but you will have more fun for sure with that new grandson!
DeleteCongrats for a prolific writing month. I do believe that the more you do something, the better you get at it. Did you find it harder to write a shorter story than a longer one? I've always wondered. I would think a shorter one would be more challenging, but I may be wrong. I've been reading some fabulous books this fall, I'm in awe of so much talent. You know I'm eagerly awaiting yours. We just came back from a breast cancer walk at Central Park and we're off to meet my mom for lunch. Enjoy the antique show!
ReplyDeleteMarie - would love to know what you are reading! I think I am going to do a post on reading this week! The short story format that I used is less than 1500 words and it is hard for someone like me with a terribly big and verbose mouth to be that succinct. It is a good exercise though!
DeleteVery pretty fridge! :) Good luck with the novel in November, you will do well!
ReplyDeleteThanks LR!
DeleteGood luck with NaNoWriMo! Have thought about doing it several times but just can't think where I would find the time when work gets busy without giving up exercise, which keeps me sane. What genre are the middle-grade books you're writing. I really love genre fiction :)
ReplyDeleteWe went to the circus today and had about 20 tantrums and bathroom accidents. I cannot tell you how glad I was to kick back this evening post-bedtime!
It is a middle grade adventure/mystery series. I bet you would do well - your writing is good!
DeleteThank you, that is so kind! I can't wait till your books get picked up and become a hit so I can gobble up your series :)
DeleteI really, really wish you all the best for your books and your writing! Your kitchen looks great. We have had ours completely redone two years ago (furniture wise) but the painting has still not been done as I cannot find a painter! And as I am not really someone doing things in order, I just order a painting to hang in the kitchen. I will try to put it on the blog once received...
ReplyDeleteI had a great Saturday as I harvested my first ever carrots and they turned out not bad... Will do much more next summer.
Thanks Steph! And congrats on the carrots! Well done! My carrots were awful this year - I must have sent all the carrot weather to you! Can't wait to see the painting pics!
DeleteWow Wendy nothing like having a full kitchen makeover...it looks great :-)
ReplyDeleteYeah - funny what a broken stove can do!
ReplyDeleteWendy, so in awe that you've accomplished so much in such a short time frame!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for a publisher very soon, and hope to read you in a magazine too.
I would love to do NaNoWriMo, but this year isn't the right time for me. I will explode if I add any more things to my list!
Hi Wendy, fingers crossed that your work will get published soon!! I know a couple people who have attempted NaNoWriMo, and they said it was tough, the writing equivalent of a month-long marathon. Good luck! I know you can do it! :-) (ps. the kitchen looks lovely!!)
ReplyDelete