What’s Up Wednesday
It’s time for a Wednesday catch-up on life, courtesy of Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk’s meme (see Jaime’s blog for details). So, what’s been happening in my life?
What I’m Reading
I finished John Grisham’s THE CONFESSION, and was disappointed and underwhelmed. This is sad, not only because I hate to think of all that time and effort put into writing and publishing something disappointing and underwhelming, but also because it was a great premise, and could have been so much more. Anyway, I’ve posted a review to Goodreads (which you can read HERE), so I won’t take up any more time griping about it now.
The next book I’ve started is I AM NUMBER FOUR by Pittacus Lore. The premise behind the story involves a small group of aliens–nine in total–who have survived the annihilation of their people by a rival race. These nine have taken refuge on Earth, where they are hiding out until they are ready to strike back. However, their enemy is tracking them down. Until their powers develop fully, their only protection is the fact that they can only be killed in numerical order. Numbers nine through five have all been killed. The story is told from the perspective of Number Four, who is a teenager, going to an American high school, and coming to terms with being next on the list. If you recall what my WIP is, you’ll understand why I was interested in this (the whole alien-on-earth scenario, told from the first person). The book’s enjoyable so far, but I’ll reserve full comment on it until I’ve finished.
What I’m Writing
Still plugging away at revisions to the WIP, though it’s a bit slow-going at the moment. Given all the encouragement I received last week, I really need to push myself to make quicker progress. Maybe this week will be a better week. I also need to write some short stories. I’ve said that before, I’m sure. But I need to quit saying it and actually do it!
What Inspires Me Right Now
Reading how my blog friends are progressing with their WIPs/revisions is both inspiring and convicting. Yes, some of you don’t have full-time jobs and families, so theoretically you have more time. But in reality, we all have distractions and things that keep us busy apart from writing, so I have no excuse. If you guys can find make the time to write, so can I!
And remember the vampire story idea I mentioned last week? Well, it’s still rattling my brain, pleading for attention. I’m struggling to keep it at bay, which is another reason to make better progress with the WIP. I won’t start on SNVI (Shiny New Vampire Idea… NOT Shiny Vampire New Idea… please!!) until I’ve finished revising the WIP.
What Else I’ve Been Up To
I participated in literary agent Janet Reid’s latest writing contest on Saturday. These contests are so much fun to do, I really encourage my writer friends to give them a try when she runs them. The chances of me winning, or even being a runner-up, are very slim because so many great, imaginative writers compete. But if you read my entry (see the comments), you may see the influence of SNVI…
How’s your week been?
I’m also reading a book that could have been awesome, because the story is super cool, but the writing is very much lacking. Part of it is that I’m listening to it as an audiobook, so the weaknesses are more glaring when it’s read aloud. I just don’t understand the editing side, how this book got out with so much we are advised as writers to avoid (backstory infodumps, repeating concepts, showing and then telling about the showing (not trusting the reader to understand)). And yet it’s a popular book. Hrmmm.
Good luck with the writing contest! I think they are valuable if you get some good feedback. I’ll check out your entry.
I don’t know if this applies to the book you are reading, but the sad thing with the Grisham book is that it makes me wonder if after an author achieves a certain level of success, standards of editing drop because they know the book will sell anyway. In other words, since Grisham has a large, devoted fan-base, it doesn’t matter if the book isn’t as great as his earlier books–people will still buy it. This doesn’t make sense, because most readers are not so loyal as to let their favorite author get away with throwing them dross. But it does make me wonder…
Thanks, Steph! As I said, I don’t hold any hope of getting any recognition, but the challenge of the contest makes entering worthwhile. 🙂
Everyone’s progress is very inspiring 😀 And as much as I wish I didn’t work full time, I know if I didn’t I wouldn’t write more because I’d be more distracted 😛 Working loads forces me to use my writing time as best as I can.
Sorry to hear the book was a disappointment. What a pain.
You’re probably right, Cole. Writing full-time wouldn’t necessarily reduce the number of distractions from writing–it would just reduce the number of excuses I have for not writing! 🙂
Haha, once a SNI gets into your head it’s so hard to not think about them and get the urge to start writing for them. They’re terrible sometimes.
Absolutely. But my vampires need to keep calm. Their day will come… soon… soon… 🙂
I read and enjoyed I AM NUMBER FOUR, but I was seriously disappointed when I found out who Pittacus Lore actually is. (He’s that James Frey guy who wrote a fictitious autobiography.) I just rubbed me the wrong way, so I didn’t read any further. I can definitely see how this story would be helpful to you. Like research. Have you ever seen the TV show Roswell (late 90s, early 2000s)? That has a similar sort of scenario with aliens trying to blend in as human teens in Roswell, New Mexico. There’s another show called Star-Crossed airing on the CW sometime this season about aliens publicly attending a high school on Earth. Might be cheesy (going by the trailer), but I’ll still check it out.
Good luck with your writing, Colin!
Thanks, Jaime. I knew about the James Frey connection before I started reading (I like to find out about authors before I read their books), and it did give me pause. However, I saw that while his ethics were called into serious question almost unanimously, his writing itself has received a lot of critical praise. If this was supposed to be non-fiction, I probably wouldn’t have read it. But since it’s fiction, I decided it was worth trying. After all, if I refused to read books by people who have made serious ethical gaffs in their lives, my bookshelves would be a lot emptier. 🙂 But I totally understand the “awww–really??” moment when I found out.
Thanks for the TV show recommendations. I’ll have to check them out. 🙂
Did they make I AM NUMBER FOUR into a movie? It seems to ring a bell somewhere. Sorry the Grisham was a disappointment to you. I hate when that happens with an author you love.
Hope you get lots of writing done this week and maybe even a short story 🙂
Yes, they did, but I haven’t seen it. Nor will I, at least until I’ve read the book. I wouldn’t say I’m a Grisham fan since this is only the second book of his I’ve read. However, given his popularity, I expected more. Oh well.
Thanks, Alexa! 🙂
Good luck in the contest, and I hope you find more time to write this week. As you said, we all have distractions that take us away from writing, and it’s amazing how quickly those distractions add up. If only there were double the number of hours in the day, and enough energy to work that long! 🙂
Thanks, Erin. I’m sure if there were double the number of hours in the day, I’d find twice as many things to distract me, but it’s nice to think I’d be more disciplined. 🙂
SNIs are beautiful and evil at the same time, kind of like vampires:) It’s always exciting to get an idea for a new book, but it’s also SUPER IMPORTANT to finish the old book. I have a SNI, or three, of my own right now. But I’m going to finish my current WIP first. I swear, I’m not going to start any of these new projects that I totally want to write. I’m not going to. Maybe we should get some wooden stakes so we can stab our SNIs through the heart, but then they might really be dead which would be totally tragic when we finished our WIPs and wanted to start writing something new. Allas, the life of a writer is filled with drama.
Some people can juggle multiple WIPs, but not me. I really need to finish this WIP before I entertain those beautiful evil SNIs. Perhaps a short story will pacify them for a while… 🙂
I saw the movie version of “I Am Number Four” but I haven’t read the book. I know a lot of people get hung up on the story behind the story but I’d give it a try. Good luck with the writing contest and your revisions!
I certainly am giving it a try, Adrianne. So far so good, I must say. But we’ll see. Thanks for your words of encouragement. 🙂
Ooh, I love that you have a SNVI… Very intriguing, sir! Best of luck with Janet Reid’s contest. Fingers crossed for you!
Thanks, Katy!
Yes, I know vampires are a bit passe at the moment, but I don’t care. My SNVI may never see publication, but I want to write it, and right now my livelihood doesn’t depend on me writing sale-able fiction, so I can. 🙂
Good luck with the contest! Those things are always a little daunting, so bravo that you went out and did it! 🙂
Sorry to hear about the disappointing book. It’s almost worse when it’s like that instead of just me flat out not-liking it. Hopefully, I Am Number Four turns out better. I saw the movie and it was generally entertaining.
Thanks, Krispy! I enjoy Janet’s contests–they really challenge my creativity, as well as my editing skills. 🙂
Yes, I think I’d rather not like a book with which I had no expectations than be disappointed. I AM NUMBER FOUR is going quite well at the moment, so I’m hopeful. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to read I Am Number Four. I’ll be interested to see your thoughts on it when you’re done!
Good luck with the contest 🙂
Thanks, Stephanie! If nothing else, I’ll post a review on Goodreads… but I’ll probably say something about it on the blog, on a future WUW no doubt. 🙂