What’s Up Wednesday
This Wednesday, we’re slowly recovering from yet another bite of winter. We enjoyed 70F temps on Sunday, only to be warned of winter weather Monday night into Tuesday. Sure enough, we got about an inch of sleet/freezing rain, and overnight temperatures in the teens. We’re now on a gradual warm-up to the mid-60s this coming weekend, but I think I speak for a lot of people when I say enough already! At least until it’s August and we’re into our third week of 90+F weather and we’re crying for some snow… But what else is up?
What I’m Reading
I finished THE LOST PLANET by Rachel Searles–if you recall last week, I gushed over the cover (it really is a great cover). This past week I actually read the book, and it’s a great read. I’m not well-read when it comes to MG (Middle Grade), but I can tell this is a book that young teens who love space adventure would enjoy. It moves along at a good pace, with lots of twists, and plenty of cliffhangers. If you want to read my review on Goodreads, it’s HERE. I’m now reading CRESS by Marissa Meyer (at last!), and enjoying it already. I’m torn between wanting to read it non-stop, and not wanting to be finished–a feeling I know many of you can understand.
What I’m Writing
I finished up the #WriterRecharge challenge on Friday, having shipped the novel to Betas (success!), but having not finished the short story (oh well!). I’m okay with that. The novel was the big deal for me; the short story would have been nice. I’ll finish it up in good time. But I’ve also been working on flash fiction for the 2014 A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. I even wrote a poem for one of them… and I don’t write poetry. Intrigued? Visit during the month of April and you’ll see the product of my very strange muse!
What Inspires Me Right Now
Members of Team Awesome (i.e., my Beta Readers) telling me they’ve started reading, and some saying they’re enjoying it. Thanks, guys!
What Else I’ve Been Up To
Yesterday was Pancake Day (i.e., Shrove Tuesday), so I made pancakes for the family. There are two things I cook that the whole family will eat: Yorkshire Pudding and English Pancakes. Don’t get me wrong, I can make plenty of dishes that I think are tasty, and I’m not averse to some culinary experimentation, but when it comes to food that everyone else will eat too, then my repertoire is very limited. But that’s okay. My wife is an awesome cook (just ask anyone at our church), so I’m not complaining. I write stories, she makes food–we’ve got all the important bases covered. I’ve posted articles about English Pancakes and Yorkshire Pudding before. Follow the links if you’re curious. Yet again, the pancakes went down well. For the record, I like mine with Nutella and honey.
So, how was your week? What’s Up Wednesday was created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. Visit their blogs to find out how to participate, and to see who else has posted.
We didn’t have pancakes this year because pancake day fell on Mum’s birthday. Gotta say the cake was a really good alternative 😉
Hooray for getting the book to betas! So exciting!
Have an awesome week, Colin ^_^
Mum’s birthday trumps pancakes, of course! A belated happy birthday to her. 🙂
I’m kinda-sorta-looking forward to the Beta responses… 🙂 Thanks, Cole.
I hear you about winter. It’s definitely overstayed its welcome. We had a snowstorm Sunday night into Monday — half an inch of ice/sleet followed by 6 inches of snow! Ugh. I just want it to get warm already. We’re normally around 50 degrees in March. It’s in the 20s today!
Snow storm?! Urggh… at least it’s not that bad here. It’s just still stinkin’ cold. Oh well, hopefully warmer weather’s on the way. Stay wrapped up warm, Alessa!
Well, you might get two comments from me. Yay! It’s that time of morning my Internet gets mad at me or something.
Anyway, I think I’ll try your pancake recipe b/c I’m not a fan of the “big and fluffy” cakes.
Can’t wait to see the poem that your wrote!
Nope–just the one comment, Jennifer. I’m not sure what the deal is with you and commenting on my blog. I hope it doesn’t deter you from leaving your thoughts. 🙂
The pancakes are so easy to make, even I can’t go wrong with them! I triple the recipe for my family, and I suppose if you really like them you could do the same. These are definitely not “big and fluffy”–more flat, but not crisp. Easy to roll with your favorite filling(s).
I must say, I’m quite pleased with the poem. It’ll post in about a month. 🙂
Congrats on getting your MS out to Betas! That’s a great feeling. And wonderful feedback is always a nice thing.
Glad between the two of you, that you have the Writing and Pancake bases covered. That is very important.
Hope you have a great week!
Thanks, Kris! Yes, my wife and I make a great team. After all, what else do you need other than a writer and a cook? 🙂
I went to my sister’s yesterday, and we made pancakes together. I had mine with lemon and sugar (my favourite) and Katie had hers with orange juice and sugar. I think my mum’s going to make me some later on this week, and I’ll be being adventurous and trying nutella and banana.
I really need to get reading some Marissa Meyer, it sounds like her books are amazing.
Orange juice and sugar? That’s a new one on me. I must make a note of it. Oh, and Nutella and banana–wow–why didn’t I think of that? We have bananas, too. That would have been awesome!
If you haven’t read The Lunar Chronicles yet, do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of CINDER. You won’t be disappointed. 🙂
Never had Yorkshire Pudding but have always been curious. I’m hearing a lot about Cress lately. I think I’ll pick it up. (Even though I’m reading three books at the moment!)
Yorkshire Pudding’s relatively easy to make, though I need to update my recipe as a result of further experimentation. It’s basically the same batter as for pancakes, but you put it in a loaf tin, or you can make smaller ones in a muffin tray. The trick then is to cook it for about 20 mins at 450F. The mistake I made in previous attempts was cooking it for too long, and at too low of a temperature.
If you haven’t read any of The Lunar Chronicles, start with CINDER and work your way through to CRESS. It really is a great series.
Yay for great feedback from betas! I’m so incredibly done with winter. I’d even settle for 20s and 30s over these negatives. Those pancakes sound excellent. I didn’t get pancakes for Pancake Day either, but I did get a paczki for Fat Tuesday so I’m not complaining.
I’m so looking forward to the great feedback from my awesome team of Betas… 😉 I can’t even imagine the sustained negative temps you guys up there have been getting. Unbelievable. I hope you all keep warm and safe, enjoying nice hot comfort food and excellent books. 🙂
Oh, we make English Pancakes all the time (like, at least once a week!), but we call them crepes. We like ours rolled up with lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar, or with Nutella, chocolate chips, and pecans. They’re perfect for breakfast AND dinner, I think. Yum! Also, congrats again on your Writer Recharge success, Colin. You totally rocked it, and I hope your betas offer you tons of thoughtful feedback. Have a fantastic week!
I suppose they are crepes, but… you know… the English wouldn’t call them crepes because, well, that’s a French word and the English and the French have a history… 😉 Breakfast, lunch, dinner… whatever, they are excellent anytime! 😀
Thanks, Katy!
Glad you managed to get some pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. Our church pancake dinner was snowed out, and I wound up with three pounds of bacon I was supposed to cook for it. If they don’t reschedule, we will be eating bacon for a very long time. Glad to hear you are writing poetry and looking forward to reading it.
As a vegetarian, I’m just theorizing here, but you could probably dice up that bacon, sprinkle it in with some Nutella, and roll that up in an English pancake. If you like bacon, that might be tasty. 🙂
I’m by no means trying to make a habit of writing poetry. This is purely a by-product of the way my muse works. It was meant to be a story, but as I wrote it, it became poetry, and it worked best that way, so… what else could I do? 🙂
Congrats on finishing the #WriterRecharge challenge and sending your ms to your Beta-Readers!
Yum, pancakes with nutella and honey! A great combination!
Have a great week!
Thanks, Juliana! It was such a relief to be done with this stage of the writing process. As you know, this by no means the end, and I expect to have a bunch of edits to do when I get the feedback from Betas… but querying seems that much closer now. 🙂
Congrats on getting your book out to betas. Hopefully you will get lots of really valuable feedback. Have a wonderful week!
Thanks–I hope so too, Kate. Knowing who my Betas are, I’m pretty sure the feedback will be very helpful. 🙂
I didn’t have the time to do pancakes this week so my Pancake Day will have to be Saturday. So looking forward to it! I’m a maple syrup person. 🙂
Glad you’ve introduced your family to important British dishes! Everyone needs to try a Yorkshire Pudding in their life. Sunday Roasts wouldn’t be the same without them!
My kids have been raised on tea, pancakes, and Yorkshire pud. I wouldn’t be without them, and I’m glad for my children to share my heritage, because it’s theirs too! Who knows, many many years from now, my children’s children’s children might still make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. That would be cool. 🙂
Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding… now you’re bringing back some childhood memories! 😀
That’s awesome that your beta readers are enjoying your story. That’s always such a boost, I find. Especially since putting your words out there is more than a little nerve-racking. I hope you get awesome feedback that’s both constructive and encouraging. 🙂 As I’m sure you know, I loved CRESS. Not at all a shock, really. It’s just such a shame that we have to wait so long until the next book!
Okay, you’re really making me want English pancakes and/or Yorkshire pudding. Yum!
I’m definitely excited that I have Beta Readers to begin with, and that they are already reading the novel and making their notes. I’m sure their comments will be very helpful.
It’s funny how some books just work so well, and it’s hard to put a finger on why. Trust me, as I read CRESS, I’m trying to figure out just what it is that makes it so awesome. It’ll be interesting to see what Marissa’s post-Lunar novel will be like. 🙂
I ended up reading Cress in one day (and half the night), and I loved it! Congrats on finishing your WIP. Hope you get great beta feedback! 🙂
I really want to read CRESS in a couple of sittings… but I don’t. We’re already going to have to wait a year for WINTER, so I’m not anxious to be finished with CRESS… dilemma!!
Thanks, Emma–I’m sure the feedback will be very helpful. 🙂
Congrats on sending your WIP to Beta-readers. I bet that feels awesome. I love my pancakes with Nutella too. Now I’m hungry. Have a great weekend!
It does feel awesome, Amy–I feel relief and a sense of accomplishment. But also a little nervous, because I know the work isn’t over, and I don’t know how much work the Betas will suggest still needs to be done. 🙂
Thanks! Have a great weekend yourself. 😀
Your comments about the weather made me laugh. In my house, we’re the same way. Every winter, we wish it was summer, and every summer we wish it was winter. Actually, I’d be happy if it was autumn all year. That would be a nice balance.
I’m glad you’re enjoying CRESS too, not that I had any doubt you would. This is one of the few series I’ve read where it gets better as it goes along. I’ve read too many that fizzle out, so I’m impressed with the way the Lunar Chronicles keep gaining momentum.
I’ve never even hear of Pancake Day, but I guess I was unwittingly celebrating it seeing as pancakes have been a staple since my dental surgery lol.
Glad to hear you’ve been getting some great comments from betas! Have an awesome week!
Seriously, Erin, I remember just this past summer, while we were baking in 90+F weather, thinking “I can’t believe in just a few months we’ll be wrapping up and longing for the sun!” And here we are…!
The way Marissa’s weaving these storylines together is really cool. And you’re right, the story is gaining momentum. The amazing thing for me is the fact that not one of these so far is a dud. They are all excellent books.
Have a wonderful week, Erin!
I love pancakes – yum 🙂 My favourite time of the year is Autumn and Spring where its not to hot nor to cold. The in between. I don’t like summer when its really hot, and winter when its really cool. We don’t have pancake day here.
I don’t mind winter and summer, and I don’t mind that it gets very hot or very cold–that we have snow, even. But I don’t like it when it outstays its welcome. By the beginning of March, we should be warming up into spring. We should be seeing daffodils and be able to picnic in the park. We shouldn’t be scraping ice off the cars and bundling in front of the fire. *sigh* 🙂
Pancakes with nutella and honey sound DIVINE! Congrats on finishing Writer Recharge with sending off your novel to betas! Huzzah! I also look forward to seeing your poem in the A-Z challenge! 🙂
RE: my sister’s Theo James sighting – she actually didn’t say anything to him because it was pouring that day and he and his girlfriend were standing outside a restaurant under the awning. My sister was with my mom out shopping and my mom had Sis by the arm, and given the rain they were walking by that restaurant rather quickly. But Sis is super good at recognizing/spotting people, so she knew it was him as she went by!
Oh, the pancakes with Nutella and honey definitely were DIVINE! If I’d thought about it, I’d have mushed a banana in there too–wow! 🙂 And thanks for the congrats. A-to-Z will be fun this year (as always). 🙂
Awww… shame sis couldn’t say anything to Theo. That would have made a cool story even cooler!
Pancakes with Nutella? Yes. Yes yes yes. Actually, I’ll have anything with Nutella. Congrats on rocking #WriterRecharge. So awesome you’re already getting good feedback from your beta readers!
Yes, you’re right, Tracey–pretty much anything with Nutella would be wonderful. 🙂
Thanks for the congrats. #WriterRecharge was a great way to keep me motivated, and if it weren’t for A-to-Z, and applying Beta feedback, and querying, I’d probably be doing the YA Buccaneers’ Spring Boot Camp too.
Mmmm…pancakes. My husband and I alternate weekends with him cooking crepes on one while I bake up some German pancakes on the others. My kids look forward to Saturday! Glad Team Awesome is inspiring you! Good luck preparing for the A-Z challenge, I’ve never participated because it intimidates the heck out of me!
My kids would love for me to cook pancakes every weekend! I make them wait, because I only make them twice a year: pancake day and Christmas Eve. I think they enjoy them all the more because of that. And also it’s a rare thing for Dad to cook for the family, so that makes it a bit of a special event in itself. 🙂
Thanks for the well-wishes, Prerna. A-to-Z is a lot of fun, and really not that intimidating if you prepare in advance. If you can come up with 26 blog subjects, you can do it. The articles don’t have to be long, and as long as you stick with the day’s letter, you can write about whatever you want. The BIG bonus with doing A-to-Z is the exposure blog gets due to the large number of people that participate. Worth considering…?
That’s awesome that your wrote some poetry even though you “don’t write poetry.” I always think I should try to do more flash fiction and poetry and just other kinds of writing to flex my creative muscle in a way that it is not used to. I wrote one flash fiction piece once (just once!) and I really liked how it turned out. I wonder what the heck I did with that piece?! 🙂 Have a great week, Colin.
Thanks, Kitty. Flash fiction is a great way to keep the creative juices running, or the creative cogs oiled. You’re committing yourself to less than 1000 words, so it shouldn’t take long to write, but you can apply all your writerly skills to make it shine. And if you set yourself a strict word limit, you can practice your editing skills. For the A-to-Z Challenge this year, I’m only allowing myself 100 words per piece. What’s more, I’ve challenged myself to make each piece exactly 100 words–no more, no less. Try it some time–it’s hard, but so rewarding when you pull it off. 🙂
Ooh, I’ve done the A-Z challenge before! I skipped it last year, Too many manuscripts to finish. I should do it this year, even though I have a hard enough time posting once a week 😛
I think the keys to success with A-to-Z are keeping the articles brief but interesting, and scheduling them ahead of time. Let me know if you decide to do A-to-Z this year and I’ll look out for you. 🙂
I’m so glad you liked THE LOST PLANET! I loved it. 🙂 I’m a nerd for all things space-related, though, so it’s not that much of a stretch for me. Congrats on getting your novel out to your beta readers during Writer Recharge. That’s so exciting!
Have a great week, Colin!
THE LOST PLANET was, at least, a good example of how MG should be done, I think. It’s a cracking good story, too! 🙂
Thanks, Bridgid!
I’d never heard of Shrove Tuesday before. I looked it up on Wikipedia. Very interesting. I’ll stop by during A to Z to check out some of your flash fiction. I’ve tried it a couple of times and found it really fun, but it’s not something I’m spectacular at.
I don’t know that I would say I’m spectacular at flash fiction, but I’ve written quite a bit, so hopefully I’m not too bad at it. Stop by in April and see for yourself! 🙂