So psyched to see everyone else who jumped in on Ready. Set. WRITE! last week. I’m loving the motivation to stay on track. Here’s where I’m at this week.
What I’m Writing:
I’m happy with my own progress for the week, but I definitely won’t be posting about huge word counts or chapters revised anytime this summer. I’m still preparing for a huge rewrite, which includes setting up my project in Scrivener, importing outline notes and brainstorming on those, and lots of Thinking. I did some of each of that this week, but I can already see how much more it’s going to take. Right now I’m just scratching the surface, but that’s totally fine with me.
In the meantime, some tangible progress:
What I’m Reading:
Since I’ve been spending more time Thinking than writing, I’ve also had more time for reading this week. I also got lucky with three fantastic reads in my TBR pile:
ONE by Leigh Ann Kopans. I breezed through this in one day–such a fun read! My twitter summary was “zippy, geeky, and romantic!”
THESE BROKEN STARS by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. This took me a little bit to get into, but I ended up loving it.
THE EXPATS by Chris Pavone. This is a spy thriller for adults (gasp!), but it was sososo good. Excellent plotting and so many twists it had my head spinning.
Then I finally cracked BELLE EPOQUE by Elizabeth Ross open this morning and I already don’t want to put it down. Love it!
What Inspires Me:
Since the inspiration for my novel was Rainer Maria Rilke’s poetry, I’ve been turning to it this week. I couldn’t help going back to his Sonnets to Orpheus, and this stanza, which provided the initial spark for me:
And almost a girl it was, who went forth
from this single joy from song and lyre
and glowed clear through spring’s fog
and made herself a bed in my ear.
Reading his work again reminds me of how beautifully he strings words together, and how much I love this series of poems. Can’t you just see the girl?
Rilke
Writing Retreat of Dreams!
Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
This Week’s Topic:
Describe your dream writing retreat. Where would you go? Who and what would you bring?
This topic is something I think about a LOT. Like many others, I squeeze writing into my daily life, and the idea of a writing retreat conjures up all kinds of images of productivity. Who wouldn’t want a a honeymoon with a WIP instead of a quickie?
Thus a dream retreat for me would really be anywhere that provided stretches of alone-time, plenty of tasty food and caffeinated beverages, and the opportunity for literary discussion, all in an inspiring setting.
The place that best fits the bill for me? Ronda, Spain:
Specifically, I’d choose the HOTEL REINA VICTORIA (http://www.hotelreinavictoria.es/es/hotel-ronda/main), a place that offered the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke the peace and inspiration he needed to write.
I’d bring my laptop of course, a stack of books, and a notebook and pencil for scribbling in the garden. I’d love to have a group of writerly friends along too, for those literary discussions after productive writing sessions. Anyone with me?