First off, a quick introduction to any of you in the interwebs not familiar with the glory of #wipmadness. In March of 2011, Denise Jaden kicked off a “March Madness” writing challenge filled with blog hops every day of the month to motivate fellow writers to work on their goals: writing, revising, and even reading. Over on twitter, there was this strange basketball thing going on at the same time, so we had to hunt for a unique hashtag and thus #wipmadness was born.
#Wipmadness was so majorly awesome that other writers started volunteering to host a month-long weekly check-in on their blogs so that the madness could continue. The best part is that it’s never too late to join in. If you’re working on a WIP and could use a little motivation, you have come to the right group!
Like many of the hosts before me, I’m also going to be offering up PRIZES for lucky commenters on the blog this month. I’ve got four awesome books to share (three YA novels and one on craft) and will send one out each week.
If that’s not enough, we’ll be chatting here this month about the things that make us love our projects! *hugs project* Last week, YA Highway asked about our project’s Love List, and I thoroughly enjoyed coming up with my own list and reading the cool lists that other contributors posted. I’m going to be continuing my draft on that project this month with a goal of 15K new words, and I couldn’t be happier. Who wouldn’t want to spend a month in virtual Iceland?
What about you, Wipsters? Care to share an item or two from your own WIP Love List? Anyone else have specific goals for the month? I’d love to hear them!
Oh, I love this theme for the month, Kip.
What I love about my WIP is that I’m seriously thinking about the metaphorical devices I’m using (Claire’s hair, colors, a symbolic bubble my mc protects herself with) because I feel like I’ve grown in my writing and can now focus on structure, instead of making sure I’m active not passive. This is a fun place to be. Can I pull it off? Time will tell.
The biggie for me, is I was stuck, stuck, stuck. Then I did some backstory brainstorming, and realized I had totally rushed the romance part, that my guy would have never led Claire down that path so early. This realization was HUGE and I’m going to go back to the beginning, revise my first 100, then start again with new words. It’s funny, I had to give myself permission for this approach as I towed the “don’t look back till you reach the end” line on the last ms.
Anyway, have a fabulous September everywhere – in other news, I am now on day 3 of Weight Watchers trying to shed 25 lbs of stress weight from teaching and am headed to SCBWI Carolinas at the end of the month.
Oh! So glad you got unstuck before the beginning of a new month. I’ve personally never been able to plow through a WIP without either a detailed outline or going back for a big revision partway through. Sounds like you have a great plan! And good luck with the Weight Watchers!!
Cheering for you, on all accounts!
Oh I didn’t do my homework and read the post on love lists. So I want to go again. What I love about my manuscript: Red hair, a popsicle truck, fairy houses, Papi’s house, a finch farm, hot hispanic boy with tear drop shaped mole, and a Prius that drives far on little gas.
Sweet! I definitely want to see where this one goes!
Good to hear that you’re still in love with your project – it’s so easy to lose the joy the longer it drags on. Having said that, my love-hate with the tentative Novel Number 1 is currently in a “Hmmmm, let’s try and work things out” phase. So the goal for the month is to get the ‘final’ round of edits finished, typed up and call it a complete. So I guess we’re still in love 😉
Nice to meet you! And sounds like you have a nice specific goal for the month, too. LOVE goals like that! Hope the ms love sticks around all month, too. 🙂
This sounds like so much fun. I look forward to hearing more about your WIP. 🙂
Thanks! It’s been my easiest to draft thus far, so I guess that says something. 😉
Hey! Some of the things I love about the novel that has my attention right now is the ghosts, the old house, the historical society with connections to the origins of spiritualism (not good connections, but bad bad connections), the fact that my mc and what I thought was her enemy are in fact good friends….yep. I totally see how doing this exercise really does invigorate you. Thanks again. Goal this month is to complete the changes this wip needs. They are big changes, but even if I get a really rough draft of it out, I’ll be happy. Happy #wipmadness!
Awesome! Your WIP sounds like something I’d like to read, so I hope you can make it through those changes this month!
Thanks for taking the reins, Kip! What do I love about my WIP? Never had to add another POV character in revision before and I believe it’s solving many problems. Still love the setting (WWII Paris.) Love my villain.
I know this saga is never-ending, but it appears we’re moving to Colorado a week from tomorrow. I’ll let you know for sure next week. This process has been the biggest crazy-making-yoyo waiting episode of all time! But I’m going to keep working on the revision. Something in my life must remain constant and stable, right?
Happy September, Wipsters!
I hope I get to read your revision when you’re happy with it! And I hope you really get to move this time. We went through the same housing yo-yo for a year and a half and it was SO GOOD to put it behind us. Crossing fingers for you!
good luck with the move! I’ll be moving next month. It’s definitely one of those big projects. I’m envisioning my new office to motivate.
I’m sooo excited to be joining in the WIPMADNESS this week. Is there a secret handshake? What I am loving about my WIP right now is researching the depression-era clothes, furniture, and NAMES. Fingers are getting itchy to start on this one! As soon as the kids are off to school tomorrow it’s GO time.
YAAAAAY! Monica is in the #wipmadness house!! I am so excited that you are here and researching and ready to write! I can’t wait to read this one as you get drafting. *secret handshake*
Thanks for hosting this month, Kip! Some weeks I check in on the blog, some weeks only on Twitter, but I seem to have trouble remembering to do both. This week I’m working on putting the finishing touches on my writing craft book about writing grief in fiction. It releases October 1st, so I’m in the home stretch of getting it all formatted and ready to go. As for my love list….it’s more difficult for me to find stuff I love in my non-fiction, but most of all I guess I love that I’m finally doing this and getting it out there. I hope it will be a useful resource for others.
So glad you are here and putting the finishing touches on that book, Denise. I’m really looking forward to reading it!
I’d have to say I love that it’s pushing me to go to another level with my writing. Right now my role models include Tessa Gratton, Nancy Holder, Maggie Stiefvater, Robin La Fevers, and of course Ellen Hopkins. Each of these authors peel back the onion and aren’t afraid to tap down deep in their writing. I hope to do the same with this WIP.
I also love Espie, my protagonist. She’s questioning her society and what she really believes in. She’s kind of like me as I’ve also been struggling with some tenets of my own faith.
Plus I decided to finish a sequel I’d been working on so I can send it to my editor to see what she thinks.
Thanks for sharing, Kim! It’s great to hear which authors inspire other pubbed authors. I loved GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers. Sounds like you’ll have a busy month–best of luck!
Great way to launch the month, Kip! One thing I love about my WIP is the science behind the premise. It’s been so much fun doing research on gene therapy.
My goal this month is to finish the first draft of my rewrite. I’m at page 100 now, so that means 200 pages of half old and half new stuff to produce.
BTW, the winner of the drawing from last week’s check-in on my blog is Mary Ann Scott!
I love it when writers are inspired by science–way to go! Best of luck getting through your rewrite this month!
Yay, so glad to be part of WIPMadness this month, it’s been a few months since I last joined in. I’ve got lofty (love that word) goals for September – 20k on a new WIP, revisions on another WIP based on 2nd round beta reads, and then (if I get revisions done) querying. Scary! Good luck to everyone – happy writing/editing/reading!
Ooooh, so glad you’re here this month! 20K is a lot, so I’ll be pulling for you! You can do it!!!
I’m new to WIPmadness (even though mine have definitely been driving me crazy). I love my characters and my story. I also love the those moments when I’m reading a scene and I get chills, or start to cry or laugh and know that I did a great job with the writing.
I am so glad you joined us, Patrice!! You’ll love #wipmadness! I totally agree that chills, tears, or laughs at our own writing is pretty sublime. Way to go!
Thanks! glad to join!
I’m going to be getting back to my WIP this month after a much needed break. I love the twists that are coming for my characters and I hope that coming back to this WIP after some time away will help me rediscover the other many things I love about this story. Thanks for hosting this month, Kip! Looking forward to getting some real work done in September!
So glad you’re aboard this month! Time away from the WIP almost always helps me, so I hope it will help you, too!
Yeah, girl. You better write it so I can read it!
Yes Ma’am! I really want to get back into it, so I’m making this my month to *hopefully* get it done!
Your love list makes me totally want to read your WIP! Hmm… Here are things I love about my WIP: Yosemite National Park, slacklining, sunshine, my dreamy male protag, meteor showers, hide and seek. 🙂
Yippee–those sure sound like a lot of fun things! Hope you have a great month of #wipmadness ahead!
From Mary Ann (aka ghostgirlwrites): Oh, so awesome, Kip! Thanks for hosting this month! August was not a bad WIP month considering all the hubbub at my house, trip to NC, start of school (x2), and foot surgery. Frankenfoot and I managed to slug out a couple of new/revised chapters. As of the Love list:
•Spooky, Ghosty stuff all over the place
•A spunky but searching female MC who’s up for a real fight
•An awesome agent who set me back on the right track for these revisions and all the cool stuff that came from her brilliant and gently placed feedback.
Good luck, Wipsters! Let’s kick some September butt!
Love the ghosty stuff all over and hope September is a perfect month for some heavy-duty #wipmadness!
Thanks for moving my post to the right place! (silly ghost girl needs to screw her head on right…) Now, let’s see if I can pound out at least 4 more chapters this week…(LOL)
You can do it! *cheers*
Hi Kip! Thanks for hosting this month. I do Love Lists for my projects, but I’ve never called them that–I like it! First time I did a Love List was when I was overwhelmed by the revisions I had ahead of me on a certain ms. So, I listed what I loved about it so far (what I’d done “right”, and what aspects of the story I really wanted to play up). It was encouraging, and reminded me that the draft didn’t _completely_ suck, plus it helped me focus my revision efforts.
Contemplating my goals for the month…might return to an old ms for a major revision, in which case it’s time for a Love List! 🙂
Awesome! Yes, it definitely helps to at least have a list of what’s right. I’d love a glimpse of the Love List for your old ms if you go back to it this month!
winter in the Yukon
the Northern Lights (like your ms!)
spirits
…
LOVE these things too. Oooooooooh.
I ended the month (and started this one) with a bang, having fun at a video game convention in Seattle this weekend. I scored invites to two open-bar parties and met some interesting people, in addition to enjoying the con itself. Now I’m back and ready to get back to work.
What do I love about my WIP? Well, since I’m trying to get Sign of the Star out to agents soon, I’m just going to say that I love that it’s finished. Jack Garcia and the Problems with Pixie Dust, though? That’s my shiny sort-of-new WIP. I love it in general. I love that my main character is from Vancouver and experiencing southern Florida for the first time. I love that her voice is strong in my head and I love what she has to say. I love that I’m letting myself work on this now, rather than putting it off as a “maybe someday”. Remember that hashtag, #cometsplosion? Yep, that’s this one. And I’m still excited.
Since I can’t be sure of when I’ll hear back from every Beta, I’m going to leave Sign of the Star hanging a little bit longer before sending it out. That’s a nebulous goal that I can’t assign a date. So here’s my concrete goals, focused mainly on Jack Garcia. (Bonus: Her voice is strong in my head right now!)
1. Keep writing JG. I want to tell her story.
2. Enhance the existing outline to figure out a few details. Now that I’ve determined that the designer drug the elves are selling on the streets of southern Florida is faerie-based, there are a few things I need to determine about the bad guy, and a few other details I need to hammer down before moving forward.
3. Write faster. I am not impressed with my writing speed lately. I’d really like to improve. On the positive side, I finished a scene on the car ride back yesterday, but I feel like my pace is positively glacial at times.
4. If I need to, work on something else, likely the romance side projects that strike me from time to time. Or possibly the sequel to SOTS, since that’s the one I’m “supposed” to be working on. And that’s that.
Good luck with your goals, everyone!
Oooooh, I for one am glad that you’re working on the new WIP because I LOVE your title. Jack Garcia and the Problems with Pixie Dust! That is filled with all kinds of awesome!
Hey, Kip! I’ve loved following #wipmadness on twitter, but I can finally join in here. School started (checks watch) just about 90 minutes ago — four kids, same school, all day, for the first time EVER. So excited to finally be getting to my revisions after a busy summer. I’m not sure what I love about my ms right now — we’ve been apart for so long! I love working out the tricky plot twists of the mystery…the fire symbolism…and getting to know my MC a little better than I did when I started. Oh, also, the ghosts.
Cheers to everyone for an awesomely successful September
Yippee!! Sooo glad you are here with us this month! I know, back-to-school is the perfect time to dive in, isn’t it? My girls start preschool 3 mornings a week starting tomorrow so I know how you feel. I can’t wait to hear more about your ms!
I’ve been following #WIPMadness for months but I’ve never gotten in on the ground floor. I’m excited to join up this month!
My love list for my WIP: Fairy Tales, Prince Charming, strong female main characters, witty narrator, soul mates.
My goals for the month:
1. Locate beta readers and critique partners
2. Revise 10 chapters
3. Write the first draft of my query letter (as part of the #GUTGAA contest)
So glad you are joining us! Your Love List sound like a lot of fun. I’m always looking to swap mss so I’d be happy to beta for you whenever you’re ready!
Thanks for hosting, Kip! What I love about my current project? References to a literary favorite, the spanish flu, and an exotic locale. I will admit here that I am shelving project #1 and moving on. The MC bored me, resulting in a stale premise. I promise to come back to that gang, but for now I need to write and be excited. Moving on!
Your new WIP definitely has my attention! Getting excited about a project definitely makes it more fun (at least that’s what I tell the novels in my drawer). Can’t wait to hear more about your new project!
Thanks for hosting! I joined up in March, but I’ve kinda fallen off the bandwagon, so to speak. I’ve missed the encouragement and accountability. I love my wip! My magic system is SO FUN to play with! My protag is as curious as a cat. I love Kellen. My dragon has spunk. I had a mischevious elf masqerading as a purple bear cub. And I kinda have light sabers… It was my NaNo novel last year (I only got 20K in Nov) and I’ve been working on it ever since. I’m hoping to finish the first draft this month (it may not happen until next month). I’m hoping I can do that in 30K (to put the total at 150K) Yeah, it’s long. It may not be done then, but I really want to finish so I can start a new one for NaNo this year. Anyway, hopefully someone will do some #wordwars with me to help me get my words in!
Wow, that IS a long ms! Maybe you’ll find that you’ve already written a trilogy once you go back to revise and check out everything you already have, LOL. I love all the details you mention, so I’m so glad you’re joining us this month!
yeah if the character and magic are good, why not? With fantasy the world building is so hard (in my experience). Why not dig into the universe?
Yeah, most word counts I’ve seen give fantasy books a fairly large extra amount. If YA is desired between 80-90 on average, fantasy YA can hit 100-120 because it takes that much more time to build the world and magic system and such. For a first novel they’d still like it as short as possible, but Twilight was 120K, so… I’m going to have to cut a lot, but I figure I’ll see what I have when I’m done and go from there.
I’ve considered turning it into a trilogy, but I would have to add a lot. It’s still a possibility after I’m done, but right now I just need to finish it. We’ll see what happens with it. I’d really like it to be one book, but I’m planning on writing more in the world and with the characters, so a trilogy wouldn’t be terrible. I’d just have to get satisfying story arcs for each book rather than just the main one. Thanks! I love the details too! I’m so excited to get it done! 🙂
Happy to see you hosting! And your wip sounds awesome 🙂 Honestly, this month, I just want to finish this lousy first draft! I’m sooo close! (I think. Hope.) Anyhow, we’ll see if that happens.
Ooooh, yesssss! Finishing a first draft is an awesome goal! You can do it!!
Hi Kip,
I’m new to #wipmadness how do I sign up to join in the fun? thanks
A new post is going up tomorrow for Week 2, so you can sign up then. Glad to have you aboard! 🙂