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Ready. Set. WRITE! Week 7 - Jessica Leake

Jul / 21

Ready. Set. WRITE! Week 7

By / Jessica Leake / 23

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I was invited to participate in Ready. Set. Write! by my CP and best friend Mandie, which makes sense since we’ve already been checking in with each other on our WIP goals. It’s been so helpful have some accountability and encouragement, and that’s what Ready. Set. Write! is all about–writers encouraging one another this summer to meet their goals. This year, it’s hosted by Katy Upperman, Jamie Morrow, Alison Miller, and Erin Funk. Check out their blogs for more information and be sure to link up each week.

How I did on last week’s goals:

I was able to get those first 3 chapters sent off to my agent, but that was what took up so much of my writing time this week–going back and forth with her until they were exactly the way we wanted them.

I did come up with a title, and I’m relatively happy with it, but we’ll see if it ends up being temporary or not–you never know with titles!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to finish reading or start work on the edits for my other WIP, but I plan to do that this week.

Goals for this week:

Start work on the edits for my other WIP–working chapter by chapter

Finish reading The Burning Sky

And a non-writing-related goal: finish the thank you notes for my little boy’s birthday party (it’s been a month now)!! The guilt is killing me!

A line from my Top Secret WIP:

It was as though my heart was made of glass, and it shattered the moment I saw her.

The biggest challenge I faced this week:

Baby Jude is usually an easy-going little guy, but at 4 months old now he’s hitting that phase where he’s more aware of his world, so it’s becoming more and more difficult for him to take a nap. This seemed to even out yesterday, so there’s hope that’ll be better this week! Babies’ sleep schedules are funny things–as soon as you get used to one, they immediately change it up on you.

Thanks for all the encouraging comments! I hope everyone has a productive week! 🙂

Comment (23)
  • Alison Miller / July 21, 2014, 7:46 am  

    Oh, baby sleep schedules. I haven’t been there in a long time, but I do remember the inconsistency, despite me trying to establish a routine. Now mine are 10 and 15 and they don’t nap, nor do they go to bed before 11 in the summer. Heh. Hang in there! The writing happens and you’ll figure it out. Enjoy that little one!

    And congrats on all the progress! Hope you have another great week!
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:26 pm  

      Yes! Sleep schedules are a must ;). For awhile there, they were all napping from 1ish-3ish. It was fabulous. Couldn’t live without naptime!
  • Dawne Webber / July 21, 2014, 7:47 am  

    I think it’s awesome that you have an agent that’s so helpful and accessible. That’s what I’m hoping to find in an agent. Amen to babies’ sleep schedules. Thank God they eventually pick one and keep it. Too bad it takes a few years for them to do it 😉
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:27 pm  

      She definitely is! Love my agent :). I definitely recommend querying her! And yes–sleep schedules and nap times are a MUST.
  • Katy Upperman / July 21, 2014, 8:29 am  

    So glad you’re joining us! Yay for Mandie, recruiting new participants and all. 🙂 I love the line you shared today, and best of luck with your goals. My daughter is almost seven and I’ve been having her write her own thank you notes for the last couple of birthdays. So nice to be able to task that responsibility out, finally. Have a wonderful week!
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:27 pm  

      Thanks, Katy! Yes, I can’t wait for them to be able to write their own–one less thing to do :).
  • Melanie Crouse / July 21, 2014, 9:18 am  

    I love that top secret line! I can’t wait to find out more!!!
  • Stephanie Scott / July 21, 2014, 10:16 am  

    Titles are so difficult to come up with! At least for me. I say stick with yours if you are happy with it. Interestng that you sent off first 3 chapters to your agent; I haven’t quite figured out the best way to share a new manuscript yet; write the whole thing and then send? Synopsis? I don’t know. 🙂
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:29 pm  

      They are SO hard! There was a reason for sending her the first 3 on this particular one, but usually, she likes to see the first 50 pages, decide if she thinks it’s a good concept, and then I write the rest from there. Works for us! 🙂 *grumbles about hatred for synopses*
  • prerna pickett / July 21, 2014, 10:30 am  

    Baby transitions can be difficult. Hope he gets back in to a routine for you soon. Titles usually come easily to me, but lately I’ve found that it’s getting harder and harder. Glad you got yours figured out!
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:31 pm  

      Thanks, Prerna! That’s awesome that titles come easily for you–I knew SOMEONE had to be good a them! 😉
  • Jaime Morrow / July 21, 2014, 11:33 am  

    I love coming up with titles for stories, but it has to be just right, doesn’t it? I hope you end up loving what you came up with, or find something you love *even* more. Those first three chapters are always so tough, but if you’ve got that nailed down, you’re set! I always have the worst time with beginnings. I can come up with a great first sentence (at least I think so anyway), but then I struggle from there on. Hope you have a super productive week, Jessica!
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:32 pm  

      Thanks, Jaime! So true about story beginnings being difficult–they’re like you said about titles: they need to be just right.
  • Crystal Schubert / July 21, 2014, 1:20 pm  

    Oh, poor Baby Jude! I feel like every time I get used to my baby’s schedule, he changes it. He’s only eight months and there is some consistency, but any time I count on him sleeping for X amount of time, he never ever does. If I don’t have anything I need to get done, he’ll nap forever, haha… babies. Four months is also when they start getting more fun, though! 🙂

    Good luck with the writing, reading, and thank you notes!
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:34 pm  

      Yes! That’s exactly how my babies have always been! Silly babies.
  • Mandie Baxter / July 21, 2014, 2:21 pm  

    WHAT IS THIS TOP SECRET WIP?! DO I KNOW ABOUT IT?! If so….okay. IF NOT…NOT OKAY!
    Poor baby Jude! And poor Mama! :0/
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:34 pm  

      Haha! You know it! It’s Lucy’s story ;). You think I would hold out on you?!
  • Erin Funk / July 21, 2014, 3:39 pm  

    I hear you on baby sleep schedules. Back when my son was that age, he was a big cat napper. He’d want to fall asleep for 10-15 minutes then be ready to get back at it again. It’s so hard to train them to take decent naps and to get anything done in the meantime! Good luck with that and also with your editing goal this week! 🙂
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:35 pm  

      Oh my goodness, yes! My daughter was like that–she had to be held constantly, too. It was a rough time…Baby Jude is a lot easier, luckily ;).
  • Melanie Stanford / July 21, 2014, 5:34 pm  

    I remember that trouble with baby nap times, or coordinating baby naps with toddler naps. Ack! Once my youngest was napping just after lunch, I made it a habit to write then and it’s still when I write now!
    Good luck with your goals this week!
    • Jessica / July 21, 2014, 7:36 pm  

      Love writing during naptime! It’s basically my only time–well, that and when they go to sleep, but then I usually just want to read or binge-watch TV ;).
  • Karyne / July 22, 2014, 1:46 pm  

    I’m such a scheduler so I completely understand the frustration of when those schedules are constantly shifting! I’ve started waking up early since that’s a more guaranteed time for me, but I’m such a zombie in the mornings! 😛 Have a great week!
    • Jessica / July 23, 2014, 5:08 pm  

      Completely agree with everything you said! I’ve tried to wake up a little earlier, but I just love my sleep SO MUCH. Hope you have a great week, too!