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Ready. Set. WRITE! 2015 Week 6 - Jessica Leake
Ready. Set. WRITE! 2015 Week 6

Jul / 20

Ready. Set. WRITE! 2015 Week 6

By / Jessica Leake / 19

RSW6

How I did on last week’s goals:

My husband was on vacation for a week, so our days were filled with doing fun stuff with the kids, and our nights were filled with either going out to eat or catching up on shows. I’m one of those moms who always forgets to take pics, so I have very little to show for our adventures–luckily, we usually had a grandparent or two around and they more than make up for my lack of photodocumenting :).

I’m still reading GONE WITH THE WIND daily, but I’ve made very little headway even though I enjoy it–only about 25%! Any recommendations for a short, fun read to go along with it–something I can actually finish in a day or two? 🙂

My goal(s) for this week:

1. Continue working/plotting my WIP

2. Read another book

3. Help the kids with reading

4. Exercise at least 3 days

A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revise:

In light of how horribly hot and muggy it’s been lately, I love how the MC reacts when she realizes just how hard it’ll be being in the year 1862:

Her words take a minute to really register in my mind, but when they do, I come to the sudden and terrible realization that there’s no running water here. I can’t just go into the bathroom and turn on a faucet for a shower or a bath—they don’t even have toilets.

This realization hits me even harder than the lack of AC, and my breaths start to come faster and faster. I can’t stay here. I can’t. Already, the room feels like a sauna—muggy and thick—and this is in late spring. God help me if I can’t get out of here by summer.

The biggest challenge I faced this week:

With my husband on vacation, I basically gave myself a free pass as far as goals–no regrets in this regard though!

Something I love about my WiP:

I love how potentially relevant it is with the turmoil that’s going on in the South right now about the Confederate flag and anything to do with the Confederacy. But for the same reason, that’s what makes this WIP such a challenge!

Comment (19)
  • Alison Miller / July 20, 2015, 3:44 pm  

    Those free pass weeks are so necessary and I’m glad you could relax and enjoy the week! Also, are you writing a time travel novel? SO curious! And intrigued. That excerpt was awesome!

    Good luck with your goals this week!
    • Jessica Leake / July 20, 2015, 7:05 pm  

      Thanks, Alison! It’s a time travel/Civil War/ghost kind of novel lol. So glad you enjoyed it! Good luck with your goals this week, too :).
  • Erin Funk / July 20, 2015, 6:25 pm  

    I love the excerpt from your WIP and how your character is hit with the reality of being in another time period through small inconveniences that feel so huge. I also love that you gave yourself a free pass this week to spend time with your family. Maybe that should become a new RSW thing–free pass week lol. Good luck with your new set of goals!
    • Jessica Leake / July 20, 2015, 7:04 pm  

      Thanks, Erin! I’m so glad you liked it! And you’re so right about having a free-pass week for RSW–it seems to be necessary during the summer :).
  • Crystal Schubert / July 20, 2015, 6:26 pm  

    Sometimes it’s nice to be in the moment and not focused on taking pictures! I try to balance the fun with the documenting, but if I ever feel like I’m getting too camera-happy I try to lean more toward the fun. It’s been muggy here in Virginia, too–like, sweating the second you step outside–and your excerpt made me cringe. No AC? NO THANK YOU PLEASE.

    Good luck on your goals this week!
    • Jessica Leake / July 20, 2015, 7:03 pm  

      That’s exactly how it is here–pouring sweat the moment you leave AC! And lol re: no AC. Good luck on your goals, too!
  • Jaime Morrow / July 20, 2015, 6:52 pm  

    Love the excerpt, Jessica! Does your story take place during the Civil War? It sounds fascinating! Though, hot and muggy and no running water does not sound delightful. LOL 😉 Hope you have a fun and productive week!
    • Jessica Leake / July 20, 2015, 7:02 pm  

      Thanks, Jaime! It does take place during the Civil War :). And NO KIDDING–no running water would be the most horrible thing ever right now! Hope you have a fun and productive week, too 🙂
  • Mandie Baxter / July 20, 2015, 7:36 pm  

    And WHY wasn’t your vacation to the beach here?! 😉
    Good luck this week.
    • Jessica Leake / July 20, 2015, 7:37 pm  

      It should have been! I’m ready for another trip down there 🙂
  • Katy Upperman / July 20, 2015, 8:29 pm  

    I love what you said about your WiP being so relevant. That’s both a scary feeling and a very satisfying feeling, I think. Sounds like you enjoyed your time with your husband. Mine’s been in vacation for the last few weeks, too, and we’ve seen some cool things. He’s back to work now, which means I’m back to writing. 🙂 Best of luck with your goals this week, Jessica!
    • Jessica Leake / July 22, 2015, 1:53 pm  

      That’s funny that back to work means back to writing–it’s the same in our house, too 🙂
  • Carrie / July 21, 2015, 9:09 am  

    Sounds like a lovely week of fun and relaxing activities! I love the excerpt – I could really feel her anxiety and I do not blame her (especially considering what she is probably being forced to wear). Have a fabulous week!
    • Jessica Leake / July 22, 2015, 1:52 pm  

      Thanks, Carrie! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
  • Leandra Wallace / July 21, 2015, 1:11 pm  

    Me and your character would totally jive– I’ve always wondered how ppl in olden times survived w/out AC. And in all those clothes?! =) And I’m also the mom that is horrible about taking pics. Good luck this week!
    • Jessica Leake / July 22, 2015, 1:52 pm  

      I’ve wondered the exact same thing, Leandra! Especially when I’m sweating buckets just walking to the mailbox lol. And glad I’m not alone on not taking millions of pictures! 🙂
  • Eden Mabee / July 21, 2015, 2:29 pm  

    A cute snippet, Jessica. I totally understand your MC’s uncertainties about her new time, but… this could be a fun way to play with her. A few months back we went on a tour of Martin Van Buren’s home (14th president of the US) and he’d had a flushing toilet and ‘modern’ plumbing (a LOT of leaded pipes!) in his home. If your MC lands in a wealthy home, she might find a similar situation, because in the1850s a lot of wealthier families were getting toilets ad other porcelain fixture from England.

    Also… depending on the number of trees standing, the weather might not be as suffocatingly hot. (though as a woman, she will be expected to dress in a lot more layers even in the heat of summer… so it could easily be a wash).
    • Jessica Leake / July 22, 2015, 1:51 pm  

      Thanks, Eden! That’s really interesting about Martin Van Buren’s home! It’s amazing some of the innovations they had at that time in history. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be true of a plantation home in the South–part of the reason the South lost the war is because they didn’t have the wealth and innovations of the North. But you’re so right about the trees! We still do that here to save on AC costs :).
  • Erin Z. / July 22, 2015, 10:38 pm  

    Free-pass weeks are cool. 🙂

    I love your snippets! I can’t even imagine going through that!