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Ready. Set. Write! 2015 Week 1 - Jessica Leake

Jun / 15

Ready. Set. Write! 2015 Week 1

By / Jessica Leake / 22

RSW6

How I did on last week’s goals:

Not bad considering June is the busiest month for me (two birthdays, Father’s Day, and our anniversary–all within days of each other). I finished two books (DUPLICITY by N.K. Traver–yay for agency sisters! and THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen) and met my exercise goals, but I totally slacked off as far as writing–but wait! I have a good excuse! I actually just finished drafting THE ORDER OF THE ETERNAL SUN after working on it every single day for months, so I needed to take a break or my brain would explode.

My goal(s) for this week:

1. Write another chapter on my WIP

2. Read another book

3. Finish beta reading for a friend

4. Exercise at least 3 days

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

I love the opening line of my new YA set in the South–the MC’s mother is a Confederate-flag-waving die-hard Southerner, and she has a nasty attitude hidden beneath her sweet Southern belle facade.

“Why’d you have to invite those damn Yankees?” Mama asks for the hundredth time. She bats away a lazy fly that’s been slowly moving closer to her face.

The biggest challenge I faced this week:

Laziness! I need to get back into a daily writing routine.

Something I love about my WiP:

It’s set in the South–I’ve always resisted writing a book set here, but this story just wormed its way into my head and wouldn’t let go.

Comment (22)
  • Eve / June 15, 2015, 12:51 pm  

    Hey sounds like life has been crazy and you are still finding time to work on it so that sounds like a win to me! You can do this!
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 4:10 pm  

      Thanks, Eve! 🙂
  • Alison Miller / June 15, 2015, 1:12 pm  

    Oh, ha, all my stories seem to get set in either North Carolina or Pennsylvania. And nothing wrong with taking time off after finishing a revision! Sounds like you were extremely productive in other areas. 🙂 Good luck this week!
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 4:11 pm  

      Oh funny! This one is set in SC, so I’m right there with you ;).
  • Crystal Schubert / June 15, 2015, 1:31 pm  

    Congrats on finishing your draft!!! 🙂 Love that first line. The fly! Ha! That’s great.
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 4:11 pm  

      Thank you!! No one was more relieved than I ;).
  • Carrie-Anne / June 15, 2015, 2:49 pm  

    Congratulations on having finished your draft!

    My long-shelved 18th century characters live in the Colony of South Carolina, though they later move to Mystic Seaport in the Colony of Connecticut before later coming home after the mother dies in childbirth with her seventh child. The oldest child had already moved back to South Carolina to start her own family by that point. Now that I’ve decided to eventually resurrect these people after over 20 years, I also have plans to write a book featuring the two oldest sisters at the Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, when it was still part of New France.
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 4:12 pm  

      Thanks, Carrie-Anne! And your historical sounds really interesting–love the setting :).
  • Katy Upperman / June 15, 2015, 4:12 pm  

    Ooh, that mama sounds delightfully awful. I love stories set in the South! Best of luck with your goals in the coming week, Jessica. 🙂
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 5:43 pm  

      Hah, thanks! That’s definitely what I was going for :). Best of luck to you, too!
  • Jaime Morrow / June 15, 2015, 4:18 pm  

    Laziness was such a huge challenge for me this week as well. I think sometimes we’re are own worse enemies, you know? Though, from the sounds of it, you deserved a nice break after all the work you did on your WiP! Hope this is a great week for productivity!
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 10:13 pm  

      Very true about being our own worst enemies! Hope you have a great week as well 🙂
  • Karyne Norton / June 15, 2015, 4:32 pm  

    Good luck with all the family celebrations this month! Hope they go smoothly and you’re still able to get some writing in!
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 10:17 pm  

      Thanks, Karyne! I’m hoping to get back into a writing routine this summer 🙂
  • Jennifer Pickrell / June 15, 2015, 5:50 pm  

    Sounds like taking a writing break was the right way to go, especially after you worked so hard. You earned it!

    THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER is my fave Sarah Dessen book so far – I’m reading all her books this summer, most for the first time, so that might change 🙂

    Good luck with your goals this week!
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 10:19 pm  

      Thanks, Jennifer! I really enjoyed it, too! It was actually my first Sarah Dessen, so I’ll have to delve into all the rest :).
  • prerna pickett / June 15, 2015, 5:57 pm  

    I consider reading a part of writing goals, you’re learning so much from each book! Great line, love the image of her mom going for the fly. Good luck this week!
    • Jessica Leake / June 15, 2015, 10:19 pm  

      That’s so true, Prerna! I’ve always found reading to help while writing :). And thanks! Good luck to you, too 🙂
  • Mandie Baxter / June 16, 2015, 2:30 am  

    I feel like your blog is different. Is it different? And good luck with the writing. June ended up being way busy for me….so I get where you’re at. Even a small goal seems lofty.
    • Jessica Leake / June 16, 2015, 12:31 pm  

      It is different! I had it redesigned last year :). And then I slacked off on blogging for…oh…months. I hear ya on this month being busy! But hopefully we can get back on track.
  • Eden Mabee / June 16, 2015, 2:07 pm  

    Your MC’s mother sounds like a treat to write. Characters like her have so many twists and turns… love them even when I hate them.

    I so hear you about June! It definitely is a month of transitions and events (much like December). Happy Anniversary!
    • Jessica Leake / June 17, 2015, 12:58 pm  

      Thanks, Eden! You’re right–she’s been a lot of fun to develop 🙂