What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop that’s easy and fun. All you do is answer the four main questions, then visit the other participants’ blogs to see what they’re up to this week. Join us! Jooooiiiin uussss!
WHAT I’M READING
I know I said I was going to read Throne of Glass next, but a friend let me borrow her copy of Tahereh Mafi’s Ignite Me and I couldn’t resist! (I requested a hold at the library, and I didn’t get too far down the list, but I’d rather not wait if I don’t have to.) I started it last night, but didn’t get very far. All I have to say is Warnerrrrr. :) I’ll let you know what I think when I finish! I’m very excited to read it. Anyone else read it yet? What did you think of it?
WHAT I’M WRITING
I’ve hit 65k and have 3 chapters left! So it will happen this weekend! Ahhhh! Also, when I hit the 10-chapters-left mark, I momentarily froze up. It seems I have some strange fear when it comes to endings. They are so hard! The end is what tripped me up on SPARKS (the first incarnation of FRACTURED RADIANCE). And I’m close to the end on my YA contemporary WIP, RED SKY, and every time I think about finishing it I get all panicky. It’s good to know this about myself! What part of the book do you get lead feet over?
WHAT INSPIRES ME
I met with my fab-u-lous writing group on Saturday, and they had very encouraging things to say about my submission (two big reveal chapters of FR). That made me feel so good! Especially since this came right after I arrived at the above-mentioned last 10 chapters and was feeling all inadequate and intimidated. Their kind words were just what I needed to help me push through. And they had some great critical feedback as well, which is always helpful and welcome. Despite the fact that I have 3 chapters left, the writing is going more slowly this week and it’s taking longer to get a chapter revised. It’s just some kind of crazy head game I have with myself, I suppose. But I’m forging on!
WHAT ELSE I’M UP TO
A whole lot of not much else. :) My house fell apart last week thanks to being sick + focusing on my revisions, so when I’m not writing or spending time with my two guys, I’ve been reclaiming my home from the chaos.
Hope your week is going fantastic!
Kristina Atkins 
My thoughts on INGINITE ME: Waaarrnnneerr. WAAAARRRNNEEEERR. Warrrnnneerrr.
Good luck writing the ending, you can do it. :) And good luck tidying the house!
Haha! After finishing it, my thoughts coincide with yours. WAAAAARRRRRRRNNNNNNNEEEEEEERRRRRR! Mmmm.
Good luck finishing FR! Because, you know I want to read it when you’re done. I’ve wanted to read it for two years now, but we won’t get into that. :)
Have a great week!
IGNITE ME is waiting patiently on the shelf. I’m looking forward to it, and if it weren’t for THE STAND, I might have read it already. Not complaining–it was good to read THE STAND, but now there’s a line. :)
I don’t know about lead feet, but I never feel satisfied with my opening and closing scenes. If I can figure out where to start, and make a half-decent stab at a beginning, I’m usually okay for the next 70K words. Things start to get shaky again when it comes to ending. It’s like the end of a conversation, when everything’s been said and you just look at each other, waiting for someone to say “goodbye” in a way that sums up the great talk you’ve just had, and expresses a deep desire to see each other again–but neither of you can think how to say it, so you just stare awkwardly into space.
Have a great writing week, Kris, and all the best for finishing up those last three chapters! :D
I hope you like Ignite Me! And I’m planning on jumping into your book this weekend. I’m excited!
Go go go! Write those final chapters, yaaaaaaay! Forget sorting out the house. DO NOTHING BUT WRITE!
I did! And my house was a disaster, but it was worth it! :)
I usually get stuck somewhere around the middle to the 3/4 mark. And that point is usually where my pacing drags so I definitely need to find a rememdy to that!
Good luck on your last three chapters!
Pacing and flow is so so hard–and surprisingly. I thought it would be easier, more natural, but not so.
You’re killing me! I want to read Ignite Me sooooo bad! But, unfortunately I’m waiting on my library waiting list, too. I’m so excited for you being so close to the end of your revisions! Go, go, go!
Read it!
Only 3 chapters??! You’re on fire! Keep going! I have to say I never got into Shatter Me, but have been thinking of revisiting, maybe the first time I just wasn’t prepared for the writing style? It’s very different. Glad the meeting with your writing group went so well, encouragement from other writers can make a world of difference.
So, I didn’t love Shatter Me, but I did love Mafi’s writing style. I decided to give the series one more try, and read the novella Destroy Me, and after that I was hooked. I’ve heard that from a few different people.