Tag Archives: books

Goodbye, Spooky Season. I’m sorry I didn’t give you the attention you deserve. I promise I’ll try to do better next year… October Goals Nanowimo prep + research Submit Victoria to Neon Hemlock Read and/or Workout 30 minutes a day How’d I Do? Nanowimo prep + research Yep. A little last minute but, yes. Submit Victoria to Neon Hemlock Yes! The book is done and gone and I am so relieved about that. Read and/or Workout 30 minutes a day Yes? I didn’ workout while I had a migraine, but I did listen to an audio book. And I don’t feel like I should punish myself for something as out of my control as my migraine attacks. So, yes.  Total Word Count: 4,839 Well, hot damn! That was a successful month despite work obligations and a killer migraine. I got it all done and even wrote a short story somewhere in there, which I…

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This was a busy and very productive week, complete with a trip to Portland to do some research and see some writing friends! Let’s get to talking about it! Last Week Submit Victoria Workout and/or Read 30 minutes a day Decompress from Fiction How’d I Do? Submit Victoria Yes!!!! Yes Yes YES! Workout and/or Read 30 minutes a day Yep!  Decompress from Fiction Yes? Maybe… not? Weekly Word Count: 2,517 Let’s get the screaming over with: VICTORIA IS DONE! She is DONE! The novella is revised and submitted and she is DONE! She’s gone, flew the coop and into someone else’s brain! GOODBYE! Okay. Now that’s done, I’ll admit I didn’t feel so giddy about it in the moment. I felt nervous, sending out this little, but ambitious book. It’s strange and complicated and carries a lot of my darkness in it. Actually sending it felt weighty, and I was very somber…

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Okay.  Look.  This post is late, and I’m also running late on my final proof for Victoria, so I’m gonna keep this brief. Last Week Victoria Revision #2 Read/workout 30 minutes a day Edit + post podcast Survive Homecoming Week How’d I Do? Victoria Revision #2 Yes! All the substantial edits are done, and now I’m in the proofing process. Wooo! Read/workout 30 minutes a day Yes! It was a very active and busy week, and I definitely burned some serious calories.  Edit + post podcast Yep and yep. The new episode is out now! Have you listened in yet? Survive Homecoming Week I’m here, typing, so I guess I survived? I’m still exhausted and vaguely sore (from dancing for 3 hours straight), but it’s over. I made it! Weekly Word Count: 0 Honestly? The week was such a blur, I have basically nothing to say by way of reflection. Last week…

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It’s that time folks! Get ready to shatter all your preconceived notions about Librarians, because the Library Pros™ are back, babeyyyyyyy! You can find the new episode (or catch up on our backlog!) on the Listen page, or by clicking this link. And if you like the show, don’t forget to rate and/or review! Enjoy, Blogland!

Look, I’m keeping this brief because I’m sleepy and stressed about the week ahead, for reasons that will become all too clear as you read on. Enjoy my impending nervous breakdown! Last Week Victoria Revision #2 Read 20 minutes a day Write 1500 words Record podcast How’d I Do? Victoria Revision #2 I made good progress, but did not finish it. There’s still a bit of work to do. Read 20 minutes a day Yep! You can read about how the Trevor Project reading challenge went in my September Recap. Write 1500 words Nope. Record podcast Yes! It will be out on schedule, this Friday! You can catch up on the most recent episode here. Weekly Word Count: 381 Hey man, it ain’t zero, which is about all I care about when it comes to word count right now. When it comes to revision, word count just isn’t a good metric by…

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I gotta say, the view from my desk does NOT look like October. Like, at all. It’s blue skies, a lovely 74 degrees, and the trees are still entirely too green. It feels like the end of summer, not the first, fledgling days of Fall.  But how things look and feel ultimately have little impact here. Time trudges on, and the goals go with. So let’s get to the good stuff! September Goals Write Victoria Query Package Rough Draft Read 20 minutes/day Finish Victoria Revision #2 How’d I Do? Write Victoria Query Package Rough Draft Yep! I actually got this to a point where I think it’s closer to a final draft. I’m comfortable sending it out to an editor in the shape its in.  Read 20 minutes/day Yes! More on that in a bit. Finish Victoria Revision #2 Close! I am very very close to getting this revision done (3/5 goals completed!).  Total Word Count: 3,997 September…

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I’m having trouble pinning down all the things I did last week. What did I plan to do? What did I actually manage to accomplish? Thank goodness for planners and whiteboards, or else I’d never be able to tell you! Last Week Finish Victoria Revision #1 Query Package Rough Draft (Letter + Synopsis) Read a book  Edit + post new episode of Top Shelf Librarians How’d I Do? Finish Victoria Revision #1 YEP! And boy does it feel good! Query Package Rough Draft (Letter + Synopsis) Lol, nope.  Read a book Yep! I finished reading Gallant on Saturday and I loved it very much. Edit + post new episode of Top Shelf Librarians Yep! The new episode is out now! So give it a listen if you haven’t yet. Weekly Word Count: 606 Not too shabby, methinks. Especially considering how busy my work week was. God, it was so busy. Busy enough to leave me…

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This month we have a very special episode of Top Shelf Librarians. Not only did we launch our first ever poll (listen on Spotify to vote) but we’re also taking part in a bit of a challenge. September is The Trevor Project’s Back to School Reading Challenge fundraiser! Basically, Top Shelf Librarians have teamed up to take on the challenge to read 20 minutes a day, every day in September in order raise funds for the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organizations for LGBTQ+ youth.  Now, as much as we love Trader Joe’s and Taco Bell, they aren’t ACTUALLY sponsors (sorry to burst your bubble). We don’t read ads and haven’t monetized the show in any way in almost two years! We make the show as a way to hang out and share a glimpse of the library life with anyone who will listen – we make absolutely…

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Oh, Blogland… How is it September already? Surely that’s illegal? It ought to be illegal for summer to go by without my enjoying a single hike! I want to talk to time’s manager! August Goals Read + Revise Victoria Read 4 Books Survive this month How’d I Do? Read + Revise Victoria Yep! I have read it through (twice!) and finished the first round of revision! Read 4 Books Hahahahahahahaha. No. Survive this month I suppose that, since I am typing this, I am technically alive, which would suggest survival. Sanity is a separate matter… Total Word Count: 2,497 If July was lovely, then August was…. bustling. Between twitter pitch events, day-job responsibilities ramping up, a writing conference, a family reunion, and a pretty ambitious set of goals, it’s a miracle I’m upright! It’s also been hot as balls this month and when I tell you I am sick of sweating… Anyway.…

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Hello there, Bloggos. It’s Monday (Sunday for me right now) which means it’s time to talk goals! Let’s go! Last Week Finish Victoria Revision #1 Write Query Package Read a book Record Podcast Write Newsletter How’d I Do? Finish Victoria Revision #1 Write Query Package Lol. Nope. Not even at all. Read a book Yes! I technically read two of them, though only one of them is published. I spent a bit of time beta reading for one of my critique partners this week. But I still managed to finish reading Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse and I absolutely loved it! Record Podcast Yes! Write Newsletter Yes!  Weekly Word Count: 444 So, not too shabby after all. I mean, the priority should really be Victoria, obviously, but some other things came up. And as usual with this manuscript… I hate working on it. Okay, hate is a strong word. But I do not find…

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