Ready, set, write: jinns and unicorns

Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at in our writing—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, and Katy Upperman. Find the rest of the details HERE.

1. This is my first week, my goal last week was to finish up another non-writing project (done!) so that this week I could get back into writing!  My goal this week is to finish working in some ideas for richer characterization to the book I'm currently querying (Star Tripped: YA SF) and write two chapters on my WIP (MG fantasy: Refuge). 

2. I set myself some reading goals at the beginning of the year: 12 debut authors (7 read), 3 Newbery books (2 read), 2 Printz books (not yet), 2 science fiction classics (1 read), two classics (not yet), and 10 books with diverse main characters  (6 read). The only goal I'm not on track for is limiting myself to one book a week, since I get carried away with reading and let my writing slack! So my goal this week is NOT to read more than a chapter a day!  This is what I just started reading, and its starting off both whimsical and lyrical: 

Jinns! Wishes!

3.  I'm trying to lose 10 pounds this summer and another 10 pounds this fall, which means tracking my food daily and exercising 4 times a week, at least 3 hours total.  Last week was pretty good, I lost 1.5 pounds, going for that again!

* A favorite line from my project OR a word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.

This is an attempt at the idea I had to make my MC's characterization stronger, her way of viewing the high school crowd as a palace court full of intrigue:

I want to call Juno, my guide dog, to have at least something standing by me. Liz’s friends have always made me think of courtiers at a palace, all contending for positions closest to the throne. My popular sister played the role of princess; the volleyball team were her ladies-in-waiting, and the football team, her knights. Skizz was her court jester, and me – well, I was the court ghost. I saw everything, but no one ever noticed me.

* The biggest challenge I faced this week.

Countdown to county fair:  23 days. That means we're trying to get into full swing to get my two older girls all practiced up and ready with their horses. It's fun but it's also stressful and time consuming. Last weekend we were at an INTENSE 4H horse camp, riding literally all day (but it was amazing. We all learned so much). This weekend we were at a barrel race on Saturday and a schooling show on Sunday that both went for 6+ hours.  Next weekend - the same thing again plus 4th of July activities! So my challenge is using my time wisely during the week days. I usually rely on my weekends to get a lot of writing done, but not until fair is over. 

The 10 year old and her horse Tuffy at 4H camp

* Something I love about my WiP. 

That my girls are still begging for me to work on my middle grade fantasy (Refuge) and read it to them. Because it has unicorns and magic and I love that my almost 13-year-old doesn't think she's too grown up for unicorns yet.

Whats your biggest challenge or inspiration this week?