The Spring Cleaning Tag!

good morning, cyberspace!

I feel like today’s a let’s-do-a-tag kind-of-day. And what better tag to do on a beautiful May day than the Spring Cleaning Tag? It has Spring. It has cleaning. I think it has something to do with writing. And also it gives a section for organizing your writing goals, which is something that I’ve been seriously wanting to talk about for quite a while now, so this tag sounds like perfection, yes?

Of course it does. Let’s dive right in!

. . . THE RULES . . .

• Link back to the blogger who tagged you! . . . And that would be Sarah! Thank you SO much for tagging me, Sarah!! This tag looks like so much fun! *hugs* (also for those of you who are not Sarah, you should absolutely, 100% check out her blog. She is so creative and funny and a seriously talented writer, and yeah. Just check out her blog. You will not regret it.)
• Include the graphic in your post . . . ^^^ Done!
• Answer the questions . . . Also done!
• Tag three other people . . . *rubs palms together whilst cackling maniacally*

— Dust Bunnies and Plot Bunnies: Reorganize Your Writing Goals (or make new ones) —

*insert incoherent weeping here*

Okay, so I know I said I’ve been wanting to talk about my writing goals on here, but like??? IT’S KIND OF A MESS, FOLKS. So just stick with me as best you can, and hopefully we can get through this together.

Number One . . . Finish Writing the First Draft of SK (SSP#2)

And for anyone who has literally no idea what SK (SSP#2) stands for, it’s an abbreviation for my current WIP, which I started drafting back in April. SK is the working title abbreviation, and SSP#2 stands for Super Secret Project Number 2. This, of course, is playing off the fact that finishing everlost’s fourth draft was Super Secret Project Number 1, but alas. This is not what I’m supposed to be talking about.

What I’m trying to say is that the first writing goal on my plate–and, coincidentally, the most important (thus the reason it’s at number one)–is finishing the first draft of SK. I have a three month plan that goes from May to the end of July, and I’m sort of confident that I’ll meet my deadline. I mean, I’ve kind of slacked off for the first three days of May because I was reading (seriously. what is up with my slacking off because of books???), but it’s fine. Everything’s fine. I’m totally going to start writing again soon.

just after i finish the sequel to the book i just read hahahahahahahahahaha

Number Two . . . Finish Draft 4.2 of everlost

Ah, yes. Draft 4.2. That amorphous draft between drafts four and five that takes the glorious notes from your Alpha reader and polishes up the story so that your beta readers can read it.

At least, that’s what I’m calling it.. My mom recently gave me back her notes–which are exceedingly insightful, by the way–for everlost, and my plan now is that between drafting chapters of SK, I can begin working on some minor edits for EV, as well. I’m not entirely sure how well this plan is going to work out since I’ve never tried juggling projects before, but I have a hope that it will work, and I’m clinging to that hope until that hope dies.

If, however, the hope dies faster than I would have liked, I’ll begin working on EV edits in July, when the first draft of SK is hopefully finished.

Number Three . . . Send EV Out To Beta Readers

HAHAHAHAhahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhhahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HA. HAHA. No.

— Which Stage Are You At? Expound! —

^^ I believe that is the first and the last time that I will ever use the word “expound” on this here blog.

Ahem. Back to the question.

I’m not exactly sure how to answer this? I’m at different stages with different projects. If this is an overall check of where, exactly, I’m at as a writer, I’d put myself somewhere between the categories of Newb and Sort-Of-Knows-What-I’m-Doing-But-Not-Really. If this is supposed to be a more deep, project-level question, I’m gonna have to give you the long story.

Currently, I have two projects that I’m hardcore working on–SK and EV. Both of these projects are very near and dear to my heart (though the latter is probably more near and dear, if I had to admit it), so I’m 100% dedicated at this point in time to seeing them all the way through to completion. A.k.a. publication. If that’s something I can dare to dream of.

However, with SK, I’m currently–as I mentioned earlier–on the first draft level, which means this story won’t be complete for at least another three thousand years. For EV on the other hand, I feel like it’s safe to say that I’m nearing the end.

Maybe.

Kind of.

This story has undergone a ton of change since it’s first baby draft, and I am SO IMMENSELY PROUD of the beast it has become. It has flaws, certainly, and there are definitely some things that need changed, but now that I’ve finished the fourth draft (and am working on Draft 4.2 as we speak), I think it’s almost time that I start sending this thing out to betas. Which both thrills and terrifies me, of course.

So yeah. Long story short, I’m first drafting a new novel, working on polishing up a second for beta readers, and ALSO have a few ideas simmering on the backburner for later perusal.

So what stage am I at, you ask? ALL OF THE STAGES.

— Treasure From The Back of The Closet (share one to three snippets you love) —

Oh goodness. Have I ever mentioned that I absolutely despise throwing snippets of my work out into the Great and Terrible Cyberspace? BECAUSE I REALLY HATE THROWING SNIPPETS OUT INTO THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE CYBERSPACE, PEOPLE.

But it’s fine. Everything’s fine. We’ll get through this together.

*begins panicking profusely*

The first snippet I’d like to share with you is actually a teeny tiny short story, complete at 24 words.

I know. Coming from the girl who wrote a 200,000 word novel, this is rather shocking to me, as well.

>>><<<

. . . Sunshine Smile . . .

She had a chipped tooth and a sunshine smile, so they put a bag over her head and left her standing in the rain.

>>><<<

The second snippet is–ironically–actually a snippet! And it’s one from my brand new WIP, SK, which I’m still planning on writing a post about soon. Aha. We’ll get to it eventually, I’m sure.

But yeah. This snippet is still very first draft-y, so keep that in mind when reading it.

Or just don’t read it. That would probably be better for us all, to be honest. *sweats nervously*

>>><<<

. . . Snippet from SK . . .

“This place is a dump.”

Stanley’s head bobbed up and down unconsciously, his eyes glued to the bright blue door in front of them, before realizing what he was agreeing to. With a sharp jolt, he shoved the car’s gear into park and turned to face her, his face taking on its signature stern-big-brother look.

Shelby rolled her eyes. Here came the lecture…

“Hey, you’re not allowed to pick,” Stanley said, trying his best to sound like an adult.

To his credit, if Shelby closed her eyes and twisted his tone a little, he almost sounded like Dad.

Almost.

“The people here were kind enough to give me a chance, and you and I both know we need this. Right?” Stanley’s blue eyes cut deep into Shelby’s, and she looked down at the glove compartment before they could pierce straight into her soul.

“Yeah. I guess.”

“You guess?”

“Okay, fine. We need this.” Shelby rolled her eyes up to meet her brother’s. “Why couldn’t I have stayed home, though?”

Stanley quirked an eyebrow at her and, unclicking his seatbelt, let it whiz back into its socket. “You know why.”

“But that was one time!” Shelby persisted. Her fingers wrapped around her own seatbelt and pulled at it in agitation. “How was I supposed to know you couldn’t put metal in the microwave?”

“Because I told you right before I left, ‘don’t put metal in the microwave’.”

Shelby squirmed underneath Stanley’s sidelong look. “I didn’t know aluminum foil was made of metal,” she muttered.

>>><<<

Ta-daaaa. . .

Okay, yes, these aren’t the best snippets in the world, but I LIKE THEM, OKAY??? And the snippet that I really wanted to share was way too close to my heart, so I’m not going to be sharing that one quite yet. . . Aha.

Maybe someday I’ll be able to post snippets to this blog without having a premature heart attack, but as of today, I haven’t reached that level of confidence yet.

— Bonus:  Do Some Actual Spring Cleaning of Your Writer Self! (and share a picture!) —

So here’s the thing: I did do a little bit of spring cleaning when doing this tag, but I didn’t actually take any pictures.

…oops?

So I guess you’re just going to have to take my word for it. I totally did some spring cleaning. Definitely.

Stop staring at me like that.

And that, my friends, was the Spring Cleaning Tag! Now that I’ve answered the questions (most supremely, might I add) I think it’s time to tag some of you guys! I have absolutely no clue who’s all done this yet, though, so hopefully I’m not re-tagging people here. . .

TAG! YOU’RE IT!

• Jethan
• Bernadette
• Phoebe

And if you’re not on this list and would like to do this tag, please feel free to steal it like the fearsome pirate captain that you are and share the link down in the comments below! I’d absolutely love to read your answers!

Once again, I would like to give the HUGEST thank you to Sarah for tagging me! I first saw this tag on To Be A Shennachie’s blog, and I was determined to steal it, but a few days ago I noticed that Sarah had tagged me, and I am just ALL OF THE HAPPY! So thank you so much, Sarah! You’re the best! *hugs*

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TALK TO ME, PEASANTS!

What are some of YOUR writerly (or non-writerly!) goals for this year? Are you currently working on any novels, short stories, poems? What stage of the writing process are you at with your current WIP? Do you typically work on multiple projects at once, or are you a more one-story-at-a-time writer? (I’d say I’m the latter, but sometimes you just have to do the things you’re not used to, I guess. XD) Do you like sharing snippets of your work onto the Great and Terrible Cyberspace? and most importantly. . .

DO YOU LIKE SPRING CLEANING? I’m kind of impartial at the moment, but I feel like I’m getting to the point where I start cleaning incessantly for no apparent reason. It’s the best. #sarcasm

As always, let’s talk about ALL OF THE THINGS! down in the comments below! And until next time. . .

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