YA Buccaneers: Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In

Since the beginning of April, we've been busy over at the YA Buccaneers, hosting our 2nd annual Spring Writing Bootcamp!

Which has been perfect timing, because I've been crazy busy with revisions for my editor, since February -- and with my looming deadline of 4/17, I knew I'd need a little motivation to make that final push to finish.

And finish I did!

I'm beyond ecstatic to get through this first round of heavy edits. A lot was discussed up front on how to make WTWF the best it could be and I love the direction we settled on. In the end, I cut a lot of the muck and am really happy with where my MS is at now. Granted, there's still a lot of work ahead, but that first initial sweep is done, done, and DONE!

Next steps: I expect to have round 2 of editorial notes somewhere around next Friday, 5/1 and then it'll be back to the revision cave.

I also found out my expected publishing date (if everything stays on track) will be:

May 3, 2016!!!

May is such a good month for me, from my birthday, to when I sold my book last year -- so I couldn't be happier with a 5/3/16 pub date!

I've also heard that cover options should be ready to see sometime soon...and I can't wait!!! Whenever that happens, I'll announce the cover reveal information as soon as I can.

Until then, I'm busy reading an ARC of fellow Mouse-House author, Marci Lyn Curtis, THE ONE THING!

Guys, this book is so much fun and Marci's snark is AWESOME! I can't wait for this to come out on September 8th!

What else am I busy with? Well, some of you may know I'm expecting...and Baby Boy is due the first week of August! My husband and I are BEYOND excited and I can't wait to meet the Lil' Putter!

I've been working on the nursery and now that I'm sans edits for a couple of weeks, I'll be able to get a lot of it done! Our theme is Monkeys / Jungle and I'll be busy this week getting the walls done.

So with that, week 3 of our Spring Writing Bootcamp is complete and I successfully scratched off a big goal! 

Spring Writing Bootcamp Goals:

1. Finish first round of edits for Disney-Hyperion -- Due date: Friday, April 17th.
2. Finish second round of edits for DH -- Due date: TBD.
3. Read ARC of THE ONE THING by Marci Lyn Curtis
4. Read / critique new MS for fellow CP (still waiting for the updated version to start)
5. Work on new WIP (Read / revise current chapters): NOTG
6. Plot new WIP: WITNESS
7. Non-writerly stuff: Work on nursery!

If you're joining us this year for Bootcamp, I hope you've been making great progress in your writing goals -- and I'd love to hear all about them!

Spring Writing Bootcamp: Survivor!!!

Wow, how crazy have the last three months been? So many goals, so many new writer friends, so. much. awesome!

I'm very proud of everyone who participated in this year's Spring Writing Bootcamp, particularly my teammates on Team Rainier -- we not only set fantastic goals for ourselves, but we knocked them right out of the park!

Don't believe me? Well you should...

Because we participated in mad Word Sprints, shouted BINGO across the Twit-o-sphere, typed thousands of USABLE words, started new WIPS, finished whole manuscripts, readied edits for the eyes of our CP's, found a new CP or two, released a-mazing new book covers, went out on submission, and yes, I even managed to sell my own debut YA Contemporary to Disney-Hyperion!

I'd say we accomplished quite a bit! 

So now you want your own badge to show off for surviving bootcamp? Well stop on by the YA Buccaneers to pick one up! And definitely don't forget to tweet your achievements using #YABbootcampWIN -- we've got all kinds of fantastic prizes up for grabs!!! 

3 months of awesome for @YABuccaneers #YABbootcamp: went on sub & SOLD my YA debut to @DisneyHyperion #YABbootcampWIN http://t.co/w1rqx09HdB

— Erin L. Schneider (@ErinLSchneider1) June 3, 2014

So much in just three months. Imagine what we could do with more time?

Oooohhhhhhhhh. *imagines BIG* *imagines GIGANTIC!*

Which of course leads me right into what's on the horizon over at The YA Buccaneers: We'll be doing some fun things over the next three months - including the celebration of our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in July!!! Can you believe it's almost been one year already? But all that's only the beginning, because we have something EXTRA CRAZY AWESOME planned for the Fall -- believe me, you'll want to check back to see what we've got on deck! 

Congrats to everyone on all the awesomeness that you achieved! And way to go TEAM RAINIER for being the best. team. ev-ver!!!

Thanks so much to everyone who buckled down and wrote on! 

Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In #12

MY MAY GOALS:

1. 
   Bikini Boot Camp Day #9:
   I mentioned in last week's post that I joined the ever-fabulous Jennifer Jordan's For The Glow's Bikini Boot Camp - and yesterday marked the start of week 2! I'm sleeping better, I'm working out 5 days a week, and I'm loving everything that Jenn has slated for us to eat -- which includes my absolute favorite green smoothie, BEE GORGEOUS! This one is SO good, I could actually drink it every morning! For those of you interested, here's the easy recipe:
   1. Handful of greens (I use kale)
   2. 8oz. coconut water
   3. 1 banana (preferably frozen)
   4. 1 tbs. almond butter
   5. 1 tbs. bee pollen
   6. 1 tbs. raw honey
   7. 1 teas. alcohol-free vanilla
   Tip: I'll add a cup of ice if the banana isn't frozen. Blend all until smooth...and ENJOY! **Jenn mentions a good point, please do an allergy test for bee products before consuming!
2. New WIP NOTG writing goal: 
   Minimum of 10,000 words for the month.
   UPDATE: I put together a play list over the weekend and I love listening to it while I write! Here's a snippet of some of the songs (my favorite is song #3!):
   

Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In #11

MY MAY GOALS:

1. Dinner: Quinoa & lime-marinated chicken bowl!
   Green Smoothie: Bee Gorgeous!Bikini Boot Camp Day #1:
   Because I evidently can't get enough of bootcamps, I decided to join For The Glow's Bikini Boot Camp this year. But instead of motivation for writing, this one's for my health - which in turn, makes for better writing, right? RIGHT! 
   It's six weeks of turning my diet around (I love kale!), getting a little exercise (burpees anyone?), being motivated by others, tracking it on Pinterest!, and overall, just doing good for this 'ole body of mine. I started eating clean(er) (I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I am opting for gluten free around 95% of the time) and following the recipes a week ago to acclimate -- and aside from some of the ingredients being a little on the expensive side, I love everything I make (green smoothies, egg & kale breakfast scrambles, hummus = YUM!) and I definitely feel full and happy! 
   So be prepared for some great recipes / photos over the next 6 weeks -- after all, I've got my 20 year H.S. reunion in August and this girl plans on going with a lot less me! 
2. New WIP NOTG writing goal: 
   Minimum of 10,000 words for the month.
   UPDATE: I'm at 5,103 words so far, a little over half way done for the month! 
3. Continue to read / finish CP's MS!
   UPDATE: I finished and sent over notes on the last MS I was reading and now I'm waiting on TWO other CP's to send over manuscripts they said they'd be sending over. Eh-em. I'm waiting. Yep, still here. *cough*
   I'll sing it again in case you missed it last week: Red rover, red rover, send your manuscripts on over!
4. Host / participate in a Word Sprint or two! 
5. Cheer on the AWESOME that is Team Rainier!
   UPDATE: Did you all see Elizabeth Brigg's exciting cover reveal for her NA Contemporary MORE THAN MUSIC? Yes, that's it over there - but make sure to check it out here and enter to win some great prizes!
6. Read 5 books minimum. 
   UPDATE: One book down (Heidi's MS) and 4 more to go! 

SOOOO BOOTCAMPERS, WHAT DO YOU  HAVE UP YOUR SLEEVE FOR MAY?

Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In #10

It's the first YA Buccaneers Spring Writing Bootcamp check in for May and yes, I'm a day late - but only because I was tagged by the ever awesome Kathryn Holmes to participate in the My Writing Process blog hop that's been going around -- and my post went up yesterday. You can read it here -- or, yanno, just scroll down one more on my blog. 

Everyone is saying this and I have to agree: I can't believe it's already May. We've covered two months already in our Spring Writing Bootcamp and so much has been accomplished by all! But...we've got one more month to go, so batten down those hatches, man the torpedoes, and hang on to your boot straps! Because we pirates have LOTS in store for you! 

MY MAY GOALS:

1. My birthday is coming up this Thursday, so my goal for the first day of May is to just ENJOY THE DAY!
   UPDATE: My birthday was wonderful! Born and raised in Seattle, I've never been to the top of the Space Needle...but my husband changed that on my birthday! AND! it was sunny and 85 degrees!
2. New WIP NOTG writing goal:
   Minimum of 10,000 words for the month.
3. Continue to read / finish CP's MS!
   UPDATE: I finished my second read through on one of my CP's newest manuscripts last night and am compiling the notes to email her today - be on the lookout, Heidi!
   Also, I'm waiting on TWO other CP's to send over manuscripts they said they'd be sending over. Eh-em. I'm waiting. Yep, still here. *cough*
   Red rover, red rover, send your manuscripts on over!
4. Host / participate in a Word Sprint or two! 
5. Same goal as April: Cheer on the awesome that is Team Rainier!
6. Read 5 books minimum. 
   UPDATE: One book down (Heidi's MS) and 4 more to go! 

Soooo Bootcampers, what do you  have up your sleeve for May?