Walk The Plank: YA Buccaneers Flash Fiction Challenge

Over at YA Buccaneers, we're drumming up excitement around writing flash fiction, something I've only ever attempted a handful of times -- but every time, I've enjoyed the unique challenge and outcome it brings.

Walk The Plank is our monthly Flash Fiction challenge - in other words, write a short snippet that makes the biggest impact. The goal: Write a story in 200 words or fewer, excluding the title, around the monthly theme.

And this month's theme? ADVENTURE!!!

Think you're up for that? Well, there are a few rules that apply:

1. Write a short flash fiction story in 200 words or fewer, excluding the title, around this month's theme of ADVENTURE!
2. For an extra challenge, begin your story with the words, “I set sail” (these three words will be included in the word count).
3. And for an even bigger challenge, use the same beginning words and end with the words: "my adventure continues!" (also included in the word count).
4. For those who want to prove their Flash Fiction prowess, hit all of the above challenges, PLUS, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

I'm always one for a challenge, so I knew I'd give this round of Walk The Plank a go. And I'm happy to say, after a lot of finagling, I hit all 4 of the rules.

Without further adieu, my submit for July's Walk The Plank flash fiction challenge on adventure:

THE BUCKET LIST

I set sail on a gray day, the ocean a vortex of choppy waves.

This isn’t helping my stomach that I left in my room, on the 12th floor of my hotel. Nor are the saltines I’ve been consuming by the boatload.

But then the sun breaks and the water calms, as we sail further out. And now I’m more anxious than anything as I don my wetsuit. Around me, others wriggle into their own, strapping on various pieces of gear.

I’m finally doing it, number forty-eight on my bucket list: scuba diving.

As one of the crew helps strap the weighty air tank to my back, I panic. I’m a Taurus for crying out loud. A land lover, preferably with my feet solidly in dirt.

But then he smiles, a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

With one last shaky breath, I pull my mask into place and wait for the thumbs up.

Then I plummet down, down, down into the warm ocean, as water swirls around me. Fish are everywhere; turtles, too. The water is so clear, I can see all the way to the sandy bottom.

And as I swim through unchartered territory, I know my adventure continues!

So, do you have what it takes to Walk The Plank? I think you do. And I can't wait to read it! Stop on over at YA Buccaneers when you're finished and let us know - don't forget, prizes are up for grabs, too!

What's Up Wednesday: 07.17.13

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

WHAT I'M READING:

I'm participating in the YA Buccaneers Reading Mutiny Challenge for July - our version of a themed monthly bookclub - and this month it's around books all about ADVENTURE! So I picked up several from the list and just started reading WANDERLOVE by Kristen Hubbard on Sunday. If you'd like to join us, we'd love to have you (just click on the link for YA Buccaneers above!) - and of course, there are prizes involved!!! 

While running, I'm reading Jennifer Echols GOING TOO FAR. I'm really enjoying her books - perfect summer reads!

WHAT I'M WRITING:

Writing Goals for this past week:

1. Relax. 
2. Send WTWF off to my CP's to have at it with their red markers! 

I sent off WTWF to my first round of CP's last week and have already received feedback from a couple of them that finished it SUPER FAST!

It's all exciting stuff and of course, I've received some great comments so far!

I plan on sending it out to my second wave of CP's this week, if not early next week!

So, writing goals for this week remain the same:

1. Relax. 
2. Send WTWF off to my second round of CP's to have at it with their red markers!

Oh! And if you're in need of some inspiration to write today - join the YA Buccaneers Word Sprint! Two rounds being hosted on Twitter tonight - the first is at 5pm PST and the second at 6:15pm PST! #YABWordSprint

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

All the amazing feedback I've been receiving from my CP's on WHERE THE WATER FALLS.

Each one of us has those moments where we wonder why it is we're even doing this silly thing called writing -- and sometimes it takes the encouraging feedback from others, to keep us going. 

That moment was happening for me over this past weekend and it just happened to be around the same time one my CP's left me a voicemail -- she had read my MS in one day and rushed to call me. And I kid you not, her voicemail actually made me well up with tears. Everything she said was so awesome and I loved every second of it...and needless to say, I'll be saving that one for those days when I wonder why it is I'm even attempting to write. <3.

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

Today is my wonderful CP and fellow YA Buccaneer, Heidi Sinnett's birthday!!! So a BIG shout out to Heidi - I hope you're having a WONDERFUL birthday today!!!

In other news, my husband is headed out of town for a couple of days on a guy's trip - which will leave the house here pretty quiet - but, he'll be back early Sunday morning just in time for us to venture into the city for the Bite of Seattle! A weekend where all the restaurants of Seattle converge and offer up their fares of great food, all in one location! And it's awesome. 

SO, WHAT'S NEW FOR YOU TODAY?

What's Up Wednesday: 07.10.13

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

WHAT I'M READING:

Yep, you guessed it. I'm still reading LOVE AND OTHER PERISHABLE ITEMS by Laura Buzo. I've been so busy with my final read of WHERE THE WATER FALLS, I haven't had a chance to get back to my nightly reading. Soon though. 

And yes, while running, I'm still reading ENDLESS SUMMER by Jennifer Echols.

WHAT I'M WRITING:

Writing Goals for this past week:

1. Finish read / revision of chapters 11-21 of WTWF.
2. Add roughly 4,000 more words to round it out. I have two chapters I know need to be "beefed" up, so 2k words will be split between these two chapters. The rest I know will find their way to where they belong.

Well...I finished my read / revision of WHERE THE WATER FALLS. I didn't add as many words as I was hoping for, but I think I'm okay with where it's sitting.

Yes, I should be shouting this from the rooftops that I'm finished! But...I'm going to let it marinate for a day or two as I'm still not sure if I'm loving the end. For now, it's done. I can't believe I actually get to type that...I think I might be in denial. 

So, goals for this week:

1. Relax. 
2. Send WTWF off to my CP's to have at it with their red markers! 

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

I promised myself I would do something good with this time off I've had, since I was laid off back in early March. Well, as of yesterday, it's been 4 MONTHS of time off - and I've loved every single day of it.

And what have I done with the time? 

1. Well, there's the tiny fact I now get to say I managed to write an entire novel. WHERE THE WATER FALLS was a project I started back in 2011, but only managed to get 4 chapters written, after getting the call from Mr. Agent Man that he wanted to work with me on THE LUCKY FEW. So to the back burner it went. But now it's finally finished. And I'm so thrilled I brought this one back to life.
2. As of April 1st, I've managed to clock 415 miles on my running shoes. Me. 415 miles. Not even I would've guessed that. And with all those miles, I also said goodbye to 16 pounds. Adiós, muchachos. Sayonara. And good riddance...may I never see you again! I still have plenty to go, but I haven't felt this good in a very long time!
3. And...after two long years of wanting to get a group blog up and running, well, it finally happened. YA Buccaneers has been an amazing project from the very start and I'm so thrilled Bridgid rode the crazy train - or crazy pirate ship in this case - with me, and never once looked back. Not to mention the other eight women who decided to climb on board. I love each and every single one of them for everything unique they bring to the table and I'm so looking forward to what's to come. Believe me, we've got some exciting things planned!

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

The 4th of July was one of the most awesome holidays the hubby and I have celebrated in the fourteen years we've been together. We had so much fun with all of our friends, the food was fantastic, and the fireworks were amazing. We also managed a couple of trips to the driving range and a round of golf over the weekend - yikes, I'm a little rusty after having not played for about three years! 

We had dinner with my family on Sunday and it was so great to see my dad and my two sisters. My brother was "stuck" in Hawaii (my brother is a pilot for Alaska and their flight was bumped), so he wasn't able to make it - but with my sister's three kids (one 4-year-old and 7 month old twins), we had a house-full! We try to meet once a month and it's a tradition I hope we never stray away from.

I'm also really excited because I'm going to the spa this Friday for a half day of pure awesomeness. I'm finally getting my hair colored (oy, it's REALLY BAD!) and cut. I'm getting my hoofs and claws tended to. And a little buffing around the eyebrows.

And I can't wait. 

SO, WHAT'S NEW FOR YOU TODAY?  

June 2013 Reads

Thirteen fantastic reads for the moth of June:

Collage details from top to bottom, right to left: THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey, GIRL OF NIGHTMARES by Kendare Blake, SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo, FOREVER TOO FAR by Abbi Glines, DESTROY ME by Tehereh Mafi, CEASELESS by Abbi Glines, REBOOT by Amy Tintera, THE TAILOR by Leigh Bardugo, THE WITCH OF DUVA by Leigh Bardugo, SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo, THE TOO-CLEVER FOX by Leigh Bardugo, DOUBLE CROSSED: A SPIES AND THIEVES STORY by Ally Carter, and THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith.

WHAT GREAT BOOKS DID YOU READ IN JUNE? 

What's Up Wednesday: 07.03.13

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

WHAT I'M READING:

Okay, this is gonna sound bad, because I'm still reading LOVE AND OTHER PERISHABLE ITEMS by Laura Buzo. I just haven't had time to read lately, so it's patiently waiting for me...and I will get to it!

While running, I'm reading ENDLESS SUMMER by Jennifer Echols. I've only read one other book of her's, SUCH A RUSH, which I adored -- so I've got high hopes for this one!

WHAT I'M WRITING:

Writing Goals for this past week:

1. Write the last chapter of WHERE THE WATER FALLS - or at least decide how it ends (I'm toying with just tweaking how it currently ends now or if I want a different version that I've been thinking about).  
2. Start and finish complete revisions from the beginning.

In light of being super busy wrapping up some final tweaks for the launch of our big project this past Monday, I was still able to do some work on WTWF, although maybe not as much as I'd hoped.

I managed to write around 2,500 words -- which for a story that's almost complete, it's pretty good. Just a little bit further to go, I think!

And I did finish my last chapter. FINALLY. Which - for today at least - I I like how it ends.

But, I'm not quite done with my goal of a complete start to finish read / revision of WTWF. I made it about halfway through on Monday, which isn't so bad - so I still have the other half to go...and of course, will then see if my new ending works.  

So, goals for this week:

1. Finish read / revision of chapters 11-21 of WTWF.
2. Add roughly 4,000 more words to round it out. I have two chapters I know need to be "beefed" up, so 2k words will be split between these two chapters. The rest I know will find their way to where they belong. 

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

YA Buccaneers, but of course!

Several of us have been blogging about this secret project for weeks now - but on 07.01.2013, it was finally go time!

And...it was AWESOME! 

Monday alone, we had almost 1,000 page views, along with over 200 visitors to the site! And every day brings even more!

For the next two weeks, we'll be introducing each member of our crew - not to mention, hosting a pretty spectacular giveaway. So if you haven't sailed on over yet, what are you waiting for? 

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

 My husband and I live in a neighborhood that surrounds a beautiful lake -- and every year for the 4th of July, the city floats out a giant barge packed with fireworks and sets them all off to music.

We're very fortunate to have some really great friends (in fact, I've known the guy since kindergarten!) move in to a home that overlooks the lake. So last year we started the tradition of going over to their place with all of our friends, grilling out, and watching the fireworks. And it's all within walking distrance from our house! 

And I think I've also mentioned before that the 4th is both my older sister and brother's birthday (but they're two years apart!), so on Sunday, we'll be heading over to my Dad's house to have dinner and celebrate.

Not a bad week, right? I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July and hit all of your writing goals this week!

SO WHAT'S NEW FOR YOU TODAY? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ALL ABOUT IT, SO WON'T YOU JOIN TODAY'S WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY??? AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! 

Introducing: The YA Buccaneers

It's here, the big day is finally here!!!

We are so excited to announce the launch of our amazing group blog:

The YA Buccaneers!

A combined effort by ten amazing ladies, we've put together some pretty awesome content that we hope you'll come on by to check out! 

Today's the official day of launch -- over the next two weeks we'll be introducing you to each member of the crew, not to mention, hosting a pretty incredible giveaway for all those that would like to join us on our journey!

Adventure awaits and we can't wait to set sail with you!