It’s three months until the publication of Left to Chance, and I’m giving away the last ARC to someone who is subscribed to my **New and Improved** Infrequent But Delightful Reader Newsletter. It’s different from the blog, so I hope you’ll give it a go!
Here’s the link if you missed the big sign up the fell on the blog when you opened it. 😉 If you sign up anytime in September, or are already signed up, you’ll be entered to win.  Nothing else to do except wait for the October newsletter that will announce the winner!
Setting September Writing Goals
I no longer have kids in school but that doesn’t mean that September won’t continue to be the beginning of my year. In the calendar I carry in my head, the year starts in September and that has always been true. I see this calendar clearly, as it just kind of “hangs there,” and was convinced after reading Therese Walsh’s masterful novel, The Moon Sisters, that I indeed have a mild kind of synesthesia. I found this quite thrilling, in a there’s-a-name-for-my-weirdness kind way. I have reactions akin to mirror-touch synesthesia and spacial sequence synesthesia, which accounts for the way I see the days of the week and the months of the year and numbers. And while I find this fascinating, because I am also a creature of habit, it also means that I’m prone to starting things only at what I think of as The Beginning. The beginning of the hour, day, week, month, year — and yes, I see them all.
Which brings us to September.
My goal for September is to produce 4 (somewhat polished) chapters. I’m a slow writer, so this is a lofty goal. I write a first draft that is incomprehensible. I have to step away from it so that when I come back I can delete it all and write another first draft. There. That’s the one I revise. I write and revise scene by scene, and I’m using something I learned from Story Genius, which is the use of scene cards. They don’t work for everyone but for now, they work for me! While it seems like an extra step, it allows me to get the scene right a bit faster than I would otherwise.
So that’s about 2 pages of polished writing per day. This is a good thing, albeit daunting. I need deadlines to get things done!
I’m heading to Chicago to visit my daughter on September 29th. This gives me something to work towards! I won’t take my laptop for that long weekend (maybe) and that’ll be a nice break if I’ve been writing two polished pages per day.
Wish me luck (I’m going to need it).
What does September signify to you? Anything? Do you have September writing goals? Let’s do this together!
Amy xo
Left to Chance Events
There’s more to come but for right now here’s where I’ll be talking about and signing Left To Chance!
Willow Grove, PA – TALL POPPY WRITERS PANEL & SIGINING -Sunday, November 26, 2017 – 2:30-4pm -Barnes and Noble
Elkins Park, PA – BOOK LAUNCH PARTY! – Friday, December 1, 2017 – 6:30pm – DETAILS TO COME – Hosted by Open Book Bookstore
Hockessin, DE – EVENING WITH THE AUTHOR – Sunday, December 3, 2017 – 4pm – HOCKESSIN BOOKSHELF
Philadelphia, PA – TALL POPPY WRITERS FALL RELEASE PANEL & SIGNING – Saturday, December 9, 2017 – Barnes and Noble, Rittenhouse Square – 2pm
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while and remember Boop, that’s the book I’m still writing. My official and much-loved WIP. Here’s a lovely photo I took recently on a research trip to South Haven, Michigan, the setting for The Last Bathing Beauty. This is exactly how it looked. No image editing. No Photoshop. You can see why I’m inspired.Â
Thanks for telling us about your writing process. It helps to hear those things. I love Boop, so I hope you have great success with your writing goals.
I still look at fall as the beginning of the year, too. Mothering stays with us, doesn’t it?
I’d love to be close enough to drop in on one of your signings for “Left to Chance.” Enjoy the debut!
Where do you live, Kathy? (And thank you!)
Good luck with your writing goals, Amy! You’ve got this!
Thank you Lor, I’d love to catch up! <3