Summer Writing Projects
I thought I’d take the opportunity, between bloggy projects and catching up on reviews, to discuss some of my writing projects for the summer. I mean, accountability and all, right? If I tell the blogosphere that I’m putting myself on deadline, I might actually stick to that. Right? Right.
So project #1 will be participating in July’s Camp NaNoWriMo. And this project is pretty freaking crazy. Like, you know how I’m always sending myself crazy middle of the night emails? (Okay, to be honest, usually I sent various patient cohorts these emails. I spared my pals on this one.) Well, a few weeks ago, I sent myself this:
#crazymiddleofthenightemails
So….if you’ve been following me on Twitter lately, you may have noticed that I am becoming more and more infatuated with Prince by the day. I don’t know…there’s something enchanting about him. And…did you see him on New Girl this past season?
Prince is magic.
Damn he is still super fine. Er…and…talented and inspiring on so many levels. So I’ve been thinking a lot about idol worship, and I’ve always wanted to write a YA novel on idol worship, and I find Prince’s body of work so incredibly inspiring — inspiring in the truest meaning of the word — that I knew I wanted to write a book that was somehow about him, but not about him at all. About a character who loved this musician. And I didn’t want an 80s or 90s setting. So it’s YA contemp, a book about friendship and celebrity and Prince songs. I’m excited. And currently brainstorming titles. 
Meanwhile, I’ve been working on collecting more Prince albums (research!), and am considering hosting a screening of Prince’s films (Purple Rain, Under the Cherry Moon, and Graffiti Bridge) chez moi. My apartment is tiny, but my love for Prince is huge. Also I’m excited to try and make a bunch of geeky prince-themed snacks. “Purple Rain”-cloud-shaped cookies? “Raspberry Beret” pies? Under the Cherry Roast Chicken? And, of course, Hershey’s “Kiss”-es?
Of course, I’m still working on the epic found poetry project of epic. Magazines keep showing up and I keep mining them for poems. Some of the results are fantastic. Others are terrible. But that is the nature of writing.
And, speaking of magazines, I’m sending these poems to magazines and getting lots of rejections! As one does, of course. As I always say, you can’t win if you don’t play. So I’m submitting, submitting, submitting. Some of the rejections I’ve gotten have been complementary personal rejections, which is a great sign for the found poetry community. Plus, it’s always nice to know when you’ve almost hit the mark!
Of course, there HAS been a magazine acceptance which I can’t wait to share with y’all. Found poetry and everything. SOON.
Anyway, finding focus. That’s what I’m doing this summer. Narrowing things down and creating deadlines for myself and making sure I work every day. Even if it’s only for the promise of chocolate upon meeting my daily wordcount goal.
What will you be working on this summer? Camp NaNoWriMo in July? New novels? New submission goals? Querying? Drafting? Revising? Let’s hear it, y’all.
