What's Up Wednesday: Back to School Edition
WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY
I'm catching the What's Up Wednesday hot air balloon from the blogs of Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. Go to Jaime's blog to add your link and make the rounds to get to know other bloggers!
WHAT I'M READING
I'm about to dive into two "projects" - one, a manuscript that's outside of what I usually read (or write) and I'm super excited! and two, I've decided to read as many of the YA Buccaneers Reading Mutiny titles as I can. A couple of them I've already read this calendar year, so I'm not going to re-read those, and yes, a few of them I've read before (more than once), but a couple are new. So, six books in a month? That's totally doable.
I'm about to dive into two "projects" - one, a manuscript that's outside of what I usually read (or write) and I'm super excited! and two, I've decided to read as many of the YA Buccaneers Reading Mutiny titles as I can. A couple of them I've already read this calendar year, so I'm not going to re-read those, and yes, a few of them I've read before (more than once), but a couple are new. So, six books in a month? That's totally doable.
I'm starting with BETSY AND THE GREAT WORLD.
WHAT I'M WRITING
Lots and lots. I spent the majority of Saturday with my CP Kari White during our Second Annual Saturday of Labor Day Weekend Caribou Coffee Write-In. I entered the dark, murky waters of revision (trying to stay out of the weedbeds as I work through some tough scenes) and have had a break-through. I dabbled at KEYS and I jotted down tons of notes for another idea, one that started with a tiny seed of inspiration in the mid-90s and blossomed in a dream last summer but has yet to make it to WIP status.
WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO
Back to school and lots of it! We spent our weekend taking care of a few last minute errands. HG's parents spent part of the weekend with us. Sunday my sister invited us to her pool for one last lazy summer afternoon.
WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW
My kids. Yesterday they went back to school, both of them in new schools. Birdy has moved from a small Montessori where she was one of five Kindergartners to a big school with 7 classes of first graders. She's in a room with 21 students and she's taking it head-on. When we met her teacher last week, she caught me on the way out the door and said, "She's not shy at all, is it? I'm sure she'll do just fine." Toad started fifth grade in the Middle School and woke up at 5 am because of the excitement (said, not kidding you, with jazz hands. At five am.)
They are both so brave and enthusiastic and I wish I could capture that and carry it with me all day. It's so easy to let the monotony and ordinariness of every day life dull the shine and bring me down. Every day should be as exciting, as filled with promise, as the first day of school, don't you think?
So - what's up with you? What was one of your favorite back-to-school traditions when you were in school?
I'm still trying to decide which YaBuccaneer's book to read first. They all look pretty good!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that your kids are adjusting so well to school.
The Reading Mutiny is such a great idea - I have read a book each month so far but haven't been able to blog about them - so busy lately! This month I have to make the time!
DeleteJazz hands? LOVE your kids! Mine inspire me too. And are just fun to be around. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd the Reading Mutiny looks great this month! I'll try to join in and read one or two!
Good luck with the edits! And all the projects! Have a great week, Sara!
Thanks, Alison! Yes, jazz hands. They are both very dramatic. We call Birdy Sharpay occasionally and Toad is Funnypants the 4th. All the world's a stage!
Delete5am jazz hands sounds fun? I agree with you, I wish I could carry my son's light with me into everything I do. I try to remember that when he's not particularly buoyant, and neither am I.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your revisions!
Ugh, Friday mornings during the school year are the worst (I'm remembering today). Everyone (including me) is so tired and crabby. Yes, try to remember the light...
DeleteJazz hands...hahaha! :P That's so awesome that they're excited about their new schools and settling in so well. Good luck with your revisions! And jotting down notes on a new idea is always fun! I think it gets me excited about writing all over again. Hope you have a great week, Sarah! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's been a great first week of school - couldn't have asked for better. Thanks - yes, I love the new ideas, too, but unfortunately it's taking up some brainspace I should be using for my revision. Have a great weekend! :)
DeleteI remember getting new school clothes and supplies in preparation for going back to school, but not much else. My parents aren't the type of people who would've found the need for some special send-off or final lunch or dinner before school. That doesn't seem like something working-class folks would do, though it's probably a nice tradition for other families.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your reading and writing goals!
Thanks, Carrie-Anne! Have a wonderful weekend!
DeleteI have the strong urge to read all the Reading Mutiny titles, too!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that tiny seed of inspiration :)
Ooh, will you do it? I threw in some old school classics.... :)
DeleteNow you mention it, while I dreaded having to get up in the morning, I always looked forward to the first day back at school--especially after the Summer. Not so much getting back to the lessons (though some were worth looking forward to), but catching up with friends, hearing stories of what they did, and the unstated thrill of a new class schedule, new teachers, and being a year older. Definitely something we lose over time, to our detriment.
ReplyDeleteHave a great writing week, Sara, and I hope your kids don't lose their excitement for school. :)
I always really enjoyed getting back to school because I lived "out in the country" and hardly saw my friends during the summer. On the flip side, I dreaded the bus ride. First on, last off - lots of time to be picked on, sadly. The rest of school made up for it, though.
DeleteThanks and enjoy your weekend!
Aww, that back-to-school photo of your kiddos is adorable. Hearing about their new school experiences inspires me as well! It sounds like you have lots to keep you busy on the writing front. Best of luck with all your projects, Sara!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katy! Have a wonderful weekend!
DeleteGosh, I remember being so exciting for school when I was little. I used to love going out in the holidays to get all my new equipment and my new school uniform.
ReplyDeleteI used to love going to Caribou Coffee when I was at college in the US. Good times! Got a lot of work and writing done in there.
Have a fantastic week!
Isn't Caribou a great place? Where did you go to college? I've been listening to coffitivity.com at work to get that coffee shop vibe... very inspiring!
DeleteI'm impressed with your plan to read all the YA Buccaneer's books each month, not because 6 books is a lot but because 6 books picked by other people is a lot. If it were me, there would be at least a half a dozen other books that I needed/wanted to read each month and 12 books amonth really is a lot.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you and your kids with the new school year.
Well... I picked the books this month, so most of them will be re-reads. I do have the problem you mention, though, of having other books I want to read this month, too, so I'm planning to blitz the Buccaneers books at the beginning of the month.
DeleteHave a great weekend!
Hi Sara! Good luck on your revisions and Happy School Year to your kids! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Valerie! :)
DeleteAww, so sweet that your kids were excited about school. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm also excited about all of the YA Bucanneers Reading Mutiny books and want to read as many as I can!
Good luck with your revisions!
Thanks, Ghenet. I'm hoping to get a lot accomplished this weekend! Have a fantastic weekend - enjoy the last days of summer!
DeleteI love that you're going to try to read all of the Reading Mutiny books this month. That is AWESOME!!! You came up with a great list, too. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd your write-ins sound so great! It sounds like you have a great writing community in your area. :)
Have a great week, Sara!
Thanks, Bridgid - I had a fun time trying to select the books. I am fortunate to have a great writing community - online support is wonderful and I couldn't live without it, but having real, live people across the table from you is invaluable.
DeleteHave a fantastic weekend!
So many people are in that back to school space right now. I'm not a mom, so I'm not there, but I do remember the excitement. I'd love to get a little of that. It's finally starting to cool off here, so at least fall is getting to me in only the best of ways.
ReplyDeleteGlad you hear you made so much writing progress over the weekend--me too. I hope this weekend is just as productive!