Hello ladies and gents!
First, I’m going to have to ask my friend Lana to forgive me for using her beautiful illustration without her permission. I quite frankly forgot to ask. I did credit her, however. So … am I forgiven?* I’m a terrible person.
Second, this is a kind of random post with a bunch of different stuff in it. There will be some writing updates, some life updates, and some random ramblings. AND, of course, I’ll be having some Summer Goals. Because I came up with another batch. #CantDecide
*No, I don’t actually expect you to forgive me, Lana. You can hate me forever … if you want ….
Okay, let’s start with my summer goals. (Becausewe’rekeepingthismovingalong! #speedy)
|Summer Goals|
I do realize we’re already over halfway through the summer … but it’s never too late to make some goals. Am I right? Okay, maybe I’m wrong, but whatever …
- Go to bed and get up at a decent time consistently.
- Get your driver’s license and keep practicing.
- Make a semi-decent sum of money via hard work.
- Finish writing Once a Stratton.
- Write Adae.
- Finish first round of revisions of At Her Fingertips.
- Outline Beyond Her Calling.
- Continue to promote your published works.
- Read North and South and Little Women.
- Read Northanger Abbey and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
- Finish off review copies.
- Review as many books as you possibly can.
- Ride horses.
- Visit your grandparents regularly.
- Volunteer at the museum. Learn lots of history.
- Feel as if you’ve accomplished something at the end of every day.
- Practice your clarinet, saxophone, guitar, and piano.
See? Lotsa goals! I’m not going to talk about them because that would make this post unnecessarily wrong … but now you know what I’m intending to do with the rest of my #summer. (I don’t know what’s up with the #s …)
|It’s a Horsie!|
I got horse-riding lessons! HOORAH! I literally just had my first today. His name is Peppy. Not the riding instructor. The riding instructor’s name is Cathy. But we care more about Peppy than Cathy at this point.
Juuuust kidding. Cathy’s important, too … because she’s telling me what to do on Peppy. 😉
It was really fun! She said I did great. She kept me on a longline the whole time (which I feel was unnecessary, but he’s a little flighty). I only almost fell off once! (To be fair, Peppy was bucking pretty hard; he got startled.) I think I’m rambling now but that’s okay because you guys understand how excited I am.*
Anyway, someday I’ll get pictures … maybe. I hope so, anyways. 🙂
*Very excited. I don’t usually talk this much.**
**Okay, maybe I usually do talk this much …
|It’s a Museum…y|
I’m volunteering at a museum this summer. Basically, I walk people around and talk about history. I haven’t taken a picture myself, but I found this one on the internet.
So yep. That’s the original Surgeon’s Quarters which were built in the 1850s. And it became a museum in the early 1900s … going on 112 years this fall! That’s pretty impressive, am I right? I really love all the local history and such. Besides, it gives me an excuse to talk about what gorgeous man-killers redheads are. *doesn’t intend to explain that comment*
Anyway, it’s just a cool, fun experience. Maybe I’ll share some more pictures when I’m off my hiatus.
|Camping|
My parents are forcing me to go camping. *weeps* We’re going to the beach – the Nehalem Bay area. They seem to think that the fact that we’ve never gone there (well, I haven’t) is a selling point to me. I’m like, “How will I know if I’ll have fun? I’ve never been there before.” 😛
But yep, I really dislike camping unless I’m with friends. With friends, it’s an adventure … with parents, it’s just dirty. And the bathroom in the trailer is #notgood and I hate using public restrooms.
*rant ends here*
So yes, I’ll be gone from my precious domicile starting Sunday and going until Thursday. *much weeping and moaning* *realizes I was supposed to stop ranting* *crosses out ranty parts*
|What I’m Writing (And Editing)|
I’ve now written 39,636 words of Once a Stratton. I’m hoping to finish it sometime in August (as it’s obviously not going to be done at the end of this month).
Also, I’ve gone through At Her Fingertips (good ol’ AFOP) for the first time! On paper, nonetheless! *spends way too much money on ink and paper* *or would if I were buying my own ink and paper* #parentsareawesome #everyoneshouldhavethem
Anyway, I’m going to go get all the changes (Revisions Round 1, as I’m calling them) on the computer and then I’ll be looking for alpha readers.
(I’m contacting them individually instead of having a signup form. Let me know in the comments if you’re interested. I’ll consider you, but don’t get too excited. This is an elite taskforce. *is snooty* *and sensitive about her precious AFOP*)
Other than that, I haven’t done a lot of writing. I’ve worked on the outline of Beyond Her Calling a little, but not a lot. I still have a lot of stuff that needs work. I need to do some serious brainstorming.
|My Technique|
Different writers write different ways. I have my own technique. But I never really set it in stone. Now I’m going to try it out with At Her Fingertips. There may be some tweaking, but I think this is what I’m going to do from now on.
Kell’s 10-Step Map to an Amazing Book
- Outline
- Write
- Revisions Round 1
- Alpha Readers
- Revisions Round 2
- Edits Round 1
- Beta Readers
- Edits Round 2
- Proofreading Round 1
- Proofreading Round 2
And just like that, my novel is done!
If you’re interested in hearing about this in depth, let me know. I’d love to do a post about my ‘technique.’*
*Honestly, though, it matters little whether you want to hear about it in depth or not. You will.
|Blogging|
This will probably be the only post until my birthday (or around then or later). Anyways, I just want to say … I haven’t really been reading blog posts. I’ve read one or two, but not many. And I have no intention of trying to catch up. *shrugs* *is not a good blog-reader*
I think that’s all. Now, as this post has reached over 1,000 words, it’s time to sign off.
Arrivederci!
~Kellyn Roth~
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p.s.
What do you think of this wild & wacky post? What are you doing this summer? Did I miss an amazing post by you? I’ll try to read it if you comment a link below. Do you enjoy camping (assuming you’ve been camping at some point)?
39 Responses
Hahaha, nice! They all sound exciting.
Little Women is a classic–I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! (;
I never really liked Little Women so I’m going to have to force myself to read it. XD I started it and just found it annoying … but yep, I need to read it and now seemed as good a time as any! 🙂
Hahaha, if you like these kinda old-fashioned classics, you’ll enjoy it. Oh well. XD
Why are you reading it if you don’t like it? o_O
Because I feel like I should. I mean, it’s one of those classics that everyone thinks you should read … and I feel like I didn’t give it a fair chance. XD
Ahahaha I see. Well, good luck to you then! XD
PEPPY!!! That sounds SOO cool, Kell! We need pictures. ASAP as possible (references a dumb movie I don’t even watch ha).
Congrats on the job. 😛 HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY MWAHAHA.
I’d be interested in alpha reading… if I’m not too elite for you. *people ‘OOH’ in the background* *flips hair* ;D
God bless!
-Ang
Hopefully I’ll be able to take pictures ASAP as possible. 😛 *doesn’t know what the reference is but repeats it anyway*
Thanks!
Hmm, I don’t know … I don’t usually mix with the upper crust … 😉
It’s from a TV show called The Office but it’s more of an adult show, but I see GIF sets of it online. 😛
Ah, yes, I’ve seen a couple episodes of that. *is a little ashamed to admit it* *shrugs* But yep, I guess I didn’t see that one.
I watch snippets on YT. ;D
I think it was on Netflix at one point, so I’ve watched a couple episodes. But yeah, it’s not exactly appropriate …
I actually enjoyed the randomness of the post?? Plus it was not too random and all seemed to match a theme. Your goals for summer are so productive! I have literally lost all hope of accomplishing things this summer so I’m just going to sleep, watch TV, write, and blog. I have gone camping but not very often. It is fun??? But it really depends on the weather. Anyways I really liked this post!
Yay, I’m glad! At first, it was kind of all over the place, but I ended up editing it and changing things around, so I guess it is a little better now … in the only version anyone other than me ever read … *facepalm* My brain is weird sometimes. I assume people are reading my first drafts … 😛
I’m actually the same! I’m just making more goals so I can feel like even more of a failure. XD
YAYAYAY!!!!!! BEYOND HER CALLING IS COMING!!!!!!!
Yep … XD
theinscribeblog.wordpress.com
I’m sorry to inform you that Writer’s Ink is no longer available. So you’ll have to go here
Okay, I’ll go check it out. 🙂
Haha, you can definitely use the picture–no forgiveness needed. 😛 Anyway, it sounds like you’re having/will be having a fun summer! I’m sure you’ll have fun camping…I like camping, most of the time. Sleeping is the meh part because I sometimes get claustrophobic in tents, but I love waking up with the sun and birds chirping and drinking hot chocolate around an early morning fire wrapped in a blanket. 🙂 And then camping is usually a good time to spend time with my family, which I like. It’s good.
And YAYYY YOU GOT HORSE RIDING LESSONS!!! 😀 It sounds like you’ve been having fun! Are you learning English style or Western style? I did English. And I fell off…twice, I think, through all of my lessons? I remember that one was because I was supposed to go over the jump and then we weren’t going fast enough…hmm…my memories are a bit fuzzy from that time.
I don’t think you missed any amazing posts (or any posts, hehe). I haven’t been doing much on my blog. Or…you know, with anything. But at least I wrote some yesterday! 🙂
Speaking of writing, YAYYY FOR AFOP! I mean, I’ve already read it, so… *grins* And yess, I would love a post on your new 10-step writing process! It sounds so simple…deceivingly so. Why is writing a book so hard? 😛
Anyway, I’m so happy you’re back to blogging! (Or maybe this is just one blog post to hold me through until the end of summer…hopefully not.) I’ve missed your posts…and you…and I’m just glad you’re here again. 🙂
Weeeell, as my brother-in-law says, we’re not really “camping,” I guess. You’re only camping if you’re in a tent. We have a trailer. XD So yep, we’re not technically camping in the camping sense … it’s not to get close to nature or anything (we live in nature … we have nature in our backyard … or at least that’s my opinion) so much as to be together. *introverted self doesn’t understand why you’d want to be “together” with people, especially since you’re with said people all the time* *shrugs it off* 😛
I’m riding Western. I’ve never actually ridden English, though I’d like to someday. Western saddles are sooo big! XD Really, though, I need to build up some muscles if I’m going to be throwing those up on horses’ backs regularly! But yes, it was awesome and fun! That doesn’t sound fun. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen off, but that’s not because I’m good on horses but because I’ve never been on a horse that was crazy enough to try to get me off of him. XD
I think I’ve pretty much kept up with your posts for the most part? At least I think so.
I DON’T KNOW! Writing a book is ridiculously hard. I think part of it is that I call actually writing the book ‘1 step’ and then I could the first round of revisions one step when I spend foreeevvveeerrr on it.
No, I’m just on for this one post. I’ll probably start blogging again mid-August. I don’t know when for sure. It might be earlier, it might be later, and it might just not be consistent.
Ahhh, I see. But trailer camping is very fun as well! And you can be close to nature, too, especially if the trailer is small and it’s nicer to sit outside. 😛 (My introverted self likes spending time with people to listen to conversations but not always to actually participate. Although, if it’s with my family, I will.)
Ahh, cool! Western riding sounds interesting…but also weird because I only ever rode English. 😛 Haha, you might fall off once…or maybe not. If you do you can at least say that now you’ve fallen off a horse. (A great accomplishment, I know. Not everyone can fall off a horse.)
I think I’ve only written two posts, and you’ve responded to both, so yes, you have.
Haha, that’s true that it is ridiculously hard. I need to do better at revising my novels and stuff…it sounds so daunting, though… 😛
Awww, sad day. I’ll look forward to your return to blogging, then! 🙂
Yeah, we don’t sit in the trailer all day most the time. This time I did stay in the trailer a lot and read … because my brothers found a lot of kids their age at the campground and wanted to spend all day (literally all day one time!) playing … so yep. *was so excited* *is being sarcastic* *doesn’t need to tell you about all my actions* Really, though, I do love the beach, so it was nice to see them. And I got in a lot of driving time, so that was good … although never drive a big, bulky, stubborn pickup along the Oregon coastal roads. It’s quite frustrating. 😛 But it was good.
I’ve done a lot of research about English riding *nods towards Alice* but I can’t imagine riding anything but Western.
There’s a saying about having to fall off a horse three times before you’re really a good rider … and that drives me crazy! I don’t want to fall off three times! Oh well. I guess it’s bound to happen several times if you’re around horses a lot … so that’s probably where it comes from …
Yuck, driving time… 😛 Yep, I’m one of those people who doesn’t like driving. But anyway, I’m glad that you have fun on your trip! (Or at least got some reading done, haha.)
I can’t imagine riding Western, so there’s that. 😛 Really, though, what do you do with two reins?
I haven’t fallen off three times, so I guess I’m doomed. That phrase used to annoy me because a) I haven’t fallen off three times, and b) hearing that after you DO fall off isn’t very helpful if you’re feeling kind of traumatized and not like a good rider at all. 😛 So I just decided that it should be “to be a good rider, you have to get back on a horse after you fall off” because that’s much better.
I really love driving, though I think I’d like it better if my parents weren’t leaning over my shoulder all the time. 😉
Either we hold them the same way as English riders do (only looped together … or sometimes they’re tied together … or I’ve used English reins, too) or “neck-rein,” which is basically holding them in one hand, the left, close to the neck, and simply … kinda dragging them across the horse’s neck? I like holding them in one hand best. Honestly, I prefer split reins.
Yes! I love that! Much better! I’ll have to remember that …
…What is the point of having split reins then if you just use them like one rein? xD
No idea. XD I’m sure there’s an actual reason, but I don’t know what it is …
We have a horse friend, and she said that English riding is actually really dangerous, and a lot of people have died because of it…….I would not try it…….
🙁
I actually really want to do it someday. I’ve seen it done, and it doesn’t look too different from Western. I think you have a little more control over the horse, actually.
I HATE CAMPING BECAUSE OUTSIDE AND BUGS. And woo hoo for all your writing! Yes I’d love a post on your writing process! And I would say more but I’m up late and vv tired. 🙁
There aren’t a lot of bugs at the coast here (too cold and windy, I guess … although I am so used to the wind), but yeah, I agree.
Well, this comment was five days ago, but SLEEP! Although I hate sleeping so much …
HOW DO YOU HATE SLEEPING??? I hate it because I have insomnia and can’t go to sleep easily, but other than that, SLEEP IS AMAZING!!!
I hate sleeping until 6 o’clock in the morning after which I could sleep until noon. Sleep is the enemy of life. It’s like life shuts down and you can’t have life anymore … *shivers* 😛 Sleep is especially the enemy of reading.
i’ve never gone camping… and dont plan on it. sounds uncomfrotable!
also congrats on writing so much in OUAS!! your 10 step plot to a great story is vv awesome 😉 but it really is!
It’s not so bad if you go in a trailer or whatever … but still. Showers are not a readily available as I’d like. 😛
omg i feel ya i was at track camp for the last week and the shower times were so off it was horrible
YES! That’s awful. When I went to camp last year, there was barely time to grab a shower. Drove me crazy.
What? You don’t like camping????? It is my favorite part of the year!
Yes, horseback riding is so much fun! You should ride bareback sometime! So much fun!
No, I really don’t! But then I just don’t like leaving my home, sooo … I don’t know if it’s the camping aspect or just leaving my precious house. XD
I have ridden bareback a couple times in the past, but it’s been awhile …
Yeah, leaving home is terrible……..All my precious books……;)