new month, new life

It's June! Where have I been all this time?

I've started a new story. Oh yes, it wouldn't be a new month without a new novel idea stewing around in my head. This one's about a girl who sees two boys jump off of a pier--and one of them is shot in mid air. When they get out of the water, though, they're both perfectly fine. Basically she can see the future and... No idea where it's heading, which drives me crazy! I need to know the ending--I refuse to simply cast off yet another project after I lose interest.

I have a goal.

Not so much a goal as it is a set-in-stone obligation. I have just under seven months to finish a manuscript because I am determined (DETERMINED!) to have a book finished by my sixteenth birthday.

Bear in mind, there are several loopholes to this. 1) It doesn't have to be finished well. I just want a first draft, something that I can edit the crap out of and make into something, well, mildly presentable? 2) It doesn't have to be long. I've been reading Hannah Moskowitz's (author of YA novel Break) blog and guess what? Her first drafts are only around 30k words and generally written in about a week's time. And I have seven months!

To me, that was a complete and utter shock. Books can be under 90k and still be books?! Who knew! Everyone always says, writing is rewriting. But so far I haven't finished a manuscript to the point where I can begin rewriting it. Very sad.In other news, I think this t-shirt is fucking awesome (link). Buuuuut, I have no money to even think about online shopping right now! I really need a job. Oh, woe is me to finally have to join the workforce. I was always more of the mentality that if money can't buy you love, why would you want to work in the first place. It may not be wise to get all of your wisdom from the Beatles, however. I still think I'm a walrus.

One last thing before I go! I was looking through a photography book (my other great love, next to writing and my imaginary blogoverse, of course) and I saw a picture of what may be the coolest animal alive. The three toed sloth.

Obviously I'm jealous of sloths, simply for their ability (and it is an ability--it's actually an evolutionary adaptation, though... I'm not sure why) to be so lazy. Did you know, though, that the 3 toed sloth only ways 10 to 15 pounds? And they look so cute!

PS: A lot of blogs I've been reading have specific weekly sections like 'Teaser Tuesday', 'WIP Wednesday', stuff like that. I think I might just have to try it out! Keep you eyes open for some very cheesy, week day themed posts. Then again, that means I might actually have to post more than once a week.

Love,
Erika

Soundtrack: Nighttiming by Coconut Records