Kicking off 2024

Where Fleur stays curious while getting fit, and also writes new words.

Happy new year! I still feel like that 2024 number looks like something from a futuristic sci-fi book…

If you’ve been following along here: I’m writing a new middle-grade in 2024…! It’s a WWII historical set in my native Netherlands. I’m taking the slow-and-steady-wins-the-race approach, aiming to write 500 words a day, six days a week, for 3,000 words total a week. This should have me completing a rough draft by spring.

If you want to join along, I’ve posted my approach to outlining here in multiple newsletters at the end of 2023.

How It’s Going

I’m right on track at 3K words, having to take a day to research (this happens), so I’m happy with where the book is going. At this point, it’s still headed where I want it to. I love this part of the process. The first sequence is an easy one, like a newborn baby.

For this manuscript, I’m only setting aside about an hour a day, proving that anyone can write a book. No more excuse of, I would write a book, but I just don’t have the time. Pish. An hour a day is all it takes.

New!

Because I’ve taught quite a few classes on the craft of writing, I thought it was about time that I wrote this Fleur knowledge down and put it in a book. I know, you’d think I would’ve done it sooner…

I hope to write a series of books on the craft of writing.

This idea is still very much in the writing studio, so stay tuned…

Other Happenings

January is quiet, though I’m already looking at a packed (virtual) World Read Aloud Day in February, and a few other virtual visits springled on my calendar. If you’re a teacher and would like to invite me for a (free) virtual Q&A visit, send me an email!

So far, it looks like April will be the busy month when it comes to in-person events, with the Texas Library Association Conference and Pikes Peak Writers Conference. I hope to see you there. I love a friendly face 😊 You can find my events on my website.

What I’m Reading

I just finished Lindsay Currie’s The Mystery of Locked Rooms, a mystery for kids that will be out in April. I highly recommend it—perfect for the mystery lover, young and old(er).

And I’m knee-deep in Tara Laskowski’s The Weekend Retreat, my reading reward after a hard day of work this month. You want to order this book RIGHT NOW, y’all. It’ll make your January, I promise.

Be Curious (or: 3 Interesting Things)

Since I don’t want this newsletter to get boring, I thought I would share three interesting things every once in a while. My goal for 2024 is to be curious (because it’s fun); here’s what I found this week:

1.     An older article that dives into the misplaced nostalgia present in a lot of kids’ books (hat tip to Carolyn Starr Rose): Let the Kids Get Weird: The Adult Problem with Children’s Books. Interesting food for thought. It dives into what I find worrisome at times, which is that us adults don’t listen to kids when it comes to what they want to read, or at least not enough. Let the Kids Get Weird: The Adult Problem With Children’s Books ‹ Literary Hub (lithub.com)

2.     You probably know how much of an animal nut I am, so I loved this article on therapy animals at airports. I totally want to hug a llama…These Airports in the West Have Therapy Animals to Relieve Stress (sunset.com)

3.     Want to gain some knowledge this month…? I recommend any class by Dan Blank; he has an upcoming one on reaching your readers. I also recommend Masterclass, which like a ginormous library of experts you can invite over for dinner (or in my case, while you’re on the exercise bike).

That’s it for me this week. I hope your 2024 is off to a good start.

Tell me: what are you up to?

Your weekly Floof

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