Happy One Year Anniversary To The YA Buccaneers!

A huge shout out to the YA Buccaneers on their One Year Anniversary!

So much awesome has happened over the past 365 days and I'm so thrilled to have started this adventure with the ever-amazing Bridgid Gallagher! But B. and I didn't do it all alone and I'm so thankful for the fantastic crew that decided to share in this crazy journey with us: Kris F. Oliver, Heidi Sinnett, Sara Biren, Kelly Loy Gilbert, Ghenet Myrthil, Rachel Searles, Caroline T. Richmond, Kathryn Holmes, and Ellen Goodlett! I love every single one of these ladies like they're my own sisters and I couldn't think of better writer peeps to have gone sailing with!

Please join me in celebrating the Buccaneers one year and stop by the YA Buccaneers all July long -- I promise there will be lots of activities to participate in and tons of swag up for grabs...which includes books from some of our very own Buccaneers! 

Happy One Year Anniversary, Buccaneers - I can't wait to see what's in store for the next year!

Spring Writing Bootcamp: Survivor!!!

Wow, how crazy have the last three months been? So many goals, so many new writer friends, so. much. awesome!

I'm very proud of everyone who participated in this year's Spring Writing Bootcamp, particularly my teammates on Team Rainier -- we not only set fantastic goals for ourselves, but we knocked them right out of the park!

Don't believe me? Well you should...

Because we participated in mad Word Sprints, shouted BINGO across the Twit-o-sphere, typed thousands of USABLE words, started new WIPS, finished whole manuscripts, readied edits for the eyes of our CP's, found a new CP or two, released a-mazing new book covers, went out on submission, and yes, I even managed to sell my own debut YA Contemporary to Disney-Hyperion!

I'd say we accomplished quite a bit! 

So now you want your own badge to show off for surviving bootcamp? Well stop on by the YA Buccaneers to pick one up! And definitely don't forget to tweet your achievements using #YABbootcampWIN -- we've got all kinds of fantastic prizes up for grabs!!! 

3 months of awesome for @YABuccaneers #YABbootcamp: went on sub & SOLD my YA debut to @DisneyHyperion #YABbootcampWIN http://t.co/w1rqx09HdB

— Erin L. Schneider (@ErinLSchneider1) June 3, 2014

So much in just three months. Imagine what we could do with more time?

Oooohhhhhhhhh. *imagines BIG* *imagines GIGANTIC!*

Which of course leads me right into what's on the horizon over at The YA Buccaneers: We'll be doing some fun things over the next three months - including the celebration of our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in July!!! Can you believe it's almost been one year already? But all that's only the beginning, because we have something EXTRA CRAZY AWESOME planned for the Fall -- believe me, you'll want to check back to see what we've got on deck! 

Congrats to everyone on all the awesomeness that you achieved! And way to go TEAM RAINIER for being the best. team. ev-ver!!!

Thanks so much to everyone who buckled down and wrote on! 

Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In #12

MY MAY GOALS:

1. 
   Bikini Boot Camp Day #9:
   I mentioned in last week's post that I joined the ever-fabulous Jennifer Jordan's For The Glow's Bikini Boot Camp - and yesterday marked the start of week 2! I'm sleeping better, I'm working out 5 days a week, and I'm loving everything that Jenn has slated for us to eat -- which includes my absolute favorite green smoothie, BEE GORGEOUS! This one is SO good, I could actually drink it every morning! For those of you interested, here's the easy recipe:
   1. Handful of greens (I use kale)
   2. 8oz. coconut water
   3. 1 banana (preferably frozen)
   4. 1 tbs. almond butter
   5. 1 tbs. bee pollen
   6. 1 tbs. raw honey
   7. 1 teas. alcohol-free vanilla
   Tip: I'll add a cup of ice if the banana isn't frozen. Blend all until smooth...and ENJOY! **Jenn mentions a good point, please do an allergy test for bee products before consuming!
2. New WIP NOTG writing goal: 
   Minimum of 10,000 words for the month.
   UPDATE: I put together a play list over the weekend and I love listening to it while I write! Here's a snippet of some of the songs (my favorite is song #3!):
   

Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In #11

MY MAY GOALS:

1. Dinner: Quinoa & lime-marinated chicken bowl!
   Green Smoothie: Bee Gorgeous!Bikini Boot Camp Day #1:
   Because I evidently can't get enough of bootcamps, I decided to join For The Glow's Bikini Boot Camp this year. But instead of motivation for writing, this one's for my health - which in turn, makes for better writing, right? RIGHT! 
   It's six weeks of turning my diet around (I love kale!), getting a little exercise (burpees anyone?), being motivated by others, tracking it on Pinterest!, and overall, just doing good for this 'ole body of mine. I started eating clean(er) (I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I am opting for gluten free around 95% of the time) and following the recipes a week ago to acclimate -- and aside from some of the ingredients being a little on the expensive side, I love everything I make (green smoothies, egg & kale breakfast scrambles, hummus = YUM!) and I definitely feel full and happy! 
   So be prepared for some great recipes / photos over the next 6 weeks -- after all, I've got my 20 year H.S. reunion in August and this girl plans on going with a lot less me! 
2. New WIP NOTG writing goal: 
   Minimum of 10,000 words for the month.
   UPDATE: I'm at 5,103 words so far, a little over half way done for the month! 
3. Continue to read / finish CP's MS!
   UPDATE: I finished and sent over notes on the last MS I was reading and now I'm waiting on TWO other CP's to send over manuscripts they said they'd be sending over. Eh-em. I'm waiting. Yep, still here. *cough*
   I'll sing it again in case you missed it last week: Red rover, red rover, send your manuscripts on over!
4. Host / participate in a Word Sprint or two! 
5. Cheer on the AWESOME that is Team Rainier!
   UPDATE: Did you all see Elizabeth Brigg's exciting cover reveal for her NA Contemporary MORE THAN MUSIC? Yes, that's it over there - but make sure to check it out here and enter to win some great prizes!
6. Read 5 books minimum. 
   UPDATE: One book down (Heidi's MS) and 4 more to go! 

SOOOO BOOTCAMPERS, WHAT DO YOU  HAVE UP YOUR SLEEVE FOR MAY?

Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In #10

It's the first YA Buccaneers Spring Writing Bootcamp check in for May and yes, I'm a day late - but only because I was tagged by the ever awesome Kathryn Holmes to participate in the My Writing Process blog hop that's been going around -- and my post went up yesterday. You can read it here -- or, yanno, just scroll down one more on my blog. 

Everyone is saying this and I have to agree: I can't believe it's already May. We've covered two months already in our Spring Writing Bootcamp and so much has been accomplished by all! But...we've got one more month to go, so batten down those hatches, man the torpedoes, and hang on to your boot straps! Because we pirates have LOTS in store for you! 

MY MAY GOALS:

1. My birthday is coming up this Thursday, so my goal for the first day of May is to just ENJOY THE DAY!
   UPDATE: My birthday was wonderful! Born and raised in Seattle, I've never been to the top of the Space Needle...but my husband changed that on my birthday! AND! it was sunny and 85 degrees!
2. New WIP NOTG writing goal:
   Minimum of 10,000 words for the month.
3. Continue to read / finish CP's MS!
   UPDATE: I finished my second read through on one of my CP's newest manuscripts last night and am compiling the notes to email her today - be on the lookout, Heidi!
   Also, I'm waiting on TWO other CP's to send over manuscripts they said they'd be sending over. Eh-em. I'm waiting. Yep, still here. *cough*
   Red rover, red rover, send your manuscripts on over!
4. Host / participate in a Word Sprint or two! 
5. Same goal as April: Cheer on the awesome that is Team Rainier!
6. Read 5 books minimum. 
   UPDATE: One book down (Heidi's MS) and 4 more to go! 

Soooo Bootcampers, what do you  have up your sleeve for May?

Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In

My last check-in for April! You can see what everyone else is up to in today's YAB post!

APRIL GOALS:

1. Work on my new YA Contemporary / Adventure WIP: NOTG 
   UPDATE: I haven't had a chance to do much on my WIP over the past few days, but...I will for sure have time to get to this in the coming weeks! I'm really excited about this new story and lots of great ideas are hitting me at the oddest times (gotta love my note taking app on my phone for cases like this!) - here's to a productive May!
2. Continue to read / finish CP's MS!
   UPDATE: I was hoping to have my CP's manuscript done this past weekend, but with celebrating 90th birthday parties, ferry rides (see my chilly ferry pic there to the right!), and all kinds of other things, I didn't hit this goal - but I will get this finished, this week!
3. Host / participate in a Word Sprint or two! 
   UPDATE: Last week I hosted THREE FOUR Word Sprints! Many of you wonderful writers joined me and we got so much done, in so little time! I may pop in for an impromptu word sprint this week, who knows?
4. Cheer on my fellow Team Rainier writers!
5. Read 5 books minimum. 
   UPDATE: I'm still reading DREAMS OF GODS & MONSTERS by Laini Taylor (that is a LONG book!) in addition to my above mentioned CP MS. Not sure if I'll hit my goal of 5 books for April, but we'll see!

MAY GOALS:

1. My birthday is coming up this Thursday, so my goal for the first day of May is to just ENJOY THE DAY!
2. New WIP NOTG writing goal: minimum of 10,000 words for the month.
3. Host / participate in a Word Sprint or two! 
4. Same goal as April, cheer on the awesome that is Team Rainier!
5. Read 5 books minimum. 

It's the last month of our Spring Writing Bootcamp so what are your goals for May?