<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Meghan Griffin]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://megggriffin.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Megg Griffin]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://megggriffin.com/author/lafoiaveugle/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[February Wrap Up, And Looking Ahead to&nbsp;March]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>I, like so many others it seems, it a really bad book slump this month! I blame Rainbow Rowell for this, as <em>Fangirl</em> was just too damn good. I did start a few, and I picked up a bit as the month came closer to an end and <em>A Gathering of Shadows</em> came out.</p>
<p>(If you are afraid of the hype, don&#8217;t be. IT IS SOOOOO GOOD, and I&#8217;m only 130ish pages in.)</p>
<p>I also started a few other books: <em>Tell the Wind and Fire</em> by Sarah Rees Brennan, a retelling of <em>A Tale of Two Cities</em><em> </em>and <em>Glass Sword</em> by Victoria Aveyard. And I have started another book, which I&#8217;ll discuss when I get to my March Plans&#8230;.</p>
<h2><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;color:#ff00ff;"><strong>February Wrap Up</strong></span></em></h2>
<h3><span style="text-decoration:underline;color:#993366;"><strong>Books Read</strong></span></h3>
<p><em><a href="https://lafoiaveugle.wordpress.com/2016/02/05/book-review-fangirl/" target="_blank">Fangirl</a></em> by Rainbow Rowell</p>
<h3><span style="text-decoration:underline;color:#993366;"><strong>Monthly Goals</strong></span></h3>
<ul>
<li><del>Write 9,000 words</del> <span style="color:#ff6600;">[Wrote around 5,300, and edited close to 7,900]</span></li>
<li><del>Get up nerve to post fan fiction first chapter</del> <span style="color:#ff6600;">[I have posted 3! And have a 4th one started!]</span></li>
<li><del>At least 2 hikes</del> <span style="color:#ff6600;">[Only did one, but I also got sick sick super sick this past two weekends.]</span></li>
<li>Post more writing or writing ramblings <span style="color:#ff6600;">[I posted <a style="color:#ff6600;" href="https://lafoiaveugle.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/mid-month-updates-icymi/" target="_blank">one</a>. But March will be better!]</span></li>
<li>Work on confidence <span style="color:#ff6600;">[I forgot about this one. Okay, okay, March.]</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="text-decoration:underline;color:#993366;"><strong>Places to Visit</strong></span></h3>
<ul>
<li><del>Hartford, CT</del> <span style="color:#ff6600;">[I still hate driving. But I did it in style, while listening to <em>Gilmore Guys Podcast.</em>]</span></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BByjg0vST6h/?taken-by=megggriffin" target="_blank">Epic Reads Presents: A Date with Royalty </a> <span style="color:#ff6600;">[Evie Frye also followed me around a bit this month.]</span></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBv_HcySTzn/?taken-by=megggriffin" target="_blank">Another Broadway show</a> <span style="color:#ff6600;">[<em>Les Misérables, </em>with Alfie Boe in one of his last performances. I sobbed the entire show.]</span></li>
<li><a href="https://lafoiaveugle.wordpress.com/2016/02/07/hike-2/" target="_blank">Fort Lee Historic Park </a> <span style="color:#ff6600;">[Well I went to the start of it. It was cold and icy and snowy.]</span></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBq3cDDyT0D/?taken-by=megggriffin" target="_blank">Alice Tea Cup</a> <span style="color:#ff6600;">[Not originally on the list, but a cool NYC place to check out. I tried a few other restaurants too. I should start keeping a list&#8230;]</span></li>
</ul>
<p>While I didn&#8217;t read much this month (my subway rides were full of Candy Crush levels — I&#8217;m going to have to delete those off my phone. Way too distracting in life, work and&#8230;.reading and writing.</p>
<h2><em><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;color:#333399;">Ideals of March</span></strong></em></h2>
<p>The structure of last month was a bit too much for me I think. I make a list of what I want to read, and then it all sounds meh as the month goes on (or I end up with more new ARCs.)</p>
<p>But what I am planning on doing is using the writing books I own to start structuring my writing process. I feel a bit weird saying that, but my brain tends to be sporadic and unfocused. This will hopefully help! Sooooo:</p>
<h5><b>WRITING CONTRACT</b></h5>
<blockquote>
<h5>Agreement made this <span style="text-decoration:underline;">29th</span> day of <span style="text-decoration:underline;">February</span> in the year <span style="text-decoration:underline;">2016</span> whereby I, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Meghan Griffin</span>, do hereby committee myself to writing a minimum of two to three hours a day, every day, for ninety consecutive days, no excuses. The work will begin on the date I set forth in writing below.</h5>
<h5>I pledge to work diligently and habitually, even when I&#8217;m tired, hungry, cold, grouchy, or lonely, or have to get up early or stay up late, and/or even when I&#8217;d rather be doing something else. I am entering this agreement with myself because I recognize that the only way to write a novel is to dedicate myself to the project and to put in the necessary (solitary) time. I may or may not enjoy the process, but I also know there&#8217;s a little bit of agony in writing. The pain I inflict upon myself shall be my own.</h5>
<h5>I will begin my novel on <span style="text-decoration:underline;">March 1, 2016</span> and expect my first draft to be finished on July 1, 2016*, approximately <del>ninety</del> <span style="text-decoration:underline;">one hundred and twenty</span> days later. No penalty shall be found for failing to meet this mandated deadline, but the reward for meeting it shall be the satisfaction of having written my own novel. I call blame no one but myself for the delays along the way.</h5>
<h5>This pledge is made with my full consent and awareness, and under no obligation to anyone but myself.</h5>
<h5><span style="text-decoration:underline;">MGriffin</span></h5>
</blockquote>
<p>*From the reviews I&#8217;ve read, the writer&#8217;s plan does not actually work in ninety days if you have a job or want to get in depth enough. And writing does not pay my bills currently.</p>
<p>So look forward to me actually posting more writing ramblings. Or pictures of me pulling out my hair (and not just the grey/white ones&#8230;)</p>
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