{JUNE WRAP-UP} + makeover & vlog ideas

 (aka... I haven't done this since April, have I?)

HOW IS IT SUMMER?!?!? I have creepily vivid memories of this time last year, so it doesn't seem right that summer 2017 is already here :P

So how did I kick off my summer?

Instead of taking the two months between April nano and July nano to rest, little old me decided to write another novel :P I finished the draft with a monster word-count of 133,000 words. I DID NOT PLAN THAT. I just... planned too many scenes.

I let the manuscript "rest" for a week, and since then, I've been doing the first round of edits. So far I haven't come upon anything that needs to be MAJORLY rewritten, just edited. *sigh of relief* My alpha reader (my mom) is reading this draft as well, only in google docs instead of Word. Now I'm being bombarded with comments xD

For Camp NaNo, I was planning on editing Found and rewriting the sequel, but I kinda want a life beyond writing for this month (crazy, right?), so I decided to simply edit Found... like, a REALLY in-depth edit. Pray I survive xP

I haven't read THAT much this month. I've mostly been rereading Ilyon Chronicles to get all refreshed for Exiles (the release date was moved to August 11th, so mark your calanders again xD)  Most of June I spent planning for what I'm going to read for the rest of the summer (sort of a waste, but oh well). 

But, on the topic of bookish things, I printed out my 2016 NaNoWriMo novel on CreateSpace! The cover didn't turn out perfect, but this was an experiment so I'm not totally clueless when I eventually publish Found.

And, last but not least, Julia @TheBarefootGal is selling her poetry book. GO BUY IT. IT'S AMAZING. And all royalties go toward her ice cream supply *insert emoji with sunglasses*

Hey, look, I did a makeover! I was going to try and get a whole new theme, but I'm kinda... broke (i.e. saving up for an editor)

Anyway, here's the fresh look! The bright colors go with my "word for the year," which is JOY.

You want to know why I like feathers? I've liked birds since 5th grade, but it actually has something to do with my books... a creature that I incorporate into all of them known as the mythical phoenix xD

Then I switched my tagline, mainly because this blog has become about SO much more than my journey as an aspiring indie author. It's about how I play around with words and go on journeys and spread this thing called hope. This doesn't mean I'm changing the focus for the blog; I'm just tweaking the blog so it fits what the content has become.

(I've also updated all my pages, if you'd like to check them out again and pick up my new button)

Here are all my posts for June:

And some other lovely (incredible) posts from fellow bloggers:

Abigail @Ups&Downs wrote these beautiful thoughts about change

Sarah @The Introverted Extrovert remodeled her room and basically I'm still in awe of how awesome it looks.

Karyssa @No Coffee, No Can Do talked about trusting and staying strong.

And Gray @Writing Is Life started this awesome movement called Rebellious Writing

- I went on two day trips to LA. Me = not a person who likes to spend an entire day in a city

- I've driven on the freeway half a dozen times by now. My dad made me go 80mph once just to get the feel for it (shhh, don't tell anyone)

- I've been trying to get back into shape for a summer of hiking/biking/lots of outside time. I'm already sunburn :P

- I saw the new Pirates movie. Don't kill me, but I didn't like it :P (and if you stayed until after the credits, please cry with me in the comments section)

- I broke into my own house. Read more here:

*STORY THREAD*
{how/why i broke into my own house yesterday}

- my mom and I got home from doing errands.
and the garage door wouldn't open

— Audrey Caylin (@audrey_caylin) June 21, 2017

Mom: do you want to go to a concert?
Me: how long?
Mom: two hours
Me: why not just listen to the music at home with headphones?
#introvertproblems

Despite that, I attended my first homeschool conference! For some reason I was under the impression that it would be inside. Instead, I got baked as we learned swing dancing outside (which is really, really fun)

 WELL HEY IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF NANO. I'm totally not freaking out over here. *dies*

 Then Realm Makers is at the end of July O.O

Also, I'm planning a camp nano vlog! BUT I NEED IDEAS. What should I ramble about???? Ask me questions! I'd prefer to keep this all writing related though, so please save the life/blogging questions for the Q&A I plan to do in October :)

ASK ME ALL THE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY WRITING. I promise I will not willingly answer



Needless to say, I think this is going to be an awesome summer!

<3

audrey caylin

What happened with your June? What plans do you have for July?