Erica O'Rourke

Summer of All The Words: 2014 Edition

Welcome back, Team #SoATW!

Last year’s Summer of All The Words was a resounding success: deadlines were met, projects were finished, progress was made, and a community was born. End-of-school chaos resulted in a bit of a delay getting this year’s SoATW up and running, but YA author Clara Kensie and I are ready to reboot and make Summer 2014 even more successful! If you’ve got writing goals, we want to help you meet them.

We're making a few changes, all with one purpose in mind: We want to make this even more flexible for people to meet up and check in, and we want to make it as low-key as possible without losing our beloved SoATW community. Read on for more details!

For the next twelve weeks – until Labor Day weekend – we’ll be meeting up on Twitter Sunday through Friday for an hour of work. As before, we’ll be using the #SoATW hashtag.

The key difference is that this year, we’re offering TWO times, to accommodate different time zones and schedules.

• Erica will be handling the regular nightly Twitter meetup. From 10-11pm CST, Sunday through Thursday, she’ll be cheering you on and handling the celebratory post-writing check-in.
  
  
• Clara will be handling a “flex-time” meetup during the day, Monday through Friday. The time will vary from day to day, because summer is unpredictable. You can keep an eye out for it, or start your own session by using the #SoATW hashtag at any time.

Whichever session you choose (or both!) you can work on whatever you want: drafting, revising, proofreading, synopsis-writing, query letters, blog content…it’s totally up to you. You don’t have to work on the same project every time. You can write in any genre. The point is to give you a small, dedicated block of time each day to focus on whatever aspect of your writing is most pressing.

Participation is completely voluntary – you can show up only on Tuesdays, every day, or every third Wednesday. You can do your during the nighttime meetup, the daytime meetup, or a combination of both. If neither time works for you, feel free to use the hashtag at any time of day. We’ve got a great community, and you’re bound to find another #SoATWer online. We want this to be helpful, not stressful, so use it in whatever way works best for you.

The other difference is that we will not be doing the blog post check-ins on Friday. We loved talking about writing tips, but it’s not an effective use of our limited summer time, especially since Clara and Erica both have releases coming out in July. (EEEEP!!!)

FAQ:

How exactly does this work?

For the nightly meetup:

A few minutes before 10pm CENTRAL TIME, if you’re following Clara or me, you’ll see something like this on Twitter: Starting #SoATW in five minutes! Who’s in? I’m revising Chapter 8.

At 10pm CST: Time for #SoATW – see you in an hour!

At 11pm CST: Halfway through Chapter 8.  How’d everyone do? #SoATW

For the daytime meetup:

It’s essentially the same thing – but the time will vary, so you’ll need to keep an eye out for the #SoATW hashtag. You don’t have to wait for Clara’s tweet—your summer schedule is probably as crazy and unpredictable as hers is. If you have time to write during the day, go for it! Tweet #SoATW and then get writing. Clara will be checking for the hashtag throughout the day to send you encouragement and congratulations.

Remember: use the hashtag, or we won’t know you’re participating!

Why 10pm?

Our days and evenings are filled with work and kids and various obligations. By 10, life has settled enough that we can head into our writing cave and close the door for an hour. Staying up until 11 won’t turn us into total zombies the next day, though it might require an extra cup of coffee.

That being said, Erica cheerfully admits she’s a night owl: if 10pm is too late, feel free to stick with the daytime meetup. Last year, we also had East Coast participants who started an hour earlier and checked in just as the 10pm  crew was starting. That’s a great way to make the hashtag work for you!

Why Sunday through Thursday nights?

If your summers are anything like ours, Friday and Saturday nights book up pretty fast. We’re not looking to put a crimp in your social life.

Why flex-time on the weekdays?

This summer, we wanted to expand #SoATW by giving daytime writers a chance to participate. Also, Clara’s family is so busy that the only time she has to spend with her husband is at night, so she had to bow out of the late-night sessions this summer. Her summer weekday schedule is erratic, but she can always find an hour to write. Therefore, for the daytime writers, Clara will be running #SoATW sessions Monday through Friday, at various times (Mondays and Thursdays will most likely be very late in the afternoon or early evening). You can watch for her tweet and join in, or write when you can and check in on Twitter when you’re done. Flexibility is key to get any writing done in the summer – you need to grab the time when you have it. Clara may also host the occasional Saturday or Sunday daytime #SoATW, so keep your eye out for the hashtag and join in, or start your own session any time you want!

Why only an hour?

An hour is enough time to make progress, if you do it consistently, but it doesn’t feel like an overwhelming commitment.

Look at it this way: if you can write 1000 words in an hour, five times a week, you’d end up with 5000 words each week. 5000 words a week, over twelve weeks, means you’d have 60,000 words by Labor Day. For some people, that’s a whole book! (For other’s, it’s a sizeable amount of progress.)

If you’re revising, you can still use this formula: ____ pages per hour x 5 hours x 12 weeks = ______. (Feel free to write your own formula. Erica was an English major and cannot be trusted with numbers.)

Why twelve weeks?

Because that’s how many weeks we have until Labor Day.

I can’t possibly get all my work done in an hour! Can I do more?

Of course! The Twitter meetups function like a virtual writing date, but if you need more time to make your goals, take it! We’re here when you need us, and we’ll cheer you on.   

I can’t make it Mondays!

Totally fine, my friend. Pop around when you can, and we’ll be thrilled to see you.

When do we start?

We’ll begin the meetups on Sunday, June 8.  Clara will lead a daytime session and Erica will be gathering the troops at 10pm CST time.

While you’re preparing, please make sure you’re following Clara and Erica on Twitter. If you have one of those fancy twitter apps that let you track a hashtag, you might want to set up one for #SoATW.

More questions? Hit us in the comments!

 

The Summer of All The Words

I don’t know about you, but around here, summer is hell on my writing schedule. The calendar books up quickly, the kids are home from school, and the usual routines fly out the window. I like my children quite a bit, but nothing puts the kibosh on spontaneous family fun faster than the realization that I haven’t made my daily wordcount. Balancing work and family is always trickiest for me once summer hits, and this year is no exception.

Over celebratory sushi this weekend (yay for meeting deadlines!) I was discussing summer plans with my friend and fellow YA author Clara Kensie. We’ve found that writing together keeps us more focused and productive, and we were searching for a way to continue our meetups in the face of warm weather chaos.We reviewed our goals, realized how much work we were facing, panicked for a few minutes, and then decreed this would be the SUMMER OF ALL THE WORDS.

(It might have been the lychee martini talking.)

We needed a plan. And by the time we’d finished the last pieces of salmon avocado roll, we had one – and we’d love for you to join us. Our goal is to create a flexible, low-stress way to check in with other writers during the lazy days of summer, so we’re keeping it as simple as possible:

For the next thirteen weeks – until Labor Day weekend – we’ll be meeting up on Twitter at 10pm CST, Sunday through Thursday, for an hour of work. You will know us by our hashtag: #SoATW. (My twitter handle is @erica_orourke; Clara’s is @clarakensie.)

For that hour, you can work on whatever you want: drafting, revising, proofreading, synopsis-writing, query letters, blog content…it’s totally up to you. You don’t have to work on the same project every time (I definitely won’t be). You can write in any genre. The point is to give you a small, dedicated block of time each day to focus on whatever aspect of your writing is most pressing.

On Fridays, both Erica and Clara will post a tip on their websites about surviving summer chaos, and we’ll open up the comments – to share tips, to celebrate meeting your week’s goal and set ones for the following weeks, and to ask for suggestions.

Participation is completely voluntary – you can show up only on Tuesdays, every day, or every third Wednesday. You can check in on Fridays or lurk in the comments or ignore the weekly posts. Use what’s helpful and leave the rest.

The one thing we DO ask is that at the nightly Twitter meetup, you use this hashtag: #SoATW. This way, other participants will recognize you.

FAQ:

So, how exactly does this work?

A few minutes before 10pm CENTRAL TIME, if you’re following Clara or me, you’ll see something like this on Twitter: Starting #SoATW in five minutes! Who’s in? I’m revising Chapter 8.

At 10pm CST: Time for #SoATW – see you in an hour!

At 11pm CST:Halfway through Chapter 8.  How’d everyone do? #SoATW

Remember: use the hashtag, or we won’t know you’re participating!

Why 10pm?

Our days and evenings are filled with work and kids and various obligations. By 10, life has settled enough that we can head into our writing cave and close the door for an hour. Staying up until 11 won’t turn us into total zombies the next day, though it might require an extra cup of coffee.

Why Sunday through Thursday?

If your summers are anything like ours, Friday and Saturday nights book up pretty fast. We’re not looking to put a crimp in your social life.

Why only an hour?

An hour is enough time to make progress, if you do it consistently, but it doesn’t feel like an overwhelming commitment.

Look at it this way: if you can write 1000 words in an hour, five times a week, you’d end up with 5000 words each week. 5000 words a week, over twelve weeks, means you’d have 60,000 words by Labor Day. Even if that’s not an entire book, it’s a pretty good start.

If you’re revising, you can still use this formula: ____ pages per hour x 5 hours x 12 weeks = ______. (Feel free to write your own formula. I was an English major and cannot be trusted with numbers.

Why thirteen weeks?

Because that’s how many weeks we have until Labor Day. In the formula above, we’re assuming people will have vacation or family obligations for at least one of those weeks. And it’s always nice to leave some wiggle room.

I can’t possibly get all my work done in an hour! Can I do more?

Of course! The Twitter meetups function like a virtual writing date, but if you need more time to make your goals, take it! We’re here when you need us, and we’ll cheer you on. 

I can’t make it Mondays!

Totally fine, my friend. Pop around when you can, and we’ll be thrilled to see you.

More questions? Hit us in the comments!

We’ll see you at 10pm CST tonight.

WIP Friday: Epilogue Edition + Giveaway Winner!

If you've been here for a while, you know that I have a hidden page on my regular website which can be accesssed in one of two ways: typing in the top secret URL, or by scanning the QR code on the back of Torn Trilogy swag. And if you've gone to that secret page, you've read the epilogue to the series, which I cleverly designed so as to give you a glimpse of Mo's future without being spoilery.

I'll be swapping that scene out soon, and thought it was high time to let everyone read it, especially now that the trilogy is concluded. So if you're looking to see what happened once BOUND was over, I present to you...

AFTER

(I've tested it, and I think the link will work even if you're not logged into FB, but if you have problems, let me know. I won't fix it, because I'm clueless about Facebook, but I have PEOPLE, and they will make it all better.)

Now, I am a person who loves spoilers. You can tell me how a book or series ends and it doesn't diminish my enjoyment in the slightest, but many people don't feel that way. So, while I'd love for you to comment or share or discuss or whatever, if you've finished the series and you know which guy is in that scene, please don't give away the ending for others.

In the meantime, I also promised you a giveaway winner: Sarah @ The Book Life!

Sarah's essentials include: Multiple pairs of sunglasses because one always breaks, and good books. Clearly, she is Good People. Congrats, Sarah -- I'll be contacting you via email!

The gorgeous swag I've been waiting for has arrived, so we'll be having another giveaway next week -- but in the meantime, have a great weekend, all!

WIP Friday: Still Summer Edition

First of all, thank you for all the wonderful comments and shoutouts and excitement over DISSONANCE! I've got plenty of work ahead of me, and I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to share about the story just yet -- but I have heard that you can already add the book on Goodreads.  (Confession: My books are on Goodreads, but I am even more clueless about Goodreads than I am Facebook, if such a thing is possible. Regardless, I think if you click the link above you can...add it? Do things with it? Stare at the placeholder for the cover? I dunno, but I'm told it's a good thing.)

Second, happy news! Kirkus Reviews has named BOUND one of July's Top Twenty-Two Books for Teens! And even better, my dear friend Susan Dennard's upcoming release, SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY, made the list as well.

Third, I find this:

UNACCEPTABLE.

Honestly, you guys. This weather? This is Darklings-murder-your-bff-in-an-alley weather. And we're only halfway done with summer.

While I am dreaming of moving to Newfoundland (average July high temp: mid-60s) it seemed fitting to do a very summery giveaway! The best thing about summer, in my opinion, is sitting around and reading because you don't have school. But I've heard that some people actually like to go out, into nature, where it is hot. And you get sunburns. And bugbites. And dehydration. You need to be prepared.

I, myself, always feel better with a survival kit. And I feel even better when you have one, too. So, I'm giving away some essentials to bridge the gap between now and when Nature decides to straighten up its act. Wanna see what's included?

 

(You can never have too many cute bags.)

(It's important to stay hydrated.)

(This sunbock doesn't make your face all greasy.
And nothing's worse than sunburned lips.)

(Chocolate melts in this weather, and you want fresh breath when you see your summer crush.)

(Because nature is dirty. And out to get you.)

(Scarf/wrap/emergency towel/picnic blanket.)

And of course, no survival kit is complete without something to read!

Just to mix it up, I'm including two books in the giveaway:

• Your choice of one book from the Torn Trilogy (TORN, TANGLED, or BOUND) and swag.
• A copy of SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY when it comes out (July 24th). Trust me -- it is worth the wait! In the meantime, go check out the SS&D website, which is chock-full of goodies and a gorgeous trailer. Sooz is including a set of SS&D trading cards, which are custom-illustrated, in the giveaway.

 

To enter, leave a comment telling me what your summer essentials are. The giveaway ends Friday, July 13th at noon CST, and as always, it's international. One entry per person, please.

 

WIP Friday: In Need of Summer Songs

So, I've probably mentioned this, but BOUND comes out on Tuesday. TUESDAY! The mind, it boggles. TORN came out almost exactly a year ago. I sold the series almost exactly TWO years ago. The fact that it all wraps up in four more days is a little startling.

(Feel free to order it from Amazon or B&N or the Independent Bookstore of Your Choice, by the way.)

Meanwhile, I am whacking my way through the to-do list, getting everything prepped and ready for the launch: the playlist, maps, contests, maybe even a little extra content. And it strikes me that while I certainly have a soundtrack for the book, which you'll see next week, I don't have a soundtrack for this summer. I love a good summer soundtrack -- something with a mix of styles and artists and moods, for lazy mornings and brilliant sweaty days and nights out with friends and stargazing. It's a tall order, as you can see.

Right now, the list is comprised almost entirely of The Lumineers, and while I feel strongly that I could listen to their album nonstop for the next ten weeks and never get tired of it, not everyone in my house feels the same way.

 

Help a girl out -- what are YOU listening to this summer?

Weekend Adventure: Madison, WI

First off, if you haven't entered the Map-Making Contest, what are you waiting for? You can win an ARC of BOUND!!! Go!

All entered?

We're trying to have more family adventures this summer, aso over the weekend, we visited my younger sister up in Madison. It might possibly be the best way to spend a summer weekend in the entire world: relatively short, scenic drive (if you like looking at old barns and gently rolling farmland, which I do), warm-but-not sweltering weather, activities that appeal to a variety of ages. (Our group ranged from "post-my-age-on-the-internet-and-you're-out-of-the-will" to three.)

For reference, here's a picture of my gorgeous, stylish, adventure-loving, hard-working, gourmet-cooking sister. (Though not from this weekend.)

If you can make it to Madison, you should. Here's a list of ten things to get you started once you're there.

1. Dane County Farmer's Market, Capitol Square (Saturdays)
Admittedly, the crowds here are daunting, but load yourself up with some reusable grocery bags and try it anyway: squeaky cheese curds, ginger-rhubarb jam, tiny ruby-colored strawberries, hot & spicy cheese bread, the sweetest sugar snap peas you've ever had, and whatever else is growing. You can also get free-range meat and a zillion types of cheese, but make sure you have access to a fridge. Small fries who don't appreciate the hunt for the perfect tomato can play on the capitol lawn.

We recently joined a CSA, and were able to meet two of the farmers on this visit. Kurt "probably guaranteed" strawberries in this week's box (which is as good of a guarantee as one gets in farming). My kids loved meeting the people who work so hard to bring us amazing produce each week.

2. Madison Children's Museum:

Small, but packed with activities, including the coolest art studio imaginable: we painted on a glass wall, made a pirate ship out of nature materials, played with something that looked like a TARDIS, ran in a giant gerbil wheel, and petted chickens and mice. There's even a five-and-under area for Big Marshmallow and her compatriots.

I kind of want a chicken now.

3. Sardine

We didn't visit Sardine this time around, but it's a family favorite: delicious food that's interesting without being confusing and a gorgeous lake food. Yes, that's my sister in their website's banner. I told you it was one of our favorites.

4. El Dorado Grill

This is my absolute favorite restaurant, perhaps in the entire world. Delicious, interesting southwestern food and the most incredible margaritas I've ever had. Get there early or prepare to wait. And make sure to order the Texas Tornadoes.

5. Graze

Fancy locavore food at reasonable prices in a beautiful location. Also, they have crawfish beignets. Again, arrive early. It's one of the trendiest places in town, but don't let that deter you.

 

6. Victory Coffee

My sister's favorite coffeeshop, and I am inclined to agree. It's a tiny, friendly neighborhood place, and the coffee is strong and delicious.

7. Williamson Street

Madison has something of a reputation for...granola-ness, and a walk down Willy Street will show you why. It's a funky, eclectic mix of houses, shops, and restaurants. Give yourself time to wander and browse.

8. Hardware Store Coffee

Every time we go to Madison, I force my husband to stop at this old-fashioned Ace Hardware. It has the dusty, oily, wood-shaving smell of a real hardware store, aisles crammed together with the usual supplies (and some surprises). Most of all, it has its own blend of coffee: Just Coffee's Tradesmen Blend.

9. Henry Vilas Zoo

Oh, my children love the Madison Zoo. We love it as well, because 1.) cute animals and 2.) like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it's not too big and not too small. You can manage it in an afternoon and still have time for other adventures.

10. Boring, but necessary: Courtyard by Mariott

Yes, it's a chain hotel in a town whose spirit is decidely indie. Yes, it's on the far east side of the city. Yes, my child did say to me upon waking, "If you're looking for a breathtaking view, look somewhere else." But here's the deal: the cool hotels in downtown, near the Capitol? Expensive. The B&Bs are quaint but tiny. The Courtyard has spacious suites, a pool for the kids, a great lobby/work area with a bar, decent food, and a Starbucks. It's clean and affordable and the staff is insanely nice. It's a bit of a drive into downtown, so I recommend leaving the car in a parking garage and walking as much as possible. We've tried other hotels in the area, but this is the best we've found for families.

Bacon Jam and Summer Plans

Today is my sister's birthday, and to celebrate (Happy birthday, sister-mine!) we are heading up to Madison, WI for the weekend. It's one of my favorite places in the whole world. I'll try to post some pictures over on my twitter feed so you can see our regular haunts.

Today is also cold and rainy -- it was 95 last weekend and now it's 55, and my natural reaction to this sort of temperature drop is to make something consoling and indulgent. I like cold, rainy, gray days, because nobody tries to make me feel guilty about staying inside where there are books and the internet and coffee and my bed, instead of going out into nature, where there are weeds and bugs. To celebrate the fact that I don't have to do battle with the weeds, I am making Bacon Jam.

Yes, bacon jam. This recipe really appeals to me, because the only thing better than sweet/salty food is sweet/salty/spicy food, but I have a long to-do list today and kids who don't appreciate spiciness the way I do, so I'm going with this version, which has the benefit of cooking unattended while I Accomplish All The Things. I'll keep you posted.

But the REAL point of this post is to give you a quick-and-dirty update about where I'll be this summer. (Other than Madison, which is not an official trip but an "eat lots of delicious things" trip.) The list isn't inclusive -- we've got a few more events in the works, but for now, this is where you can find me:

Printers Row Lit Fest
Chicago, IL
2:45 pm Sunday, June 10 (subject to change -- check schedule)
Panel Discussion: Writing Young Adult Isn't Writing Down

Lake Villa Library
2-4 pm, Sunday, June 17
Workshop: What's the Point of POV? (registration required; designed for teens)

Grayslake Library
Writer's Bloc: Camp NaNoWriMo Kickoff
August 30 (Registration required; grades 2-6)

Midwest Writers Workshop
Muncie, IN
July 26-28
I'm teaching multiple classes on YA, and the entire faculty is outstanding -- especially this brilliant agent.

The other thing we have going this summer, of course, is the launch of BOUND! I'll have giveaways starting this weekend, and other fun things planned, so stay tuned. And now I'm off to check on my bacon jam.

 

Traveling and Tacos

TRAVELING:

I am guest-blogging today at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood, a blog run by the 2009 Golden Heart finalists. If you are going to RWA National, or attend conferences for another work-type endeavor, you can see my tips on what sort of bag to bring, and what you absoutely must pack. (A confession: I care naught for shoes, and would be happier if I could attend all functions in pajama pants and a t-shirt from the gap, but I will admit to a shocking weakness for totebags. With the amount of mental energy I use pondering the qualities of the perfect bag, I could probably come up with a way to colonize the freaking moon and eradicate global poverty.) Anyway, mille grazie to Elisa Beatty, and the rest of the Rubies, for inviting me over to play.

TACOS:

Shall we update on the Fish Taco Project? I have made fish tacos precisely ONCE this summer. And frankly, to call them fish tacos is an insult to fish, tacos, and compound nouns everywhere. The blame, I believe, can be equally divided between me and Bobby Flay. (Well, perhaps a little bit more on me, maybe. A smoodge more.)

I LIKE Bobby Flay. He is funny and easy on the eyes, and while I rarely watch cooking shows, because they just make me hungry when all I have in the house are Wasa crackers and hummus, I do enjoy watching Throwdown (even if it is a stupid name). He cares deeply about food, which is a fine quality in a person.

But the raison d'etre of fish tacos is the battered fish. Grilled fish -- no matter how beautifully grilled, no matter how perfectly spiced, no matter how fresh -- is not battered fish. And this recipe called for grilled fish.

It was at this point when I should have adjusted my expectations. I should have said, "Self? These are not fish tacos. They are tasty fish served in a tortilla, potentially delicious in their own right, but not a fish taco." First mistake.

My second mistake was a stupid, rookie, newbie error and I am ashamed to admit it. The first time you cook a dish, you always follow the recipe. After that, you can adjust for individual preferences and styles. But for the inaugaral run...follow the directions. So, if Bobby Flay says to grill the fish...grill the damn fish. Even if it's late. Even if you don't feel like grilling. Even if you haven't made any progress on your summer goal of learning how to grill, sweet-talk your husband into it. To do otherwise, particularly when you have a guest, is to invite disaster.

This is especially true if the guest is your mother-in-law (who ate two servings without complaint, an act of kindness on her part that will not soon be forgotten).

I have high hopes for the next attempt, though: Baja-Style Fish Tacos. Just between us, the author had me at "tequila-lime-chili marinade." I will let you know how it turns out.

Kickoff

I am, as you may have noticed, quite a fan of lists. Grocery lists, to-do lists, books to read, craft projects to try. (So many inspiring craft blogs. So many shiny, shiny supplies. So little talent. So many Rubbermaid boxes filled with half-finished projects.) Absolutely no one here should be shocked to discover I have a list of plans and projects to keep me out of trouble this summer.

I also have three children, each with their own ideas about how to spend the summer, and who will cheerfully resort to mutiny in order to get what they want. Hence, I will be spending a good portion of my summer at the local pool, where "Party in the U.S.A." plays on heavy rotation. Here's the list of ways I'll be rewarding myself for putting up with Miley.

Summer To-Do's

1. Make the perfect fish taco. I am kind of setting myself up for failure here, because I've already eaten the perfect fish taco. In San Diego. But it's a lot cheaper to experiment here at home than it is to fly back to California. True, this is a goal which will require the consumption of staggering numbers of fish tacos, but I am willing to make such a sacrifice.

2. Learn to grill. Around here, there are three jobs reserved for my husband: scooping kitty litter, mowing the lawn, and grilling. I can prepare food for the grill -- marinate things, thread them on skewers, make up neat little foil packets of potatoes and olive oil and salt -- but cooking over an open flame? A job previously left to the menfolk, but no longer. This is the summer I learn to operate a charcoal grill. I was never that fond of my eyebrows, anyway.

3. 150 pages on the Roadside Marker book, my new project. Contrary to what Phineas and Ferb would lead you to believe, there are only 85 days of summer vacation. Which means that I'll need to write a perfectly manageable 2-ish pages each day to make this goal.

Sweet Jesus, I hate math.

4. Move. At the same time that I'm working faithfully on the roadside marker book, we'll be preparing to move, a dream I'd long ago given up hope of ever coming true. If everything goes according to plan (and how many zany caper movies have hinged on things doing EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of that?), we'll be moving at the end of August, two days after school resumes. All I need to do is pack up this house, find a new one, and move into it. I feel the need for another list.

5. Catch up on Tennant-era Doctor Who. I loved the Ninth Doctor. I am absolutely charmed by Eleven. But for reasons I'll explain some other time, I never watched David Tennant's Doctor, which means I missed out on the whole "farewell to Rose". There is a big, TARDIS-shaped hole in my life, and this summer, I will fix it.

So, what's on your must-do summer list?