Uh, not good, peeps!
But my kid won her soccer game today! WhooHoo!
Yeah, on the writing front not so good, BUT tomorrow starts NaNoWriMo! Now, I haven't signed up because I'm in the middle of writing my current novel, but it doesn't mean I can't play along! I have many friends playing the game and I intend to be there to cheer them on! AND one of my nieces sent me an email yesterday telling me that she wants to write a book! Yay! She has wanted to write a novel since high school and decided she would regret it if she never tried--so she's doing NaNo! Go, Jen!!
AND Candace Havens is having her Writing Game challenge starting tomorrow! I love this challenge! She randomly picks a number between 100 and 2500 words and that is your goal for the day, BUT you can bank your points for those days when you can't meet the goal--this is the weight watchers of writing! :-) Now, if you aren't writing new stuff, but are editing instead, she has goal pages posted.
I don't like the format I used this week, so I'm ditching it for my next week challenges. I'll try something new. Don't know what, but I'll pull it out of my a$$ and figure it out. I DO think accountability is a big thing.
Speaking of which, here are my totals for this week:
Margaret: 5449/15000 words written, 5 contest entries judged, scores, and commented--will verify scores and send back today
Jody: wrote some, tuned air guitar, partied hard on her birthday weekend
Karin: MIA, but anxiously awaiting grandbaby, did write 2000 words via FB contact and tried to unplug to write more
10/31/09
10/30/09
Day Five
What a sucktastic week! I don't know what went wrong with my plan, but something sure flew out the window!
I had every intention of writing 15K this week. I know I could do it, as I have done it before, but I only have a little over four thousand words. Me thinks I'll need to find writing time this weekend.
Oh, and I believe I'll mention this again--What's up with giving my kid a day off?? Union is the only school in the county that seems to have done this. For goodness sakes, we just had fall break two weeks ago--then all last week my kid was sick, and on Monday she throws up! *sigh* the stars are aligned against me! Or is it a Halloween trick? Just for letting her out of the zoo, I'm taking her to her pediatrician for her H1N1 shot--BWAHAHAHA!
Margaret: 4544/15000 words written & 5 contest entries read, judged and commented on This was what I did yesterday! Entries were anywhere from 18-28 pages long. The scoring system had some redundancy, but rule-follower that I am, I followed. None of the entries stunk, but none of them really stood out. The ones that had a great voice, did poorly with dialogue, plot, conflict. And, of course, the ones that had a great plot fell flat in the voice and characterization department. One of those entries really stuck with me. No it wasn't the highest scoring one, but one that had a wicked WHAMMY! on page 18, the end of the entry. I'm going to go back to this one and offer some additional comments and suggestions. It was loaded with world building that needs to be cut to the minimum so the WHAMMY! is placed between 3-5 pages. Why? Because many agents will request a couple of pages with a query--send them your best stuff!
Jody: air guitar tuned and she even wrote a little. Resting up for a weekend of partying!
Karin: MIA but I found out via FB she intends to unplug this weekend and write, but I fear her grandbaby girl will have other ideas. Wouldn't it be cool to have a Halloween baby?
I plan to continue my writing challenge next week as I follow Candace Haven's challenge, beginning on Sunday. I want to get this stupid story down so I can start fixing it!!
Write on, peeps!!
I had every intention of writing 15K this week. I know I could do it, as I have done it before, but I only have a little over four thousand words. Me thinks I'll need to find writing time this weekend.
Oh, and I believe I'll mention this again--What's up with giving my kid a day off?? Union is the only school in the county that seems to have done this. For goodness sakes, we just had fall break two weeks ago--then all last week my kid was sick, and on Monday she throws up! *sigh* the stars are aligned against me! Or is it a Halloween trick? Just for letting her out of the zoo, I'm taking her to her pediatrician for her H1N1 shot--BWAHAHAHA!
Margaret: 4544/15000 words written & 5 contest entries read, judged and commented on This was what I did yesterday! Entries were anywhere from 18-28 pages long. The scoring system had some redundancy, but rule-follower that I am, I followed. None of the entries stunk, but none of them really stood out. The ones that had a great voice, did poorly with dialogue, plot, conflict. And, of course, the ones that had a great plot fell flat in the voice and characterization department. One of those entries really stuck with me. No it wasn't the highest scoring one, but one that had a wicked WHAMMY! on page 18, the end of the entry. I'm going to go back to this one and offer some additional comments and suggestions. It was loaded with world building that needs to be cut to the minimum so the WHAMMY! is placed between 3-5 pages. Why? Because many agents will request a couple of pages with a query--send them your best stuff!
Jody: air guitar tuned and she even wrote a little. Resting up for a weekend of partying!
Karin: MIA but I found out via FB she intends to unplug this weekend and write, but I fear her grandbaby girl will have other ideas. Wouldn't it be cool to have a Halloween baby?
I plan to continue my writing challenge next week as I follow Candace Haven's challenge, beginning on Sunday. I want to get this stupid story down so I can start fixing it!!
Write on, peeps!!
10/29/09
Day Four
Another non-productive day! :-( Again, no real reason except that it was chopped up and I couldn't get my mind around my story. My day is actually longer than posted, but in theory this is my writing time. No, I don't function AT ALL after dinner, so no late night writing for me!
8:15 submitted two first paragraphs (DC and RM) to Lori Brighton's contest to bejudged by Kensington editor. Both are in first person POV, not holding my breath. At least the top 20 will know that it 'fits' Kensington's lines.
8:35 walked kiddo to school
8:45-9:45 goofing off and blog hopping. Erica Orloff did an impromptu pitch feedback session. Subbed MOGG. Good feedback, needs a little more to make it better.
9:45-11:00 hubster called, meeting early for lunch, tried to get back to computer, but cat had vomitus ups issues, did laundry, cleaned up cat room--only to have to clean it again due to him using the litter box and sprinkling crunchies around the laundry room.
11:00-1:10 Lunch, shopping at fabric store, back to his work to get flu shot
1:10-2:00 Shopping at new Target. Of course, the layout is freaking different. And why the hell are the light bulbs near the baby clothes???? Okay, they are near the automotive and furniture area, too. But still across the freaking store?
2:00-3:15 put up groceries, stared at computer, updated FB status--felt like crap. Due to shot or front moving in?
3:20 got child from school
3:30-4:15 helped child with homework
4:15-6:00 started Chicken Tortilla soup while kiddo watched new Tinkerbelle movie, worked on my farm in Farmville
There you have it, my non-productive day broken down into segments.
Arm still hurts from shot, but my Tylenol PM did the trick and I 'feel' better, except for my shot arm.
Margaret: 4,504/15,000 completed--no new words. Okay, a few words, but I'm saving them for today's total.
Jody: No new words. Day job stuff. Tuning air guitar for Halloween/birthday weekend
Karin: MIA
I HAVE to get it together today. I just found out the kiddo is out of school tomorrow.
What's up with that Union School District???
Write on!
8:15 submitted two first paragraphs (DC and RM) to Lori Brighton's contest to bejudged by Kensington editor. Both are in first person POV, not holding my breath. At least the top 20 will know that it 'fits' Kensington's lines.
8:35 walked kiddo to school
8:45-9:45 goofing off and blog hopping. Erica Orloff did an impromptu pitch feedback session. Subbed MOGG. Good feedback, needs a little more to make it better.
9:45-11:00 hubster called, meeting early for lunch, tried to get back to computer, but cat had vomitus ups issues, did laundry, cleaned up cat room--only to have to clean it again due to him using the litter box and sprinkling crunchies around the laundry room.
11:00-1:10 Lunch, shopping at fabric store, back to his work to get flu shot
1:10-2:00 Shopping at new Target. Of course, the layout is freaking different. And why the hell are the light bulbs near the baby clothes???? Okay, they are near the automotive and furniture area, too. But still across the freaking store?
2:00-3:15 put up groceries, stared at computer, updated FB status--felt like crap. Due to shot or front moving in?
3:20 got child from school
3:30-4:15 helped child with homework
4:15-6:00 started Chicken Tortilla soup while kiddo watched new Tinkerbelle movie, worked on my farm in Farmville
There you have it, my non-productive day broken down into segments.
Arm still hurts from shot, but my Tylenol PM did the trick and I 'feel' better, except for my shot arm.
Margaret: 4,504/15,000 completed--no new words. Okay, a few words, but I'm saving them for today's total.
Jody: No new words. Day job stuff. Tuning air guitar for Halloween/birthday weekend
Karin: MIA
I HAVE to get it together today. I just found out the kiddo is out of school tomorrow.
What's up with that Union School District???
Write on!
10/28/09
Day Three
Grr . . . .
Yesterday wasn't a good writing day. No excuses. Just couldn't get into the story. I needed to put a little backstory in to explain what happened to my character that tossed her into her current mess. Talk about bland and boring! Ugh!
About 4:15, I gave up on writing and decided to start editing from page one.
Margaret (goal 15ooo words): M+T: 4,544 words. 2 pages edited GRRRRR!
Jody: wrote and illustrated for two hours.
Karin: MIA probably due to killing her son, but that's just my opinion.
About 4 AM I woke up and figured what was missing--the Suspense! Yes, I need to go into the bad guys POV and get the ball rolling!
Eating lunch with hubster and getting flu shot, plus grocery shopping. Will throw a crimp in my day, but if I'm cranking this AM then it should be good.
I know a few of you have been sending me nice comments, Kira, Edie and Susan come to mind, I'm not answering any this week, but I do appreciate all your support!
Write on!
Yesterday wasn't a good writing day. No excuses. Just couldn't get into the story. I needed to put a little backstory in to explain what happened to my character that tossed her into her current mess. Talk about bland and boring! Ugh!
About 4:15, I gave up on writing and decided to start editing from page one.
Margaret (goal 15ooo words): M+T: 4,544 words. 2 pages edited GRRRRR!
Jody: wrote and illustrated for two hours.
Karin: MIA probably due to killing her son, but that's just my opinion.
About 4 AM I woke up and figured what was missing--the Suspense! Yes, I need to go into the bad guys POV and get the ball rolling!
Eating lunch with hubster and getting flu shot, plus grocery shopping. Will throw a crimp in my day, but if I'm cranking this AM then it should be good.
I know a few of you have been sending me nice comments, Kira, Edie and Susan come to mind, I'm not answering any this week, but I do appreciate all your support!
Write on!
10/27/09
Day Two
Wow! I was off and running yesterday! I skimmed the last few pages of RM and it wasn't too bad. Interpretation: not total dreck. And I started writing--and this WAS total dreck, but I can fix dreck.
I had finished roughly 2000 words (6 pages) when I got a call from the school nurse. The kiddo threw up at lunch and they have to send her home. Well, crap.
After I picked her up and grilled her about it, it turns out she may have thrown up, but she really wasn't sick. My child is a puker. She always has been. When she was a wee one, I knew she would never choke on anything--she'd puke it up. Anyhoo, they had science today and were dissecting owl 'pellets'. Owls eat their prey whole and regurge the lefties (fur and bones) after all the yummy stuff is digested. After science, the child went to lunch and had a chicken sandwich, she bit into something crunchy . . . and you guessed it, puked up her lunch. Ah, the thrill of being a mother!
She came home and read. I wrote.
Margaret (goal 15,000 words): Mon.--3171 words!
Jody: wrote
Karin: I know she wrote, but this Grandma-to-be is thinking about the pending birth of her Grandbaby!
I'm ready to go again! It's nice to be progressing on something again.
Write on!
I had finished roughly 2000 words (6 pages) when I got a call from the school nurse. The kiddo threw up at lunch and they have to send her home. Well, crap.
After I picked her up and grilled her about it, it turns out she may have thrown up, but she really wasn't sick. My child is a puker. She always has been. When she was a wee one, I knew she would never choke on anything--she'd puke it up. Anyhoo, they had science today and were dissecting owl 'pellets'. Owls eat their prey whole and regurge the lefties (fur and bones) after all the yummy stuff is digested. After science, the child went to lunch and had a chicken sandwich, she bit into something crunchy . . . and you guessed it, puked up her lunch. Ah, the thrill of being a mother!
She came home and read. I wrote.
Margaret (goal 15,000 words): Mon.--3171 words!
Jody: wrote
Karin: I know she wrote, but this Grandma-to-be is thinking about the pending birth of her Grandbaby!
I'm ready to go again! It's nice to be progressing on something again.
Write on!
10/26/09
Day One
Today's the first day of my FCS writing challenge! Yay!
I only had three peeps, including myself who responded, BUT will welcome anyone up for the challenge no matter when you hop in to play the game!
This will be a tough week for me because I didn't accomplish yesterday's goals. :-(
--But I decided to rework only one or two pages prior to walking the kiddo to school. Once she's in school, it's new words only until I finish my word count for the day, then I can diddle with editing.
--my buddy Jody got back to me with comments on my synopsis. Definitely food for thought, though easy fixes. Jods didn't understand why my character buys a Civic Hybrid when she's in such a high-powered type of job. Hmm, I need my character financing some sort of money pit. . . me thinks she should own a horse . . .
--Just got a judging packet for the Linda Howard contest. Five paranormals with a due date of November 29. I HATE putting judging off, but I can't judge until I get my daily word count in. I'll post calender appointments for the weekends, reminding me. Doing one or two every weekend or after my daily writing will finish them in a reasonably timely fashion.
--I haven't heard from this week's recapper for my GIAM loop. Hell, it looks like I might have to get that together, too! Karin doesn't seem to be the only one who thrives on stress!!
On to FCS challenge taker-uppers!
Margaret: goal 15000
Jody: no word count goal
Karin: 2000 words a day
We may be small, but we are a mighty group of players! Come join the fun!
Write on!
I only had three peeps, including myself who responded, BUT will welcome anyone up for the challenge no matter when you hop in to play the game!
This will be a tough week for me because I didn't accomplish yesterday's goals. :-(
--But I decided to rework only one or two pages prior to walking the kiddo to school. Once she's in school, it's new words only until I finish my word count for the day, then I can diddle with editing.
--my buddy Jody got back to me with comments on my synopsis. Definitely food for thought, though easy fixes. Jods didn't understand why my character buys a Civic Hybrid when she's in such a high-powered type of job. Hmm, I need my character financing some sort of money pit. . . me thinks she should own a horse . . .
--Just got a judging packet for the Linda Howard contest. Five paranormals with a due date of November 29. I HATE putting judging off, but I can't judge until I get my daily word count in. I'll post calender appointments for the weekends, reminding me. Doing one or two every weekend or after my daily writing will finish them in a reasonably timely fashion.
--I haven't heard from this week's recapper for my GIAM loop. Hell, it looks like I might have to get that together, too! Karin doesn't seem to be the only one who thrives on stress!!
On to FCS challenge taker-uppers!
Margaret: goal 15000
Jody: no word count goal
Karin: 2000 words a day
We may be small, but we are a mighty group of players! Come join the fun!
Write on!
10/25/09
Writing Grind!
Okay, Ya'll!
I have been such a freakin' slacker in the writing department recently! Vacation and illness have taken their toll on my motivation and I HAVE TO WRITE!
--not because of some stupid voice in my head, but because I need to get roughtly 60K words written by November 16--Golden Heart deadline for registration and entry fees! I'll still have ten days to add wordage after that deadline, but to justify the financial expenditure I need to have a substantial amount written.
That's three weeks, people! I have 18K, but it needs to be tweaked/edited/tightened by the end of TODAY (tomorrow at the latest plus my Monday goal of 3000 words), so I can start fresh tomorrow. And I can't forget to fit in my walk or Wii Fit time!
Which means I want to write 15 K this week to get to my goal--Monday thru Friday ONLY--my weekends are for family.
I know some of you have been side-tracked with life, work and other stuff so this is a good chance to get your butt in the chair and start writing again, be it 100 words a day or 3000 words a day. Send me a note in a comment on this blog, a note on my facebook wall, or in an email magolla@cox.net and I'll post your name and goal for the week along with your culmative page or word count. I'll be posting the totals from the previous day between 6-7 AM CST.
Margaret: goal 15,000 words--M, T, and W: XXXX words.
And if I'm doing it alone I'm okay with it, but this could be the refresher you need prior to starting NaNo if that is your goal.
So are you with me???!!
Write on!
I have been such a freakin' slacker in the writing department recently! Vacation and illness have taken their toll on my motivation and I HAVE TO WRITE!
--not because of some stupid voice in my head, but because I need to get roughtly 60K words written by November 16--Golden Heart deadline for registration and entry fees! I'll still have ten days to add wordage after that deadline, but to justify the financial expenditure I need to have a substantial amount written.
That's three weeks, people! I have 18K, but it needs to be tweaked/edited/tightened by the end of TODAY (tomorrow at the latest plus my Monday goal of 3000 words), so I can start fresh tomorrow. And I can't forget to fit in my walk or Wii Fit time!
Which means I want to write 15 K this week to get to my goal--Monday thru Friday ONLY--my weekends are for family.
I know some of you have been side-tracked with life, work and other stuff so this is a good chance to get your butt in the chair and start writing again, be it 100 words a day or 3000 words a day. Send me a note in a comment on this blog, a note on my facebook wall, or in an email magolla@cox.net and I'll post your name and goal for the week along with your culmative page or word count. I'll be posting the totals from the previous day between 6-7 AM CST.
Margaret: goal 15,000 words--M, T, and W: XXXX words.
And if I'm doing it alone I'm okay with it, but this could be the refresher you need prior to starting NaNo if that is your goal.
So are you with me???!!
Write on!
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