#ROW80 Final Check-in Round 4

I’ve decided to post my last check-in today because as of tomorrow, I will be too busy to post on the 22nd.

This has been a busy round for me, and not without problems (losing revisions, my computer being in service for 11 days, being severely sleep deprived due to eczema). I think I did pretty well despite my issues. There are things I needed to let go in order to get the things I needed to get done done, which sucks. I plan to do better in the new year.

So, here’s how I did (gulp):

~Finish the Ever Touched revision.  I can do this. <–DONE and on time.
~Stay on top of FYFB class. Taking a class through Monica Leonelle. It happens to be going on at the same time as my revision, but might as well go all in. It’s three months. Should be fun. <–NOT DONE. As things got busier (revision + 2 editing jobs), I had to drop this out of necessity. Once things calm down, I’ll be catching up and hopefully staying on track.
~Make a ruling on my next project and start prepping (contenders are Fireborn, which needs a revision, Survivor, which needs a rewrite, and Death Dancer, which needs some tweaking — and may be my next Turtleduck Press release.) <–DONE! Fireborn is the next project. The second half needs to be reworked. I hope to release it in 2017.
~Drink 1 glass of water 5x a week <–DONE!
~Exercise 2x a week – <–NOT DONE. Being chained to the desk sucks. I plan to get better with this in 2017.
~Do All the Things related to anthology release (TBD — release is Nov 15th) <–DONE, (even though I lost my revisions on 21 pages and had to work like a mad thing to catch back up) and the anthology released as planned. 🙂 
~Keep up on reviews (I’m on 4 ARC teams) <–DONE, for the most part. Still slightly behind, but I’m doing okay.
~Lose 5 pounds. <–DONE, and NOT DONE. Lost 5 pounds, gained 5 pounds, and lost 3. So a total loss of 3 pounds. Still better than nothing!
~Take more pictures: infrared and normal. <–NOT DONE. Had planned on it with hubby but got sick both times. Another thing I need to pick back up in 2017.
~Post-process infrared pics from camping trip <–NOT DONE. Wanted to, but got too busy!
~Chocolate consumption report, as always! <–DONE!

Final chocolate consumption report – This round, I got addicted to Snickerdoodles and Twizzlers, so my consumption went way down.I still love chocolate, no issue there, but I found other things as well. Will keep reporting on it in 2017. 😉

So that’s it for this round. I hope you all have a great, safe holiday season and I’ll see you for round 1 in 2017! Thank you all for your support and encouragement. 🙂

#ROW80 Round 4 2016 Goals

Happy Round 4 ROWers! Dang, what happened to the year? It’s almost over!

Here are my goals. I am trying to keep things simple and relaxed, as I have a revision due to my editor on 12/1 and I suspect I might end up wanting to take a break. But I would like to do something, so I may choose a project and go slow with it for the rest of the round.

I am still feeling exhausted, and I seem to be in another fibro flare, so I need to concentrate on taking care of myself. Meditation, trying not to stress, and earlier bed times will hopefully help. 🙂

Here are my goals:

~Finish the Ever Touched revision.  I can do this. 🙂
~Stay on top of FYFB class. Taking a class through Monica Leonelle. It happens to be going on at the same time as my revision, but might as well go all in. It’s three months. Should be fun. 🙂
~Make a ruling on my next project and start prepping (contenders are Fireborn, which needs a revision, Survivor, which needs a rewrite, and Death Dancer, which needs some tweaking — and may be my next Turtleduck Press release.)
~Drink 1 glass of water 5x a week
~Exercise 2x a week
~Do All the Things related to anthology release (TBD — release is Nov 15th)
~Keep up on reviews (I’m on 4 ARC teams)
~Lose 5 pounds.
~Take more pictures: infrared and normal.
~Post-process infrared pics from camping trip
~Chocolate consumption report, as always!

Annnd that’s it. Good luck everyone!

 

#ROW80 Round 3 2016 Final Check-in

And here we are at the end, sniff! I think I did pretty well, considering the challenges that sprang up. I’ve been fighting exhaustion, and I sprained my knee, which slowed down my exercise. But apart from that, I’m pretty happy with what I got done.

Here is the final rundown:

~Finish and submit TDP short story by July 15th deadline (I’m in the home stretch now on the rough draft, so I *should* be able to do this.) <–DONE! Actually, the deadline was extended several times, but we are on track now. Everything that could be done by now has been done.
~Do All the Things related to anthology release (TDB later) <–DONE, to the extent that I could do it.
~Restart Ever Touched and finish by end of round (32k left to go) <–NOT DONE, but so close! I’m at 22k of 32k today.
~Read-through of Fireborn <–DONE!
~Reinstate Covenant/8 minutes a day writing 2 days per week <–NOT DONE! I don’t think I have it in me to do this right now. Maybe next round.
~Drink one glass of water 5x per week <–DONE!
~Exercise 3x per week <–DONE, then knee sprain, then I never quite got back into the swing.
~Experiment more with digital infrared <–DONE!
~Take more pictures! <–DONE!
~Keep up with review books (I’m on 4 ARC review teams) <–KINDA SORTA. Not perfectly, but I’m managing.
~Complete 2 author interviews <–DONE!

Chocolate consumption: I think we all know how I did there. Lots of chocolate-y goodness the entire round.

#ROW80 Check-in July 24th

I am back from vacation! It was fun, and hot, and relaxing. 🙂 I return to work tomorrow and I am really not looking forward to it. The first day/week back is always the hardest.

So, how did I do? While on vacation I edited my short story. On Friday, I typed in the changes and did a few tweaks. It is due today. I will probably do another quick edit pass before I send it in.

I read Fury Rising by Yasmine Galenorn which is awesome so far. I’m not quite done, but I am excited to see how it ends.

Here is the rundown on the rest:

Ever Touched – 731 words, broke 90k in draft.

Covenant/8 mins a day – Nada.

Exercise – Quite a lot while camping. Lots of walking and picture taking.

Water – Two times while camping (it was SO HOT) and once yesterday. Need to pick up the pace.

Fireborn – Did the read through while on vacation. Made some decisions for the revision, which is the next project. The first half is solid. The second half needs major work.

(I also started another read through — a novella I wrote 10 years ago and never finished. I was originally under the delusion that I had finished it, but hadn’t. But it is very close to being done. This is the novella that my short story is based on, so if I want to do something with it, a lot would need to be changed. Still, very interesting. Things are simmering.)

Pictures – Lots taken while on vacation, regular ones and digital infrared.

Reviews – I am getting ready to start another one of the books in the hopper. Most likely the one with the deadline.

So, I’m beginning to get back into the swing of things. I imagine this week I’ll be closer to getting into a rhythm.

I also have a secret project I may be working on too in between all of this. 😉

Chocolate consumption: Loads! S’mores, chocolate chip/white chocolate chip cookies, WW chocolate caramel things, cookie dough ice cream cone (bought by the beloved!), chocolate pudding, chocolate/chocolate chip zucchini bread (my mom’s! Yummy), WW sundaes, WW ultimate chocolate ice cream sandwiches…is that it? I think so!

#ROW80 Round 3 2016 Goals

Happy 4th of July to all Americans, and Happy Monday to the rest!

So, here we are at Round 3 of A Round of Words in 80 Days. I started a few years ago not really knowing how it would go, but it’s become a huge part of my writing life. 🙂 Accountability is HUGE for me, so it works well.

Without further adieu, here are my goals:

~Finish and submit TDP short story by July 15th deadline (I’m in the home stretch now on the rough draft, so I *should* be able to do this.)
~Do All the Things related to anthology release (TDB later)
~Restart Ever Touched and finish by end of round (32k left to go)
~Read-through of Fireborn
~Reinstate Covenant/8 minutes a day writing 2 days per week
~Drink one glass of water 5x per week
~Exercise 3x per week
~Experiment more with digital infrared
~Take more pictures!
~Keep up with review books (I’m on 4 ARC review teams)
~Complete 2 author interviews

I think that it is for now. 🙂 As always, I will also report on my chocolate consumption because c’mon, everyone loves that!

#ROW80 Round 2 Final Check-in

Well, here we are at the end of the round, and I have to say, I think I did pretty well. I was fighting some things, exhaustion and other commitments, and at times it was tough. But I am happy with what I accomplished.

Here were my goals:

~Finish rough draft of Ever Touched. <–NOT DONE. Close, but I got sidetracked by an editing job, a query letter, and a longish short story with a tight deadline. My #1 plan is to finish this next round. I’m at 88k (of 120k) so far!

~If there’s time, start planning Fireborn revision.<–NOT DONE, because Ever Touched isn’t done, but I am planning on doing a read through of the completed draft ASAP.

~Continue logging outline for Survivor into Scrivener.<–NOT DONE. Just not enough time. This will be carried over to next round, b/c my next primary project will be Survivor.

~Reinstate 8 minutes a day of a first draft again/make progress on Covenant <–DONE once. I was fighting exhaustion mostly, and wrist tendonitis, so this was just not working for me. 😦

~Make prints of the film I developed yesterday (my test roll). <–NOT DONE. Same song, second verse. I had to order in chemicals and a new safelight. Not enough energy. It’s happening SOON though!

~Experiment with digital infrared <–DONE! Check it out here!

~Plot Elysium <–DONE!

~Clean office <–Started, but not completed

~Continue #AprilLove2016 when possible <–DONE! 14 out of 30 days. Did not complete due to wrist tendonitis.  Dear Courage, Dear Inspiration, Dear Younger Me, Dear Future Me (the rest were written in a journal offline).

~Exercise 2x a week <–MOSTLY DONE, 2x and sometimes more!

~Drink 1 glass of water every day.<–MOSTLY DONE, every day except 2 every week. 

Looking forward to next round! Who’s participating?

#ROW80 Check-in April 17th

Just rocking and rolling over here! Still very tired, but I’m working through it.

This will be quick as my wrist is acting up again. Must rest today.

Ever Touched – up to 74,719 (3,134 words since last check-in!). Almost to 75k!

8 minutes/Covenant – I have not felt up to this, unfortunately. Still planning on it once I do feel up to it! I feel terrible leaving it where I left it!

A preview of the pics I took yesterday. The white is actual grass, not snow!

Digital infrared – Took some test shots yesterday! They came out beautiful. They are here if you want to see them.

Exercise – Took a walk with hubby yesterday.

Water – Every day except two.

AprilLove2016 – Wrote Day 10 in my journal. Still really behind, though!

Elysium – Did a bit of work on it last night.

So, not too bad at all.

Chocolate consumption: several brownie cookies, a WW Sundae, and several Oreos. Yum.

Photo Notes: Digital Infrared Photography Testing

So, I finally got around to doing more digital infrared tests! I took some pictures outside in front of my Mom’s house and on the street. The sunlight was absolutely PERFECT for infrared, so I went for it.

These photos actually turn out red in the camera, and I convert them to b&w in post-processing. I’m getting the hang of it. See what looks like snow on the grass? It isn’t snow. It’s the GRASS. B&W infrared turns everything with chlorophyll white, the sky dark like it’s night, and stuff glows. Human skin glows, too.

It’s really neat. I’ve loved it ever since I was taught in college.

(Stay tuned for actual b&w infrared on film. That is also a plan of mine!)

Here they are!

Digital infrared, Mom’s house (and the house where I grew up), pic taken 4/16/16.

Digital infrared, my street, pic taken 4/16/16.

Digital infrared, my street, pic taken 4/16/16.

Digital infrared, my street, pic taken 4/16/16.

Digital infrared, my street, pic taken 4/16/16.

Digital infrared. Chevy HHR. Pic taken 4/16/16.

Digital infrared. Mom’s goose. Pic taken 4/16/16.

#ROW80 Check-in April 13th

Wheww, I actually have a few minutes to do a check-in. Whoohooo!

So things have been going fairly well despite the exhaustion. I’m pretty happy with my progress so far this week and hope to continue!

Ever Touched – up to 71,585 words (4,358 words since last check-in!). Almost two-thirds done!

Elysium plotting – I started! I’m using method of Monica Leonelle’s, which is far more detailed than what I usually do, but I am intrigued by it and wanted to try it out on a new project this year.

Exercise – 2 walks, 1 run on exercise bike

Water – Every day so far this week!

AprilLove2016 – I am horribly behind, but I did do Day 8: “Dear Younger Me” yesterday here.

Digital infrared – Plans to experiment this weekend because it’s supposed to be sunny.

8 minutes/Covenant – Nada. I am just too exhausted! It’s frustrating.

Chocolate consumption report: several Oreos, WW Sundae last night, a few Samoas. I am such a chocolate fiend.

How’s everything going for you?

 

#ROW80 Check-in April 10th

The first check-in of the round! Yay!

Well, I have been hit with exhaustion again, so I have not been as productive as I’d hoped. Been getting proper sleep and all but it continues. Gah.

So here it what I’ve done:

Ever Touched – up to 67,223 words. Past halfway. Things are getting very interesting.

AprilLove2016 – Still a few days behind on my journal entries, but I did three last night.

8 minutes/Covenant – I plan to start this this week if I feel up to it. Honestly? Getting my EvT words in has taken most of my energy, so I haven’t done the 8 minutes. May need to move that to a different time of day or something.

Exercise – Used the exercise bike 4 times this week. I’m still at 3 minutes, but I will be upping that amount of time this week.

Water – Every day except two.

Darkroom – I finally got my new safelight, so once I make sure I have everything I need, and have the energy, I will be printing those pictures.

Digital infrared – Weather’s been too weird for that – you need really good sunlight. But I am watching and waiting!

I’m bringing back my chocolate consumption report! Yesterday – chocolate chip pancakes for dinner (!), a few Samoa-knockoff cookies, a small ice cream Twix bar, and chocolate pudding (snacks!). Today I have yet to eat chocolate. I will though! No surprise there!

Also, shameless plug time! Due to some issues with my day job, I am looking to do more freelance editing. If you or someone you know is looking for an editor (or proofreader), please send him or her my way! My rates are competitive, I am very experienced, and I am a Journalism grad. /shameless plug