#ROW80 Final Check-in

So here we are at the end of the round! It went by so fast! Yikes!

I think I did very well, despite having issues with fatigue. That really screwed me up for awhile, but I am feeling much better so that’s good.

Here’s the rundown. Goals for the round were:

~Finish revision of Pirouette for submission to publisher (currently on page 203 of 243, but don’t let that fool you. I have a few plot holes to fill.) ~DONE! Still waiting to hear back, so fingers crossed!
~Write synopsis (first time doing that!) ~DONE! And got some very valuable feedback and knowledge for next time.
~Submit to publisher by 1/31 ~DONE! Submitted 1/25
~Finish Fireborn first draft (Reaper Girl novella, 19k of 25k currently) ~DONE! Finished at 23k.
~Make progress on Covenant, secondary WIP ~DONE! It is up to 18k now.
~Log in planner goals + to dos every day/every month (trying something new!) ~DONE for the most part. Struggled with remembering to write everything down b/c I do most of my planning in my head. Toward the end of this round, I managed to fill in at least two weeks in a row.
~Physical activity: 15 mins 3x a week (anything that gets me moving counts!) ~HIT OR MISS HERE. Mostly done, at least twice, but some weeks were tough getting it in.
~After Pirouette revision is finished, 8 minutes of focused writing per day on a first draft of my choice (another new thing).~MOSTLY DONE, except that I struggled with exhaustion issues toward the end of this round. I added at least 5k to Covenant, so I call that a win.
~Develop test roll of b&w film ~NOT DONE. I am almost ready! I am waiting for a specific chemical to be delivered (I had to special order it). But once I get it, it’s developing time!

Other notable accomplishments:

~Added drinking 1 glass of water per day to my routine
~Added walking to my routine, weather and health permitting
~Started inputting Survivor re-outline to Scrivener
~New idea for horror novel, Elysium
~About to start experimenting with plotting
~Ever Touched up to 54k
~Got darkroom ready to go for developing/printing

That’s it! Very happy with my progress and I will see you in Round 2!

#ROW80 Check-in #2

The latter part of this week went into researching how to write a synopsis, and then actually writing the thing. My first attempt sucked, but it got all the important plot stuff in the correct order. Second attempt yesterday went slightly better. I tried to inject a bit of the narrative voice into it (as per my research), but so far the critiques I’ve gotten on it suggest that it’s not a good idea. And my plot is confusing. And…

So, it’s back to the drawing board. I expected this, being that this is the first time I’ve ever done this. It’s just so hard to stuff 5 pages of plotty stuff into 3 or less. And make it compelling, and interesting, and not confusing. So that’s my goal for next week, nailing this down so I can work on the final edit of the first 10k for the submission.

I’m kind of scared. I know that must sound ridiculous, but this is m first submission to a publisher EVER. In fact, up till late last year, I was planning on self-pubbing everything. Or finding a small e-publisher. But something told me to go for it. And with Pirouette, well…I’d always dreamed of having it traditionally published, even after I’d decided to self-pub. And…well, it’s scary taking this step, but the only way to have a chance is if I try. So, I need to just do it.

On the physical activity front, I house-walked for 5 minutes on Thursday but was too winded to continue for the next 10. I also did some cleaning today for at least 15 minutes which I’m counting. So, 1.5 times this week?

How are you doing on your goals?

 

 

#ROW80 Check-in #1

It’s been a busy two weeks, and this is the first time I’ve been able to sit down and do a proper ROW80 post. I got a bit sidetracked by my first freelance editing job of the year, which was great. I sent it back yesterday. I had a few issues with Open Office which could have delayed things. My comments were turning into gibberish. I still have no idea what happened, but I need to figure out what happened so it doesn’t happen again.

So, I was able to finish the first pass of the revision before the job came through, but noticed a few plot holes and discrepancies that needed to be addressed, so I’m doing a second pass just for that. And then editing/proofing, but only the first 10k so I can get the submission done. I will continue to edit/proof the rest while I’m biting my nails off waiting for a response. 😉

I am on page 35 of the second pass.

I’ve done 3x of physical activity last week, and tonight I’ll be doing another.

I finished the first draft of Changeling part 4 which I see I didn’t put in as a goal. Oops. Anyhoo, that’s due to my TDP folks on 2/1. Just need to revise it.

Logging in to the planner has been working pretty well. However, I’m still not quite in the mode and have to remind myself to do it. But it is helping me narrow down things for when I’m home and have only so much time.

Annnd that’s really it for now. How are you doing with your goals?

 

#ROW80 Round 1 2016 Goals

I can’t believe how quickly 2015 passed by. Blink and you miss it, seriously! It is unbelievable. But here we are, the 3rd day of the new year, and a new round of ROW80 (A Round of Words in 80 Days). I’ve been participating in ROW80 for the past 2 years because it keeps me producing and accountable, two things I desperately need.

So, without further adieu, here are my goals:

~Finish revision of Pirouette for submission to publisher (currently on page 203 of 243, but don’t let that fool you. I have a few plot holes to fill.)
~Write synopsis (first time doing that!)
~Submit to publisher by 1/31
~Finish Fireborn first draft (Reaper Girl novella, 19k of 25k currently)
~Make progress on Covenant, secondary WIP
~Log in planner goals + to dos every day/every month (trying something new!)
~Physical activity: 15 mins 3x a week (anything that gets me moving counts!)
~After Pirouette revision is finished, 8 minutes of focused writing per day on a first draft of my choice (another new thing).
~Develop test roll of b&w film

So, I think that will keep me moving. Here’s to another great new year!

 

2015 Year-in-Review and 2016 Goals

Happy New Year!

I’ve been doing this for at least 5 years now, maybe more, because it helps to take stock of what I’ve accomplished (and what I haven’t) and it also helps me to set concrete goals for the new year. So, here we go!

This year’s goals:

~Publish Grave Touched, pending approval, in May (tentative) – DONE! Grave Touched was published May 1st, after a 2-year hiatus. It was my biggest accomplishment in 2015, hands down!
~Write Fireborn, Reaper Girl novella – MOSTLY DONE. I started Fireborn in January, but got tied up with GT’s release and lost momentum. Started it back up after, and ran into some problems, and had to rewrite a portion of it. It’s at 19k currently, with maybe 5-10k left to go. I am hoping to finish it and release it this year.
~Figure out a plot for Ever Touched – DONE
~Start writing Ever Touched – DONE for NanowriMo, and it’s at 32k currently.
~Poke at Survivor (my book, not the TV show) on Sundays – DONE. Poking has happened, as well as a revised outline. Have not started the rewrite, but plan to this year.
~Start rewrite of Flamebound – NOT DONE, but planned for this year.
~Write 1 poem per week minimum – NOT DONE, but wrote 10 poems over the course of the year.
~Do something with darkroom – DONE. Began cleaning and replenishing chemicals.  Shot a test roll of b&w film that I will be developing soon. Also got my 35mm automatic camera working again so I can continue shooting more b&w. Also planning on shooting b&w infrared.

So, all in all, I didn’t do too badly. Other notable accomplishments:

~Started a new novel, Covenant, which is up to 13k currently
~Wrote and posted the second and third installments of my fantasy serial, Changeling, at Turtleduck Press
~Got Reaper Girl ready for publication
~Wrote around 100k for the year
~Made concrete plans for more novellas
~Began the revision of Pirouette for a publisher. Pirouette has been languishing for 4 years because I didn’t know what to do with it

Non-writing accomplishments:

~Diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia + meds which is improving my quality of life greatly
~Obtained a digital-converted-DSLR and began experimenting with digital infrared
~Began reviving my darkroom and have plans to start working in it this year.
~Revived my editing business and have landed several jobs

So what are my goals for 2016?

~Release one novel
~Finish and release Fireborn
~Finish Pirouette revision and submit to publisher. If rejected, make a ruling as to what to do with it (trad or indie)
~Begin Flamebound rewrite
~Begin Survivor rewrite
~Make progress on Awaken Me
~Finish Ever Touched
~Get back into darkroom
~Try not to stress so much
~Experiment with plotting techniques
~Finish up Changeling serial
~Get back on diet/eat healthy/exercise
~My word for this year is NURTURE: nurture myself, nurture my creativity, nurture my dreams.

Annnd I believe that’s enough.  I have a good feeling about this year, and I hope to get lots done and take care of myself better. 🙂

What are your goals for this year?

 

 

#ROW80 Final Check-in 12/20/15

I’ve decided to wrap this up due to the fact that the next week is going to be nuts and I tend to forget about my Wednesday check-ins. So, here’s where I finished at:

~Finish Fireborn (I’m within 5k-10k to the end) – Unfortunately not, but I am so close I can taste it. The draft is at 19k after rewriting the last 5k or so. It’s my #1 priority after finishing up Pirouette in the new year.
~5k more on Covenant –Unfortunately not. Only wrote 1,345 words, but that’s something!
~Barring unforeseen craziness, I’d like to participate in NaNoWriMo with a modified goal of 30k (because my wrists can’t take 50k). Need to decide on a project, Survivor Rewrite or Ever Touched. Both need to be written, and there are compelling reasons for working on both but…just. can’t. decide! DONE! Participated in NanoWriMo with Ever Touched and ended with a wordcount of 32k.
~Pirouette revision for publisher – On page 30 of 250, so I’ve finally moved on from the first 24 pages! Yay!

Non-writing goals:

~Shoot test roll of 35mm film and develop HALF DONE. Shot test roll, but need new chemicals which I have not bought yet. And I also need to finish cleaning/dusting and reorganizing my darkroom
~15 minutes of physical activity (anything that gets me out of my chair counts: cleaning, walking, straightening, breaks from writing, etc) 3 times per week DONE for the most part. I managed physical activity at least once a week, but sometimes I got two or three in, so I call that a win.

I’ve had some personal stuff happening this round, and freelance work as well, so I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped. But I’m moving forward, if slowly, and that’s what counts.

Chocolate consumption: Not as much as I’d like, as a rule, this round because dieting. I’m sure the holidays will blow this all to hell anyway. 😉

How did you do on this round?

And Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! I will be participating in ROW80 next year.

 

 

#ROW80 Check-in 12/13/15

Here I am with another ROW80 update. I completely spaced on Wednesday’s check-in and decided to wait till today.

I have been very busy, and I anticipate I’ll be getting busier as Christmas approaches. I have had some issues finding the time to sit down and work on this revision, so I am not making great progress. It is also starting to feel like a total rewrite with all the changes I’m making. Which isn’t bad — but, unfortunately, there isn’t enough time to do a complete rewrite + editing/proofreading + a synopsis. So it may be a no go, but I am still optimistic that I can get it done regardless. (I may be delusional). Even so, I plan to continue working on this for submission to another publisher, so all will not be lost if I don’t make the deadline.

I’m also having issues with my MC. I mentioned previously that she has been very snarky, and a lot of beta feedback has been negative toward her, and not just because of the snarkiness. BIG, big issues. So I posed a question to some writer friends and they had some great advice and feedback. So I have been trying to implement changes to both my MCs, and I’ve been feeling a bit lost. Because this book has literally been in my head for 10 years, and Alisia, the MC, has always been so strong and tough, and changing her feels like a betrayal. BUT I know these changes are for the good of the book, and for her (as far as likability is concerned) and well, it’s an adjustment. You have to do what the book requires. And if I have a shot at getting it published, I need to dig in and get it done.

So it’s been a bit weird so far. I’m on page 24 of 250. I hope to speed up some this week. I hope.

Physical activity: 1 time, 15 minutes

Chocolate consumption: Not a lot. WW Sundaes and WW chocolate-caramel thingies but that’s it. Majorly falling down on the job here.

#ROW80 Check-in 12/6/15

Annnnd I am back. The time between the last check-in and today seems to have been a whirlwind, but a good one, because I got some good work done.

I finished NanoWriMo with 32,169 words on Ever Touched, which is wonderful. Now I have a good start for when I pick it back up again (probably sometime next year). The story is just starting to take shape, and I’m excited about the possibilities.

On December 1st I began the revision for Pirouette. I brainstormed my little head off and figured out a better opening scene. I am still a bit wibbly on parts of it, but it will do for now. I need to get the new stuff (re)written before I do anything else, because that will take the longest. Alisia, my MC, is trying her best to be snarky, but I am working on making it less for this draft. I LOVED her snarkiness, but it was too much, according to the majority of my beta readers. But I won’t take it all out.

I’m up to page 16 and 8,214 words so far — some of it is words that existed prior, but the bulk of it is new or revised material. So, I’m finally on my way. The good news is that my plot was pretty solid, so not much of that is being changed. I do have one element I’d like to add in if I can. So most of the work is on the characters and their interactions.

I forgot how hard it is to write 3rd person formal speech. I keep slipping into first person (which is my preference) and/or contemporary speech/though patterns and I have to remind myself that it isn’t going to work with this book. I remember waaaaaaay back when I was writing the first draft (10 years ago!) I lamented writing 3rd person for the male lead because I did not, at that time, know how to write 3rd person well. Now I chuckle because I’m pretty good at it now, and I should be okay, but still..little things trip me up.

As for physical activity, I’ve kind of fallen off the wagon there. I will be starting it again this week. Too little time, so damn much to do!

So from now until the end of the round, my priorities are the Pirouette revision and physical activity.

On the chocolate front, not too bad? I finished off our pumpkin-pecan strusel pie which was so yummy, and I’ve been eating mostly WW snacks. We have custard-filled donuts for dessert tonight (topped with chocolate), yum!

How have you all been doing?

#ROW80 Check-in 11/29/15

I am finally able to do a proper #ROW80 post! I was busy with Thanksgiving prep, then Thanksgiving! I had a 4-day weekend from work which has gone by so fast! I go back tomorrow and I am NOT looking forward to it!

I also got all of my Christmas shopping done. 🙂

As for NanoWriMo, I am up to 31,548 words, which means I made my goal of 30k! YAY! And, early, no less! Yesterday I had a migraine/TN pain combo which put me in bed early (like, waaay early!) and on Friday I went Christmas shopping which was exhausting, so here we are. On Thanksgiving I took a break — and I was too busy to really think about writing, honestly.

So I made it. I also revised Changeling 3 for posting on Tuesday, finally!

On Tuesday I am also starting the revision for Pirouette for submission to the publisher I mentioned a few weeks back. I was hoping to start this weekend, but it wasn’t in the cards. I still need to think about the first scene, anyway — I want to present my MC using her forbidden magic, but I have rewritten this scene several times and it’s just not working for me. It’s been said that you start a novel when the MC’s life is about to change irrevocably — which is what I did. But I can’t put my finger on why it’s not working. So, 2 days to think about it.

Stats!
Words written: 31,548
Words remaining: 0
Word wars: 11
Word wars with myself: 5
Chapters written: n/a, as I stopped doing chapter divisions
What’s happening: Brianna is in over her head
What’s next: Something?
Feeling: Not bad!

Chocolate consumption: It’s more like pie consumption this week! We had a grand total of 5 pies for Thanksgiving, and none of them were chocolate. I think my favorites were (homemade) pecan and caramel apple! Been sneaking some WW chocolate caramel thingies. I also need to get back onto the program. But, leftovers!

#ROW80 Check-in 11/8/15 – Nanoing

Yep, here we are again!

I am still working on Ever Touched for NanoWriMo, and I’m just shy of 10k now. It’s been a bit rough. I think time away from this particular world has diluted it in my head, and also the characters. It hasn’t been that long, but long enough for me to notice subtle things.

Usually until I hit 10k I am floundering (except with Fey Touched — that book was the exception to the rule) and since I’m pantsing it, doubly so. I have a general idea of what I’m heading for, but no details as to how, and I feel a bit panicky about it. I think it may be because it will be intended for publication, and it’s the third book in a series, and I’ve never written a third book in a series ever. So more often than not I have had to force myself to write, which isn’t as fun, but that’s my only option.

NanoWriMo for many years has been absolute magic for me. But for the first time, I’m feeling a bit strange. Like I’m not doing this right. It can’t be the 30k goal, because I’ve done that many times. I’m not sure if it’s just nerves, or working on this book in particular, but there it is. But I am sticking with it until the end, and I may feel differently later. Perhaps.

Stats:

Words written: 9,180
Words remaining: 20,820
Word wars: 6
Word wars with myself: 2
Chapters written: 1
What’s happening: An uncomfortable conversation
What’s next: Hell if I know
Feeling: Strange

I have also been rereading a book of mine I began waaaaaaay back in 2005 (!) that I want to submit to a publisher early next year. I’ve rewritten it 4 times already over the past 10 years (scary, huh?) and I set it aside in 2011 to write Fey Touched. (I was getting absolutely nowhere and was ready to hang it up completely when some writer friends suggested I do this). So I’ve been terrified to even look at it again. But it’s one of my best stories, with two of my favorite characters and one of the scariest villains I’ve ever written (or so I’ve been told) and I refuse to let it go. So I thought, I’m NOT rewriting it again, but a comprehensive revision would be okay. I still have the original notecards and betas’ notes, and maybe it would be a good thing to stretch myself a bit and see what I can do. There is a deadline involved, and even if by some chance I don’t make that deadline, I’m still working on it and not letting it sit longer. It’s on my priority list for revisions anyway, so why the heck not? So I started the reread last night and….it’s not as horrible as I thought it was. It has its moments and definite places that need fixing (particularly with the heroine and hero) but damn. It’s actually quite good. So, maybe there’s hope yet!

(Just a bit of trivia for you. I began this book, called Pirouette, on Nov 1st for Nano in 2005. I finished the first draft on December 27, 2006 — yes, I remember it! — and the draft came in at 399,915 words. (!!!!!!) The first draft was more of an exploratory draft and bears little resemblance to what it is now, but it laid the groundwork for what followed. Draft 2 is where I made some major changes, all to the good, and that one came in at 192k. And….so on. Now it’s down to 128k.)

Yeah, so a big project I wasn’t planning on taking on this soon but there’s an opportunity there I don’t want to miss.

So that’s what’s going on.

Oh, yeah, on physical activity, I’ve done 15 mins  twice this week.

Chocolate consumption: Not a lot. Been trying to stay within the confines of my diet. (And I can’t believe I am saying that!)

How are you doing?