Wednesday, February 17, 2010

So Far, So Good

Okay... I've been writing every day this week -- not a lot, but something. I'm only about 2000 words into my story, but I really do like it. The best part is that I can't stop thinking about it and have come up with some really fun ideas for scenes.

The "write every day" goal is a good one for me. If I had a word count goal (say ... 1000 words) and I only had a spare 10 minutes, I wouldn't bother to open the document and write, because I'd know I wouldn't make it. But, giving myself permission to write 5 words or 5,000 -- well, that works for me.

How's everyone else doing?

Friday, February 12, 2010

Miles to go

(Also posted on my personal blog.)

I have one thing to say today:

It. Is. Finished!!!!!

Okay, what is actually finished is this round of revisions. Unfortunately, “It is revised!” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

I still have miles to go before I sleep--or rather, before it’s ready to go. But I think/hope I have the main restructuring slog out of the way. This is really a “my reach may exceed my grasp” kind of story. So for now, I’ll let The Fine Art of Holding Your Breath compost.

Even with the all the work ahead of me, I can’t help feeling a little bit like this:



This leaves me free to revisit Dating on the Dork Side, which I’m also very excited about. Although, I accidently opened one of its files yesterday. As I told Darcy: it reads like I downed half a bottle of NyQuil before I sat down to write.

So. Miles to go there as well.

Think I’ll go list to Ode to Joy one more time.

Because really, when you finish any draft of a manuscript, the skies should open, light should pour down, and all the animals of the forest should burst into song.

And the Berlin Philharmonic should personally come to your house.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

I am a failure

I haven't written in two days. Sob. I just can't get into it some days. sorry.

What They Said

Everyone is talking (well, a few people are talking) about their February goals. Here we are, ten days into the month and I don't think I've posted mine. Of course, I could be wrong, but I'm not going to go back to find out.

I think I'll join Marianne's goal and just write. Every day. Edit when I can (because Forever Home is in the place right now where I can't edit every day) but otherwise work on some of my unfinished projects, starting with my wip Going Going Gone (which I hope will be HQ Blaze worthy).

There, that's simple, concise. To the point.

Everyone have a great and productive month!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Learning what I already know

You know, I always wonder why we (and when I say “we” I’m actually talking about myself) need to learn the same lessons over and over again.

Marianne’s new goal mirrors the conclusion I came to in early January. I need to work on my fiction projects every day. I need to give my writing the respect it deserves as a second career.

Writing is also very much like exercise for me. No matter what other outcomes, it always makes me feel better. I’ve removed the drama from getting my exercise in. I simply pull on my shoes and get it done. Same for writing. I’m making it something I do every single day--no drama, no fuss.

That said, my goals this month. I’m in the home stretch of The Fine Art of Holding Your Breath. But … I’ve done so much writing on it, so it’s not something that’s ready to go out the door. Once it’s complete (maybe by next week), I’m going to let it compost for a bit.

Then I’ll switch gears and work on the proposal for Dating on the Dork Side.
And that’s it. So for now, my February looks to be filled with words and snow--lots and lots of snow.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

New Goal

My goal for February is somewhat ambiguous but I think it will work for me:

WRITE.

Every day.

I don't care how MUCH or how LONG or ON WHAT.

But I must do some fiction writing every day.

..........

What about you? What goals do YOU have for this month? Let me know so I can add them to the sidebar.