I have completely lost my way. I don't quite know when it happened and I have no idea why but I have suddenly lost all faith in my writing and my ability. Nothing triggered it. Well, nothing I am aware of anyway. I just suddenly one day a few weeks ago thought 'Why are you doing this? You can't write anything good so why bother?'
So I slunk away and didn't say anything. I haven't written anything and I haven't read any of my WIP. I haven't been on Twitter much and I haven't been checking in. I just don't quite know what to do.
I have been reading so my goal of Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week is still kind of in play. I have read 27 books this year so behind schedule for my 100 books this year goal but there is still time. For now I might just go with that. I need to find a way forward because I do want to write. I just have a block. And not writer's block. Just a block.
When Lauren asked me if I was still alive today on Twitter I figured I better say something. I'll find my way, I'm sure. I just maybe need some time.
I hope you are all going strong and smashing your goals. I hope to check-in again with a bit more focus and direction. But for now, I'll continue reading.
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Sunday, 28 April 2013
ROW80 Check-in 28th April 2013
Ok. This is going to be short but definitely not sweet!
Here were my goals:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least ten minutes a day.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Goal One
I finished book 22 and have nearly finished book 23. I had a train journey yesterday and today and read 408 pages and hope to finish this book later tonight. I love reading!
Goal Two
On Monday and Tuesday I did ten minutes of reading my WIP per day and made notes on two and a half chapters. Since then, nothing. No excuse. I was busy but I could have found ten minutes. MUST DO BETTER THIS WEEK!
Goal Three
Done!
I am not going to analyse. I am just going to move on! Hope you have had wonderful weeks and hopefully this week I will DO BETTER!!
Here were my goals:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least ten minutes a day.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Goal One
I finished book 22 and have nearly finished book 23. I had a train journey yesterday and today and read 408 pages and hope to finish this book later tonight. I love reading!
Goal Two
On Monday and Tuesday I did ten minutes of reading my WIP per day and made notes on two and a half chapters. Since then, nothing. No excuse. I was busy but I could have found ten minutes. MUST DO BETTER THIS WEEK!
Goal Three
Done!
I am not going to analyse. I am just going to move on! Hope you have had wonderful weeks and hopefully this week I will DO BETTER!!
Sunday, 21 April 2013
ROW80 Check-in 21st April 2013
Well it has been a busy crazy week in many ways! First, let's check out my goals and how I did!
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least ten minutes a day.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Goal One
I read book 21 of the year and am halfway through book 22 and loving it!
Goal Two
Success! Nearly!
I was aiming for 10 minutes each day of re-reading and making notes and I managed ten every day but one so I did 20 minutes the next day. I felt much more like a habit was starting to form even though it is very much a baby step. Ten minutes isn't an intimidating amount so it felt achievable except the day work got in the way. Very pleased with this change of goal and starting to form some firm opinions on how my re-write should go because my WIP definitely needs a re-write!
Goal Three
Check!
All in all I am feeling positive and trying not to get too down about all the changes that need to be made. You need the words down to be able to change them though right?! My concern is I don't think it needs to be edited, I think it needs to be completely re-written. An edit would not do enough and I think I need totweak overhaul the plot. But it will be fine!
Something lovely happened this week! I saw a tweet that if you retweeted it you might win a query critique. I retweeted it and I WON! I never thought I would win in a million years! I felt like quite a fraud because whilst I have notes for my WIP query because I am going to re-write it, the notes I have probably won't make much sense! And it will need to change! So I tweeted the lovely jessmontgomery and explained my situation. She was absolutely wonderful and understands my situation. She has been kind and said she will critique my query whenever it is ready even if it takes a year! Let's face it, it probably will! It made me feel a bit overwhelmed, in a good way! For someone who I have never had any contact with to be so understanding and kind to me made me realise what a wonderful community the online writing community is. I knew Jess was EMCastellan's crit partner so I know she must be good people :) It made my week. And made me more determined to read this WIP and get started re-writing it!
I hope you are all having fantastic weeks and here is to another great one!!
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least ten minutes a day.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Goal One
I read book 21 of the year and am halfway through book 22 and loving it!
Goal Two
Success! Nearly!
I was aiming for 10 minutes each day of re-reading and making notes and I managed ten every day but one so I did 20 minutes the next day. I felt much more like a habit was starting to form even though it is very much a baby step. Ten minutes isn't an intimidating amount so it felt achievable except the day work got in the way. Very pleased with this change of goal and starting to form some firm opinions on how my re-write should go because my WIP definitely needs a re-write!
Goal Three
Check!
All in all I am feeling positive and trying not to get too down about all the changes that need to be made. You need the words down to be able to change them though right?! My concern is I don't think it needs to be edited, I think it needs to be completely re-written. An edit would not do enough and I think I need to
Something lovely happened this week! I saw a tweet that if you retweeted it you might win a query critique. I retweeted it and I WON! I never thought I would win in a million years! I felt like quite a fraud because whilst I have notes for my WIP query because I am going to re-write it, the notes I have probably won't make much sense! And it will need to change! So I tweeted the lovely jessmontgomery and explained my situation. She was absolutely wonderful and understands my situation. She has been kind and said she will critique my query whenever it is ready even if it takes a year! Let's face it, it probably will! It made me feel a bit overwhelmed, in a good way! For someone who I have never had any contact with to be so understanding and kind to me made me realise what a wonderful community the online writing community is. I knew Jess was EMCastellan's crit partner so I know she must be good people :) It made my week. And made me more determined to read this WIP and get started re-writing it!
I hope you are all having fantastic weeks and here is to another great one!!
Sunday, 14 April 2013
ROW80 Check-in 14th April 2013
Well, this week has been a mixed bag of success. I think a little goal change is in order!
Here were my goals for this week:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least an hour and a half of this each week.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Goal One
I managed to read two books this week (books 19 and 20 of the year) and am halfway through a third. I have also started a non-fiction book given to me which I will read alongside the fiction one. I got lots of reading done but was hoping for more to make up some ground on my 100 books in a year challenge but I feel happy with how this week has gone with this goal.
Goal Two
This goal hasn't gone so well. I have many issues with myself as a writer. One issue is I am worse at getting things done if I have time on my hands. I haven't been at work this week and yes, I have had plans but I could have done lots of reading of my WIP, but I didn't. I did that age old thing of putting it off till tomorrow and then crammed some in today. I read through 5 chapters of my WIP today in half an hour so I am an hour short for this goal. I do seem to struggle to get in a writing habit unless I am in a NaNoWriMo situation so I think this goal needs some tweaking. I am going to change my goal to reading my WIP for ten minutes each day. This is completely do-able and of course I can do more than ten minutes but that is at least an hour and ten minutes of reading a week and will hopefully help me develop a habit of doing something every day.
Linked to this goal is the good news that I found the end of my WIP in a bag of writing things in my flat. I genuinely have no recollection of handwriting the end of my WIP but I am so relieved I found it! I found some bits I like in my WIP in the chapters I read today but again, lots of painful notes to myself. If I write 'Show don't tell' enough hopefully it will sink in?! My favourite note to my self from this week is 'Needs sexier co-worker then old lady?' Sometimes I amaze myself!
Goal Three
Done!
So, not a terrible week but definitely could do better! Here are my goals for the week ahead:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least ten minutes a day.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
I hope you all have had wonderful weeks and good luck for the week ahead!
Here were my goals for this week:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least an hour and a half of this each week.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Goal One
I managed to read two books this week (books 19 and 20 of the year) and am halfway through a third. I have also started a non-fiction book given to me which I will read alongside the fiction one. I got lots of reading done but was hoping for more to make up some ground on my 100 books in a year challenge but I feel happy with how this week has gone with this goal.
Goal Two
This goal hasn't gone so well. I have many issues with myself as a writer. One issue is I am worse at getting things done if I have time on my hands. I haven't been at work this week and yes, I have had plans but I could have done lots of reading of my WIP, but I didn't. I did that age old thing of putting it off till tomorrow and then crammed some in today. I read through 5 chapters of my WIP today in half an hour so I am an hour short for this goal. I do seem to struggle to get in a writing habit unless I am in a NaNoWriMo situation so I think this goal needs some tweaking. I am going to change my goal to reading my WIP for ten minutes each day. This is completely do-able and of course I can do more than ten minutes but that is at least an hour and ten minutes of reading a week and will hopefully help me develop a habit of doing something every day.
Linked to this goal is the good news that I found the end of my WIP in a bag of writing things in my flat. I genuinely have no recollection of handwriting the end of my WIP but I am so relieved I found it! I found some bits I like in my WIP in the chapters I read today but again, lots of painful notes to myself. If I write 'Show don't tell' enough hopefully it will sink in?! My favourite note to my self from this week is 'Needs sexier co-worker then old lady?' Sometimes I amaze myself!
Goal Three
Done!
So, not a terrible week but definitely could do better! Here are my goals for the week ahead:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least ten minutes a day.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
I hope you all have had wonderful weeks and good luck for the week ahead!
Sunday, 7 April 2013
ROW80 Check-in 7th April 2013
Well week one has gone well! I am on holiday from School so I should have probably achieved double what I achieved but still, achieving something is an achievement, right?!
Here are my goals:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least an hour and a half of this each week.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
And here is how my week has looked:
Monday - Finished a book I was reading (book 16 of the year).
Wednesday - Put all of my WIP in one document to re-read as it was scattered all over the place. It was today that I had a mini freak out when I couldn't find the end of my WIP. By checking my blog post from last year I uncovered that I handwrote the end. How do I not remember this?! Fingers and toes crossed I can find it when I get back to my flat on Wednesday!
Thursday - Finished a book (book 17 of the year).
30 minutes re-reading my WIP and making notes on four chapters.
Friday - 20 minutes reading through WIP and made notes on four chapters.
Sunday - Finished a book (book 18 of the year).
50 minutes reading WIP and made notes on 5 chapters
So I have achieved all three goals this week! I have LOVED having reading time and I have enjoyed re-reading my WIP even though I make painful notes such as 'change the plot/change the order of the whole thing'. I have some thinking to do about my MC and the theme of the story (wink at Lauren for the gchat earlier!) but I will mull them over as I read through the rest of my WIP.
I hope you are all having fantastic weeks and let's hope the coming week is even better!!
Here are my goals:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least an hour and a half of this each week.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
And here is how my week has looked:
Monday - Finished a book I was reading (book 16 of the year).
Wednesday - Put all of my WIP in one document to re-read as it was scattered all over the place. It was today that I had a mini freak out when I couldn't find the end of my WIP. By checking my blog post from last year I uncovered that I handwrote the end. How do I not remember this?! Fingers and toes crossed I can find it when I get back to my flat on Wednesday!
Thursday - Finished a book (book 17 of the year).
30 minutes re-reading my WIP and making notes on four chapters.
Friday - 20 minutes reading through WIP and made notes on four chapters.
Sunday - Finished a book (book 18 of the year).
50 minutes reading WIP and made notes on 5 chapters
So I have achieved all three goals this week! I have LOVED having reading time and I have enjoyed re-reading my WIP even though I make painful notes such as 'change the plot/change the order of the whole thing'. I have some thinking to do about my MC and the theme of the story (wink at Lauren for the gchat earlier!) but I will mull them over as I read through the rest of my WIP.
I hope you are all having fantastic weeks and let's hope the coming week is even better!!
Monday, 1 April 2013
ROW80 Goals for Round Two!
The last month didn't go as planned. I didn't end up submitting a story for the short story competition after all. To cut a long story short it was a slight confidence dip mixed with trying to force a story because of the requirements of the competition and not writing a story I loved. I might go into the details one day and I had moments where I did think about whether I wanted to carry on with this crazy writing game but I am ok. As always I need to give a huge shout out to the lovely Lauren who really helped me and I felt quite overwhelmed by the time she put into helping me. It also scared me how well she can 'read me' even though she has not met me in person. Yet!
So, here we are. A fresh round of ROW80 and a fresh Em. Hopefully!
I toyed with the idea of doing CampNaNo alongside this round but I didn't have the preparation time I needed. I have done a lot of thinking and have decided I am going to re-write my first chick-lit story. I love the premise of this story but HATE the way I wrote it! I was thinking of re-writing during Camp but I know I need to actually stop, read the first draft and do some planning/plotting/sorting before I start re-writing.
Therefore April = THE MONTH OF READING!
My plan is to read, read and read some more as I am behind with my 100 books in a year challenge but I also need to read through my chick-lit draft and make notes. It is all about reading! I am not going to set any writing goals but reading through my story and plotting/planning will be invaluable when I come to re-write my story.
Therefore, my goals this round are:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least an hour and a half of this each week.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Simple goals work best for me and I am excited about this new round! I hope everyone feels like they know where they are heading and I look forward to sharing this round with you!
So, here we are. A fresh round of ROW80 and a fresh Em. Hopefully!
I toyed with the idea of doing CampNaNo alongside this round but I didn't have the preparation time I needed. I have done a lot of thinking and have decided I am going to re-write my first chick-lit story. I love the premise of this story but HATE the way I wrote it! I was thinking of re-writing during Camp but I know I need to actually stop, read the first draft and do some planning/plotting/sorting before I start re-writing.
Therefore April = THE MONTH OF READING!
My plan is to read, read and read some more as I am behind with my 100 books in a year challenge but I also need to read through my chick-lit draft and make notes. It is all about reading! I am not going to set any writing goals but reading through my story and plotting/planning will be invaluable when I come to re-write my story.
Therefore, my goals this round are:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Read through my chick-lit first draft and make notes. At least an hour and a half of this each week.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Simple goals work best for me and I am excited about this new round! I hope everyone feels like they know where they are heading and I look forward to sharing this round with you!
Sunday, 24 March 2013
ROW80 Check-in Sunday 24th March 2013
It has been a busy week at work. I know I keep saying that but this week really and truly was insane. Here were my goals:
1) Read two books a week in order to read 100 books this year!
2) a) change short story draft,
b) email to Lauren with fingers crossed,
c) submit to competition!
3) Write a ROW80 check-in every Sunday.
So, let's see how I have done.
Goal One
I finished book number 14 this year and managed to squeeze in a little reading time. I have a shelf of books to be read and am meant to be reading through them before I buy any new ones. But on Wednesday I accidently bought three new books. I have no excuse and I'd do it again! I am about ten books behind where I should be for the 100 books in a year challenge but I have a plan which I'll talk about later.
Goal Two
I did change my short story draft and then I printed it out and yesterday I edited it again. I wasn't expecting as much pink pen as the first edit but there is still lots of pink pen! I am starting to freak out about sending it to Lauren and the competition because I am not 100% happy with it so I am going to wait till tomorrow to send it to Lauren as I feel I need to think more on it. I know I am stalling and it might mean she doesn't have time to read it which will only be my fault for procrastinating but I need to take a step away. I am going to submit it whatever because I need to challenge myself to do that.
Goal Three
DONE!
Now as I mentioned earlier I need a plan. I needed a plan for CampNaNo and for reading so I have come up with a plan of sorts. In April I am not going to take part in camp. I am slightly gutted as I love the NaNo experience but I am completely unprepared and feel I need to look at some of the writing I have already done rather than hash out 50k new words. So I have decided April will be a month of reading. Even typing that makes me feel happy! I need to get some quality reading time in partly for my sanity and partly for my 100 books goal. But I have added a twist as I felt it was a cop out to not write in April. One of the things I must read and make notes on is my first finished chick lit novel. I have spoken about this one before and I love the premise but not the main character and it had the first 50k in the wrong tense so needs work. I also know that I don't like the way I wrote it. I was going through a tough time in my own love life (remember that? not pretty!) which I know impacted on my writing and my writing was much too serious. I was thinking of re-writing it for NaNo but I know if I don't stop, read it, make notes and sort out some issues I will end up hammering out lots of words that will need lots of work. So that is my plan for April and I'll be able to have these goals as my ROW80 goals for the new round and also jump in on some sprints.
It has been a bumpy round but I am still here and excited for round 2! Thank you for all your comments and support especially those of you on twitter who are nothing short of amazing! Here is hoping the next round is even better than this one has been!
1) Read two books a week in order to read 100 books this year!
2) a) change short story draft,
b) email to Lauren with fingers crossed,
c) submit to competition!
3) Write a ROW80 check-in every Sunday.
So, let's see how I have done.
Goal One
I finished book number 14 this year and managed to squeeze in a little reading time. I have a shelf of books to be read and am meant to be reading through them before I buy any new ones. But on Wednesday I accidently bought three new books. I have no excuse and I'd do it again! I am about ten books behind where I should be for the 100 books in a year challenge but I have a plan which I'll talk about later.
Goal Two
I did change my short story draft and then I printed it out and yesterday I edited it again. I wasn't expecting as much pink pen as the first edit but there is still lots of pink pen! I am starting to freak out about sending it to Lauren and the competition because I am not 100% happy with it so I am going to wait till tomorrow to send it to Lauren as I feel I need to think more on it. I know I am stalling and it might mean she doesn't have time to read it which will only be my fault for procrastinating but I need to take a step away. I am going to submit it whatever because I need to challenge myself to do that.
Goal Three
DONE!
Now as I mentioned earlier I need a plan. I needed a plan for CampNaNo and for reading so I have come up with a plan of sorts. In April I am not going to take part in camp. I am slightly gutted as I love the NaNo experience but I am completely unprepared and feel I need to look at some of the writing I have already done rather than hash out 50k new words. So I have decided April will be a month of reading. Even typing that makes me feel happy! I need to get some quality reading time in partly for my sanity and partly for my 100 books goal. But I have added a twist as I felt it was a cop out to not write in April. One of the things I must read and make notes on is my first finished chick lit novel. I have spoken about this one before and I love the premise but not the main character and it had the first 50k in the wrong tense so needs work. I also know that I don't like the way I wrote it. I was going through a tough time in my own love life (remember that? not pretty!) which I know impacted on my writing and my writing was much too serious. I was thinking of re-writing it for NaNo but I know if I don't stop, read it, make notes and sort out some issues I will end up hammering out lots of words that will need lots of work. So that is my plan for April and I'll be able to have these goals as my ROW80 goals for the new round and also jump in on some sprints.
It has been a bumpy round but I am still here and excited for round 2! Thank you for all your comments and support especially those of you on twitter who are nothing short of amazing! Here is hoping the next round is even better than this one has been!
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