2013 was a busy year. I turned 30 and I moved in with my lovely boyfriend and generally had a whale of a time amongst the usual curve balls life throws us all. I only have one regret and that is how badly I lost my writing way. I also missed my second blog birthday which shows how much my head was not screwed on right in June! My poor blog has been neglected partly as we have still not got internet at our flat (we moved in mid-September. I know. Nightmare.) but mainly because for the last six months my writing life has been patchy.
I took part in NaNoWriMo in November for the third time and for the first time I didn't complete it. Life got in the way but I did manage to write 25,000 before I bowed out gracefully and I have decided to be positive about it rather than beat myself up - 25k is 25k! I wrote, I re-read, I pondered but I had no real routine or plan.
2014 is going to be about routine. Even if I struggle to make a daily routine I want to get in a weekly routine and a huge part of this is taking part in ROW80 as I need the accountability and I miss the community and support of my fellow ROWers. I stopped taking part mid round as I think I was fed up of not having much to report and I felt like I was failing a bit at this whole writing game.
I need to set my goals on Monday 6th when the new round starts but I already know I am going to aim to read 100 books in a year. I managed 70 books last year and 78 the year before but both times I was hampered by moving house. This year we WILL NOT be moving so I hope I can finally achieve this goal! I also want some sort of exercise goal in there as this is another area in which I need some routine.
One of my first jobs is to edit and polish the first section of my re-written chick-lit story as I won a critique early in 2013 but had nothing I wanted anyone else to read. This must be my first focus as much as it scares me to let someone read it I know it is a necessary step.
I'll put my thinking cap on and finalise my goals by Monday. It feels good to be back!
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
Sunday, 16 June 2013
ROW80 Check-in 16th June 2013
Another crazy week in my 'real life', another successful one here! This is how I have got on:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
Reading time has been near impossible to find. Which I hate. I am reading Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo and am 65% through (good old Kindle!). I am loving it but as I said I am not getting much of a chance to read it! Hopefully I will finish it this week. I meant to mention that my blog is listed in the ones thanked at the start of the UK version as I reviewed The Gathering Dark (Shadow and Bone) last year. I can't tell you what a thrill it was to see my blog listed in a real life book! It made me think about how INSANELY great it would be if something I had written was an actual book! Little bit of motivation right there!
2) Write 5 sentences a day.
My five sentences a day goal is still going well! Whilst sometimes the sentences still reflect my day/things that are on my mind I have started to include more story/plot ideas.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Done :)
Once again my progress feels small but at least I am doing something. With work as it is at the moment this is what I feel I can achieve. Fingers cross over the summer I will be able to step things up a gear. I hope you have all had wonderful weeks and have a wonderful week to come!
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
Reading time has been near impossible to find. Which I hate. I am reading Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo and am 65% through (good old Kindle!). I am loving it but as I said I am not getting much of a chance to read it! Hopefully I will finish it this week. I meant to mention that my blog is listed in the ones thanked at the start of the UK version as I reviewed The Gathering Dark (Shadow and Bone) last year. I can't tell you what a thrill it was to see my blog listed in a real life book! It made me think about how INSANELY great it would be if something I had written was an actual book! Little bit of motivation right there!
2) Write 5 sentences a day.
My five sentences a day goal is still going well! Whilst sometimes the sentences still reflect my day/things that are on my mind I have started to include more story/plot ideas.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Done :)
Once again my progress feels small but at least I am doing something. With work as it is at the moment this is what I feel I can achieve. Fingers cross over the summer I will be able to step things up a gear. I hope you have all had wonderful weeks and have a wonderful week to come!
Sunday, 9 June 2013
ROW80 Check-in 9th June 2013
Another week of tiny, weeny progress. But progress is progress! This is how I have got on:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
As predicted the moment I got back to work my lovely reading time was snatched away! I read one book this week so I have read 35 books so far this year. Reading time is still going to be tough to find but I hope to keep reading as much as possible.
2) Write 5 sentences a day.I am still loving this challenge! I forgot to do my five sentences one day so I did ten the next day. I do find that the sentences reflect my day/things that are on my mind. I want to start gearing them more towards story/plot ideas.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Done :)
I feel this is manageable at the moment especially as work is crazy busy but I hope to get back to writing soon. Maybe rewriting my chick-lit, maybe something new, who knows! Hope you have all been productive this week and get even more done next week!
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
As predicted the moment I got back to work my lovely reading time was snatched away! I read one book this week so I have read 35 books so far this year. Reading time is still going to be tough to find but I hope to keep reading as much as possible.
2) Write 5 sentences a day.I am still loving this challenge! I forgot to do my five sentences one day so I did ten the next day. I do find that the sentences reflect my day/things that are on my mind. I want to start gearing them more towards story/plot ideas.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Done :)
I feel this is manageable at the moment especially as work is crazy busy but I hope to get back to writing soon. Maybe rewriting my chick-lit, maybe something new, who knows! Hope you have all been productive this week and get even more done next week!
Sunday, 2 June 2013
ROW80 Check-in 2nd June 2013
Some progress has been made this week!
Here were my lovely little goals and how I have done:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
I wasn't at work this week as it was half term and I got lots of lovely reading done. I read five books. Five! My good old kindle has barely been out of my hand. I am currently reading book 35 of the year which is still behind schedule but I have made up a little ground. Now I am back at work the pace will slow down again but I enjoyed having lots of reading time!
2) Write 5 sentences a day.
Success! I wrote five sentences a day in a little notebook. Some were random thoughts, some were ideas, some were observations I made of things I saw. It felt good to be getting something down however short.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Done!
So a successful week. I am slowly tiptoeing my way back into writing and I hope to keep going this week. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Here were my lovely little goals and how I have done:
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
I wasn't at work this week as it was half term and I got lots of lovely reading done. I read five books. Five! My good old kindle has barely been out of my hand. I am currently reading book 35 of the year which is still behind schedule but I have made up a little ground. Now I am back at work the pace will slow down again but I enjoyed having lots of reading time!
2) Write 5 sentences a day.
Success! I wrote five sentences a day in a little notebook. Some were random thoughts, some were ideas, some were observations I made of things I saw. It felt good to be getting something down however short.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
Done!
So a successful week. I am slowly tiptoeing my way back into writing and I hope to keep going this week. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Sunday, 26 May 2013
ROW80 Check-in 26th May 2013
Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who commented on my check-in last week or tweeted me about it. Even though I know you ROW80 buddies are there I sometimes lose sight of how great you are! No-one judged me and people gave me useful tips. I've spent this week thinking and I have come u with a plan of action even though my goals are not that impressive!
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Write 5 sentences a day.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
So goal one stays the same and this week I am off work so hopefully I will have lots of lovely reading time. I am currently reading book 30 of the year. Goal three is simple but I know I need to check-in to be accountable.
Goal two is new. Eden suggested this in her comment last week and I like the idea. The five sentences can be thoughts, ideas, things I have overheard, anything! I like this idea because no matter how crazy work gets in the next two months, (and it will get CRAZY!) I will be able to write five sentences about something. I am quite excited by this plan and feel it will get my writing head back in action.
So simple but effective. That is the plan! Hope you have wonderful weeks!
1) Read as much as possible aiming for at least TWO books a week.
2) Write 5 sentences a day.
3) Write a ROW80 check-in each Sunday.
So goal one stays the same and this week I am off work so hopefully I will have lots of lovely reading time. I am currently reading book 30 of the year. Goal three is simple but I know I need to check-in to be accountable.
Goal two is new. Eden suggested this in her comment last week and I like the idea. The five sentences can be thoughts, ideas, things I have overheard, anything! I like this idea because no matter how crazy work gets in the next two months, (and it will get CRAZY!) I will be able to write five sentences about something. I am quite excited by this plan and feel it will get my writing head back in action.
So simple but effective. That is the plan! Hope you have wonderful weeks!
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Row80 Check-in 18th May 2013
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.
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, 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!!
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