ROW80 Check-in 28th October 2012

The best way to describe this week is a mixed bag. Here were the goals I set last week:

1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).

2) 30 minutes a day of NaNo prep - can include plotting, reading, character development etc.
Goal 1 - I am reading book 71 of the year. Man I hoped to be further ahead by now! I am not at work this week so hope to get lots of reading in but I am away tomorrow for five days with my sis, brother in law and 4 month old nephew and I am afraid cuddles and taking him swimming for the first time take precedence. But I really want to complete this challenge so I will try and read as much as possible.

Goal 2 - On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I managed 30 minutes of NaNo prep. I can't remember when I did what but here is what I have achieved:
* Written list of possible titles and am close to coming up with a working title.
* Written a character list with some small details.
* Written a more detailed (but not complete) description of my main character.
* Chosen famous look-a-likes and printed off pictures to help me with descriptions/visualisation.
* Started a list of 'things to include' when I think of random facts, quotes, points that I want to include.
* Drew a plan of MC's work place.
* Drew up a plot outline including plot points.

I have the main plot points but not many scenes written in. Actually I don't think I have any scenes apart from the ones in which the plot points occur. I need to work out the running order of my WIP as I have always written in a linear order.

So. We go away tomorrow but I will make time to prep. I have to as NaNo starts on Thursday!! So until Thursday my goals remain the same:

1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).

2) 30 minutes a day of NaNo prep - can include plotting, reading, character development etc.
And from the first of November I will change goal 2 into a daily word count goal in order to hopefully complete NaNo. I have lots of plans in November. Lots of big, entire weekends away plans but I will work around them and hopefully add extra words on some days. It is going to be crazy, intense, fun, bemusing, exciting and character building no doubt! I can't wait!!!

So from Thursday goal 2 is to write 1,667 words a day atleast. Crikey!

I hope you have all had wonderful weeks and those taking part in NaNo are more prepared then me!!!!

ROW80 Check-in 21st October 2012

I almost didn't post today. I have been hopeless this week. And I mean hopeless.

My goals were:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).

2) 30 minutes a day of NaNo prep - can include plotting, reading, character development etc.
Goal 1 - I have read two books and will start book number 71 later.

That is where the success stops.

I don't know what has happened this week but I haven't done any NaNo prep. I won't try and excuse it as really there isn't an excuse for why I haven't done any preparation. With NaNo heading closer I am only shooting myself in the foot as I know that I need to be prepared for NaNo in order to a) win and b) not go crazy!

So what do we have....ten days after today until the 1st of November. That sounds terrifying. But as usual I have October half term so I am off work from Saturday 27th October for a week so I should have lots of time. Apart from the whole going away with my sister, brother in law and gorgeous four month old nephew. Eeeek! Although they know I am going to do NaNo so I have no excuse not to do some preparation and then writing. November is a busy month with three weekends away already planned so I need to get off to a good start and keep pace. As I said, it will only be me who suffers if I am not ready.

So here is the plan. Gene posted some links to blog posts all about NaNo and prep so I am going to grab a cup of coffee and read them and be inspired! Then from tomorrow the preparation starts. It has to.

I hope you have all had amazing weeks and the next week is even better!!

ROW80 Check-in 14th October 2012

I set myself these goals last Sunday:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).

2) Decide on a genre and story for NaNo.

And I have to say I have done pretty well!!

1) I read 'Love Lies' by Adele Parks (one she signed for me at an event I went to, squeal!) and I am racing through 'The Girl You Left Behind' by Jojo Moyes. I had five hours worth of train journey this weekend and I put it to good use and read lots! I am reading book 69 so I still have 30 books to read before January 1st. Can I do it? I have two school holidays (A.K.A. Quality Reading Time) so it might be possible! I am going to try my best!

2) I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING!!!!!

I decided to stick to what I love most and that is Chick Lit. I have hinted that I might try my hand at fantasy as I have loved some of the recent YA fantasy books I have read but I don't feel I have the preparation time I would need. And, I love chick lit.

The only issue was I didn't have a bright shiny idea waiting in the wings. So on my train journey on Friday I was pleasantly surprised when I suddenly remembered the chick lit idea I had before last year's NaNo that I didn't end up writing! It was a complete lightbulb moment and I like to think not unlike J.K.Rowlings train journey in which she plotted Harry Potter. ;)

So I scribbled some notes and now feel I know where I am heading!! It is going to be such a fun book to write (remind me of this in November!).

So, goals this week are:

1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).

2) 30 minutes a day of NaNo prep - can include plotting, reading, character development etc.

I feel pretty happy about goal 2 as I know setting aside 30 minutes a day to work on NaNo is a good way for me to work and I am going to try and coincide with the sprints on the #ROW80 hashtag on twitter.

So, full steam ahead! Once I buy a nice new notebook of course! Hope you have had wonderful weeks!!!

ROW80 Check-in 7th October 2012

I don't know where the days are going at the moment. It only feels like a few hours ago I posted my Wednesday check-in but here we are again. Since I am slightly lost in the woods at the moment with regards to my writing I set myself these goals.

1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Work out what I am going to do next with my writing.
Right, goal 1. I have hardly read this week. I usually read a lot but work is picking up pace and I just haven't had the time. I want to try and make more time for this in the coming week so this goal remains the same. I know I am way behind where I should be at this point in the year towards the 100+ books challenge but I am not going to work out how far behind. I will just keep reading and I have some great books in my TBR pile so it is no hardship.

Goal 2. I wrote on wednesday about my confusion about whether to plough on with my current WIP Matchmaker even though I am a bit unmotivated by it or plot something new for NaNo. Here were my options:

1) Be a NaNo rebel and carry on with Matchmaker but probably not win as there aren't 50,000 words left.
2) Don't take part in NaNo and carry on with Matchmaker. I don't like this option.
3) Start something fresh and return to Matchmaker at a later date.
And the winner is Option number 3!!! I have decided after listening to the advice of the lovely people who commented and thinking about it at every available moment to put Matchmaker to one side (as I seem to have done already) and plot something new for NaNo. So I guess goal number 2 is complete!

So this weeks goals are:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).

2) Decide on a genre and story for NaNo.

See how easy it is? Decide on a genre and story....if only it was that easy! I am toying with the idea of fantasy but the world-building and my lack of knowledge is putting me off slightly. I know I have lots of possible story ideas in one of my notebooks for chick lit books so I think I will head in that direction.

I was worried last week people would think I am not being as 'serious' as I could be this round by setting myself goals such as 'decide what to do' rather than 'write for x amount of time or write x words'. I have found though by setting myself the goal of deciding what to do it has focused my thinking. I have thought an awful lot about writing and my writing over the last week so even though the goals are different from what I usually set, they are working for me. And that is what ROW80 is all about right? I hope you goals are working for you and you have a wonderful week!!

ROW80 Check-in 3rd October 2012

I m not sure I should call this a check-in as I have nothing to report! Partly because I haven't decided on my goals. I was all set to slope off into the background this round as I wasn't ready by the first to declare my goals but the ever motivational Lauren reminded me that I don't have to set goals that will last all round. And just because I wasn't there on the first of the month doesn't mean I shouldn't join in at a later date.

So. One for sure goal is:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
I have read 67 books so am doing well but I think way behind with the challenge. I must find more time to read!!!

I want a writing goal but I just don't know where to head. I have nearly 60,000 words written of Matchmaker, Matchmaker but I seem to have come to a bit of a motivational slump. NaNoWriMo starts on the 1st of November and I really, really want to take part as I love the community and how productive I am during NaNo. I also want to start interacting with more writers in my area as sadly you guys aren't down the road! So I want to go to some local NaNo events. Hearing of people brainstorming makes me feel so exited and maybe it is what I need to kick start me back into writing.

However, I have a problem. I coud be a rebel and work on Matchmaker but I don't think there is 50,000 words left to go. I also feel kind of strange about starting something new when I am so far into Matchmaker however I did do this last year when I wrote my murder mystery in the middle of writing my last WIP.

So these are my options:
1) Be a NaNo rebel and carry on with Matchmaker but probably not win as there aren't 50,000 words left.
2) Don't take part in NaNo and carry on with Matchmaker. I don't like this option.
3) Start something fresh and return to Matchmaker at a later date.

Opinions? Advice? All will be welcome so I am going to set myself another goal to go with my reading one.

2) Work out what I am going to do next with my writing.
Not my most measurabe goal to date but atleast I am here!!! Hope everyone else has got off to a great start this round!!