Do you know what, it has been a good year. Yes there have been lows because let's face it, life can be tough but all in all it has been a good year. In both my writing and my life there have been changes but I am entering 2013 full of hope and excitement.
Here are my highlights of the year:
1) My nephew was born. It is fair to say his safe arrival was the happiest moment of my year especially after my amazing sister had been in labour for five days. She is my hero and he is an absolute angel. Who knew you could adore another living thing so much.
2) Winning Campnano and NaNoWriMo. I didn't think I would achieve either of these right up until I managed to complete them. I am so glad I took part in both even though I had moments of despair! As always, the community was amazing and the sense of achievement was great. Fingers crossed I will be able to take part in one if not both of them this year.
3) Reading 78 books. I aimed for 100 but moving in the last two months really hampered my progress on this one. I am determined though to try again next year and now I have a new Kindle I have no excuse to not have a book (or many books!) with me at any time.
4) Moving house. I only moved to a flat upstairs but my old flat was small and damp and I wasn't able to sleep in the bedroom. At many times I wished I hadn't decided to move especially when I was sleeping on an airbed in an empty flat for a week but I am looking forward to starting 2013 in a dry flat which has views of the river. Lovely.
5) Finishing my WIP. I finished it before my first blog birthday in June and I now have two half finished WIP's - one from Camp and one from NaNo.
6) I wrote an article and was paid for it! I was asked by one of the few friend's who know about my writing to write a review of skyfall for an online magazine. It is one of those magazines you recieve if you are signed up to a particular company so I can't share it with you but to be paid for my writing was pretty amazing. And terrifying! My family have read it and my sister said 'I can't believe you wrote this' (in a good way!) so it was a great feeling.
7) Losing weight. I have managed to lose 24lbs in three months and am still going strong. This is a work in progress but I am feeling good.
So lots has happened and many things I have forgotten no doubt made my day at some point or other. My writing hope for 2013 is that I get something ready to send off to an agent. If I never edit and never try I will never get anywhere will I? So that is the hope. Pick one of my WIP's or one of my finished ones and polish it up until it shines as much as I can make it shine. Naturally ROW80 will be a huge part of this for me and I will join in on the 7th January for Round 1. I am going to spend the next week reading (yay!) and working out what to work on. With two unfinished WIP's I have writing potential but I know my finished WIP was a story I loved. Although that is the one with the first 50k written in the wrong tense *face palm*. So see you on the 7th when hopefully I will have some kind of direction!
I hope you have all had a wonderful year and that the rough times have made the good times all the more sweeter. Here is to 2013 and all the wonderful things I hope it brings us all.
Monday, 31 December 2012
Sunday, 2 December 2012
ROW80 Check-in 2nd December 2012
I did it!!! I won NaNoWriMo!!!!
I can safely say that I doubted I would do it many times this week and again it was the support of my ROW80 friends who were also doing NaNo and some that weren't but cheered us along that got me there.
My goals were:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Write 1,667 words a day atleast for NaNoWriMo.
So goal 1 - I have read one book in the last two weeks. This is so unlike me it is untrue and I am about to start book number 75. I read 70 books last year so I have done better but with 25 books to read by December 31st I doubt it is possible as I will be moving this month. I just want to see how many I get read and truly I just want to find some time to read as it has slipped out of my life the last month.
Goal 2 - Hooray!!
Here is the breakdown of my week remembering I had got back on track last Sunday;
Monday - 1,639
Tuesday - No writing
Wednesday - 1,745
Thursday - 5,011 words written so I won with 50,152 words!!!
Friday - No writing, just sleeping!
It was a mad week. All my best laid plans of writing double on Monday went to pot because issues came up with my move (again) and had to be dealt with. Tuesday I had to go in to work early and was out in the evening. Wednesday, again I hoped for more but more moving problems *eye twitches* so really it came down to Thursday. I left work and was in by 6pm. Plan was to write from 7 until I finished but again moving issues meant I only sat down at 9 feeling tired and drained. Suddenly lots of my ROW80 friends were a couple of hundred away from winning NaNo and I was nearly 5k behind. I sat and wrote for 2 hours 40 minutes and won!!! It was so motivating, I didn't want to be the only one not to win and I wanted to be in the 'finishing on the 29th' club. I was meant to be away on Friday so I thought I wouldn't be able to write but although these plans changed and it meant I could have had an easier Thursday I am glad it happened the way it happened.
I will so be in for NaNo next year, I just hope it is calmer than this year!!!
I think I need to tweak my goals. I know it is not a great idea to stop writing after NaNo but I think this month I am going to concentrate on reading, my work commitments and moving. I will pick up my WIP in January, hopefully in my new flat and hopefully rested after Christmas.
So my goals are:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Sort/Pack/Move!!
I hope everyone is having a great round!!!
I can safely say that I doubted I would do it many times this week and again it was the support of my ROW80 friends who were also doing NaNo and some that weren't but cheered us along that got me there.
My goals were:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Write 1,667 words a day atleast for NaNoWriMo.
So goal 1 - I have read one book in the last two weeks. This is so unlike me it is untrue and I am about to start book number 75. I read 70 books last year so I have done better but with 25 books to read by December 31st I doubt it is possible as I will be moving this month. I just want to see how many I get read and truly I just want to find some time to read as it has slipped out of my life the last month.
Goal 2 - Hooray!!
Here is the breakdown of my week remembering I had got back on track last Sunday;
Monday - 1,639
Tuesday - No writing
Wednesday - 1,745
Thursday - 5,011 words written so I won with 50,152 words!!!
Friday - No writing, just sleeping!
It was a mad week. All my best laid plans of writing double on Monday went to pot because issues came up with my move (again) and had to be dealt with. Tuesday I had to go in to work early and was out in the evening. Wednesday, again I hoped for more but more moving problems *eye twitches* so really it came down to Thursday. I left work and was in by 6pm. Plan was to write from 7 until I finished but again moving issues meant I only sat down at 9 feeling tired and drained. Suddenly lots of my ROW80 friends were a couple of hundred away from winning NaNo and I was nearly 5k behind. I sat and wrote for 2 hours 40 minutes and won!!! It was so motivating, I didn't want to be the only one not to win and I wanted to be in the 'finishing on the 29th' club. I was meant to be away on Friday so I thought I wouldn't be able to write but although these plans changed and it meant I could have had an easier Thursday I am glad it happened the way it happened.
I will so be in for NaNo next year, I just hope it is calmer than this year!!!
I think I need to tweak my goals. I know it is not a great idea to stop writing after NaNo but I think this month I am going to concentrate on reading, my work commitments and moving. I will pick up my WIP in January, hopefully in my new flat and hopefully rested after Christmas.
So my goals are:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Sort/Pack/Move!!
I hope everyone is having a great round!!!
Sunday, 25 November 2012
ROW80 Check-in 25th November 2012
Well my friends, it has been one hell of a week! In fact, did I check in last weekend? No I didn't. In that case it has been hell of a fortnight!
My goals were:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Write 1,667 words a day atleast for NaNoWriMo.
Goal One - This has completely slowed. I was reading a book I wasn't really enjoying so did something I never do and switched to another one halfway through. I am enjoying it but I have no time to read! The 100+ books in a year challenge is slipping away and I doubt I am going to make it!
Goal two - The goal that consumes every fibre of my being!!!! NaNo is always hard. NaNo is always tough but of the three I have done this has been the toughest. Before November I made a grid of the month and made notes of days I wouldn't be able to write. I was organised and I knew I would plan around it. What I hadn't expected was things to do with my upcoming move consuming so much time and energy so that days I thought were free to write had no time to write. There have been four days I haven't been able to write and some days I haven't made the daily amount we aim for. I could feel myself slipping further and further behind and at times I felt like giving up. But I didn't. I have no idea where the motivation came from. It is a challenge you chose to undertake. I don't have to do it. It isn't a job I am contracted to do. But I wanted to. I didn't want to declare I would do it and fail.
It also helped that some of my good ROW80 friends were doing NaNo and they were struggling as well. We admitted it to each other on twitter - "Sorry you are behind but I am glad I am not the only one!" Lauren even coined the hashtag #behindboatisbanging and newtowritinggirl, Lena and I all grabbed an oar and have been trying our hardest to catch up.
Here are my words for the fortnight (just so you can see the fall and the climb!):
Monday - 1,676 words written
Tuesday - No writing
Wednesday - No writing
Thursday - 1,006 words written
Friday - No writing
Saturday - 1,676 words written
Sunday - 738 words written
Monday - I started the week 8,215 words behind. I wrote 3,133 words
Tuesday - 3,460 words written
Wednesday - 1,734 words written
Thursday - 1,717 words written
Friday - No writing :(
Saturday - 3,238 words written
Sunday - 5,017 words written
So as of today I am back on track with a total word count of 41,757 words written and the end is in sight!!! I am tired, behind with everything else but I am getting there! I know I am out on Tuesday so I will aim to do double the word count tomorrow night and try and write a bit on Tuesday morning. Today I have had a 5k day and I don't think have ever had one before! I was meant to be away but the awful weather meant I had a quiet weekend here with no guests which is the only reason I ahve managed to catch up. If I hadn't been here this weekend I would have struggled. Note to self - make less plans next November! I couldn't have done it without sprints and simply checking in with Lauren and newtowritinggirl. There is something about knowing others are going what you are going through that motivates you.
I am going to focus on reaching 50k by the time I go away on Friday and then I can focus properly on starting to pack to move. Hopefully next weeks check-in will see me announcing my win of NaNo! But one step at a time.
I hope you are all doing well and I am sorry I have been so out of the loop. Have wonderful weeks!
My goals were:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Write 1,667 words a day atleast for NaNoWriMo.
Goal One - This has completely slowed. I was reading a book I wasn't really enjoying so did something I never do and switched to another one halfway through. I am enjoying it but I have no time to read! The 100+ books in a year challenge is slipping away and I doubt I am going to make it!
Goal two - The goal that consumes every fibre of my being!!!! NaNo is always hard. NaNo is always tough but of the three I have done this has been the toughest. Before November I made a grid of the month and made notes of days I wouldn't be able to write. I was organised and I knew I would plan around it. What I hadn't expected was things to do with my upcoming move consuming so much time and energy so that days I thought were free to write had no time to write. There have been four days I haven't been able to write and some days I haven't made the daily amount we aim for. I could feel myself slipping further and further behind and at times I felt like giving up. But I didn't. I have no idea where the motivation came from. It is a challenge you chose to undertake. I don't have to do it. It isn't a job I am contracted to do. But I wanted to. I didn't want to declare I would do it and fail.
It also helped that some of my good ROW80 friends were doing NaNo and they were struggling as well. We admitted it to each other on twitter - "Sorry you are behind but I am glad I am not the only one!" Lauren even coined the hashtag #behindboatisbanging and newtowritinggirl, Lena and I all grabbed an oar and have been trying our hardest to catch up.
Here are my words for the fortnight (just so you can see the fall and the climb!):
Monday - 1,676 words written
Tuesday - No writing
Wednesday - No writing
Thursday - 1,006 words written
Friday - No writing
Saturday - 1,676 words written
Sunday - 738 words written
Monday - I started the week 8,215 words behind. I wrote 3,133 words
Tuesday - 3,460 words written
Wednesday - 1,734 words written
Thursday - 1,717 words written
Friday - No writing :(
Saturday - 3,238 words written
Sunday - 5,017 words written
So as of today I am back on track with a total word count of 41,757 words written and the end is in sight!!! I am tired, behind with everything else but I am getting there! I know I am out on Tuesday so I will aim to do double the word count tomorrow night and try and write a bit on Tuesday morning. Today I have had a 5k day and I don't think have ever had one before! I was meant to be away but the awful weather meant I had a quiet weekend here with no guests which is the only reason I ahve managed to catch up. If I hadn't been here this weekend I would have struggled. Note to self - make less plans next November! I couldn't have done it without sprints and simply checking in with Lauren and newtowritinggirl. There is something about knowing others are going what you are going through that motivates you.
I am going to focus on reaching 50k by the time I go away on Friday and then I can focus properly on starting to pack to move. Hopefully next weeks check-in will see me announcing my win of NaNo! But one step at a time.
I hope you are all doing well and I am sorry I have been so out of the loop. Have wonderful weeks!
Sunday, 11 November 2012
ROW80 Check-in 11th September 2012
So friends, things this end are going well! Well, writing things!!!
My goals were:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Write 1,667 words a day atleast for NaNoWriMo.
Goal One hasn't gone that well. I am not enjoying the book I am reading at the moment but that is probably because I am so caught up in writing (hooray!). The reading challenge slips further and further out of grasp but I will still try!
Now to goal Two. Word counts this week have been:
Monday - 1,744
Tuesday - 1,874
Wednesday - 1,490
Thursday - 1,680
Friday - 1,556
Saturday - 1,695
Sunday - 1,653
Total NaNo wordcount so far = 18,362!!
On Monday I managed to write before work but for the rest of the week I wasn't able to do this. I managed to be at three #ROW80 sprints which as always is huge motivation and I hope to make them this week. As with last week I am not writing until I have 1,667 words that day, I am just making sure I have reached where you should be that day e.g. today you 'should' be on 18,337 words. Some days I write a little extra to finish a scene etc. and really I was hoping to try for 5k today (have never done that!) but life gets in the way. You know that saying life imitates art? Well my MC is moving house and it turns out I might be too. Although I will only be moving to another flat in my building the contracts, viewings of my place etc are upping the stress levels so I hope to keep everything going but I need to be sensible and get things done today. And I am on track so that is ok!
I hope you are all doing brilliantly and here is to another great week for us all!!!
My goals were:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Write 1,667 words a day atleast for NaNoWriMo.
Goal One hasn't gone that well. I am not enjoying the book I am reading at the moment but that is probably because I am so caught up in writing (hooray!). The reading challenge slips further and further out of grasp but I will still try!
Now to goal Two. Word counts this week have been:
Monday - 1,744
Tuesday - 1,874
Wednesday - 1,490
Thursday - 1,680
Friday - 1,556
Saturday - 1,695
Sunday - 1,653
Total NaNo wordcount so far = 18,362!!
On Monday I managed to write before work but for the rest of the week I wasn't able to do this. I managed to be at three #ROW80 sprints which as always is huge motivation and I hope to make them this week. As with last week I am not writing until I have 1,667 words that day, I am just making sure I have reached where you should be that day e.g. today you 'should' be on 18,337 words. Some days I write a little extra to finish a scene etc. and really I was hoping to try for 5k today (have never done that!) but life gets in the way. You know that saying life imitates art? Well my MC is moving house and it turns out I might be too. Although I will only be moving to another flat in my building the contracts, viewings of my place etc are upping the stress levels so I hope to keep everything going but I need to be sensible and get things done today. And I am on track so that is ok!
I hope you are all doing brilliantly and here is to another great week for us all!!!
Sunday, 4 November 2012
ROW80 Check-in 4th November 2012
Sometimes I guess it takes something big to get things moving and the 'big thing' going on with me is NaNoWriMo. The goals I set last week which kicked in on the 1st of November were:
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Write 1,667 words a day atleast for NaNoWriMo.
Since November 1st things have gone well.
Goal 1 - I read two books in the last week, both crime and I am close to finishing a third. The book I am reading is number 73 of the year. 100 books seems like a very long shot especially with the time NaNo is going to take up but I am going to see what I can do!
Goal 2 - My word counts for the first four days of NaNo are:
Thursday - 1,704
Friday - 1,637
Saturday - 1,702
Sunday - 1,625
Total word count so far = 6,670!!
By the end of day four you should be aiming to be on 6,668 so I am two words ahead! The last few days have gone well and I have prioritised my writing so I have been getting it done in the morning but I haven't been at work so that makes a huge difference! I haven't been writing 1,667 words a day but have been making sure I make the overall word target each day. This week looks quite quiet apart from the whole going to work thing so I will have to see how I get on in the evenings and I hope to make the #ROW80 sprints as often as possible. Last November I squeezed 10 or 15 minutes in before work which was hard but meant I had a couple of hundred words at the start of my day so I am going to try this again and see how I go. I found this was good as my WIP mulled around in my head all day but I need to make sure I know what I am going to write when I sit down as I am not 100% alert in the morning!!
So onwards and upwards with the word count! The words have been flowing well to this point so let's hope they continue!! I hope you are all having a great week and see you next Sunday!!
1) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
2) Write 1,667 words a day atleast for NaNoWriMo.
Since November 1st things have gone well.
Goal 1 - I read two books in the last week, both crime and I am close to finishing a third. The book I am reading is number 73 of the year. 100 books seems like a very long shot especially with the time NaNo is going to take up but I am going to see what I can do!
Goal 2 - My word counts for the first four days of NaNo are:
Thursday - 1,704
Friday - 1,637
Saturday - 1,702
Sunday - 1,625
Total word count so far = 6,670!!
By the end of day four you should be aiming to be on 6,668 so I am two words ahead! The last few days have gone well and I have prioritised my writing so I have been getting it done in the morning but I haven't been at work so that makes a huge difference! I haven't been writing 1,667 words a day but have been making sure I make the overall word target each day. This week looks quite quiet apart from the whole going to work thing so I will have to see how I get on in the evenings and I hope to make the #ROW80 sprints as often as possible. Last November I squeezed 10 or 15 minutes in before work which was hard but meant I had a couple of hundred words at the start of my day so I am going to try this again and see how I go. I found this was good as my WIP mulled around in my head all day but I need to make sure I know what I am going to write when I sit down as I am not 100% alert in the morning!!
So onwards and upwards with the word count! The words have been flowing well to this point so let's hope they continue!! I hope you are all having a great week and see you next Sunday!!
Sunday, 28 October 2012
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!!!!
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!!!!
Sunday, 21 October 2012
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!!
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!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)