Yeah for Critique Partners!!

I'm on cloud nine! Critique partners are treasures. If you don't have one, you need to search high and low and never quit until you find one. I've had such a productive week and it's all due to the fabulous ladies I've started sharing work with. It's scary at first. But it is amazing how each one of us is rooting for everyone else. It's a team! Yeah team! Go! Fight! Win!

I've revised three chapters on the very first book I ever wrote and find myself falling in love with the story all over again. I'm still working to finish my fast draft WIP, and polishing up the book for the Linda Howard contest. I've never written so much in my entire life. You'd think I'd be tired, or crazy by now, but it's an energy booster like no other. One I hope never ends. : )

Getting Back into a Routine

It's the second week of school and things are getting back to normal. I've been writing everyday and the story is progressing nicely. Still have no idea about the ending. But that's the way I like it. I' write by the seat of my pants. No plotting, no research, no detailed character sketches. I tend to write everything as I go, learning about my characters in the process. It leaves quite a bit more work in revisions, but if I do all the details first it slows the story down. Sometimes to a dead stop.

Today was also my first day with a new critique group. I'm excited to get other opinions, and improve in my craft. With this one and the great ladies I met during fast draft I'm really being held accountable. And its GREAT!

Day Three!

Kids have been in school now for three whole days. They all like their teachers and are enjoying it so far. That will change the minute homework jumps into the mix.

Writing is going well. Not reaching the ten a day, but I am getting words down on paper every single day and that is a huge accomplishment for me. I'm continuing with my fast draft buddies to finish this book and then we will be ready for revisions. So much fun. But it's all a part of the process.

Back to work!

When It Rains, It Pours!

Well the weekend went every way except the way I planned. I didn't make my 200 pages and I'm bummed about it, but I do have 130 new pages. So I'll stop beating myself up over it around lunch. Then I'll sit down and get busy to reach the 200 and then some. I'm shooting for 10 pages a day. Should be easier with the kids now back in school. It's so quiet around here. I miss them already. :(

I know. I'm crazy!
:)

Fast draft is coming to an end. And I couldn't be happier. I'm shooting for 200 pages and I'm almost there with two days to go. It's amazing what happens when I actually keep my behind in the chair and write. Have no idea why I still find so many other things to do instead. I mean, I hate cleaning house, bathing the dog, organizing closets, etc. : )

August has turned out to be a productive month after all. I'll be sending the first chapter from one of my completed manuscripts to the Linda Howard Award of Excellence Contest. So keep your fingers crossed. And I have a brand new story to start editing and revising. All this and I still managed to get the kids ready for school on Monday. Whew!

I Made It!

I did it! I've completed the first week of fast draft. I now have 76 brand new pages! Yeah! It is so exciting. And not only that, but I've met some more great writers in the process. I can't believe I tried to write for so long on my own. It's really encouraging to find others out there just like me who are struggling through the same things. The need to write, the resistance you go through to write, the disappointment in rejection, the finding time to write, and the joys of people wanting to read more. The last making it all worth while. : )

I'm so fired up for this week!

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!

It's Friday. My brain is numb. My fingers ache. I spilled coffee on my keyboard. (But it was the dog's fault, not mine) The rain won't stop, and now we might be in the path of a hurricane. Gee! It's a conspiracy! I make a commitment to write and the whole universe spins out of control. But I'm not stopping till Fast Draft is done and I have my manuscript ready. Well, ready for revisions. Then the real fun starts. NOT!



Tired, frustrated, but pushing on!

Wednesday?

I think that's right. Where have all the summer days gone? The kids will start school soon and the house will return to normal. At least our view of normal . :)

I'm moving right along with Fast Draft. Fourteen unedited pages yesterday. That's pretty good considering I had to stop and play referee at least ten times. One of my Fast Draft Buddies recommended putting the "Red Paper of Death" on my door. Stop-No Blood-No Fire-No Entry! Thanks Theresa!! Works like a charm.

Off to work now!

Setting Up Is Hard to Do

If only I was computer literate. This stuff drives me nuts! And takes up the time I should be writing. I'm told the more I try the faster I'll get and the more I'll like it. We'll see about that.

Started fast draft yesterday. I set my goal for ten pages a day and actually wrote twelve. So I'm excited! But today is a different story. This blog is the most I've written and it doesn't count! Bummer! After lunch, I'm not moving until I get my ten pages! Kids beware. Mommy means business!! : )