Step One, Two

One forward and two back. I had to scrap several scenes that just didn't work well enough for me. On to more today, hopefully I won't have to hit my delete key.

~R

33,451 / 50,000 (66.9%)

Rock and Hard Place...

... probably not the one you think.

Murphy seems to have found me again. Literally. My DH has been looking into getting another dog to keep our lonely German Shepherd company when she's not in the house with me. Turns out, the Collie we'd planned on bringing home is a major barker and does NOT like the outdoors. His name? Murphy, of course. That, plus he apparently whines when he doesn't get his way, and we already have to deal with this problem. So, no new dogie. We'll keep looking for a nice quiet rescue.

I did track down the phantom that keeps disconnecting my Internet connection. Sort of. Over the past week every time I've gotten the unexpected little white "Local Network Unplugged" box on my screen it's been accompanied by a thump in the kitchen. I told DH about this and though puzzled, he messed with some things the other night and that seems to have fixed the problem. It didn't happen yesterday and so far not today. I hope it stays gone.

I'd also forgotten about about a call for submission by one of my fav digital pubs for my fav subgenre. Unfortunately the deadline in next week, and my sub isn't ready. I still have a couple of GG entries to finish judge too by the end of this week and a couple of crits to do for ladies in my local writing chapter by the end of this month.

My own progress is still slow, and I'm trying to apply the information I read about in the workshop I took to my WIP. Yea, and about that class... I expected a lot more interaction with the instructor. The class officially ended Aug 2 (Sunday), and as of today I haven't received any feedback. Call me disappointed, this seems to happen every time I take a class. Don't know why. This is the reason I do not take classes: I am usually disappointed. At least it was a free workshop.

Backto the two ideas I need to outline and make notes on that my Muse plopped down in my head a few days ago so I can get back to writing.

~R

MOTS -

36,225 / 50,000 (72.5%)

My Turn

Officially my workshop is ending tomorrow. Two weeks have rushed by in a near blur, and all the questions and comments were great. Earlier this morning I discovered an opportunity to actually take a workshop given by a digital publisher.

I'm not usually on the receiving side, and this "Show vs. Tell" class sounds like it will be fun. I've already subbed to the online forum, dived in and done a few class exercises, and am working on lessons. Love this challenge, and I'm hoping I'll get some feedback on my assignments.

Other than this, we've having a nice lazy day at home. Happy Anniversary to me!

~R

MOTS -

35,500 / 50,000 (71.0%)

Slowing Down

Writing is now a slow crawl, however I posted lesson nine yesterday. I think I've scared off my students, because hardly anyone is posting or has questions. I'll keep watch.

My anniversary is in two days, and we've decided to do a 'family' dinner with our kiddo at the local Mongolian BBQ then watch a video at home. Ahh, having a good time doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. :-)

~R

MOTS -

34,425 / 50,000 (68.8%)

Breathing Room

Things are okay with my workshop, though writing has slowed. The first four lesson have been posted, and I hope the folks in the workshop aren't too overwhelmed. Not much else going on at the moment.

~R

MOTS -

33,570 / 50,000 (67.1%)

Digging In

I love teaching, and I always learn something useful from my students. This week got a bit of a rocky start, as I had written the start day one day later then on the schedule. Big oops. Lesson one and the intro got sent in the evening instead of the afternoon, but things are okay now. Just waiting for questions to come in.

~R

MOTS -

33,000 / 50,000 (66.0%)

Live Life!

And be distracted from my writing. You've heard the drill, everything under the moon tries to keep me from work. Also need to get organized to teach my workshop the next two weeks, YEA! :)

~R

MOTS -

32,000 / 50,000 (64.0%)

A Little Midweek Change

Editing is going well. Really well. I've falling in love with this story all over again. But it seemed too short and incomplete. It just needed something else to give it a bit more oomph. Also new character popped up out of nowhere, and I like the potential for conflict between my existing Hero and Heroine and this new one. And I had a few more ideas about the plot I want to develop more fully, plus I love exploring paranormal possibilities.

And, and, and, plus, plus, plus. Yeah. All this interesting stuff in my head needs to get written. Life is challenging and I want my story to reflect the journey and happiness more fully so I'm extending MOTS from 30k to a full novel. I know it's more work. I'll be happier with it in the end. All the extra scenes will be newly written pages. You're not seeing weird, I've just doubled the word count on my meter.

Back to work now.

~R

PS: ISS flew over 1-1/2 hours ago, very nice & inspiring! :-)

Progress

MOTS

30,012 / 50,000 (60.0%)

Monday Montage

As in ... I have way too much to do, and this is a non-busy week! List: the usual housework, laundry and stuff, finishing my Inara costume for the CSTS, starting my new Tonks costume for next week's new HP movie premiere, pack kiddo's clothes for trip to grandma's house, make new leather collar for doggie (DH should've done this yesterday), and of course work on my writing (goal 50 pages by Friday).

I will get it all done.

~R

Update - Not Slacking

'Busy' has become my middle name. My Muse even sidetracked me last week on a new story and I worked on new pages instead of editing. And when I got back to editing on the current story, I got a idea that wouldn't leave me alone. I started all over from the beginning so I could add another antagonist and more conflict. This means MOTS will probably double in length. I'm just going to keep editing and write new scenes as the mood dictates.

It may not look like it, but I have made progress. Maybe not as fast as I'd like, but I'm trying to reestablish a writing routine that works (waking at 5:30 to 6am is becoming a habit). Not an easy thing during summer school break.

I just completed teaching my Sagging Middles workshop and have another one to do in two weeks about writing Action scenes.

The annual CSTS in my area is July 11, and the new HP movie is next week. I still have a little to do on those costumes, need to dye one pair of shoes, and curl one wig. Then play time! I get asked "where do you get ideas for stories?" This is one source: public appearances as known characters. Plus it's a lot of fun. :-)

As to accountability, here's where I am:

Progress -

MOTS

10,250 / 30,000 (34.2%)

and ...

B&C

5,000 / 60,000 (8.3%)

It's been two weeks since I last posted. I'm going to try and update a couple of times a week from here on, if I can.

~R

Happy Father's Day

... to all the dads in the universe. Enjoy your special day!

And now for a progress report ...

5,750 / 30,000 (19.2%)

~R

So Fast ...

It's already the middle of June. Where did the last week go? I know I've done stuff and edited, etc., etc. Maybe I should just update my progress, measly as it is.

I've decided I'm going to post my working list a couple of times a month only. And it's just for me anyway, to stare me in the face and constantly remind me to keep working. As much time as I spend on editing, you'd think I'd be further along. I really must stop going over the same page a dozen times and just leave it be.

I think I'm officially crazy for trying to do this...

~R


Progress:

MOTS -

4,250 / 30,000 (14.2%)

ShS - 0 / 25,000

V - 0 / 7,000

C - 0 / 25,000

LDB - 0 / 30,000

PP - 0 / 55,000

D4TC - 0 / 55,000

FP - 0 / 50,000

MTT - 0 / 65,000

D4H - 0 / 60,000

MP - 0 / 50,000

DBWB - 0 / 25,000

.

One or the other...

Yeah, well, I know I have to edit. Last week was pretty much a waste since my kiddo got out of school early the last few days. This week I'm supposed to be doing BIAW with one of my writing chapters. That is SO not happening due to my kiddo not sleeping in like I thought he would.

I have so much I *want* to edit, pus DH talked me into writing a brand new shortie for an SF mag. I guess me having a summer flu since yesterday doesn't really count when I'm supposed to be *sitting* and working. Brian is engaged but wandering, so not much productivity. Still not giving up on today, but I may have better luck tomorrow.

~R


2009 Addition:
(like I don't already have enough to do!)

V - 0 / 7,000

Reality Checking

Found some of my blog posts to 2005 (on another site) I thought I'd lost forever & saved them to archives. And Twitter finally restored all my posts. Yea! Editing is slow, more interruptions than I care for. I love my family dearly, but my office is in in the center of our home and open to all noise so proximity to all activities is 100%. If I buy a little shed and put it in the backyard, run an extension cord for A/C, lights, coffeemaker & computer, maybe I'll get more work done?? A better solution is take a week and clean out my over-cluttered craft room and covert it. I also want my dining room back, so the sewing machine and fabric does need to be moved. The exercise of moving stuff around may be a good way to ease into my summer diet, lol.

Adjusting to kiddo out of school for the summer is tougher than I thought it would be. I don't recall this much trouble last year. Probably all the initial excitement of getting to do stuff otherwise not on our schedule. I need to edit a few pages, so I'll stop here before I ramble.

Thought for today: Attitude adjustments don't suck when you want them. 'Nuf said. More later.

Have a good weekend.

~R


2009 Editing Progress:

MOTS -
Status:

1,750 / 30,000 (5.8%)

ShS - 0 / 25,000

C - 0 / 25,000

LDB - 0 / 30,000

PP - 0 / 55,000

D4TC - 0 / 55,000

FP - 0 / 50,000

MTT - 0 / 65,000

D4H - 0 / 60,000

MP - 0 / 50,000

DBWB - 0 / 25,000

Back Again ...

It's been too long since my last post. I've been Tweeting so much, I forgot I had this blog.

Ahem. Okay, progress report: I suck at getting stuff completed. This needs to radically change! I'm going to *try* and keep up here (since GJ is gone, taking with it the last 5 or so years of posts and archives, grrrrr...)

So, okay, here we go. I have many projects I want to completely edit and get out the door this year. Yes, I realize it's June already, and I'm still working on the first two. But at least I'm making progress, sort of. To my thinking, if I post here for accountability, it just might work out. Here's the list of what I want to complete:


2008 Progress:

ST (the final-final-final-FINAL edit!!!) -
100,000 / 100,000


Status: submitted & waiting.



2009 Progress:


MOTS (5th round edits 'cuz I wasn't happy with it & added a new antagonist for more flavor) -
5 / 30,000
Status: editing

"C" -
0 / 25,000
Status: not yet edited

LDB -
0 / 30,000
Status: not yet edited

PP -
0 / 55,000
Status: not yet edited

D4TC -
0 / 50,000
Status: not yet edited

FP -
0 / 50,000
Status: not yet edited

MTT -
0 / 65,000
Status: not yet edited

D4H -
0 / 55,000
Status: not yet edited

MP -
0 / 50,000
Status: not yet edited

DBWB -
0 / 25,000
Status: not yet edited


Yeah, I'm crazy to try and complete all this. I'm the queen of 1st drafts, and I MUST do something with them! I am ordered to do this by Maab, my Muse who is NOT amused.

~R