Time for the Mid-Week check-in at Row 80 – the writing challenge that recognizes we all have lives but still want and need to write.
My goals are listed here for this round and in bold is the progress from the past week.
Writing:
- Write daily – at least 500 words daily. Yes
- Write first draft of MG novel “Jack’s Summer” – No
- Write first draft of chapter book “Hazel” –No – but did some revisions
- Write at least one picture book a month Continuing revising drafts
- Take 2 online writing courses and enter at least one writing contest. – finished “Idea to Story”through RWA
- Outline two other novels –No
Editing/Revising
- Revise/edit “ Catching Love” –No – my push for the rest of the month is on pix books
- Revise/edit “Love Has No Age” –No
Blogging
- Support my ROW team 2x a week –yes
- Take part in A to Z challenge – Yes – finished the challenge
- Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts.- Yes
Reading (I am adding this section this week as reading has been my saviour over the past few weeks!)
- Read several picture books for study purpose each week – Yes
- Read 3 books on writing as well as articles –read several articles
- Read something for pleasure – read 2 novels
Personal
- Create daily – yes
- Complete 2 online art courses. – working on an Altered Puzzle class; taking part in challenges
- Follow healthy habits:
~walk 3x a week – No, but working in the yard every day
~eat gluten/dairy free – yes to dairy
~drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day – 4-5 glasses of fluids
Beverley A Baird 
I need to look into some courses…it’s been a while, and I could use the push!
As for creating, (the non-writing sort) I have good and bad. I bought my daughter some white canvas shoes and promised I would paint kitties and hamsters on them. I’m almost done, but they’re still sitting there. I have a number of other little random projects, too…and a few big unfinished ones like a quilt.
Some days, it’s hard to decide where the energy should go.
I know that feeling AmyBeth – sometimes the energy needed is just too much to put out. But I keep inching forward. The shoes sound like a fun project – your daughter will love them.
You have both “yes” and “no” in your post. I think that’s pretty awesome. You had a lot of goals, and you met several. Great work!
Thanks Lauralynn. At least meeting some goals moves me forward.
Using that list makes it easy to see your goals in each category. Congrats on making progress, however slow it may seem. You are persevering! I’m in a similar quandry with lots “in progress”. I’m also inching/itching to finish! Make a breakthrough. But every new insight seems to take longer than it used to. Maybe it’s the hot weather, the need to be supportive to others in crisis, or simply feeling a little overwhelmed. But each morning begins with writing . . . Today I started rereading Larry Brooks, Story Engineering. I wasn’t quite ready for his matter-of-fact style. But after I read an inspirational article on Roz Morris’ blog about opening with a sense of unease, that the characters are already a little off balance, I’m ready to tackle analyzing my characters again. So, have a great week. Let’s do this!
Thanks Beth. Will have to check out his book. Sounds interesting.