Sunday Check-In – ROW 80

 

This is my first check-in of the new Second Round.

ROW 80 provides a special way to encourage/nurture one’s writing – they provide accountability, with the belief that we all have lives, so we do the best we can.

This past week I have concentrated on writing a bit each day (around 500 words, which was my number 1 goal) as well as organizing my writing and articles I plan to read.

I have several romance novels started, so read them to see which I hoped to work on this round. i also re-read several of the picture book scripts I have completed. This will help me move forward, as I write and revise.

I have been able to create my daily collage cards for the A to Z April Blogging Challenge.

Of course I’ve been reading each day. But I have been sick with a cold, so I did not do much more than that this week.

As my head clears, I hope to write for longer blocks of time and get more accomplished.

 

ROW 80 -Round 2 Goals

ROW 80 provides a special way to encourage/nurture one’s writing – they provide accountability, with the belief that we all have lives, so we do the best we can.
For the past two years I have not been consistent with my writing and have had little contact with ROW 80.
But I need the accountability and support and I so want to resurrect my writing. So, I am diving in and declaring my goals for this round.

Here are my goals for Round 2:

Writing/revising:
1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily.
2. Finish first draft of middle grade novel.
3. Write at least one picture book a month
4. Outline/plot a novel and start work on first draft.
5. Revise at least one novel.
6. Enter at least one writing contest and/or twitter pitch party.
7. Write at least 1 other post weekly on writing blog (besides ROW80 posts)
8. Continue to work on memoir.
9. Write a short story each month.

Reading
1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week
2. Read 2 books on writing as well as articles
3. Read often for pleasure.

ART
1. Create daily
2. Take part in “A to Z April Challenge”
3. Continue with weekly ABC Challenge as well as other creative challenges

Follow Healthy Habits:
1. Walk at least 3x a week
2. Drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day
3. Record healthy eating/exercise in health journal daily.

 

Row 80 – Sunday Check-In

It is Sunday check-in for Round 4 of ROW80, where it is recognized that everyone has a life and we all do the best we can.

I will make note of what I have achieved after each goal and highlight it.

I have decided to post on Sundays only, until NaNoWriMo starts.

Writing
*Write at least 1000 words a day. Not every day – but I am writing daily!
*Revise Catching Love, through the revision course with Lori Wilde (start the course tomorrow)
*Finish writing Saving Christmas NO
*Win at NaNoWriMo (a November goal, although have started to plan – using Janice Hardy’s Idea to Novel Workshop)

Blogging
*Blog at least 3x a week. YES – counting my 3 blogs
*Write and publish 4 reviews for WOW . More at the end of the month
*Participate in Yoga Challenge at Prevention for next 3 months. YES
*Walk 10,000 steps a day. I’ve achieved this twice in past week.
*Take part in Write 31 Days by sharing my journey with 31 Days of Healthy Practices YES – have done a blog post each day, except for Thanksgiving (the 9th)

Personal
*Read daily. YES
*Create art daily, taking part in several challenges. Not at all (hangs head)
*Continue to declutter. Took 1 bag to Goodwill this week

I will keep writing and working on these goals in the week ahead.

 

 

Today is Sunday’s check-in for ROW80 – the writing community that offers support and accountability.

Here are my goals and what I’ve done on them since Wednesday.

Writing:
1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily. Yes
2. Take part in CampNaNoWriMo.Yes – every day but Friday. I’m still behind but at least I’m writing.
3. Write first draft of novella `Christmas Renewed“ -steadily working on it;  up to 7 chapters
4.. Write first draft of a chapter book  No
5. Write at least one picture book a month not this week
6. Take one online writing course and enter at least one writing contest. No

Editing/Revising
1. Revise/edit “ Catching Love” still stymied as to how to revise Chap. 1 (anyone like romance, would want to read chap 1 and give a blunt assessment/idea/help??)
2. Revise/edit several picture books -No

Blogging
1. Support my ROW team 2x a week Yes
2. Take part in A to Z April Challenge.Yes -every day
3. Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts. Yes

Reading
1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week Yes
2. Read 2 books on writing as well as articles Yes to articles, working on 2 books
3. Read for pleasure – definitely yes – romance, MG, fantasy

Personal
1. Create daily – yes
2. Follow healthy habits: ~walk 3x a week and ~drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day
I’ve gotten up to 25 min. on the treadmill now – aiming for at least 30 min 3x this week; drinking more water

 

This week I need to really push on writing the novella, as I want to submit it at the end of April.
I also need to revise at least one picture book this week.

 

Starting Round 2 ROW 80 – Goals

Today we begin the second round of ROW80 – the writing community that offers support and accountability.

I did not complete Round 1 and though I blogged and did a bit of writing, I did not feel successful. I took part in the March Slice of Life writing challenge last month and I completed all 31 days – writing a post every day. The success of that has energized me and I need to continue daily writing.

I am going to outline my overall goals for the 80 days first and then after this each Sunday, highlight the goals I want to work on that week.

Writing:

1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily.
2. Take part in CampNaNoWriMo.
3. Write first draft of novella `Christmas Renewed“
4. Write first draft of a chapter book

5. Write at least one picture book a month
6. Take one online writing course and enter at least one writing contest.

Editing/Revising

1. Revise/edit “ Catching Love”
2. Revise/edit several picture books

Blogging

1. Support my ROW team 2x a week
2. Take part in A to Z April Challenge.
3. Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts.

 Reading 

1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week
2. Read 2 books on writing as well as articles
3. Read for pleasure – often!

Personal

1. Create daily and post 2x a week on my art blog
2. Follow healthy habits: ~walk 3x a week   and  ~drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day

 

 

Row80 First Mid-week Check-in

 

This is our first Wednesday check-in for this first round of ROW80 in 2016, so I haven’t too much to report.

I have been writing every day and while I haven’t worked on stories, I have been writing blog posts, in my journal and getting ideas down. An okay start. (#1)

An idea for a new holiday novel (#4) appeared last night and I had to get up at 2 am to jot down the first scene and some ideas for plotting. Yeah!

My copy of “Save the Cat” arrived today and I signed up to review one chapter for the book study group “Word by Word” on facebook. (#8)

I am reading a novel for a critique partner and got a couple more chapters critiqued. (#10)

I am creating every day and enjoying a new Project 366 – making tags from scrap papers.  (Art #1) As well I have completed my first journal page for the new challenge. (#2)

So,  no walking on the treadmill and snacking on stuff I shouldn’t the past 2 days but today was a better start. With my birthday tomorrow I really need to get on the “Be healthier” bandwagon.

Some progress so far. Be sure to check here to see how other ROWers have been working on their goals.

Round 1 of ROW80 for 2016 Begins

Today we begin the first round of ROW80 – the writing community that offers support and accountability – for 2016.
I attempted Round 4 after stepping back from writing near the end of Round 2 and did not participate in Round 3. I have definitely missed the community and the accountability.
I need to get back into a writing routine and participating in ROW80 will help with that overriding goal for 2016..

Here are my goals for Round 1:
Writing/revising:
1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily.
2. Write first draft of middle grade novel.
3. Write at least one picture book a month
4. Outline a new holiday novel and start work on first draft.
5. Take online writing course.
6. Enter at least one writing contest and one twitter pitch party.
7. Revise at least one novel.
8. Take part in online study group of “Save the Cat”
9. . Write at least 2 other posts weekly on writing blogbesides ROW80 posts.
10. Continue to work with critique partners.

Reading
1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week

2. Read 3 books on writing as well as articles

3. Read often for pleasure.

ART
1. Create daily
2. Take part in “Colour Me Positive” – weekly journal challenge.
3. Continue with weekly ABC Challenge as well as other creative challenges

Follow Healthy Habits:
1. walk or dance 3x a week
2. Do strength training 2 or 3 x a week
3. Eat gluten/dairy free
4. Drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day

 

Check here to visit other writers and take part in this amazing community.

Mid-week ROW 80 Check-In and WIPpet Wednesday

Mid-week check-in at ROW 80 seems to roll along so quickly, yet I have made progress.

Here are my goals for this round with what I’ve done in bold.

1. Write daily – at least 500-1000 words a day **** YES – some writing each day
2. Take courses. Attended a webinar this afternoon on pb submissions.
3. Read at least 3 books on the craft of writing as well as articles online. Read “Take Joy” by Jane Yolen. So many great nuggets on writing. Read articles.
4. Finish the first draft of “Catching Love” –finished part of another chapter.
5. Finish the first draft of my MG novel No
6. Write at least one picture book a month Worked on  picture book ideas and fleshed out ideas for a new story.
7. Enter competitions and twitter pitch parties –not til Friday
8. Take part in Write1Sub1 and 12 X 12 . Finished revisions on story for Highlights.
9. Fulfill duties of mentor at ROW80, visiting my team 2x a week –YES
10. Write at least 2 blog posts a week (other than ROW80) –Yes

WIPpet Wednesday

The challenge here is to use the date and share some part of your WIP based on the date.

Toady is January 28, 2015.  1 + 28 = 29  so page 29, 15 lines  for you to read.

The kiss is all over the internet and Emma has been put on leave from her teaching job.

Emma stamped her foot. “Be serious Flynn!  My principal forced me to take a leave of absence, as of this afternoon.”

     “So you haven’t lost your job yet?” Flynn inquired.

     “After today’s photo, I’m not so sure.”

     Flynn paced, running his fingers through his hair. He stopped in front of Emma.  “I thought about what to do on the way here. There’s only one solution. We have to pretend we’re engaged. I won’t have your reputation besmirched for my lapse of judgement.”

     “Engaged? Are you crazy? That will only make it worse.”

     “How? Those pictures make it appear that you’re,  you’re..”

     “Wanton? Throwing myself at you?”

     “I wasn’t thinking in such words but they work. If we’re engaged it will appear as if we were so in love, that I couldn’t keep my hands off you.”

“I want this to just all go away, Flynn. I want my life back and I don’t want you in it.”

Emma put her hands to her face.

     “I’m the one who got us into this unholy situation.” Flynn took her hands away from her face.

     Emma looked up at Flynn. “I thought that too, but I dressed the part and I agreed to do what Jenny suggested.”

Mid-week Check-in ROW80

Wednesday always comes so quickly after Sunday’s check-n. Since I started a new novel the end of last week I have become obsessed with it. I write often and have almost 15,000 words. The characters are even in my dreams.

I have not done much else, other than visiting other  Row bloggers and try to work on getting the house ready for Christmas.

I am still hoping to work on the goals I set on Sunday, but so far haven’t made much progress.

All the best in the week to come.

 

Here’s a new quote for you (one I have been experiencing the past few days)