Knocked Down and Explosions

I'm not really sure exactly what is going on. I was knocked down hard by the 10th anniversary of a devastating personal tragedy. It was all I could do to complete day to day tasks and homeschool. It is the end of the round and my story is still bugging me. I contemplated not bothering for the rest of this round and just moving on, but the more I tried not to focus on how many days in a row I had gone without writing the more the story popped into my head. Do you know what it is like to try to concentrate on primary English lessons when some mad freak is calling lightening to set a huge pavilion full of people on fire and someone else is lobbing fireballs at them. Yes, I know it's a bit over the top, but my characters are getting frustrated and restoring to explosions in public to get my attention. Oh, the poor innocent bystanders.

I feel like I keep coming back to the same thing. The life I'm living VS the life going on in my head and I must tell you I'm getting on my own nerves. I know I have to decide what I really want to do and pursue it. I know homeschooling is a priority over writing, but I don't know how many things I can do while maintaining the small gains I have maid with my health.

I am aiming for writing and visiting ROW80 friends every day.

How are you all doing on your round? My hope is that it has been more productive than mine. Please leave me a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

Photos from Pixabay.

The Nothing Is Coming

There is so much difficult stuff going on right now that I haven't even made time to write. I think I want to do this, but I am feeling as apathetic as Morla. Though thankfully I am not currently residing in the Swamps of Sadness, but I feel like I have recently visited.

"We don't even care, whether or not we care"

I have literally made no progress on any of my goals. I have been busy tending to the home stuff, school stuff and personal stuff that writing has fallen to the wayside. I am listening to the book Quitter by Jon Acuff while working on other stuff. He is funny and I am enjoying it, but I fear in my current mood the advice is mostly bouncing off. However, one thing did stick in my head he said there is a formula to fill in and remind you what you need to do to keep you going toward what you are dreaming about doing with your life.

Do I want to _____? Then I have to _____.

He said it was easy to figure out and say, but hard to practice. So mine would look like this:

Do I want to be a writer? Then I have to write every day.

He also suggested using the time first thing in the morning before your excuses have had time to wake up to work on your dream. Then he had a very funny bit about getting up earlier. I am convinced. Trying to work on writing things after the kids have gone to bed is obviously not working for me. Dang, now I sound like Dr. Phil. So I will be trying going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. Hopefully I can beat my little early riser and get some stuff done.

What sacrifices do you make to chase your dreams? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.



Photos by Pixabay.

Reading And Partying Not Writing

So if I'm reading and partying I probably don't need to tell you that very little writing has been done. On the long drive to my sister's house I was reading Rock Your Plot: A Simple System for Plotting Your Novel. I am only on the second chapter because it is very hard to read as the kids fight in the back seat. I think I read the same paragraph about 8 times before I shut it down and stopped trying, but I am enjoying it and look forward to getting back to it tonight. I don't see much of a difference so far between Rock Your Plot and Larry Brooks' Story Structure Series over at StoryFix2.0. However, it still has nice tidbits and you never know when something said in a slightly different way will create an aha moment. I am sure I can use as many aha moments as I can get at this point.

ROW80 August & September Goals Rundown

1. Write 2 Poms every day.
I was able to write on Wednesday and Thursday night, but Friday and Saturday were a no go. I had to edit a paper for my daughter on Friday night and it took me a long time. Then on Saturday I was at my nephews' birthday party. It was nice to hang out with family and have fun, but I missed my imaginary friends.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
This one is later shorter than I like, but still here.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I have been visiting my ROW80 friends. You guys are so busy and really hitting your goals. It makes me happy for you, but sad that I am not achieving everything I planned to. Instead of getting down I am using your inspiration to get myself going again.

4. Post to Twitter on ROW80 days.
So far I am still getting this done. Yay, done!

Photos by Pixabay.

Pikachu Kept Me From Writing

That's not just some gimmick to get you to click. I have an Etsy shop and I have a few things for sale on a constant basis. When I filled my last order I forgot to restock. So now I am working my rear off making these cute little beaded Pikachu key-chains and don't have time for writing. I usually keep enough in stock that I can handle orders, which honestly don't come often, so I have a ship in 2 business days policy listed. All I can say at this point is big fat HAHAHA. Must get back to weaving electric rats.

What crafty things do you do? Can you make anything, besides people and a whole new world that is? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

ROW80 August & September Goals Rundown

1. Write 2 Poms every day.
From the title and intro you know that my hands have been bound in a small Pokemon army and have not been free to type.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
I am still doing this! Even if I have nothing, but failure to report.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
OK, so I planned to make this happen, but nothing doing. I still want to know what you guys were up to so I will probably click the old linky and stalk you all. Mwahahahaha. Um, that came out way creepier that I intended. Oh well, no time for edits.

4. Post to Twitter on ROW80 days.
Still on track for this goal. So I guess it wasn't a complete fail of a check-in. I got 50%, though that would be an F if I was being graded. I have sad, but with selling the Pikachus I also have moola and right now that's kinda important.

Photos by Pixabay.

100 Days To Nail A Habit

As part of next years homeschool journey I wanted my children to start a gratitude journal. Of course I will be joining them because I believe teaching by example is the best way to teach children. While looking up exactly what goes into a gratitude journal, especially for someone as young as 7. I stumbled across a 100 Day Habit Challenge and we all know how easily I am swayed into joining a challenge. This challenge reminded me a lot of ROW80 because you set your own goals. You pick 3 goals in different categories to focus on over the next 100 days and you replace old bad habits with newer and hopefully good and productive habits.

The categories are creativity habit, anything habit and health habit. For the creativity habit portion you choose a project that would make you ecstatic to complete in the 100 days. The anything habit can be, well anything, a new morning routine or catching up with a friend/family member everyday. The recommendation was whatever will make you happy, is good for you and does harm to none. Finally, the health habit can be any habit that will help you improve your health. There is even a nifty calendar you mark off every day as you work on your new habit for 20 minutes or more. The theory is the more you check off the less you want to skip it and risk breaking the streak.

My creativity habit is to write every day and finish the first draft of The Most Magical Place. My anything habit is to get up at the same time every day and stick to a morning routine. My health habit is to go to bed by 2am. We agreed to start tomorrow so that means I haven't messed up yet, right? 

I googled it and I think the idea or at least the printable calendar was formed on this site, but the idea of a 100 day challenge is not a new one. The first one I found didn't have her branding or the quotes on the printable.

Have you ever heard of or tried a gratitude journal? Was it helpful? Do you work all year to break old habits or is January the only month that sees good habit attempts? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

ROW80 August & September Goals Rundown

1. Write 2 Poms every day.
I wrote Thursday, but not Friday or Saturday. I am behind on planing and gathering materials for our next homeschool year because I didn't do anything in June except Camp NaNo, eating and sleeping.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
Still a win in this category.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I did make it around to visiting my ROW80 friends as well as my IWSG friends. I love seeing what you guys are doing, it keeps me inspired to try harder.

4. Post to Twitter on ROW80 days.
More win! I even managed to post another day. When I stopped over to visit Kristen, one of our ROW80 friends, she gave me reasons NOT to facepunch a bear. I am not entirely sure I needed more reasons not to facepunch a bear, but there you go. The post made me laugh so hard I just had to retweet it. Go read it if you haven't already.

Photos by Pixabay.

Pacing And Dialogue Make Me Insecure

It's the first Wednesday of the month so that means it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. The purpose is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Together we are going to rock the neurotic writing world!

One thing I feel insecure about is the pacing of The Most Magical Place. I mean how long should one scene be? In my outline i had a scene taking up one slot, but as I started writing it grew. It is now extremely long and looks like it could be broken in 2 or even 3 places. What details are too trivial to include and which flesh out the characters or settings? I am also wary of an info dump because a character who has been dealing with the situation my hero has just been dropped into has come on stage. I'm sure some of it will get cut and I'm trying not to worry about it now, but man it's feeling a little out of control. What do you do when a scene seems packed with things you want to share with your readers, but is getting too long? How do you rearrange things to make room for a new scene you didn't anticipate?

Another thing that is giving me trouble is dialog. When I envision my characters talking to one another it always seems smooth and well put together, but somehow that doesn't translate onto the page. Often when I reread what I wrote the characters that aren't interacting. They are just standing or sitting there talking at each other. In my mind's eye they are moving and doing stuff or at least showing some sort of reaction to what they've just heard. Other than rolling their eyes. I don't want my beloved characters to become automatons. How do you remember to make your characters move around as well as speak? Do you have a guide to how much dialog you use?

The last thing on my neurotic writer list is my inner editor. Oh, this lady has some nerve! I am forever gagging (Which always ends up with garish red lipstick all over my hands.) and tying her up then shoving her in a closet. Unfortunately somehow she finds her way out again and back into my head. When I tell her to get the hell out she just laughs. I think I need to find a new strategy for dealing with her. Maybe I will take her pointy red glasses and poke the lenses out or maybe I could see if her beehive hair do has enough product in it to set on fire. What strategies do you use to get past your inner editor? What does your editor look like to you?

Please be sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

ROW80 August & September Goals Rundown

1. Write 2 Poms every day.
I wrote on Sunday and Monday, but skipped Tuesday. I had an MRI in the early evening and the sedative they gave me made me very distractable. Just in case you didn't know being shoved in a tube is not fun.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
I'm here and I'm doing it. Keeping it moving and making sure I am keeping myself accountable is a big part of my plan, but ROW80 has taught me to be flexible and not beat myself up when I make a misstep.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I did go and visit some of you. I only had time for 5 of my wonderful ROW80 friends, but I spent my pom which was my goal.

4. Post to Twitter on ROW80 days.
Still keeping up with this and not letting it stress me out anymore.

Photos by Pixabay.

Success And A Group Happy Dance

Come dance with me!

I did it! For the first time since I started participating in NaNoWriMo events in 2011 I flopped across the finish line. The happy dance started at 4:16 on Thursday morning. Camp NaNo was a lot easier because I set my goal at 25,000 but I'm still happy and really excited. It was a lot of work and I was very frustrated several times, but in the end I am glad I worked on it and made my goal.

I had a homophone exchange very late Wednesday night and I was so delirious I laughed for like 10 minutes managing to wake up my husband and son. Then I had to write the following in my blog draft before I could move on:
I can't discuss this right now. I have to meat someone. Get out of my way!

Most hilarious error EVER! That's right I am just off to shank someone with a T-bone steak. Don't stand in my way or I'll get you first. This scene has taken a whole new twist. In the middle of my mad dash for the end I had to stop and write this down so I don't forget it, even though I am sure I never will.

What is the funniest writing error you can remember making? Come on share with us in the comments we all want to laugh together. Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

At the beginning of the round I made 2 sets of goals. July's Camp NaNo goals and a more relaxed strolling set for August and September. I took the rest of July (1 day) off completely because sleep is good and it keeps us from yelling at innocent bystanders.

ROW80 August & September Goals Rundown

1. Write 2 Poms every day.

I am still plugging away at The Most Magical Place, but not at a pace that is guided by word counts. I am sticking to my Poms and focusing on writing after the snoring sound is coming from my son's room. So many people say the write to music, but I prefer the melody of a running dishwasher and snoring kids.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.

I love participating in ROW80 because it gives me something to focus on when I'm not sure what to say. So far so good on getting posts out.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.

I skipped Wednesday and Thursday, but hopped around Friday and Saturday.

4. Post to Twitter on ROW80 days.
I posted to Twitter several times as I got closer to the end of Camp NaNo and remembered to tweet when I posted on Wednesday. So I think this check-in's goals are all wins. Take a picture because this doesn't happen often.

Photos by Pixabay.

Wait, What Day Is It?

It's moving right along day. I gotta make this quick because I am at 22,764 of a 25,000 goal for this Camp NaNo and I would like to make it to bed before the sun comes up today.

Do you speed up or slow down when you are getting near your goal? Does the pressure of a challenge help or over stress you? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
I should have edited this goal because I fell behind and needed a minimum of 1,248 words to make it across that finish line. I am doing it! Not just the 800 I originally intended, but I am almost there. This is me not breaking into a happy dance yet because I have too much to do. So moving right along.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
Yes, so far so good. I didn't even realize it was Wednesday until my husband asked me if I was planning to skip my post because I got a late start on writing tonight. I have been writing until late and crashing, but wanted to take a minute to say I am getting close and make sure someone has the champagne, cake and sparklers ready.

Today's Mascot Nosey Dog

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
Oh crap guys. I totally flaked. I wanna know how you all are doing and I will get to see you before next check-in.

4. Tweet about my post on check-in days.
I know this is not exactly how Twitter works and I am still reading and favoriting people's tweets, but finding and checking out possible links to retweet just had to go. I guess if I am telling you again I must be feeling guilty, but can't worry about that now. But onward, upward, till the goal ye win.

PS: I am fairly sure Blogger is possessed and is trying to make sure I don't get to writing so pictures may or may not be screwed up and there is nothing I can do.

Photos by Pixabay.

Almost On Track and Important PSA

Today's Mascot: Grunting Running Guy!

I'm 110 words short of on track for Camp NaNo, but I'm tired and my brain hurts. I just wrote a scene that actually made my heart start to race. I have never experienced that before. Of course it could be because it is so late and I need to go to bed, but I am going to go with it was an exciting scene.

PSA: It's hard to breath hot chocolate. The oxygen content is just not sufficient and you will be hacking up a lung for a while. Which is not only very distracting while you are trying to write, but wakes up small children. Also, when it's piping hot the burning sensation lasts longer. You have been warned.

How do you know when you've really gotten into a current work in progress? What do you like to do to your characters to get your heart pounding? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
I am very proud of myself for making my goal of at least 800 words every day even though I really didn't want to do it any more and was mega frustrated on Wednesday evening. Some arguing with my husband to get him to take the little one to play outside was a huge help.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
Still on target for this goal. So far I haven't missed one.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.

I had been doing more than 1 pom of visiting, but I only made it to see 4 people. There were a few people I normally check in on that I missed. I hope you all had a very productive week.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
Refining this goal to be posting on Twitter when I blog. I will still check it out when I can, but I am not going to pressure myself to do this right now. I am not getting it done anyway and I need not to be stressing over stuff that isn't as important to me. So we are moving right along!


Photos by Pixabay.

Officially Behind and Panicky

I am officially behind. I now need at least 850 words to make it across the Camp NaNo finish line. At this moment I can tell you I truly have no idea what I am doing. I am kind of stuck. I could probably make it though or just move on, but every time I sit down to write something or someone interrupts me. Not things I can just ignore, but stuff that if you try to ignore it gets much louder and much more stressful. I can't go somewhere else and there is no where in the house that is safe. I am not getting enough sleep and my concentration is waning. I feel unbelievably overwhelmed and like there is no point in trying because it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen while my son is in the house or at least younger. I don't want to quit another thing, but there just doesn't seem to be space in my life for all the commitments I already have and of course I am the one whose dreams have to go on hold.

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
I don't think I wrote anything since the last check in, but I had been up until 5 am trying to get some done and have to be up no later than 10 so the days have all begun to run together.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
So far so good, but each check-in makes me feel more sad and panicky.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I visited like 2 people. This is one thing I am sorry I didn't make it to. I really enjoy seeing what my ROW80 friends are doing. I kept clicking on a link and falling asleep, which often results in being smacked in the face by my phone...REPEATEDLY.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
Strangely enough for the past few days I have been doing this. I have no idea why because I didn't set the alarm I was going to. I guess just interesting stuff crossing my feed and I can retweet quickly.

Photos by Pixabay.

Baffled By Falling Behind Again

I set the goal lower than NaNoWriMo and still I am loosing steam. I went to the memorial service today for my Great Uncle Joe and realized that I didn't recognize half the people there, though I was related to them. It made me so sad because it seems that our extended family has stopped gathering except for funerals and weddings. They are kind and amazing people, but everyone is so busy with life and we always think there will be tomorrow. I tried to write tonight, but I am having trouble concentrating so I will leave this short check-in and go to bed.

PSA: Not sure I have said this recently so I will say it now. Back up your files! Go on, do it now. You don't want to loose what you have been working so hard on, do you?

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
I think I wrote on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but all the days are running together. There is no

time where there is peace long enough to write while people are awake and the more I need some time alone the harder it seems to get people to go to bed. I am still ahead of my projected goal, but just barely. Hoping it holds out and I can make it across the finish line.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
I am on target for this. So far so good.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I did a lot of reading, but was having some trouble commenting on Wordpress blogs on my phone so didn't say hello to as many as I would have liked.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
So much no. I really want to and I think I will, but it seems to slip through my fingers every day. I am wondering if I should just change this one. Must think on it.

Photos by Pixabay.

100th Post Celebration

I can't believe this is my 100th post! I started this blog way back on Halloween of 2012. My first post read like I was all hopped up on candy, which I may very well have been, and overly excited. For anyone who is keeping score that is the day RIGHT before NaNoWriMo and I did participate that year. I lost a lot of steam in 2013 only posting 26 times even though I was participating in ROW80 and should have made like 90. Best, or rather worst to the point of being entertaining, post from that year. Then I fell off the face of the blogging world in 2014. Times were super hard and I completely stopped writing. However, in 2015 I found my way back to writing and ROW80 remembering what an amazing community of people hang out there. I wish I could run some awesome contest to celebrate, but I am truly strapped for cash to buy prizes and I didn't even realize it was coming up until a few days ago. So instead I will just say thank you very much for stopping by and reading. Enough about things a long time past, on to what's been going on the last few days.

I was calling a character by the wrong name. I did it 28 times. When I went to talk about the character who's name I had been using and I wrote "I'm sure you miss Evelyn very much," said Evelyn it hit me. Now the hero's mother is talking about her self in 3rd person. She's not Napoleon and I don't want her to have that big of an ego. I know you aren't supposed to edit until Camp NaNo is over, but this bugged me SO much I had to fix it. Of course with the find feature and control V it was done in no time, but REALLY.

Today's Mascot: Rampaging Dinosaur

A few people asked if I had any proof that I had to deal with a rampaging dinosaur. The truth is yes, yes I do! I edited the photo to remove the name of the school in an online photo editor, but the rest was done on NUKE 8 which is an awesome rendering program that is node based. Or at least that is what the instructor said several times. Who am I to argue or interpret? As for the odd expression on my face. She didn't tell us what the pictures we took on the green screen were for or that she was taking a second shot of me when everyone else just got one. This was the best one and that makes me sad. Also, apparently I just make faces all the time. Incidentally I was the only person who didn't look as much like they were in a line up and I made up a backstory. The rays of light around my head are divine powers (They are not a result of my failure to follow instructions and desire to push ALL the buttons.) that have been granted to me to help me defeat the rampaging dinosaur. The look is my and you think you're tough do you look. In the next frame I will shoot some sort of ray out of my palms to destroy it or at least give it an all mighty sun burn.

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
I have hit this goal every day since last Saturday, but I am not sure if I will make it today. I wasn't able to focus on writing once the kids went to bed because I had to find some paperwork and for some reason I put on a book shelf instead of the dedicated file in the filing cabinet. Luckily I found it, but it took me about 5 hours. The moral of the story is always take the extra few minutes to put things back where they go. You will probably not remember to come back to them later and when you need them you won't be able to find them.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
I'm here and so happy to share this 100th post with you all.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I over did this a little, but you all had such interesting titles and I wanted to see what was gong on with you.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
Oh, darn. I was dong well at this, but just realized that I forgot to post Tuesday.

Photos by Pixabay.

Dinos, Witches and A Happy Dance

I am over 10,000 words and doing a happy dance. My pace has slowed and I did miss Saturday, but my average is still over what I need to meet my goal of 25,00 this month.

Yesterday was jam packed with awesome, but non-writing related activities. Very early in the morning and 2 hours away from the house I took my daughter to an exploratory class at a visual effects school. We were there for 6 hours using an interesting program and editing ourselves into a picture of a dinosaur rampaging in front of the school.  I was bored a few times, but the kiddo is now sure she wants to peruse video game design and rendering. Yay for reaffirming a career path. 

In the evening we were able to see 2 of her friends in Macbeth. It was set in post apocalyptic Scotland and it was an amazing production. The witches, my favorite characters, were so awesome and the kids we went to see did such a good job. Honestly, everyone did a great job. It was truly an enjoyable experience. I was mildly pulled out of the story for a moment during a few of the scenes where they are chasing each other. I was so amazed at Macbeth going up one set of stairs, down the back and through one of the sides only to repeat the process on the other side and then in reverse. Between the entrances and exits he had dialog and sword fights, but he did not seem winded at all. So interesting and impressive when I am just getting the strength back to be able to do the grocery shopping. 

All in all I am pleased with the way I spent my Saturday even if I wasn't able to sit down and write. Do you take breaks during a writing challenge or do you clear the calendar before jumping in? What is the best Shakespeare play you have seen? Leave me a comment and don't forget to let me know where you're from so I can follow you back and see what you are up to. 

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
As stated above I am still ahead of the word count, but did forgo writing yesterday.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
It's still early, but do far so good.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I didn't get around much the past few days. When I had a few moments yesterday and tried to visit I had no reception. Thoroughly annoying.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
Uh, yeah that didn't happen. The alarm would go off and I would find myself too busy to stop. I am thinking I should pick another time during the day.

Photos by Pixabay.

Stuck At The Bottom Of A Martini

While people who are easy going and polite are a treasure to have in your company. They are boring to write about and I assume if they are boring me to write about they would be boring to read about. I mean stuff blew up and that was interesting and fun. The female main character was scared and angry yelling at the male main character while attempting to put as much distance between them as possible and that made for interesting writing, but I am in a lull between moving away from one event and moving to another. They are sitting awkwardly in a living room talking about the freaking weather. The weather?! I wanted him to say something quipy and slightly antagonistic to rial her back up, but I don't even know what about. I am stuck and she is all like, "My martini is gone and he has been looking down at his mostly empty glass for over 15 hours! Get a move on writer lady!" All that she says to me, but not what they should talk about or how to get to the next scene. I'm about to just stop trying to force this scene, leave a note and MOVE ON!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what do you do when you have a general idea of what kind of interaction you want to occur, but are lacking the specifics? Where do you turn for ideas? How do you feel about leaving a note and moving on? Make sure to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

So moving on...

Today's mascot is a typing duck!

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
Was doing really well on this, but only wrote just over 200 so far today and I am not thinking I will make it because it is already after 9 and I am working on this.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
Well, this is the first and I'm here. YAY!!! OK, so maybe it's not that exciting, but like I said I'm feeling bored and restless.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I was able to do this and have visited lots of friends, but don't remember exactly how many. I also made sure to leave a comment.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
Yeah, I completely forgot to even post when I got my initial goals post out. So set an alarm on my phone to remind me. The worst part about posting on Twitter is I usually get stuck there for a while because there are so many good links to check out.

photo credit: ducktyping via photopin (license)
Other photos by Pixabay.

Turtles, Dogs, Plot Holes and Goals

Oh my!

Why do I put an "E" in the word slowly? It didn't just happen once, but every time I wrote it. I tell you, the red squiggly lines are my nemesis. Also, I think my characters are moving in slow motion for all the times I added slowly to my prose. Time to speed those people up.

Other than the fact that my story is populated by turtles who are obviously not of the ninja variety my Camp NaNo is going well. My average is about 1400 words per day so far and I'm excited because I was originally aiming for just over 800. I stumbled a bit over my hooking moment. I guess I'm going to have to work on my hooking tonight. Take that how ever you want.

Today there was a giant plot hole that opened up and was threatening to eat my entire story, but a long hot shower complete with a constant stream of muttering seems to have plugged it up. I got on my own nerves asking over and over again, "But why?" However, it did make me nostalgic for when my kids were smaller and full of the whys. I was also able to flesh out a scene that was feeling flat and outline 2 more.

Like a dog who has been home alone all day, I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU! The times between ROW80 rounds are lonely around here. Luckily the always amazing Insecure Writers Support Group stopped by to say hello. They always talk me out of my writing neurosis.

My goals for the third round of ROW80

*July*
1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
4. Post to Twitter every day.

*August - September*
1. Write 2 Poms every day.
2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
4. Post to Twitter every day.

I'm very pleased with how this Camp NaNo is going and excited to jump into ROW80 round 3. I hope you are all having productive weeks.

Do you ignore the squiggly red lines and other editing things while you create your first draft? What do you do when a giant plot hole opens up? Leave me a comment and don't forget to let me know where you're from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

Also, please stop by and visit some of my ROW80 friends.

Photos by Pixabay.