Failure To Flash

Not only did I not flash on Saturday, I didn't even post. The last few days have been a whirlwind of late nights and early mornings where it seems that nothing is getting done. I mean, I am getting things done, but not the things I wanted to do.

I mentioned before that I was reading Harry Potter to my 7 year old. We are near the middle of The Prisoner Of Azkaban and it is so much fun to re-experience the books with someone who doesn't know what's coming next. He's so mad right now at Sirius Black for betraying Harry's parents. Very entertaining.

I am now also reading to my 14 year old because she was jealous that I was spending time reading to her brother, but not to her anymore. She is perfectly capable of reading the book she has chosen, but it's about spending time together. Which has been nice.

I'm working on getting down exactly what my ROW80 goals will be, but I have cut a few things I was planning that I am now thinking will not get done and just cause stress. I know I will need to have July and  then the rest of the round goals. Have you decided on your goals for round 3 yet?

I have still made time every night to plot, often resulting in crawling into bed at 4am, and am weaving in the romance plotline. The romance is my favorite sub plot. I love this post about using the 12 stages of physical intimacy to build tension. My placement was feeling wrong. It was rushed then there was a big lull and then bam rushing again. So I went back and now it feels more spaced out and natural.

I am really excited about Camp NaNo and am feeling confident that I can meet my goal of 25,000 words. My plot still has bare spots, but last night I finished plotting the end. I have been very worried about the final confrontation, but am feeling more calm. What is your favorite sub plot to weave into your main plot?

Now I'm off to see what my ROW80 friends are up to.

Photos by Pixabay.

And That's A Wrap Plus Flashing

So this is the end of the 2nd ROW80 round for this year. I had a ton of trouble meeting my goals as the round started. I didn't get my crap together for the first 38 days because I have always loved snails and making slow progress. (Where is that sarcasm font people are always taking about?) However, I seem to be on track now. I am sad to see this round end. I don't get nearly as many visitors or have fresh posts when I hop around to say hello, but we will be starting up again on July 6th. Of course that is a Monday and we usually check in on Sunday and Wednesday so I am mildly confused, but that is what it says on the ROW80 site. I think this may have happened to me at the beginning of this round as well.

Still working out exactly what goals I will be pursuing for round 3. Like I mentioned on Sunday in July I am participating in Camp NaNo at 25,00 words. So that's 834 words a day. I will admit I am worried about finding the time to sit down, but that always seems to be my problem so I probably sound like a broken record. As it stands now I do a lot of my writing things late at night and that whole getting up in the morning thing is much harder when I have been up late.

A cool thing that was posted in one of the writing groups on The Facebook is that Saturday June 27th is National Flash Fiction Day! I am planning to flash that day and share the results. Anyone interested in joining me? I love flashing as a group. Yea, I meant that exactly the way it sounded.

ROW80 Rundown:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.
Sunday and Monday I spent at least 2 poms plotting. I wanted to look something up so I hopped over to TV Tropes and I got distracted and lost about 6 hours of my life. It was after 4:30 before I put the phone down and tried to sleep.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.
I am honestly not sure. The post is going out late again and I can't remember working on these poms like I wanted to the past few days.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.
Mostly no, I want to get better at this and stop having to say that I didn't make it. I think I need to set an alarm on my phone reminding me to search Twitter and see what I can retweet when I don't have anything cool of my own to post.

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.

I don't remember how many blogs I hopped to, but did visit every day and spent at least a poms worth. My ROW80 friends are really up to some interesting stuff.

Pics by Pixabay.

Late and Short, but Terrific

OK so everyone knows Sunday was Father's Day, but it was also my 14th wedding anniversary. I was a little busy and completely forgot to post. I am getting so excited for Camp NaNo to start. I am aiming for 25,000 words. I don't have much to add besides the check-in so I'll just get to it.

ROW80 Rundown:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.
I was able to make time to work on plotting the story every day since Wednesday. I made a few breakthroughs with a scene I was having trouble with and identified a few magic things that need to be added. This is definitely a win.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.
Spent a little time on this, but certainly not 2 poms worth. I am changing this goal for the next round for sure. Most nights there just isn't enough to do to need 2 poms. Though now that I think about it I need to decide on my goals for round 3.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.
I posted a few times, but not everyday. However, I am happy to have made progress.

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.

I visited every day but Sunday. I was able to visit 10 people and left comments saying hello at most of them.

Coughing With Jazz Hands

I want to thank the amazing ROW80 community for lifting me up when I was too down to get back up myself. The last few days I have made way more progress than the rest of the round put together. Of course the reason I've had the time is because I've been in bed for most of the last 2 days. Being sick has been no fun, but at least I was able to still be productive with my phone. Yay smart phones. I haven't had a chance to look back over what I added yet. Hopefully it isn't just mad rantings between Nyquil knock outs. I'm hoping the momentum sticks and I am looking at the coming Camp NaNo thinking why not torture myself. 

ROW80 Rundown:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.
I have easily spent 6 poms plotting on both Monday and Tuesday. I am so excited that I'm doing jazz hands. They make it very difficult to type, but sometimes the only response is jazz hands.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.

Yes, I spent time on Monday brainstorming topics that I would like to research and possibly post about. This was kind of accidental because it was one of those research cascades that end up opening a billion tabs in my browser. On Tuesday I started working on this post.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.

Still haven't hopped back up on this horse, but I'm so excited about the increase in plotting production that I'm not all that worried about it at the moment.

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.

Sunday and Monday I made it around, but got so distracted plotting on Tuesday that I forgot to visit. I think I stopped by 6 blogs.

Photos from Pixabay. 

Writer Down, Writer Down!

I am not sure what happened, but by the time I realized I missed the midweek check-in it was already Thursday and I didn't have time to post. This is an extremely busy time of year for me. I have to find and organize the kids curriculum on top of a hundred other things that normally go on. Oh, who the hell am I kidding, I haven't been able to get this writer thing going. Every check-in feels like the same old crap. I post how I didn't reach my goals AGAIN and that I will do better next time or I rearrange my goals for the billionth time and still don't reach them. I am truly not sure what I am doing. It seems like I dream about writing, talk about writing and read about writing, but when it comes down to it I never seem to get much done. So here I am again saying that I haven't gotten much done. I know, you're all shocked.


ROW80 Rundown:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.

I was able to work on my plot Monday and Thursday. Today was a rough day where I wasn't able to make anything besides dinner happen. That may not seem like a lot, but it felt like a monumental task to me.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.
Nope, not a peep since last Sunday.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.
More NOPE! Where did that damn cat get to?

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.
I visited a little from last Sunday's list, but nothing for Wednesday's.

How do you make writing a priority? How do you get everything done and make time for writing? Why do I keep asking the same questions and not making any progress? <Possibly rhetorical question, answer with care.

Top by Pixabay.
photo credit: Procrastination dragon via photopin (license)

Poms Under Fire

This is obviously a coordinated strike on my writing time organized by my family. Also, just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get me. I have been struggling hard to make myself sit down and write. There are a billion things on my to do list and every time I scratch one off two more grow back in it's place. I actually screamed at my to do list notebook,  "You are not a freaking hydra!" Then I realized it might be time for a nap.

Please leave me a comment and tell me a time you did something so bizarre you just had to put everything down and quit for a while so I don't feel alone. Make sure to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back.

ROW80 Rundown:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.
Even while under assault by my family I managed to sit down Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I didn't make a lot of progress, but at least I was able to write some.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.
I only worked on a post today.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.
Nothing, I didn't even try. I totally forgot and the days seemed to have less and less hours as today neared.

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.

This has become much easier now that I have a dedicated time to be spent and not a quota of people visited. I spent more than 1 pom because there were Insecure Writers to visit.

Photos by Pixabay. 

Going Rogue

Today is the first Wednesday of the month and so it is time again for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Oh so many are the reasons to be insecure and especially when writing. My biggest problem still is making time for the writing thing. I suppose I might have other problems if I made more time.

I haven't made much progress, but it hasn't been that long. My bad guy is being snotty, but I guess that's a good thing because he's... the bad guy. I had plans for his first interaction with the heroine, but he seems to have a completely different idea. It feels like I'm dealing with a 4 year old who won't listen. I have never had such an unruly cast. Of course I've never successfully finished a novel either. Maybe there isn't enough time in a short story for things to get so out of hand. 

Have you ever had a character just ditch what you planned and go rogue? What did you do and how did it turn out? Please leave me a comment and tell me who the mascot for your most recent post is, but also make sure to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back. 

ROW80 Rundown:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.
I was able to sit down and write Monday, but Tuesday was so crazy and I didn't get there.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.
I probably spent 1 pom in the last few days brainstorming and I responded to the lovely and encouraging comments so probably got this one.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.
I posted a link to my Nope post on my Author Facebook page and on Twitter, but that is all I was able to accomplish.

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.
I did this on Sunday and Monday, but again I fall on the Tuesday was crazy sword.

Photos by Pixabay.