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.