A Conspiracy Theory

This week has been crazy,
as I attempt to juggle a bunch of things.

Beyond that I was hoping to have my whole book edited by the end of January,
I'm averaging at about 5 chapters a week,
which is wonderful,
but not enough.

I'm about half way through my manuscript,
and I wanted to enter a contest at the end of March,
(giving myself a month away from my WIP to let it simmer in its own juices),
so I do have some buffer.
Drinking my Jolt Cola now...lol.

Here is a ROW80 run down of my week so far.

1. Doing well in this regard. Not surfing the net nearly as often. :)
2. Yup, recording my writing hours pretty much faithfully.
3. Yup, 500 words at least a day.

1. Signing in for ROW80 for the first time.
2. No blogs visited yet this week...but the week is still young. :)
3. Hope to get my extra blog post in at the end of this week.

Hope to get out visiting more this week. It's been crazy with all my appliances in my house conspiring to break down at the same time. :(
...I can hear them whispering...

I hope to get out and visit other blogs and see how you're making out in your ROW80 goals. Is anything in your life conspiring against you (an oven or a fridge perhaps)? Let me know...it might make me feel better...lol.

A Good Week - ROW80 Check-in

Just a quick check in as I want to get back to my writing...
such a wonderful feeling to say that. :)
But it's so true!
ROW80 has really worked to help me commit to my writing goals.
I am very happy with the progress I am making.

1. I still find myself struggling once in awhile but my attention span for my writing has gotten much better!
2. Recording my writing times. Sometimes I forget but I'm trying to remember to do it every day.
3. Yup, got my 500 words a day.

1. Signed in for ROW80 both days.
2. I was able to visit eight blogs so I was only two short.
3. Did not manage to get to my extra blog post this week. Perhaps I will do one tonight.

All in all a good week, especially considering I am using some of my "spare time" (ha ha) to help my dear husband (who is awesome) to finish an extra bedroom in the basement. Always busy. :D

How are your goals going? Are you managing to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) everyday? Drop me a line and I will take a chance to drop by your blog to check out your progress. Happy writing. :)

A Stumble and a Save

Had a rough chapter that took me a couple days of stewing before I got through it.
I just had to think it through a bit so I did:
over dishes, while driving the kids around, before falling asleep at night.
Until I found the right thread to pull to release the knot. :)
Yesterday, however, I recovered and was able to edit a chapter and rewrite two more.
I'm rolling right along in my writing. :)

So here it goes:
1. I'm getting better at focusing and not going to the social media. Not even tempted anymore. Definitely worth doing! It has paid me back with interest.
2. Faithfully recorded all my writing hours.
3. Yup, got in my 500 words a day.

1. Signing in for ROW80 today. :)
2. Visited two blogs so far. Hope to visit some more tonight.
3. Will do my extra blog post on Saturday.

How are my fellow writers doing? What gets you stuck and unstuck in your writing? Leave me a comment and let me know!

ROW80 check in: On a Roll. :)

I had a wonderful week!!
After a long time of short stints in my writing,
I am finally making some substantial headway!
And man, does it feel good. :)

So here it goes:
1. I don't know that I got three consecutive hours some nights but I have been able to avoid the social media during my writing time. I managed to get one chapter edited an evening during the week this way. Yesterday I was able to edit four chapters, help my husband with some work on the house and clean up the house a bit. Man, being productive never felt soooo good. :)
2.I kept a record of my writing this week for pretty much each day. I love doing this as I find that I'm more productive because I have to be accountable for the time I'm using. Very nice!
3.Yes, I did get at least 500 words in. Much more once I got started.

1. This is my second sign in for ROW80 this week. :)
2. I visited six blogs which is up from before but still not the ten I want to get to. Oh well, a new week is coming up. :)
3. I was able to do an extra book review blog post yesterday.

This week went very smoothly for me thanks to some productivity tricks and some good old fashion elbow grease. It makes going into the next week even more exciting!!

How's it going with the rest of my fellow ROW80ers? Each one of you that have visited my blog have successfully encouraged me closer to my goal. Thank you!! I hope you are also taking baby steps towards your goals. Drop me a line to let me know how it's going--I'd love to hear!!

Quick check in

Doing well this week,
although I'm very tired.
Up at six every morning,
and writing late every evening.

Here's how I'm doing:
1. Managed to write every night with only mild detours. It takes a lot of self control not to surf when the writing isn't flowing like you would like. lol. Happy with the progress though.
2. YES! Keeping records of all my sessions.
3. YES! Writing at least 500 words a night.

1. Signing in for ROW80 and I'm not late. :)
2. I've managed to visit five blogs so far. Hope to do some more later on this week.
3. I hope to do my extra blog post on Saturday's.

I feel really good about this week. I feel like I'm moving forward!
I hope that everyone else is having a good week.

How are you doing with ROW80 goals or your New Year resolutions? I hope it is going well! Drop me a line to let me know...I always love your comments. :)

ROW80 Check in...disappointingly wonderful

Hey, so I'm checking in for ROW80 this week.
I didn't get done what I wanted BUT I did manage to squeeze in a lot of editing time which is good.

Here are my goals and what I accomplished:
1. Dedicate 3 consecutive hours to writing/editing each day (NO Facebook, Twitter, Email, Blog hopping JUST writing...phew, I'm sweating just typing it out here).
Managed to dedicate the time but I admit to some straying to blogs etc. Perhaps I need to put in a reward system?
2. Keep records of my writing sessions
Didn't get to this BUT I'm planning on doing it today right after I do this blog post.
3. When I don't feel like doing any writing I will do at least 500 words.
YES!! I was able to edit/rewrite 6 chapters. Wonderful. :)


 1. Sign in for ROW80 twice a week.
Technically yes. I didn't sign in on Wednesday as I posted my goals on Tuesday. :)
2. Visit at least ten ROW80 blogs each week.
Epic Fail! Too busy writing. :D But I really want to get to know my fellow ROW80ers. I'll have to recommit this week!
3. Do at least one original blog post (other then the sign in) once a week.
Ummm...again I did not do this. But I have a book review in the works that I will be posting this week.

OK, So I'm recommitting myself to these goals this week and hoping that I can pull it off. As a homeschooling mom, writer, voice teacher, etc. etc. I found this post for busy moms.  Especially check out some of the links below from other busy authors.

So how are my other ROW80ers doing in the New Year? Or do you have some resolutions that you are trying to stick to during this brand spankin' new year? Drop me a line and let me know how you're doing!

New Year ~**~ New ROW80 Challenge!!

HAPPY 2012 Bloggers!!

Instead of making resolutions for the new year,
I am setting some goals for myself,
using the ROW80 challenge (you can find out info here).

For writing goals, I would like to have a fully edited manuscript by the end of January.
To achieve this?
1. Dedicate 3 consecutive hours to writing/editing each day (NO Facebook, Twitter, Email, Blog hopping JUST writing...phew, I'm sweating just typing it out here).
2. Keep records of my writing sessions as is recorded here. (Rachel went from 2,000 words a day to 10,000 words a day-- although I might not reach her goals this post looks like an effective way to increase my output).
3. When I don't feel like doing any writing I will do at least 500 words. This is advice given by Kait Nolan here on the ROW80 site-- the idea of a Test Mile (although I don't plan on running ever...especially not after her sentiments affirmed my own...lol).

Blogging goals:
1. Sign in for ROW80 twice a week.
2. Visit at least ten ROW80 blogs each week.
3. Do at least one original blog post (other then the sign in) once a week.

I am very excited about this year and my work in progress. I hope that all others involved in ROW80 have a wonderful first week. I look forward to interacting with you as we all write together. :)

Back? ROW80 check in

I'm still here,
just barely keeping my head above water. :)

I've been working on a paper for my class for the past 2.5 weeks (finally done).
I've also been tweaking my novel outline,
and doing a massive edit for November.
I imagine there are a lot of blogs who are missing their writer's during November. :)

This week I would like to get ahead in my reading for class,
and finish off my final response essay.
I would also like to tweak the first ten chapters of my novel,
and attend a write-in with my writing group this week.
Also I would like to visit at least ten ROW80ers this week...
jumping back on the horse. :)

How about you? How are your November goals going? I'm thinking of all of you doing Nano! I'm rooting for you! Let me know how your word count is going. :)

No no to Nano...

I know...
pretty catchy title. ;)

I have finally decided that I will not being doing Nanowrimo.
I am currently editing my wip (working title Rosalyn),
and I will be spending November finishing it up.
I want to complete a full edit by the end of November.

So instead of Nanowrimo,
I am doing Nanoedmo. :)
I would love some company,
drop me a line if you want to join me in my large goal for November.

If you are not doing Nano this November then what are you doing? Do you have other goals you are trying to accomplish? Feel free to share. Would you like to join me with your editing goals? Or have an accountability partner? Drop me a line. :)

ROW80 Check in (sad day).

So I had an amazing beginning of the week,
and then I got this wicked cold. :(

So even though I got lots of chapters done on Monday,
I have not done anything since,
except stay alive and keep the house running.
And, of course, feel sorry for myself.

I only got two blog posts done this week,
and I'm barely keeping my head afloat in my class reading.

This week?
...lean in close...I don't want any errant germs to hear my dreams of grandeur...lol

I hope to do three blog posts.
Finish my reading for my class.
Edit three chapters.
Visit at least ten ROW80ers.

Still thinking about doing Nanowrimo...

Are any of you thinking of doing Nanowrimo this year? Why or why not? I would love to hear. Leave a comment for me. :)

Gobble gobble ROW80 check in

OK,
so I'm a day late.
But it's Thanksgiving in Canada,
and I spent the weekend eating,
and hanging out with the extended family.

I was feeling pretty dejected about my ROW80 week,
I only got one chapter done last week.
But today I hunkered down and got four (yes, four!) chapters edited.
I also got my reading for my class done,
and my blog posts in.
So all in all it was a good week.

It proved to me that I can edit lots of chapters if I put my mind to it.

So I'm full of turkey and ham,
and feeling very happy.
I hope that all the rest of my ROW80 comrades are doing well.:)

This week I'm upping my editing goals to five chapters.
I'm feeling brave. :D

 Gobble gobble. :)

First ROW80 check in?

It seems a little soon to be checking in,
but I'm here.
I'm working on editing a difficult chapter of my wip,
and so I've sort have been avoiding it...
but I promise I will do better.

I will get my three chapters done this week!
Hope everyone else is doing well this week,
I'm going to check some other ROW80 blogs,
and make brownies for the twitter party. :)

Ding ding! Round Four of ROW80!

Today Round Four of ROW80 begins.
You check out the info here.
(you know you wanna join...
come on...
it's sooo yummy!)

Basically, it is the writing challenge that is designed for the average writer,
who has a life beyond the computer screen.

I was kind of torn about what kind of goals that I wanted to set for this time around,
I have a lot on my plate right now.
But I need to get back to my first love: writing (sorry love...not talking about you this time)

Taking all that into consideration,
here are my goals.

Goals

1. Survive my History of English Criticism class
This entails personal response essays, two major essays, and an exam. Most of the reading for this is done on the weekends. I have already finished my work for this coming week. :)

2. Edit three chapters of my WIP.
I am hoping for more then three chapters but I want to be realistic as well.

3. Blog at least  two times a week.
I would like to get this up to three times but I am busy right now...lol. And, frankly, I need to focus on my novel first and foremost. :)

That is all I'm going to commit to for now.
Here's hoping that everyone has a great ROW80!
We are having a pahtay tomorrow on Twitter,
check out the details here if you would like to join us,
(I'll be the one with the lampshade on my head...).

Do you have any inspiring ways to keep on track with your goals? Please share them with me. No really. I'm begging here. ;)

Unfurling Imago

Sooo, Rach decided to torture us all for the second campaign challenge.

You can check it out here.

Below is my small contribution.

The rules were:

- use the word imago in the title

- use the words miasma, lacuna, oscitate, and syncronicity in the piece.

- must be two hundred words or less.

- **bonus** be exactly two hundred words and mention a mirror.

I've tried for it all and I hope you enjoy it. :)

PS: I've put the definition of the words at the bottom of the post for those of you who don't want to run to the dictionary every two seconds :D

Unfurling Imago

The only noise is the sharp ting ting as you stir your coffee. Two sugar and skim milk—just the way you like it. In the silence I trace the water spot on the yellowing wallpaper with my eyes. I ignore the miasma of our dying love wondering, instead, whether the brown spot is a dog or bird. I look at your blonde capped head bent over the newspaper desiring you. I know if your green eyes rest on me it will be void of the emotion that I crave. Leaving my body riddled with lacuna. It’s not your fault—it must be mine. Your chair scrapes against the linoleum floor as you stand to leave. In your hurry you leave only the smell of Old Spice–you flaunt that you are going to see her. The loneliness oscitates before me threatening to swallow me whole. The shiny surface of the toaster mirrors back the shadows in my eyes and the ghost smile on my lips. I wash your dishes in the hot soapy water. When the water drains the ring is gone and everything is much cleaner. I marvel at the synchronicity as the tears course down my cheeks.

Please vote for me! I am 189 in the list. :)

Imago (in title): an adult insect, an idealized concept of a loved one, formed in childhood and retained unaltered in adult life.

Miasma: noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere. OR a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.

Lacuna: a gap or missing part, as in a manuscript, series, or logical argument; hiatus. OR one of the numerous minute cavities in the substance of bone, supposed to contain nucleate cells. OR an air space in the cellular tissue of plants

Oscitate: To gape; to yawn.

Synchronicity: an apparently meaningful coincidence in time of two or more similar or identical events that are causally unrelated

Odds and ends, and good bye to ROW80

There is so much to say in this post...
first off do you like the fall look?
I was finding that my old look was a little too much like the view out of my window...
I needed something a little less dreary. :)

Alas, and alack, this is the very last check in for Round #3 of ROW80,
(the writer's challenge that knows you have a life.).
But before you dissolve into a quivering mass of unfulfilled goals,
take heart, Round #4 starts on October 3rd.
Check out the website here if you are interested.
This round was hard as I started half way through.
I did find a groove by the end of it though,
editing about 2 chapters a week.
I would love to up that. :)
So, yes, I am commiting to the next round,
hopefully I will do better. :)

The other little bit of housekeeping to do is my writing prompt days,
I think that I will be moving them to another day,
(so they don't interfere with my ROW80 posts as much).
I'm leaning towards Monday's (Memorable Monday's),
or Tuesday's (Tasteful Tuesday's).

I would love some insight from my followers. Which day would you choose and also what would you call writing prompt days? Leave a comment and let me know.

Finally, I was looking for a critique partner/beta reader for my Work in progress over at the campaign,
(which is totally awesome and you should check out all the cool winners of the flash fiction pieces here.)
Anyway, I have successfully found one crit partner (yay!)
but I am looking for a few more.
Particularly someone who has some experience in critting,
and writes in a similar genre as me.

If you are interested check out the tab above marked Help Wanted and get in touch with me. :)

ROW80 check in and Writing prompt #11:Write about someone who sinned.

I. am. so. busy.
No, not your average busy,
but a rare out of control busy.

I've started a new school year with my kids.
Started teaching voice lessons again.
Taking a course at university.
My oldest ds needs allergy shots once a week.

The list of appointments/engagements/stress inducers keeps mounting.

Anyway, despite all that I have been working on my novel.
I'm still editing and hope to get two chapters done this week.
Made a pact with myself that I will not go back to the first chapter until I've gotten all the way through the book.
Also want to make a point of visiting some of my ROW80 buddies this week...
I've been very lax.

Anyway,
on to the writing prompt which is "Write about someone who sinned."
The rules are the same:
set the timer for ten minutes,
and write without editing.
GO!

******************

It was such a small thing. Or so Greta had thought. She had not even nodded her hat covered head. It had been a mere shying away from the topic, her eyes glancing towards the ground. Indeed, not an indecent (or untruthful) word had escaped her red lipsticked lips. But her small gesture had grown into something much bigger. It was not long before more eyes were on the "scandulous" Beulah then on the pastor on Sunday morning. Indeed, Greta wondered if anyone had heard the message about a persons words causing a fire.
It truly was not her fault that Susie-Lou had told the whole choir. Or that the minister's wife had been standing close enough to see Greta's reaction to the question. She had merely been enjoying the attention that comes from having something juicy to relay over coffee after the service.
Now the persistent banging at the front door caused her stomach to roll over. She peered from behind her heavy curtains--carefully so that she wasn't seen by the imposing figure that stood on her front step. Beulah.
"You better come on out before I break your door down," Bealah's booming voice seemed to fill the entire house.
There really was no way to avoid this. Greta walked over to the door and gripped the handle tightly. Turning the brass knob slowly she whispered a brief prayer for forgiveness. Even if she had done nothing wrong.

Your Turn: What can you produce in ten minutes with no editing with the word prompt: Write about someone who sinned. I would love to read your work! Either post it in a comment (if it is short) or post the link to your blog. :)

First Campaign Challenge

The first campaign challenge called us to write a 200 word flash fiction piece,
starting with "The door swung open".
To add even more challenge,
you could end with "The door swung shut",
and also try to have exactly 200 words.
Here is my piece which meets all the criteria. :)

Heavenly Bodies

The door swung open letting in a whiff of antiseptic which she could taste at the back of her throat. She shifted on the cold metal table, her paper gown crinkling as the taller doctor cleared his throat. She looked at the floor as the red haired one put the film up on the glowing wall. The taller one spoke now in a monotonous tone, she watched his worn loafers carefully as he swayed back and forth. She didn’t need to listen to his words; she’d seen in the way he had held the clipboard like a shield against his chest as if she was contagious. It was back. She would need the toque that Nona had made her when the hair began to fall out. In the silence following the proclamation she found the courage to look at the pictures of her body stripped of skin. It surprised her to see how beautiful the cancer was, like heavenly bodies hanging in the dark night. The red haired one cleared his throat waiting for a response. She couldn’t break the silence. The picture looked benign and yet wasn’t. She could not tear herself away. Even as the door swung shut.

Cheat sheets and ROW80 check in

I am feeling a lot better today,
thankfully the cold did not stay long.
I achieved my goal for this week,
(two chapters edited--huzzah!).

This week is a crazy one again,
(first week of school and I have a bajillion appointments as well),
so although I have high hopes for this week,
I have to be realistic!

I'm hoping to edit two chapters this week,
do two blog posts,
and write a beautiful "About Me" page for my blog.

Today I wrote up an editing cheat sheet...
you know, a page that reminds you of the silly mistakes that you are always making.
Mine has comma's,
(I don't like them...they even look sinister...
like dismembered crooked fingers , , , just not right!),
putting in description,
and omitting unnecessary words (that, felt, seemed, as, while).

So it got me wondering,
what's on other writer's cheat sheets?

So, what's on your editing cheat sheet? You know, the fatal writing no-no's you commit unless you have a post-it note stuck to your computer screen.

Detour & ROW80 check in

I'm sick...
and a little cranky...
lying in bed...
with my pink blanky.
(you didn't know I did lyrics now did you??)

I don't feel like doing a writing prompt today,
but I thought I would share an insight with you instead.

I've been visiting other blogs due to this Platform Building Campaign,
which you can check out here.
And I've realized,
after seeing so many beautiful blogs,
that I have a lot of work to do!

So I'd thought I'd give a shout out to all the blogging peeps,
and see how they got their blogs to catch on fire.
I realize that I should probably have more about myself,
and also my current work in progress.
How else can I make my blog a more exciting place to be?

On the ROW80 side,
I've gotten one chapter done,
but I may be running myself a little ragged...
hence the cold. :(

Anyway,
I hope all my other comrades are doing well,
and I will try hard to pop by other peoples blogs this week.

Have a good night.

August 28th ROW80 check in

Just a quick post to check in for ROW80.
I was able to fix my story arc,
and I finished editing one chapter,
(I wanted to finish two).

So all in all it was a good week.
This week will be crazy,
as I have a ton of stuff to prepare before September.

It will either be super productive,
(as I lose myself in my writing to escape the craziness of my week),
Or I will get very little done,
because I'm being a good girl and getting my work done. :D

Anyway, I hope to get two chapters edited this week.
I hope everyone else in ROW80 has a good week. :)