Update: Missed a Post & Sunday Summary…A Day Late; With Some Soccer On the Side…

I was doing so well, keeping up on the blog reading, writing every day, updating my blog.  And then life got in the way. I hate when that happens. The good thing though, is that, although I missed an update and have to catch up on the blog reading, I DID write every day.  So looking at it from the glass half full perspective, I guess one out of three can’t be too bad. 

My current WIP is coming along really well and I have definitely found a direction that makes sense for my character.  Saturday I went back and read what I'd done so far and changed some things around again, added a bit of back story to a character who I thought would just be in the periphery but is turning out to be much more, and did some editing.  I am really liking what I have so far.  Now, whether anyone else will like it, well who knows.  But at this point, as long as I do, I'm ok with that. 

That leaves me with my other WIP, the short story that I have mentioned in previous posts.  It's still sitting here, and has gone through another round of editing. I'm still stuck with what to do with that one.  But I've collected a lot of information on e-publishing and so making a plan for that will be next on my list.  Maybe I can get something done before I go on vacation at the end of September.  That would be an incredible weight off my shoulders.

And on an unrelated note, the US Women's Soccer team lost in World Cup Finals.  I was sad about that, but all in all I couldn’t be disappointed with the U.S. team overall in the tournament.  I mean, after all, they did make it to the finals.  And talk about some exciting games!  My blood pressure has been through the roof  during every game just about. I can't imagine the pressure they were under.  Kudos to them for their amazing abilities and skills, their fighting spirit and their grace.  As for Japan, well, if the U.S. team had to lose, I'm glad it was to Japan.  Japan was consistent in their play throughout the tournament and talk about an amazing technical game.  They can pass that ball like no other team I've seen--at least not in awhile anyways.  The best part I think, was that it was a good, mostly clean game.  It wasn't about who was more aggressive or dirty plays, nor were there any controversial calls by the referees.  They were barely noticed as a matter of fact, which is the way any good referee is.  Instead the game was about pure skill.  The only change I hope for is that eventually FIFA gets rid of that silly penalty kick rule.  Just keep having extra time…ties are silly and penalty kicks are a crappy way to end a game, in my opinion anyway.  Soccer is a team sport, so let it have a team ending.

With that, I am off to get some writing in for today…continued good luck to all with your ROW80 goals!   

Stressed but Surviving (ROW80 Update)

Let me start this off by saying that I feel very unmotivated today. It's hotter than Hades outside and so I'm cooped up inside with the blinds drawn and the fan on, trying to stay cool. On top of that I'm dog sitting for my sister--her dog is huge and she is hot and miserable (the dog, not my sister; though my sister might be too, considering she is camping in this furnace).  So I've been a nervous wreck, putting ice cubes in the dog's water dish to keep it cold, and keeping a fan on for her.  Perhaps a bit overboard, but I blame the news--they keep freaking me out with stories about pets getting sick from the heat.  Add that on top of stress from work, waiting to hear whether I got into grad school and just some unnecessary drama I'm dealing with, well  it is no surprise to anyone who knows me that I've been wound tighter than a spring of late.  But...almost happily, I will end my rant-fest there, because despite the craziness, there has been a bit of a silver lining, at least in regards to my writing and the ROW80 goals.

Yes, I have found time to write every day for a minimum of an hour (yesterday it was four!) since last check in. I went through what I'd written earlier in the week and re-arranged some things, even added about three scenes that I find are necessary to fit the expanding story.  Writing, for me, is a great outlet to get stuff out and off my chest; an opportunity to just vent through the lives of my characters.  And I have definitely needed to vent.   It just feels good to just shut myself inside, turn the phone off and  just write for a little bit each day.  

So overall I am pretty darn proud of myself with the progress of my ROW80 goals.  Now, I turn my attention back to my WIP and set the clock.  Onward I go to the next goal post!   After I refill the dog's water dish, adjust the fan, and perhaps do a rain dance for good measure.

Success! ROW80 Update

So here is the first update for ROW80 challenge.  Given that my goals are somewhat modest--writing a minimum of an hour a day and perusing the blogs of others doing the challenge at least twice a week--I can thus far say I'm  a success.  But then, it's only been a couple days.  The real challenge will be later this weekend and next week when work picks up.  Will I be able to stay on track then?  I hope so.  Cause I'm loving the progress I've made so far.  With one small hitch--the short story that is done and itching for the next step in this process.  That had me stumped most of yesterday and for part of today.

ROW80: Round 3 Goals

So here we go, I'm diving right in, getting ready to start ROW80, round 3. I am  really glad I found this challenge, because this will really jump start the works in progress (ie. WIPs) I have in a stack on my desk, and in my nightstand.  My goal for this round:

• Write, or work on my stack of WIPs and/or my blog at least an hour a day, whether that be actually writing, editing, or revising or a combination thereof.
• Check in on the other blogs twice a week, both the ROW80 blogs and the ones I follow, to engage, discuss and hopefully, stay inspired.