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News & Contests

July accountability & August goals

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I’m guest posting today at Romance University on six steps to better character arcs in romances!

It’s the first Friday of the month! I’m reporting on my goals for July and setting new ones for August. Come join in!

July accountability

I had a lot of family stuff in July. My youngest sister graduated college (a 4-hour drive one way for me), so my parents came out for that. While they were visiting, we also blessed (christened) my baby, so my husband’s parents came up for that. Plus, we moved about two months ago, and it just. never. ends!!! Then we went on vacation.

Isn’t summer supposed to be, like, a lazy time? Sigh. So here’s what I did in July, writing-wise (mostly):

  • ACTUALLY FINISH THE BOOK—DONE!!! It ended up a little short in the first week of July, but it was fleshed out by almost 7000 words in the last quarter alone by the time I turned it in to my critique group on the 16th. That’s lots of work.
  • Finish editing this book for critique group. Yep, DONE.
  • Implement as much of my critique group feedback as possible—this book has required the most extensive post-critique rewrites. Sigh. I wrote the wrong book (at least in one storyline). Fortunately, my critique group is awesome and they were instrumental in figuring that out and helping me fix it. Now if only they could stop the world for me so I had enough time to fully fix it.
  • Continue unpacking Yeah, yeah. Always. I finished my office! Got most of my room unpacked! (I’ve been wearing the same week’s worth of clothes since we moved, so that’s a big deal.)
  • Start something new?? Probably something short. I have four ideas calling to me. We’ll see which one calls the loudest—still pondering this, plotting out a bit.
  • Load up on blog posts (including guest posts and interviews) so I can enjoy more time with my family—Check!
  • Read (while with the fam): tackle the digital TBR for a while—if I can find my Kindle. I just had it. . . . These things need locator beacons!—I finally found my Kindle. Funny story. Maybe I’ll share it one day šŸ˜‰ .

August goals

I’m still neck deep in family time (and loving it, of course!), so some of these goals don’t really start until later this month.

  • Send the sequel to I, Spy out to my usual beta readers, plus probably a few more & incorporate their feedback.
  • Prep the sequel to I, Spy to send to editor (and do it!)
  • Start something new! My optimistic goal: 12,000 words on something new. Should be doable….?
  • Read, read, read! Still working on that digital TBR, but the physical one is calling to me, too.
  • Unpack: tackle the garage, landing place for most of the stuff we brought over in the month after we “officially” moved.

What’s up for you this month?

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Writing Life

June accountability & July goals

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It’s the first Friday of the month! I’m reporting on my goals and setting new ones. Come join in!

Also, I’m guest posting today at Elizabeth Spann Craig’s blog on Why Spy? The appeal of spies in fiction. Come share your take (and find a picture of me playing spy in college . . . okay, playing dress up). And be sure to check out my interview at the Bibliophilic Book Blog yesterday, too!

June accountability

Last month, I tried to make my goals semi-achieveable. Why? I don’t know. Change of pace?

  • Launch I, Spy! Woot! Blog tour, guest posts, interviews, giveaways, contests—yikes.
  • Launch party on the 8th!—this went wonderfully! Check it out here.
  • FINISH THIS BOOK—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to finish it in March, folks. I’ve written books in the time that’s passed since my deadline. No, I’ve written three books in that amount of time! And it still isn’t finished! I did, however, get about 6000 words written in June.
  • Edit two more sections for critique—powered through I-hate-this-bookitis and got lots of great feedback and encouragement
  • Read—yes! Thank you, library, for giving me deadlines
  • Plan and prepare for upcoming events—Check-a-roo!
  • Unpack, eh?—Pretty good here. Hosting critique group and a visit from family prompted unpacking 30-40 boxes. Still have a lot to do in my bedroom, my office and all the little stuff that was brought over after the big move, mostly in unlabeled boxes in the garage. On the plus side: the old house is empty and on the market!

July goals

I’ve got a lot of family stuff coming up in July, but I can’t leave writing alone. Seriously, I can’t. It makes me very unhappy. You wouldn’t want to see me unhappy.

  • ACTUALLY FINISH THE BOOK—DONE!!! 9000 words this week. YES.
  • Finish editing this book for critique group. (Okay, so this is nearly done already. Woot!)
  • Implement as much of my critique group feedback as possible
  • Continue unpacking
  • Start something new?? Probably something short. I have four ideas calling to me. We’ll see which one calls the loudest
  • Load up on blog posts (including guest posts and interviews) so I can enjoy more time with my family
  • Read (while with the fam): tackle the digital TBR for a while—if I can find my Kindle. I just had it. . . . These things need locator beacons!

What did you accomplish in June? What are you shooting for in July?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Writing Life

May accountability & the last contest clues!

Today I’m a featured author at the Barnes & Noble Nook Mystery forum! Come visit & comment!

After a huge month in April, May tried its darnedest to outdo its predecessor. Hard to beat having a baby (on my birthday!) in April, but May did see me presenting and having my first booksigning at the LDStorymakers Conference, prepping for my book’s launch and coordinating some coming events—and buying a new house for our growing family.

Have you ever seen those stress tests where they’re like “have you done any of the following big life events in the last year?”? Yeah, I’m pretty sure just about all those are high on the list. My heart’s probably at risk right now, LOL.

May accountability

So, last month I set goals to:

  • Practice for and give my LDStorymakers presentation. Check! Very happy with how it went.
  • GET. THOSE. WORDS. DONE. For real, finish this novel. Ugh. I did make progress, but launching this book and moving had to take precedence. 10,000 words to go.
  • Business: finish the last couple steps for the publication side of I, Spy. Check!
  • Plan & prep for launch party (more on this as it gets closer!) Check! It’s tomorrow at the Orem Public Library!
  • Finish edits on novella. Check!
  • Prep the first part of my novel for critique Check! Sending this to my critique group today, then I’m attacking that last little bit to finish this novel.
  • Read! There’s always something on the TBR! Check!

Wow. I thought it would be a lot more depressing than that with everything that’s going on. I also added another specific goal:

  • Contact 100 book bloggers about I, Spy. Check!

It’s funny—if I don’t get my words, I feel like I’ve failed, no matter what other stuff I’ve done. (Like, I don’t know, move my entire life into another city last weekend?)

June goals

All right—I’m publicly setting some goals for June and I’ll report back on the first Friday in July. Thanks for being my accountability!

  • Launch party tomorrow!
  • FINISH THIS BOOK. I wanted to finish it in March, folks. I’ve written books in the time that’s passed since my deadline. I’ve written three books in that amount of time!
  • Edit two more sections for critique
  • Read.
  • Plan and prepare for upcoming events (don’t worry—I’ll keep you posted!)
  • Unpack, eh?

Wait, did I just put a manageable and realistic writing-related to-do list up there? Whaaaat?

And of course . . .

Today’s clues

We have the final stops on our launch tour today—and the final clues in our inspiration song contest!

Emily Gray Clawson – Mr. Nice Spy (Also: figuring out whodunnit)

Lindzee Armstrong – I, Spy (Also: using your spy skills while in labor!)

Andrea Pearson – Mr. Nice Spy

Christy Dorrity – I, Spy

What are your goals for June?? Have you come to say hey at the Nook forums yet?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
News & Contests

April accountability!

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So April was probably one of the biggest months of my life. I turned 30, had a baby, announced my first published novel—and as if that weren’t enough, I chopped 10″ off my hair last week.

2013-04-27 19.52.17 2013-04-27 21.04.09 2013-04-30 11.59.47
Before After How I do it

(I do this every year, except that I never got around to it last year.)

April accountability

So amid all that, I worked on my goals for April:

  • Finalize my presentation for LDStorymakers next month—DONE!
  • Get those last 12,000 words done? Maybe?—Looking back, that was actually 19,000 words that I needed to write. Ouch. I managed to squeeze in a couple thousand words (with some help from #writeclub on Twitter!)
  • Take care of business—Check! This also included working on the publication side of I, Spy.
  • Do a final read-through for each of my critique partners—fortunately, they complied, so check!
  • Finish inputting the paper edits and incorporate my critique partners’ feedback on my novella—Part A I finished earlier in the month; part B I finished on May 1.
  • Read!—Check! I knocked out six books (not including my CP’s MS) on my TBR pile!

Most importantly, of course, I’ve worked on keeping my four kids alive. (Clothed is a bonus.) My mom was able to stay until my baby was 9 days old, and then my youngest sister and her new husband came to help for another week (thank you thank you thank you!), but since then I’ve been on my own with a newborn, a toddler, a preschooler and a grade schooler. (Honestly, the hard part is making it to schools on time.) Luckily, my physical recovery is going EXCELLENT so I’m managing pretty well šŸ˜€ .

May goals!

  • Practice for and give my LDStorymakers presentation.
  • GET. THOSE. WORDS. DONE. For real, finish this novel. Considering my last three novels were written in a total of 8 weeks, and I’ve been working on this one for three months, it’s driving me nuts to still be working on it!
  • Business: finish the last couple steps for the publication side of I, Spy.
  • Plan & prep for launch party (more on this as it gets closer!)
  • Finish edits on novella
  • Prep the first part of my novel for critique
  • Read! There’s always something on the TBR!

How was your April? What’s coming up for you in May? Come share!

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
News & Contests, Works

March-a-thon final report & April goals

I use the first Friday of the month as my writing goal accountability here—come join in!

March accountability

marchathon 2013So for March, I set some lofty goals to conquer as part of the March-a-thon I ran for my writers’ support/education group. Here’s my progress report:

  • Project A: incorporate feedback and take this to finished product. Verdict: took longer than it should have, largely due to technical issues, but accomplished!
  • Project B: finish first draft (~28,000 more words). Verdict: Weep. 18,000 words to go.
  • Project C (novella): get ready to send to critique partners Verdict: Finished the paper edit early in the month, but the type-in took forever. Still in progress.
  • Project D: blog posts! Verdict: I’ve gotten ahead in most of my series, so I’d have to say accomplished—but I’d never say no to a guest post!
  • Read my library books before they’re due! Verdict: accomplished!
  • SUPER SECRET PROJECT: Verdict: accomplished! Look for more about this on Monday!

I was also able to keep up with my critique partners, which was actually quite the feat this month. (I forgive you šŸ˜‰ )

Though on any given day, it felt like these lofty goals were completely unattainable, I actually accomplish quite a bit! The daily pep talks from my group and our live chats & Twitter #marchathon Saturdays were a big help.

Lesson of the month: no matter how long it took in the past, everything can take longer than you expect.

April goals

After pushing myself very hard, I’m giving myself a break. So in April, I’m hoping to:

  • Finalize my presentation for LDStorymakers next month.
  • Get those last 12,000 words done? Maybe?
  • Take care of business (yay. taxes.)
  • Do a final read-through for each of my critique partners
  • Finish inputting the paper edits and incorporate my critique partners’ feedback on my novella
  • Read!

It sounds like a lot, but I’m hoping to limit myself to one or two tasks a day (not including reading; that’s not a task!).

Anticipated lesson of the month: sleep is really important.

How did you do in March? What do you hope to accomplish in April? Come share!

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
News & Contests, Works

Get a jump on your goals with the March-a-thon!

Looking for a pick-me-up for your writing this month? Come join me in a March-a-thon—but first, how I did last month.

February accountability

marchathon 2013I was really hoping to finish this first draft in February, but (sigh) it didn’t happen. But I’ve been keeping careful track of what I did do:

  • Critiques for my CPs
  • Blog posts (yay!)
  • Newsletter
  • Travel for my cousin’s wedding and spend time with my visiting grandparents
  • First read through on the novella I finished last month
  • And, yes, I did write!

So, in the interest of accountability, how much, exactly, did I write in February? 31,275 words: not too shabby!

Saturday night, I made out a list of all that I need to get done in March, and the deadlines for each task. Then I did the math to figure out how much I need to write or revise or whatever to get it done on time. Woot!

But once again, I’m facing a lot of work. Luckily, I’ve got just the thing to push me onward . . .

March-a-thon!

For the second year in a row, I’m running a March-a-thon! It’s primarily for Authors Incognito, an online writers’ support group where I’m serving as Education Director. We’re setting lofty goals for March and encouraging others with pep talks and other fun events.

What does this mean for you? I’d love for you to join me in the “public” side of the March-a-thon. Come share your goals for March!

Here are mine:

  • Project A: incorporate feedback and take this to finished product
  • Project B: finish first draft (~28,000 more words)
  • Project C (novella): get ready to send to critique partners
  • Project D: blog posts!
  • Read my library books before they’re due!

Did I mention we’ve got more family stuff this month, so I’m looking to finish this all by the 23rd?

I’m crazy.

You can come be crazy with me! We’ll have regular check-ins here each week and I’ll keep you posted about public sprints on Twitter. Come join in!

How did you do last month? What are your goals for March? Ready for a March-a-thon? Come share!

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Technique, Works

“Making” time

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I think anybody who’s really made an effort to write understands that it’s not about wishing you had the time, or even finding the time, but making the time to write.

With three kids under five, free time is a joke. My efforts to make time to write are hurting my well-being and my family. (This is because that made time never seems to start until 11 PM, and Baby has a special “Mommy’s exhausted” alarm clock that rings at 5:30AM.) (And 2AM.) (And midnight.)

So I’m thinking it’s time for a change. For a long time, I’ve been attracted to the idea of getting up early to get most of my writing in. I love the idea of having a thousand or more words written by the time the kids attack get up. (I also like the idea of actually being out of bed before they get up šŸ˜‰ .)

So last night, when I was up too late already, I saw Kelly Stone’s guest post about writing schedules. And the early morning schedule was the very first one listed (of seven—seven different writing schedule options).

So I’ve undertaken the challenge, starting this morning. (Ooooor not. That special “Mommy’s exhausted alarm” kicked in from 12-1AM and 5-6AM, and that pretty much killed the what I thought was very reasonable 7 AM wake-up time.) As part of my challenge, I’m going to make myself accountable to report on what time I actually get up (and what I do thereafter). I’ll Tweet about it (I know, that really makes you want to follow me) and put a note in a post if I’m blogging that day.

Do you have a goal for your writing schedule? Have you ever tried to change?

Photo by Grant MacDonald

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