Sunday Progress

I wrote another 1290 words today, and I'm happy. I also have revisions on another book due in a little over a week, so I need to stop now and switch gears. More tomorrow!

Sweating with Sven - Day .... Whatever

I managed another 1301 words yesterday, which is good. Not where I want to be, by any means, but progress. It's one of those times when I have too many things going on, and I can't turn away from any of them. There are times when you can pick and choose what you let invade your writing time, and times when everything is extremely urgent and equally important. That's where I am right now. I can't say "no" to anything, which makes life very busy, interesting ... and frustrating! Ah, well, that's life. No time for whining :) Gotta get my nose back to the grindstone.

Whew! Between computer issues, family issues, and getting ready for the RWA board meeting in San Francisco next week, I've been struggling to wedge work in here and there -- which isn't all that great when you're behind and fighting just to keep your head above water. Anyway, I'm thrilled to report that I wrote 1601 new words today! I feel so accomplished!

Sweating with Sven

I'm finally back in the saddle and happy to report 865 new words written today. Whew.

10,382 / 65,000 (15.0%)

70 Days of Sweat with Sven -- Day 3

I didn't write a word yesterday. Managed to revise four chapters, but didn't add much to my total page count. Still, it's progress!

The 70 Days Begins - Day 1

Okay, so it's Monday the 15th and it's time to start the 70 Days of Sweat with Sven challenge! I've committed to writing somewhere between 750 to 1500 words every day for 70 days between now and January 15th. That's roughly 3 to 6 pages, which doesn't sound like much, really. In fact, it isn't much when the work's going well. But that's the key, isn't it? When the work's going well ... I've been having some trouble connecting with the heroine of my current work in progress. I know the hero, Michael, really well. My trouble is in finding just the right woman for him to tall in love with. Up until now, every incarnation of her has been kind of wimpy and uninteresting. She's starting to take shape in my head now, and I'm digging deeper and deeper into her psyche, trying to find that place where she and I connect so I can really feel her as I write her character. Maybe today I'll try writing her scenes in first person instead of third. That sometimes helps me connect with the people I'm writing about. I really hope it does because this book is due really soon and I have revisions waiting on another book that are due in mid-November.

16,676 / 70,000 (23.8%)

I'll check back in later to report my progress! Later .... I have play tickets tonight, so I have to be finished for the day. Lots of phone calls for RWA things ate up some of my writing time, but I did make some progress. Better than the word count is the fact that I felt myself connecting to my heroine ... finally.

17,128 / 70,000 (24.5%)

Sweating with Sven

I'm not sure if I'm doing a smart thing or a dumb thing, but I've signed up to participate in the 70 Days of Sweat with Sven Challenge beginning on Monday, October 15. I have two deadlines coming up, and lately I've been needing a swift kick in the seat of the pants to get me started every day, so I'm hoping that this will do the trick. I'll be posting here as the challenge continues, talking about my progress or lamenting my lack thereof. One of the reasons I think this challenge will work for me is that it takes place from October 15 to January 15 -- a total of 93 days. The challenge takes place over 70 days, which means I can take 23 days off to meet my own schedule over the holidays. Since I have to travel twice in that time period, once to Chicago for training, and once in November for a Board meeting, having time built in for days off will keep me from feeling as if I've "blown" it if I can't write every day. If you're a writer looking for a swift kick in the seat of the pants, check out the Challenge!