write goal

atthequillsmercy

NaNoWriNo Day 10: Yes I should still be working out but I’m not

I love how in October I had these grand notions of writng and working out and husting to post every day and how ten days in, I’m blearly throwing up an update that I’m praying will make any sense when I look at it in the morning.

I’ve seen some impressive stats from other authors I follow and I’m tying not to feel bad about myself since I am literally writing whatever words around a full time job and a teenager that “helps” me with chores… So, I’m on a string of late nights, there’s dirty dishes in the sink, and I’d bet money (that I don’t make on book sales) that when I asked for the garbage to be taken out, I will see it wasn’t done in the morning.

At least the words are in the bag!

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

NaNoWriMo Day 4 & Quick Workout

While I hit my word goal, I didn’t write as much as yesterday. I’m still going back to change things sometimes; less for typos and more to fill in a thought. I’d rather take time to do that rather than forget what I wante dto fix later. I did start and end in really natural places and I’m loosely following my outline. The chapters aren’t exact but (I think) the story is flowing naturally. That’s the most important thing. And if you want a buddy on the site, here’s my NaNoWriMo profile.

The workouts for the last coupld days have been short since I worked an extra night. It’s a good and bad thing but either way, I did burn some calories and my word goal for the day. And I’m happy with my progress for both.

Since I have been getting my words in mainly in the evenings, I’m going to try and push for writing earlier in the day so I can try to finish off C25K before the end of the year. I’ll try to reprogram myself to think of making time to run as a reward.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

NaNoWriMo Day One

OMFG, can we talk about how much outlining helped me with this? Now, I’ve basically been a pantser for most of my writing. I have a gerneral idea of what’s supposed to happen in my head and I just go. But the last time I attempted NaNoWriMo… A decade or so ago?

Shit, I’m old…

Anyway, the last time I tried it, I failed massively. Now, I still have the idea in my brain and I have an outline, I’m not rigidly sticking to it. I may have turned into a planner, but I’m not shamlessly sticking to my outline. Stories can be living things that – like children – don’t always follow the plan you laid out for them. They take on a life of their own.

Today was kinda crazy and it took until late at night to get my word goal but at least I didn’t struggle for ideas or anything. When I was able to grab a moment to write, the words flowed just fine.

Be prepared for all my posts to be about this until the end of the month.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

September Writing Update!

With the kids back in school I figure it’s time to get cracking as well!

These days, I have been focusing most of my writing energy on book three of the First Brood series. At my current pace, I should have a typed rough draft ready for editing before the end of the month.

Since that’s the only project I’m working on, all the others have been put on hiatus; except for reviews. I will do my level best to at least post one once a day.

That’s all for the day! 😀

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Monday Writing Update

This was a very productive weekend. I was able to get started on an entry for an elf anthology and I was able to get the house in some sort of order so I wouldn’t be completely ashamed to have someone over. 0.0 Eventually, I would like to start Fiction Friday back up again but all things in their own time. I can’t put too much on my plate at once. I’ll end up spazzing and not finishing anything. >_<
Wish me luck today!

atthequillsmercy

Quick Writing Update

If you follow me on Twitter, you are aware I’ve been fighting off some sort of contagion my child was kind enough to share with me. As a result, I haven’t done as much blogging or writing as I would have hoped so yeah, you all are stuck without a Fiction Friday entry again this week. This must be horrible news to all 15 of you who read this blog. XD
However, in the mental restructuring I so often do to keep my crazy ass out of the loony bin, I have been bitten by my muse and my hand just itches to write.

I have also been threatened with bodily harm if I don’t finish editing Greenhouse and start putting it up. I better get on that then, eh?

atthequillsmercy

Revisiting Daily Word Goals.

I’ve been made an offer to be a writer for an up and coming company. I would have flexible due dates, work with my friend, and be able to write whatever my sick little heart desires all why STILL being able to be a librarian. However, I am a little nervous about being able to keep up with what I know will be a demanding schedule.
I’d given up on my daily word goals before thinking the words will come when it is time for them to come which results in sometimes not writing anything but journal entries and shopping list. 9_9 Now, I can’t play anymore. Time to go back to trying to write 1000 words a day! No mercy! No surrender! No Internetz! XD

Yeeahh, that’ll work… :p

 

atthequillsmercy

Writing in times of crisis: A bit of instrospection

Ma has been in the hospital since Wednesday and with her having lung cancer and all, I always wonder if this time will be the time she goes in and never comes out. But it isn’t this time. Ma’s being treated for shingles and will be home in a couple days. Not fit as a fiddle but fit enough.

It’s during times like this where I try to meet my writing goals but I tend to fall short. I am filled with guilt about focusing on anything else but my Mother getting better and also for not giving my writing the focus it deserves. But through all this, I noticed that writing helped me keep my head together during down time where I would otherwise be panicking. I’m the type to handle a crisis while its happening then break down after (or when there’s really nothing more I can do).

Writing really helped me keep from curling up in a ball and crying or screaming at people for no reason other than they continue to breathe near me. So now I know in the future, I shouldn’t feel guilty for writing if something has gone bad or if I can’t reach the magical 5 page mark. If the treadmill and weights keep my body strong, writing keeps my spirit strong. I’ll need both to support my family through though times.

Now, since things are better, I promise I will get back to talking about anime and making dick, fart, and boob jokes now. XD

atthequillsmercy

Bit of a break

Isn’t is always the way when circumstances arise that you get a break from your kids you just turn around and miss the hell outta them instead of getting any real work done? Ah well… :/

I always have to think about juggling time with my daughter and time to write or draw. These days, it’s been a matter of sacrificing the regular updates which isn’t such a bad thing. I’d rather not have the whole story on the site anymore but fill the side with short fiction, most of which hasn’t been written yet. My foolproof list so far for finding ways to keep working has so far been:

1: Make that time sacred. Almost like a ritual. Every night, kiddo gets a story, I get a bit of workout time and a shower (limit of 30 minutes on the workouts), then I settle in with my pen and a notebook for an hour. No matter what. Any more than that is gratis.

2: Be easy on yourself. Not every day is gonna be perfect. Beds will be wet, nightmares will be had, creative juices won’t flow and you’ll spend that hour staring at the wall instead of creating.

The most important?
3: Anything counts. Journal entries, ideas, quotes, even blog posts. It all contributes to the greater good: Honing your craft and sharpening your ability. Every single word counts.

So go out there, write a poetic shopping list, quote your favorite gum commercial, just write and write anything you can. Eventually, you’ll have everything you need.