Sven's Sunday Check-In

Didn’t write Thurs/Fri because going back to work after the summer off was harder than I thought it would be! But I added those words to Sat. and Sun., so still made my goal for the week.

I’m at 45,540. 8848 words for the week. Average of 1264 per day. I’m over 50% of the way to my estimated word count.

It’s HARD some days b/c I seem to bog down in the writing, but there’s something about having committed myself to those words — forces me to push through, because I’m competitive, damn it, and I refuse to give in!

45,540 / 85,000 (53.6%)

Sunday Check In

I've been a lazy blogger this week, but a productive writer.

Total word count for challenge: 36,491

Total written this week: 11,453

Average per day this week: 1636

Also completed print galleys on Nov. release and third round of edits on another book (it’s off to the FLE!).

Loving that this is making writing daily a habit. I need that.

36,491 / 85,000 (42.9%)

Sunday Check In

25,277 / 85,000 (29.7%)

That's my progress for 14 days of the 70 Days of Sweat. So after 20% of the sweaty days, I have almost 30% of my book written (if it doesn't go long -- I'm beginning to wonder if it might be a 95-100K book, but we'll see).

Today, I sorted out some of my plot issues. I don't have a complete synopsis yet and I'm working on the arc of the second romance -- I have two separate romances circulating about the suspense plot in this manuscript. I've never done this before but I'm really enjoying it.

You should pop over and read Larissa's post on rejection. I've tried to explain to people before how I'm thankful now that I didn't sell earlier because I wasn't ready and a) I'd have been miserable in the long run and b) I'd have screwed it up royally, but somehow I doubt I was as articulate in my explanation as Larissa is.

On the TTD list for the week:

1) HOL edits to Anne

2) WMM print galleys turned in

3) teach a four-hour writing instruction workshop

4) teach two one-hour drama workshops

5) make my 1200 daily

6) work on unit plans :-)

Only ten more days of summer vacation. Sob! Whatever will I do when I have to go to bed at a decent hour and get up at 5:30?!

It's All About Focus And Drive

This is where things get dicey. I'm doing well with 70 Days of Sweat. I have 14,403 words on Facing It, compared to 0 (yes, that's ZERO) eight days ago. The story is going well, I think.

Here's my TTD list for the next two and a half weeks:

1) HOL edits #2 -- due to Anne the Editor Goddess by July 28 (that's 13 days).
2) WMM print galleys -- due by July 27 (12 days)
3) I'm teaching a ten-hour writing instruction workshop in three installments over the next three weeks. First four hours is tomorrow.
4) I'm holding six one-hour drama workshops over the next three weeks. That starts this week, too.
5) I need to clear our master bedroom and its closet in preparation for our renovation work scheduled for August.
6) I need to finesse my unit plans and get monthly calendars ready for my classes for Aug. & Sept. before preplanning begins.
7) I have to stick to my 1200 words daily for 70 Days of Sweat.

It's doable, but I have to stay focused. I've started running again, too, and that's helping. It keeps me on track, somehow.

It looks like 9:30 to 11:00 is going to be my prime writing time. The key is I have to stay offline. There are too many distractions otherwise.

I know it looks like a lot, but it is possible for me to pull all this off and still have some me-time. It's all about focus and wanting it and discipline. It's the same concept that applies to my classroom and my coaching.

It's also about prioritizing. You'll notice 70 days of sweat got the number seven spot. It's not because it's not important, but you'll notice edits got the #1 spot on my playlist. This is the deal -- I have professional obligations to meet at both Samhain and the school where I teach. Those obligations come before the new book. I think I can do it all, but the deadlines and the teaching prep have to come first. Hence why, although I could easily continue with the chapter of Facing It I'm working on, I have the edits file open and I'll spend the next hour or so working on that. I'll take a break and come back to the edits this evening, then maybe I'll get to add another couple of thousand words to Facing It.

Now, I need to find a way to work some promo time in there. That's the kicker. The darn promo!

Progress Report

9 pages, 3715 words on Facing It.

4 apges, 1246 words on In Dreams.

Total: 13 pages, 4961 words total.

I just have to keep this up for 69 days.

Have I mentioned if I pull this off, my students are going to be in trouble? Because if I can do this, there's nothing they can't do if they put their minds to it. I think I'll borrow Sven for my classroom. A big "Sven Says Sweat" poster for the door.

Oh, Wait -- It Gets Better!

Not only did I sign up for 70 Days of Sweat (Thanks, Steph & Larissa! I needed more insanity in my life!), but I've let the DH help talk me into working on the ghost book.

And I'm going to attempt three pages daily on TWO SEPARATE BOOKS. Six pages, app. 2500 words total per day. I've so lost it.

Plus, they're not even the books I signed up for over at Alison's blog. Well, one is. I don't know yet. I can't decide. I have choices. So here's what's up:

1) The Southern ghost book, working title In Dreams.

plus . . .

2) Chandler Co. book #7: working title Facing It.

or

3) Chandler Co. book #8: working title Afterburn.

or

4) Cold case book, working title Cold Case #1 (because I have no working title, LOL).

I have lost my ever-lovin' mind for sure. And I've committed because I even put up word meters!

I'm thinking ghost book and Facing It because I have characters & plot ideas for the latter.