The writing challenge that knows you have a life.

As a pre-published author, I do a lot of writing and studying and waiting. While I wait in submission land, I’m working on the next MS I’ll submit. This pattern could really go on forever. This is good and bad, right?

A benefit of the pre-published is no deadlines, other than the self-imposed. The downside of no externally imposed deadlines is that you can stay in a comfortable pattern and that does not prepare one for the post pre-published days. Sometimes a new challenge can put a skip in your step too. Challenges are exciting. They’ll push you past your comfort zone and this is what I need.

Between now and the middle of June I plan on writing and polishing a 10k novelette. Eek! I took a look at the schedule and it’s going to be tight. I need to finish the first draft and the first couple of read throughs well before Memorial weekend. Everyday I need to write just over 2k. Everyday. 2k.

I don’t know if I can do this, but I’ll never know unless I try.

Have you stepped outside your comfort zone lately? If not, pick something and go for it. If you have, please share what you’ve learned.

The Goals – week-5 results

• Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters – done.
• Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting – almost done. This was one of those weeks filled with extra tasks and they took up all my writing time on Monday and Tuesday. Grr. I could have gotten some craft study in the evenings of these two days, but I chose to read a book instead. I started my new challenge on Wednesday. I spent most of of my writing time on Wednesday and Thursday doing character development and plotting. I ended up writing a little over 3k by the end of day Saturday.
• Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep, and my calorie limit – not done. The sinus cold did go away. The weather was beautiful here midweek and I went for a walk/run. It felt great, but my calf muslces were not happy the next two days. WEEK 6 PRIORITY
• Weekly Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure) – not done. WEEK 6 PRIORITY
• Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities – done. I handled all kinds of things this week from paying bills, deposits, and lots of reports.
• Organize something in the house each week – not done. Other than cleaning the house for company I didn’t get to this goal. WEEK 6 PRIORITY
• Spend time in the Garden – done. I’m continuing with my garden tour with the pictures in this post. Each week, I’ll try and share what’s blooming. I started weeding the beds in the front of the house. My husband finished the job and mulched. Score.

What you might have missed here this week:

Spotlight: Her Master’s Kiss by Vivien Sparx

The writing challenge that knows you have a life.

I’m taking this week off from Weekend Writing Warriors. I’ll be back with a new 8 next week.

Spring has sprung here in Michigan. What a difference a week makes. Last week was cold and depressing. This past week the sun came out and everything came to life.

With the arrival of spring my to do list is going to start growing as well. I love my gardens, but this time of year there is a lot to be done. I’m not sure how I’m going to keep up with everything. Note the new goal down below.

It’s important to take the time for all your interests. By feeding my green thumb, I’m bound to put a spring in my step. Now, more than ever it will be important to remain focused. Time to put my ROW80 skills to the test.

Do you have any new challenges coming your way?

The Goals – week-4 results

• Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters – done.
• Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting – done, except for Friday. My oldest had a half day of school. We had a good time, no regrets. I’ve recently figured out that my WIP needs a few extra scenes in the third act. I finally got it plotted this week and I started writing. Yeah! All I need is another sprint or two and I’ll have it done.
• Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep, and my calorie limit – not done. My sinus cold just would not go away this week. I let the exercise part of this goal lapse in favor of extra rest. WEEK 5 PRIORITY
• Weekly Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure) – done. My new way of tracking worked again this week. I found time for this goal, but I’m leaving it as a priority for now. WEEK 5 PRIORITY
• Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities – done. Finally an easy week. I just answered a couple emails.
• Organize something in the house each week – done. There were a couple places in my pantry that were getting messy. I picked up a bunch of small baskets this week, problem solved. Also, my email inbox has been out of control with unread blog posts. This week I finally got moving with Evernote and the inbox is slowly shrinking. Yeah for getting organized. Feels good.
• Spend time in the Garden – done. I started small this week. Years ago, I planted a bunch of daffodils and tulips for the sole purpose of cutting the flowers to bring in doors. There’s been a few years I’ve forgotten to bring them in. They look so pretty in the garden. This week, I brought the tulips in doors and I think they look fabulous on my table.

What you might have missed here this week:

The Patented Nonsense of Donna Cummings author of I Do… or Die

Review: The Cat’s Meow by Stacey Kennedy

Flash Fiction #42 A Ridiculous Dress

You’ve heard the advice: Don’t compare yourself to others, right? And, you’ve heard something like this one too: watch the folks who have the career you want. Learn from what they’re doing.

I believe in both of these ideas. However, doing the latter can have a direct impact in your ability to do the first. It’s important to remember that comparison is only helpful IF it pushes you forward towards your goal.

I think it’s a good time to remind myself of my theme for this round: be the best I can be. <~~this theme is all about me, lol, it’s not about anyone else. In this theme, I’m giving myself permission to think completely selfishly, because it’s not what someone else did today. It’s about what I am doing today. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. It’s about what I am doing today.

Today I am thankful for all that I have, especially my family who I love more than anything. I’m also thankful I have the guts to work towards my goals one day at a time.

So, what are you doing today? What are you giving yourself permission to do? Are you remembering to stop and smell the roses? Below you’ll find a couple pictures from my garden. 🙂

The Goals – week-3 results

• Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters – done.
• Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting – done, except for Monday AND Friday, ugh. Evil day jobs are the worst, except on payday, lol. I did make some excellent progress on edits this week. I’m almost ready for my next read through.
• Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep, and my calorie limit – not done. I worked out twice and then I got hit with a sinus cold. I still feel terrible although the sunny weather is helping. WEEK 4 PRIORITY
• Weekly Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure) – done. I’ve been working on trying to fit this goal into regular rotation and this week I made a couple of changes and it worked. Sometimes all it takes is a shift in how you track things or a shift in strategy. I’m keeping this as a priority until I see a pattern. WEEK 4 PRIORITY
• Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities – done. I completed a couple deposits and mailed a bunch of bills.
• Organize something in the house each week – done. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned my husbands basement project, the play area for our two boys. He’s making good progress. He finished the wall, hung the basketball hoop, and added legs to a table that had none. Now, I’m helping out with the cleaning up, sorting, and putting the toys back. It’s going to be a fabulous space. We’ll finish it just in time for the weather to be nice and they’ll be playing outside, lol.

What you might have missed here this week:

Review: The Summoning (Dragon’s Lair #2) by Seraphina Donavan

The Assassins Hockey #Hop

Cover Reveal for Blue Moon House: Kitten by Angelica Dawson

Cover Reveal: Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert

Flash Fiction #41 Stealing Forever

Cover Reveal: Claimed (Club Sin, Book One) by Stacey Kennedy

Apparently, when an introvert is not careful, the time she takes to recovery can turn into a bad case of procrastination. Oops. I’m supposed to be working at being the best I can be. My best certainly does not include procrastination.

I didn’t accomplish as much as I could have this week, but I did accomplish a good bit. Yesterday, my disappointment tried to pull out some negative thinking. I recognized that ugly thought process, because it was followed by thoughts of taking an extended break or quitting. Yesh. Really? Really! I took a step away from the computer, did a home related project, and read a good book. The break did me good and quieted my negative nelly.

Have you dealt with your own negative nelly lately? Please share your steps to ward her off, pretty please.

The Goals – week-2 results

• Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters – done.
• Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting – done, except for Friday and almost yesterday. I started the week strong with lots of edit work and craft study. However, I did a poor job of managing my time this week and by Friday I had so much to do, outside of writing, I didn’t get to any of my goals. Boo! By Saturday, I felt tired and discouraged. I tried to work through it, as I mentioned above. Finally, I settled into my craft book for a good read.
• Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep, and my calorie limit – not done. I worked out once and only kept up with my water goal. I’m sure the loss of this goal contributed to nelly showing her ugly face. WEEK 3 PRIORITY
• Weekly Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure) – kind of done. Although performing the routines is a part of the study, and I did make time for Nia yesterday, I need to do more than just the movement. I need to start thinking about my Nia studies like my writing craft studies. I’ve found a way to fit in my writing craft books several times a week. I need to do the same with Nia. WEEK 3 PRIORITY
• Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities – done. I collected the LAST tuition payments for the year, completed a deposit, and attended a board meeting.
• Organize something in the house each week – I love jewelry. I always have on earrings. Always. But I often forget everything else. I have several places to store it all which is great, except when I forget it’s there or I forget to put them away. A couple weeks ago, I found this fun idea on Pinterest and I already had the frames. So, what do you think? Is it cute? Now my jewelry is sorted into four places, but I’m hoping this easy to grab from display will help me to remember to wear them.

What you might have missed here this week:

Evernight’s Book Boyfriend Blog Hop <- today’s your last chance to hop around for a chance at all kinds of prizes and a kindle paperwhite

A Chat with Shannan Albright author of Beloved Wizard <- she shared many things with me, including her challenges in getting her first book published and criticism she received that put her in a better writing place

Cover Reveal for The Awakening: Aidan by Abby Niles <- beautiful cover and the blurb hooked me. What about you?