Let’s try that again, shall we?

I really enjoyed ROW80 but I lost my way sometime after the halfway point.

For the last 3 weeks, I have eaten, breathed and slept everything Write Hope and this will probably continue for a while longer* BUT I miss writing (even though I heart hermititus). ROW80 was a nice way to keep track of things, so I want to do it again. This time I’m reshaping my targets so that when things go wrong I won’t need to beat myself up about it.

I’m making these targets with the knowledge that depending on what happens at the beginning of April I might have to withdraw – I’m hoping it won’t come to that.

ROW80 targets:

• write something twice a week (minimal)
• do some character profiles, general outlining, etc for the untitled WIP
• carry on reading, but maybe not quite so fanatically
• read and comment on 5-10 blogs a week
• don’t stop thinking and plotting in your head (but start making notes!)

AND allow yourself a free-pass when needed.

 

Both DWTS12 and SYTYCD UK kicked off last week so I’m happy

 

*especially if the thing I’m working on right now takes off.

Dance: the cure to writers block?

I began this week with 9000 words, I deleted 5000, wrote another 3000 and deleted about 2000 of those. Yet I’m not disappointed. I decided that in order to get into the story I needed the beginning to be right* and the best way to do it was to tear it up and try and piece it back together. Only most of the pieces didn’t fit to I had to write new ones

It’s coming together, I plan to finish a big chunk of it today – that way next week I can finally dive into the good stuff. I’ve had some really good ideas this last week and they came from hoping around my lounge to various songs.

I want to say it was dancing but I don’t think other people would agree. No idea why this was so helpful but everytime I got stuck I found a song, turned the volume up and proceeded to go mad. By the end of it I’d found the answer.

I had Friday off, which was just as well as I spent the last 2 days criting my friends manuscript. It’s 50,000 words and I didn’t plan on doing it that quickly but got caught up in the story – I still managed to do my writing so it’s all good.

Have you got something that helps you when you’re stuck?

 

*not perfect, that’s a long way of…

ROW80 update

I haven’t written a single word.

From last Wednesday onwards it was going to be hard anyway because I wasn’t home. At the beginning of the week I had a migraine which meant that after a day in front of the computer at work I really couldn’t stand the thought of looking at any more screens.

I’m not going to say I’ll catch-up this week because for me that’s counter-productive. I’d be distracted by having to catch up and I’d loose the fun from week 1.

So my plan is as follows:

• finally moving back home tonight (properly*) which means all my notes, boards and prep work will be around me
• finish editing chapter 1 and sending it out for feedback tonight
• setting out a timetable for ROW80 from now on

I did crit a fellow’s writer’s work and I’ve been jotting down notes for projects I want to do after the current WIP so I don’t feel completely useless and I didn’t stop thinking about Quarantined either. I’ve realised I need to change the format a bit to make it work better. I guess you could call it in-your-head-manuscript-editing.

I know Wednesday is going to be my day off as I’m going to see Giselle, so I can plan around that.

*I haven’t spent more then a few days in my flat since the hospital saga started last October.  He’s healing up now

Rollercoasters

I don’t like rollercoasters. AT ALL.

When I was about 8 my uncle took me to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and convinced me to go on a small rollercoaster. He told me it would be a relaxing ride and I very naively believed him. (By that stage I should have really known better…

Truthfully, it was the smallest rollercoaster. I think it was also the oldest. Made out of wood and it creaked a lot. It still runs to this day.

My aunt has told me that when I came back I was green. I remember being terrified. I haven’t set foot on another rollercoaster since and nothing will ever tempt me to do so again.*

Despite this, I had a blast years later in Orlando and went of all sorts of high adrenaline rides at Universal & Disney – just no rollercoasters.

The point of this is that my emotional rollercoaster has started an uphill climb because, apparently, I am now going to Las Vegas. Let’s hope there aren’t any big dips up ahead

See you in 2 ½ weeks when normal blogging will resume.

*ok some things might but they will not happen…

I’m going to Vegas!

I have made various attempts at screaming this and jumping around celebrating. I confess I’ve been unsuccessful in both. I can’t scream – occasionally I squeak but that’s as close as I get. Also, the carefully arranged pathways around my furniture, do not give sufficient room for bouncing. I could go outside but my neighbours think I’m peculiar enough as it is…

Anyway, back to Vegas and dance*
Yep dance, I’m going to Vegas for the shows, not to gamble. Though if a slot machine wants to give me the big cash prize I’ll happily except and invest it wisely in book cases and maybe fixing my shelf.

In the quirky unexpected ways things happen, one of the things I’m most excited about is going to see the So You think You Can Dance Tour,** which we will be trying to book tickets for this Friday. Fingers crossed for that!

Ever since we decided on this I’ve gone Kent Kent Kent whenever something at work has gone wrong. I tried So You think You Can Dance So You think You Can Dance So You think You Can Dance, but it doesn’t trip of the tongue that easily so I’m sticking to Kent Kent Kent.***

These thoughts along with planning various Cirque De Soleil visits is keeping me very happy. It’s only 104 days or 2496 hours (approx) to go, not that I’m counting… not at all.

Anyway, BIG NEWS – my first spoiler teaser is coming out next week so be sure to stop by.

*did I mention how much I love dance?

** I want to say it’s in Vegas when we were going but it’s not quite true, we did rearrange the trip so we could make the show.
No I’m not kidding, my friend (not writing buddy) and I flew all the way to Philadelphia for 4 days to see the Dancing with the Stars Tour. I still have the program, signed by the cast (that’s another long story)

*** it conjures up the same happy thoughts. I am considering alternating on a weekly basis with the other dancers…

Inspiring…

Inspiration is important, not just for writing but for everything*

One of the things that inspires me a lot is dance** and while I tend to avoid reality shows like the plague, if it involves dance I’m there. So be SCD, DWTS or SYTYCD*** (or many of the others) you can guarantee me sitting on the sofa with my jaw dropping at the truly amazing things these people can do.

Alex Wong is was one of the competitors of season 7 of SYTYCD, sadly he had to pull out of the show due to inquiry but before he left he made me forget how to breath a couple of times.

Thank you!

* At least I think so

** I’ll talk about dance a lot. It’s one of my great ♥.

*** translation below;

• SCD = Strictly Come Dancing (UK)
• DWTS = Dancing with the Stars (USA)
• SYTYCD = So you think you can dance (UK & USA)