It's the beginning of a new week! What are your goals this week?

Finish editing novella and work on WWI research.

Writing: to write ten pages in my books
Personal: To catch up on school and get a lot of drawing done since I'm still not allowed to play volleyball for the next couple of weeks

#1. To avoid volleyball since it seems to be a violent contact sport. Maybe do hockey instead.
#2. Continue on "Tinny" in private. This one is a struggle.
#3. Push back on the stress of a possible (probable?) job transition in a few months.

Complete 30 hours of “work” at home by Friday.
Take TWO 1-hour naps each day.
Sit, stand, walk and lay dawn for part of each 4 hour period.

Eat a Barbecue Chicken Quesadilla from ZimZari by Friday (not the whole thing, I am just up to Fettuccine Alfredo and egg salad sandwiches as of Monday morning).
Write 500 words by Sunday.

Finish "Sky Pirates of SHanghai"

Goal: To keep my writing in the front of my mind, and write each day this week, even if I don't think I`ll have much time. Also, to keep a word count, so I can begin setting better goals.

[About how many words are considered a "page" of writing?]

My process isn't by page but by time. After two and a half years I've built my "writing endurance" to about seventy to ninety minutes per round. I started around fifteen minutes per when I figured out how to write within my abilities.

When I'm doing NaNoWriMo, I will do two of those rounds in a work day. Saturday gets three but I hard stop at dark and do not write again until after sunset Sunday. What really helps is that after I go a round I'll save the file, take a break, and then look at my planned notes for the next round. Yes, I map out scenes but they are usually at the "one or two lines of planning" for each scene. By clearing my head and then planting the seed for the next scene my enthusiasm builds. Usually I will write early AM, review the "seed" around lunch, write right after work, and then review the next seed just before going to bed.

Sometimes those seeds work out perfectly. Yesterday I had gone over a seed to have Tinny see Wilbur trying to do the obstacle course; Wilbur is still using a walker from his injuries and Tinny, by contrast, is very physically fit. Despite my plan the entire scene went into Tinny's head and drug up a memory about a trip she and her dad took. This morning continued to build her emotional stress and she's crying into her pillow.

That really wasn't my plan, but I think the "seed" idea really works. The concepts sink deeply into my subconscious and memories. The pains and struggles I have can connect with what the characters are feeling when I give everyone time.

Thanks, Domici! I had noticed that I feel most creative when I write a few notes or write draft scraps late at night and write the next morning. Today I was able to do the same thing since a sermon at a Christian conference was right on theme with my work in progress. I wrote a scene snippet, then got a little over 200 words written during our lunch break! I sort of wrote around the note more than I fleshed it out, but still! I will definitely work on incorporating that more.

Poor Tinny and Wilbur! Although I can't really fault you for what they're going through, considering my current story...

I'm still working on figuring out what works best for me, so it is neat to hear what works for you all! (Is anyone else interested in seeing a thread on this?)

Oh, the Tinny and Wilbur thing is contrast. Tinny is going to make some very poor choices soon. Wilbur, on the other hand, has a very nice girl friend, a decent if head strong former girl friend, and a girl that had a crush on him for a year, all in the same class.

Ok. Yes, there is often a lot more going on then meets the eye. Also, so far I have written every day except Valentine's, which I took off for regular writing, although I did free-write with a friend using my book characters. No concrete time or word count goals yet, but I had two lengthy and focused sessions56 and 47 minutes, although I started to fade... my average word per minute count ended up being about 8..., and one in the car that seemed pretty good, although I didn't time it.

Writing: I don't know how many pages I wrote, but it was a definite success no matter what (I'd forgotten how long writing a page takes!). I got a few pages written in both my fantasy and spy books, and I wrote a short story about Anastasia (yes, I know there are so many stories about what would've happened if she'd survived, but I couldn't get the idea out of my head). The short story needs some serious work done though from the first draft haha

Personal: I'm not completely caught up in school, but I got an insane amount done and will hopefully be caught up in the next couple days. As for getting lots of drawing done, I got some done but it was very little (writing kind of dominated this week in terms of hobbies)

Oh, and I discovered (and completely fell in love with) the Anastasia Broadway soundtrack. Seriously, if any of y'all like musical theater and Broadway, you need to check it out. It is definitely in my top two or three musical soundtracks, and that's saying something considering how much I love musicals and the vast number of sound tracks I know haha

Anyway, I'm thanking God for the wonderful week I've had and praying for all of y'all. Whatever you're going through, remember that God is with you and, with Him on your side, no one can stand against you and you are never alone. I hope y'all had a blessed week!

Made 40+ hours.


Success.


Success.


Success.


Fail ... wrote zero words.

Finished my goals.

I did work on TotLW every day except Valentine's day and Sunday! I would say that's pretty successful.

Praying for your continued recovery atpollard! Two one-hour naps a day is quite impressive.

And congratulations everyone on your progress!