Write-a-thon, Week One
I'm actually sitting here smiling a little at my computer screen because week one of the WaT went so well. Despite a mid-week drain, I somehow (and I really don't know how) managed to get TWO short stories (now known as "shories," thanks to my inability to speak earlier today) through the first draft, then took one of them through two subsequent drafts and am now almost ready to wish it luck and send it out the door. I'll take one more look at it later this week, sometime when I have a fresh brain (mmm...fresh braaaaiiiins). But I think it's done, and I think it's pretty decent. The cats didn't run away when I read it aloud, so that must be a good sign, right?
The second "shory" is going to need a lot of revision, but the basic structure is there. I also got some great feedback on an older novel at the CW party (thanks, Kate!) so I'll be touching up a couple of chapters of that this week, plus reworking an old story to submit to an anthology, and maybe reworking the abovementioned draft if I have time. We'll see how those goals go. As long as I put in my hour per day, I won't kick myself if individual projects don't get done. (Okay, well, I might kick myself, but since I only wear shoes when I absolutely have to, chances are my sock-feet won't leave much of a mark.)
All of this is to build up to next week, during which I hope (plan?) to dig back into the novel that has been giving me so much trouble (the infamous Work In and Out and In and Out and In and Out of Progress). That will be my project for weeks 2-6 of the WaT, and beyond that until it is done. (Hmm...didn't I make that statement last year?) This year I've decided that post-WaT I'm going to spell out a new set of goals to carry me through August and September so I don't fall flat on my face with the writing again (I expect I can finish the first draft by mid-October). They'll probably be a bit less strict than my WaT goals (I'll probably take one day off per week, and allow for half-hour writing times on my longer work days) but still something that will keep me going and make me hold myself accountable.
The Clarion West kick-off party was a fantastic event, and I'm so glad I went. Catching up with old friends (and a littermate!) and meeting this year's class was definitely worth the drive. I'm sure I'll be seeing many of you again soon. :-)
The second "shory" is going to need a lot of revision, but the basic structure is there. I also got some great feedback on an older novel at the CW party (thanks, Kate!) so I'll be touching up a couple of chapters of that this week, plus reworking an old story to submit to an anthology, and maybe reworking the abovementioned draft if I have time. We'll see how those goals go. As long as I put in my hour per day, I won't kick myself if individual projects don't get done. (Okay, well, I might kick myself, but since I only wear shoes when I absolutely have to, chances are my sock-feet won't leave much of a mark.)
All of this is to build up to next week, during which I hope (plan?) to dig back into the novel that has been giving me so much trouble (the infamous Work In and Out and In and Out and In and Out of Progress). That will be my project for weeks 2-6 of the WaT, and beyond that until it is done. (Hmm...didn't I make that statement last year?) This year I've decided that post-WaT I'm going to spell out a new set of goals to carry me through August and September so I don't fall flat on my face with the writing again (I expect I can finish the first draft by mid-October). They'll probably be a bit less strict than my WaT goals (I'll probably take one day off per week, and allow for half-hour writing times on my longer work days) but still something that will keep me going and make me hold myself accountable.
The Clarion West kick-off party was a fantastic event, and I'm so glad I went. Catching up with old friends (and a littermate!) and meeting this year's class was definitely worth the drive. I'm sure I'll be seeing many of you again soon. :-)