Monday, October 8, 2012

Slow and Steady....

I finally got back into my groove - the groove I was in last winter and the winter before that when I was writing or editing every day while my small person was at preschool, many evenings while my older kids did homework, and on the weekends every chance I could get.

I'm back.  And I feel very happy.

My plan for October was to edit a chapter a month of my last WIP - hopefully final edits - or at least close to final edits. 

It's going very well.  Today is the 8th and I'm editing chapter 7 today.  On my calendar where I jotted down my goals, I didn't include weekends.  I only included a chapter a day Monday through Friday.  I thought a chapter would take me an hour, but it's taking me more like two hours sometimes more. 

I feel great about my progress.  And about the edits.  The chapters I have finished feel done - done enough to submit.  I'm having a little bit of writer's high, so I may revoke that statement later and opt to revise again.

I do feel like I'm going to be ready for NaNoWriMo next month.  I'm making my writing a priority and am blocking out chunks of time.  I'm not making excuses...at least not as many.

I have an hour left today...now or never.  I'd honestly rather sleep, but it's time to write. 

30 comments:

  1. Huzzah! I'm sure I'll have some editing to do this week. Argh.

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  2. Good stuff, Tonja!
    An hour left today? Where on earth do you live?

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    1. I live in Mommyland where preschool ends at 11:30. Husband is out of town AGAIN. No chance of free time tonight.

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  3. Nothing to be jealous of - I'm just burying myself in work.

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  4. One day at a time, right? It's amazing how it adds up to a great distance traveled. And when we enjoy the journey? There are no words for how wonderful it is. Good luck with the rest of your edits! :)

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    1. Exactly. One day at a time. Sometimes (today) one hour at a time.

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  5. Congrats! You're much more disciplined than I am. Glad you've been so productive :) I'm working on getting my butt into gear to do the same.

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    1. Thanks. I'm actually really disappointed I didn't do more over the summer.

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  6. A plan works well, and at least keeps us close to our goals. I use a writing calendar by my desk, to record what's due (posts), and what I want to do that week with WIPs. Then I can see progress and what's been left undone. This works for me.

    When I worked fulltime, I got up early to write and stayed up late sometimes, but that was something I did for me to carve out that time. There will be time to sleep later...

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    1. Putting daily goals on my calendar - a calendar just for writing - helps me a lot. If I write down detailed daily goals for more than one month at a time, it gets to be too much. I have my calendar open to October and refuse to look further.

      I think that thing about sleeping later is an urban myth....

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  7. Yes. Editing can take a little longer. I know. Its good that you've made yourself some goals and that you're sticking with them.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

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  8. Congratulations on getting back into a groove. I bet it feels so good!

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  9. YAY! Good for you getting back into your routine! I am still not quite there, but feel myself sliding in a little.

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    1. Thanks, Hart. I'm definitely not up to the speed I was working at a year ago - I was writing 2 chapters or more on four or five days a week. One chapter a day seems like a reasonable pace for now. Maybe I'll pick it up next month...maybe this is good enough.

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  10. It's always the opposite for me, as a teacher. I write like crazy over the summer, and then lose most of my writing time in the fall. However, this year I am trying to write SMARTER in the time I have. If I've only got a few minutes to squeeze in here and there, I will spend it on blogs -- like I'm doing right now. I will reserve my real writing for blocks of time when I can be more productive.

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    1. I think it's about working smarter. I have blocks of time during the school year, but that's hard to find in the summer when my kids are running around. Nice to know they need me, I guess.

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  11. That a great groove to be in. Hope you keep it going.

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    1. I'm about to work on Chapter 8. I'm one chapter behind what I had committed to in my mind. But on my calendar, I only wrote in chapters for weekdays. So if I look at my calendar, I'm ahead of schedule.

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  12. What's your secret? I've been in a funk lately. I really hope I get out of it soon. Very frustrating!

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    1. My secret is I signed up for NaNoWriMo and feel a compulsive (maybe OCD-like) need to get to a stopping point on November 1.

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    2. The thought of NaNo right now totally stresses me out, but I am starting to feel a little better and I think my computer is ok too :)

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  13. congrats to you!! and good for you..cause when you're hot, you're hot!

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  14. I'm finding my grove after taking the better part of two months off. Good luck to you and your editing!

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    1. Thanks, Stephen. I took most of the summer off (without planning to) and am just now feeling back to normal.

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  15. I'm trying to get to all of your posts, but my internet connection is moving at a snail's pace. I'll try later this evening - time is getting away from me....must type edits to chapter 8.

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  16. I don't think I'll be participating officially in Nano. It just falls during a time of year when my aging parents demand a lot of care and attention. I will have to travel out-of-state for a week and then prepare a Thanksgiving dinner and sit with them for a few days talking about whatever it is they want to chat. But I do plan on writing some on my sequel. I've been story boarding it, but haven't really done much beyond that.

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  17. I'll attempt Nano too. It's so hard with the fam, but I'll try it. I'm glad your in the groove! Keep it up!

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