Thanks, everyone for the feedback. It’s invaluable. I have another question - do you guys see (when making a comment) a box for your name, email, web site above the comment box? What browser are you using? And can everyone now see the cursor in the comment box?
Thanks for your help!
As those of you who’ve been to the site before can tell, I’m getting a new design for both the blog and the web site. I’d love comments and suggestions now, while we’re still fiddling! Thank you.
Two things happened that put a kink in my progress, and I thought I’d talk about roadblocks. What happens when stuff happens.
First, I realized that even though I knew I had to change the ending of my Blaze, I hadn’t worked out the details of the change, thinking I could do that later in the process. I was wrong. I had to know everything now, and oops, I had no resolution to the mystery. My brain works in ways that really pisses me off sometimes. If I have something that’s unresolved, then I’m pretty much useless. Despite preparing everything in my space to write, I couldn’t. I HAD to know everything about the story. I’m one of those odd folks who can write like the wind as long as I know what I’m writing. It’s death for me to plot while writing. I just sit there and stare at the screen, and before you know it, I’m at Zappos buying another pair of shoes. So I did what I needed to do. I got my notebook and went through a bazillion possibilities, then when I was doing something completely unrelated, the answer hit. Tada! But my word count! Oh, my. But, that was okay because I could catch up today.
Only today I woke up to a headache the size of Baltimore. So bad, I couldn’t even see properly. Every movement hurt like hell, and while I consider myself a tough broad, the headache had me down for the count. I took a sinus pill and went back to bed. Ouch.
So I’m finally feeling better, but my glorious morning has gone. It’s now 100 degrees outside, the plants didn’t get watered, and I’m pretty cranky. I guess it’s time to write!
Yep, even when crappy things like headaches come up, the first priority is to write. I know, some people do write when they have headaches, bless their hearts, but I’m not one of them. Well, not this kind of headache at least. It used to be that when I was felled by a pain or a ache I’d write off the day. First half to feel better, second half to feel really better.
Now, no. Write. Get the pages in. Even though I’m a morning type gal, I’ll write until I have my page count. That’s ten. I know I can get it done because I’ve committed to the process.
I believe that every time we reach a roadblock and find a way to go around it, or over it, or under it, we have just put a mighty big block of solid commitment into our professional foundation. Every victory counts. Every time we do the thing that needs to be done, we’ve won, and that winning matters.
Roadblocks? They’re just an opportunity to get creative.
Don’t forget to go to Alison’s blog to do your check in! There’s word count, and she’s asking for us to report if we’ve had any a-ha! moments.
My count: Since the 8th, I’ve written 3,056 words. My a-ha! was more of an o-no! when I remembered I hadn’t done my art fact sheet, and had to stop everything to do that. To-do lists, people! To-do lists!
First, the winner of Kidnapped! Now, I don’t have my copies yet, but as soon as I do, that book will go out to…
Julie S!
Please send me your snail mail at Joleigh AT Joleigh DOT com
Yay!
Okay, now on to THE CHALLENGE!
I got 6 pages done yesterday, and I did them early. It was great because I felt accomplished and happy for the rest of the day. I’m working hard at getting my pages in the first part of the day, not waiting and waiting and feeling guilty about not writing while doing other things and then promising myself I’d do them in a half hour, then another half hour. Yes. This is much better. But it’s STILL hard to get my act together, and I have to do little tricks to get myself there. Like not spending time on email and reading every blog in the known universe first. Like preparing my head to get into the work by reading what I finished yesterday to start today. I’ve been putting eucalyptus oil in a burner so it smells wonderful in the office. Listening to a focus tape (just music) that I’m using to condition my brain, like Pavlov’s dogs, to become creative when the headphones are put on.
Now, I know each of us doing the Seventy Days have different life situations to face, and writing our words will come in different forms. But I want to throw out that routine, discipline and habit are the most useful tools in the writer’s toolbox.
I’d like to hear from you guys – what habits work for you? What tricks to get yourself into the swing of your pages? Are you willing to try something new? What one change would make the most difference?
Let’s shout out and support each other.
if you haven’t already, go to Alison’s site for her Writing Tip of the Day
UPDATE PART II
Even though the challenge officially begins today, the cut-off date for signing up will be Friday, July 13th. (July 13 - Sept 20 = 70 days)
UPDATE:
Be sure and read this and continue to monitor Alison’s site for updates and news. Especially if you’d like to participate and think you can’t!
(DIRECT FROM ALISON’S BLOG):
I’m sure you’ve all heard of the National Novel Writing Month where the goal of the participants is to write 50,000 words during the month of November. You’ve probably also heard of the Book-in-a-Week first draft blast, and may have heard of the Book in a Year challenge at eHarlequin, or simply the One Page A Day method to getting a book written in 365.
How ’bout a book in seventy days? Doable? You betcha. Say you’re writing a 100,000 word single title. 70 days at 1500 words per day (approx 6 pages) is 98,000 words total. Say you’re writing a 60,000 word series romance. 70 days at 900 words per day (approx 4 pages) is 63,000 words total. Writing 4 - 6 pages every day for 70 days is a schedule anyone who calls themselves a pro can handle easily - even if it is hard work!
Along with Larissa Ione , Stephanie Tyler, HelenKay Dimon and Alison Kent, I hereby challenge any of you who are interested to sign up for our Seventy Days of Sweat. The challenge begins on Sunday, July 8 and runs through Thursday, September 20. (Yes, that’s 75 days, but we’re giving you off July 11 - 15 if you need it for conference. That said, ask yourself, “What Would Nora Do?” Yes, Nora writes at conference. I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes.)
The rules are simple. You agree to write 4 - 6 pages a day (depending on the length of your book) every day between the dates listed above. If you need to take off a day, you make up the pages another. If you don’t like to write 7 days a week, too bad. This challenge lasts for only 10 weeks, and if you have to get up early on the weekends to get the pages done, you do it. (Hey, Jo, Stephanie, Larissa and I do it. You can, too!)
You don’t have to have a blog to participate, but we do want you to sign up below so everyone involved can get to know one another. And if you do have a blog, you can post the information there. Going public with your commitment is about owning it. As far as reporting your progress, you’ll come back here each Wednesday and Sunday and post your word count for the week. And those of us sponsoring the challenge, will be dropping by your blog (if you have one) and egging you on!
The challenge is open to anyone writing in any genre, published or aspiring authors both. Oh, and did we mention there will be prizes? Yes, there will be prizes. Critiques, RT subscriptions, memberships to RWA, gift certificates to B&N. More info on the prizes to come. For now, let’s see a show of hands. Who’s not afraid to sweat? Sign up below, and tell us:
1) Book Title
2) Hero Name / Occupation
3) Heroine Name / Occupation
4) Setting
5) Length
My book? THE SPY WHISPERER, 100,000 word single title featuring Ex-CIA agent, now Shrink to the Spies Claire Fallon and MMORPG-designer-in-hiding Ransom Quinn, set in New York and Washington DC! Your turn!
Here’s the link for the Seventy Days of Sweat Signup
See you there!!!!
PS - For those of you who, like me, have some pretty brutal deadlines to deal with, you can use this challenge to write that spec book you’ve been meaning to get to!!!
Did you know there’s a traveling Buffy Sing A Long show that might be coming to your city? I totally want to go. There’s going to be one in LA in September, and I’m so tempted. It’s a lot like the Rocky Horror Midnight shows, only it’s all Buffy and how cool is that? They just had one in LA and Joss Whedon and Marti Noxon showed up! Damn, I want to go!
However, I’m at home, and I’m doing a major detox thingee, which is kicking my ass. I know it’ll be worth it though. When I finally get over the feeling-like-crap-on-a-stick phase, I’ll feel great! You hear me! GREAT!
I’m also working – finishing up the anthology, revamping the new Blaze plot a bit so it’s not quite so complicated. I’m so looking forward to this one – the cast includes a movie company and I haven’t visited that part of my past in a long while.
It just feels as if I’ve had a number of lives this lifetime. The movie me is so different from the novel me. The L.A. me is miles from the Utah me, or the Texas me. I tend to get so wrapped up in the current incarnation that I don’t even think about the other lives, but when I do, I’m often surprised at how I’ve changed, the choices I’ve made and how those choices have served me. Or not served me. I think if I could go back and tell the younger me one thing it would be…
Wait
I’m not going to say. Not yet.
Let’s all play. If you could go back to any time in your past and tell you one thing, what would it be?
Post here, and I’m going to pick one commenter at random who will win a copy of Kidnapped! before it hits the shelves.
I’m working hard on the anthology that takes place in Hush, and I’m enjoying the shorter format. The hero is someone new to me, someone who surprises me on every page. The heroine, I understand her better. She’s more comfortable, but she’s surprised by the hero, too.
Yesterday I went to Justine Larbalestier’s blog (by way of Diana Peterfreund’s) to talk about what makes a romance sexy. It’s a great discussion you should all check it out. My response surprised me somewhat. Then again, my answer was completely true for me, and I think for a great many readers – it’s all about tension and delayed gratification.
And yet in several of the books I’ve written, the h/h end up in bed quite early in the book. Which means the tension and delayed gratification has to come in another way. It’s focused on emotions that are as revelatory and stunning as first sexual contact with a couple who have already fallen in love. This, I find, is not easy to do. (Duh)
So I did a little searching on my own today. I looked at the romances that have really moved me. That have given me visceral reactions and carried over long after the book or movie has been put away. I plotted the progress of the tension and the delayed gratification through several stories (I’m still working on it) and I’m really learning a lot.
I love it when this happens.
I love it when the conversation on line leads directly to awareness and an aha!
I love it that people are so willing to share. That so many see that it takes nothing away, only adds.
So is it the same for you? Delayed gratification and tension? Or is it something completely different?
I just finished reading LADY LUCK’S MAP OF VEGAS by Barbara Samuel. Gorgeous writing, word paintings, lovely, lovely. I thought the story was wonderful and it was a joy to read.
God, I love reading. (Yeah, that’s news). But I do so much reading for research that reading for pleasure is like winning a prize.
Next up? THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield. I’m rubbing my hands with glee.
On the writing front, I’m working on two projects. Hate it, but have no choice. I’m trying to separate work sessions so it’s not too painful.
As always, it’s taking awhile to adjust from being back from vacay. I have a stuffed up nose, so that makes it worse. But we had a lovely time and it was fun to be elsewhere.
Sunday night has been all about Robot Chicken, and if you don’t know what that is, you probably wouldn’t like it. Very funny stop-action animation by silly grown men. This is when I really know Dotes and I are meant to be together. Although he enjoys Sci Fi channel movies a whole lot more than I do. Okay, yes, I’m into Stargate and Dr. Who (when are we getting Torchwood here, BTW?) but the movies? I don’t like regular sized bugs, so why would I want to watch movies about giant versions? ICE SPIDERS? Really?
The current annoyance (for those who are counting) is that the mat under my chair is warped. It makes me sit either too far or too close to the keyboard. Sounds harmless enough unless you’re a freakin’ writer! I must do something about this. Did you know that wooden or bamboo mats are hundreds of dollars? Why? WHY?
And now, on a very grumpy note – I have a new book coming out in September (that’s not the grumpy part. I really like the book) called KIDNAPPED! It’s a Blaze about…well, you can probably figure that out. The problem is the cover. I’ve been getting fabulous covers, so I suppose I’m due for a mishap, but this one could have been caught. There’s just something that looks really strange. I’m not going to post it yet. It’s too early. But ::sigh:: I suppose I shouldn’t complain except it’s the cover and it’s the first introduction to a book I’m proud of. Other than the problem (which you’ll see when you see it) the cover is good. And sexy.
Maybe I’m overreacting. Only I’m not.
Okay, let’s end this on a happy note –remembering the moment of bittersweet satisfaction after reading two really excellent books. You know, that last page moment? Oh, and re-watching the end of Season 2 of Dr. Who and crying my eyes out—in a good way.
We’re on the road, having just been to Murder on the Grove where I was part of a panel, Robert Crais was funny and good-looking, Dotes got a request for a full, and we ate fabulous Thai food. :)
Now we’re doing a bit more vacation, then home to write like a fiend.
It rained the entire day today, and Dotes drove miles and miles - I should have been typing, but instead I watched Children of Men on our new tiny portable DVD player, and I finished ODD THOMAS, which was fantastic. Totally original characters and wonderful spookiness. Highly recommended.
I bought books at the conference that I have no time to read, but they do feel delicious in my hands.
Oh, also, when I get back I’ll be working with the web designer to do a new setup on the web site itself and here. We will have pictures once more!
