New Row80 Round About!

I'm very happy to report that I'm finally writing, after nearly 6 weeks of not writing very much at all. Perhaps the very process of setting goals and trying to be accountable pushes me back into the writing, even if the writing is a bit ahead of the research.

This week's preoccupations have been: When does the ice pack on Hudson's Bay form, how did people of the 19th Century survive the harsh winters, where did they find food, and when did the ice blessedly melt? Were polar bears a problem? How much did voyageurs drink? How strict were the officials of the Hudson's Bay Company? Luckily, I have good research, but this feeds the context of the story, not the actual story (if that makes sense). Still, as I try to sift through what is most relevant and stay true to my characters, the forward progress remains slow.

This week's progress:

• Write 250 words a day on Rivers of Stone. 2 out of 4 days, and I'm celebrating!!!!
• Finish that baby quilt. Sewing the bindings on now. Photo will follow. Most likely this is the last quilt I will try to quilt myself on my rather ordinary sewing machine. If you are a quilter, you know that flannel doesn't feed very smoothly.
• Write 2 critiques and 2 reviews this week. 1 critique complete and started reading for the book review. This goal may be too ambitious, especially as I started reading the wrong book and wondered how on earth I could write a review (I follow the Thumper School of Reviewing).
• Blog 5 times on writing (+1), travel (+4), and ROW80 (+2). Done! I'm writing a poem a day for OctPoWriMo on the travel blog and having fun exploring travels past.
• Read at least ONE research book for Rivers of Stone by Weds. Picked it out. Got started.
• Declutter e-mail. OK, looks like I've cleared out about 800 e-mails so far, with gazillion to go.

As fall begins in earnest, may your own week go well, your goals be met, and all your words sing!

Manito Park in the Fall (Camp 2013)