ROW80 Weds check-in: The kindness of strangers . . .

Monday morning began with a flat tire. We hadn't changed tires for many decades and called AAA. Two hour wait. 90 degree heat. So we cancelled the call to AAA and decided to drive to Les Schwab. 

But when the racket sounded like we were driving on the rim, we pulled over to a parking lot to try to change that wretched tire that now looked like imps ate it for breakfast. A young man passing by stopped to say, "Need some help?" Yes, I am grateful for the kindness of strangers.

Big picture ROW80 goals: Thankfully, I am writing a minimum of 300 words a day. Every day presents new challenges, including DH's 2.5 hour visit to the dentist yesterday. But if I begin the morning with writing, that goal is achievable. Here is the detail of progress so far this week (blue = done, green = making progress, red = not even touched . . . yet).

First beta reader came back with comments on 10 chapters of Mothers Don't Die. My biggest concern was whether police work and the police had been shown realistically. So far, so good. Again, I am thankful for the kindness of strangers.

Might as well divulge all. I'm struggling a bit with how to eat as a newly diagnosed diabetic not on meds. Fasting blood sugars are all over the place. SparkPeople has a neat program online to track food, and this week, since I can't decide exactly what I really CAN eat for breakfast (or for that oh-so-necessary bedtime snack), I vented on a forum. Wow! Back came very useful advice from people I had never thought about. So this week, I am more than grateful for the kindness of strangers.

Which brings me back to ROW80.  Real life can interrupt and distract us from reaching our writing goals. But the process of setting our dreams into concrete, achievable steps makes all possible. We persevere. So drop in on other ROW80 writers to see what's up . . . and be thankful for the kindnesses that come to us every day.

Me and the grandkids reading.

ROW80: Summer Round is here!

Today begins Round 3 for "A Round of Words for 80 Days," 

Since we'll be on the road for six weeks during this round, I really struggled with whether to set goals. But I did. Because I like being accountable -- even to myself -- and I appreciate this community of writers who reach out with words of encouragement and tales of their own writing challenges.  

At the end of July, we're driving north to Canada (Fort St. James, Banff, Edmonton, and Winnipeg), to see the land and dig up research about the fur trade (1840-1850). We're hoping to park our tired bones in a tent most nights. Internet access may be iffy, at best. But I'll have my laptop, journals, the camera. What else is needed?

Tunnel Mountain, Banff (Flickr)

My goals for Round 3:
--Write a minimum of 300 words a day. 
--Blog when I can.
--Finish drafting Rivers of Stone (currently 90,000).
--Complete editing Mothers Don't Die (now out to beta readers) and hubby's VietNam novel, Reaching. 

My other goals (organized around research, community, marketing, and family) are laid out in chart format but may get short shrift once we leave home. So I'm trying to keep it simple by focusing on primary goals. Wish me good fortune and room in the trunk of the car to bring my books!

I may not be able to check in every Weds and Sunday, but my heart is with you all. May Round 3 be very good for your writing! 

Yes, this is a BLOG HOP for A Round of Words in 80 Days. Check out what amazing goals other writers are setting for the coming round. Be inspired! Persevere! Go forth and comment!