ROW80: Round 4 Begins

Lately, I keep running into folks who ask me: "When will that next book be out?" or "Why are you here? [Insert your choice of grocery store, garage sale, or doctor's office]. You should be home writing!"

And so I should. As the last round of the year begins, the lessons I've learned are these: Celebrate any accomplishments, set new goals, accept imperfection, and keep writing! Participating in A Round of Words in 80 Days helps me focus on what is essential.

Looking back: Round 3 marked several major accomplishments.

My husband's Vietnam War novel, Reaching,  is now out there -- available on Amazon. All the work on editing, formatting, and proofing is done. The official release is set for Veteran's Day week, and I'm hoping to garner a few pre-release reviews. Interested? Please e-mail me.

Completing this project satisfies something that has felt unfinished for far too long. My husband's wonderful writing inspires me. Maybe the book will find an audience. I don't know. I can only start on the next phase: marketing. Link to Amazon HERE.

We successfully completed a research trip to Canada (3 weeks instead of 6 because of health issues) to support my current book, Rivers of Stone. I have a lovely mountain of research and notes to support finishing this wip, and equally lovely memories of Calgary, Edmonton, and Jasper/Banff.

Looking forward:  I want to keep this as simple and specific as possible.

Writing: Write 250 words a day, 5 days a week on Rivers of Stone. This may take the form of scenes, backstory, research notes, or editing.  Participate in WIPpet Wednesdays. Blog about research x2 week on writing blog. Write a poem a day (OK maybe even doggerel) through October with OctPoWriMo also on the writing blog. Work on memoir once a week.

Community/Marketing: Develop marketing plan for Allen's book. Continue occasional newsletter. Post on Facebook author page 1x week. Schedule visit to small groups to talk about writing/books x2. Participate in Spokane Authors monthly. Serve as sponsor for ROW80.

Other: Strive for that balance between work and play, body and spirit. Keep on quilting. Let go of what I cannot realistically achieve and cherish each day. May this be a good round for us all!

Found on Facebook. Just imagine how the writer feels!