Round 4, Check-in 8: Aaaargh!

I wish I could report better progress this last week, our first week home. But I'm beginning to realize the older I get, the more time I need to recover. Still haven't written those blistering letters to all concerned that led to a 3-hour wait while going through customs. Imagine 2,000+ people, most over 70, standing in line for 3 hours with no place to sit or go to the bathroom, some folks with walkers. This was NOT pretty, making me ever grateful we are back home.

Here are my Round 4 goals with updates:

1. Writing: Complete revisions and write wrap-around materials for Rivers of Stone by year-end. No progress yet. Organizing for NaNoWriMo. Some progress. Write at least 30 poems by end of October. Only 11 poems for the month, so far, with 3 days left. Did transfer poems from journal to Word file.
2. Blogging: Post in Writing blog x1/week (posted 3 poems) and ROW80 blog x2/each week (posted only once -- unless today counts). Read other writers x6 (read x3).
3. Reading: Read 10 books a month. Review 1 book each month. Still reading Barbara Kingsolver's The Lacuna (490 pages & about 48% through), but I'm far from other reading and reviewing.4. Marketing: Work on release of Rivers of Stone before the end of 2017. Work on marketing 3 hours each week. Still unpacking and trying to catch up, so no real progress here. I am in the middle of talking to a local book store about a book signing (tied to release).
5. Other: Write 2 articles a month/Wrote 1. Prep for writing workshop early November. Continuing: SASP Publicity (wrote article on NaNoWriMo for the newsletter; proofed new Anthology -- SASP's first!).
6. Personal: Quilt, exercise, maintain healthy balance with family, volunteering, and all else. Resumed exercise (water aerobics). Went to the advanced class by accident and really got a workout. Did buy a box of Trader Joe cookies, but all else OK. Lots of veggies and brown rice. Am appalled this morning by CNN's report of water-spread disease in Puerto Rico.

So, to keep things simple, here are my focus goals for the coming week:

1. WRITING: Write minimum 250 words a day. Keep writing poems through end of October. Proofread Rivers of Stone for e-pub.
2. BLOGGING: Same as always: 1x/ROW80, 2x/Writing blog (Include post for Insecure Writer's Support Group).
3. MARKETING: Work on my own marketing plan.
4. READING: Continue with Kingsolver. Will be lucky to finish mid-November.
5. SASP: Develop launch and marketing plan for our new Anthology.

This morning begins with dense fog, making me grateful for yesterday's trip with grandkids to Finch Arboretun for "Leaf Day." Finch staff piled up mounds of fall leaves for the kids to throw at each other and jump around on. 

Let's bring joy (and productivity) to the coming week! Check out what other ROW80 writers are up to on the BLOG or on FACEBOOK. Make it a good storytelling week!

ROW80, Round 4, Check-in 7: Home

We're baack! Two hour time change notwithstanding, after a 14-day cruise, the suitcases are unpacked, laundry is finally clean, and we've made one food run to the grocery store. I have renewed appreciation for internet, television news, and the daily paper. And privacy.

But the real question is: Did I get any writing done?  The short answer is yes! The longer answer is, as my three-year-old granddaughter would say, "Some." I'm working on Dylan and Moira's story. Have made great progress in organizing, plotting, and drafting a few scenes. Up to about 12,000 words and setting up for NaNoWriMo.

Here are my Round 4 goals:

1. Writing: Complete revisions and write wrap-around materials for Rivers of Stone by year-end. No progress here last 2 weeks. Prioritize writing projects (Prequel + Memoir). Done. Prequel taking front and center. Write at least 30 poems by end of October. Some progress. Wrote 10 poems in 2 weeks.
2. Blogging: Post in Writing blog x1 and ROW80 blog x2/each week. Read other writers x6. On hold last 2 weeks. No Internet.

3. Reading: Read 10 books a month. Review 1 book each month. Ooops. Probably read 6 books during last 2 weeks. Deep in Barbara Kingsolver's The Lacuna (set partly in Mexico) and loving this rich story that features Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

4. Marketing: Work on release of Rivers of Stone before the end of 2017. Work on marketing 3 hours each week. No progress last two weeks. Did hand out a few bookmarks.
5. Other: Write 2 articles a month. Prep for writing workshop early November. Continuing: SASP Publicity. Quilt, exercise, maintain healthy balance with family, volunteering, and all else. All these on hold until tomorrow!

Too much red above, but tomorrow beckons. What was the most exotic thing we saw during the trip? 

Toucans, parrots, and other mystery birds flying in the wilderness of a tropical forest. 

Orchids growing in a tree in a botanical garden.

The nightly towel-creature awaiting us in our room on the Norwegian Pearl. 

In Cartagena, flower-filled patios, but humidity and heat so high, we could barely walk.

Now, why not check in with other ROW80 writers to see what's up this week for A Round of Words in 80 Days? Have a great week!

ROW80 Check-in: Missing?

I'm not missing. This is my last check-in for ROW80 until after October 25.

1. Writing: Complete revisions and write wrap-around materials for Rivers of Stone by year-end. Prioritize next writing project. Write at least 30 poems by end of October. Progress: Good progress on all goals. So far, surprisingly, 12 poems written.
2. Blogging: Post in Writing blog x1 and ROW80 blog x2/each week. Read other writers x6 each week.  Progress: Because those poems (and the monthly post for Insecure Writer's Support Group) are posted daily, I'm well ahead in posting on the Writing blog, but I'm far behind in posting for ROW80 and/or reading what others have done. 
3. Reading: Read 10 books a month. Review 2 books each month. Progress: No reviews up this month. For September, read 10/15. October reading so far = 4/10, but one of the books involved lots of page skipping (erotica). Even though I was asked, and the book had terrific plotting, I just can't bring myself to review it. 
4. Marketing: Work on release of Rivers of Stone before the end of 2017. Work on marketing 3 hours each week. Progress: Steady progress here. Worked on SASP Anthology and set up a November workshop on 'deep revision' (this will be fun). Decided to set up Rivers of Stone for pre-order (a new skill).
5. Other/Personal: Write 2 articles a month. Continuing: SASP Publicity. Quilt, exercise, maintain healthy blood level/diet. Progress: So far, so good in all categories, though I wonder about that 'healthy diet' goal on a cruise ship. Found a way to exercise in water aerobics without hurting my feet. SASP Publicity done + two articles. 

Getting ready for this trip, even though it's only 17 days, feels a little like falling off the world as I know it. My laptop is ready. The suitcase is mostly packed. We drive to the airport at 4:30 am on Saturday, but I'm leaving behind all that is familiar. As well as those dear grands! 

My hopes for writing while away include digging into a new story (unicorns!) and somehow writing a poem a day. We've not vacationed for so long that we're both looking forward to a different kind of adventure. No internet while we're gone means not connecting with ROW80 until I'm back -- after October 25. 

Meanwhile, all you energetic ROW80 writers, persevere in the writing, and appreciate each day! CLICK HERE to see what everyone's up to or hop over to our group on FaceBook!