ROW80 Weds: Digging In . . .

Let's keep it simple as we balance between this year's memories of Thanksgiving and the end-of-the-year to come. Red = no progress.  Blue = Done!

WEEKLY GOALS BY DECEMBER 2.

1. WRITING: Proof the final paperback for Rivers of Stone by Sunday, 12/2. NOTE: Final proofing of Rivers of Stone depends on whether I get that darn proof copy in time! Read Mothers Don't Die to see if the story stands on its own. Done. Edited Chapters 1-4. So 4/30 done. Write 1,000 words on Island Wife. So far, 350 words. Started researching smugglers in northern Scotland. Write 4 poems. 3/4 so far.

2. BLOGGING. Weds and Sun for ROW80. Finish Part 3 on deep revision for writing blog. The monthly post for Insecure Writer's Support Group is set for December 6 (my birthday) and asks us to look back over the year. Would we have done anything differently? I'm not sure at all.

3. READING. Start tracking reading again. Goal to read 6 books for December (and review at least 2). Reviewed Suzanne Ireland's Mermaid in a Fishbowl. Harder for me to read paperbacks as the print is just too small.

4. MARKETING. All out media push and setting up readings for Spokane Authors' new Anthology with launch party this Saturday, December 2. Probably 6 hours so far. Meeting today. In process: sending out review requests for Rivers of Stone. Sent out 5 requests to 3 wonderful writers who said YES! Plan to send newsletter by December 6. Did first draft. Prepping for book signing, December 11. Dropped off poster, media sheet.

5. NEW GOAL: Home-tending (inspired by Shan Jeniah) to work just 2 hours a week on some long-ignored part of our home. This week: focus area = the kitchen. 2 sessions done. Even DH helped, but the stove awaits. Decluttering continues. Emails down to under 100 again. 

QUESTION: How long do YOU keep those notes and papers that support previous books? I'm ready to start heaving them out for more space in filing cabinets. How about you?

OTHER GOALS: Almost done with another comfort quilt and ready to start a twin-bed size for littlest grandchild. Bright owls against a powder blue cloud filled sky. Maybe machine applique. The generosity of quilting friends warms me when I work. Not making progress with physical exercise just now. Keep missing swimming classes. DH is sick now for 5 weeks and we're gearing up for the second trip to the doctor. So I try to stay balanced between what is possible and what needs to be done.

BACK TO WRITING: When I read Mothers Don't Die this time, I wasn't reading marked up pages. I uploaded the latest draft to Kindle and tried to read it as if I were reading this thriller/suspense tale about a kidnapping for the very first time -- and that I didn't know the writer (me). 

Surprise! Not everyone will like this tale, but it drew me in. Another surprise: So much of my writing was shaped by childhood experiences and memories. Here's, finally, another new goal: This old, much revised tale will be up on Kindle before 2018.

Me playing with my cousin, Jimmie, on Bainbridge Island, about 1951.

Now, what's happening on our FACEBOOK group or on our WEBSITE.

ROW80 check-in: Post Thanksgiving

Hope no one succumbed to Black Friday. My Friday was spent quilting with several friends, trading fabrics, and having a blast -- far from words, deadlines, and queues of shoppers. I worked so hard on Thanksgiving, my feet still hurt! Yet I remain thankful for family and friends and every last tiny piece of pie (pumpkin, apple, mincemeat) that tantalized my tastebuds.

I'm thankful for ROW80, that round of words with like-minded writers who persevere with goals and accountability. Thank YOU for keeping up with your own writing yet commenting. This coming week, my goals are simpler yet . . .

GOALS BY DECEMBER 2.

1. WRITING: Proof the final paperback for Rivers of Stone by Sunday, 12/2. Begin reading Mothers Don't Die to see if the story stands on its own. Write 1,000 words on Island Wife. Write 4 poems.

2. BLOGGING. Weds and Sun for ROW80. Finish Part 3 on deep revision for writing blog.

3. READING. Start tracking reading again. Goal to read 6 books for December (and review at least 2). Want to read Maids of Misfortune (M. Louisa Locke) and Olivia Mourning (Yael Politis), Just finished Suzanne Ireland's Mermaid in a Fishbowl, a story of an intrepid young woman who teaches at a prison (5 stars). Love the way her characters and understanding of prison life are vividly told.

4. MARKETING. All out media push and setting up readings for Spokane Authors' new Anthology with launch party this Saturday, December 2. In process: sending out review requests for Rivers of Stone. Plan to send newsletter by December 6. Prepping for book signing, December 11. 

5. NEW GOAL: Home-tending (inspired by Shan Jeniah) to work just 2 hours a week on some long-ignored part of our home. This week: focus area = the kitchen.

Now, may we all have a mild and writerly productive winter . . . so far,  no snow here, but those beautiful fall leaves are long gone. Please visit other ROW80 writers on our FACEBOOK group or on our WEBSITE.

And, just one more question: Would YOU like to subscribe to my very occasional e-mailed updates, release discounts, etc? If yes, please click HERE.

Picture shows what I'm already dreaming about -- for January and February: Coffee in historic Old Town, Merida, Mexico.

Old Town, Merida, Mexico

ROW80 #15: Happy Thanksgiving!

I've dropped out the last two weeks. Despite thinking about all of you, working away on your writing and checking in on your progress as part of A Round of Words in 80 Days, I just couldn't join you.

Two major projects kept me busy.

If you know what 'doesn't fit trim size' means, then you know where I've been. Just before dawn this morning, CreateSpace accepted my files for Rivers of Stone. The proof will be here in another week (already found 2-3 spacing errors to correct). And then I will finally (after three years of work) hit that magic button to complete the paperback version. The Kindle version of Rivers of Stone is already live.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Over the last two weeks, I also worked intensely with a team to publish Spokane Authors & Self-Publishers' first anthology, called Celebrating Spokane Authors. Some 19 poets, authors, and essayists contributed work to this anthology. Our launch party for the anthology is December 2 (Saturday), and I'm scrounging for reviewers. If you are interested, please let me know.

This is Round 4, Check-in 15, and I'm still not ready. My fingers are in that frozen keyboard state. But, a little later tonight, I'll be making a mincemeat-apple pie. Tomorrow, we'll be gathering around the turkey with family, grateful for every moment.

The next challenge? Back to work on setting goals, deadlines, and evaluating progress.  And work on marketing, which always makes me vaguely guilty. We CAN do this!  Wishing you all the very best of times as we approach the end of the year.

Thankfulness from Thanksgiving Quotes

ROW80 check-in: Happy Veteran's Day.

When I first met my husband some 43 years ago, I didn't know he was a Vietnam vet. He was just the most wonderful and intriguing person I'd ever met -- a writer, a dreamer, a poet, and a traveler.

Two years ago, for his 70th birthday, his novel Reaching, based on his experiences as a draftee serving in Vietnam, was published. Life is sometimes complicated, but my gentle husband hasn't changed that much.

Yesterday, we celebrated Veteran's Day quietly with milkshakes from McDonald's and lots of football. I try to take good care of him because I want him to stick around, but we're at that age when saying goodbye is too close to reality. I'm not ready.

ROW80 Round 4: Check-in 12:

WRITING by Sunday 11/12: Use 750 words to write a minimum of 250 words a day on Island Wife. Make final revisions/formatting for Rivers of Stone a top priority. Completed afterword for Rivers of Stone. Now working on final formatting for Kindle. Wrote 400 words this week on memoir. Wrote 3,167 words for Island Wife. Taught workshop on “Deep Revision” on Wednesday (more about this on writing blog).

BLOGGING by Sunday 11/12: Post on Writing Blog. Report in for ROW80 Weds and Sunday. Posted Thursday and Sunday. Posted Part 1 of ‘Deep Revision’ on Writing Blog. Read posts by other ROW80 writers x6 for the week. Read x4 this week so far.

MARKETING by Sunday, 11/12: Work on marketing/timeline for Rivers of Stone release by December 15. Finalize cover back. Send queries re blog hop/early reviews for Rivers of Stone release. Send November newsletter. Send query re early reviewers. Set up pre-orders. Sent request for permissions x3 for quotes in Rivers of Stone (luckily one person quoted is long dead). No progress otherwise. Other: Draft PR for SASP Anthology release party and send queries to reviewers. Worked up timeline, designed promo, contacted 3 potential reviewers.
In an effort to keep life relatively simple, here are my GOALS FOR Week of 11/13-11/19.

1. WRITING by Sunday 11/19: Write 750 words/day for Island Wife. Continue 1 hour/day formatting Rivers of Stone. Write 500 words/memoir.
2. BLOGGING by Sunday 11/19: Post ROW80x2 (Weds/Sun). Post Part 2 “Deep Revision” on Writing Blog. Enter Carnival of Indies by 11/15. Read posts by other ROW80 writers x6/this week.
3. MARKETING by Sunday 11/19: Work on marketing/timeline for Rivers of Stone release (December 15). Finalize cover back. Send queries re blog hop/early reviews for Rivers of Stone release. Send November newsletter. Send query re early reviewers. Set up pre-orders. Re SASP Anthology: Write press releases & send to local newspapers and post event online. Send promo for launch party to contributors, requesting they forward to their social network. Contact 4 more potential reviewers. Coordinate report for SASP board.

Those beautiful red and gold fall leaves are mostly gone. We're at that stage where we scan the coming week's weather forecast for snow and sigh happily when none is predicted. Isn't it a perfect time for making progress on all goals as the temperatures dip, right?

Question of the week (yes, I'd really like to know):  As an indie author, did you use pre-orders? How did that work out for your book? Would you do this again? Also, do you think it's better to release your book at the very end of the year (December) or wait for 2018? 

Now, what's happening on our FACEBOOK group or on our WEBSITE.

Manito Park October 2017

ROW80: If It's not snow, it's rain . . .

Here's my Round 4, Check-in 11:  

WRITING GOALS by Sunday 11/12: Use 750 words to write a minimum of 250 words a day on Island Wife. Make final revisions/formatting for Rivers of Stone a top priority. Completed revision on Rivers of Stone. Now working on final formatting for Kindle. Wrote 800 words this week on memoir. No progress on Island Wife. Taught workshop on “Deep Revision” on Wednesday (more about this on writing blog).

BLOGGING by Sunday 11/12: Post on Writing Blog. Report in for ROW80 Weds and Sunday. Posted Thursday. Plan to post re writing workshop on Writing blog. Read posts by other ROW80 writers x6 for the week. Read x1 this week so far.

MARKETING by Sunday, 11/12: Work on marketing/timeline for Rivers of Stone release. Finalize cover back. Send queries re blog hop/early reviews for Rivers of Stone release. Send November newsletter. Send query re early reviewers. Set up pre-orders. Sent request for permissions x2 for quotes in Rivers of Stone. Other: Draft PR for SASP Anthology release party and send queries to reviewers.

You might have noticed I'm changing up the reporting to make deadlines more visible. And hopefully more efficient.

Like any other week, this week has begun with a pretty full schedule. Most of my 'free' time went to prepping to teach yesterday's workshop on "Deep Revision" over in Coeur d'Alene, which was a blast. Personally, I think I wandered a bit, especially in the intro, but the writing activities were fun, people were active participants, and I learned some new ideas along the way. Plus, the topic will show up in this week's Writing blog post!

With story revisions finally complete for Rivers of Stone, and the workshop behind me, I can now switch my writing attention for the rest of November to NaNoWriMo. Yippee!

One tip I found in researching that workshop was a reminder to think about one of your writing goals just before going to sleep. This way, the unconscious part of your mind works away while you sleep. I've done this off and on and often have been surprised in a pleasing way. So, this morning's insight was about how to write memoir.  I've struggled with how to talk about events and issues I'd rather not share. The 'suggestion' from my unconscious this morning was to write a letter to my daughter. Sounds flaky. But this little tip changed both content and tone -- and the words flowed! 

Me, Allen, and Rachel . . . Back in the day (1980s)

What's the bottom line? The snow melted. It's raining. We're one week closer to Thanksgiving. As we set goals for the rest of this month (and December on its way), I'm thankful for A Round of Words in 80 Days and wish you all a very productive and happy month!

Why not check out what's happening on the FACEBOOK group or on our WEBSITE. 

ROW80: Snow already?

Another intense week of writing and revision. Here is one of my favorite picture from last week's visit to Manito Park at the height of Fall colors. But it started to snow yesterday and hasn't stopped, making me very grateful for those few perfect days playing with the leaves.

Fall moment, Manito Park (November 2017)

ROW80, Round 4, Check-in 10: Goals and Progress:

WRITING: Use 750 words to write a minimum of 250 words a day on Island Wife (NaNo project).  Make final revisions/formatting for Rivers of Stone a top priority. Currently at 70% complete on revisions for ROS, and 1250 new words for Island Wife. GOALS FOR NEXT WEEK: Complete Revisions on Rivers of Stone. Write 1,250 new words for Island Wife.

BLOGGING: Report in for Insecure Writer's Support Group with monthly post. Done. Report in for ROW80 Weds and Sunday. Posted Weds & Sunday. Read posts by other ROW80 writers x6 for the week. Read x7 this week. GOALS FOR NEXT WEEK: Same.

MARKETING: Work on marketing/timeline for Rivers of Stone release. Contacted local book store and scheduled December book signing. Worked with Sue on Anthology launch and marketing plan for Spokane Authors. GOALS FOR NEXT WEEK: Finalize cover back. Send queries re blog hop/early reviews for Rivers of Stone release. Send November newsletter. Draft PR for SASP Anthology release.

Like you, I'm busy. This morning began Daylight Savings and a 5 am run to the airport. This afternoon ends with 4 hours of babysitting. Last night, a reading at the Spokane County Public Library of its anthology celebrating 75 years (they accepted one of my poems). This week (if the snow holds off a little), I'll lead a workshop in Coeur d'Alene on "deep revision." Add in 2 meetings with quilting groups, another babysitting session toward the end of the week, and it looks like a pretty intense week.

I'm also ending this week with a profound sense of gratitude and dismay. No pictures of happy kitties here (though Aaron Rodgers' State Farm commercial with his dog ALWAYS cheers me up).  OK, one picture:

Aaron Rodgers & Rigbee

The gratitude comes from appreciating family, hubby a little better from his bad cold, and simply being home. The dismay comes after visiting a homeless shelter here in Spokane as temperatures dipped below freezing. We should be able to take better care of those who cannot take care of themselves.

Meanwhile, we persevere. Make it a good week. Check out what we're doing on FACEBOOK or the the ROW80 web! 

ROW80: Chocolate Hangover???

I have kept my muse happy. Pulled her right out of a slough of depression by thoroughly revamping my goals. 

So, to share progress for ROW80's Round 4, Check-in 9: here are my new goals (after much hard reflecting).  

WRITING: Use 750 words to write a minimum of 250 words a day on Island Wife.  Make final revisions/formatting for Rivers of Stone a top priority. So far this week, I worked 4 hours on both, 350 words so far on Island Wife (with more tonight).

BLOGGING: Report in for Insecure Writer's Support Group with monthly post. Done. Report in for ROW80 Weds and Sunday. Posted Weds. Read posts by other ROW80 writers x6 for the week. Read x3 so far this week.

MARKETING: Work on my own marketing/timeline for Rivers of Stone release. Contacted local book store and scheduled December book signing. Worked with Sue on Anthology launch and marketing plan for Spokane Authors. 

And about that chocolate . . .  how about a piece of cake instead?

Red Velvet Halloween Cake
from Sayitwithcake

With all that sugar from Halloween, why not go visit A Round of Words in 80 Days at our blog OR over on FaceBook to see what everyone has done . . . Be well. Write with joy!