ROW80 Check-in: Just not sure

Most likely the ROW80 linky is closed for this week's check-in. Today is Tuesday, and I'm so far behind. 

OK so I finished that horrible first draft of Rivers of Stone (roughly 95,000 words), and now I'm adrift. Can't write. Can't think. Maybe I'm stuck in that low place where doubt rules. But I bound the sucker. Sent it to my trusted first reader and should hear something within a week or so . . . though just now I can't bear to look at it.

Any writing? I'm back to Granny Vampire for a few words here and there, mostly stuck in character maps and arcs and plotting bits of scenes and stabs at humor. Wondering why I'm even trying to write this particular story, for no matter my interest in writing a cozy mystery with those 'stabs of humor,' I'm always drawn to the underpinning issues we don't want to talk about/think about: elder abuse, aging and the loss of thought and memory, and, of course, death. 

Marketing? Yesterday I met with a small book club at a local assisted living home and was charmed by the ladies. I had been forewarned they might have dementia, so I reviewed some helpful 'how to' tips (mostly, stay calm, talk in nonthreatening ways), changed my bright writer's shirt for something a little calmer, and sallied forth to a pleasant afternoon with mermaid quilts and stories and a poem.

This week outside our apartment window, a young man and his girl were flying kites -- her kite a box of crayons and his, an amazing bird of fire, perhaps a Phoenix bird, rising to challenge the darkness.

Summer flight (Camp 2016)

Sunday check-in: Oh, the inbox!

Those red chokeberries outside my window have popped from early summer heat, so this morning a cheeky robin had breakfast -- just right there, a fingertip away. 

"American Robin," by Steve Shelasky on Flickr

But already, it's Sunday evening, and I'm looking at three stacks of paperwork to sort through, reflect on, organize, and complete. All related to writing in some way, while my 'real' writing languishes. To report on goals for this week:

WRITING: Drafted 500 words for Granny Vampire. Sent first draft Rivers of Stone to 1 pre-beta reader. Sent quilting article on 'comfort quilts' to The Country Register. Sent monthly writing tip to SASP Newsletter. Blogged Mon, Weds & Sunday. Did read 5x for ROW80 this week.

EDITING for JUNE: Read through Mothers Don’t Die (Chapters 1-10). Have not started -- yet. Planned to read through Rivers of Stone (Chapters 1-20). Just decided to give ROS a rest until comments from beta reader about June 30. Read Chapters 1-3 of Justice (beta read), when the writer requested I stop reading and wait for her next revisions. She has a terrific story. 

MARKETING. My marketing presentation to senior center directors on last Thursday went reasonably well. What I'm most excited about are new opportunities to support marketing by writers in our local writers group, which include book club readings and a group table at an artisans' fair (so far). But my two main projects (newsletter and audiobook marketing) languish.

READING: Most useful writing craft article I've read so far this week? Rachel Carrington's A Call to Action in The Writer (July 2016) which in two pages makes it very clear how to cut superfluous action (you know, Margo brushed her teeth, tidied up the bathroom, and wondered if she would ever meet Mr. Right). Head to the library or a book store, as this article's not online.

And I'm loving Orson Scott Card's Characters & Viewpoint (a classic). His comments make me want to dig even deeper into my characters. He says physical description is nice . . . but what connects with the reader most intensely: ". . . what the character does in the story, what his motives are, and what he has done in the past" (13). That last phrase gets me every time. "What he has done in the past."

That other goal, DECLUTTERING. I think my e-mail inbox is stuck at just over 300 to-read. So I shall measure progress by the number of e-mails I delete. So far this week, only 53 gone.

Again, thank you, Fallon Brown, for showing me how to organize my goals by the month. At least the list in my Daily Work file looks manageable! It's my desk that's a wreck.

Check out what other writers in A Round of Words for 80 Days are up to this week HERE. And make it a good week.

ROW80: Weds Morning Check-Up

Good progress this week so far. Most of my energy has gone to prepping for today's presentation re possible readings and promotion to about 15 folks who schedule such events. That's this morning at 8am. 

My biggest hope is that someone will bite and host a Veteran's Day reading for those writers in our group who write military fiction. Maybe a Saturday workshop. We'll see.

Why do I love complicated projects? Is it the organizing? Creating structure out of chaos? Making something of value happen? Don't know. But I did volunteer to coordinate PR for our author's group. We don't even have a directory (first stop getting info on Excel). 

Rivers of Stone goes out to one beta reader this week. This is the first rough draft and I'll hope for the second round of 'true' beta reads by August. That's a good two months for final revision. Process? Printed out and bound the whole darn thing for the read through.

OK it is Thursday morning. Early. But you do know Golden State lost to the Cavaliers last night? Since Sunday, progress on June's goals:

WRITING

• Progress: Draft Granny Vampire, 1,000 words. Added 400 words.
• Progress: Send Rivers of Stone to 2 beta readers. Got the draft printed and bound. Changed my mind about 2 beta readers. Only one.
• DONE: Submit quilting article to The Country Register. 
• Not yet: Submit monthly WRITING CLINIC article to SASP Newsletter.
• Progress: Post blogs on Mon (Monday Musings: Disposable?), Weds (ROW80), Friday, and Sunday. Stay current with blog hops and ROW80 sponsor duties. Posted 2x, Read 4x. Not sure I can keep posting 4x a week.

EDITING

• Not yet: Mothers Don’t Die (Chapters 1-10).
• Not yet: Rivers of Stone (Chapters 1-20)
• Progress: Read 3 chapters a week for Justice (beta read). Chap 3 done.

READ 

• Progress: Read 10 books and write 2 reviews. Finished 2 books. No reviews. Yet.
• Progress: Reading & taking notes Orson Scott Card, Characters & Viewpoint (Chap 1 completed) and writing craft magazines x2 (not yet). Card is inspirational, prompting me at the draft stage to do the background work on characters BEFORE drafting. Usually I draft scenes and let the characters emerge through action.

MARKETING. Not yet: Focus on audiobook marketing & newsletter.

Another highlight? Sharing birthday sushi and cupcakes with my granddaughter. How many four-year-olds love sushi?

ROW80 check-in: If it's not midnight, it's still Sunday

Spent the night rooting for the Golden State Warriors. What a game of confrontation, sweet swishing basketball hoops, and sheer athleticism. I even know the name of some of the players. 

Meanwhile, back at the keyboard, some stuff got done between Wednesday and Sunday. I'm taking a page (post?) from Fallon Brown and will just say I'm thrilled to be nearly finished with the first real draft of Rivers of Stone, ready to start a serious read-through. 

Other stuff that got done? Got another chapter completed for the beta read I'm doing for an indie writer. Kept barely up with reading or any other writing. Still prepping for Thurs. presentation, one article needs one more paragraph, and I did tweet a few times. Finished another comfort quilt.

Goals for June 

(with thanks to Fallon Brown's clever organization)

WRITING
Draft Granny Vampire, 1,000 words.
Send Rivers of Stone to 2 beta readers. 

Submit quilting article to The Country Register. 
Submit monthly WRITING CLINIC article to SASP Newsletter.

Blog Mon, Weds, Friday, and Sunday. Stay current with blog hops and ROW80 sponsor duties.

EDITING
Mothers Don’t Die (Chapters 1-10).

Rivers of Stone (Chapters 1-20)
Read 3 chapters a week for Justice (beta read)

READ

Read 10 books and write 2 reviews.

Read Orson Scott Card, Characters & Viewpoint and writing craft magazines x2.

MARKETING

Focus on audiobook marketing & newsletter.

Favorite inspiration for the week? Just knowing that ROW80 writers are out there working away -- as are those folks on Facebook's 10 Minute Novelists. Stop by and check out what we're doing. Join in. And write!

ROW80 check-in: Weds hump day

How did Weds get here so fast? Temperature in the 80's today, first time. Lots of activity. Maybe too much? So, shorter is better. Still don't feel like cooking. Here's today's check-in to measure progress so far this week for A Round of Words in 80 Days:

WRITING: Since Sunday, wrote 2 out of 3 days. Missed the deadline of finishing Section 05 of Rivers of Stone (ROS) by May 31, BUT I'm working on the very last chapter and will send to beta readers this week. Blogging is coming right along with 3 posts last week, and 3 planned this week. Also wrote a little article for THE WRITING CLINIC, but not sure where it will wind up.

MARKETING: Still prepping for tomorrow and next week's presentation. Allen's REACHING got a review from Vietnam Veterans' Association (Yippee), and I happily got some feedback on first two chapters of ROS. Thank you, Roanne. More plans than progress but that's OK.

READING/REVIEWING: Still have one more beta to go before tomorrow -- before reading anyone else. As for the rest, I'll report on Sunday.

Summer! Make it a good week! Check out what other ROW80 writers are doing here. Why not jump in with a few goals? Every time I read what my WR80 colleagues are up to, I learn a few new strategies. Onward!

Mistaya Canyon, Banff (2015)
Last year's trip to Canada

ROW80 check-in: Goals and goals

Had a lovely sidetrip this week, working on book trailers. Unfortunately, the greatest lesson learned has been a new appreciation for that gap between my test videos created with Vimeo and YouTube and those professionally produced, including one by a writing friend, Sandy Brown Jensen. You can see all three on my writing blog HERE. 

But in comparing my draft efforts to what's out there, I still have much to do. 
--Need more compelling text. Especially in a short (under 50 second) video, every word must connect with the viewer. Emotionally.

Mermaid, detail from fountain in Edinborough (Camp 2009)

--Need images that resonate and add depth/intensity to the video. These can be related to the theme, the hero's journey (heroine, in my case) or the story conflict.

--Music also needs to be high energy, related to the story.

--Work on the fade-in/fly-in, with 3-6 seconds per frame, depending on how much text is on the frame. Images without text can fade faster. The more text, the slower the fade.

Otherwise, the week has been a slammer of a balancing act, with commitments to family and friends keeping me far too busy. 

Here's my update for ROW80:

WRITING. Finish Section 05 for Rivers of Stone by May 28 and get it out to two of my beta readers by June 1. Progress: I might actually make this goal as the last chapter is finally falling into place. Wrote 7/7 days.

MARKETING. Worked a healthy slug on those book trailers (6 hours). Proposing a WRITING CLINIC umbrella for local workshops, presentations, short blips for newsletter/blogs this Thursday for local writers' association. Prepping medley of topics for presentation next Thurs as well to possible hosts. Good progress on assembling my own library of hashtags related to writing, historical fiction, editing, reviewing, marketing, and reading. Sent a query to an Australian reviewer re Years of Stone. And tweeting a little more.

3. BLOGGING: Posted twice for ROW80 (including today) and twice on the writing blog ("Monday Morning Musings: Why Write a Review?" and "Friday Fooling Around: Book Trailers"). Having two days set aside for blogging seems to help me stay connected. Read ROW80 x6. Done. Would have liked to do more.

4. Reading/Book Reviews: Very slow progress here. Goals: Read 2 articles on writing craft. Still found a super article on M.K. Tod's A Writer of History by Mark Beaulieu on researching historical fiction, "Time Travel -- a 12th Century View." Not yet: Write at least one review by the end of May on an indie writer. Working on a beta read. May not get a review in this month.

5. Declutter: Keep e-mails under 150. The marketing surge of e-mails is over, but those e-mails keep coming in. Up to 300 this morning, but I did read & delete 140 this week. I think the marketing spillover to FaceBook resulted in me getting blocked. Still having problems accessing FaceBook through Chrome, so I'm using Mozilla Firefox. Anyone have similar problems?

And here's a pretty neat reminder for writing scenes: My characters tend to get into trouble more than they face down conflict. Hmmm.

Found via Google on Writing Romance

ROW80: Mid-week check-in with thoughts about Hawaii

Just two chapters to go to finish off the first rough draft of Sec05 of Rivers of Stone. What a strange process of writing and editing this is. I start with the main characters, kind of know what they need to do, what challenges they face, and then begin filling in the interactions, the conflict, the story that moves forward. 

But along the way, I need to do more research. What direction was the Columbia River flowing and how fast? How many days did it take to canoe from one location to another? What were the Chinook natives wearing? 

What's fun is the unexpected little gem of history I find along the way. For example, this morning I learned that those really neat young Hawaiian men who came over on trading ships to work for the Hudson's Bay Company (and lark around by wrestling, staging competitions like who could swim the fastest, and dancing the hula), left the Oregon Country almost entirely in the 1840s because the law would not allow either blacks or Hawaiians to own property. Aargh!

But some Hawaiians stayed and married into the Native community. This Vimeo video (of about 4 minutes) captures the sense of family and the larger Hawaiian community that remain connected even today.

Hawaiian and Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest from Dmae Roberts on Vimeo.

I hope to do justice to the Hawaiian characters in my story.

Now for progress so far toward my goals by Sunday, May 28, for A Round of Words in 80 Days   Blue = good progress. Red = Ouch! No progress. Green = Some progress.

• Writing: Continue to work a minimum of 5 out of 7 days on Rivers of Stone (drafting scenes or editing). Progress? 3 out of 3 days with 4 to go! Finished one chapter, two chapters to go to meet my goal of finishing Section 05 by the end of May. 
• Blogging: Minimum of 3 posts/week, plus read others x8. Progress? Posted 2x: Today's ROW80 check in and "Monday Morning Musings: Book Reviews" on my writing blog. Read 4 ROW80 writers so far. 
• Marketing: Work a minimum of 4 out of 7 days. More research than action, but have worked 3 out of 3 days.  Pretty good progress:  Actually requested a review from an Australian reader for Years of Stone. Joined HomeTown Reads, a website that promotes local writers by city. Yay! Spokane has its own site HERE. You can scroll down to see local writers and check to see if your city is part of this nationwide project.
• Reading/Book Reviews: Nothing yet: Read 2 articles on writing craft. Write at least one review by the end of May on an indie writer. 
• Decluttering: Goal: E-mails down to 150. Reality: Currently 280, but I've deleted 99 since Sunday.
• Other: Swim x3 and quilt. So far? Swam once, daily 20 minute walk, and quilted a little. Daydreamed about the next quilting project.

Make it a good week! Check out what other ROW80 writers are doing HERE. Why not jump right in. We'd love to have company, comments, and support your writing journey!

Missionaries Preaching to Hawaiians in Kikui Grove @ 1841
Source: Wikipedia
Click to see larger view.