Here's today's update...much earlier than yesterdays, which makes me happy...and I'm actually excited.
1. How much did I write?
2,023 words
Word count for the day and how long did it take me?
Word count for the day of actual scenes and not notes is 1,960 words. I did a total of 2,023 words in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
2. What is the current word count of my Work In Progress (WIP)?
WIP word count, including yesterday's writing is 2,248 words.
3. How do I feel about what/how I did today in the writing session?
I feel like I want to get back to it. That itch under my skin that makes me want to delve deeper into the story and start digging the details out of my characters is beginning to prickle. I haven't felt it in a very long time and I'm actually enjoying it. I like the anticipation and the curiosity bubbling up inside me that has me wondering "what next?" I've missed that feeling, that sensation of elemental magic that every encounter with my characters used to bring about.
I want it to stay.
4. Compare/Contrast today's session to yesterdays.
Was it easier/harder?
Today's session was easier than yesterdays, possibly because I decided to start my writing by creating a rough outline for the scenes that need to happen in the book. The fun part about doing that is that, often, when I'm making notes, the scene just evolves on the screen in front of me and I go along for the ride.
Did I enjoy it?
LOL, Damn straight I enjoyed it! I f'ing loved it. I decided to use a pomodoro app to time my writing sessions (25 minutes writing, 5 minute break). Only I didn't take the breaks. many times I didn't even remember to start the next session until I was several minutes into writing. I like the app because it gives me a limit for my frustration. If I hadn't gotten anything out of the session, I was free to take 5 minutes away from the computer to do something else. I didn't take that option, but that doesn't mean it won't happen on another day or another writing session.
5. What am I looking forward to in tomorrow's session?
That depends. Tomorrow is going to be a little more difficult since I'm supposed to be doing some errands and completing some work for the day job tomorrow. Will depend on when I get up and get moving in the morning and how late I stay up tonight.
It'll be interesting to run a quick experiment to see if the early hours are still my best writing time. When I was first published and was writing all the time, I tended to use the early morning hours, before I had to go to work (usually between 4 am and 6 am), to write. If I can still do that, it would be great.
My goal is to get the full 80-90,000 word rough draft done in the 8 week challenge. To do that I need to write a total of between 1,468 and 1,607 words each day. (That's 1,468 - 1,607 words every day for 56 days) Completely doable based on today's results, but I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch.
I'll keep you posted.
My favorite line from today's writing:
And the time of dangling Becka Swinfield like a
carrot before him was over.
Sunday, July 10th. 16:38 (4:38 pm EST)
Post Script! July 10th, 23:58 (11:58 pm EST)
Added another 648 words added after a plodding 2 more hours.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Making Writing A Habit I Can't Kick - Day 1 - Reflection
It's just now 11:06 pm and here's the results of today's Make Writing A Habit I Can't Stop blog challenge:
1. How much did I write?
652 words (although admittedly some of it was notes.)
Word count for the day and how long did it take I?
Total word count is the 652 and it took about 30 minutes.
2. What is the current word count of my Work In Progress (WIP)?
288 words (although the other 364 are notes directly associated with the story.)
3. How do I feel about what/how I did today in the writing session?
I have to admit, I'm not overly impressed by what I did. Not sure if any of it will be kept, but it's a good start and gives me something to work from when I get started tomorrow.
As for how I did, again, not overly impressed because I found quite a few excuses not to write...which isn't a good thing when you consider I'm supposed to be developing discipline.
4. Compare/Contrast today's session to yesterdays.
Nothing to compare or contrast yet, since today was the first day. Will see what happens tomorrow.
Was it easier/harder?
NA -- It was hard because I wasn't sure where to start or what to write. I don't feel like I've made any progress, yet I've identified a few little things for myself that I think will help with tomorrow.
Those things include:
Pre-writing organization
Drafting a rough outline
Identifying turning points and key scene goals and themes
Write out background for Rick to immerse myself in who and what he is.
Expand on villains' backgrounds to immerse myself in who and what they are and the goals driving them and how those goals are impacted/thwarted by Rick and Becka.
Write out background on secondary characters to better understand where they fit into the situation involving the villains and Rick and Becka.
Did I enjoy it?
No, I actually didn't enjoy it because it felt a little forced. I don't feel like the scene is going to be used, but at the same time, it gives me a jumping off point and that's the most important thing.
5. What am I looking forward to in tomorrow's session?
I think I'm looking forward to doing more prep work on the story. I want to try to set up my turning points and sketch a rough outline to a few necessary scenes so all I have to do is create the structure of the story, then fill in the holes. (See notes under question #4.)
My favorite line:
Not much written so I don't really have any true favorite lines... Guess I'd have to say it's:
The aged single malt had gone down smooth, yet it didn’t still the beast growling at its fetters every time his gaze paused on a specific brunette.
Until tomorrow.
Day 1 of challenge - met and completed!!
1. How much did I write?
652 words (although admittedly some of it was notes.)
Word count for the day and how long did it take I?
Total word count is the 652 and it took about 30 minutes.
2. What is the current word count of my Work In Progress (WIP)?
288 words (although the other 364 are notes directly associated with the story.)
3. How do I feel about what/how I did today in the writing session?
I have to admit, I'm not overly impressed by what I did. Not sure if any of it will be kept, but it's a good start and gives me something to work from when I get started tomorrow.
As for how I did, again, not overly impressed because I found quite a few excuses not to write...which isn't a good thing when you consider I'm supposed to be developing discipline.
4. Compare/Contrast today's session to yesterdays.
Nothing to compare or contrast yet, since today was the first day. Will see what happens tomorrow.
Was it easier/harder?
NA -- It was hard because I wasn't sure where to start or what to write. I don't feel like I've made any progress, yet I've identified a few little things for myself that I think will help with tomorrow.
Those things include:
Pre-writing organization
Drafting a rough outline
Identifying turning points and key scene goals and themes
Write out background for Rick to immerse myself in who and what he is.
Expand on villains' backgrounds to immerse myself in who and what they are and the goals driving them and how those goals are impacted/thwarted by Rick and Becka.
Write out background on secondary characters to better understand where they fit into the situation involving the villains and Rick and Becka.
Did I enjoy it?
No, I actually didn't enjoy it because it felt a little forced. I don't feel like the scene is going to be used, but at the same time, it gives me a jumping off point and that's the most important thing.
5. What am I looking forward to in tomorrow's session?
I think I'm looking forward to doing more prep work on the story. I want to try to set up my turning points and sketch a rough outline to a few necessary scenes so all I have to do is create the structure of the story, then fill in the holes. (See notes under question #4.)
My favorite line:
Not much written so I don't really have any true favorite lines... Guess I'd have to say it's:
The aged single malt had gone down smooth, yet it didn’t still the beast growling at its fetters every time his gaze paused on a specific brunette.
Until tomorrow.
Day 1 of challenge - met and completed!!
Making Writing A Habit I Can't Kick -- A Blog Challenge
In my infinite wisdom (and at the suggestion of my sister), I mentioned starting a blog challenge with a friend of mine, Claire J. Monroe. Claire, wicked evil bitch...brilliant scientist and writer that she is started asking all kinds of questions about the purpose of the challenge, the nature of it, the punishments and rewards for it. (Note to self: never discuss with Claire setting something up that even remotely hints at being an experiment! :/ )
If you haven't noticed, I have avoided posting anything to my blog for over six months. I've avoided writing anything for even longer than that. A nasty case of writer's block has plagued me for nearly five years now. Yes, I was able to squeeze out two stories (a novella and a short story) but nothing else (and that was in 2013-2014). I've tried writing the next book in the Diablo Blanco Club series, Rogue Master, since 2011, yet every version gets tossed on the rubbish pile.
Before, my life used to be all about writing. Writing every day. Writing every spare moment I could eek out. Writing to get rid of my frustrations and anxiety associated with my day job. Writing to simply enjoy the stories my characters told me. Writing for the pure joy of writing. And then it stopped. Dried up like a wash in Las Vegas in the middle of August - all cracked and brittle, arid and dusty.
Which brings me to the blog challenge. Claire and I both have avoided making writing a habit again. Making writing a habit that we can't kick - can't stop - can't avoid. Of course, being the scientist she is, and the obsessive I am, she asked about rewards and punishments if we met or didn't meet our goals. Then there were the goals. As well as the criteria for determining that we were both meeting our goals.
And this is what we came up with:
For the next 8 (yes EIGHT ) weeks, both of us have to write for a minimum of 20 minutes every day. Each writing day we need to produce no less than 500 words or 2 pages of new manuscript on any WIP (Work In Progress).
Why 8 weeks? Because research shows it takes a minimum of 8 weeks to develop a healthy habit.
Where does the blog come in? Well, that's part of our reporting system. Both of us have to answer a set of questions that allow us to reflect on the time we spent writing, what we wrote, and our reactions to what we wrote, and post those questions and answers to our blogs.
Where do the rewards and punishments come in? If we stick to our challenge and make our goals each day for a week, we receive a reward specific to what internal motivator drives us. By that same token, if we fail to meet the challenge, we suffer the consequence of not achieving our reward and it resets the challenge "clock" back to zero, meaning the entire 8 weeks starts all over again.
What are the rewards/punishments? Claire and I are very different creatures when it comes to social media. Claire avoids Facebook at all costs - she's very much an introvert. Me, on the other hand, have no problem with Facebook, and I tend to chat with everyone in the various groups I belong to. (Are you starting to get an inkling of what the wicked, evil ... punishment for me is?)
Punishment for Claire is like my reward! Considering Claire's aversion to posting, her punishment is that she must post a line from her day's writing to her FB page. Every day. Yes, every day. Me, I'm not allowed to post at all to FB for the entire week. I must post a line from my writing to my blog, and Twitter (which I rarely use) in order for it to be counted and me to be considered "on-task".
Rewards if we meet our goals for writing? Claire doesn't have to post to FB for one day, and I get to FB for a day!!
Kicker is, if Claire doesn't meet her daily challenge, she has to actually respond to three (3!!) status updates or notifications she receives. If I don't meet my challenge, I have to post twice to my blog on the day of/or following the failed challenge.
And when does thisfucking wonderful challenge begin?
Today. Saturday, July 9th, 2016.
Good thing is, I'll get one last hurrah on Facebook before I go off line for the next week.
And for those who are really curious, below are the questions both Claire and I will be answering on our blogs...and which you can chime in on, if you'd like:
1. How much did you (I) write? Word count for the day and how long did it take you?
2. What is the current word count of your (my) Work In Progress (WIP)?
3. How do you (I) feel about what/how you (I) did today in the writing session?
4. Compare/Contrast today's session to yesterdays. Was it easier/harder? Did you (I) enjoy it?
5. What are you (am I) looking forward to in tomorrow's session?
Wish me luck!
Will talk to you later today (hopefully)!
Qwillia
PS-- *added after original post* Feel free to check out Claire's and myTwitter and Facebook posts as the challenge progresses. Below are the links:
Claire J. Monroe Twitter
Claire J. Monroe Facebook
Claire J. Monroe Blog/Webpage
Qwillia Rain Twitter
Qwillia Rain Facebook
If you haven't noticed, I have avoided posting anything to my blog for over six months. I've avoided writing anything for even longer than that. A nasty case of writer's block has plagued me for nearly five years now. Yes, I was able to squeeze out two stories (a novella and a short story) but nothing else (and that was in 2013-2014). I've tried writing the next book in the Diablo Blanco Club series, Rogue Master, since 2011, yet every version gets tossed on the rubbish pile.
Before, my life used to be all about writing. Writing every day. Writing every spare moment I could eek out. Writing to get rid of my frustrations and anxiety associated with my day job. Writing to simply enjoy the stories my characters told me. Writing for the pure joy of writing. And then it stopped. Dried up like a wash in Las Vegas in the middle of August - all cracked and brittle, arid and dusty.
Which brings me to the blog challenge. Claire and I both have avoided making writing a habit again. Making writing a habit that we can't kick - can't stop - can't avoid. Of course, being the scientist she is, and the obsessive I am, she asked about rewards and punishments if we met or didn't meet our goals. Then there were the goals. As well as the criteria for determining that we were both meeting our goals.
And this is what we came up with:
For the next 8 (yes EIGHT ) weeks, both of us have to write for a minimum of 20 minutes every day. Each writing day we need to produce no less than 500 words or 2 pages of new manuscript on any WIP (Work In Progress).
Why 8 weeks? Because research shows it takes a minimum of 8 weeks to develop a healthy habit.
Where does the blog come in? Well, that's part of our reporting system. Both of us have to answer a set of questions that allow us to reflect on the time we spent writing, what we wrote, and our reactions to what we wrote, and post those questions and answers to our blogs.
Where do the rewards and punishments come in? If we stick to our challenge and make our goals each day for a week, we receive a reward specific to what internal motivator drives us. By that same token, if we fail to meet the challenge, we suffer the consequence of not achieving our reward and it resets the challenge "clock" back to zero, meaning the entire 8 weeks starts all over again.
What are the rewards/punishments? Claire and I are very different creatures when it comes to social media. Claire avoids Facebook at all costs - she's very much an introvert. Me, on the other hand, have no problem with Facebook, and I tend to chat with everyone in the various groups I belong to. (Are you starting to get an inkling of what the wicked, evil ... punishment for me is?)
Punishment for Claire is like my reward! Considering Claire's aversion to posting, her punishment is that she must post a line from her day's writing to her FB page. Every day. Yes, every day. Me, I'm not allowed to post at all to FB for the entire week. I must post a line from my writing to my blog, and Twitter (which I rarely use) in order for it to be counted and me to be considered "on-task".
Rewards if we meet our goals for writing? Claire doesn't have to post to FB for one day, and I get to FB for a day!!
Kicker is, if Claire doesn't meet her daily challenge, she has to actually respond to three (3!!) status updates or notifications she receives. If I don't meet my challenge, I have to post twice to my blog on the day of/or following the failed challenge.
And when does this
Today. Saturday, July 9th, 2016.
Good thing is, I'll get one last hurrah on Facebook before I go off line for the next week.
And for those who are really curious, below are the questions both Claire and I will be answering on our blogs...and which you can chime in on, if you'd like:
1. How much did you (I) write? Word count for the day and how long did it take you?
2. What is the current word count of your (my) Work In Progress (WIP)?
3. How do you (I) feel about what/how you (I) did today in the writing session?
4. Compare/Contrast today's session to yesterdays. Was it easier/harder? Did you (I) enjoy it?
5. What are you (am I) looking forward to in tomorrow's session?
Wish me luck!
Will talk to you later today (hopefully)!
Qwillia
PS-- *added after original post* Feel free to check out Claire's and myTwitter and Facebook posts as the challenge progresses. Below are the links:
Claire J. Monroe Twitter
Claire J. Monroe Facebook
Claire J. Monroe Blog/Webpage
Qwillia Rain Twitter
Qwillia Rain Facebook
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Random Thoughts
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a writer suddenly just stopped writing?
I've always loved reading and writing. I've enjoyed the works of other authors and been anxious and chomping at the bit for the next book. In all my decades of readership I have been aware of the time and effort authors put into their novels and stories, and while I've hoped and prayed each of my favorites wrote faster, I understood that great stories required time. When one of my favorite authors retired or simply quit writing, I could whine and cry and gnash my teeth with the best of them...but I don't think I truly understood how those authors might have felt.
Until now.
I've never expected the ideas in my head would stall on the pathway to my fingers. The characters are still talking, although in only fits and starts. The information simply isn't making it onto the page. I try to write it down, and it doesn't happen. I read books on the writing craft, I watch films to break the stories down, and analyze the character development.
But the words don't come -- but they will come back. I know they will.
I just have to be patient. Just like I was patient all those years ago waiting for my favorite authors' next books.
And I've never been very patient.
Yet, I am very thankful I have dedicated readers with more patience than me.
Q
I've always loved reading and writing. I've enjoyed the works of other authors and been anxious and chomping at the bit for the next book. In all my decades of readership I have been aware of the time and effort authors put into their novels and stories, and while I've hoped and prayed each of my favorites wrote faster, I understood that great stories required time. When one of my favorite authors retired or simply quit writing, I could whine and cry and gnash my teeth with the best of them...but I don't think I truly understood how those authors might have felt.
Until now.
I've never expected the ideas in my head would stall on the pathway to my fingers. The characters are still talking, although in only fits and starts. The information simply isn't making it onto the page. I try to write it down, and it doesn't happen. I read books on the writing craft, I watch films to break the stories down, and analyze the character development.
But the words don't come -- but they will come back. I know they will.
I just have to be patient. Just like I was patient all those years ago waiting for my favorite authors' next books.
And I've never been very patient.
Yet, I am very thankful I have dedicated readers with more patience than me.
Q
Sunday, August 30, 2015
I'm Blogging today
Of course it isn't here...
No, I'm blogging today on Delilah Devlin's blog.
Come check it out and see the questions I post for readers and writers.
Q
No, I'm blogging today on Delilah Devlin's blog.
Come check it out and see the questions I post for readers and writers.
Q
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Sex Scene Championship
I know, I know, I've neglected this blog for so long it's a miracle anyone comes around any more.
If you do stop by today and you do see this, go check out an excerpt from Rogue Master (no, it isn't out yet...still fighting the big, bad dom Rick) at Scorching Reviews. A scene between Rick and Becka is part of the Sex Scene Championship.
Have to run...I'll try to post again soon.
Q
If you do stop by today and you do see this, go check out an excerpt from Rogue Master (no, it isn't out yet...still fighting the big, bad dom Rick) at Scorching Reviews. A scene between Rick and Becka is part of the Sex Scene Championship.
Have to run...I'll try to post again soon.
Q
Monday, January 13, 2014
Multiple Author Contest
I am fortunate to be asked to participate in a multiple author contest.
All you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter link below (like some great authors' Facebook Pages and leave a comment telling me what you enjoy most about reading romance/erotic romance.)
Winners will be announced on February 22, 2014.
Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
All you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter link below (like some great authors' Facebook Pages and leave a comment telling me what you enjoy most about reading romance/erotic romance.)
Winners will be announced on February 22, 2014.
Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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