Weekend Progress Report (2004) -Take 2

[batyler65]

Okay, Gang,
Until our ezboard account is repaired, the old WPR thread is going to close itself out every time someone posts to it. I'm sure this is due to a size limitation.

So, in order to keep the playground open, I've started this thread. IF YOU WERE AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM SOMEONE IN THE OLD THREAD... check there first before reposting the question here.

Other than that... Same old rules apply. Show up between Friday and Monday, confess your writing sins, announce your successes and your goals. You know the game... play on!

BArb

[MacAl Stone]

HooRAY!!! Three cheers for our fearless leader! :)

[Kida Adelyn]

I knew this would pop up. Nothing can keep us from reporting!!!! Mhuhaha!!!


I'm not weird... no I'm serious! quit laughing!

[batyler65]

Welcome back, weekenders!

Another week has stomped all over me and I swear I don't have a lot to show for it. Today is the first day all week I have managed to move forward in MONSTER. I begin to doubt that this thing will ever get finished. I'm 63,000 words in, and if I'm lucky, I might, MIGHT hit 64k today.

I had to make some big decisions this week as well. I asked for a raise for my humor column and did not receive the response I wanted. So after long hours spent debating time vs. money vs. stress, I decided to stick to my guns and tell my editor that as much as I like writing for the mag, I could not take less than what I had asked for. I sent the e-mail out around 11pm last night, by 11:30 my editor had e-mailed back a compromise. She wants me to continue to write for the magazine, but she may not be able to include me in every issue now due to budget constraints. I'm not sure how this will work out, but I'm willing to give it a shot on a trial basis.

That's my big news for the week. I guess I earned some lashes for my pitiful lack of progress. But since I have no whip emoticon any longer, you'll just have to use your imagination. <g>

I'm going to beg everyone's indulgence here and see what happens. This week, rather than try to jump back and forth between threads to pick up everyone's progress from last week forward, I'm going to ask everyone to report in on their own. Radical, no?

Okay, guys and gals.... You know who you are... you know what you've done this week. BRING IT ON!

Tell me your tales of triumph... tell me your tales of woe.
Don't make me get out my list.

Attention all you LURKERS and ABSENTEES
We're all starting with a clean slate here (well, okay a slightly smudged slate, but I didn't have time to polish it up.) Now is the perfect time to add your doodles in the dust. Come play.

Write on!
Barb

[ChunkyC]

Okay, I'll start.

As you all know, I finished the first draft of FATL. I spent the week reviewing notes I'd made during the writing, and finishing up the chapter synopses. Now I'm going to work on building up the story in an effort to achieve novel-stature. I have one idea in particular: in a scene, I have one character ask another for a story and had him say he would tell stuff that the reader already knows, so I skip ahead. I think I'll have the character tell a tale the reader doesn't know, so I can put this flashback into the story.

*cracks knuckles* ...and away we go....

[Yeshanu]

Barb,

I hate to do this, since I'm one of the ones you're going to use it on occasionally, but here's an even better whip for you:

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/whipg.gif

You can find this gal over at Best Smileys here:

Whip Lady (http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/pages/whip01.htm)

Just copy and paste the text beside her into your message and voila!

[Kida Adelyn]

Shooting yourself in the foot again mom?

I like it though. :)

[Cate]

I is on fiiiyyya!
Talked w/ the editor of the mag that wants my piece on spec, and I feel pretty good about it.
Was supposed to hand in an outline for an animal mag that expressed interest in a query I sent. I wrote the piece instead and sent it in.
Worked on 2 other pieces which I am polishing for an environmental mag.
Did nothing on the book, but for now it is on the back burner.
I am on a roll w/ the mags . . .
Got an acceptance to an online pub too!
Feelin good. Puppy is driving me crazy, but I feel bad for him too.. We are all stir crazy here . . .
Cate

[ChunkyC]

Go Cate! You da bomb!

[Kida Adelyn]

Hullo.

This week I continued to plod along at my novel. Reached 20k on it last night. :D

I also wrote more on Heatbeat. Finished typing up a chapter.


-Ally



Ps. Go Cate :)

[batyler65]

http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/signs/gogogo.gif

20k! Good Going Ally!

[batyler65]

Thanks for the whip. Was just being lazy.

Umm... don't forget to report in, or I'll have to use it on ya.

B

[batyler65]

Good on ya!

I think you've got an excellent idea! let us know how that progresses, okay? You are SO focused.

Cheers!
B

[batyler65]

Should we dial the fire department?

You go, girl! Sorry about the cabin fever, truly I am. But Wow! it has perks.

B

[Lori Basiewicz]

Okay, I did not do well on the 1K 2Day challenge this week -- missed the target on three different days -- but all the words I did write were in TBWN.

TBWN: Wrote 5063 words. Current wordcount 66.9K.

OTHER: Contacted three or four different trade magazines.

[Lori Basiewicz]

20K!!! WAY TO GO, ALLY!!!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/28/28_1_13.gif

[Melina]

Great job, Ally!

***

[Melina]

I sent out a query, and I...

I...

ummmm-that's it.

***

[batyler65]

Well, I guess this starts a new week. 1K 2day? I'm going to try to get back on track.

Keep the faith. Maybe this week will be better... although... holidays... EEEK!

B

[batyler65]

Repeat after me... Ten Minutes Today. I will write ten minutes today. Say it. Mean it. Repeat it again tomorrow. Then take a deep cleansing breath and go do it.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You sent out a query. You wrote SOMETHING.

I personally am having one of those days when I want to sit and stare into space. Not very productive, I must say.

Chin up, shoulders back! Now, off you go.

Write, write, write,
Barb

[ChunkyC]

Congrats, Ally!

20K http://www.smilys.net/party_smilies/biggrinparty.gif

[aka eraser]

Congrats everybody! :)

Barb, the original thread can be unlocked now if you want. Scroll to the bottom of it and click "topic commands." The top one should be "unlock thread."

[Yeshanu]

Umm... don't forget to report in, or I'll have to use it on ya.

Not this week... <grin> (We've got our gold back, but where are all my favourite smileys?)

Nothing on the non-fic book this week, but...

Assignments... Still going strong. Did two, one was 1673 words, the other was about 1350 words, but the computer crashed after I had written the whole thing, but before I had printed or saved (yeah, I know, I know I should save more often then at the end...) so I had to rewrite from scratch, and it turned out quite different, so that was another 1350 words.

NaNo... Not anywhere near 50k yet, but I broke 10K with four writing sessions, totalling 3629 words, which brings my NaNo total to 11,327 words. (Can you say "smiley party"? <grin>)

And a miscellaneous outburst which may eventually be good for two personal essays, one humourous and one serious... 1381 words.

So, my grand total for the week was... 9383

Argh! Gotta go write about 617 more words. I'll be back in a while...

(Hmm... Come to think of it, I did write some stuff longhand -- a revision of the opening scene from ATTS. Wonder how many words I've got down there?)

[Yeshanu]

I invited some friends to help celebrate...


http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/cactus.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/mrpotato.gif

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage15/2.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage03/20.gif


Way to go!

[batyler65]

Just so everyone will know -- I do know how to unlock the other thread but have opted not to. I can not imagine what might happen with two of them open (Hey, I'm only human, guys!)

Barb

[batyler65]

SMILEY PARTY!!!
WOO-HOO!


http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gif
http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gif
http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gif
http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping43.gif

[rtilryarms]

I am researching on location.

Actually my backstory takes me to a CIA Black Operation in a 3rd world country (declassified 1995). I have never been there but I picked up several non-fiction books to read and study. So I am reading instead of writing for now.

My base book on hold until after the holidays.

The Tour Diary will be discussed and several chapters edited for accuracy as I meet a couple of my old mates here during Thankgsgiving. If they like it I will do a few more chapters. It might find a market for families of sailors. I may not even have to make things up.

[Yeshanu]

What's the country, Mike? Maybe some amongst us have been there and can help you out...

[batyler65]

Researching counts. And I can certainly understand putting some things on hold until after the holidays. I think my entire life may be on hold for the month of December.

Keep on, Keepin' on.

Barb

[Melina]

Ruth!

Good job, boy you are really going strong! I wish I had some better smileys for you, but until they return...

:rollin :hat :D

***

[batyler65]

Hi gang!
As most of you know, this is a holiday weekend for me and my US counterparts. As such, I'm declaring it officially okay to be slacker bums for the weekend as long as everybody steps up to the plate (and not for more turkey) next week.

I am going to be super swamped for December between writing gigs and family visitations, so I've conned, AHEM, I mean sweet-talked Lori and Mac into wielding the writing whip. This means that they will probably spend the month duking it out over which person gets to beat you guys up. Please don't let that be a distraction.

Mike: Keep juggling. Cuz if you stop, another project will surely jump into the mix when you aren't looking.

Melina: Vacation is over. OVER. Get back with it.

Ruth: Nano? How are your goals?

Ally: Glad to hear you are going to continue a 5k per week goal. Go, Girl!

Ray: I know you are out there somewhere. That trip of yours is over now. Come back and tell us how much writing you have been doing.

Lori: Don't whip them too hard, the holidays are coming. Oh, and Keep Mac In Line.

Mac: Keep working on Weird. Oh, and don't let Lori run Amok.

Frank: Are you recovering out there, big guy? You had a week. I'm waiting on that progress report.

Elonna: You've been kinda quiet. What's new in your writing world?

Cate: Last I heard, you were ON FIRE! So, did they extinguish you yet, or are you still burning down the house?

Jen: See, I still haven't forgotten you. Have you forgotten me? Didn't see you last week.

CC: Still burning up the keyboard during lunch? How's that second draft coming?

Ace: Have you gone AWOL on us? I want to know what's going on with the comics and the plan to write a weekly humor essay. (Which I'm failing miserably at, btw.)

Nita: Oh where oh where have you gone? Come back and play!


Edited because in a fit of brain-deadedness, I posted before I was finished here. (I blame it on the chemicals in turkey)

[aka eraser]

A weird thing happened after I got my kicker fixed: Apparently some of the new-found blood flow got sent upstairs! For the last who-knows-how-long it had been pooling around my mid-section keeping the vital organs alive while letting my brain drift into a waking coma.

Anyhow. I got some stuff done this week. Got an idea for a (sort-of) article and sweet-talked Victoria Strauss to co-write it with me. I've done my part and waiting on her to get back to me with hers. It's not likely going to be published anywhere except on my (and possibly her) site. I'll let you know when it's done.

Also was smucked with another idea which wouldn't go away so I had to start writing it. It might turn into a novel. Am about a thousand words in and jotting notes day and night.

And revising a piece about my parrot Lucy and will submit next week to a pet mag.

It's a good feeling to get ideas again and have the energy to do something with them.

Hope all you Suthun' folk enjoy your holiday. Barb, in the midst of the Holiday Madness remember the immortal words of the Good Doctor Hunter S. Thompson: "One must, at all costs, maintain."

[Lori Basiewicz]

Amok, amok, amok.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_47.gif

[ChunkyC]

Bravo, Frank! Here's a smiley just for you:

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage10/13.gif

As for FATL, I'm making notes on my idears for fleshing out the story and am just about ready to start writing some of the new scenes, soon as I hear back from a couple of friends who are giving it the once over.

[maestrowork]

I just came back this week so don't expect miracles. On top of it there's a pressing personal business to care for...

But I am considering abandoning... okay, maybe not, but putting CTN on the back burner for a while. I haven't been inspired even though I've done a lot of research during my trip to the orient.

I am eager to start on another project however, and probably will be switching between CTN and this new novel for the next year. Also, I have work cut out for me on TPB in the next few months. More later.

[Kida Adelyn]

Wanna know what I jus realised? I have to write exactly 7k between now and Tuesday, and I am busy all monday and tuesday as well as most of Sunday. If I come back sane check to make sure it's me.:x

As well
http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/1/love59.gifFor
everyone.

-Ally

[Lori Basiewicz]

Go, Ally. Go, go, go. :D

[ChunkyC]

Ally Ally she's so fine,
She will make it just in time!

Go Ally!

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage08/11.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage13/7.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage08/11.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage13/7.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage08/11.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage13/7.gif

[Kida Adelyn]

8) YOu guys are great!;)

[rtilryarms]

I gained 3,000 + in the various works.

[Lori Basiewicz]

I had a net gain of just under 4200 words in TBWN. Many of them are destined for the recycle bin, though.

Also made a pecan pie and a pumpkin pie that were fairly well-received at the holiday meal, as they always are. We didn't use the biscuits and rolls that I bought, though, so now I'm stuck with an over-abundance of bread-products on the homefront. And I commenced my post-Thanksgiving shopping. Oh, and I started sorting through the stacks of paper lying around this office in a late fall cleaning blitz.

Oh, wait, this is just for reporting our writing progress. Well, then, I, uh, had a net gain of just under 4200 words in TBWN, but know I will need to delete many of them. And I started organizing the home office a bit.

[Cate]

Wow--
Everyone is doing great!!
I am still movin and groovin--I have 2 pieces coming out this month, one next month and a couple lined up for Mar/Apr.
Sent in the animal submission, and am working on interview material for 2 articles--one I have a go-ahead on spec and the other is in the query stage. Also kicking around ideas for a follow-up to the article that will be printed this month - lots of ground work being put down!
Puppy has let me write, so he gets some good treats!
Cate

[batyler65]

I'm impressed! Now, just don't go thinking that this is a GOOD way to jump-start your writing whenever you get in a slump.

Glad to hear you are feeling better and being SOOOO productive. Wanna come take care of some of these deadlines that are nipping at my nether regions?

;)

[batyler65]

Well, as long as you are waiting... Why dontcha start something else? Heck, the way you write at work, you ought to be able to knock out a short story or two. ;)

Good luck with FATL. I'm sure you will crank right through it.

[batyler65]

If you sit around waiting to be inspired, you won't write anything. Get it together and get moving. You've come too far to slack off now!

Write steadily on it for a week and see if the old spark doesn't come back. You don't have to write a high word count, but at least give it an hour a day... Think of all the time you already invested in it.

[batyler65]

Okay, girl... time's almost up. I hope to hear good things from you! I know you can do it!

Check in with us on that final total.

*crosses fingers*

[batyler65]

Good going this week! I still don't know how you are juggling so many projects, but I'm glad they are moving forward at a steady pace. You're still an inspiration.

[batyler65]

Mmmmmm..... Pie.

oh. wait. Pie is not writing. Unless you are writing about pie. Is pie involved in the writing? No... not eating the pie. What were we talking about?

Oh, yeah. Your progress. 4200 words is nothing to sneeze at. And stop deleting things would ya? You can delete as much as you want in the rewrite. Finish. The. Book.

;)

[batyler65]

You have made great strides over the past couple of weeks. I'm sorry that your pup required surgery, but I think, overall, it has been a wonderful boon to your writing.

May you have many more successful weeks ahead.

[Lori Basiewicz]

And stop deleting things would ya? You can delete as much as you want in the rewrite. Finish. The. Book.

Bu... Bu... But, Barb. One of my four main characters was doing nothing but chopping vegetables and talking about what she was going to do with her best friend rather than doing it. Just not her style. She's much more of a doer than a talker.

[Yeshanu]

One of my four main characters was doing nothing but chopping vegetables and talking about what she was going to do with her best friend rather than doing it. Just not her style. She's much more of a doer than a talker.

Lori, here's what I do. I start a new paragraph with the words: The foregoing is bull puckey. Ruth wouldn't be chopping the vegetables with that knife. She'd be doing something much more active with it. Why, Ruth doesn't even like vegetables. Here's what she'd do... (new paragraph)

Ruth picked up the knife and walked out of the kitchen into the living room. That lazy, good for nothing Lori is going to help with the supper or she's going to be supper!

No words deleted, and you get the basic idea down without stopping to edit and engage your internal editor. Then keep going from there.

And now for my *ahem* report:

I'm not going to reach 50,000 words for the month on my NaNo project. I did, however, manage to reach a total of 21,363 words this morning. If you subtract last week's total of 11,327 words, that gives me a weekly total of 10,036! Woo hoo!

<shameless plug for another smiley party>

Bad news: I missed my first assignment of the semester. I'll be back on track by tomorrow, though, and ready to finish the semester with only one black mark against me — still a record!

More good news, now that I'm pretty much done my NaNo project: My NaNo project was background and history for A Time To Seek, kind of like my world's version of Tolkien's Silmarillion. Not the most fascinating stuff, although there were a number of gems I will mine for future novels, but it gave me enough background to see what it is I need to do on the re-write of ATTS. I'm almost ready (after a good, week-long nap) to actually start the serious work of revision.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Thanks for the suggestion, Ruth, but that really won't work for this scene or my brain.

The scene is wrong. Period. The character is simply trying to avoid doing something that many will consider despicable even though she has previously committed herself to that course of action and now must follow through.

[Kida Adelyn]

On 11:37pm November 30th Allison reached 30042 words.

See, I even wrote extra.


Oh yeah. My mum says that I have to put:
"my mum is the greatest mum in the entire world" in my post 'cause she let me stay home on monday do I could write 5000 words.

There I did.:D

[Lori Basiewicz]

WAY TO GO, ALLY!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_201.gif

[ChunkyC]

Bravo, Ally!

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gif

[aka eraser]

Good stuff Ally! :D

[Cate]

Woo hoo Ally!!!
Cate

[sugarmuffin]

I'm almost back, gang. Don't forget about me!

Been kinda swamped--in good and unpleasant ways.

Good: busy w/editing projects.

Unpleasant: My hubby just got out of gallbadder surgery. Half an hour ago.

Good: My short humor piece is published here on AW!

www.absolutewrite.com/fun/muse_agency.htm (http://www.absolutewrite.com/fun/muse_agency.htm)

(edited to include link)

[ChunkyC]

Lisa -- a man-hug for your husband, and a bravo for you on the projects.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Happy Holidays, Weekenders! Barb has gone away and you're all at Mac and Lori's MERCY!!!!! BWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAaaaaaa!!!!!

So without further ado....

Barb: Just cuz you sweet-talked us into WPR for the holidays doesn't mean you can't swing by and say hello, and give us a little note regarding your health, well-being, and current word count! (We know you’re going to check up on us anyway. :b )

Mike: 3K+ words spread among various works is terrifically respectable...Go MIKEY!!! And DAMN ain't he cute in those tights! :o

Ruth: Okey doke, it's that time! How did the week go? Word count? Child-abuse? Classes and novel-writing and general progress?

Ally: So how did that 7K go? You rock, kiddo, even taking the challenge to begin with. Lori was much too chicken. And remember, elder-abuse is a crime. (Mac, you're a good one to talk.)

Ray: Okay--we don't expect miracles, but we DO expect progress! So what's going on? Any new words to report this week in ANYTHING? And give us the juicy bits about what's happening with TPB? (*Lori contemplates posting that link she found, but no, that would be wrong.*)

Frank: So what's going on there? Last weeks reports almost overwhelmed MY ticker...how's the novel idea? And the parrot article? And the book-doctor gig? and...and... We are all very glad you have both ideas and the energy to do something with them.

Cate: You are obviously kicking a$$ and taking names! Too cool! So what's on the slate for this week and how's the pup?

CC: All right, Charlie--so what are you writing NOW? Any exciting and encouraging comments from those friends and beta-readers? Any brand new ideas burning a hole in your brain? Report! (Yeah, CC, it’s your job to make the rest of us feel like slacker-bums.)

Lisa: Congrats on the humor piece, and thank you sooooooo much for changing the names to protect the (sort-of) innocent. Where were we supposed to send that check? (BTW, Mac, did you take the toga to the cleaners?) :eek

So what are you writing THIS week?

AAAAAAAAAhh-OOOOOOOO-GA
AAAAAAAAAhh-OOOOOOOO-GA
ATTENTION PLEASE!!!!

Melina - Nita - Ace - Jen - Elonna - Liam:

By my estimation you are all AWOL from your weekend progress reports! Please poke your heads up out of your busy lives or whatever gopher hole you're hiding down (heh--look at that preposition dangle! BWAHHAAHAHHAAAAA) And give us a hidey-ho to let us know all is well and it's just that you're all SLACKERS like Mac and Lori!

Sound OFF, Weekenders!

[Melina]

Yep-slacking big time. I'm in a slump right now, and I can't seem to drag myself out of it. I've been reading a lot, but not writing at all. Someone kick me...

Melina

***

[batyler65]

Okay, okay. I'm still out here. Just had waaaay too many deadlines this week and will be dark all of next week while baby brother comes for a visit.

I completed two newsletter deadlines, wrote a last minute humor column, had a greeting card deadline, and designed a craft and proposed it (also under deadline). *whew*.

Have not touched the novel. Have pondered it, but no touching.

Slinking around the background,
Barb

[ChunkyC]

Hi gang!

I'm currently taking Holly Lisle's How to Revise A Novel (http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/wc2-4.html) advice and applying it to FATL while I wait for feedback:

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage46/19.gif

[maestrowork]

Writing related:

- Weekly column, 650 words
- CTN, about 800 words. Reworking first chapter
- Woke up with a story idea/dream. Wrote down a 1-page outline
- Rediscovered my blog
- Worked on some TPB related stuff


Non-writing stuff:
- taking care of gravely sick cat
- working on family stuff
- some heavy stock trading to capitalize on the up market
- taking naps

[Cate]

I didn't do too bad this wk.
Worked on tons of interview stuff for the large article I am submitting on-spec this month.
Wrote first draft of the article--I am shooting for 3500 words.
Wrote a fiction piece and sent it out.
Checked up on the status of queries.
Re-worked a piece and sent it out.

Not bad, but I am really tired.
Cate

[aka eraser]

So-so this week. I got waylaid by my first cold in three years mid-week. It's a doozy.

Got another 2,000 words on The New Thing. Wrote column. Still haven't subbed parrot story. Hoping I can dredge up a market that pays more than the 10 cents/word this particular pub is offering. If I can't in a day or two though, I'll send it away.

[Kida Adelyn]

*yawn*

After I completed my 30k goal on tuesday I've been slacking a bit. I did write more, but only about 1k. I hope to finish the thing this week. Then I can allow myself to go back and search for places to put in words so I can get it up to fifty.

I probably won't get there this week though. I am officially in the lets-make-the-musician-run-in-circles time of year.
I also have realised that my school work has been suffering greatly thoroughout november and that I have some serious work to do.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Well, everyone's in luck. I'm your scheduled whip-wielder this week and it's going to take quite a bit for me to be able to nail anyone for slacking after the week I've had.

I wrote 1070 new words in TBWN, but I deleted 795 before that, so I only had a net gain of 275 words this week. I also put together a newsletter (a freebie I do for an organization I belong to) and discovered a new local market. And that's about it.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Barb, we knew you'd be lurking in the shadows. Sounds like you are quite busy writing in between visiting with the family. Or is that busy visiting with the family in between writing?

Given what you've indicated about your writing group, I'm certain they will not be happy with you not working on the novel, but given all that you have accomplished this week, I think you deserve a great big star.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_1_17.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

CC, let us know how Holly's advice works for you, if there were things you do differently than what she suggests, and why.

In the meantime, don't get hung up on waiting for feedback. Keep moving forward like you have been doing. Sounds like you have a plan, a goal, and are working hard. Good job!

[Lori Basiewicz]

Ray, glad to hear you haven't completely abandoned CTN like you were threatening to do and are still moving forward on it. Remember, no rewriting until the story is done. Get to the end and then you can rewrite.

It doesn't sound like you've been slacking too much this week. Forward movement in CTN. Completed your weekly column. Working on things for TPB. So, no whip for you. How about a bit of a hug instead? It sounds like you may need one.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/11/11_2_104.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

Cate, normally, I don't encourage napping because it can develop into a bad habit really fast, but it sounds like you need it. So, go ahead, sneak off for thirty minutes or so and we'll cover for you.

Sounds like you are staying on target with your goals and I'm happy that you're seeing publication and are having luck juggling the various projects. Not only did you not do too bad this week, you did pretty good. Have some stars.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_4_30.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

Frank, sorry about the cold, but I'm afraid you used all your allotted sick days with the last episode. (Just kidding.)

Sounds like you're hitting your stride after that mild medical thingy you had a couple of weeks ago and are getting back into the swing of things. Congratulations. Keep us posted on the parrot story and this New Thing you're working on.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Okay, Ally, I'm not going to get on you for the lack of writing this week because of your school comment. In the not-too-distant future, you'll have to juggle the school and the writing and possibly a day job, too (just ask your Mom), but at this stage in your own personal game, school has to come first. Well, most of the time anyway.

So, no star but no whip either. Get school squared away and come back to us next week with a fresh perspective on the NaNo novel.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Melina, Melina, Melina, whatever are we going to do with you? I think we need to find you a writing buddy. Someone who is at about the same place in their career as you, so the two of you can egg each other on, brainstorm together, commiserate, and just generally encourage one another.

Now where to find such a creature....

In the meantime: http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_2_111v.gif

[Yeshanu]

Ally's complaining 'cause she's running around in circles, being both a musician and a student. I'm sorry, but I can't get up much sympathy for her, since I'm both of the above and a minister as well.

From now until December 26 (which is a Sunday -- Ugh!) I'm officially too busy to do anything but work on papers, sing and play in concerts, and conduct Advent and Christmas services.

So, for this week, only about 1000 words on my NaNo project (and yes, they were written before the deadline on Tuesday), plus two assignments.

Next week, I have five assignments due, so I'm going to officially taking a break from the novel writing.

[ritinrider]

Lori, Mac and all, Hi. How is it I keep showing up when Lori and Mac are in charge and Barb is off in lala land, or some such? Anyway, sorry I've been missing for a while. No good excuses. Not even any bad excuses. Yes Lori, I've been slacking. I have checked in a few times over the last few weeks to see how everyone else was doing, and was impressed. Great going everyone.

Also read some good advice Ruth gave Lori, too bad it won't work for Lori, but I think I'll steal it and put it to use if Ruth and Lori don't mind.

Hey Lori, where's Melina at in her career. Maybe she and I could egg each other on?

The working title of my long story (hopefully a historic novel) is Elizabeth. I think I'll just call it E. Anyway, what with all my slacking it has stalled, needs a jump start. Which it's going to get this week. To that end, not only am I reporting in to Lori and Mac, but I've signed up for BIW. Of course I'm only going for 20 pages this week, but that should get me started again.

Sorry this was so long.Ya'll are the closest thing to an adult I've talked to (besides my husband) in days. Working at the daycare is making me wonky.

Nita

[WordSoup]

OK - it's not the weekend AND this isn't about writing...

Ray - Warm thoughts and pets toward your cat.

Frank - hold still (Jen puts an ear to Frank's chest... hears the clacking of keyboard) Glad your on the mend!

My big news!!!! I bought a CAR!!! One that works. :b Traded in the lame one the day before Thanksgiving... And yes, I'm very, extremely Thankful.

Non-writing confession: I CAN'T DO IT.... I CAN'T SEEM TO SQUEEZE IT IN ....

In the six weeks I've been working, hubby and I have had two arguements about the division of housework. :|
I like my job. I like my life. I think I've been doing pretty good with everything except (insert any incomplete writing project here).

I know - I'm just whining. :( And slacking.

Humbly awaiting lashes from the Big Red Whip - Jen

[ChunkyC]

Ya'll are the closest thing to an adult I've talked to
You poor thing! :p

[batyler65]

It's so BRIGHT... and SHINY...

*mesmerized*


Guess I'd better enjoy this one...

B

[Lori Basiewicz]

December is definitely a busy month for both students (finals) and ministers (high holy days and all that), so I understand you are doubly busy. But, I know Barb would suggest trying to write at least 10 minutes a day so you don't lose out completely.

Any forward movement is good forward movement.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Oh, Nita, Barb has a second home in LaLa Land. I understand sometimes her husband and kids come to visit her when she's there and throw peanuts at her.

I'm not really certain where anyone is in their career -- I'm not even certain where I am in mine -- so on one hand, I regret using that phrase -- but on the other hand, (please, please forgive me for playing writing matchmaker, Melina *cringing*) maybe you and Melina CAN buddy up.

(Speaking of Writing Buddies, I know Mac has a couple who are probably reading this; I think she could use a really good dare or bet right about now.)

What do you think, Melina?

As for the talking to adults thing, that's got to be rough. Pull up a chair and tell me all about it.

[Lori Basiewicz]

You're allowed to whine here. Slacking: No.

I know you're still settling into a new routine at work and home and that it is a busy time of year for many people, but you have to write a little bit every day. Keep the forward momentum going. As Barb would say: Just ten minutes. Ten minutes a day.

Or, if timed writings don't work for you, set a word count goal -- something small and manageable. Even 100 words a day is forward movement.

Give it a try. Please? For me?

[Kida Adelyn]

Can I point out that from last monday to wednesday I wrote 7k? It was part of this week.

Sorry. I'm in a not-so-great mood cus I have to do homework tonight and I'm reading an essay-thingy thats very technical and I only understand every fourth word.:x

[maestrowork]

Is that the Intelligence Bill the Congress is passing?

[msQTpi]

Hello Folks,

I don't know if you would welcome a new nut to your house, but if you will I am throwing my hands up and waving in a manner surely to scream, "watch your pudding, this girl's dangerous".

I attempted Nano...and failed, but with no remorse. I was able to write 10,800 words of pure crap that otherwise would surely never have seen paper if the contest hadn't inspired me.

It has only been two months since I decided to try to become a "writer", whatever that is. I have been writing since I was six for fun and sanity, but realized that "fun and profit" sounded better.

If you let me play I promise not to steal your pudding :\

Renee'

[Lori Basiewicz]

WELCOME RENEE'!

There's always room for one more. And, here, you can have my pudding. It's tapioca anyway.

I'm not really certain what it means to "be a writer" either, but it sure looks snazzy on my business cards. ;) And, yeah, the profit part sure is nice. It's stressful, insomniac-inducing, makes my head hurt (that may be from pounding my head on the desk, but I'm not really sure), but most definitely it's fun as well as exciting and invigorating.

Barb's our Head Nutcase, but she's been given a temporary pass from the asylum to visit with family, so Mac and I are heading up the joint this month. (Ever hear the phrase the inmates running the asylum?)

So, tell us about yourself. What are your goals? How can we help you stay on track? And while you're talking, you might as well have Barb's pudding, too. Hers is butterscotch.

[msQTpi]

"WooHoo!!", she exclaimed, whilst adding "A.W.W.C. Loon" to her current list of accomplishments for later Author BIO.

Thanks Lori!

I have four WIPs right now. One is comedy, which is my most comfortable genre and the other three are 1) my BIO, 2) what started as my Nano (Horror) and 3) something my grandma should never see :o

My goal is to be a paid, published Author this coming year. I don't care if I only earn $5.00 and had to spend $20.00 in postage to get it. I just want to know that what I have to say is something someone wants to hear. I guess you could say I want the validation.

My profile speaks volumes, if you care to look.

I've been told that my "style" is a cross between Erma Bombeck and Jeff Foxworthy...but you know how grandmothers do go on.

Renee'

[ChunkyC]

I think I like your grandmother, Renee. Welcome to the whipping post.

A report: one of my betas reported in on novel #2. He said, and I quote:

"Way better than the first one."

After I stopped hugging him and gave him a hanky to mop my tears off his shoulder, he did say that the ending could be a bit more climaxic ... er, climatic ... um, climasic.... a bit more this-here-is-the-big-finish kinda thing.

After I stopped hitting him and gave him a hanky to mop his blood from his nose ... just kidding. I'm overjoyed to get his feedback, it'll only make the book stronger.

[maestrowork]

Welcome to the loonie bin, Renee with a `. Now pull up a chair and enjoy Uncle Ray's famous soup... (don't listen to the other voices you might hear about not eating my soup)

The motto around here is:

Amok, Amok, Amok.


Be afraid of the big red whip. Be VERY afraid.

A few other pointers:

Barb is a monster.

Mac is PURE EVIL.

And Lori is Mom.

[Kida Adelyn]

Hola Renee'!

This place rocks and there's tons of loons to hang around with.

These people are also good at making each other write.


Watch out for my mum, Yeshanu. She will dump smilies on your head when she gets off The sims long enough to check the board.


Ally:)

[Lori Basiewicz]

Whoa, wait a minute, Ally.

Your mom is claiming she's too busy to work on her novel this week in between her ministering duties and schoolwork, but you're telling me she has time to play computer games????



http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_109v.gif

[ritinrider]

Uh-oh Ally, methinks you may be in big do-do from the mom person. Better run hide, or look busy. Like maybe you're studying too hard to be causing her any problems at all.;)

[Kida Adelyn]

the hide smilie is no longer there... have to find a new one...

http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/scared/scared15.gif

[maestrowork]

Ruth is in trouble with us, and Ally is in trouble with Ruth... cool.

Meep, Meep!

[Lori Basiewicz]

And I notice, while Ally has been busy hiding, that Ruth STILL hasn't shown up. So, she's also hiding or else she's hunting Ally or maybe she's still playing games instead of writing?

[maestrowork]

I have a sudden urge to spend a weekend at Ruth&Ally's.

[ChunkyC]

I have to confess that I may have played a hand in Ruth's delinquency. I told her about a computer program that lets you create artificial landscapes. I did warn her that it is incredibly addictive and time-consuming. I hope she's not lost in a world of her own making. :eek

[Lori Basiewicz]

Really? And you didn't share with the rest of us?

Uh, I mean, shame on you, CC.


(Where is it located?)

[maestrowork]

Oh no, that's how it starts. Now Lori would be reporting: "I wrote 101 words this week, but then I deleted 100, and got sucked into this awfully wickedly addictive game that CC gave me..."

No soup for you.

[ChunkyC]

I really wouldn't want to cause any more trouble.

(It's called Terragen, and you can find it here (http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/).)

[Yeshanu]

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage08/8.gif

If you must know, in the past few days Ally has also spend a tremendous amount of time playing The Sims. We have, in our family, SEVEN Christmas concerts between now and next Tuesday evening, and I still have five papers due. I figure I deserve a little R&R, but you-know-who keeps wanting to kick me off my computer so she can mess up my families.

We did figure out a game-sharing plan after a couple of temper tantrums -- she gets an hour, then I get an hour, and so on, and on our hour away from the computer, we do homework, write, practice, do dishes, etc.

Now, can anyone tell me why this game is so addictive? I mean, you make your characters cook supper, eat, clean the house, water the plants, study, go to work, etc... I'm confused. If we enjoy doing this on the computer so much, why can't we enjoy doing it in real life? There's a humour essay in here somewhere -- Frank, feel free to steal if you can figure it out.

And Terragen is also terribly addictive. You can make beautiful mountain scenes (and other scenes, too) with it. I'm using one of the ones CC did as my desktop wallpaper right now. Kind of looks like that lake in a Famous Movie I watch once in a while... (six more days until the EE :D )

[Yeshanu]

I usually do this over on the Newbie Forum, but what the heck...


http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/emoticons3/welcomeweb.gif

You're stuck with us now, Renee. For my take on this board (from a time when I was young and carefree) click here. (http://p197.ezboard.com/fabsolutewritefrm9.showMessage?topicID=211.topic)

[Kida Adelyn]

...It helps up my fun bar. According to the sims if I don't keep my fun bar up I will have a nervous break down and end up doing a frustration dance.


I am writting... a bit.

[msQTpi]

Thanks for the welcome Yeshanu :D

Renee'

[Lori Basiewicz]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_102.gif

Starting tomorrow, it's Mac's turn with the whip. I think I'm glad.

[Yeshanu]

According to the sims if I don't keep my fun bar up I will have a nervous break down and end up doing a frustration dance.

But watching Ally do her frustration dance (when she can't get the computer) is even more fun than playing the game...

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/lol4.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

Make another hashmark on your walls. One more week down and a week closer to Barb returning. But, for now, you're still stuck with Mac & Lori! Bwhahahahahaha. Silly Barb even left us the red whip. But she left us lots of gold stars, too. So who gets the whip and who gets stars this week? Or is it who gets to see stars this week?

Whichever way it goes, it's Friday once again and you know what that means: Time to stand up and sound off, Weekenders!

RENEE': A grandiose, whip-wielding welcome to the newest member of our little asylum: The Trailer Park Queen, herself. So, TPQ, tell us what's going on with your different projects -- four you say? What progress did you make in them this week? Where do you stand in relation to your goal to spend $20 to make $5? Let's hear your goals and accomplishments and they better be good 'cause we got pudding. If they're bad, we send Bud over to deliver the pudding. (Bud scares us.)

MELINA: Are you still reading a lot? If so, what are you reading? If you can tie it into writing, we might be convinced to spare you the whip. What about the writing buddy idea? (It's okay, Lori's easily distracted. We can make it so she'll stop coming up with ideas like that, too.)

BARB: Hope you're having fun playing with your brother. Any news to report on MONSTER? I have a feeling your writing group's not going to be patient too much longer.

CC: Have you received any feedback on FATL? How is Holly Lisle's advice working for you? What is your goal for finishing the revisions? And do you have any more delinquency-inspiring links to share with the group? Barb's on vacation; don't hold out on us. (Procrastination is good thing, right? Otherwise, wouldn't it be called concrastination?)

RAY: Are you ever going to tell us what's going on with TPB? How is the rest of the writing things going? Still moving forward on CTN?

CATE: It seems like you've found your writing stride. You've been consistently producing each week. I know you were tired last week. Were you able to get some rest and maintain your forward momentum?

FRANK: Yes, you've had a rough few weeks, but have you finally subbed that poor parrot thing? It needs a home. (Polly wants a cracker.)

ALLY: Quick, it's your Mom's turn on The Sims. Is your school work caught up? What about the writing? Ready to tackle the next phase of your NaNo project this week?

NITA: Welcome back to WPR. You're going to give poor Barb a complex only showing up when we're running amok through WPR. Has Ruth's advice worked for you? Have you had a chance to make any progress on E? (And what is the way to get to Sesame Street?)

RUTH: Enough about what Ally is or is not doing. What's Ruth up to? In between The Sims, the ministering, and the finals, have you spared any time for writing? Even ten minutes? How are your simulated families faring? Yes, you deserve a little relaxation, but remember, the finals only last a week, then that's one less thing on your To Do list. Are the in-progress projects calling to you?

JEN: Okay, enough slacking. Have you found ten minutes to write 100 words each day this week? If not, come and tell us all about what's keeping you from it.

MIKE: Hurricane season is over, so time to hang up the tights -- after you wash them -- and don your mild-mannered comedy writer garb. Any news to report on the projects? Been to any fast food restaurants lately? (Are you still allowed in any local fast food restaurants?)

LISA: We know you're out there. We can hear you breathing. In and out. In and out. In and out. (Yep. That's the way breathing's supposed to work.)

LURKERS, HANGERS ON, MISSING PERSONS: Jump in any ol' time and tell us what you're doing and where you want to be next week. Barb's gone. Mac and Lori can't be serious for ten whole minutes when they're together, so now is the perfect time to sign yourself into this little slice of lunacy.

[msQTpi]

Hiya Lori,

TPQ is one of my many personas. I found her when I moved into this trailer and realized that I was officially "trailer trash". I have embraced my white trashiness and endeavor to bring to it the status it rightly deserves. Bring on the tiara and roses.

My goal is actually to earn something, anything with my writing within the next year. As I mentioned, the amount means very little to me, the verification is what I am looking for.

The four stories I am working on are progressing four times slower than they would if I could just keep to one at a time. Unfortunately that is not how I work. I have spurts and runs (ewwwww, that sounds gastric) and must flow with them. My muse has ADD, pin-worms and takes speed, so it's hard to get her to sit still. She is an endless source of stories, but rarely wants to finish anything.

I confess that I know so little about the publishing of a work that I don't even know what I don't know. I think my first true goal should be to figure out how and what I really should be doing. The second, duh, is to do just that.

I have no way to count my words or pages as I am working from word pad. I do, however, count my hours. Every night I write at for least 2 hours. I have very little problem keeping to my 2 hour goal, it usually works out to be more like 4 or 5, so when I have an off night I don't let it bother me.

My problem (as it has been pointed out to me by a yahoo writers group) is the show/tell issue. I understand that this is a common problem and am working very hard to understand just what I am doing wrong and how to make it right.

Do I get my pudding? :rolleyes

Renee'

[Melina]

Hey! If I'd known there was pudding involved, I wouldn't have been slacking off so much lately! BTW, welcome, Renee--I love your TPQ idea and hope you are able to make it into a regular column!

Lori, I forgive you. I know you have my best interests at heart. The writing buddy thing sounds like a good idea, and Nita and I have chatted before, so I think we might make a good pair. My reading lately was actually meant as market research. I've been reading the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Interesting stuff, mostly local politics, so when I move to San Francisco in February, I'll target it more seriously. I have written a couple hundred words this week. It's a memoir about the debauchery my best friend and I engaged in when we were in our 20s. I don't know if I ever want anyone to read it (my fiance in particular), but it is a lot of fun hashing up all those memories. I'm still working on it steadily, but I keep having to stop mid-thought and call my friend (whose name also happens to be Lori). My guts hurt from all the laughing...Anyway, I'm working my way out of the slump--slowly, but surely.

***

[maestrowork]

Renee', I think your muse works for me too.

[batyler65]

hmm... Blew a deadline this week, does that count?
Actually, I thought the deadline was squared away (sent the text in an e-mail to the editor, but turns out she was expecting a whole new file). Ah well, life goes on.

Not much news to report as far as accomplishments. I did boot up the laptop and look at Monster yesterday, for a whole ten minutes... then was required to play the role of cook, (or is that kook?) hostess and entertainer for the rest of the day. One brother flies out today... the other flies in on Friday and is here until January 3rd... and I have a whole lot of shakin' to do in-between.

Got a column due on the 5th, two new assignments that are both due on Jan. 7th, plus a newsletter deadline the day after Christmas and I suspect my writing group will be out for blood if I don't have at least 50 or so pages to dump on them soon. End of the year is always nuts for me.

Bud wants to know the name of Renee's muse. And does she like puddin' wrasslin'?

Barb

[maestrowork]

This has been a fun week, for sure. Dinner and party invitations for this and next week. Continued to take care of sick kitty. Did the late Fall yardwork. Cleaned house (yeah, that's a BIG deal for me. BIG DEAL.)

On the writing front, managed about 1000 words this week on CTN. I'm very proud of this week's column, partly because I had so much fun writing it, instead of feeling like a job. Got a synopsis and bio out for TPB (yes, the rumor's true...). Worked on another project and wrote 500 words on that. Other than that, continue to be slacker bum most of the time... but Lori would be proud of me -- didn't take any naps all week.

[rtilryarms]

2 chapters (1 each in 2 books) will be done by tomorrow easily.

Found some old works in the attic (notes to the volumes of 40 years I lost 2 years ago) so I am re-compiling as much as I can the best I can. I have enough stuff for about a 150 page anthology so I am going to organize it and bind it through a publisher and buy about 100 copies to give to relatives next Christmas. My goal, as with all my work, is to talk to future generations of descendants. I will never know.

[aka eraser]

RL wreaked some havoc with my plans this week. Both boys were home sick for half of it. Got column done (800 words) and added about 700 to The New Thing.

Still haven't subbed the parrot story but I spent about 5-6 hours researching new markets and found a few possibles for other stuff I've got in the can.

I've been lamenting how few family-oriented men's mags are out there: like none - zero - nada - rien - and have been mulling trying to approach some women's mags with some of my humour stuff.

Anyone (Barb dear!) know if they're amenable to the occasional essay from a guy-type-Dad person?

[ChunkyC]

I've received preliminary feedback on FATL from one reader, awaiting more from a second (you know who you are ;) ).

I always to forget to mention my weekly newspaper column, 500 words a pop. Did that a day early this week!

The Holly Lisle system of revision is pretty interesting, it's forcing me to look more critically at the structure of my story and not just line editing type stuff. I'm about 1/3 of the way through. When I finish, I intend to start writing the new material that will get inserted to (hopefully) bring it closer to novel length.

I've decided (as I mentioned before, I think) to search for an agent, but I don't know what to use as the lure. Regardless, neither novel #2 or FATL are ready, so I still have time to compile a list of victims -- I mean, potential agents.

[batyler65]

Family Circle does publish humor by men. Also, there are several regional parenting mags in the states that publish Dad Humor. Do a google search for "Parenting Publications of America". The web site used to have links to each pub's website and they were listed by state. Haven't been there in awhile, though, so I can't say for sure. The regionals don't pay a lot, but you can sell reprints to multiple markets because each mag has its own region and readership.

Hope this helps.

Barb

[RichMar]

I have missed some issues of Family Circle these past few years, but the only male I've seen published in its humor column--once, I believe--was Gene Perret.

FamilyFun's "Family Ties" pays a $1.25 a word and doesn't care about chromosomes. Its Department editor is pleasant and if she thinks you're good, she'll steer you closer to a sale if she's rejecting.

[aka eraser]

Thanks Barb. Thanks Rich. I'll check them out. :D

[msQTpi]

Melina
Thanks :D


Maestrowork
My condolences


Barb
Please don't mention wrasslin around her. The last time she was involved in that kind of mess it took months to clean the cole slaw out of the carpet.

Renee'

[batyler65]

Okay, so the weekend slowed down a bit and I did get to work on MONSTER. Whee! I don't know the exact word count because I'm still trying to plug a leaky storyline... but I did square away that one BIG problem area I was having. It still needs a couple of tweaks for the flow to work properly (gosh, this sounds like a plumbing project). I do believe that I've made progress. At least I'm telling myself that. The MS is sitting right at 65k (the original first draft ran 77k) and I still have quite a ways to go... but at least I didn't go backward today.

Barb

[Kida Adelyn]

Hullo.

I managed to get caught up on my homework and over the holidays I'm going to write the essay that I have to do. This is the first time that I don't have to use that stupid five paragraph format. Yay! Freedom at last!

I also have my second last concert today. Then I can sleep.

Now writing... whats writing? I forget. I think it has somthing to do with words...

I think I wrote about 500-1000 words this week.

If my body dosen't decide to go on strike and fall Ill like it seems to be threatening, I should (hopefull) finish the novel this week.

[ritinrider]

Yes ma'am Lori, ma'am. Reporting in while connection working. Didn't make my goal of 2500 on E this week, did get 1000 written on it. I tell myself progress is progress, but I must write more if I ever want the darn thing finished.

Yes, Ruth's suggestion to Lori helped, a lot. Thank you Ruth! (I'd add a smilie here, but I'm not too good with them).

Next week looks to be pretty busy: Daycare (hopefully I can keep what little sanity I have left so them guys in white jackets don't come haul me off); Finishing up the Christmas gifts (why do I have this insane urge to give only home-made Christmas gifts. And how exactly did the tradition of quilts by me get started????); and getting started on my son's books for his taxes (remember Cate and I were still working on 2003 taxes in Sep?); and Write, preferably on E. Also, my other son wants me to work on his website. It does need some work, but I think that will have to wait.

That's it for me. I'll try to remember to see how many words already written on E and let ya'll know where it stands. Not very far I can assure you.

Oh yeah, TPQ, keep them letters coming. I don't know where you're going to publish it, but surely someone will see the logic in publishing something needed soooooo much. You know, something that makes us laugh.

Ally, does your Christmas break start soon? Gonna write lots during the break?

Forgot to remind ya'll - ya have to go down A across B, under C and turn left on D to get to Sesame street.


Nita

[msQTpi]

Nita said...
Oh yeah, TPQ, keeps them letters coming. I don't know where you're going to publish it, but surely someone will see the logic in publishing something needed soooooo much. You know, something that makes us laugh.


Thanks Nita,
I'll keep answering as long as the questions are posted. I am thrilled whenever I can make someone laugh.

Renee'

[Cate]

Checking in--
Didn't get too much writing done, but did edit the large article I have due on-spec Wed. Also chose some pictures for it. Followed up on queries and sent business Christmas cards out.
Hmm. I guess I got more done than I thought!
Still tired tho Lori, still tired.
Hope you are feeling fine though!
Cate

[Yeshanu]

Nita,

You're welcome. Glad to help.

In between The Sims, the ministering, and the finals, have you spared any time for writing? Even ten minutes?

Um, nope. And you forgot the concerts. One more to go...

I still have three assignments due, and hope to have them out of the way by Wednesday. Actually, they have to be out of the way by Wednesday.

Sims aside, it's been a very low energy sort of week -- I was afraid I was coming down with something, but it seems to have passed. If I don't have any fiction writing done next week, I definitely deserve the whip...

My goal is to start the rewrite of ATTS, now that I know the background for the world. And to work up some nifty pics of the world using Terragen... :p

[Lori Basiewicz]

Renee', for reporting here, knowing your wordcount is not necessary, just so long as you have a goal and a way to measure it. Time, word count, pages, it's all good. The amount of time you are putting into writing each night is excellent. Amazing even. Good job in exceeding your own goals.

I would love to see you published in 2005. Have you selected a publication that you would like to target or do you have a particular project you would like to polish and find a home for?

Sympathies on the muse. I think she and Bud ran off together with your pudding.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Keep climbing. There's a light at the end of the tunnel and, I promise, it's not a train.

It's great that you have a flesh and blood friend who understands about your writing habit and talks to you about your current project -- even if she was involved. Keep moving forward on it.

I'm going to give you a star because I think you deserve it for coming back to us. Just keep progressing and don't do anything to deserve the whip next week, okay?

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_4_34.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

Barb, Barb, Barb.

You blew a deadline? Don't you know some writers would dance in pudding with Bud to have one or two of those? And you just watched as it whooshed on past?

*sigh* No star for you this week. I might even be accused of playing favorites for not giving you the whip, but from the sounds of things, your writing group will take care of that for me if you don't get all the leaks in the story line plugged up, so I found you a plumber instead.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_11_7v.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

Congrats on TPB, Ray!

1500 words in your projects and your column completed, not too bad. And, because you had fun doing it (writing should be fun), I'll give you a gold star.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_4_34.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

Mike, now I'm curious. When we first met on here way back when, I seem to recall you mentioning that you had lost a couple of notebooks with your writing in it. Are these the same notebooks you just found?

If so, a huge CONGRATULATIONS! That's spectacular. Really and truly it is.

And here you thought you had lost them in a move or someone had used them to line the hamster cage when they were really in the attic all along in a box labeled.... C'mon, you can tell us. Where in the attic did you find them?

[Lori Basiewicz]

Sorry to hear about the mild epidemic inflicting your household, Frank.

Hmmm... Given the number of men staying home to take care of the kids and/or the number of couples who more evenly split the parenting/housekeeping duties, it seems like a men's family magazine is a niche ripe for its own publication. And when someone finally wises up and creates such a magazine, you'll be the first one on the doorstep, I'm certain.

In the meantime, good luck subbing to the more women-oriented magazines. I'm certain you'll be great at showing how the family drives Dad's crazy too. Wait, that didn't come out quite right. I mean.... Um... Well, anyway, good luck, Frank.

(And find that parrot story a home so I can read it.)

[Lori Basiewicz]

Sounds like you are making a fair amount of progress on FATL. 1/3rd of the way through in just a week is pretty darn good. I think you deserve a star.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_4_34.gif

Please, keep us posted on your progress and how that particular method works for you. Also, let us know how the agent compilation is going, too.

Good luck with everything.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Now writing... what's writing? I forget. I think it has something to do with words...

Ally, Ally, Ally. Okay, 500-1000 words isn't that bad, but you can do better.

Get a good night's sleep, then attack that novel fresh. Forward, always forward. Keep up the momentum you had in November and THE END will be here before you know it.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Any person - male or female, parent or paid caregiver - who takes care of young children all day has my deepest respect and admiration. Mainly because I know I would go insane doing it. I like kids, really I do, but that like is tempered by the fact that I can send them home or leave without them any time I want.

As for the writing, 1K is not bad. Not for the height of the holiday season. You can hit your goal of 2500, though. I know you can. I have faith in you. Just a little bit more.

And remember, I take bribes.

[Lori Basiewicz]

You're the winner of the big gold star this week.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_1_17.gif

Excellent way to keep moving forward. Feels good to accomplish all of that, doesn't it. And at the time, you didn't think you were doing much, did you? Way to go, Cate!


(I'm tired, too.)

[Lori Basiewicz]

Ruth, given that this is your busy time of year, I was going to let you slide this week, but since you're feeling guilty enough to ask for the whip, I guess I have to give it to you.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_2_111v.gif

The holiday season is almost through and finals should be over by Wednesday, so next weekend, I hope you keep with the goal of starting the rewrite on ATTS. And working on images on Terragen WILL be procrastinating....

[Cate]

Aw, shucks . . .
Thanks Lori!
Cate

[Yeshanu]

since you're feeling guilty enough to ask for the whip, I guess I have to give it to you.

I meant next week...

<ow!>

[Lori Basiewicz]

Okay Weekenders! Is everone out there? Are we all surviving the festivities? Are you providing your respective muses with all the eggnog they can imbibe?

More importantly...is everyone writing? It's that time again! Hear that whip crackin' overhead? That aint Santa Claus working out with the reindeer--BWahahahHAHAHAAaaaaa!!!!! Sound off, folks. Let us know what's happening with you!

Renee--hows that muse doing? Has she turned back up to help you produce any words? Any specific goals or plans to report? Whatcha workin' on? (We really want to know. *bounce bounce*)

Melina--How was the week? Still with us? Hanging on by any means necessary? Let us hear all about it...

Barb--What's Bud up to? Got good news for your crit group? Cuz you KNOW how they get! The family letting you get a moment to yourself to poke your head in here and report?

Ray--You were on fire last week, golden-boy...so what about THIS week? Got any news for us? And can I have your autograph? ...oops...was that undignified? (Ooo. Ray's giving autographs?)

Mike--new words? new jokes? progress? festivities? Whats the good word, big guy?

Frank--How's that subbing going? Any new leads? Send anything cool off? (Nice to see the column regularly again, btw!) How's the typhoid house? Can I have your share of the cheesecake? (Mmm. Cheesecake.)

CC--all righty there, buckaroo...got anything for us this week? Good news? Beta reader feedback? An agent beating down your door to sign you up? A nibble? You got a work ethic about writing that just won't quit, fella--where does that come from? If you could bottle it and spray it on the rest of us, you'd have a lot of gratitude...

Ally--surviving the season? Concerts? School? Assorted teenaged traumas and dramas? What's up? More importantly...DID YOU WRITE ANYTHING?????

Nita--okay--how did that wordcount goal go for you this week? Sing out, girl! We're all out here rooting for you! (And that's your wordcount you should be singing, Nita, not your ABC's.)

Cate--you got the big gold star last week! Can you do it again? How's it going? You kickin' butt and taking names? Let us know, girl!

Ruth--rewrites? New words? Procrastination? Don't make Lori get the whip.... (I've got the whip? I thought you had the whip?)

Jen--hello? Helloooo? Anyone there???

Lisa--We KNOW you're lurking....what's going on? Pick a project, woman...a single, tangible goal...let us in on it...then GO for it...

RichMar--My week feels incomplete without a drop-in dollop of your sardonic wit...whatcha doin'? Sub to Ladies Home Journal this week, yet? (I think he's renumbering his list of excuses. :lol )

Liam--we miss ya, big bro...check in when you get a chance.

All right then, folks! That's it for this week. Check in, sing out, sound off, even just to say howdy! That goes for all you assorted lurkers and shy types out there, reading along but so-far-too-timid-to-play! Jump on in, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!

[RichMar]

Not a good week--the long and the short of it: As a result of wrestling with my muse last week she took out a restraining order on me.

The most I could do--expending Herculean effort, mind you--was to write a memoir on my experience during an exceptionally painful root canal. My metaphors and similes were so mixed that the CIA, who has a permanent tap on my 'puter, suspected me of sending messages to Al Qaida sleeper cells in South Brooklyn.

I wrote stuff like: "Tunneling under the bridge the soft roots holding the decaying ivory tower needed to be destroyed."

Suddenly, a squad of Homeland Security's Finest broke into my house and arrested me for planning to destroy The Verazzano Narrows Bridge.

On this past Wednesday my muse took pity and came to me in a crowded visitor's room on Riker's Island. She forgave me after having me promise that during our wrestling I'll no longer grapple her in the vicinity of her...eh...perky chest.

Well, from Wednesday on I sat in my cell and wrote my butt off! It was the best scribing I had done in years--even though my writing tools consisted of a number 2 pencil stub and two rolls of Scott's toilet tissue.

Alas, again misfortune dealt me a losing hand. During the night my cellmate came down with an extreme case of the runs and my manuscript is now floating somewhere in the East River.

I was released on Friday. My dentist had testified in my behalf after I agreed to pay something toward my long overdo bill.

Yet I can't help but think of those magnificent rolls of Scotts', soaked and unravelled, at this moment probably serpentining their way passed Lady Liberty toward the Big Pond...and lost to the world.

[ChunkyC]

:lol I think that post should count toward your weekly total, Rich.

Well, I had a slow week. I'm halfway through FATL using the HL method and I am getting some good notes, but as yet I have not started writing the new material. I do believe I should wait until I reach the end before doing so, but it doesn't feel right not putting down new stuff.

Also, on Sunday I will call the beta's reading novel #2 who have yet to check in ... right after Desperate Housewives. :p

[aka eraser]

Funny Rich. :)

Slowish week here too, beset with family/holiday stuff that will last another week or two.

Got my column out and added another 700-some words to The New Thing. The book I'm editing landed (with a THUD!) this week. After his own cuts it still clocks in at a hefty 650 pages. So far I've only cleared the dining room table, plopped it in the middle, and circled it warily a few times. After we get used to each other's scent I'll poke it with a stick a couple of times and probably get around to actually opening the box next week.

Not going to sub anything til mid-January now. Anything landing these days is going to be shelved for a while anyway. I'll give the editors time to sift through the stacks of accumulated stuff while they're cranky with hangovers before sending anything out. I want them in a better mood before reviewing my pearls.

[msQTpi]

Lori,
Quote:
I would love to see you published in 2005.
( Thanks! )

Quote:
Have you selected a publication that you would like to target
(No, I have no idea how to even begin)

Quote:
or do you have a particular project you would like to polish and find a home for?
(Yes, I am quite thrilled with the TPQ idea and have high hopes for it)

Quote:
hows that muse doing? Has she turned back up to help you produce any words? Any specific goals or plans to report? Whatcha workin' on?
(She took off as soon as she noticed the first sniffle. I have been fighting a nasty cold this week. The result of which is that I have been totally out of it most of the time...soooo...no writing :x :( If you or Bud happen to see her, please send her home)

Renee'

[Melina]

Okay--

I wrote about 600 words this week, which for me is a lot. Still having fun with the memoir. Thanks for the words of encouragement, Mac and Lori, they've kept me going. I'll continue to hang in there, even though Chloe has fallen into the abyss. I think she's depressed about what's developing between Bud and Renee's muse. She's been smoking a lot, and wearing a big bandage over the "B" that's tatooed on her neck. I don't know if she had it removed, or what. I can't get her to talk to me. Hopefully, she'll snap out of it before I run out of steam on the memoir.

[rtilryarms]

I'm struggling
http://home.comcast.net/~ddom/rtprofxmas.JPG

[Kida Adelyn]

I have the ultimate in whip proof armour.

I wrote a bit this week. About 2000 words. Guess what two of those words were?


The End



I have completed my first ever novel! Right now I feel like this:http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping46.gif


hugs, Ally

[Cate]

Ok.
This week I had a face-to-face interview with a subject for an article, spent time on the phone w/ 3 others for same article. Outlined that and another assigned article. Photoshopped pics for a different article and sent in final copy w/ photos. Sent out a resume and writing samples to a mag--got a response and outlined something to send to them this coming week.
Thats that.
Did nearly all my Christmas shopping too, but that don't count here!
Cate

[maestrowork]

It was a bad week as far as writing's concerned. I did write my 550-word review. 200 words on the other project I started. But nothing on CTN. I did brainstorm with my writing group, so now I have a better grip on what I have to do. Oh, yeah, I went to four dinner parties and had a 2-day hangover.

[aka eraser]

Way to go Ally! :D

[ChunkyC]

Bravo, Ally!!! Ain't it the best feeling in the world?

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage21/12.gif

(That's us on either side of you who dinna do much writing this week)

[RichMar]

Sixteen years old--you aughta be ashamed of yourself making us elders look bad.

[Kida Adelyn]

I'm sorry, I'll try harder to slack off.http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/ashamed/ashamed03.gif

[RichMar]

Hmm.

[MacAl Stone]

RichMar...I'm completely gobsmacked when I consider too closely the ramifications of one's muse taking out a restraining order...

But as to the words now floating out past Lady Liberty to catch the trans-Atlantic current and sail to adventure--look on the bright side, I hear the second draft is always better, anyway.

Perhaps by some fabulous stroke of fate, those words will be fished out, dried off, and sent with all due haste to the fabulously influential editor the fisherperson just happens to know...resulting in your much-deserved fame and glory.

Then again, perhaps not.

[MacAl Stone]

Cool, CC! Halfway through your rewrite is nuthin' to turn your nose up at...

And as a fellow writer--I completely understand the Desperate Housewives priority...but I can't help but wonder, now that it's Monday, did you reach that beta reader? :rollin

[MacAl Stone]

Frank! Don't let that manuscript chase you out of your own dining room! Open that package, arm yourself with the extra-sharp red pencil (actually, it sounds like you might need the garden shears) and get TO it, fella!

New words are always good. Between the column and the other 700 words, that's pretty good. I'd give you a gold star if I knew where Lori kept 'em.

What can you tell us about "The New Thing" you've been working on?

[MacAl Stone]

Okey-doke...I have it on good authority that Bud is currently in Tijuana working on his hangover, while Barb is entertaining various family members. I just hope that when the time comes, he can get back across the border, and he remembers to bring your muse back into the country with him.

It doesn't look to me like he has all that much room in his thong to store his passport. Or...maybe that IS his passport...

ewwwwww....I just don't even want to think about that too closely.

So Renee', how's the cold? How's your holiday season? How's this week's writing going?

Will someone PLEASE get the muses out of the eggnog?

[MacAl Stone]

Melina! Hey, 600 words beats the livin' daylights outta NO words, which is about what I wrote this week! Good for you :)

What's the thing you notice most about writing the memoir? Is it different than other writing you've done?

Hugs for Chloe....If I know Bud, the novelty with the new muse will wear off in short order, and he'll be trying to figure out how to keep BOTH of 'em happy...

[MacAl Stone]

Mike--struggling? Hang in there, fella! Help is on the way! Sent a telegram to Bud in Tijuana, he says he can have a bevy of lovely holiday muses to you in under three days.

He says they'll take American Express, but cash is better.

[MacAl Stone]

Cate, that's awesome! And this week only, I guess we can count Christmas shopping as contributing to the greater good...

So what are you gonna send the mag you sent the writing samples to?

[MacAl Stone]

Ray. Ray, Ray, Ray....

*shakes head sadly*

A two day HANGOVER? Hemingway would be proud. More writing. Less partying. At least you didn't blow your deadline.

*shakes head sadly, some more....*

[MacAl Stone]

And ALLY!!!!!!!!!! BIG SMILEY PARTY for you, kiddo! Not just the gold star this week...you get FIREWORKS!!!!!
http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/firework2.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/emoticons1/9.GIF

*SNIFF* We're soooo PROUD!!!!!http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage15/15.gif

Errr...Ally, what can you tell us about why we haven't heard from your MOM this week? BWAHAHHAHHAAahahhaAHAhaaaa

[batyler65]

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage17/19.gif

HOORAY!!!!!

YOU ROCK!

[Lori Basiewicz]

Woohoo!!!! CONGRATULATIONS ALLY!!!!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_14_7.gif

[msQTpi]

I believe my muse has become bored with Bud. That's just her way, quite flighty you know. I guess she really can't help it though what with the ADD, Pin worms and of course her constant drinking of coffee and Mountain Dew. Anyway, for whatever reason, she showed up this morning ready and raring to go. I was so happy to see her that I opted not to ask her about the dried leaves in her hair. Shoot, I didn't even ask her to put any clothes on! I even waited to ask her where she gotten the thong that was tied on her head like a bandanna (I hope Bud has extras :o )

The cold does seem to be going away, thanks.

This morning I started (and finished) an article for my TPQ book. It's title, "A day in the Life of the Trailer Park Queen" I am tickled pink. This book is turning out to be a real hoot to write.

Renee'

[Melina]

Awesome, Ally!

That is so incredible! Good for you!

Melina

***

[Melina]

I guess the thing that's been most different about writing this memoir is, I have a tendency to go off on tangents. My other work has all been very precise. I know where I want to start, what I want to say, and how I want to end--before I ever start writing. With this, I start off with one thing, then I remember something else (which may or may not be related to my original subject), and then something else will pop in there. It's a lot harder to stay organized. Lots of rewriting for this one, it looks like. But, it's been very entertaining. OOOOOOOOH! We were so naughty!

Oh, yeah--I'm having surgery on Thursday, and then we're moving, so I may not be checking in for a while. I'll hobble down to the library if I can, while my computer is in transit. Otherwise, I'll be writing on a legal pad, and I'll have lots to report when I come back.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Melina

***

[Yeshanu]

Ally, what can you tell us about why we haven't heard from your MOM this week? BWAHAHHAHHAAahahhaAHAhaaaa

True story: Ally asked me to help her write the last pages of her novel by tying up the Sims game. So, being the helpful mom that I am...

Okay, so that's not going to fly, even though it's true. How about this:

Three assignments in two days and my head exploded. The assignments were final ones, about six to eight pages each. Haven't done a word count, but the total's probably in the 7 to 10k range. Anyhow, I didn't even manage to write a sermon this week. I told a very long children's story instead, and got more compliments than I've ever had. I wonder if that says anything?

Anyhow, hopefully this week my muse will reappear and I'll get back to work on ATTS before Christmas, because after Christmas I'll be too busy watching this four-and-a-half-hour movie I know I'm getting... (And the rotten kid who's giving it to me -- not Ally -- won't let me open it before Christmas. Arrrgggh!)

[ChunkyC]

A big hug, Melina. Hope the surgery and move both go smoothly, and we'll see you when you get back.

Merry Christmas!

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/peanuts010.gif

[Yeshanu]

*hugs* Melina.

Come back soon!

[Cate]

Hmm, don't know what I am going to send that magazine just yet--this weekend will either be very productive or a total bust.
Heh.
Cate

[Lori Basiewicz]

Welcome, Weekenders!

For the Christians among us and others who just celebrate the Christmas holiday, this is a major holiday weekend. For everyone else, it’s a day to count the hours until the local pizzeria starts delivering again and the 24-hour superstore reopens its doors.

The trick, for those with company and other family-holiday-related obligations, is to keep the writing moving forward while partaking of the season. When you figure out this trick, please let me, Barb, Mac, and everyone else know how you accomplished it.

This weekend, Barb is being invaded by an army of blood relations. Mac is hiding out from her writing group, who I understand are even more hard-nosed than Barb’s. And me? I’m getting a taste of what everyone else must go through trying to write when others are in the house.

Fortunately, my company likes to read, so whenever he picks up his book, I pick up TBWN. I’ve discovered I can work on index cards in between reading. What I really want to do, though, is curl up with my laptop. Sunday will probably be my breaking point when the urge to write becomes too great and must be satisfied.

Santa has the list only list that matters this week, so I’m going to borrow a trick from Barb and ask everyone to report in on their own. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, deserve a lump of coal or a publishing contract in your stocking, now’s the time to let the rest of the world – okay, just our little corner of it – know what you’ve accomplished this week.

Sing it loud and sing it proud, Weekenders! What have you done this week?

[RichMar]

I just learned that a new editor took over at America West: Ellen Alperstein, replacing Mike Derr. I was published twice in that magazine but then had a disagreement with the editor. (I know, My being such a nice guy. Who would think?)

With that news I rewrote, retitled, and extended a piece that would fit her new slant. The original was published in the op-ed pages of the Long Island Herald in 1998, but I changed it to a point where my conscience wouldn't bother me--nor any editor's sense of fair play...so chalk me up for 1k polished words or so, accomplished within the last two days.

[maestrowork]

I'm revising a short story to bump up the word count, then will submit it to Byline.

Regular column. Slow progress on CTN. Some work on TPB... same old, same old.

Christmas things to do...

Ho, ho, ho!

[ritinrider]

Silly me, I posted this wrong. What can I say? I was preparing gifts and food for the journey to mother-in-law's.


Yikes! It's Friday, that means Lori, Mac or even Barb will be posting for an accounting of the week. I know it's Christmas Eve, but I don't figure they'll let us off for a whole week for that.

Congrats to Ally for finishing her book, see I did find time to read some of the posts. And congrats to everyone else who's done anything these last two weeks.

Like Ruth, I have practically met myself coming and going, I don't think I even had time to think about E, much less write.

I'll do better next week. I promise. Right now I need to convince my husband to take me back to work. Not that I want to go, but I want to listen to my boss gripe about me not finishing my job even less. Really.

Have a happy holiday, and good writing week everyone.

Nita

edited to remove wrong date and time I said original post had been written .

[Kida Adelyn]

Hullo.

Gosh I'm tired. Stayed up until midnight watching special features on LOTR extended version. Then I went home and finished the book I'm reading.

Don't expect to see Yesh for another couple of years. I got two sims expeansion packs for christmas (one from her) so of coarse they were promptly installed on her computer and she's spent a good chunk of yesterday playing them (the chunk that I wasn't)

I acctually wrote some stuff this week. I am currently fixing plot holes and trying to do something with several characters who dropped by to say hello in the process of writing the thing, told part of a facinating story then left.|I
Silly characters. So i did thinking and stuff.

Anyone got an idea of what I should do with the thing when I've fixed the major things? I havn't a clue on how to edit a novel. And please don't say do what works. I don't know what works.:o


-Ally

[RichMar]

The last time I wrote a novel was never. If I ever did and didn't have a novel gardian angel to guide me, I'd do what I do with the wee pieces I usually produce. I'd reread it with an eye toward nothing but common sense, picking up on where the reader might go astray. In that process I'd also ponder the meanings that surprised me. I'd also be on the alert for where I got a bit too lazy and try to remove the laziness. I'd also worry myself silly about how honest I was.

[Cate]

Well I didn't do too much this week--made the mistake of working hard at this time last year--it didn't pay off. No one is working and those that are aren't doing much . . .
I revise, revamp and reslant stuff. Update files and plan my attack for Jan.
All done. Will enjoy the weekend and get moving on Monday.
Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays . . .
Cate

[aka eraser]

Do? This past week? Heck, lots of stuff. Way too much to write about here. I was as busy as our Beloved National Rodent; hithering and thithering all over heck's half-acre.

What?

Oh. Writing-wise!

Why didn't you say so earlier?

Um...well, there was my column: on time and on target as (nearly) always. And...

Okay FINE! You can add "dithering" to my hithering and thithering. I'm pretty sure it says somewhere that the weeks before and after Christmas are International Dithering Weeks. And some of us consider them sacred.

Wonder if my innocent, cherubically-grinning smiley will translate here?

0 :)

PS to Ally: There's nuggets of wisdom in Rich's somewhat-cryptic advice. I'd add leaving the book to simmer for a while after you've done the major fixes. When you come back to it with a refreshed, reader's eye (instead of a writer's) you'll more easily spot the huh? stuff. I'd give it at least 2-4 weeks in the drawer.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Richmar, an actual report? That doesn't deal with a sticky typewriter key? Wow! I'm impressed. And not just by the fact that you've run out of excuses, but with your ability to keep tabs of the editorial staff and pursuing opportunities to renew relationships with old markets when they arise.


And, I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you are a nice guy. A little off-center maybe, but that's why we like having you around. That, and you keep Eraser in line. ;)

[Lori Basiewicz]

Slow and steady, Ray. Slow and steady. As long as it's progress, you'll get over those hurdles and see TPB in print and CTN being shopped around before the end of 2005.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_5_133.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

Nita, you're the winner of the big gold star this week. I know you didn't make much progress this week, but you were committed enough to come here and check on the rest of us and know that you should have been making progress, even if it was Christmas week.

As for next week, I expect a list of goals and a rough plan (it's okay, plans can change) for what you would like to accomplish with your writing in 2005.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_1_17.gif

[Lori Basiewicz]

Rich and Frank both gave some good advice on what to do when revising a novel. There's lots more floating around the board this week. And it's okay to let it simmer awhile before starting to revise it. Just so long as you're writing other stuff while the novel is sitting in the drawer.

Congratulations again on finishing the first novel.

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[Lori Basiewicz]

Revising, revamping, and reslanting counts as writing. It's a vital part of the process. So is subbing. But I know you'll try to find homes for your stuff, so no need for me to worry about that, huh?

You go, girl. I'm anxious to hear what your goals for 2005 are next weekend.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Frank, I meant to thank you earlier for including a last minute shopping plan in last week's column. Oh? That wasn't a plan I was supposed to follow?

Oops... But it did explain why almost all of the other customers in the mall on Monday were male.

[Lori Basiewicz]

I hope your Christmas holiday was fun and enjoyable. But next weekend is New Years. No, that's not the weekend to implement the Hemingway Method of Writing. No two day hangovers. No drinking beer with your breakfast in order to avoid a hangover.

It's time for everyone to give some thought to their goals and objectives and the best-laid plans for 2005. And, if all you AWOL individuals could return from wherever you're amocking and pretend you were never gone so Mac and I don't get into too much trouble when Barb returns, it would be mucho appreciated. Thanks.

Has anyone seen the scary red whip? I've looked everywhere for it. In my coat pocket, under the front seat of the car, wherever I found my car keys last, in the refrigerator.

[ritinrider]

Lori aren't you sweet. Maybe that's why I show up regular when you and Mac are in charge.

I have actually given some thought to my goals for next year, a result of coming here. Can't remember all of it, it's in the other room and I'm too lazy to go get it, but here's what I remember:

1. Find, clean up and enter 1st chapter of romance novel to state contest.

2. Write, polish submit how-to article to same contest.

3. Clean up and polish 1st chapter of non-fiction book for same contest. Contest deadline is Feb. 1, and my goal is to have 3 entries. There are something like 20 categories, and I can enter as many categories as I want for one entry fee. But 3 seems to be my limit this year.

For the rest of the year:

1. Write 500 words/daily on E until finished.

2. Write 1000 words/weekly on non-fiction book until finished.

3. Polish both books.

4. Market both books.

5. Send 5 queries and/or articles weekly.

I think that's about it. My main goal is to be making money from writing next year. These goals should help with that.

Nita

[Cate]

Wow! This is pretty scary--do I actually have to write them down?
Heh.
Ok, here goes . . .
I want to:
Begin work on my book idea.
Become a contributing writer to a mag I write regularly for.
Hit one article for over btw 500-1000 dollars.
Write more--I intend to go full-time either this year (summer) or next year.
Expand writing subject areas.
Improve skills w/ digital camera--take more pics.
(Tenative goal) Take a writing class.

These are the ones I am going to focus on so far. I think I am challenging myself, and hope I make them!
I am really interested to see what others say . . .
Cate

[ChunkyC]

Progress --

Column deadlines are all wonky over the holidays, so I wrote and filed two last week.

I've reached a point in FATL where I feel I need to start writing new material since it will have an impact on the rest of the story, so I began writing one of the major new pieces (which should end up being an entire chapter), flashing back half a decade to the time when our heroes meet for the first time. I've also blocked out two or three other spots for new scenes. I may get this thing up to novel length yet.

My biggest goal for the new year is to find an agent, but I need a finished product to use as bait. I just need to decide if novel #2 or FATL is to be that bait.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

[RichMar]

May your succulent worms attract the biggest fish.

[Kida Adelyn]

I guess I'll chip in my writting goals for the following year. Promise you'll poke me to get me to do them.

Goals:

Revise my Novel until I'm happy with it or completely sick of it.

Find a new Novel length project, or pick up an old one and carry it through to first draft completion completion.

Get somthing published, or at least regected several times. :b


So there. Lets see If I can keep to them.

Happy new year.
-Ally

[Yeshanu]

So i did thinking and stuff.

That's a first... :p

Not really, but I had to razz her, since she's saying things that are NOT TRUE!!! -- to wit, I have not been spending all of my time playing SIMS. There was this little thing called Christmas that kind of messed up my week, since those of you who went to church mostly sat in the pews and let someone else put on the show -- well I was the someone else in my church. Ally and her brother David helped out, of course, but I still did all of the planning, directing, producing etc. Then I had Christmas day (no service, just lots of socializing) and then I had the Sunday morning service to do, and then Monday we went up to my parents, where the kids monopolized the computer. You need to know that I'm somewhat of an introvert, and seven adults in a tiny four room house is my idea of, well, not heaven, that's for sure...

Anyhow, though we had a happy and peaceful Christmas, I didn't get too much writing done. I did manage, last Wednesday, to put two stalled ideas together to come out with one big idea that I think will manage to move forward, so I'm excited about that one. I also got a magnetic poetry kit for Christmas, and in honour of the season, I wrote a poem.

pound
shake
sweat

if dress would fit

sad


Hmm... I've done better, but as I said, it fits the season. (Don't pardon the pun. :p )

So that's my report. If I get anything done over the New Year's weekend, I'll be back on Monday to report it.

Oh, and my goals:

1) Finish the rewrite on ATTS (hope springs eternal...) Throw a great big huge honkin' party.

2) Finish first draft of next novel (tentatively entitled "Love Potion") Throw a great big huge honkin' party.

3) Finish my M.Div. Throw a great big huge honkin' party.

Happy New Year to all of you, and may 2005 bring joy and happiness to everyone!

[rtilryarms]

I have one story complete. I rushed through and wrote the Reader's Digest condensed version and it stands at 38,000 words. The story is done and makes sense (to me). There is a ton of dialogue, back-story and scenes left to write but from here on it's just manual labor and a touch of imagination. I have a boxful of research from which to pool the fill-in info.

What do you think...another year to go?

[CindyBidar]

Someone told me that this was where you all are selling motivation. I'd like a large order please, with extra inspiration on the side. Barring that, a healthy dose of guilt will do.

Being the new year and all...well, you know. Help? :|

[Lori Basiewicz]

Welcome to the Looney Bin, Cindy.

All inspiration, kudos, motivation, etc., comes with an side order of guilt around these parts. As in, "That's great, but what are you going to do next?"

And the best part, we don't charge for any of it. We just give it away free. ;)

I see some of the inmates of already been around to post their progress reports today. Those of you who haven't, I'll be back in a little bit after getting the horse dirt out from under my nails and grabbing a bite to eat with THE LIST and Barb's red whip firmly in hand. (I found the whip, Barb. It was in the laundry basket; not certain how it ended up there.)

[MacAl Stone]

BWAHAHHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!! I beat Lori here, and WPR's Friday list is MINE, all MINE!!! BWAHAHHAHAAAAA!!!!!
__________________________________________________ _

When last we left our dauntless heroes and heroines, wending their way through the wilds of Publish-Or-Perish Enchanted Wood, the turning of the year had prompted a semi-spontaneous uprising among the usually close-knit group. A wild outpouring of goals for the coming year was taking shape, as our normally sober and diligent crew met for the last time during the old, worn-out, OVER year.

Renee threw open the door to the wild winter night, crying out, "Bud! It's over! Be a MAN for gawd's sake...or at least be a-MUSE-ing about the pain of rejection, in the sort-of bitter-- but nonetheless funny--way of talented writers everywhere!" Upon which, throwing her cloak over her shoulders, she rushed into the night in pursuit of a quarry the remaining souls in the room strained to see, through the stormy darkness beyond the threshold.

Ruth was the first to return to her place at the enormous oaken table, whence the merriment and festivities had already begun, before we embarked on this narrative. Plucking a new quill from her belt-pouch, she whacked the end of its shaft sharp with a tiny, wicked-looking dagger she produced from her sleeve. "Well. I have a bit of writing to do. And a bit of rewriting. But FIRST...I'm planning a huge, honking big party. Who's in?"

CC and Ray returned to their places, hunched together over a sprawl of untidy papers covering the table in front of them. CC looked up, "I'm in, Ruth--hey, what do those pages you're cutting from your rewrite look like? How much do you want for them? I've still got some padding to do here..."

Ray poked his boon companion in the side sharply with his quill. "He doesn't mean that, Ruth. He's on a roll, now, Charlie can write those extra scenes himself! Now ME, on the other hand...I have this short story, and I need to bump up the word count. What genre were you working in?"

"She's writing a fantasy, Ray," Ally piped up. She'd been napping beneath a pile of cloaks in the corner by the roaring fire. "It isn't going to help you at all, I'm afraid."

"I hate to interrupt," came a voice from the vicinity of the still-open door, "But I'm on a holy quest for some motivation. A pilgrim's information booth in the last village directed me here." Cindy stepped across the threshold and threw back her hood. "Have I found the right place?"

Frank and Mike leaped from their seats, overturning chairs and benches in their haste. "Indeed, fair Stranger!" Frank said, just before Mike stepped firmly on his foot, causing him to break off his sentence with a manly squawk of outrage. He rolled his eyes and glared fiercely at Mike.

Mike bowed sweepingly to the stranger in the doorway. "Writers-R-Us! Please feel free to joins us! We all share a common love of the written word and a continued dedication to actually WRITING some of them."

"All right! That's about enough of that!" Lori stepped to the door and took the stranger's cloak, tossing it on the heap atop the slumbering Ally. "Do come in and warm yourself by the light of Reason's fire, Cindy."

Barb poked her head from the back room where she'd mysteriously secreted herself weeks before. "Huh? Reason? Who the heck is Reason? What did I miss?"

"Never mind, Barb--Lori's just waxing a little err...purple...again," RichMar answered. "There is no Reason. And damned little Rhyme, if you ask me. But if you wait long enough, every thing comes full circle, by Gawd, and let's drink to THAT!"

In a stunning display of solidarity, all present leaped to their feet and quaffed a long...er..quaff...(where the heck DID I leave that Strunk & White?) in response to RichMar's impromptu toast.

"Oh, OH! Everyone freeze! What a nice moment to put into my memoir!" Melina licked the end of her pencil and began to scribble furiously on her cocktail napkin.

Nita read over her shoulder and murmured, "Oh! That's GOOD! Damn, maybe I should put writing a memoir on my own already formidable list of things to accomplish this year. That looks fun!"

Cate watched her two compatriots for a moment. She then turned to Lori. "And how did Melina rate an actual PENCIL when the rest of us are stuck with these lousy quills and messy ink pots?"

Lori smiled serenely and shook her head. "An obvious anachronism and inconsistency on the narrator's part. But hey, I got out of doing this Friday's report, so I'm gonna let it slide, this time. Besides. It all gets fixed in the rewrite."

Mac stood and held her glass high until the unruly inhabitants quieted somewhat and looked her way. "To those of us out wondering on this dark and stormy night, to Liam, Jen, Elonna, Betty, and any other AWOL weekenders...Come home, we miss you and would like to hear from you. To any troubled souls out in the wild woods beyond our door, feel free to join in our festivities."

And a very Happy New Year, full of peace, prosperity, and joy, to all of you.

Now, if someone will kindly close that door, we can resume with the listing of goals for the new year, or just report this weeks progress, or just whine a little about how hard it is to get anything done during the holidays."

[rtilryarms]

uh.....bored MacAl?

[maestrowork]

She's taking a break from writing Heart... or at least I think she was writing...

Bwhahahahahahaha. We want proof, Mac! Proof!

[ritinrider]

Whine, you want whine? Red or white? That's about all I know about wine, it's either red or white and comes in bottles. They haven't started canning wine yet have they?

Now, whine, they don't need to can that. Any writer or 2 yr. old can supply all the whine a person needs, and then some.

Ya want some of my whine?I can whine, really I can. And it is next to impossible to write during the holidays-that's fact not whine. Next year, I'm gonna be so caught up on my writing I can take two weeks off and never notice, not feel guilty, nuttin'. By the way Lori, I finished 2 of the quilts, the third one has to be quilted, should finish it tomorrow.

Now, all I have to do is clean the house. There's a house under all this mess, honest.
Get my son's tax stuff ready for the accountant guy, do our taxes (that's fairly easy, no money means little tax, and no extra deductions). And write. Write, market, and write.

[aka eraser]

LOL Mac. :D

<eraser makes a note to tie Mike's shoelaces together the next time a pretty woman might come calling>

I got my column out and started editing that guy's book. I'll be focusing on it for the next couple of weeks since I already cashed his first cheque.

Here's to mailboxes overflowing with acceptances in 2005!

[batyler65]

Never mind, Barb--Lori's just waxing a little err...purple...again

Hmm... What does one use to wax a little purple? Pledge? Paraffin? Is it different from waxing a big purple?

Bravo, Mac.

Goals? I'm supposed to have goals? *shuffles through piles of papers dislodging a minor avalanche* Um. I had them here just a minute ago, I swear! Right now I can only name one. Survive the next week (five deadlines). If I do that, then I can concentrate on goals for the remainder of the year. Cross your fingers for me.

Barb

[Kida Adelyn]

*pokes head out of cloak pile*

Reporting in Sir:
I've been sleeping in until ten lately. Tomorow I have to get up at 7am. :x
I didn't do much writing, except for my sociology essay. That I have completed. Besides for that I wrote a starting scene that was floating around in my head. I hope a plot will soon follow 'cus it sounds interesting so far. *shrug*
Still searching for new project, or old one. I'll start major revision once I've found one I'm happy with;.


Oh, and Welcome Cindy. :D


*hugs*
-Ally

[Melina]

Thanks CC and Ruth! I'm feeling much better now.

As for my writing progress...I didn't write a thing all last week. The pain meds made me too sleepy. Big plans for the coming week, though. I'm on light duty at work now (which means I have to work in dispatch instead of on patrol), and I'm also on graveyard shift, so I'll have nothing to do but answer phones and screw around on the computer for 8 hours a night. Now there's some writing time!

My goal for 2005 is to make enough money from my writing to take my family on a real vacation.

Happy New Year, everyone!

***

[Yeshanu]

No writing done this week. :o

Instead, I'm spending some time organizing a concert for the tsunami victims, to take place on Feb. 5. I realized on Sunday that I only have one month to put the program together and sell all the tickets, etc. How do I get myself into these things? Thankfully, the musicians I know have been really good about helping -- I already have a full roster of performers!

As for writing, I'll get to it this week, I promise. Tomorrow, it's back to reality (meaning school.) Holiday's over, as my darling Alli found out today... <sigh>

[Lori Basiewicz]

Mike, you call that a report???? :D

And Mac's never bored when she's causing trouble. Which is pretty much all the time.


(BTW, you might want to check your shoelaces before you stand up again.)

[Lori Basiewicz]

Speaking of proof...

I know you've had a rough week, Li'l Bro, but please don't make me ask Barb to let Bud out of his disco cage to go check up on you. Please don't make me ask Barb to do that.

And stop poking, CC. There's no touching in WPR.

[Lori Basiewicz]

So, do you need my address so you can send that third quilt my way?

Next year, you'll have to declare your writing income on your tax returns. Promise. Just remember to keep track of your expenses so you can deduct those, too.

Now, as for these two weeks off. The holidays are over. It's next year. Time to write. And market. And write and market some more. Really it is. The house can wait. The mess isn't going anywhere; it'll still be there when you're done writing.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Given that roughly half the population is female and we have an open door policy, does that mean you're going to be constantly tying Mike's shoelaces together?

*Lori starts making notes.*

And what type of knot are you planning on using?


(I'm assuming the cheque is already spent, too? So you really do need to get busy, don't you?)

[Lori Basiewicz]

I prefer paraffin, Barb, or candle wax. Just so long as the candle is lilac or lavender scented. To get a deeper purple, I just pour it on a little thicker. ;)

Now, back in the closet. It's not time for you to come out yet. I mean, er... Don't you have some deadlines to finish?


*fingers crossed*

[Lori Basiewicz]

Ally, am I understanding you correctly? You're not able to begin major revisions on your novel until after you've found a new project to start? How does this system of yours work again?

[Lori Basiewicz]

Welcome back, Melina. I'm glad you're feeling better. Here's your pencil. Have fun on the nightshift. We're expecting lots and lots of progress next week.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Ruth, raising funds for the tsunami victims is a worthy cause. But aren't you going to need some PR. Maybe if nothing else you could write an article for a local magazine or newspaper about your group's efforts and kill the proverbial two birds with one stone?

Or you could just use that wicked-looking dagger... That works, too.

[Lori Basiewicz]

Cindy, don't let Mike and Frank distract you. What did you accomplish last week? What are your goals for this week? Hmmm????? :)

[msQTpi]

Hey everyone,

I hope you've all had wonderful Holidays.
I am back to report now.
After two weeks of fighting for time at the computer I am back. WOO HOO!:rollin
The hubby is back to work and the kid is soon to be too. My time is soon to be mine again.
While I was gone from here, I was still writing, one story a night. I have been going back and forth between TPQ stories and picture prompted shorts that make me cry rivers as I write. Thank goodness I write when everyone is asleep. If I were to be watched while I work I may end up in the loony bin. Most people would have a hard time understanding why I was laughing myself into spastic coughs one moment and then crying to the point of choking the next.
I got an email from the University of Dayton inviting me to enter the ninth annual Erma Bombeck Writing Competition. Maybe I should be in a loony bin; I want to do it.

Renee'

[ChunkyC]

They INVITED you, Renee? Wowzers, good for you! I usually get 'invited to leave'. :b

Oh, and Lori: http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/poke1.GIF

[msQTpi]

Well...yes I'd say invite...before you think I have delusions of grandeur I should say that I am sure they invited everyone on a particular email list. Just so happens that I get that email...lol.

Soooo...:o as much as I'd like to think it was divine intervention from Erma herself...I'm pretty sure my cat would have gotten the same email if she had gotten on the list. ;)

[Lori Basiewicz]

Tomorrow's Friday, the first Friday of the New Year. How are you doing with your writing goals?

[batyler65]

I'm closing this thread folks. Look for the new and improved version of the Weekend Progress Report, coming soon to a Humor thread near you. Um. This one, okay? In just a few minutes.

DON'T PANIC!!!