The Weekend Progress Report

Hi, all,
The New Year's Goal thread was getting a bit cumbersome, so I decided to start a new one that more accurately reflected what we were keeping track of there. For those of you who have bypassed the New Year's thread, here's the scoop. A few of us started talking about our goals for the new year and have been keeping tabs on each other to help meet them. Anyone is welcome to sound off here and let us all know how the writing biz is going. I for one know that reporting in every week has certainly helped keep me focused.

So, without further ado...

Another Friday night on the writing front. How is everybody doing out there?

I knocked out a rewrite of chapter 3 and got a start on 4. I hope to knock out another 1000 words before the end of weekend.

Also decided I'm going to write a humor essay about shopping for lingerie after reading Ernie Witham's column "Happy Valentine's Day Dear" in this month's issue of American Magazine. So, I'll be putting on my thinking cap this weekend.

I have to write a column this coming week and I have two major deadlines, so I may allow myself some veg time.

How goes it with you guys?

Barb

Thanks for the new thread!!!!

Barb,

Yep, we did need a new thread that reports "keeping track" of writing progress not our scores in other endeavors. It seems that one of humor hounds has yet to make it to first base:cry This reminds me of one of Dorothy Parker's sayings, "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker."

On that note, Barb, I'm looking forward to reading the lingerie shopping essay in Family Circle.

The weekend is here, and I'm ready to write. Does research time count? My grandma had this aunt who ran off with the local doctor, who left behind a wife and a couple of kids. This happened after my grandmother's uncle lost his mind and passed away, under suspicious circumstances, in the state mental hospital. Moving on, she returned to MO and sued grandma's grandfather-a real piece of work- for her departed husband's share of his estate. According to grandma, it was the local trial of the decade with folks coming from all over. This was around 1913, when their was no radio. It didn't hurt that Aunt Hattie was a quiet a looker.

I think that there is a story here. I'm heading to the library to do some research this afternoon before the big ice storm hits tonight.

As for writing goals, I plan to honor mine. I even put in 3 or 4 good hours on Dr. King's day, a holiday from work for me.

Barb, sounds like you have made excellent progress this week. Yet with those deadlines, do take some renewal time to refuel.

I shall check in and report my progress throughout the weekend. Hope that the rest of your humor hounds do the same.

Annie :hat
:hat

Re: Thanks for the new thread!!!!

Okay, Annie,
I hope your endeavors are going well. I bogged down in vegetable land (and the ice storm really hasn't helped).

I may get that 1000 words in tonight after everyone else goes to bed. At least, that's my hope.

Your story sounds complex! I wish you the best while working to untangle it all. And yes, for the record, I think research time counts. Now, does watching bad movies count as research? If so, I've been researching my butt off. :lol

Happy Writing!
Barbeace

Yep, we can find our material/inspiration in Bad Movies

Barb,

Did manage to get in almost 30 minutes in while the boys were out.

Ice storm and bad movies have been on my agenda today too. Watched Casino for the upteenth time and am now starting on Blow with the boys and a couple of their friends.

Robert De Niro's garbs in Casino could easily inspire a fashion column. At on point, Aaron said, "notice how his clothes always match the room that he is in." He had a point.

Good luck in pounding out those 1000 words.

Annie:hat
:hat

Wasted days and wasted nights...

Well, my weekend didn't turn out as planned. My dog had an episode that required attention, keeping me away from the desk.

Guess I'll try to make up the difference later on this week.

Annie, looks like you did okay with your weekend goal. At least you got 30 minutes. You go girl!

Next weekend I'll do better. I promise.

Barb

January 30th

Hi, Annie,
I hope you are all set for a productive weekend. I'm going to be working on a couple of paying gigs (one computer software project and humorous greeting card deadline).

I only cranked out about 800 words in my Friday novel session, so I need to try to cram in some Saturday morning fiction time. Cross your fingers for me.

In the big news department: I got a call from my editor at FC today and she has fallen in love with another piece I wrote. So it was being passed on to the higher ups for approval. I've crossed my fingers, toes, legs and eyes for this one. I could use another sale. (heck, I could use two or three...

Sound off and let me know how you are doing out there.

BaRb:ack

Calling all humor hounds...

Hey, guys,
This isn't an exclusive club, you know. Anyone is welcome to throw in and share goals and motivation. Just knowing that I'm going to check in with somebody on the weekend and compare progress really helps to keep me motivated and on task. Especially with the big projects.

How about it? Anybody else want to play?

Barb

Progress report

I hear you, Barb. It's just that some of us look shabby by comparison--your humor in Family Circle and all.

All right, today I heard back from the acquisitions editor at Dell Magazines. All the material I sent last time was accepted. He explained the rationale for preferring some kinds of wordplay to other kinds in two types of puzzles they have that use silly puns. He wants four more of each kind of puzzle from me, and, he says, don't forget the hidden-word stories.

Also in today's puzzle-construction news, I mailed between 4 and 5 ounces of completed puzzle mss. (weight includes envelope) to Penny Press.

REPH

Welcome, Reph!

Way to go on your puzzle progress! I do puzzles for kids, but have never tried the adult market (even though I'm a bit of a wordplay addict). I sent some stuff to Games magazine but never got a response. ugh. That's worse than a form rejection letter.

Be sure to let me know when your stuff runs so I'll have an excuse to go out and buy lots of puzzles to indulge my addiction!

As for FC, well, it only took me eight years to break in, so don't worry about shabby. I've been there. Done shabby. And I still get my share of rejects from them.

Hi, Barb

Thanks.

Never mind Games magazine. It's owned by Kappa Publishing Group. Their new contract (1) calls every submission a work for hire without meeting the legal requirements for its being one and (2) contains a vicious indemnity clause. Believe me, you're better off not dealing with those folks.

My puzzles run in Penny Press variety magazines all the time, but they don't have bylines. If you see one called Stepping Stones, however, that was me.

This the weekend, yes indeed!

Barb,

Congratulations on the call from the editor at Family Circle. I'm crossing everything that I can think of for you.:clover Yet, I have faith that your piece will stand on it's own.

Yep, the weekend here. Have had from 3 to 5 boys (ages 14-15) here since Friday evening. Can't walk through the living room without stepping on a body part. I have been on automatic all weekend, loading/unloading the dishwasher, picking up empty pop cans/stiff pizza crust, and watching Comedy Central and MTV. :ack

In spite of the pending ice/snow storm and superbowl,:ack I will get my quota in so I can be right with you and humor hounds. Yet, it would be nice to see that young Carolina team whop up on those New Englanders.

Just wanted to write while the desktop is free. Could get out my laptop...........Will check back in.

Annie:hat

Reph -- Thanks for the warning

Sounds like Games is Bad News! Thanks for the warning. Bummer, though, cause I really like the magazine.

Barb

Re: This the weekend, yes indeed!

Annie,
Well, I think I want to whine...

I hate weekend rush projects -- Had to do a bunch of "real" work (meaning I had a rush writing gig that sucked up my weekend). Ugh.

I did manage to put in a couple of hours on the novel. Still wading through chapter 4. I'll get to look at it again sometime during the week (I hope).

I started 2 new (unrelated) humor essays (they are still in the "brain drain" mode and require lots of work -- also on the list for this week.)

And I have to write funny Halloween cards before deadline on Thursday.

RE: Crossing everything -- well, you just march in there and uncross those fingers, Missy! It's too hard to get any writing done that way. But seriously, thanks for the good wishes.

And, Annie, why, oh why do you keep taking in all those stray teenagers? Are you nuts? But then, at least they are boys. Girls are worse. Much worse. Been there, done that. We have a no-more-than-one-friend-sleeping-over-at-a-time- because-we-can't-handle-all-the-giggling rule. Then again, boys will eat you out of house and home and then ask for second helpings. Right now I'm between teenage boys. My eldest turns twenty next week and the baby is eleven. Of course, the youngling is already showing signs of developing a growing appetite.

Best of luck.

Barb

Dell, I'm downright impressed.

Reph,

I'm a Dell puzzle junkie, that is, the easy crossword ones. Love to do them non-stop, while parked in front of my beloved Law and Order re runs on Monday evenings.

Advise the humor hounds when yours are published, and I will spring for the $2.99 to try my hand. It's time to expand my puzzle pursuits. Will also try to Penny Press ones. Might even dig out that crossword puzzle dictionary. I love a challenge.

Annie:hat

Whining is in order.

Barb,

I could join you in a good gripe session right now if my head didn't hurt so bad.

As for the debate of the genders. I have 3 boys and one girl. It's easier to raise boys than girls. Get a boy some tennis shoes, jeans, and a few shirts, and they are good to go.

Girls start in on that perfect prom dress right after Christmas. Remember, the prom dresses? They can cost the price of a good used car, but can be worn only once. Your son will opt for the car and will drive it part way (If not all of the way) through college.

One year, I suggested to my daughter that she and her friends get together and wear each other's last year prom dresses. She looked like I had asked her to sign a pact with the devil.

You say that girls giggle. Yes, but they also fight. Boys no doubt have their squabbles, but they settle them quickly. The best part is that you don't have hear about them unless one of them needs medical attention. Whereas girls can stretch out a minor slip of the lip for weeks and give the Hatfields and McCoys a run for their money. (Does anyone remember them? Or am I getting old?)

Halloween card deadline, what a good way to get back at the daughters.... Yet, I have to say that my daughter, now that's she is raised and has conceded that I'm not the direct cause of all of her misfortunes, remains close.

You say that your youngest is 11. Just wait, gone will be the one friend rule. Get ready to stock up on the grub. You will be too tired to object. My older kids frequently point out that they could never get away with....:ack

As for the boys, they have gone up the street to what I call the big house, i.e. where my ex husband/father of my children resides. I shall take an advil, turn on the music, and get those 30 minutes in. Catch you later.

Annie:hat

Re: Dell

Annie, thanks for your response, but I don't make crosswords. Easy nonthemed crosswords are likely to have been made by a computer.

I do a lot of Frameworks for Penny Press's variety magazines. Those are something like crosswords, but looser.

Maunin all !!!!

Barb, an all,congrats on all the published pieces!!! I have yet to graduate to 'payin gigs'.At this early point ,I would be happy to get a few mag copies!!! I write pretty much just for pleasure,but am shooting for that horror anthology entry...one day.Got everything crossed for ya!! ( do eyes count???) Ive found recently that It is impossible to write while at home.Everyone there is just too demanding!!! They just dont 'get It',that I cant concentrate with everyone yabbering on(mostly to themselves,by the way..),jumping around an the sound of munching an crunching of various foodstuffs breaks my train of thought....which is more of a rail cart at the moment.Ive found the only place I can get a piece of quiet time to write,is either in the bathroom with the door locked an shower running,at the library hidden back in the very back,or during my lunch hour.(Ive lost 3 lbs !!!).Any suggestions for finding a little more 'Zen' time??? Talk about aggravating.......signed, 'Hassled in Cincy'...:ack

Cary

I don't know about Zen. Isn't that the sound of one hand clapping?

I've developed selective hearing. I can ignore almost anything. Then, add a nice little pair of headphones and some music to drown out the hosts of little beasties and we're off and running... er... writing.

I completely understand about noise and distraction. My office is in the dining room. Two desks, my reading chair, baskets and file cabinets, two computers and other assorted office equipment. Everything a writing gal could hope for, except a door. I've often dreamed of having my own door so I could shut it and people would come and bang on it and say: Whatya doin' in there? No, wait, that's the bathroom!:b

So, have you actually started writing the Horror anthology piece? Get busy!

Keep the faith,
Barb:ack

Re: Whining is in order.

Annie,
ohmigod! My daughter is in the middle of this year's prom quest and I can totally relate. I too suggested the "why don't you swap dresses from last year" route. She looked at me as if my head had just spun around three times and I was about to levitate and spew pea soup. And you are right about the fighting. Stupid stuff. It's a good thing we were never young girls, right?

Already too tired to protest most things the youngest would like to do. Especially if they involve him leaving the house and pestering someone else for awhile:

SON: Mom, I'm going to go set Mr. Smith's house on fire with some of the guys. Then we're going to head over to Wal-Mart for some shoplifting, okay?

ME: (Waving vaguely without looking away from the computer screen) Sure, whatever. Be home for dinner.

Anyhow, I hope your 30 minutes was productive. Are you making progress? Sometimes I feel like even though I'm writing, I'm spinning my wheels. ugh.

Until next weekend,
Barb:ack

Barb....

When does the 'Creative Ignoring' class start??? Can I still get In????Good to know I aint the only one!!! I would try the earphone route,but in pulling It off an on,Im afraid ear rash would be a real risk.One day I will have my own room(probably when they move out..)Then I wont even need a lock.Till then,Its lots of 'showers'.... They think every question is life threatening,like, 'Wheres the peanut butter?'When surly someone else could be questioned on this matter.Ive only just begun to write.Ive written 10 short stories in the last 6 months.( And one hunting story,which Ive already submitted,waiting for a reply.)Only now getting fluent enough, to perhaps have something to offer a publisher.I may have to fine tune a few years before I can write something worthy of being published.But hey,I got a goal!!!!:nerd Carybelle

Cary

Start small, aim big.

It's good that you have goals. Try writing 30 minutes every weekend. Or every third day, or whatever works. Then aim a bit higher: Challenge yourself to submit to a horror anthology by, oh, say, July. We'll cheer you on!

And if you need a place to find said anthologies, go to
www.ralan.com There are usually several listings there.

Barb

Thanx!!!

Appreciate the ref there.If you see any other interesting horror collections that come up in the next few months,lemme know!! I might get brave...Ha!!!:ack Carybelle

Friday Feb. 6th

Hello, Humor Hounds!
Are we geared up for another fabulous weekend? (Well, if rain counts as fabulous, that is.)

I am gearing up to celebrate! I'm at 8,024 words on my first novel and plan to break the 10,000 word barrier this weekend!
(Now all I have to do is repeat that feat nine more times... and voila! Novel. :\ )

Okay, I admit, it sounds like such a small thing when I sit here and type it out, and now I feel a little foolish, but darn it, the manuscript is starting to weigh something! And weighty manuscripts are good, right? :b

I've even started to take risks with my writing, moving beyond the standard: See Dick run. See Jane run. -- I've added more characters for one thing. And this week I even worked on sprinkling in some adjectives.:lol

Still no word on the latest FC sub. It's still in the channels.
But I'm going to work on a new sub today.

How are you guys doing? Sound off and report in! I'll be checking back in over the weekend. So, tell me, what's new?

Barb :ack

Coming up on the 10,000 Mark

Barb, I'm at 9,228 on the very (to the infinite power) rough draft of my first novel and can't wait to break the 10,000-word mark.

I understand it is just a fraction of what I need to do to complete the thing, but it seems like. . . I don't know. . . such an accomplishment. I think maybe we should break out the chilled wine when we both break through that barrier.

Re: Friday Feb. 6th

Hi All!
Just read this thread and thought, "These are my kinda people" :grin

(This is my first post anywhere on the net - so please overlook any misspellings caused by nervousness. )

I've been married for 16 years and I have a 12 year old daughter, so I can relate to everyone's "whinings". I'm glad to know I'm not the only Mom being tracked down in the bathroom. You all give me hope that I can accomplish writing goals even while dirty laundry breeds in the hamper.

I have long term and short term goals. (Getting the guts of a novel written while waiting impatiently for word on 2 poems, 1 short story and an essay) but what's REALLY giving me an ulcer this week is wondering if I get the new job at my local library.
My family is suggesting I give the interviewer a call and see what's up. - I feel like that's begging - or nagging - but I'm a tad shy, and maybe just making excuses??

Well, have a productive weekend Jen