DecNoWriMo 2018 - How The Time Has Flewn

mrsmig · Nov 30, 2018

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~Dr. Seuss
:Shrug:

And here it is: our last progress report thread for 2018! Congratulations to all our NaNo participants - winners and not-winners all!

So...with 31 days left in the year, what goals - writing and otherwise - have you set for yourself? Post them here, and we'll encourage you to keep on track and cheer you when you succeed!

In addition to dealing with the usual holiday madness, I'm starting a new part-time job this month and trying to snip the last threads connecting me to my deadbeat publisher. (There will be virtual champagne all around once my rights are solidly reverted to me.) Consequently I have a LOT to do, but I'm still going to make time to write and read.

[ ] Read three books
[ ] Write 5k words on Book 5 of my series
[ ] Continue learning how to format (paperback & ebook) for Amazon
[ ] Continue playing around with publishing my short-story collection
[ ] Finish Christmas shopping
[ ] Get house decorated
[ ] Ship presents
[ ] Do holiday baking

[ ] Snickerdoodles
[ ] Iced Sugar Cookies
[ ] Tollhouse Cookies
[ ] Cinnamon Bread
[ ] Irish Cream Cake

[ ] Send out Christmas cards
[ ] Decide whether to participate in the Sekrit Solstice Short Story exchange
[ ] Have nervous breakdown

And you...?

Jaymz Connelly · Nov 30, 2018

Whoa! That's a list and a half, mrsmig. I hope you manage to get it all done except the nervous breakdown.

My list is far smaller. I've already completed all my Christmas shopping, and started my baking (got the gingerbread done), and the decorating is happening today, so I'm not going to list that.

[ ] finish edits on A Place of Our Own
[ ] write two scenes for the new thing (that still doesn't have a title)
[ ] finish up Christmas baking (sugar cookies, gumdrop muffins, orange cranberry knots, cranberry orange cream tart, mini eggnog cheesecake, pecan tarts)
[ ] mail Christmas cards and parcels
[ ] wrap presents
[ ] put together counted cross stitch stocking for Mr C
[ ] finish sanding desk and apply boiled linseed oil finish

mrsmig · Nov 30, 2018

Jaymz, your baking list sounds exquisite. Normally I try a couple of new recipes at this time of year, but what with the part-time job, I figured I'd better not overreach.

And my Christmas shopping is very nearly done. I just have a few odds and ends to buy. Sometimes I put stuff on the list for the sheer pleasure of crossing it off.

Kjbartolotta · Nov 30, 2018

Very little to report, except that I plan to take it easy, do Sisyphus, and enjoy the longest vacation of my adult life at the end of the month. Pioneertown, CA, and expect dog pictures!

That's a lotta baking, ladies! Save some for me!

-Riv- · Nov 30, 2018

I can't believe it's already December. How the heck did that happen? What a year this has been! November taught me a lot about what to expect as I re-train my creative writing brain. A slow and steady trickle of new, relatively coherent words is my goal for December, with writing exercises on the side.

Updated: December 10

[ ] Work on collaborative project at least 21 days. 6 of 21
[ ] Continue re-training creative writing muscles.

[ ] Exercises or free flow every day. 10 of 31
[ ] Minimum of 3000 new words (coherence is a must, but they don't have to be polished). 300 of 3000

[X] Critique at least 4 excerpts. 6 of 4
[ ] Critique at least 4 queries. 3 of 4
[ ] Swim at least 8 times. 3 of 8
[ ] Cheer on Sisyphusers. Ongoing.

Good luck, everyone!

Jaymz Connelly · Nov 30, 2018

mrsmig - I try to do something new every year too. This year it's the cranberry orange cream tart. Definitely a good idea not to overextend yourself. That is how you end up totally stressed and not enjoying the season. *g* Nothing wrong with putting stuff on the list that's almost done.

Kev - enjoy your long holiday! (if you want some of my baking, you have to come and get it.

)

Riv - slow and steady is the best way to get back to writing after an extended break.

Outside lights are finally up... and I think I need a shower before I go any further. It is HOT out there!

Woollybear · Nov 30, 2018

Hello!

[X] Shelve NaNo project until 2019

[] Read through book 1 on my computer and clean up/etc
[] Read through book 1 as hard copy and clean up/etc

^^Prep for final stretch of queries and likely self-pub in 2019

[] Beta swap
[] PitMad (December 6th)
[] Attend three in person critique groups

(but no new writing.)

mrsmig · Nov 30, 2018

Kjbartolotta said:
Very little to report, except that I plan to take it easy, do Sisyphus, and enjoy the longest vacation of my adult life at the end of the month. Pioneertown, CA, and expect dog pictures!

That's a lotta baking, ladies! Save some for me!

Dog pictures! ::squees::

Tamlyn · Dec 1, 2018

I was originally planning to have a writing break during December. It's so busy (not just Christmas but birthdays etc) and I've been feeling a little drained. I thought I'd make it a reading month (hopefully a better one than my last reading month, where I read nothing). But there's an anthology that closes at the end of the month that I want to get a story fixed up for submitting and...

So what I think I'll do is take a break from my daily writing/editing goals at least. If I don't write that day, I'll try and get some reading done instead. Otherwise I'll fix that story up and I'll try and finish the NaNo novel because it's quite close to the end (but I'm not going to stress about it if it turns out to be more lengthy). Otherwise I'll read five books, work on my game map, and maybe read Ginevra (the novel I was working on pre-NaNo) to get me back into it for finishing it in the new year. Oh, and I need to eat all of mrsmig's and Jaymz's baking.

1. Read five books.
2. Edit story for anthology submission.
3. Game map (and accompanying session).
4. Finish NaNo novel.
5. Read old novel (Ginevra)
6. Read or write/edit each day. Maybe.
7. Eat all the baking.

bdwilson · Dec 2, 2018

Right. December. I think my brain has frozen as far as goals. I'll got with the ones I know for now :tongue

[ ] Edit every day: Week 48 (December portion)
[ ] Edit every day: Week 49
[ ] Edit every day: Week 50
[ ] Edit every day: Week 51
[ ] Edit every day: Week 52
[-] Plot project for 85K90 in 2019
[-] Read 1984
[ ] Read A Christmas Carol

EMaree · Dec 3, 2018

[ ] Write 10k
[ ] Finish the DtS edit
[ ] Draw something I'm proud of.
[ ] Jog 3 times
[ ] Carry on with roller derby
[ ] Carry on with pilates
[ ] Hit XX5lbs
[X] Make bath bombs
[ ] Play video games
[ ] Submit a piece of art of #criticalrolefanart before end of the year
[ ] Read 15 Books (oh shiiiiiiitttt this is a tough one)

Aphotic Ink · Dec 3, 2018

*cracks knuckles*

Trying not to overcommit myself, because holidays, but:

[ ] revise one story to remove a character
[ ] revise and read aloud another story
[ ] continue with That. Novelletta.
[ ] finish five books (1/5)
[ ] submit three stories (1/3)
[ ] play a video game (because I have played 36 minutes in the last 6 weeks and I miss it so much)
[ ] get two job applications in
[ ] practice driving

There. Good things to aim for.

Frances

Saoirse · Dec 3, 2018

Here are my goals for this month:

[] Release secret project
[] Some words on Oubliette
[] Survive Christmas
[] As many pages of the BEP as I can tolerate

Bonus:
~Make progress on ARCs:
[] Tygress
[] Horror novel #1
[] Horror novel #2
[] Self-help book

(I doubt I can get them all done, but here's to hoping).

lilyWhite · Dec 5, 2018

I wanted to post here earlier, but...I don't know. A fear of commitment? Of publicly saying I'll do something and then failing miserably? NaNo crashed and burned, and I never know when my motivation will last or when it'll be short-lived. But trying is better than wallowing, so why not?

My goals this month are:
☐ Complete the Countdown to 2019 Flash Fiction Challenge [4/31]
☐ Do more editing on Papillon
☐ Reflect on Reflection
☐ Decide on a shorter-term project for the new year
☐ Twelve days of Mistletoemas! [0/12]

mrsmig · Dec 5, 2018

Welcome, lilyWhite. Sometimes stating your intentions in public makes them feel more like solid. achievable goals. And don't worry - no one here is going to make you feel bad for not completing a task.

(And I crashed and burned on NaNo, too.)

Aphotic Ink · Dec 6, 2018

lilyWhite, I completely get the being averse to post, but I'm glad you did. Sometimes it helps, as mrsmig says, and even if you don't make the goals it can help to see that you've got clearly defined ones, and see how close you got.

Is the Countdown to 2019 Flash Fiction Challenge an Absolute Write thing, or something you're doing elsewhere? (Either way, mad props; I write long, and am lightly in awe of people who mange to do flashes.)

lilyWhite · Dec 6, 2018

Aphotic Ink said:
Is the Countdown to 2019 Flash Fiction Challenge an Absolute Write thing, or something you're doing elsewhere? (Either way, mad props; I write long, and am lightly in awe of people who mange to do flashes.)

The Countdown FFC is here on Absolute Write, in the Flash Fiction Challenge subforum (the password is "flashed"). It's run by zanzjan, who moderates the SF/F subforum and does a weekly FFC throughout the year.

Also, I've written 2000+-word stories for FFCs, so the "Flash" part isn't an actual rule. :greenie

Tamlyn · Dec 8, 2018

One week into the month and I do not have much to show for it as yet. I've been reading Swiss Family Robinson, which is very dense and so taking me a while. I've done a little bit of map stuff, but not nearly enough given how much I need to do before the start of January. A couple of thousand words on my NaNo novel and a poke of a flash story that is not the one I want to submit.

I have, however, attended my work xmas party and actually socialised with people, done a bunch of family things, done some shopping, and eaten some baking.

1. Read five books. 0/5
2. Edit story for anthology submission. Nope.
3. Game map (and accompanying session). Not enough.
4. Finish NaNo novel. Not yet.
5. Read old novel (Ginevra). Not yet.
6. Read or write/edit each day. Maybe. So far, yes.
7. Eat all the baking. Not nearly enough!

mrsmig · Dec 8, 2018

A fairly productive week insofar as holiday prep went, and I also finished a book (Sarah Vowell's Lafayette in the Somewhat United States).

Right on the heels of my rights reversion this week, unofficial word came through the grapevine that my former publisher is closing; rumors vary as to whether that's an immediate closure or at the end of the year. Their website is still up but seems largely inactive, so it could be either. I have one or two issues still to be resolved with them regarding my reversion (the publisher has promised me my cover art, but has yet to deliver the files), but my agency is on it and with luck all that will be sorted out early next week. My agent is trying to find a new home for the series but I have little hope of that actually happening. I've given her a deadline and am moving forward with plans to self-publish. Naturally, with the future of the series in limbo right now, I'm having difficulty focusing on writing the next book.

[ ] Read three books 1 of 3
[ ] Write 5k words on Book 5 of my series
[ ] Continue learning how to format (paperback & ebook) for Amazon
[ ] Continue playing around with publishing my short-story collection
[x] Finish Christmas shopping
[x] Get house decorated
[x] Ship presents
[ ] Do holiday baking

[ ] Snickerdoodles
[ ] Iced Sugar Cookies
[ ] Tollhouse Cookies
[ ] Cinnamon Bread
[ ] Irish Cream Cake

[ ] Send out Christmas cards
[ ] Decide whether to participate in the Sekrit Solstice Short Story exchange
[ ] Have nervous breakdown

-Riv- · Dec 8, 2018

Sorry about your publishing unknowns, mrsmig.

So far, I'm not counting free flow and exercises toward my "new words" goal. I may reconsider after mid month :greenie

As of the end of Dec 7:

[ ] Work on collaborative project at least 21 days. 4 of 21
[ ] Continue re-training creative writing muscles.

[ ] Exercises or free flow every day. 7 of 31
[ ] Minimum of 3000 new words (coherence is a must, but they don't have to be polished). 0 of 3000

[ ] Critique at least 4 excerpts. 1 of 4
[ ] Critique at least 4 queries. 2 of 4
[ ] Swim at least 8 times. 2 of 8
[ ] Cheer on Sisyphusers. Ongoing.

Jaymz Connelly · Dec 9, 2018

mrsmig - if the publisher is closing down, I hope you get your artwork before that happens.

I have actually made some progress on things on my list this week. But I need to spend less time on the counted cross-stitch and more time on the things on my list (like my writing stuff).

[X] finish edits on A Place of Our Own
[ ] write two scenes for the new thing
[ ] finish up Christmas baking (sugar cookies, gumdrop muffins, orange cranberry knots, cranberry orange cream tart, mini eggnog cheesecake, pecan tarts)
[X] mail Christmas cards and parcels
[ ] wrap presents – half done
[ ] finish sanding desk and apply finish - 2 legs done, and then had to take a short hiatus due to it being too freaking hot

I'm hoping to at least get all the sanding of the desk finished next week, since I'm ahead on my baking schedule. The things left to bake need to be made a bit closer to the day (except for the eggnog cheesecake - that depends on if I can find where the grocery store is hiding the eggnog this year).

meowzbark · Dec 9, 2018

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natalie! We finally made it to the end of 2018, yay!

[] Redo outline for Nano2018 Novel
[] Finish last scenes of WIP#1
[] 7 hours a week studying Italian -- week 1 complete
[X] decorate house -- done
[] write 2 poems

bdwilson · Dec 10, 2018

Just my daily for this week.

[X] ~~Edit every day: Week 48 (December portion)~~
[X] ~~Edit every day: Week 49~~
[ ] Edit every day: Week 50
[ ] Edit every day: Week 51
[ ] Edit every day: Week 52
[-] Plot project for 85K90 in 2019
[-] Read 1984
[ ] Read A Christmas Carol

Saoirse · Dec 10, 2018

Update:

[x] Release secret project
[] Some words on Oubliette
[] Survive Christmas
[] As many pages of the BEP as I can tolerate

Bonus:
~Make progress on ARCs:
[] Tygress
[] Horror novel #1
[] Horror novel #2
[] Self-help book

Jaymz Connelly · Dec 15, 2018

I'm FINALLY getting some writing done! With all the Christmas prep done until the end of next week, it's time to get some writing done. I've decided to postpone finishing the desk until after Christmas because the weather is not cooperating at all. We've had a few days of rain and storms... and then way too hot (I'm doing the sanding outside). So, the desk will reappear on the January list. Only two things left to make on the baking list, and they'll be done on the 22nd, because there's no more room in the freezer until I take the turkey out! LOL (I decided to add the cookies I'd made prior to starting the December goals, just in the interests of being complete about what I'm baking)

[X] finish edits on A Place of Our Own
[ ] write two scenes for the new thing (1/2)
[ ] finish up Christmas baking (linzer cookies, gingerbread, sugar cookies, gumdrop muffins, orange cranberry knots, cranberry ginger cream tart, mini eggnog cheesecake, pecan tarts)
[X] mail Christmas cards and parcels
[X] wrap presents
[-] finish sanding desk and apply finish (2 long legs, drawer cube and one drawer done – still to do, 1 drawer front, short legs, edge of desk top) – postponed until the new year

DecNoWriMo 2018 - How The Time Has Flewn

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