Be My Friend?

How did you do with your weekend writing goals? Please tell us in the comments how you did!

Katie did you finish 4 scenes? Sherrinda did you write 2000 words? Marybeth how did the editing go? T. Anne did you get in 2000 on your WIP? Krista did you edit 2 chapters on book 1 and write 1000 words? Jamie how did you do with your 2500? Jeanette did you write your blog posts and revise 2 chapters? Jeannie, I'm afraid to ask if you finished your last chapter!? Terri did you get close to 60,000 yet? Wendy did you write 500? Everyone else, how did you do? Robin did you get in 500?

Many times writing is a solitary venture. I appreciate having a community of writing friends that can hold me accountable and encourage me. Thank you! (And, yes, I squeaked in my 1500 for the weekend!)

Speaking of friends, I recently joined Facebook. I did so for a few reasons:

• Curiosity: I'd heard it mentioned and wanted to see what the hype was about.


• Agents & Editors: They're pushing it as another way to network.


• Connecting: I thought it might be a fun way to connect with family and friends.

After I joined Facebook, it only took me five seconds to realize I needed "friends" to join my homepage or I would be alone in my corner of the Facebook world. Thanks to Jill Kemerer, I'm not an absolute reject. She linked me to some of her "friends." (Thanks, Jill!)

The whole process of inviting "friends" to join my Facebook page has started me thinking about "friends." Thus, I'm devoting this week to talking about friendships. How can a person have over 1,000 "friends" on Facebook? More on that tomorrow. . .

My question for you today is this: Have you joined Facebook? If no, why not? If yes, what were your reasons for joining?

And, I now have a Facebook widget on my sidebar. Won't you be my friend? *Smile*

Progress on the Journey

Thank you for all of your great ideas on how to balance blogging and writing. I REALLY appreciate all of you who gave advice and shared openly about your struggles.

Now, time to check our progress on the journey. For those who've been around my blog long enough, you know what I ask every Friday: Did you meet your writing goals for the week?

I wrote my usual 2500 words during the week on my WIP. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but if you look at my side bar, you'll see my progress is steady!

What about the weekend? Do you have any weekend writing goals? That's another one of my usual Friday questions! Since I don't have a lot of writing time during the week, I make a concentrated effort to get extra done on the weekend. I know many of you do too. Tell us your weekend goals in the comments and then on Monday I'll ask you how you did!

I want to encourage you (and myself) to keep writing. We will always have other things pulling us from our writing, especially blogging. Natalie Goldberg in Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life says this:

• There is no excuse. If you want to write, write. This is your life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don't wait. Make the time now, even if it is ten minutes once a week.

• Keep your hand moving. When you sit down to write, whether it's for ten minutes or an hour, once you begin, don't stop. If an atom bomb drops at your feet eight minutes after you have begun and you were going to write for ten minutes, don't budge.

• There is difference between procrastination and waiting. Procrastination is pushing aside or putting off writing. It is thinking the moment is tomorrow. Waiting is when you are already in the work and you are feeding it and being fed by it. Know the difference between the two. Don't procrastinate. Write now.

And remember: Writers write; everyone else makes excuses! Bickman

Blog Fog

Weekend writers, time to report back! Did you meet your writing goals?

Terri did you get to 40,000 words? Wendy did you write one chapter and do some research? Katie did you finish your 4th scene? Sherrinda did you write 2000 words? Jennifer did you write 2000 words on Friday? Jessica did you get in 1000 a day? Jeannie how is that Seekerville Post coming? Robin did you write 1000 words? Kate did you catch up on crits and work on your query? Anyone else?

Fellow blogger and writer, Jeanette Levellie, is having a drawing for a lovely box of writing supplies that she's put together. If you leave a comment on her blog by Thursday, you'll be entered into the drawing. Jeanette is a fairly new blogger and mentioned to me how she's struggling with the amount of time blogging takes and is feeling like it is taking away from real writing time.

I'm sure that most of us struggle with this same thing. At least I know I do. How much time should we spend blogging? It's becoming more important in the networking, platform building part of a writing career. Yet we won't have anything to build upon if we give up quality writing time in order to blog.

On an average day, how much time do you spend blogging each day (and using facebook and twitter)? And how much time you spend writing? Which is more, your blogging time or your writing time? Please be honest and share your totals with us in the comments.

When I figured out my totals, I realized that blogging seems like it takes more time because it's spread out over the day, but in reality my writing time is in concentrated chunks of time adds up to more. Blogging=maybe two hours; Writing=about 3 hours.

Come back tomorrow for a summary of the results and for more discussion on this difficult struggle.

It Takes Time

One more week, one more step forward!

Did you meet your writing goals this week? Eileen did you write 5000 words? Jill did you get 10 pages done a day? Katie did you get your 4 scenes written? Everyone else, did you accomplish what you wanted?

Now for you weekend writers, if you want some accountability this weekend, leave your writing goals in the comment section. Then on Monday I'll ask you to report back on how you did! My weekend goal is the usual 1500 words on my WIP.

I had a difficult time this week writing 5oo words per day because I'm doing preliminary edits on my MS at the same time. I know everyone says write it all, then edit. But I'm realizing just how beneficial the re-reading and minor editing is.

I started writing my novel last September so none of the beginning chapters are fresh in my mind. Re-reading has helped me pick up on threads and symbolism I need to remember to weave through the ending. It's also helped me catch some of those dreaded repeats that slip in!

I just purchased Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook. Here are a few encouraging words from the introduction:

• Don't be satisfied with merely being good enough to get published; don't measure your success in terms of an agent or seeing your name on a cover; instead, put together a novel of real depth, one that has something to say of lasting power.

• If you churn out minimally acceptable fiction, you may get published but you will never become a brand name; you may not even survive your second, third, or fourth books.

• The secret of success is dazzling readers--spinning them a story they will never forget.

• Writing a breakout novel is a journey, an awakening, an education. Get the full benefit. You don't expect to get your B.A. after just one year of classes. On the journey we're aiming for a Ph.D.

• Give yourself the space you need to achieve true mastery. It takes time.

What a fitting end to all of our discussions about waiting! I know we all want to become great writers, not just mediocre. And. . .that. . .takes. . .time. . .

Impatience

Accountability time! How did you do this weekend with your writing goals?

Terri did you write 3000 words? Wendy did you make good progress with your chapter? Jamie did you find time for 5000 words? Cindy did you finish editing your second MS? Jeannie did you write the climax of your MS and get a good start on your Seekerville post? Kate did you finish your edit on your novel? Tess did you start plotting your new WIP? Jessica, how'd you do?

I had a hard time completing my goals. But I ignored the seventy degree weather (the first we've had since last October), I kept my fanny on the chair, and finished my word count. Let me tell you, it was not easy!

I'm nearing the climax of my novel. I have about five chapters to go until I'm done. My goal is to try to finish by the end of May. Since I write historical fiction, I often have to stop to research and that slows me down. But the end is finally in sight!

Do you ever start to feel impatient when you near the end of your manuscript? I do. I find myself skimming through scenes, slacking on research, and trying to hurry the story along so that I can finish. I'm like the runner who sees the finish line and starts to speed up and cut corners.

At what point(s) in your manuscript are you most impatient? Do you speed up and figure you can always edit? Or do you stay slow and steady?

I'm still trying to figure out how to approach the end without letting my impatience get the better of me! I would love to hear your thoughts and how you handle your impatience.

Friday Flame

It's confession time! Did you meet your writing goals for the week?

For those of you full time weekday writers, did you make your word count (Jill, others)? Eileen sent me a note yesterday that she made her 5000 words this week! Great job finishing early, Eileen!

And for those of us who try to cram extra writing into the weekend, what are your weekend goals? Tell us in the comments, then on Monday we'll hold you accountable! (My weekend goal is to write 1500 words and edit one chapter.)

If you're like me, I do a whole lot better when I know I have to report my progress back to others! It sparks a flame inside that keeps me moving!

Here are a few words of encouragement from Bickman's 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes:

• You CAN sell without an agent.


• Publishers ARE looking for new writers.


• Beginners DO break in every year.


• Your next story WILL be better.


• Your luck is NOT worse than most.


• Persistence WILL win out.


• The struggle IS worth making.


• You DO have enough talent.


• Anything you still need to know CAN be learned.


• Tomorrow WILL look brighter.

Recite the above truths to yourself this weekend. And remember: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Phillippians 1:6

A Faithful Friend

Confession Time! For those who set writing goals for the weekend, how'd you do?

Jessica did you write 2000 words? Melissa did you get some editing done on your novel? Lady Glamis is your partial ready to send to an agent and did you get Monarch to readers? T.Anne did you meet your BIG goals? Sherrinda did you get 2000 done on your WIP? Cindy did you edit 50 pages? Jeannie did you reach 1500 words and work on your crit. partner's work? Terri did you get 2,000 more done on your newest WIP?

I struggled this weekend to get my word count of 1500 done. And I didn't get three chapters revised. But I can honestly say I tried! My goal was just too high.

Who holds you accountable for your writing? Do you keep yourself on the path? Or do you have friends (even cyberspace ones) that help you stay on track?

In Pilgrim's Progress, Christian had a friend named Faithful that walked alongside him. Here's an excerpt: They faced many difficulties together but went lovingly on together and had sweet discourse of all the things that had happened to them on their pilgrimage.

In our writing journeys we all need a Faithful, a friend to come along side us and join us in our writing pilgrimage. We need someone or perhaps many friends to hold us accountable, to give us advice, to critique our writing, to keep us moving.

Often we writers tend to be introverts, hiding behind our computer screens. I have to admit, even though I'm not all introvert, I'm fairly independent and like to take the credit for climbing the mountain by myself.

We have a choice, though. We can stumble along alone and try to make it to the City of Publication on our own strength and ingenuity. Or we can find a Faithful to walk with us and share both the struggles and joys of this journey.

Do you have a Faithful? Who's walked alongside you and helped you most in your writing journey?

Light the Flame

Have you started to make consistent progress on your WIP or other writing goals? Has it helped to have a little accountability from other writers?

If it has, then let's keep going. Let's continue to light the flame under each other. Tell us in the comments what your goals are for either the weekend or for next week. And then next week we'll check back with you to see how you did.

As usual, my weekend goal is 1500 words on my WIP. Since I write 500 per week day, my weekly total usually amounts to 4000 words. I also need to revise 3 chapters on my WIP to send to the lady who has started editing it.

For those who don't have any writing goals yet, tell us what's holding you back from developing them!

Here's what Bickman has to say about PERSEVERANCE in his book 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes:

• Writers write; everyone else makes excuses.


• Nothing short of a genuine tragedy in your life should be allowed to intrude into your regular work as a writer of fiction.


• Writing can be tremendous fun and wonderfully rewarding. But writing is hard work.


• All the excuses, all the complaints, all the alternatives to work must be fought through; the real writer will work. And regularly.


• Consistent, persistent, even dogged work, day in and day out, is the professional's way.


• All writer's get discouraged, tired and worn down. The good ones don't make excuses. They keep going.

Now if that list isn't a flame to light your writing fire, then I don't know what will! I pray each of us will persevere with our writing through the weekend and next week.

P.S. Eileen, did you make your word count goal this week? How about you, Jill? (You knew I'd ask, didn't you?!)

Climbing to the Top

Accountability time!

So, how'd you do? Did you meet your weekend writing goals? You knew I would ask first thing, didn't you?

Jessica, did you write 1,000 words a day? T. Anne did you write 1,000 words a day, even with your cold? Terri, did you finish line edits for one book? Lady Glamis, did you polish the ending of your newly completed novel? Jeannie, did you write 3500-4000 words and complete a chapter? Krista, did you edit 3 chapters, in spite of your hectic weekend?

For those of you who didn't leave comments, did you meet your writing goals for the weekend? And for the lucky few who can cram all their writing into Monday-Friday, tell us what your goal for the week is! We'd love to keep you accountable too.

Just to tell you, this accountability thing kept my fingers on the keyboard this past weekend until I finished my word count of 1500! Even though I am satified with the goal, it's hard not to compare my small goal with some of your larger ones.

Uh-oh, I said the C word. Compare.

Let's be honest. We writers tend to do a lot of comparing, don't we? We scope out other books, other blogs, other writing goals, and we look at how we measure up to everyone else.

The nature of the market for new writers compels us to excel above the crowd, to climb to the top, and to get our name noticed (especially with editors and agents). Then after we're published, we will have to struggle to get our books noticed and make them stand out above other books.

The comparison game never ends. We're caught in a system driven by demand. Therefore in order to succeed (in terms of sales), we have to do better and be better than everyone else. Or so it seems.

How do we keep the comparison game in perspective? Competition can sharpen us. But at the same time, it can chip away the pleasure we find in writing. Confession time: in what ways do you compare yourself with other writers?

The Friday Flame

Time to light a flame under each other!

Last Friday we all shared our weekend writing goals. When I posted my goal for all of you to see, I was really motivated all weekend to meet my word count! Knowing I had to report my progress to everyone, kept me going when normally I might have quit.

So, if you want us to keep you accountable for your weekend writing goals, post your goals in the comments. Then on Monday, we'll check with you to see how you did. (Update: For those who take the weekend off, let us know your writing goal for next week. Then next Friday we'll ask you how you did.)

This might encourage you to come up with a tangible goal for yourself: write a certain number of words, edit a chapter, write a short story, get a contest entry in. Set a realistic goal and let us know what it is so that we can help hold you to it!

My goal again for this weekend is to write 1500 words on my WIP.

Since I'm in the middle of my WIP, I'll leave you with a weekend writing tip for MIDDLES:

Think of the middle as a series of increasingly intense battles. Worrying the reader is the primary goal of the middle and we can do this by stretching the tension and raising the stakes. If the situation can be made worse, then so much the better. (From James Scott Bell's Plot and Structure.)

P.S. Eileen, did you meet your writing goal of 5ooo words this week? (Update: Eileen wrote 1500 words today and met her week's goal! Great job!)

More Inspiration

Yes, you really are hearing music!

I love going to fellow writer Donna Kohlstrom's blog and hearing her snappy Playlist tunes. I thought I'd copy her and give it a try.

I added a few of the songs I listen to on Pandora, the ones that give me inspiration when I write.

But I want to take a vote. Do you give it a thumbs up or thumbs down? Does it drive you nuts to click onto my blog and hear music or do you like the special touch? Is it inspiration or irritation? Please leave your vote in the comments.

Since I'm not sure yet if I'm going to arrange a marriage for my Playlist and my blog, your vote could sway me!

O.K. Now down to business. Did you meet your weekend writing goals?

Donna did you revise your chapters and complete one short story? Jessica did you write 2000 words? Angie did you edit 3 poems, edit your friend's weekly column, and get 3 chapters revised? Susan did you getting your blogging done? Sherrinda did you write 800 words? Lady Glamis did you finish your chapter? Eileen you're off the hook until Friday!

What about the rest of you who didn't leave comments? Did you meet your goals?

I'm happy to say I met mine. I wrote 1500 words. Knowing I had to report back to everyone kept me going. Sometimes a little accountability is all it takes. So thanks!

As writers struggling along the path, accountability is a wonderful gift we can give one another.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24