First off, thanks to everyone who participated in Spread the Awesome and thanks for all of your comments and book recommendations! I now have more books on my TBR list than I could read in a year, but I'm excited to dive in.
I selected a winner this morning using Random.org. The winner of a copy of When You Reach Me is Christina Lee! Congratulations Christina! I'll email you to get your address.
Now onto today's post.
But... I know my writing (and blogging) will have to move to a back burner. And that is why this month needs to be productive. I've been working on the same first draft since November and I need to get it done before summer comes. I have a few REALLY good excuses for taking so long to write it, but my excuses have run out and now I just need to get it done.
So, for the rest of May I am committing to write 1000 words a day and finish this manuscript.
I've mentioned before that I do better with deadlines than daily word counts so I'm also going to set a date for finishing. I will be done with my first draft by Monday, May 31.
Do you have something you need to finish? If you need a kick in the pants to get something done I urge you to join me. Let me know what you plan to accomplish in May. It will be fun.
33 comments:
Congrats!!! - for th contest and the words.
In May, hmm... I vow to get at least half-way through my new first draft.
*Is this a legally binding statement?!*
Good luck with your goal!!
I need to finish my edits and by the end of June finish the first draft of my second book.
I get an extra month until my kids are out of school.
Good luck.
Good luck! Yes, I need to finish rewrites/revisions of my current WIP. But this shiny new idea is distracting me.
I've set a deadline for 6/14 or so. (Is it a deadline if I add ...and so to the end? Ha!)
I hope to get done sooner and with the help of critique partners I am even more motivated!
Yes!! I NEED to finish my re-writes and enter queryland. I don't have much left, but time has been an issue. :-)
I could have written this post myself:)
My kids get out of school in 13 days! So my time for being productive is running out, but I'm okay with that for now. I would like to have my first draft completed, but I'm not going to stress out if it's not. Got to enjoy the kiddos while they're little.
You go girl! You can totally finish this before school is out. And I'm beyond jealous of Christina Lee right now!
Go you!! My personal deadline is next Tuesday, so I won't join ya in this one... but I love the words/day goals... they really do help!
Good luck =)
I don't have any particular writing goal for this month, but I'd like to get back to my daily writing goal of sitting down to write for at least half an hour. Good luck on your May goal!
I am with you!!! I am joining you! yay!
I have so much to finish and I need that kick badly!!!
;o) Good luck!!!
Visit My Kingdom Anytime
Congrats to Christina!
Good luck with your goal! You'll achieve it. And your reward will be enjoying time with your kids without stressing over your MS. Now that's definitely motivating!
Congrats to Christina! :)
Way to go with completing your goal today. I can't wait to read new pages.
I'm so glad I found your blog. For May I plan to finish a screenplay and then turn my attention to a book that is over half way written. My goal is to complete it by the end of the year. Good luck in meeting your May goal.
i definitely need a kick in the pants. Best of luck with your word goal
I'm feeling as slow as a turtle these days. It's a crazy busy time of year for me. Our schools don't let out until the last day of June, but I can't wait to have some more writing time in the summer! :)
Before school is out at the end of the month, I hope to have a fully fleshed outline for a sequel to the work I have just finished.
Good luck meeting you goals, Natalie.
I do intend to read that book....I just haven't gotten to it yet (stupid editing) I had to return it back to the library before I opened it. Grrrr to due dates.
I set a May 31 deadline for myself too...Finish self-edits and rewrites of my current manuscript. Good luck!
I would love to finish revising up to my chapter 15 but as of right now that seems ambitious. We will see.
Good luck!
I'm in the same boat. Except I have a toddler and a teenager, so aside from a few hours a week while the little one is at preschool, I generally have her with me always anyway. So having my older one at home in a few weeks will be fantastic. Not only does she help out, but she's fun. I used to homeschool, and I miss having her there with me all the time.
But You can do it! Deadlines are amazing things, even the self-created ones. I work better under pressure. I'm sure to have a coronary one of these days from the stress, but I'll have produced my best work ;) Good luck!
I'm the opposite- school gets out so I have 2 1/2 months off. That's when I'm really productive writing-wise. We'll see about blogging-wise though- I tend to live outside all summer.
I want to finish my first draft by the end of June. Strike that. I will finish the draft by the end of June. I am still trying to figure out a plan that will stick though. My problem is that as soon as I have a "plan" I discard it because I just need to rebel! (Yes, i am still 16.)
I'm working on getting my freelance company up and running. I feel like summer may be a bust in some ways for the same reason as yours. At the same time, there have been some summers in which I've been extraordinarily productive. I'm hoping for one of those. :)
I'm totally on the same page, Natalie. (Although since I homeschool, my kids are with me 24/7 already!)But I like to take the summer to do fun stuff with them--swimming, parks, etc. So I've given myself the goal of completing my novel by the end of May and 1000 words a day! (We are so thinking alike on this!) I'd love for you to hold me accountable and I'll do the same for you. 1000 words a day is really hard for me, and I know I won't meet it everyday. But I have a little cushion since I'm already at 73K and am working toward 95K to 100K.
I'll see you over on Twitter!
Ugh. I need a deadline. And a kick in the pants. Good luck, though! I know you can do it.
And, congrats, Christina. You lucky duck!
I have needed a kick in the pants for some time, so here I am!
KarenG
I'm waiting for my editorial letter so I can work toward my deadline!
I have the same goal and need the same kick in the pants. Otherwise, with the oldest home, not much gets done. Good luck to you, Natalie, we'll have to root for one another to finish!
Oh, and congrats to Caroline! I need to get on the ball and read this one--I've wanted to for months...
I'm making revisions to my work in progress, getting feedback on the first 50 pages and drafting a plan of attack for the remainder (I think you'll like some of the changes :)
I need to finish (well, START) my rewrite in May. I think 25,000 words by the end of the month is a good goal - it's still a lot but half than NaNoWriMo and thus pretty manageable.
It took me a while to get through the Spread the Awesome chain so I'm arriving here too late to enter for your book, but nevertheless I'm adding it to my TBR pile. Even though you didn't give me a clue about it other than the Newberry.
I hadn't thought about it until you mentioned school's out at the end of May, and that made me realize i need to get motivated too! I love summer with my kids too but it is definitely not the best writing time! So my goal is to finish last Novemeber's NANOWRIMO, too, by the end of May.
Btw, I loved your Mother's Day post too, but too lazy to go back there and comment, sorry!
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