Get it Done

Lately I've been making a lot of excuses not to write.

The last few weeks have been NUTS. We've had a slew of school activities, doctor's visits, and volunteer commitments. Now, we're in the middle of a pretty big remodeling project and my four-year-old just started puking.

Nice.

I decided to let my writing time slide, thinking I'd get back to it when I'm not so swamped.

Then I read this on Jody Hedlund's blog, and realized I need to make time to write. Life is chaotic, but I know I can carve out an hour to write, even on my busiest days, as long as I make it a priority.

I NEED that hour.

I'm going to try harder to make it happen.

Do you struggle to fit writing into your daily schedule?

My Writing Life, Simplified

I realized yesterday that I started writing almost exactly 4 years ago.

I thought about those years and decided it might be fun to break them down.

So here's my life (in mostly chronological order):

Year One:

-Wrote really crappy stuff

-Let family and friends read some of it (much to my embarrassment)

-Learned a lot

Year Two:

-Finished first book

-Sent 2 queries

-Realized it was awful and put it away

(hopefully forever--no one should ever have to read that book!)

-Finished second book

-Queried agents

-Had some requests and a few invitations to rewrite

-Met writing group

-Revised

Year Three:

-Signed with lovely agent

-Began blogging

-Revised more

-Started several new books

-Started tweeting

-Went to my first writing conference with my writing group girls

-Met many writers online and in real life

Year Four:

-Had horrific pregnancy

-Had sick baby

-Finished first draft of third book

-Shelved third book

-Wrote first draft of fourth book

-Went to second writing conference and met my agent

(who is even more lovely in person)

-Let fourth book simmer while working on fifth book

-Made plans to finish fourth and/or fifth book before 2012

And that's where I'm at.

I think if someone told me when I started writing my first book that I'd have to write at least four more before I saw one published I would have been discouraged.

But, looking back, I'm not discouraged at all. It's been a wonderful four years. I've learned a lot and plan to learn a lot more over the next four. And, you know, hopefully sell something someday.

How long have you been writing? How have those years shaped your perception of writing and publishing?

Keeping it Simple in 2011

Last year I made a bunch of goals. They were good goals. Or they would have been good, if I'd actually been able to accomplish any of them.

So for 2011 I am making just one resolution for my writing.

FINISH WRITING THIS BOOK

That's it.

I'll probably do a lot of reading. I hope I'll keep up with the blog and Twitter. I might even write another book after this one is done.

But if I finish the book I'm working on (and by finish I mean write, revise a hundred times, and polish until it sparkles), and do nothing else with my writing this year, I will be happy.

What do you plan to write in 2011?

Are You Trying to Do Everything?

So most of you probably know that I'm pregnant. This is my fourth baby, so you'd think by now I'd know what I'm getting myself into, but I've got to admit, this pregnancy is kicking my patoot. I have never, ever been so tired. I could easily get 16 hours of sleep a day and still be a walking zombie.

But, despite the pregnancy, I'm trying to do a lot of things, like:

-Write a novel

-Potty-train a 2-year-old

-Keep my kids fed and clothed

-Harvest and weed my way too big vegetable garden

-Read 100 books this year

-Keep my house clean enough so the neighbors won't call social services

-Host birthday celebrations for the kids

-Blog and read blogs

-Dog-sit two barky, chewy, diggy monster dogs

-Take food to sick neighbors

-Beta read for friends

-Help my grandparents house hunt

-Take my kids to swim lessons, play groups, the park, etc. (when it's 90+ degrees outside)

It's a little too much--I'm not going to lie. I'm exhausted. I need rest.

So as of today, I've decided to let some things go. The garden WILL be weedy and there will be spinach that goes to seed and strawberries that get eaten by birds. The house WILL be messy, though hopefully not unsanitary. Sick neighbors WILL have to make their own food (or have it delivered by someone else). No more dog-sitting for the rest of the summer.

And blogging, oh blogging... I hate to do it, but I'm going to mostly unplug through the end of July. I'm writing a really fun little manuscript right now and I feel like I should focus any free time, that isn't used on sleep, on that. I will try to stay in touch through Twitter, so I hope you'll all check in there.

But, the good news is at the end of July I'm going to RWA in Orlando with my writing group girls Karen Hooper, Marie Devers, and Megan Rebekah. I'm also going to meet my agent, Sara Megibow, for the first time (I am so excited about this!). So come August I should have some really fun things to blog about.

Do you have too much going on? Do you ever have to pull back on commitments to keep your sanity?

Oh, and the final Critique a Week winner is Melissa! Melissa, I'll email you later today with details.

*As of Tuesday, June 29, Sara will no longer be accepting referrals from the blog post earlier this month. Thank you to everyone who sent queries and partials. Sara said she read some excellent queries and pages and even requested a few full manuscripts. She'll probably do another guest post soon--so there will be something on the blog in July :)--about what worked and what didn't. Thanks again!

Thwarted

I was doing great until 2 days ago. Then life decided now was NOT the time to write 1000 words a day.

There was some pregnancy exhaustion, made worse by the fact that my daughter spilled a gallon of milk on the carpet, which meant I have to clean the whole house so the carpet cleaners can come and rescue our noses from the rotten milk smell.

Then there was that dinner I had to take to a sick neighbor, and the activity I'm in charge of coordinating for 15 girls and their moms at my church tonight, and the clay projects for my daughter's kindergarten class that need to be glazed ASAP. Oh and my grandma's 90th birthday this Saturday. But the icing on the cake happened a few minutes ago when my two-year-old threw up. Yeah. Life just got a little nuts.

Writing probably needs to take a back seat for a few days. I'm still going to meet my May 31 deadline, I just might need to cut myself some slack for the next few days.

Do your goals get thwarted sometimes?

How Are Those Goals Coming?

Last week I decided that I'm going to finish my first draft by May 31. I planned to write 1000 words a day in order to reach this goal. I am happy to report that I am doing well! I've written 1000 words everyday (or caught up on words I missed) and I'm right on target to finish by the 31st.

I haven't written this consistently for almost a year so it's been a challenge, but I'm liking the results. I've been surprised that it's easier to sit down at the computer and write now that I know I have to meet my goal. Also I've been pleased to find that the story is coming along nicely and doesn't feel forced.

I've never been good with daily writing requirements, but I'm starting to think I just haven't tried hard enough to make it work before now.

Have you ever tried to write a certain amount every day? Was it hard or did you get used to it after a while? How are your goals going?

THE WINNER and Trying to be Productive

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.

My kids get out of school in four weeks. Once summer comes they will be at home 24 hours a day. I'm really excited about this actually. I love having them home. I love walks to the park and lazy afternoons in the backyard.

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.

If Writing Weren't Hard, It Would Be Easy...

... and then everyone would do it.

My unplugged week didn't go so well. This was because:

1. I set an unrealistic goal. I needed to write about 15,000 words last week to finish my manuscript. I knew it was possible-- if the stars aligned, and the kids cooperated like never before, and my muse was operating at full strength--unfortunately, last week wasn't one of those weeks.

2. My kids were sick. I've said it many times, but they really do come first. If given a choice between snuggling with my feverish pukey child while watching a movie, or trying to get some words on paper, I'm going to choose the snuggling every time.

3. I got really sick, and I'm still not really over it. For me, sickness is the ultimate creativity drain. I can't be witty when I feel like poop.

4. The Olympics

5. American Idol (I can't help it! I'm an addict.)

So yeah, some of these things I had some control over. I didn't NEED to watch every single night of figure skating, or ski cross, or aerials, or everything else. And I could have gotten a lot more done if I had turned off the television and read the recaps the next day, but it wouldn't have been as fun.

I did manage to write about 2000 words despite all the craziness, and I feel okay about that. It feels like a drop in the bucket, but at least I'm 2000 words closer to finishing.

Do your writing plans ever get thwarted by things outside your control? What are some things you can control that keep you from reaching your goals?

And I missed you all last week! I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to.

Focus

Well, the in-laws have left, the holiday break is over, and it's time to get back to work. I'm going to start my 1000-word-a-day goal tomorrow morning and I'm looking forward to a month of productivity.

In order to meet my goal, I'm going to have to work on one of my biggest writing challenges: focus. Most of you parents of young children (or old children) know it can be really hard to get a few minutes of quiet time to write. Even when I do get quiet time, it's still difficult to turn off my mommy brain (which is wondering what I will make for dinner and how long I can put off mopping the kitchen floor), and turn on my writing brain (which needs to be focused on how my MC should react when he discovers his mom is an alien).

Sometimes it isn't too hard to get in "the zone." I start typing and immediately get wrapped up in the story. I could go for hours. But often I write a sentence or two and then I wonder if maybe I should check my email to see what my writer friends are up to. And, since I'm online anyway, I read a few blogs. Then maybe I read a few featured "news" articles, because I HAVE TO KNOW where the cast of Saved by the Bell is now. Before I know it my baby is up from his nap, and I've only written 25 words.

So yeah, I need to work on that. The first thing I'm going to do is UNPLUG the Internet until I have my 1000 words done tomorrow (which is good, because I'm pretty sure I could blow the whole morning catching up on No Kiss Blogfest posts--they'll have to be my reward for finishing).

Am I the only one with focus issues? Do you sometimes waste your writing time reading about the fascinating lives of washed up celebrities? Do you have any tricks to help you maintain focus while you write?

What I did in 2009 and Goals for 2010

I wanted to write one last blog for 2009 and today is the day (the in-laws are coming for New Years and the house MUST be clean!)

This has been a great year for my writing and I'm so excited about 2010, so I thought I'd share some of my 2009 activities and 2010 goals.

Top 10 things I did for my writing in 2009 (in chronological order):

1. I finished the first novel I've really felt good about

2. I queried that novel and got some encouraging feedback, though it was ultimately rejected

3. I joined a critique group with the three coolest girls ever

4. I revised and rewrote until my eyes glazed over, my knuckles were sore, and I had a manuscript I was REALLY proud of

5. I resubmitted to Sara and sent out a few new queries

6. I got THE CALL and then I got ANOTHER CALL

7. I started this blog and met hundreds of people who love to write, just like me!

8. I chose Sara, because she's awesome

9. She submitted my manuscript to REAL publishers

10. I started my current project--one that I'm SO excited about (and I also started about 10 others--half of which I still want to finish)

Ten things I will do in 2010 to become a better writer:

1. Get on a schedule!!! (The first one I'm going to try is 1000 words a day BEFORE blogging--yes I've tried this before. It's going to work this time!)

2. Blog 3 times a week

3. Try to keep up with blogging/writing friends by going through my Google Reader at least once a week.

4. Post on Twitter at least once a day

5. Finish my rough draft by January 29th

6. Go to SCBWI with my critique group girls!!!

7. Get current project to betas by March

8. Read and critique friends' projects. Learn from their brilliance.

9. Finish current project by June and start a new one

10. Read 100 books!

So now you tell me, what did you accomplish with your writing in 2009? What are your goals for 2010?

And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

(Oh, and I probably gave you an award in the last few weeks, scroll down and check it out.)

The Plan

Based on your excellent suggestions yesterday I have decided to devise a rough plan for my writing time.

My goals:

1. When I wake up in the morning I will only check email-- no blogging.

2. I will write 1000 words on my WIP before I read or write blogs.

3. I will only write, blog, email etc. before my kids wake up and while my baby naps in the afternoon.

4. I will spend the rest of my day playing with my kids, running errands, and possibly cleaning and doing laundry.

I've tried to plan my time on a more rigid schedule than this and it never works out. I am not the kind of person who follows schedules very well. Hopefully the 1000 words before I can blog will motivate me to get some writing done. I'm going to try for a week or two and see if I can make it a habit.

Do you have any goals (writing related or not) for the next month?