Hey you! Whether you are a crazy novel writing machine or whether you got 400 words in this week, what’s up? Did you meet the goals you set last week? Did you exceed them or fall a little short?
Make sure your goals are attainable but also something you’ll have to work for!
This week was a bit rough for me. I was sick, my husband was out of the country Mon-Fri, and…and…and. I did make my goal. (ok, I will! As I write this I’m a few hundred words short but I can get that before Monday). So, I did make my goal but I think I could’ve done more. There were times where my son was at school, daughter was occupied, and I just chose not to write. This is fine any other day, but I would like to come out of November with something more than status quo. So, I’m going to do more this week. Maybe my goal won’t be something insane, but those times when I just sit there scrolling Twitter feeds looking for a blog post to read or checking out pictures of your cat, I’m going to grab my laptop and just add a few words. Or jot down scene ideas. Something more!
So, thanks for joining us this past week and/or this coming week. Let’s get some words in and push ourselves even more this week.
Comment below with:
1. Your name/Twitter handle
2. How this past week went
3. This coming week’s writing goal(s). Is it to write every day? Increase word count? Amount of hours you’ll set aside? Pages revised? Specific scene rewrite? Whatever! You need to get done!
4. If you could take a solo, one week writer’s retreat, yes–just you, (friends & family happy to see you go alone, babysitter check, day job money compensated, airfare check!) where would you go?
Ami with an I 
Sup, guys! I’ve been doing Nano, but just got my edits from my agent last week, so I’m going to jump in here too to track progress on the revising process. Because let’s face it…if I don’t tell people my goals, I will find excuses to put them off 🙂
1. Your name/Twitter handle: Rena! @originallyrena
2. How this past week went: I wrote over 25K between two new MS, and made it through the first level of revisions on my other MS. Just starting in on the rewrites tonight.
3. This coming week’s writing goal(s): Finish rewriting the sections that need it, create a timeline for my story, and reorganize the flashback sections of the novel in a way that increases tension. Drafting goals: 2K/day
4. If you could take a solo, one week writer’s retreat, where would you go? I’ve always thought it would be lovely to write someplace overlooking a lake. If that lake is someplace in Europe, even better.
1. Your name/Twitter handle:
@SoniaHartl1
2. How this past week went:
I’m just short of 29k for the week. Determined to hit 30k if I have to stay up all night.
3. This coming week’s writing goal(s). Is it to write every day? Increase word count? Amount of hours you’ll set aside? Pages revised? Specific scene rewrite? Whatever! You need to get done!:
I’m trying to get as much done on this new one before I get edits back from my agent. So, I’m shooting for 10k, but that’s up in the air.
4. If you could take a solo, one week writer’s retreat, yes–just you, (friends & family happy to see you go alone, babysitter check, day job money compensated, airfare check!) where would you go?:
Glamping. This is a thing. Super fancy tent in the middle of nowhere with electricity and room service, but no Wi-Fi.
1. @silent_pages
2. During this past week, college kind of killed my writing time. But I met my goal of finishing the new end to my WIP. I finished it earlier today (choosing it over homework) specifically so that I could say I met my goal at check-in, which I guess means this is working!
3. My goal for this week is research on several different topics I’ve been meaning to study for a while. Hopefully, I’ll also get to start another read-through of my WIP, looking for big issues and tweaking line-by-line as I go, mainly trying to replace most of the “shrugged” “sighed” “nodded” placeholders etc.
4. If I could go on a solo writing retreat, I’d like to go somewhere mountainous, in a dwelling with lots of windows. I studied abroad in Greece this past summer and got in a ton of writing/backstory when we were on buses for hours at a time, driving past gorgeous landscapes… It would be nice to snag that kind of inspiration again.
So happy I have you guys to keep me on my toes! Looks like so far, everyone is doing great.
1. Ami @amilouiseallen
2. Last week’s goals: I made it but barely! I did not push myself enough. I did 2,101 words and I’m only 101 over because I added a little this morning because I was about 40 short! Oh well. I did get my rough outline done, but even though it has a clear beginning, middle and end, it’s only showing my book will be thirteen chapters! But I’m okay with that because at least it’s more than total pantsing.
3. This coming week’s writing goal(s). This week my goal is to write a pitch (basically a query) for the ms I just turned into my agent last month, and then get in 4,000 words on the WIP.
4. If you could take a solo, one week writer’s retreat, where would you go? Curacao. I’m not even sure how to pronounce this place, but I LOVE going somewhere warm when I’m stuck in a cold dark winter. Since this is my retreat, I’d want a nice hotel so someone could make my bed and tidy up while I go outside to lay by the pool that will have a gorgeous view of the beach that I can walk to if I feel like it. Of course I’d order breakfast and a fancy drink and I would write ALL THE WORDS. And take breaks to jump in pool or dip in the hot tub. I’d also have a masseuse come massage my shoulders while I sat at a shaded desk area, of course! : )
1. Your name/Twitter handle- Rachel @rachelwrites007
2. How this past week went:
I opened up my WiP and revised WOOHOOOO!!!!!
3. This coming week’s writing goal(s). Is it to write every day? Increase word count? Amount of hours you’ll set aside? Pages revised? Specific scene rewrite? Whatever! You need to get done!
Um, do nothing? My CP currently has my ms. I’m awaiting her notes. THIS IS HORRIBLE I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF. /////life.
4. If you could take a solo, one week writer’s retreat, yes–just you, (friends & family happy to see you go alone, babysitter check, day job money compensated, airfare check!) where would you go?
I wouldn’t. I hate being alone. I thrive on people. So I would stay on my couch. 😛
But if I could go on a writer’s retreat with some friends—I’d love to go to a city or state I’ve never been and write in the same house as these friends but in separate places (aka I can’t write in the same room as my friends because I am way too chatty!) but then come together for breakfast/lunch/dinner/break. 🙂
Wow everyone is doing great!
Twitter: @szastoupil
Last week: went well, I jumped into nano three days late on top of everything else. But I managed to reach my goal of editing first three chapters of completed MS, while simultaneously starting a new one.
This week: write everyday, edit every night.
Retreat??: yes please!! I love Vancouver island and a cabin in the woods/mountain would be incredible. I’m guilty of writing a few paragraphs and then staring off into space, so a nice view with fresh air would be amazing.
Wow! Great job everyone! 🙂
1. Twitter: @BAWilsonWrites
2. Progress: It was a good week! I got about 24K written on my NaNoWriMo novel, and edited 9 chapters in the previous novel based on CP notes
3. New Goals: 15K on NaNo WIP, edit CH 13-20 on previous novel, and finish reading at least 2 books for my book club trilogy challenge
4. Where would you go to write? I would go either to an island to enjoy the ocean (love the beach), or I would hole up in one of the villages of the Cinque Terre. Then I could walk the paths between the villages each day that overlook the cliffs for added inspiration. 🙂 (Actually, I would go about anywhere. I love to travel, but I’d stick with something peaceful or soothing. That way I won’t get distracted by touristy stuff. In a log cabin in front of a fireplace sounds pretty good too.)
1. Your name/Twitter handle @agenip (hi everyone. I’m so impressed with you)
2. How this past week went.
Rapidly. In good news, my goal was to start and I started, but just barely. I did get my house cleaned and on the market, moved offices, and cranked out some queries, but those are excuses. Mostly, I think I’ve been a little intimidated by really committing to this MS so THANK YOU for making me ‘fess up and dig in.
3. This coming week’s writing goal(s). Is it to write every day? Increase word count? Amount of hours you’ll set aside? Pages revised? Specific scene rewrite? Whatever! You need to get done!
First, I have Tuesday off AND DAYCARE IS OPEN. This is pretty much better than Christmas in my book. So, goal one is to write like a boss tomorrow and then try to build from that momentum to keep writing, even if it’s a tiny bit every day from there.
4. If you could take a solo, one week writer’s retreat, yes–just you, (friends & family happy to see you go alone, babysitter check, day job money compensated, airfare check!) where would you go?
Either Cape Breton Nova Scotia if it was still summer (b/c it’s just spectacular and crazy isolated, which might help) or Hilton Head, SC if it was November b/c it’s warm and cozy and beautiful beachy & there are plenty of places to get coffee. So on second thought, maybe just Hilton Head.
happy writing and GO WIP-mo!
1. @paintandwords
2. Past week started off slowly and then had a surge as I broke through some barriers and the words began to flow! In my 40 minute window of opportunities!
3. Goal for the week: to keep writing and moving forward. Maybe I could get to the chapters already written and revise them, as I wrote them before I learnt a huge writing lesson!
4. Wow, where wold I go? Either somewhere overlooking the sea, high on a cliff top with huge big windows. Or somewhere int he mountains, with a view from on top of the world! *sigh*
So…I’m not doing NaNo and sort of feeling guilty. I was so successful last year, but since I’m revising this year, I decided not to do it. Any way…
1. Your name/Twitter handle: @KristineAsselin
2. How this past week went: Finished up Draft #2 of a nonfiction project that I’m working on.
3. This coming week’s writing goal(s). Is it to write every day? Increase word count? Amount of hours you’ll set aside? Pages revised? Specific scene rewrite? Whatever! You need to get done!
Hoping to hear back about an anthology submission and have revision notes to attack.
4. If you could take a solo, one week writer’s retreat, yes–just you, (friends & family happy to see you go alone, babysitter check, day job money compensated, airfare check!) where would you go?
Wow. Not sure. Somewhere with a friend to keep me accountable. 🙂
Thanks for the Twitter-alert to get posting, Ami! I actually came by a couple times on Sunday but couldn’t see this post then for some reason.
1) @JMCwrites
2) So, last week might not have been super productive in terms of work done, but it was hugely productive in terms of making a decision about which project to pursue (at least until I hear otherwise from the agent).
3) This week’s goal is to do further character & plotting work on the MS I’ve zeroed in on. I wish I could quantify it more, but I think I’ll just say whatever I need to do to be ready to draft by the beginning of next week.
4) Uuum, I guess this one depends on whether we’re talking a fantasy wherein money is no object? In that case I think I’d rent a little room on some bustling street in London or Paris and alternate between soaking up the literary inspiration and working alone in my little room. But in likelier terms, I live in Seattle, where there are many, many beautiful nearby islands with cute cabins for rent and a view of the water. That would also do nicely.
1. @Robert Polk2
2. Past week started well, then got mired in life. I did get some good research done but only wrote about 1200 words.
3. This week I will write words ever day, damnit! I will.
4. Retreat location for me would be the serene and secluded sand hills of Nebrasksa. That’s where most of my story takes place and where I feel most relaxed.