Friday Review

Yep, tis that time already. I'm feeling fairly chuffed with my writing week - chuffed is a northern(UK) term for the uninitiated, meaning pleased! For the following reasons, I'm giving myself a good old pat on the back.

• I've almost got my third chapter rewritten ready for submitting for a critique, this one from my pals over at WA - the rewrites go there first as I trust their judgement and their constructive feedback, we've sort of grown up together as writers, so it's a safe place. I have until Sunday to get it in as my week starts on a Monday.
• I wrote and submitted a Muse (creative free write) - the prompt I chose was about a Christmas tree decorations taking a life of their own and I developed a malevolent fairy... fun stuff but could grow into something else, one never knows.
• And finally I've managed four out of five blog entries planned this week. What happened to the fifth? I just forgot to do it yesterday...

So it's that time... POETS day - it still applies even if I don't go 'out' to work Monday to Friday...

Until Later

Keeping on Track

Well, my second submission goal of this week has just been achieved. Having rewritten Chapter 5 The Duke's Shadow following comment from my fellow WA members, it has now been submitted to the Historical Fiction Group... I just loving ticking off these actions in red pen - how sad is that? But that's not the point, I've made a commitment and stuck to it. Now the waiting game for comments... double torture!

I love writing prompts and one I came across today really got me thinking... You find a way to go back in time and are allowed to take one object with you...' Now there lies a conundrum - does a fountain pen and pad count as one object?

Until Later... 

By The Skin of My Teeth

My main goal today, was to upload a new first chapter of The Duke's Shadow for critique over at Critique Circle. 

I've been a member there for some months and have been building up my credits as I plan to submit all chapters for a third read there. They have already gone through my online group Writers Abroad, then over to Historical Fiction Writers but after a third edit I thought it would be useful to review the changes. I know, it's like self induced torture! It's my first time being on the receiving end over at CC - waiting in anticipation *bites nails*....

Writing Plan Update

You do have a writing plan don't you? No? Well I do, written in January (well, when else should one write one?) Reviewed in April and I've just finished looking at it over the weekend. *Hangs Head in Shame*

The thing is with writing, like many other activities, is that one can get a little 'over zealous' with deadlines and actions. I've always had a problem with setting realistic goals, even when I was working in a 'proper' job. I'm not sure why but I seem to want to knock myself out - on paper at any rate - and then feel despondent and fed up when I've failed to achieve what I set out to do.

So I've looked at a three month plan - where I can make up time whenever I wish - and should take me through until the end of November with the following goals. They are not as 'SMART' as they could be but nevertheless, they mean something to me and easy to measure.

1. Rewrite 7 chapters of The Dukes Shadow for critique. The first critique will be over at Writers Abroad and the second at Historical Fiction. I plan also to start sharing with some beta readers at Critique Circle...
2. Rewrite 3 chapters of the The Good Life to submit as monthly challenges at Writers Abroad - this is my fun thing, a bit of personal indulgence and therefore a treat.
3. Review status of 'Wolf Moon' - the fantasy novella I started and have completed around 13k word
4. Take part in NaNoWriMo 2012 - I've done some research and need to start some characterisation, again a different part of the writing process so hopefully will weave in fairly well.

And December? Well either free for catch up when I come to review this post or a long, long sleeeep.

Until Later, 

Musin'

Well, almost the beginning of a new month, so I've ended this one with a Monday Muse... yes, I know it's Friday but I have to let it mulch for at least four days. At Writers Abroad we have a regular Monday Muse - members take it in turns to submit some creative writing prompts and the idea is to free write. Yep, write without thinking, but of course most writers do think. I write the muses down on the Monday and by Friday (usually) I've got an idea. Then I do sit and free write for 20 minutes (or 500 words approx) and submit my piece on site. The idea is NOT to produce a finely polished story (though many members are good at doing this) but to allow yourself the space and the routine to just write.

It feels good to muse, I always see it as an accomplishment because it is a new bit of writing. It might not set the world on fire in its raw state, but many WA members have gone on and had fully edited and sparkling pieces published on the basis of a muse. So can't be all that bad.

Now onto Chapter Six of The Dukes Shadow...

Organising my Writing LIfe

Well, I know I said daily but it has been the silly season, and it's been 40 degrees and above... and I've had my lovely son staying...

So now I'm getting back on track and this morning have spent most of the time sorting out computer problems and organising my OneNote folder. I'm using this Microsoft product because it came already loaded but I do believe there is another free version called EverNote. It's a handy tool for gathering research, information and images from the net, emails etc all in one place...

This afternoon I shall be trying out my new digital pen, see I'm slowly being dragged into the 21st Century!

Daily Journal

I can't believe how long it is since I last blogged. Can't say I missed it, otherwise it wouldn't have taken me 8 weeks! But I decided that it was time to revisit. 

I've been looking and enjoying other peoples blogs, particularly the simple ones, the ones that don't particularly educate but share and enlighten, or just simply provide an account of what the blogger has been up to.

So that's my next attempt. This is blog is going to be a daily journal about my writing day, what I planned to do, what I didn't get done and hopefully will give me the impetus I need to get back on track.

The Dukes Shadow
I have completed the rewrite of Chapter 6  and will be submitting it to Writers Abroad for a critique *bites fingernails* this week. I have not finished writing the new Chapter 1 yet thought I've done an edit. I'm fretting about the all important 'first lines' and wonder if they have enough impact. 

Other Projects
Most of which have taken a back seat, but these are the ones I need to get back on track with

• The Good Life - Tales of Penny and George
• Wolf Moon - Fantasy Novella
• NaNoWriMo 2012 - I have a working title! The Pope's Mistress but that's all I'm sharing for now.