Today was tough. I broke down. As much as I couldn't wait for the girls to go to school today, I also didn't want to let them go. You know the parent who you roll your eyes at, the one carrying a camera and running after their child, to give one extra hug, as they enter the school? Yeah. That would be me.
Writing Prompt: In honor of the first day of school -- Write a scene about your protagonist's first day jitters, ie: first day of school, first date, first kiss, first day of job, first day of babysitting, etc. Remember to up the tension!
So, rather than start my 30 day writing spree tomorrow, when the kids start school, I thought I'd start today.
Remember the deal? 2 hours of straight writing time (though I'll also include book-related research, NO Internet research) on school days, for 30 days, no time wasting allowed.
I am a horrible sleeper, so I started writing at 5 am. Problem was, I couldn't help it. I checked my e-mail, in case some incredible news migrated over in the middle of the night, which led to reading a few blogs and suddenly, 30 minutes disappeared. *Slaps forehead.*
Good thing I started my practice run today.
Make today count.
Writing Prompt: Write a scene where your character benefits (or on the flip side, is punished) for being early...
It's time for the Summer Revision Smackdown -- Isn't their graphic great? -- with organizers Holly and Jolie! 30 days of revision to a new slimmer, toned version of PB, my historical novel.
The story is told from two POV's and my goal for this month is to finish converting the last half of the manuscript into the correct POV and get the voices right. Once I get everything smoothed out, I'm done. DONE! As in Finished. Perfected. Polished. But...no celebrating now. Will I be able to finish this in 30 days? I have a lot of work to do to make this happen. Wish me luck!
In preparation for this revision-thon, I converted my manuscript from Mac Pages to Scrivener over the weekend. I had been trying out
Scrivener and checking out different writing programs, and decided it was finally time to make a change. Perhaps it was silly to do this when I'm so far into my project, but I'm hoping this will make my life easier.
I used to write the entire manuscript into one document file, but over the past year, I found it easier to write one chapter per document, so in case I need to edit or cut things, it's easier to pull up a chapter file, rather than scroll through hundreds of pages. All of the document files are numbered by chapter so they are in order in the document folder. I also copy each chapter into the main manuscript document since Pages doesn't merge all the documents, which can be a pain if you hit wrong buttons and then delete things by accident, but is easily fixed. (Not that this has ever happened to me.)
My research folder and a note folder are subsets of the document files, so there is no chance of missing anything, in case I need to refresh my memory on a specific detail. Everything is in one place and it helps me keep focused, rather than searching through all my computer files for a simple fact.
This system has worked well, but I have heard so many people write about how
Scrivener has changed their life, that I decided to try it out awhile ago. It keeps everything organized (similar to how I save my work--chapter by chapter) and in plain sight, while your manuscript stays up--table of contents, research, word count per chapter, etc. Sounds minor, but for someone like me, who needs visual reminders of progress, this is perfect. And this merges all the chapters into the final manuscript!
Everything looks beautiful so far, and now that it is Day 1 of the Smackdown, it's time to get to work!
Have a great working day! Wherplash!
One of my favorite family movies is Akeelah and the Bee. This powerful movie shows how an unlikely community unites to support a smart, determined eleven-year-old spelling dynamo to follow her dream of becoming a Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. If you want to see commitment, courage, conflict, action, drama, fear of failure, inspiration and a strong heroine who steadfastly works toward her dream despite the odds against her, watch this tearjerker of a movie. And you will truly be inspired to follow your own dream.
There is one scene of the movie, where Akeelah's coach, Dr. Larabee, asks her to read a framed quote hanging on the wall. The quote was so good, I became quite obsessed with finding out who was credited with this bit of inspired brilliance. After playing this DVD over again a couple times to hear this lovely nugget of wisdom, I Googled it and found Marianne Williamson. This quote is simply spot on perfect.
Our Deepest Fear
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
-A Return To Love:Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, by Marianne Williamson
I think this quote is spot on to read at the beginning of a New Year. Doesn't it make you want to create, write, and take action toward your dreams?
Enjoy your weekend and come back Monday to start the
2009 New Years 30 Day Challenge. Time to make some progress!
Thank you, everyone, for joining this 30 day Challenge. You should be proud of your progress. I hope this has helped you gather your motivation so you can reach for your dreams.
Now I had a hard time chosing the prize for this Challenge. I couldn't decide whether to go inspirational, something bookish or something writerish, which I'm sure isn't a real word. Scratch that. I know it's not a real
Congratulations for finishing the 2008 New Year's 30 Day Challenge! How do you feel? Are you all limbered up and ready to take on 2008 with new enthusiasm? Ready to see your dreams all the way through? Toying with redefining your goals? Inspired by new ideas?
I'm so glad you all joined me in my Challenge. You've all be wonderful sharing your progress and encouragements to one another; it has
So how did the girls do at school? Was kindergarten a success? Tomorrow will be easier (hopefully)
Former fourth grade teacher here. I always watched kindergarten parents standing outside the classroom door with kleenex in hand. My oldest starts preschool next week and I teared up multiple times just sitting through the parent orientation meeting. I get it now!
I remember my first day of kindergarten - a dog chased me around the bus stop. I have honored your blog if you will claim it from my blog. http://tinyurl.com/n8nhso.
A big embrace from me.
Chris,<br />Thanks! The first day of school turned out great for Spy Girl and Ninja Girl. We only had a 1/2 hour orientation for Princess Rock Star -- her first day is today!<br /><br />Karren,<br />Yes, this tearing up doesn't get old. I thought by now I'd be able to manage my emotions, but how do you let your children go, when they are the world?<br /><br />Linda,<br />What an image!
Beth,<br />Thank you!
Vivian, I know you'll be channeling all the feeling into your words today. Waving from my porch (though with two sweaters).
I'm totally carrying the camera too! :-)
Oh, Vivian! I'm the same way! <br /><br />Funny thing about your writing prompt, after we dropped the kids off for the first day of school last week, I actually started scribbling furiously on scraps of paper this scene I imagined on the first day of school with a cute new boy in the class. I'm so glad I wrote it down because I don't remember a thing now. I need to go dig that out of
Thank you, Jeannine! Hope your writing is going well. <br /><br />Oh good, Kelly! I'm glad I'm not the only one.<br /><br />Sherrie- Hope you found your paper! Isn't it great when inspiration hits?