A challenge embedded in the challenge for a writer, is to keep working on the WIP while keeping up with the challenge. Fortunately for me this year, my local writer's group is starting another 50/50 on April 3rd. During the 50/50, we all try to write at least 50 words on our WIP for 50 straight days. Prizes are involved. This will keep my writing during April though I'll do more than 50 words each day. I'm working on book #3 in my Galactic Outlaws series. The second book will be going into edits soon.
I was trapped for most of last week in the editing cave for the final book in The Futhark Chronicles, Heir of Futhark. I don't have a release date for it but editing that book one last time saddened me. Even after reading it so many times, I found I could cry again on the two parts I hope make readers of the series shed a tear or two.
Four out of six children managed to get home for Easter dinner this year. Pretty good number since they're all grown up. One had to work and my daughter couldn't make it home from college. She and her roommates were making Easter brunch for themselves. She's not much of a cook so she was in charge of the mimosas. That's my girl.
I'll be back Friday with the letter A. And then it begins. Relax, have fun and don't worry about being perfect.
"A man all wrapped up in himself makes a small parcel." John Ruskin
How will you motivate yourself to keep up with everything else while doing the A to Z Challenge? Did you get together with family for the holiday weekend? Any last minute advice for Challenge participants.
30 comments:
Hi Susan - life has to continue ... and so I will get back to finishing off my A-Z posts .. but I'll be there and fit in life as well .. cheers Hilary
Fifty words a day is a good goal.
Glad four of your kids made it home for Easter.
I'm almost done with my A- Z posts - 6 letters to go...
That 50/50 challenge sounds good. And so do those mimosas. :)
Love that Ruskin quote!
That's a great writing challenge to keep the WIP up while doing the A to Z. Glad you had a good Easter. We had a lovely weekend too. The weather was gorgeous and my little guy was happy to do his egg hunt outside. :)
I've started prepping my A to Z posts, but I have a good 21 letters to go. That'll be my main focus this week.
It's great that so many of your kids made it home for the holiday. I think my mom only had one (out of four) do that.
This year I am way behind on my A to Z. Mind you, as I write a post every day anyway, I don't know what I am worrying about. Mimosas eh.
All post ready and as correct as possible, looking forward immensly to Friday.
Yvonne.
Right now, I'm a little sorry I signed up for A to Z. I hope to get a them written before the big day. I'll have to look up how to make a mimosa. Next year I'm going to be a little lazier with Easter dinner. By the time dinner is on the table, I am a little tired to eat. My mom suggested spaghetti for next year. When you are 85, you get chill about things I must say.
Great many made it home indeed. The cat just manages at his feed. There is rhyme, but may be no reason lol
Its good that you have the writing group with that challenge of 50 words for 50 days; something doable with incentives with prizes :)
Fun with the Easter gathering; good for your daughter who couldn't come home to be able to provide the mimosas; that's the best part of brunches sometimes :)
A/Z is all ready to go; I just tweak them a little day to day before I post them. My advice for the challenge; just have fun with it and try to be prepared with all your posts prior to the month starting :)
betty
I love it when I edit my stories and feel the emotion I hope my readers will feel. That is a gift. :)
Here's to perfection. May we always strive for it, appreciate when we improve and recognize that if we ever perfected our lives we'd have to apply for a certificate as God or Goddess.
Hello there! I am starting my A to Z blog visits early! I have high ambitions for my first A to Z challenge as I want to visit every blog on the list (maybe I am crazy?). I have all my topic ideas laid out on my editorial calendar so I am hoping that will keep me motivated and I will try to stay at least several days ahead of schedule. As this is my first year participating, I don't know how much my advice will help, but for me having an editorial calendar helps a lot! I would start by deciding what you are going to write every day and try to stay ahead of schedule!
Cassie from Mommy, RN
Good luck with your A-Z and 50/50. Great challenges!
They're all ready and waiting to go! That 50/50 sounds like a lot of fun. I wonder if I could do it :). Happy A-to-Z-ing!
My posts are scheduled at the IWSG site and I'll have 2-3 of my own next month. That's all I can handle right now as I am drowning in submissions.
We're of the same mind! I too will be working on WIP(s) while juggling the A -Z Challenge. Nothing like the breath of a little pressure to keep that fire burning!
Sounds like you had a nice Easter, all in all. This was the quietest one we've had in years and years and it was still busy ;-)
I would advise challenge participants to always remember to have fun.
The 50/50 challenge sounds interesting and fun. Maybe one day I'll challenge myself to it.
Love the quote!
How will I motivate myself? Hmm, good question. I do have all my classical music videos in a playlist on YouTube, listening through them has been pleasant and motivating for some late night commenting, it even inspired an organizational idea for my A to Z posts :)
I'm doing the A to Z the easy way this year -- I'm supporting by following and reading and leaving comments, but I'm not posting any more than usual. I just didn't need the added pressure on top of all my other projects.
Our Easter was just Hubby and me and the animals Sassy and Katie. We spent the weekend before Easter visiting the grandkidlets in California, so that was fun!
My first a-to-z challenge. Too late to write all my posts. Hope my plan to stay a few days ahead will work. Looking forward to visiting as many sites as I can.
lorihenriksen.com/blog
After 5 yrs of being part of the A to Z challenge, this year I will read from the sidelines. Advice to all: Use a good font, do not write one long paragraph, keep it pithy. Do you best writing, enjoy reading other posts!
Great post, Susan. So pleased you had a family reunion for Easter. See you on Friday! Have a load of fun.
Glad you had a good Easter!
Best of luck with the A-Z Challenge.
I decided to join the A to Z about 15 days ago. I had an idea that would be easy, and I'm already done with my posts. I hope that it makes the process easier this year!
It's always something! I did plan ahead this year and wrote my posts in advance, but then I started a complete blog makeover, but the main point of that was because my blog was loading so slowly that no one was going to waste time visiting and I was determined once and for all to finally get rid of that dang Diqus comment platform that everyone including me hates. So, I've learned you do not work on a blog makeover during a challenge, even though I was assured it would be completed well in advance of April 1st. The good news, I'm told the speed issue and comment issue is fixed. The bad news, I believe my blog may be stripped bare of gadgets but that's okay. I can fix that after the challenge. The other thing, I will be traveling all day tomorrow, driving my kids home from our spring break trip, so I won't be visiting many blogs on the first day. I'm trying to visit some today and will catch up on Saturday and Sunday. We have to leave the beach a few days early b/c of a tropical storm, but just knowing that all my posts are written has taken a great weight off my shoulders and I'm excited for the challenge. I know I can't put other things in life on hold so, I wanted to get that out of the way so I could spend any free time visiting blogs. Good luck with your 50/50. It sounds very reasonable and your lucky to have such a good group to keep you motivated.
100% of all kids made it to Easter dinner... aka 1 out of 1 because I'm an only child. Still, though, not bad.
I love when I read over something and it draws out real emotion. A good story will grab your attention but a great one will grab your heart.
Agathokakological - my word, what a word; I've never of it before. Actually, I've never heard of any of the words you listed before. Interesting. #AtoZChallenge
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