Monday, April 3, 2017

What's Going On?

Let me start out by saying best of luck to the A to Z Participants. I'm not in on the madness this year, but I know I'll enjoy reading a lot of great posts. And that bring me to the upcoming IWSG monthly posting which will be Wednesday, April 5th. The question is always optional.

Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking and publicity for your writing? What were the results?

So, you can answer that and still share your current insecurity.

Had a great writers' meeting on Saturday. We honored a few of our members. Andrew Grey was honored with a Centennial Award for having 100 books published. He has an amazing work ethic and still manages to be generous with his time to help other writers.

The founding member of our RWA local group, Karen Rose Smith, received all our best wishes in her latest triumph. One of Karen's book's is in production to be a TV movie. We're all so excited for her. We might have a watch party.

Continuing with wonderful things happening at the meeting, we started our first 50/50 challenge of 2017. The way it works is that we all commit to writing at least 50 words for 50 days straight. And of course, most everyone who sits down to write 50 words ends up writing a lot more than that. We report our numbers to the member keeping track every few days. We're permitted to miss a day or two, but most of us try not to miss any. It's perfect timing for me because I'm starting a new novel. I outlined last week and started it yesterday. Wish me luck.

“You can only write by putting words on a paper one at a time.” 
― Sandra Brown


“Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.”
—Larry L. King, WD

You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page. Jodi Picoult

I'm getting some outside work done. Every year I think I'll get a jump on it. All the rain is making it difficult. Not only does it keep me inside, but it really makes the weeds grow.

I watched the series finale of Grimm last Friday. I wasn't expecting the HEA after the last two seasons have been so dark, but overall, I enjoyed the show. It was never a 'can't miss' for me, but I often caught up to it while I was on the treadmill or the exercise bike.

Do you know any writer friends who have written more books than Andrew? Do you know anyone who has had a book made into a movie? Are you doing the A to Z challenge? Are you an every day writer?




20 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - A-Zing I am .. marketing will come along at some stage - I take note here and the IWSG. Over 100 books ... nope! But yes one needs to write to be able to edit ..

Good luck with the sunny interludes and those weeds .. mind you they are only plants in the wrong place (poor things!) .. cheers Hilary
http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/b-is-for-british-breeds-introduction.html

nashvillecats2 said...

I too am A to Zing..... my eighth. My theme is Rhythm and Rhyme. Hope your week goes well. Loved the post.

Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's a lot of books. Only Pat Hatt has him beat.
Exciting one of Karen's books is being made into a movie. Every writer's dream...

Maria Zannini said...

We got more than half the garden ready before the rains came. I'm kind of glad we got rained out though. My muscles need a couple of days off. :)

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

No A-Z this year. Trying to get more focused and on top of the things I have going on. Also getting ready to co-host IWSG this week! :)

Good luck with the 50/50 challenge and the new novel!

messymimi said...

Not a writer, just an avid reader, but i enjoy doing the A to Z.

Christine Rains said...

I'm not doing the Challenge this year either, but I love reading the blogs. I'm not an every day writer, but I try to write every weekday like it's my job (because it is!). :)

cleemckenzie said...

Not A to Zing either. I'm visiting and supporting, but just can't carry off a month of daily posting. Hope your friend's movie isn't affected by the strike in Hollywood. So many of the TV movies are made there. As to the number of books written. . .I'm not even close to a hundred.

A Beer for the Shower said...

Wow, 100 books. That's insane. Uh, that's why we're not participating in A to Z, so we can catch up to him... Let's see, 50 words a day for... the next 1,000 years, roughly?

Pat Hatt said...

That is great that her book will get a tv movie. 100 books is sure quite the feat. Only 110 here, but kids books are a bit easier haha

Anonymous said...

I'm doing the A to Z this year and forgot about IWSG this month, but I don't think I'm going to worry about writing up a post for it. I don't have much to report so I'd just be rehashing last month's insecurities.

M.J. Fifield said...

I try to be an everyday writer, but some days that works better than others.

I can't even fathom having written 100 books. I'm still working on my second, for crying out loud. And I did recently meet an author at a writers conference who has two books that have been optioned for films. Quite the feat.

Sarah Foster said...

I'm skipping the A to Z, too. It's very relaxing. Still checking out everyone's posts, although probably not every day.

J E Oneil said...

A hundred books and a movie. Talk about goals. The former might be possible if I ever win the lottery and can just focus on writing. :)

Patricia Stoltey said...

I don't know anyone whose work has been made into a movie, but a couple of friends nonfiction stories have been part of TV series. Kenneth Harmon's story about the ghost in his house was included in a ghost story series. And Jim Davidson's story of disaster and survival on Mount Ranier (The Ledge) was included in a survival series.

I'm not doing the A to Z again this year. I have a whole list of priority projects that need my full attention, so I'm taking back time wherever I can find it. I want to be an every day writer but I'm still working that out.

Tamara Narayan said...

I am doing the A to Z challenge, but I have no idea why. It's such a huge time commitment and I'm not really promoting things and I have a huge writing to-do list. That must be it. A to Z is my excuse for not working on other projects. Silly me!

C is for Church Committee: Intelligence Abuses by the CIA

Juneta key said...

Not doing A to Z either, just visiting as I can.
'Enjoyed reading. Happy A to Z Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

Yolanda Renée said...

Grimm had an interesting ending, saw it coming, but was a good way to end it.
100 books! Wow, amazing!

Denise Covey said...

Having a lot of books for sale is the only way to become a best seller these days, especially if self published. But the book has to be good. Can't imagine ever getting to 100 books, but I know authors who get 2 - 3 books out each year! Crazee. I used to A - Z but now I'd rather be writing a book or editing. I try to write each day. I have done up to 6 hours (trying to emulate Koontz, LOL!)

Ann Bennett said...

I need my head examined. I am doing A to Z this year with everything in my life screaming at me to do this. But I need a break everyday. And this will be my break. See you around.