Monday, June 25, 2018

Stumbling Along

The Writing Life

I feel like I'm getting a lot of work done, and the weekend rolls around and I have twenty things needing my attention. And that's just for the writing part of my life. I've settled into a really good routine of writing at least a thousand words per day in WIP. Twenty-four days into the month and I'm on schedule. I never thoughts I'd be one of those word-counting people, but this is really working for
me since I started it with my last WIP. The thing is, there are lots of other things I need to do for my writing than spewing out words. Like promotion, keeping in touch with my online friends, reading blogs, learning new things, and keeping up with the work I do for my writing groups.

The Business of Writing

I want to thank my friends over at The Whole Shebang Site for having me as guest. I'm talking about all the science I researched and used in my most recent series, Survivors of the Apocalypse. The series is set 300 years in the future when a virus has nearly wiped out mankind.

Also, for my writing groups, Pennwriters. I'm helping promote our upcoming online class, Nonfiction Places and Spaces. The instructor wrote a top ten list of how this class will help fiction writers. It's a quick read.

Personal Life

My daughter is thinking about applying to a MFA low-residency program. It had a good reputation. I'm watching my granddaughter in the mornings this week while her father is coaching at a baseball camp so I'll be late visiting everyone today. Little Elliana is 15 months old now and pretty amazing. She learns a few new words every day.

I purchased an elliptical a few months ago, and I'm staying true to it. Any where from 40-60 minutes per day and it doesn't bother my knees like jogging and walking does.

Entertainment

Yippee! Salvation comes back on tonight. I'm very excited for it. My other summer fun, Killjoys isn't coming back on until late July, I believe. The only other TV I'm watching this summer is The 100 which is having it's best most twisty, horrifying season ever.

What part of the writing business takes away from your writing time? What do you think of MFA programs for writers? Do you think scientists could accidentally wipe out mankind?




22 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Pleased that your writing life is going well as also your personal and family life.

Yvonne.

Pat Hatt said...

Always something to do. I had a list of a good number of things to do that was writing related but not writing this weekend too. Got them all done, now back to the fun part. Counting words a day is a great way to meet goals indeed.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Ellipticals are so much easier on a body.
Glad you're getting so much done with writing.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I've seen the ellipticals at the gym, but haven't tried them. I've been sticking with the treadmill, doing a mix of running and walking. So far, so good. :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

All of my writing business takes me away from writing. LOL

I love my elliptical. I can rack up 5000+ steps in 30 minutes.

Chrys Fey said...

A thousand words a day is awesome. Way to go! Keep it up! :D

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thanks, Yvonne. I'm glad I'm not dealing with a plumbing problem today like you.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Your work ethic always inspires me, Pat. Let me know if you want to do a guest post for your new book. Title too long to put her. LOL

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I really like it. It works the legs great.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'd prefer walking and jogging, but my old knees don't agree.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Your writing business is an actual business. I don't know how you find any time to write.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thanks, Chrys. It's working so far.

J E Oneil said...

Accidentally? No. Purposefully? Absolutely.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Sounds like you are really productive both with writing, exercising, and everything else. Enjoy being so in the groove.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - sounds like you've found a rhythm ... and that elliptical - good for you ... I need to be off my backside! - so walking, stretching it is ... and swimming. Good for you and enjoy the summer - little Elliana sounds a delight - cheers Hilary

messymimi said...

Work gets in the way of everything else that needs doing, that's the story of my life!

Tyrean Martinson said...

I feel like my writing time has really been up against my health and now my household and an online grad program (M.Ed) this year. It's been slow, but I am just going to keep writing.
Currently, I've been spending 2-3 hours a day hacking back the wild jungle of trees, bushes, and overgrown plant beds around our house. I'm feeling the best I've felt in the last two years and it's obvious that we've (family and I) haven't really taken care of our house and yard that well in that time. So, it's a priority to trim, cut down, and generally practice scorched Earth gardening (without chemicals, just woman-power and hand tools) this summer. Thankfully, we live down a long gravel driveway and have a "front" neighbor so no one can see our house from the road.

Tyrean Martinson said...

BTW - best wishes to your daughter with that MFA program and with all of your writing!

Stacy McKitrick said...

1000 words a day? Awesome. I was approaching that mark (striving for 500 at least) and then we moved. And we're still moving. I'll be so glad when the old house is empty and on the market and life can get back to normal.

Patricia Stoltey said...

The social media promo efforts including blogging often interfere with writing time. I'm blogging less, though, so that helps. I'd like to ease into a 1,000 word per day writing schedule so I can finally finish my wip.

Sure, I think scientists could do something horrible to end life as we know it. Messing around with disease mutations scare me the most. However, I'm not sure how else they can work on developing vaccines and cures.

Anonymous said...

1000 words a day is great!

Jo said...

1,000 words a day is fantastic bearing in mind how many other things life can throw at you. I think scientists could very well wipe out mankind, or a fair portion of it. One of those things I try not to think of!!