Monday, January 30, 2012

The Beautiful Part of Writing--#WIPMADNESS Check-In

“The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, brain surgery."
--Robert Cormier
Could you imagine if you had one shot at getting your novel right? The thought makes me shudder. As I'm plugging away at this current revision, one thing that relieves the pressure is knowing that I'll be able to revise it as many times as needed. Phew!
Now, for some end of the month business:
We need a host for February. If you're interested, let me know in your comment, otherwise I'll be happy to continue. March will be a special month since the originator of the WIPMADNESS, Denise Jaden, will strike again with March Madness. She changed her blog address. Are you following?
Do you remember what your goals were at the beginning of January? Check here
My goal was to work daily on revising the WIP and to remember to eat. Done and done.
Thanks for the encouragement.
This past week I read this scary yet motivating article about how sitting all day is damaging your body. And so I started a new habit: drinking lots of water while revising and using the first floor toity so I get plenty of trips up and down the stairs. So far, so good. 
How was your month? It's time for cheers, high fives, and pats on the back.

33 comments:

  1. I need to remember to get up and move around. I'm stuck in my office most of the day. So glad we don't have to get the novel perfect the first time.

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    1. Drinking lots of water makes getting up imperative. ^_^

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  2. I'm a bit scared to read that article...I try to get up every hour from my desk while I'm at work and at least stretch, but sometimes I get caught up in a project.

    I had THE best week of editing. I needed to rewrite a big chunk of the middle-end and I got it done! Now I just have a few more chapters to revise/rework and I'll have my draft ready for betas!

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    1. That's great news, Jennifer. Hope this week is another great one!

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  3. Hey! I am finally, finally geting my wipmadness act together and jumping in. Have my wip open....Happy Medium. Have to get the first five and the syn sparking for the Western Washington Con. Hope I get to see you there again.

    I quietly participated. Month was slow slow...I seem to be stuck in the murky middle, yet again. Although, maybe it was a month of just reading and relaxing into the story, letting it simmer and Feb with be the surgery month. Er, the kind of book surgery you don't have to get write (love that quote). Glad for you keeping me moving ahead one bit at. a. time. Thank. you. Thank you.

    I can host this month for you, if you like. Only thing is I am new, so you might prefer to go with someone who has been actively participating.

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  4. AND-congrats on the reaching of and striving for goals Angela and everyone! Here is to a Fantastic February!

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    1. Deb--Hope you get that middle moving. Thanks for offering to host. I don't think it matters whether you're new or not, as long as you can commit to Monday check-ins. ^_^

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    2. Actually, Monday check-ins I can do. That's my big blogging, twittering etc-ing day, so could totally do it.

      I'll mark it down and be ready to go!

      Cheers and here is to writing mad through Feb and into March with Denise!

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  5. I have to make a conscious effort to get up, too. It's hard when you're in the writing groove, but good grief, one needs to move!
    Love that Cormier quote!

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    1. I've been terrible about exercise this winter and needed to be reminded that just getting up and moving is also important.

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  6. Angelina, funny you should mention that article - I was invited to post for the amwriting.org blog today and I addressed the health issue.

    Glad to hear your goals went well!

    I didn't get to the gym or sword class because of the ankle, but I *think* it's feeling better. I have sword class on Thursday.

    This month I read a few books. I would have liked to have read more, but that didn't happen.

    But my brain settled down! I found my villain for Book 2 and now have a much better idea of the plot. And that has got me outlining and working on just that one project. I'm happy for the brainstorming I did on other projects this month, but I also need to get Book 2 written. I'm definitely feeling good about this.

    And I'm still taking a small break from the agent search. I think I'll make that part of next month's goals, though.

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    1. Sounds like you made progress, despite setbacks. Onward!

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  7. I've had a really good month of writing. Unfortunately I've been putting off things like getting my workshop notes together. But when the muse strikes...

    I plan to use the month of March to write the rest of the novel I've submitted my proposal for, so I think February will be a month for tying up details on my other workshops/wip's etc.

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    1. Congrats on a great month. March will be full of madness, won't it?

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  8. I got derailed last week by some cruddy bug and went for a full 12 days without writing - but got it back together yesterday. I'm at 26.5k now, so a bit shy of my goal, but close enough for counting.

    Next month I hope to kick it up and maybe finish this first draft? At least get to 60k - I have to be finished by mid-March so I have time to do the plotting outline assigned by Cheryl Klein for my late April workshop with her. I first thought of using an older manuscript but I really want to use this one so I'll have a stellar plan for revisions.

    Thank you for hosting this month Angelina - and though I think it's great we have a new member to take up the gavel, I'm always here in a pinch should that be necessary. Just let me know.

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  9. Sent my Avon submission out Friday...and then promptly found two small mistakes. Nothing big, really. Hopefully nothing to get rejected for, a missing word and one I forgot to remove after revising a sentence (thankfully both nowhere near the beginning of the work), but it was still irritating after reading through it again twice. But it’s away. Evidently, if I don’t hear word back within three months they rejected it. Guess they don’t send rejection letters. My fingers are crossed.

    For next month, I need to set up a schedule. I’m doing the beta thing for someone who asked me to look at their work and I still need to work on my own, getting that duology finished. So, I think I’ll be working a couple hours on his manuscript, and then working to finish the fantasy duology the remaining time.

    I have to decide what to do about my submission to one of the agencies soon. They say on their site that they respond within 3 months, typically, but if you don’t hear back after 6 months to just send it again, don’t query on the status. So, I sent mine on my birthday last year and then again 6 months later still interested in representation. I still haven’t heard anything...and my birthday will be coming up, March 28th. I dunno. A year feels like a long time to wait for a response. Then again, I’m pretty new at sending out subs, so maybe it’s not. Still, everyone else I’ve sent to so far gave a response within their promised timeframe. When my birthday rolls around, I’m going to have to decide whether to send it yet again, or not bother. After all, they could be maybe trying to give feedback, or they could’ve just ignored it or it got lost...twice. I’m torn.

    And I’m really bad at sitting too long. I’m pretty sure it’s why my thighs have been aching. I need to dig the stationary bike back out and start using it again. Been too cold and rainy/snowy to go outside. Actually, I need to play catch-up on chores too, our tree is still up...yes, it’s still up... But hey, I’m getting my writing done very quickly! ;)

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    1. I try to never look at a manuscript after I send it off. ^_^
      Now go get that bike out!

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    2. Heh! But I love reading the finished piece to my wife too much! :D And an update, the tree is down. Plenty of room now for that stationary. Now to just drag it out here...

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  10. I had a couple of good writing spurts last week, so YAY. But the upcoming trip to Roatan has taken over my brain. Last minute shopping, appointments, and errands took up the weekend and will intrude on today. Then work through the week, pack, and leave at 4:00 am Saturday. Yikes! But hope to post pics on my blog during the trip, internet depending. Also hoping for story inspiration!

    As for my past goals, UGH, I'm behind, but I haven't given up. Just plugging along.

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    1. Bon voyage! Have fun filling up your creative well.

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  11. Oh - I went to Roatan with my family when I was 19. It is so gorgeous! Enjoy Lori.

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  12. Hehe, the upstairs toilet is a great solution. Don't know if I want to read that article!

    Deb, no worries if you're new! Yay for hosting, and thank YOU for hosting this month, Angelina.

    My Jan goals have been skitter-scatter, but I did ookaaay... Finished revisions, made the agent list, sent out to my top five, brainstormed a new project and started writing. Slow going, just 5K.

    This week, I'd like to try to move that to 8K.

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  13. That would be super scary. All my novels would end 1/2 through with the whole cast dying. :P

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  14. Oh so close...but still not there. With a sick kid and craziness at work, I let it all get to me and stunt my #wipmadness. Blah! But I'm in the last 2 chapters, so give me a couple of weeks.

    I'm happy to host February #wipmadness :-). And thanks, Angelina! Don't know what I would do without you people!

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    1. Hey! I just saw this...and jumped the gun, put up the post that I had volunteered to host. I can totally step back and let you go with it Mary Ann. Just let me know. Hope your kiddo is feeling better and work has slowed down some.

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    2. How about we go with Deb in Feb and Mary Ann in April? How does that sound?

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  15. I'm glad I'm not a surgeon. There's no room for error there--and as a writer, error is so common.

    I had a good month. :) Boosting it overall was a sudden breakthrough idea that I got at the very end of the month toward my current project.

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  16. I am officially adopting the whole peeing on a different floor move. I love it!

    This month I plan on finishing up my beta edits so I can start the query journey in March! Yay:)

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  17. Oh my goodness! That article is scary. Thanks for sharing. I'm going to make sure I get up out of my chair more often.

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