Monday, January 21, 2013

#WIPMADNESS Week 3--Check In--Perseverance


San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, Arizona
Do your writing and publishing goals sometimes seem as lofty and hard to surmount as my beloved San Francisco Peaks (elevation 12,633 feet)? If so, don't lose hope. 

How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time. So while you keep your eyes on the summit, take little steps each day and eventually you'll reach the top. It may take a very long time, but just imagine the view!

This week I was able to make a wee bit of progress on my WIP despite a herniated disk and the continued energy-sucking drama in my life. And I am working on how to go about making a big announcement at the end of this month. Tease. Tease. Tease. 

And let me not forget to announce the winner of last week's musical prize:

Charlie Holmberg
Please email me your mailing address: yascribe(dot)angelina(at)gmail(dot)com

So Wipsters, what small goals have you reached this week?

31 comments:

  1. Small goals: Round one revisions done, sent back to agent. Received another set of comments. I've worked on these a bit and now need to polish and send back. One step at a time. My "summit" will be finishing edits and sending off to publishers.

    So sorry to hear about your herniated disc! I've had my fair share of spine issues in the past year. Actually, a year ago this month, I was preparing myself for spine surgery. Hope things get better for you! Looking forward to your big announcement. :))

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    1. I eagerly await your arrival at the "summit". ^_^

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  2. I realized a few days ago that I no longer have to remind myself to write an hour a day - now I'm looking forward to it! I'm in this good mindset where I'm thinking about my characters when I fall asleep and when I wake up. It's awesome to look forward to "seeing" them :)

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  3. Small goals: Revise one chapter per day. Don't feel bad if you don't have an agent/traditional publisher...yet. I went to a plotting workshop on Saturday and everything was great until a little comment the instructor, my former writing mentor, said. She was asking for us to share a plotting plot and she told me she wanted to get to others. She didn't get back to me. I don't know why that bothered me. But it did. It made me feel as if my premise wasn't good enough. There were published authors in the audience with numerous titles or ones that are doing really well via self-pub route. I know, it probably seems silly but I just started doubting myself. Authors are insecure, but I just need to stop comparing self to others. That's my main goal I need to work towards.

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    1. Comparison is the worst, Kim, and yeah, I think we definitely go through this thing where we have to realize how destructive it is. If it helps, I think you're awesome :-)

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    2. Compare yourself only to yourself, Kim. Then you'll see how much you've progressed! ((((HUGS)))

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    3. Even small things can really shake our self-confidence. This writing life is not an easy thing! But, you are awesome and talented, and you're brilliant for making it a goal to stop comparing. Sending good self-confidence vibes....

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  4. HEY THAT'S ME. Score! Thanks, will email you shortly!

    This week I'm hoping to finish my revisions on THE TASTE OF ANGELS--the revisions for this book aren't as extensive as I'm used to, and it's a short book, so I think I can get it done before the next check-in.

    Hope you feel better and the drama sizzles down!

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    1. Go, Charlie!
      As for my drama, I hope to have it behind me by summer.

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  5. Yay... congratulations, Charlie!!!

    I'm in denial about January being three-quarters over already. I shifted my goals to make time for a job I've taken on at our church as their new Historian. I've been preoccupied with collecting and sorting information and photos and my other writing has taken a back seat. I console myself by saying I've just shifted projects and that this one won't take up as much of my time later on. I hope to get the initial articles underway this week and be ready to begin filling the albums by month end. #fingerscrossed

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  6. How'd you herniate your disc? I'm so sorry!! I've decided to break from my usual method of writing from beginning to end and instead take each POV and write those stories out completely. Then I'll revise by intermingling them. Excited to stay in one voice for an extended time.

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    1. Dunno. But it's bad. Normally I know the exact moment it happens. I think I was too numb to notice. ^_^

      That sounds like a brilliant idea. I might imitate you with that one.

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  7. I finished my hefty revision of The Book I Truly Love last week, now I'm stuck thinking about which of the books I only kind of like that I want to work on. Sigh. It's just one of those times that I need to jump in and get involved in something and I know I'll get into it, but looking from the outside isn't very motivating. Today I've spent the day working on marketing stuff, and may do that for a couple more days before I decide. I have notes on a couple of books I could work on, but just not feeling very motivated by them yet. I think it's just one of those weeks.

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    1. Marketing is not quite as fun as drafting or revising, but necessary, eh?

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  8. A big announcement?! And we have to wait 'til the end of the month??? Ack, Angelina you're killin' me. ;)

    I love your one-step-at-a-time analogy. I've taken some small steps this past week, making progress on "re-visioning" the novel I so want to love. And this week I'll take that foundational work and begin to write this story again (from scratch--"the end" definitely feels like a distant mountain peak!).

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    1. Re-writing from scratch is scary, but once you get started it gets easier. ^_^

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  9. I was inaugurated President of the United States for my second term.

    No, wait. That wasn't me after all.

    But I did manage to go on a real hike this weekend, as I've wanted to do for so long. And I'm keeping up with my daily revision goals.

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  10. Ack! I can't believe I nearly forgot!

    Well, I finally opened one of the books on my to-be-read shelf, and not just a romance novel. So it's a start.

    I survived a nasty, unexpected allergic reaction to cheap soap, too.

    And just tonight, I opened up my NaNo. Time to get to work.

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    1. Sounds like you're having fun. Except for the cheap soap fiasco. . .

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  11. Yay, Charlie! And OOOOOOHHH...can't wait to hear the announcement, Angelina.

    I hit the first small peak...finished chapter 1. Of course I can't help but go back and mess with a little more as I start chapter 2. I just gotta!

    Good luck this week, Wipsters!

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    1. You do what you have to do. Congrats on reachin' that first peak. ^_^

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  12. Surprise? Oooooh, exciting.

    I'm revising away and now am hopeful I'll finish my first pass and alpha pass before edit letter comes. And I'm beta'ing. A lot.

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  13. Get well soon! This month I'm working on a nonfiction proposal. I'm making SLOW, but steady, progress -- it's a pretty steep mountain for me.

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  14. I've had a lot of slow and steady progress over the past 3 1/2 years with the final culmination of my debut release within the last 24 hrs. That quote at the top fits me perfectly:-) You just gotta keep climbing--you'll get to the top eventually!

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    1. Thanks for sharing your encouraging journey. Congrats!

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  15. Ouch, I hope your back feels better!

    I'm revising now, and am on track to finish my second pass by the 31st. The day of your big reveal. Exciting!

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