Ready, Set, WRITE! is a summer writing challenge hosted by Erin L. Funk, Alison Miller, Katy Upperman, Jaime Morrow and Elodie Nowodazkij as a way to encourage participants to get going on their projects and to help keep us accountable. We share brief updates every Monday so as not to interrupt writing time with blogging. You can find out more here or check out others' updates over at the hosts' blogs.
1. How I did on last week’s goal(s)
Again, much better than expected. ...Sort of. Although I'm not quite sure how it happened, I managed to finish off the week having written a grand total of 6,873 words--which is great, although I still don't know how handwriting it makes me write more than typing does--but I still have absolutely no idea whatsoever about the plot.
Considering I'm now at 13,849 words into it... might need one soon!
(Week seven?? Already??)
Considering I'm now at 13,849 words into it... might need one soon!
(Week seven?? Already??)
2. My goal(s) for this week
Plot. Please?
Also, I'm going to try sneaking up on it again. Last week's goal was 3,000 words or more, so this week's goal is 4,000 or more. (Still working on the "more time = less writing" scenario.)
Also, I'm going to try sneaking up on it again. Last week's goal was 3,000 words or more, so this week's goal is 4,000 or more. (Still working on the "more time = less writing" scenario.)
3. A favorite line from my story OR a word or phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised
For a moment Lirio kissed back just as fiercely, then bit hard on Ais’ lower lip. “Why are you here?”“Mounting a dramatic and daring rescue, of course.” It was a good thing he was already used to the sting from his split lip.Lirio’s smile lacked any actual humour. “Of course.” He nodded first to Siwen, then in the general direction of the figure Ais had clocked earlier. “And you were planning on doing that how?”“Oh you know, the usual. Charm and wit, that sort of thing.”“Great,” Lirio said, his smile widening. “I’m doomed.”
4. The biggest challenge I faced this week
The heat. It's not so bad anywhere except where I write. Oh, and the cat--the one whose chair I fell asleep in? He's been getting his revenge by leaping onto my notebook and scooting across the table on it. It's also a prime sitting or sleeping spot... while I'm writing.
5. Something I love about my WIP
Against all the odds I actually like the dorky idiots that are Ais and Lirio. I really didn't expect that when I started writing.
I also love that I'm finally getting a lot more use out of my fountain pen and ink collections!
I also love that I'm finally getting a lot more use out of my fountain pen and ink collections!
Someone at one point said that the first draft is the draft where you tell yourself the story. I bet that's why you have no idea about the plot. It will come to you when it's ready and it will be awesome. (Just like that excerpt. I love the humor in it.) Good luck this week.
ReplyDeleteI like that a lot, that really does feel like how it's going. Although I'm still hoping it'll come to me a little sooner rather than later. ;) Thank you! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. :)
DeleteGood luck to you as well!
I'm sure the plot will come. Good luck with that this week and on slowly increasing your goals. I know about the heat, we had a heat advisory yesterday of 113, fun. You made me laugh about your cat seeking revenge! I bet you learned your lesson.
ReplyDeleteAhh, oh my! I just converted that to Celsius (Fahrenheit has me lost...) and...that is a terrifying advisory! I hope it wasn't as bad as that...
DeleteI have indeed learned my lesson, and we seem to have come to an uneasy truce. Now he just sits beside me in a kind of "I can cause all kinds of trouble if I want to" way... so I guess pretty much just in a normal cat way then. *grins*
Great excerpt! And I go with the old Field of Dreams thing when I write: "If you build it, they will come." There are things in my story I have no idea about (usually endings) until I just start writing. Sometimes I don't even know the ending until I'm at the end. Same thing will happen with your plot. Keep writing. It will come.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
I think I'll be joining you with the "don't know the ending until the end". I really don't know where bits of this are going, or where hints are likely to end up. (Hints are particularly sneaky, I don't always see them until I'm done and reread...)
DeleteThank you for the encouragement, and I hope you have a great week too!
Ha! Aren't cats fun? Mine likes to plot down directly on my keyboard. :-) Love your excerpt this week -- super intense! And you're rocking your word count. Well done, and have an awesome week!
ReplyDeleteHe did used to have a bit of a thing for my old laptop. He used to lay on my chest and watch me type, but his helping paw never really worked out and he got a bit bored. *grins*
DeleteThank you! Hope you week goes really well too. :)
I love this excerpt! So much voice in it :) And you're doing great! Looking forward to reading your progress next week!
ReplyDeleteThank you! They're both a little prone to commandeering everything when their sections come along, that's for sure...
DeleteGood luck this week!
I have a theory about handwriting versus typing. When you're typing, it's too easy to delete and to dither about wording. When you're writing by hand, I think that's more of a pain in the butt, and you're probably more likely to just keep writing and let it go for now. Just a theory. :-) Either way, awesome job on all the words and meeting your goal! Great excerpt too. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. When I type I'm prone to editing sentences again and again, but handwriting makes it a little more difficult, although I do have plenty of tiny-text and arrows pointing across lines reminding me that something needs to be moved elsewhere, so I guess I can dither even like this! It definitely stops me from getting too carried away with it though, and I think I'm now more prone to decide to just work in what I'd have edited in into a line a little later on... and to do that, I have to keep writing. ;)
DeleteThank you! You too. :)
I have been writing a little by hand as well and it is really helping me get the words down. I am definitely going to do more this week! I loved the excerpt - it made me want to hear more about the daring plan :) Great job on all the words this week - hope this week is equally awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt works oddly well, doesn't it? And there's something nice, almost magical, about seeing the shapes of the letters appear on the page in whichever colour I've decided to write in... When I stop to think about it, it starts to feel a little strange, hah.
DeleteIt wasn't quite as daring as he expected, but I'm starting to think there was a reason for it, and not one he'll like...
Thank you, I hope your week goes really well and your handwriting doesn't lead to cramps or inky fingers! *grins*
I've gotten a lot better about revising while typing my drafts, except that I'll often go back and clean up a word or two, fix spelling and punctuation, or add to something (which is more words, more detail, more drafting!
ReplyDeleteAs for your plotless story, your characters are very deep, very real, and they're clearly alive in a textured way. Not just Lirio and Ais, but Fayth and RQ, too...
Characters like this are going to make a plot, sooner or later, or at least give you some awesome ideas along the way.
Can't wait to see what you all come up with! =D