Dr. Seuss, Cheerleaders, and Writing: ROW 80 Check In

Looking for encouraging words for a new cheer for my ROW80 NaNo buddies, actually for all who are writing, I found this:

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"

~ Dr. Seuss

 

I've been a fan of Dr. Seuss for years, so I'm glad he's cheering us all on. My big bat is ready, so may no troubles deter your writing, or mine, this week.

 

I've also recruited two super cute cheerleaders to Team NaNo:

 

 

Go, Team, Go!

 

My progress this week:

 

Writing: Slow but steady. I worked several hours on both novels, but each needed outlining and tweaking work more than words. It still felt like progress, but adding words always feels better. My goal this week: write! The framework is there, so it's time.

 

Fellow writers, especially those participating in NaNo: please share your best tip for staying in writing mode.

 

Blogging: Thanks to NaBloPoMo, I'm posting daily. I even posted twice a couple of days. Plus, I've fallen into a nice 3 posts a week groove on Mom in Love with Fiction. Goal this week: Post my Henrietta Lacks review and finish Turning Point to review.

 

Miscellaneous: Ditching Becoming a Writer for now to join Nicole Basaraba in reading Stephen King's On Writing. I'm excited to read it and pick the brain of a fellow writer.

 

Exercise: I met my minimum of 4 days a week for 45 minutes. Same goals for this week. I've also given up sugar. Only two days in, and so far the cravings have been manageable. My Dr. Seuss bat is prepared in case sugar needs rear their ugly head. But, we'll see how it goes.

 

Check out the other A Round of Words in 80 Days participants here.

Pace, Don't Race: ROW 80 Check In

Wow, Sunday already. Time for A Round of Words in 80 Days check in. ROW 80 is the writing challenge that acknowledges you have a life, and life gets in the way of writing from time to time.

My dear husband took my three girls on a Daddy-Daughter pumpkin picking, hayride evening on Saturday night. Do you know what I did? I positioned myself in front of the computer and didn't get up for four hours. I forgot to eat dinner, drink, feed the dog, anything but write. My eyes started blurring near the end. I only stopped when hubby called to say they were almost home. It was 8:00pm, dinner was cereal.

I'm a co-coach for a girls running program at our elementary school. The advice we constantly give the girls... Pace, don't Race! It's good advice for everyone, including writers. I tend to clutter my brain with to-do lists and hectic schedules and race around. I try to squeeze writing into my life in much the same way. I need to find a pace, instead of always bolting out of the gate and running out of steam.

This might be a good time to share a glimpse into my kitchen table/temporary work space:

I'm a bit embarrassed to share this proof of my insanity, but thought you might all appreciate a peek into the abyss.

Today, I'm focusing and rocking a happy dance. My picture was chosen as a finalist in the Rock the Row picture challenge. Please stop by Jenny Hansen's Cowbell blog to vote! Many thanks to Jenny and Nicole Basaraba for their work organizing the Rock the Row Twitter party. So much fun!

My picture:

I must thank my daughters. I rummaged through their dress-up stuff and borrowed my oldest daughter's guitar for the photo.

This week's progress:

Writing
Note: I realized this should be coming first since it's my priority. It only took two weeks for this realization to set in!
Results: Outlined first seven chapters of our Depression Cookies follow-up in detail and completed a chapter. Will email to Mom tomorrow. My goal is to write a chapter or two on my YA book while waiting for her response.
Reaction: Score! *insert jamming guitar solo here*

Depression Cookies blog
Results: Still blogging daily. Seeing increased traffic!
Reaction: More jamming guitar.

Mom in Love with Fiction blog
Results: Posted twice. Finished Valhalla review and will publish Tuesday.
Reaction: Still jamming.

Miscellaneous
Results: Finished Valhalla and almost done with my Rebeccas Reads book, Parallel Lives. Reviews coming soon. Still haven't started a book on the writing craft, but daughters and I sat down and did some journal writing together. Priceless.
Reaction: Music fading, but still rocking.

I hope my ROW 80 friends had a stellar week. Same hopes for my non-writing friends and whatever goals they may have to finish out 2011.

Please check out these amazing ROW 80 writers:

Rocking the ROW. It's Party Time!

I missed the late night hours of the rocking party, but will be checking into Twitter later today! I only wish we had a room reserved somewhere. I'd love to meet the rock stars from Round 3 (and hopefully still with us for Round 4) and the new talent coming into Round 4. Imagine the girl running around high-fiving and hugging people with a giddy look on her face. That'd be me!

Two of my favorite Round 3 rockers joined forces for an additional Rock the ROW giveaway. Please visit Nicole Basaraba's Uni-Verse-City for a wonderful Alberta Ross giveaway. Trust me, you'll fall in love and go back many more times.

One of the party challenges was to post a photo inspired by the Rock the ROW theme.

The first was inspired from my oldest daughter's guitar all the way down to my baby's dress up supplies:

The next represented how I rocked the ROW, and is a lovely painting by a friend of my mother's. Herta Abarr is a renowned artist, writer and teacher who was inspired by the classic party song, It's a Quarter to Three.

It's a Quarter to Three: Herta Abarr

Check later today for my first official Round 4 check in. But for now, head on over to #ROW80 on Twitter and join the party. First round's on me!