It's A Frantic Friday Check In

Well here we are at the end of another week and what a week it has been. We’ve had sick kids, sick and injured challenges, boy it’s been tough. But we have continued on, battled through the rough spots and continued to work towards our goals. What can I say other than ‘FANTASTIC’ ladies, take a bow. With three having hit the 50k mark earlier this week, we have a few that are nearing that mark each day. This is great to see, to read each day how they have reached yet another rung on that ladder. BUT! I know I have said this before; still I’m going to say it again. This challenge should be about doing the best you can for yourself, it’s about getting you writing whether that is 50ks or 1k it doesn’t matter as long as at the end of the month you are happy with what you have achieved.

Now let’s talk about good news of a different kind. We have ladies on the loop who have achieved great results in contests this week. Natalie placed second in one of eHarlequin challenges; Nicki B is in the finals in the NZ ‘Great Beginnings’ contest. As well as Cathryn and Karen are finalists in the NZ ‘Meet the Editor’. So bring out the marching band.

WOOHOO ladies and all the best wishes for the next round. Now I’d tell you all to cross your fingers for them, but you need those to type with so cross your legs instead. If your hubby complains tell him it’s for a good cause. What else has happened this week???? Oh yeah the wonderful Diane Curran had had her story she wrote during NaNo ‘Beyond Happy Ever After’ accepted for publication with Wet Ink magazine. Double WOOHOO.

Also this week Paula Roe has her book in the ‘Diamonds Down Under’ series out, called ‘Boardrooms & A Billionaire Heir’ this is the fifth book in the six part series, so keep an eye out for it ladies.

Okay I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone if I have please accept my most humble apology. So now it’s to work. Yes it is now time to add your total’s so I can update your word meters. As always you have until 8pm (Sydney time) Sunday to post your total. Don’t forget I need to know your complete total for the challenge. Happy writing everyone and I’ll catch up with you over the weekend.

Hugs
Sandie

Happy Hump Day!! So How Ya Goin'?

Hi Ladies,

Welcome to hump day, yes we are at the middle of the week yet again. Where the hell has the week gone? Okay ladies how are you going this week? We have three who have reached the 50k mark. How fantastic are Felicity and RC? Felicity 590ks in what 14 days? Very impressive Way to go Felicity!! As for RC, 42,000+ words over 2 days, that woman is amazing. More than likely sore but AMAZING!!!

For me I may have reached the 50ks but I still have a long way to go yet. I still have at least one more MS to finish this month, and yes I started another one. I know like I need another WIP.

Okay enough about that, this blog is about you, the ones still pounding the keys board. You wonderful ladies working at your word count everyday. To you ladies take a bow because you are still here. Still striving for that goal you have set yourself. You ladies are showing us some great numbers for first time challengers and I for one think you are just fantastic.

Something else I’d like to add this week, and that what do we count in our word count? For me and only because I had set my goal to finish two to three of my current WIP’s it is about the novel. But if you are working on getting a novel out there and are planning, plotting and doing outlines as well as writing your novel, then count the words you have put into getting your novel out there. By that I mean everything you have written in relation to your novel. I know this is not the way NaNo is run but I think this month is all about getting you writing. Planning and plotting are all of the process for some of you, so add your words. You may be surprised at just how many words you have written this month. Anyway the challenge is ‘50ks In 30 Days’, it doesn’t say it all has to be in the novel. Hehehe.

My next item is to announce this week’s PIN-UP Girls. Now it was hard this week, we had challengers reaching their goals early and I think Felicity and RC are truly amazing. So I’m giving special mention to both Felicity and RC. YAYAYA ladies, take a bow.

But think this week we saw what this challenge is really all about and that is determination so this week my PIN-UP GIRL is Amanda Reynolds-Smith. Amanda didn’t let the fact that she lost most of her word count defeat her. She got back in the seat and kept going and by the end of the week had her word count back up there. Now if you want inspiration that is inspiration. Don’t forget to drop by and say “Hi” to our Amanda. Amanda you should be very proud of yourself, you didn't let a big setback beat you, so for me to you 'AWESOME WORK'

I'm on word count meter updates this weekend, so don't forget to have your totals in by 8pm Sydney time Sunday night. I'll update the meters after I get my final dose of McDreamy & McSteamy for the year. So you will have some leeway. Don't forget we need your toal for the whole challenge.

Enjoy the rest of your week ladies, happy writing and may the word fairy bring you the words you need.

Hugs
Sandie.

50ks in 17 days or less

Cyber champagne all around!

Maybe I need to make some alterations to the Winners certificate for the 3 fabulous marathon writers who have already reached the 50,000 word mark.

A gold medal for the fabulous Felicity, endurance writer, who ran through the ribbon at the end of the track on Saturday.

A silver medal for the resourceful Rhian, who made the most of being on a romantic holiday with hubby with no internet access to drink cocktails and write, write, write. Producing 20ks two days running, you have to wonder exactly what was in those cocktails.

A bronze medal for Sprinting Sandie who surpassed 50ks today and will undoubtedly write a lot more words by the end of the month.

Way to go girls - at least we don't need a road map to complete the course - we can just follow your blazing trail.

So I have reposted one version of the winners' certificates and the picture of the badge.

Sending out another plea to place badge orders now so you can show off your participation in 50ks in 30 days at the RWA conference, or wherever else you want to flash your badge. Don't forget you don't have to make it to the 50ks to wear the badge with pride.

Monday meter maid.

I'm back! It's Monday and meter maid time!

Have you seen those meters? Are they hot or what? There's even two with 100%!!!! Happy dancing for me and Felicity! (Actually, I think I'll stop that, it's not a pretty sight.)

Guess what I learned while I was away? No, it wasn't that I still love Hubby after 20 years of marriage! It was that I can write. Seriously write! Like over 20,000 words a day! With no distractions I can just pump them words out. Now I know why Elaine likes to disappear for a few days on her own, talk about being productive.

Anyway, none of my stories are finished. LOL But I sure did put a dent in some of them. I didn't however do the re-write. sigh. I'll do that this week. Promise. Well, now I've crossed the finish line I can afford to be a little less wordy.

OMG!!!!

The stupid computer just ate my post!!!!! Thank God the thing autosaves. Okay, we're cool again now.

So where was I...... right, the re-write. I'm planning to do that today. (and tomorrow if I don't finish) It shouldn't be too hard right? Right?? I understand what the editor is asking but I'm just not 100% I want to do it with this story. I'll do it and see what it looks like then make the decision.

I hope everyone is enjoying the challenge. Judging by the meters I'd say the answer to that is a yes. There are soooo many different amounts over there, some large, some not, but there all there. All those words are on the page and most of us have admitted to writing more in the last two weeks than in the last.... well, for some, quite a while. Keep up the great job and remember, any number of words is a good number.

RC

Thank god its Friday - reward time!

I'm pleased it's Friday because it's one day closer to the weekend when I can just give myself over to my story and my writing, become totally immersed and lose myself with my characters.

I've been setting a cracking pace so far but have slumped off the last few nights and days (daytime because I've been working the real job) - and nights because I've passed the fabulous sex and hit the heartache and that's confronting!

There are other fabulous writers in our group who have been sprinting hard, juggling housework, kidlets and jobs and still produced amazing word counts. If you're not one of these writers, then don't despair - the challenge is not yet over, and any word count is better than sitting on your butt and watching Australia's Got Talent.

I won't admit to juggling housework - with the man away, I've been ignoring all but the necessities (sometimes I even ignored the fact that I had to eat), which means that this weekend I will have to alternate between word sprints and housework because he's back on Monday night.

Now that we're almost halfway through the month, I want you to reward yourself for getting this far, no matter what your word count is. One of the reasons I haven't written tonight is that I did just that: my reward was an iTunes card (Big W are selling $50 cards for $30) and a shopping spree on iTunes. So I got myself 3 albums plus a few individual songs: a grand total of 47 songs. Ian Moss is serenading me right now.

I also bought a new Cyndi Lauper song called Same Old Story (although when she sings it, it has an extra adjective in there). I really hope that I'm not writing the same old story with my 50k effort but actually I don't believe I am. Instead of drawing events from my life in isolation and sticking them in a story, I've stolen the whole story and plot line from my life. The names and places have been changed to protect the guilty and I've added some extra characters. In a couple of days, I've going to blog about Helga (who appears as a character in my novel called The Harriet Chariot). Helga was my first car, a powder blue 1966 Volkswagon beetle, and she and I had lots of pizza delivery adventures together. That post will appear on Write on Track some time after the weekend, right after I've scanned her picture out of my 1986 diary. (Yeah, I loved my car - she was my ticket to independence)

So fellow writers, tell me how you are going to reward yourself for getting this far in 50ks and don't forget to post your total word count by 8pm on Sunday night so I can update your word meters.

Mid Week Blog; So How ya Going?

Hi All,

Well it’s Wednesday again, hump day, just three more days to the weekend YAY. First off I’d like to congratulate you all on a fantastic effort so far. You are all doing so well, especially the ones that have small children. Each and every one of you should give your selves a pat on the back for a job well done.

So how are things going? Are your characters playing nice? Is the story flowing as well as you had hoped it would? Are you finding new and exciting surprises each time you sit in front of your computer? If you have an answer to any of these questions come and tell us.

I’ve had no real surprises this week. I think my characters are just glad to be out of the holding pattern I’ve had them in for the last few months. I’ve learnt a few things about a couple of the secondary characters that are going to have their own stories which was interesting. The things you learn when you least expect it. Oh and I also found out that my heroines dead husband married her because he didn’t want her having what he couldn’t the hero. What a snot nose. So glad I got to kill him off. Anyway my aim this week is to finish this WIP, which will than give me three finished manuscripts ready for editing in July. With just another nine WIP to work on.
Now at the weekend I did a little blog hopping at the weekend and when I came to one of the blogs I was so impressed with just how much she had achieved during the week I told her she should be our pin-up girl for the week. So each Wednesday I’m going to announce who I think my pin-up girl is for putting in such a great effort during the challenge. So my first PIN-UP GIRL is… drum roll please… da-ta-ta-da NATALIE HUTCH. Natalie has worked so hard this week, (well everyone has worked hard) but Nat has twins, a three year old (by the sounds of it going on 33), teenagers (I think that’s right) a hubby not happy because the house was a mess (he did clean up for her so I’ll let the unhappy bit pass), plus she has kept us entertain from time to time with her witty emails and post. So there you have it that is why Nat got my nod this week, so nip over and visit her blog (just click on her name) say hi, and have a read of her first chapter (which I still have to do). But truthfully I think you are all pin-up girls.

Also at the weekend there was some discussion about the rules or the spirit of the challenge. Should we be sticking to the rules of the NaNo or do we do our own thing? This is how I see this challenge, while basically we are working at getting 50ks written in 30 days we have to remember that not everyone works to the mould of NaNo. Some are set in their ways they know what works for them and what doesn’t. If editing and fine turning their work as they go then that’s fine, if they only write 10k or 30k during the month but it is the first time they have ever written 10k or 30k in a month then they have achieved something. To my way of thinking this is about being there to support each other, to give a cheer when needed and a shoulder at other times, to help each of us do the best we can with our time.

The lovely Diane Curran will be updating the word meters this week, so please have your totals in by 8pm on Sunday night or you may miss out on having your word meter updated. Diane has a day job as well as taking the time to update the meters and fit her own writing in. Don’t forget we need your total for the WHOLE CHALLENGE.

Okay I’m off my soapbox now. Enjoy the rest of your week I hope you achieve whatever goal you have set yourself this week and happy writing.

Hugs
Sandie.

Mondays meter maid.

Well, I'm late posting this because I was hoping a few of you that haven't posted your updated word count would this morning. But, I guess life is busy or you're so engrossed in your writing that you've forgotten all about us!
Anyway, check out those meters!!! Don't they look fantastic?? I'm thrilled with mine, if I add up the actually time I spent in front of my computer I did really, really well. Some of you have exploded out of the starting blocks and I'm crossing my fingers that you can keep it up for the rest of the month. For those like me, who've decided slow and steady wins the race I've got a book for you; The Tortoise And The Hare. LOL
Everyone is doing great no matter what your word count. Let's face it, life often gets in the way. And as much as we'd love to say POQ to it all we can't, so we make do, do what we can and hope for the best. Every little bit helps, so even if you're only get 100 words while waiting for the bathroom it's 100 words you didn't have before. And yes, I've been known to get the note book out and scribble madly while waiting in line for the bathroom.
The big news this week that deserves a mention is Christina Phillips selling a short story to The Wild Rose Press. Well done KC!!!!!!
The Wild Rose Press have been picking up a heap of new authors over the last few months and I have to say us Aussie's are a large part of that number. Go Aussie's!!!!!
So, back to writing, or editing, or re-writing. LOL I've lost track of what everyone is doing.
Don't forget the sprints are happening regularly over at the group. They're going on as I type this, which reminds me, I'm supposed to be writing.
Catch you all during the week.
RC