RECKONING—Read the novel for manuscript mart. Did manuscript mart! Did Muse. Did not get through my chapter.
ANALYSIS–I got a bit distracted by marketplace stuff but the news was good--both agents I sat wtih asked to see the novel when it's done. Now I just need to finish the damn thing!
PLAN–(7/31- 6/6)- Deep focus--putting in daily work. Draft of chapter 28. Read Omnibus. Stretch is a draft of chapter 29. 7/31 and 8/3 are deep dive days for me.
I've been off the RAP bus for a few weeks due to travel / illness / a pile-up of "real world" work (the pesky kind that pays the bills) / nagging self-doubts over whether this is the "right" book for me to be writing / uncertainty about anything beyond the book's overall set-up / conceit. But when I *do* actually write, and stop thinking about the bigger picture stuff (both in the book AND in my sense of my writing life / career / etc.) I have fun! So....that's good? Anyway. I'm determined to get back on the horse. Or bus. Or whatever it is. So:
PLAN: Daily work, one hour. Also, getting up a little earlier, because it really does help to start early when the world is still sleepy.
I would accept happy horse, party bus, joy train, bliss bike, or tickled trike! Whichever metaphor you choose, welcome back aboard! I've heard that good things happen to you when you remember to play with your prose, so maybe do it for the joy in the moment and let the rest figure itself out?
Yes yes! This is good advice. Also, I just gave myself a short-term goal, which is helping to keep me motivated: I want to apply to a couple of residencies with early September deadlines. Both require a 25-page sample. I *have* 25 pages, but they jump all over the place and are a hot mess, so now my very attainable, short term goal is to nail those first 25. (Longer term goal: 100 pp by the end of the year. I can do this!!)
RECKONING--I did not get the newsletter done. I spent 3 hours 37 minutes working on that and the beginnings of another newsletter article. Did more research. Wrote 492 words. Got to the point where I could see how the rest of the article would go.
ANALYSIS--All or something thinking works. Got me back to working when I risked abandoning it. Also spent time helping my daughter pack her car to be shipped cross country, and other supportive stuff like applying for reimbursement and compensation for my travel nightmare. Getting through long-standing admin felt really good. Paid lots of bills.
PLAN--Get it done before I go to LA at ungodly hour on Wednesday, gone for the rest of the week. Already logged good chunks of time and writing is going well. Aiming for draft for editorial review today, polish and send tomorrow. It's ambitious but I'm okay with that.
Thanks, I'm trying. Pure frustration and perseverance won out today. I logged 263 minutes (yes, that's 4 hours and 23 minutes) on the damn unwieldy draft and wrote 1,037 words, but the draft is done. Now I can get feedback and get out my chisel to make the slab draft into a better looking statue.
I hope you got to LA safe and sound, Evelyn. And I wanted to thank you for the Marketing of Barbie movie article. It answered all the questions I'd been pondering about 🤓
Thanks so much Aina for you kind wishes and letting me know how my Barbie Marketing article helped you. Your note was such an uplift! Our trip to LA went well. Our daughter is settling in and we are back in the Boston area.
CATHY'S WEEKLY R.A.P— July 30, 2023
RECKONING—Read the novel for manuscript mart. Did manuscript mart! Did Muse. Did not get through my chapter.
ANALYSIS–I got a bit distracted by marketplace stuff but the news was good--both agents I sat wtih asked to see the novel when it's done. Now I just need to finish the damn thing!
PLAN–(7/31- 6/6)- Deep focus--putting in daily work. Draft of chapter 28. Read Omnibus. Stretch is a draft of chapter 29. 7/31 and 8/3 are deep dive days for me.
I've been off the RAP bus for a few weeks due to travel / illness / a pile-up of "real world" work (the pesky kind that pays the bills) / nagging self-doubts over whether this is the "right" book for me to be writing / uncertainty about anything beyond the book's overall set-up / conceit. But when I *do* actually write, and stop thinking about the bigger picture stuff (both in the book AND in my sense of my writing life / career / etc.) I have fun! So....that's good? Anyway. I'm determined to get back on the horse. Or bus. Or whatever it is. So:
PLAN: Daily work, one hour. Also, getting up a little earlier, because it really does help to start early when the world is still sleepy.
I would accept happy horse, party bus, joy train, bliss bike, or tickled trike! Whichever metaphor you choose, welcome back aboard! I've heard that good things happen to you when you remember to play with your prose, so maybe do it for the joy in the moment and let the rest figure itself out?
Yes yes! This is good advice. Also, I just gave myself a short-term goal, which is helping to keep me motivated: I want to apply to a couple of residencies with early September deadlines. Both require a 25-page sample. I *have* 25 pages, but they jump all over the place and are a hot mess, so now my very attainable, short term goal is to nail those first 25. (Longer term goal: 100 pp by the end of the year. I can do this!!)
That sounds like a most excellent combination of short and long-term goals. You've got this, lady!
RECKONING--I did not get the newsletter done. I spent 3 hours 37 minutes working on that and the beginnings of another newsletter article. Did more research. Wrote 492 words. Got to the point where I could see how the rest of the article would go.
ANALYSIS--All or something thinking works. Got me back to working when I risked abandoning it. Also spent time helping my daughter pack her car to be shipped cross country, and other supportive stuff like applying for reimbursement and compensation for my travel nightmare. Getting through long-standing admin felt really good. Paid lots of bills.
PLAN--Get it done before I go to LA at ungodly hour on Wednesday, gone for the rest of the week. Already logged good chunks of time and writing is going well. Aiming for draft for editorial review today, polish and send tomorrow. It's ambitious but I'm okay with that.
Sounds like your juggling a lot of things with grace and efficiency. May your LA trip be far less bumpy than your last trip!
Thanks, I'm trying. Pure frustration and perseverance won out today. I logged 263 minutes (yes, that's 4 hours and 23 minutes) on the damn unwieldy draft and wrote 1,037 words, but the draft is done. Now I can get feedback and get out my chisel to make the slab draft into a better looking statue.
Evelyn! So good to see you here!
I hope you got to LA safe and sound, Evelyn. And I wanted to thank you for the Marketing of Barbie movie article. It answered all the questions I'd been pondering about 🤓
Thanks so much Aina for you kind wishes and letting me know how my Barbie Marketing article helped you. Your note was such an uplift! Our trip to LA went well. Our daughter is settling in and we are back in the Boston area.
Evelyn! So good to see you!
Good to see you too Rebecca!
Aina!!!! I just popped on here and what a treat to see both you & Evelyn! I hope you are doing well. Have been missing you!