RECKONING: Hours—I did about twenty percent of what I said I would do. Type and tweak draft 26: About half done. Start chapter 27: Bwahaha. Pivot should I bring home a fur beast: I don't mean to brag, but I totally nailed the pivot should we bring home a fur beast.
ANALYSIS: Well, shit! It's funny because adopt a dog was on my 100 days of summer list, but in a by-the-end of the summer way not a straight out of the gate way. I've never raised a puppy, and I'm feeling in love and also in over my head. I would say I haven't written since we brought her home, but that's not true. I managed to write (albeit late) my final Mood Tools post--https://hibou.substack.com/p/the-rest-of-you--and I finalized my query letter and synopsis for a deadline for a pitch fest, so I proved it is possible to work around raising a puppy.
PLAN: It's pretty clear that I will be working on a puppy-doro schedule, so I'm happy I did a reasonable goal for 100 days of summer. The morning routine will totally take care of itself. I'll get up at the crack of dawn for puppy botty break and then write for a couple hours before breakfast. For this first week, I'll aim for 10 hours total and set my sights on finishing the type and tweak draft for chapter 26. I feel like for a first full week with a puppy this is a stretch goal. So 10 hours and finish 26. Given that I got through half of 26 in less than 10 hours last week, I think that's reasonable.
You are such a kind and caring person, Cathy. Super excited you found another lucky recipient for your love. I'm betting this care of the rest-of-you will ultimately benefit your writing big-time because unconditional love coming back your way.
RECKONING: I finished my revision! I do, however, need to check on some of the physics in my manuscript. Gah. But I did finish, in one big final push on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
ANALYSIS: I feel pretty good about the book, and considering I began making notes for it in January of 2018, and kept playing hooky from it, I'm very satisfied it's finally done.
PLAN: Now I turn my attention to the edits for the novel that comes out in April of 2024!
Huge congratulations on finishing your revision! That's fantastic! Hopefully you marked the occasion with something special and non perishably permanent. I know you love your scones, but I'm thinking a revision deserves a more lasting reward, particularly since this was a tough goal--you set out to finish your revision before you got swept up in the next published book, and you did it!
Thanks, Evelyn. The long game here is let me get to July 23 when my workshop teaching begins (and that's the day after my trail marathon). Then, even though I'm working/teaching, it's so much fun, it's the reward!
RECKONING: Last week was hard, but I knocked it out of the park. Finished and published a newsletter issue I was proud of and that is getting some amazing feedback; submitted my book info for the 2 library email blasts; recorded 2 podcast interviews that went well.
ANALYSIS: I didn't judge. I just kept going. A little triage in there - perhaps less podcast prep that I had planned (or needed, it turns out), more time to wrap the newsletter writing, introduce new info that came a day before publication, and get the final version of the article friendlier to dodge spam filters (forgoing some links, other stuff).
PLAN: Not worrying about writing this week and next. Getting house ready for floors to be redone+ new floor installation while we are away. You don't realize how much furniture and stuff in the bottom of your closets until you have to move IT ALL. Packing and prepping for Europe - here we come Wednesday! I'll not be posting next week.
Fantastic! Always such a huge boost to have such an incredibly rewarding week before a vacation. Enjoy every minute of your trip, and we'll catch you when (if?) you return stateside!
Given that I don’t think I’ve actually checked in yet, I’ll just say last week was a logistical nightmare but I did manage a writing session early in the week and both sessions Saturday and Sunday. I made a little over 1000 words in the latter two sessions. Maybe 300 or so in the first one.
All in all I feel pretty good about what I’m doing. Just writing along, I feel about half of what I’m currently writing won’t make the Final Cut but I have to have it all out in order to make it make sense, first to me, then to the readers.
We should be closing on our new house in a couple of weeks, and we’re scarily short staffed at work so I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the next couple of weeks as I pack, and sort, and work probably move overtime, so right now I’m comfortable at making loose, vaguely fuzzy goals. Some words is better than no words and showing up a couple times a week is better than giving up. So, progress! For me anyway, as I e a tendency to stop when the going gets tough.
I admire your willingness to find a little time to write when so much is going on for you, and I absolutely love this sentence in your comment above: "Some words is better than no words and showing up a couple times a week is better than giving up." I say print that out and put it over your writing space, but you're packing up your house! So maybe just memorize it as some is better than none and showing up is better than giving up and use it as needed to get you through your writing, your work week, and your move. Good luck! Use us as a way to touch base with your writer self during this busy time!
Love the gentleness here. Summers are tough!
CATHY’S WEEKLY RAP FOR JUNE 19, 2023
RECKONING: Hours—I did about twenty percent of what I said I would do. Type and tweak draft 26: About half done. Start chapter 27: Bwahaha. Pivot should I bring home a fur beast: I don't mean to brag, but I totally nailed the pivot should we bring home a fur beast.
ANALYSIS: Well, shit! It's funny because adopt a dog was on my 100 days of summer list, but in a by-the-end of the summer way not a straight out of the gate way. I've never raised a puppy, and I'm feeling in love and also in over my head. I would say I haven't written since we brought her home, but that's not true. I managed to write (albeit late) my final Mood Tools post--https://hibou.substack.com/p/the-rest-of-you--and I finalized my query letter and synopsis for a deadline for a pitch fest, so I proved it is possible to work around raising a puppy.
PLAN: It's pretty clear that I will be working on a puppy-doro schedule, so I'm happy I did a reasonable goal for 100 days of summer. The morning routine will totally take care of itself. I'll get up at the crack of dawn for puppy botty break and then write for a couple hours before breakfast. For this first week, I'll aim for 10 hours total and set my sights on finishing the type and tweak draft for chapter 26. I feel like for a first full week with a puppy this is a stretch goal. So 10 hours and finish 26. Given that I got through half of 26 in less than 10 hours last week, I think that's reasonable.
You are such a kind and caring person, Cathy. Super excited you found another lucky recipient for your love. I'm betting this care of the rest-of-you will ultimately benefit your writing big-time because unconditional love coming back your way.
Awww
RECKONING: I finished my revision! I do, however, need to check on some of the physics in my manuscript. Gah. But I did finish, in one big final push on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
ANALYSIS: I feel pretty good about the book, and considering I began making notes for it in January of 2018, and kept playing hooky from it, I'm very satisfied it's finally done.
PLAN: Now I turn my attention to the edits for the novel that comes out in April of 2024!
Huge congratulations on finishing your revision! That's fantastic! Hopefully you marked the occasion with something special and non perishably permanent. I know you love your scones, but I'm thinking a revision deserves a more lasting reward, particularly since this was a tough goal--you set out to finish your revision before you got swept up in the next published book, and you did it!
You know, I don't even remember what my reward was. Maybe the scone I snagged at the coffee shop at breakfast. And sleeping in on Saturday! Yay!
Congratulations Henriette! I can see the athlete you are in your writing, the way you keep showing up and pushing, but keep your eye on the long game.
Thanks, Evelyn. The long game here is let me get to July 23 when my workshop teaching begins (and that's the day after my trail marathon). Then, even though I'm working/teaching, it's so much fun, it's the reward!
RECKONING: Last week was hard, but I knocked it out of the park. Finished and published a newsletter issue I was proud of and that is getting some amazing feedback; submitted my book info for the 2 library email blasts; recorded 2 podcast interviews that went well.
ANALYSIS: I didn't judge. I just kept going. A little triage in there - perhaps less podcast prep that I had planned (or needed, it turns out), more time to wrap the newsletter writing, introduce new info that came a day before publication, and get the final version of the article friendlier to dodge spam filters (forgoing some links, other stuff).
PLAN: Not worrying about writing this week and next. Getting house ready for floors to be redone+ new floor installation while we are away. You don't realize how much furniture and stuff in the bottom of your closets until you have to move IT ALL. Packing and prepping for Europe - here we come Wednesday! I'll not be posting next week.
Fantastic! Always such a huge boost to have such an incredibly rewarding week before a vacation. Enjoy every minute of your trip, and we'll catch you when (if?) you return stateside!
Given that I don’t think I’ve actually checked in yet, I’ll just say last week was a logistical nightmare but I did manage a writing session early in the week and both sessions Saturday and Sunday. I made a little over 1000 words in the latter two sessions. Maybe 300 or so in the first one.
All in all I feel pretty good about what I’m doing. Just writing along, I feel about half of what I’m currently writing won’t make the Final Cut but I have to have it all out in order to make it make sense, first to me, then to the readers.
We should be closing on our new house in a couple of weeks, and we’re scarily short staffed at work so I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the next couple of weeks as I pack, and sort, and work probably move overtime, so right now I’m comfortable at making loose, vaguely fuzzy goals. Some words is better than no words and showing up a couple times a week is better than giving up. So, progress! For me anyway, as I e a tendency to stop when the going gets tough.
Welcome, Colleen!
I admire your willingness to find a little time to write when so much is going on for you, and I absolutely love this sentence in your comment above: "Some words is better than no words and showing up a couple times a week is better than giving up." I say print that out and put it over your writing space, but you're packing up your house! So maybe just memorize it as some is better than none and showing up is better than giving up and use it as needed to get you through your writing, your work week, and your move. Good luck! Use us as a way to touch base with your writer self during this busy time!