Monday, July 6, 2015

Ready, Set, WRITE! Week 5

Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing.  This year, your RSW hosts are Alison MillerJaime MorrowErin FunkElodie Nowodazkij, and Katy Upperman.


How I did on last week's goals: I set my word count goal at 4K and just scraped by with write 4,200 words. BUT I did hit 30K! *happy dance and sparkly stickers abound* It's strange thinking this story might be halfway drafted by now. I didn't outline, so I'm just letting the characters take me where they want to go. I'll figure out the actual plot in draft two. (This is my first time taking such a zen approach to writing, but I'm loving it. I read a quote somewhere that said something like, "The first draft is just you telling the story to yourself," and I've really embraced that. Before I can shape the characters' journey for others to read, I need to learn it myself.) 
*(Edit: The quote is from Terry Pratchett. Thanks Google!)

I also accomplished my non-writing goal of exercising 3 days this week. Running and yoga are my two favorite gym activities (especially when the treadmills have TVs built in and I can watch Supernatural during my jog).

My goals for this week: 4K seems to be as much as I can stand to write at the moment, so I'm going with that for another week. I'm upping my exercising to 4 days this week (3 lunch break gym sessions and Saturday's yoga class).

A favorite line from my story: My MC is at her friend's bridal shower and isn't having much luck with the activities.
The woman purses her lips. “Well, would you like to write a date night suggestion on a popsicle stick?”  
What?” I sound like a broken record. 
“For the happy couple. Give them some fun ideas of things to do together. They can pick one out of the jar”—she holds up a mason jar filled with colorful popsicle sticks—“and then do whatever it says.” 
I can’t even get my own dates. Carla does not want me planning hers. And I wonder how many of those popsicle sticks have dirty suggestions written on them. Although, I’m pretty sure ninety percent of the guests are her mother’s church friends, so maybe I’m the only trashy one here.  

Biggest challenge this week: Once again, motivation. Thank goodness for these weekly check-ins, because I need the accountability right now.

Something I love about my WiP: Those days I'm able to steer it toward those super fun scenes. If it were up to me, the entire book would be my main character playing (or attempting to play) hockey in the driveway of this family she's met and loves, avoiding her problems. BUT it wouldn't be a very exciting book if all she did was avoid her problems. This coming week, though, I've got a scene coming up where she hangs out with that fun family, and I can't wait to write it!

How did you all do on your goals this week?

14 comments:

  1. Ha! Love your excerpt! Also: "The first draft is just you telling the story to yourself." --> YES. This is exactly what I need to hear today, because my first draft is currently a disaster. Thanks for the inspirational words, Kaitlin!

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    1. That first draft philosophy is the only thing keeping me calm about my messy draft, so I'm clinging to it! ;) We'll get these drafts in order, I believe in us! *pompoms* Good luck this week, Katy!

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  2. Yay for 30K! Love that quote about a first draft being only for the writer. It's in revisions that I make the story actually make sense to other people! :P

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    1. Thanks Emma! It's kind of a nice way to think about a first draft, just you and the story before beta readers and editors come into the mix. :)

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  3. Awesome job with your goals this week, Kaitlin! Motivation is *always* an issue for me, so this accountability is great. I really enjoyed your excerpt, and that quote you shared from Terry Pratchett. I so wish I could take a more zen attitude to my WiP. I'll have to keep this quote in mind as I continue working through my revisions. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks Jaime! The Terry Pratchett quote has seriously helped me these past few weeks. My draft is out of control but I'm managing to stay calm about it. RSW is keeping me SO accountable, more than ever before, and I'm accomplishing so much. Thank you for hosting it again this summer!

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  4. I loved your excerpt, especially the last two lines! Totally cracked me up! Nicely done on meeting your word count goal, and I hope the next 4k is a breeze! :)

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    1. Thanks Erin! The popsicle stick jar was a part of my friend's bridal shower a couple years ago and I maaaay have had a similar reaction to it as my narrator. ;)

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  5. Yay for hitting your goals! I also just barely eeked out my goal too! Love your quote, it really hits home for me, thank you for posting it! I hope you have a great week!

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    1. Thanks so much! And good for you reaching your goals as well. :) Have a great week!

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  6. I absolutely LOVE that excerpt! I like the idea of writing suggestions down on popsicle sticks. Hmmm. :) Also, I have a very zen approach to first drafting, much like you described. And I love the thought of telling the story to myself first. I can get on board with that. Congrats on meeting your goals and have a great week!

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    1. Thanks Alison! This is the first time during an initial draft where I haven't let myself freak out about not nailing down the structure/plot, and it really has made writing more fun. I like not knowing every single thing about my story right away. :)

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  7. Ha! I'd totally be the one writing dirty suggestions -- your MC and I could be friends :) 30k is awesome! As is that quote -- I think we all need to remember that when we're drafting and not get caught up in fixing and worrying. Hope you have a great writing week, Kaitlin!

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    1. Thanks Rebecca! And the quote has been so helpful for me lately. Happy writing to you too! :)

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