Monday, August 10, 2015

Ready, Set, WRITE! Week 10

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 wrote 4500 words, 1000 of which were freewriting about my narrator. So that 1K didn't go directly toward my manuscript total, but it's definitely going to help my story going forward. I've started going to the local library on Saturdays to write (I'm less likely to slack off there, I'm learning), and it's been great!
 
My goals for this week: Sticking with the 4K goal. I also want to finish the two books I'm currently reading: KISSING IN AMERICA by Margo Rabb (which I won in a YA Buccaneers giveaway) and WE SHOULD HANG OUT SOMETIME by Josh Sundquist.
 
 
A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised
Maybe this was it, I thought. The moment after you reach the top of the roller coaster and finally see what you’re up against. Knowing you’ve got maybe ninety seconds to soak up the rush before everything skids to a halt so hard it shakes your bones.
 
Biggest challenge this week: Feeling guilty about freewriting/tinkering/brainstorming too much. I can spend AGES outlining and making lists, but I'm gunning for 60K by the end of RSW. Even though the freewriting I did this week was necessary, I need to keep my draft's wordcount going up. I've gotten in the habit of working on the draft every day and now the crippling guilt sets in on the days I do character sketches or other things I can't count toward my word count. Which is partially a good thing (I'm a VERY guilt-motivated person), but I need to realize that these outline-type things are only going to help me, even if it takes me a little longer to reach my word count goal.
 
Something I love about my WiPI'm really starting to explore the deeper layers of my protagonist (what she worries about, why she's mad at people). It's going to take a lot of revision, but I'm finally understanding her on all levels.
 
 
How did your writing go this week?




12 comments:

  1. I hear ya about the guilt. I have such a hard time with outlining and character sketches and things like that because I just want to get to the writing. I've learned it's necessary to do at least some though. (Clearly I'm more of a pantser.)
    Loved the excerpt! Have a great week. :)

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    1. Pantsers unite! I've been figuring out my plot as I go along (I write more character-driven fiction anyway). It's going to make for a lot of revising, but it keeps me interested because the story can surprise me.

      Happy writing to you, Melanie!

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  2. How cool that you freewrote about your narrator for 1k words--what a great idea. We think we'll steal that from you :) You def. should not have felt guilty about that--anything dealing with the writing process is a step in the right direction! Good luck on your goals this week!

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    1. Thanks so much! The freewrite will definitely be helpful for me in the long run. Hope the exercise works for you too!

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  3. That free writing about characters is SO important and totally counts as words, especially if it moves you forward! And I should really try your library writing trick - or at least make myself get out of the house and go to a coffee shop. (must have coffee when writing!) I tend to find other things to do and procrastinate when I'm at home. :)

    Awesome excerpt! And hope you have a great week!

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    1. Thanks Alison! I always seem to work better when I'm out in public for some reason, especially when I'm not on my personal computer. I used the library computers in college a lot (no saved passwords/automatic logins for my social media sites!). I love coffee shop writing, too!

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  4. A big yes on being motivated by guilt. I'm horrible for that too. It shouldn't be so hard to give yourself permission to take a different approach, or take time off, or spend time planning, should it? I'm glad freewriting helped you to understand you character better. I'm sure that extra time you took to get to know her will show in the quality of writing. I love the lines you shared--how you perfectly captured the feel of being on a roller coaster and used it as an emotional metaphor. Really well done! Good luck with that next 4k!

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    1. Thanks Erin! I feel like a lot of writers feel guilty when we break our routine in any way. Maybe it's the personality type? We all need to cut ourselves some slack once in a while.

      Hope you have a great week!

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  5. Love the roller coaster bit you shared, Kaitlin! I sometimes feel guilty about doing the sort of prep writing you spoke about, too. It's hard to remember that it's an important (necessary!) part of the process. Still, I'm rooting for you to hit your 60K by the end of the summer. You can totally do it! Have a great week, lady!

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    1. Thanks Katy! I keep reminding myself that prep writing is definitely necessary (especially if you don't want to lose your mind halfway through the draft). And my brain is laser-focused on 60K...I've got one of those word count percentage generators going with the bar that sloooowly fills up, and I'm a bit too obsessed. ;)

      Hope you have a great week too!!

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