We’re ringing in Round Three of ROW 80 here at More Cowbell!
Here’s how this lovely brain child of Kait Nolan’s works:
Row80 – The Writing Challenge That Knows You Have a Life.
In Tiffany A. White’s words:
Goals and Accountability are two of the most crucial elements for any author when writing a manuscript. Row80 will challenge me to set attainable goals, and signing in twice a week to update my fellow Row80ers on my status will hold me accountable. No one will be fired or kicked out if we don’t meet our goals – we technically don’t have to write a thing.
But we will write AND meet our goals! Why?
- Because we have to (we’ve ALWAYS gotta write, right?).
- Because it’s fun.
- Because we’re being held accountable.
- Because we now get to rock a whole new hashtag on Twitter (#ROW80)
- Because all our pals are pulling for us (waving hi to Tiff, Kristen Lamb, Sonia Madeiros, Callene Rapp and Catie Rhodes…I’ll find the rest of you at the next check-in).
A Round of Words in 80 Days – ROUND 3
Round 3 runs from July 4th – September 29th, and I want to wish my fellow participants outstanding success!
My Round 3 ROW80 Goal – Write 2,500 words on my WIP each week and post 4 blogs/week. If I can meet this goal, which I think is attainable, I’ll have another 28,550 words done on my high-risk pregnancy memoir and the first draft should be finished.
(Whoa. This public statement of goals thing just kind of gave me a rush…)
Wish the other Row 80ers luck here!
Since we like to “really explore our studio space” here at More Cowbell, here’s a humor injection from Christopher Walken and Will Farell.
How about you? Are you with me on some goal setting? What helps you stick to your goals? Do you set times for them, have someone hold you accountable, what? Enquiring minds always want to know here at More Cowbell!
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
I’m so excited about ROW80. This is my first time. *does the snoopy dance*
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I know! I’m so excited too! *doing the Snoopy here on the West Coast…WOOT-WOOT!*
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Thanks for the linkage, Jen! I LOVE Row 80 and I’m glad we’re all participating this round. Good luck on your goals – I know you can do it! Go, Team Row80!
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10 extra pages each week seems like a lot right now, but this is such a supportive bunch! I know between my critique group and Team Row80, I’m gonna get this memoir done and get back to my fiction. Thanks in advance!!!
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I started half-way through Round 2 and had to end a little earlier because school got in the way, but I am ready and excited for Round 3! I may have to discipline myself a bit to stop writing so much, as I have a thesis to finish and it seems so much less appealing to work on than my various WIPs. To correct for this, one of my goals for Round 3 is to write at least 500 words/day on the thesis, and 500 words/day on my fiction, that way I can attempt to stay accountable.
And I love the video clip! One of my favorite SNL moments of all time!
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Jamila, I think it was smart to put your thesis into your goals! (I’d love to know what subject it’s in, if you care to share…)
This site was named for that video, so I HAD to give us all a quick moment of Cowbell Rapture. 🙂
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My first ROW80 too! Best wishes on achieving your goals. I’ll be watching the check ins 🙂
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Ooooh, the accountability has begun! Isn’t this awesome???
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Goals, goals, goals. After DSDB with Margie Lawson, I began weekly reports with fellow authors Carole St-Laurent in S Carolina, and Gloria Richard in Texas. (It was Gloria who put me on to this blog, Jenny, and to Writers In The Storm–can’t wait for Margie’s post!)
We hold each other accountable, support, encourage, scold (gently) and help each other find our pace. For me, finding the right balance for me was the trickiest part, but once I hit it, setting goals that I could attain on a consistent basis and still be challenged became possible and I became more productive. And happier!
I wish all the ROW80s luck in the challenge. I did NaNo last year, just to see if I could. Damn near killed me, but now, I have no excuses.
Write on!
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Ooooh, Sherry – I so want to get my Margie Lawson on too. 🙂 I’m looking forward to her post this Friday on Writers In The Storm.
Laura Drake and Fae Rowen took her Immersion class and said it changed their writing completely (in a good way). Like, once you know what mistakes you’re making, you literally CAN’T make them anymore.
Anytime you want to share Margie-isms here in the comments at More Cowbell, you feel free. 🙂
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Jenny, IMC with Margie was so fabulous I went to Dallas for another dose. Advanced IMC. If your brain don’t hurt after that one… No pain is quite as exquisite as a Margie Lawson makeover! Pack your bags, go to Denver. Now. Wait on her doorstep for the next session to begin.
Make sure you check out Lawson Writers Academy. Open House is next week.
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I’m afraid to … already have soooo many commitments I don’t know if I can add even one more. *sigh* May feel diff after I get back from Thrillerfest. I really REALLY want to work more on the fiction WIP but stuff (bill paying work) keeps getting in the way. ….and now, gotta go pack!
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I understand, Amy…that’s why I didn’t jump in till Round 3. But you know, this ends in Sept so there will likely be a Round 4 this Fall. If I love it, I’ll do that one with you.
Have soooo much fun at Thrillerfest! Will Kristen be there with you?
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Good luck to you all. I’ll be rooting for you.
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No goal setting for me but I tell myself to work on things little by little. Maybe I should give it a try.
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Marilag, I admire that you’re able to do a little by little approach. I am so absent minded that I have some “out of sight, out of mind” issues. I’ve got to have the goals posted and in front of me to get them done.
I don’t know if you saw the Margie Lawson post at Writers In The Storm today but she addresses this issue in spades. 🙂
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