Today is Day 6 for ROW80, the writing challenge that knows you have a life. 74 days of magic scribbling are still ahead in Round 1, 2012. For those of you who are new at this, how are you feeling at the end of your first week?
I remember being so inspired by everyone’s check-in posts during my first round…all these crazy writers clawing up the hill of their goals. It’s AWESOME! (A few rounds later, it’s still awe-inspiring.)
Hopefully, it’s not just us sponsors who go blog-hopping around. If you’d like to encourage your ROW80 teammates, click here.
REMINDER: You can ask any sponsor if you have questions – if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment here, tag me on Twitter @jhansenwrites.
Week 1 Update
This has been a crazy week at work so it’s been light on writing goals, but here’s where I’m at with my four goals in general:
- Get at least one exercise accountability partner for this round. (3+ if lucky)
Marcia Richards, Barbara McDowell and Lena Corazon all offered their services on this one so I feel blessed. I haven’t taken them up on it yet, but I will this week. If you ladies are reading this blog, how should we check in with each other? Twitter?? - ROCK my ROW80 Sponsorship duties!
My “go team” post is slated to post tomorrow but I’ve visited all of my team members on each check-in opportunities. I will confess…after the first day of check-in I tapered off. The straggler check-ins did not get a visit from me cause I was in full database mode by then, but I got into the 70’s. - No matter how many word sprints I engage in each week, at least TWO must be dedicated to my work in progress. This wasn’t applicable this week as there have been NO sprints. I reached out to my pal, K.B. Owen for but she is sick-sick-sick right now and wisely stayed in bed. I wrote every day, but I’m not counting blogs this round so I’m batting zilch on this goal.
- That being said, my goal is at least 4 times sprints per week. ZERO sprints here at Jenny’s place. I’ll do better by next check-in…promise.
How are things going at your place? I’d love to hear about it!
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Yes, I’m definitely in for some exercise-buddy accountability! I have absolutely nothing to my name at the moment, and I need to get my buns in gear — my mother is giving me the gimlet eye for slacking off, and once I get back to school, I won’t have her around to force me onto the glider. Oh, and Twitter works for me!
I am also sorely in need of some word sprintage, so maybe by the weekend I’ll be ready to go. I’ve got a clear schedule this quarter (I’m only on-campus Wednesday afternoons-nights), so I will hopefully be able to get lots done.
Have a great rest of the weekend, Jenny!
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Twitter it is. We’ll have to figure out the best way – checking in before/after…or Dear God, BOTH. My best sprint times are Wed all day, Thurs/Fri middle of the day during baby naps or weekends. Just let me know what works best for you. 🙂
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And yeah, I just set my goals and added them to the List on the #Row80 blog 🙂 Figured I might try it once and see how it works for me 🙂
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Good for you, Kari!! Anyone can jump in on any check-in day…it doesn’t matter a bit that you started a little late. Nice to meet you. 🙂
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Hee hee, nice to meet you too 🙂 I’ve been reading your blog for a little while, thought I might go ahead and jump into #Row80 and see how deep the rabbit hole actually goes.. 🙂
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Really great goals, Jenny! And you’re a sponsor, too. Not to mention a new mom (loved the blog about baby advice!). If you’re up for an other exercise accountability buddy, I might be up for the challenge. Been trying to get back to the pool at least three days a week. So far, no good. 🙂
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LOL, Kristy…I’m glad you liked the baby blog – we do that every Saturday. I’m in for all the exercise help I can get. 20 pound needs to leave me sooner, rather than later. It just doesn’t come off as easily now that I’m in my 40’s.
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You and me both, Jenny! I’m fighting an uphill battle having been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome and PCOS in 2010. The pounds I want off seem to be super glued on…but I am stubborn and enjoy a good challenge. 🙂
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Holy cowbell, Kristy! You take care of yourself…that’s all serious stuff. Still, my money’s on us. I enjoy a good challenge too. 🙂
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Helo fellow ROW80 sponsor! You’re doing pretty dang good so far, getting into the groove. I’m also finding my footing this past week. I should add exercise goals by I’m 100% sure I would miss on those every week so you go girls!
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I’m taking a huge family walk today so I should at least get in SOME goals on this one. 🙂
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6.5 miles people…WOO-HOOOOOO!!!!
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Hello – I’m new around these parts- and ROW80- so glad to meet sponsor. Sounds like you’ve had a week like mine. To busy to thoroughly rock those goals. I made a limp start but I did do loads of other things so its certainly not like I’ve been sitting on my jack the whole time. 🙂 X
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Hi Shah!!! You made me laugh with your comment about sitting on your jack (I sit on mine ALL THE TIME). lol….
Welcome to ROW80 and More Cowbell!
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Enter the kid with the wonky hair and papers falling from her overstuffed and under-organized three ring binder. She DOES have “I heart Row 80” on the brown-paper-sack binder cover. Indelible ink. I’m committed. I have questions:
1. Who IS my Row 80 sponsor? Nicole? Cowbell Ringer Jenny Hansen?
2. Kari’s comment about adding goals to the #ROW 80 blog suggests there’s a super special secret spot in BlogVille for the #ROW80 meetings. I plan to add a tab to my blog this morning and use that link for check-ins. Is that the right way?
Must skedaddle and get aforementioned ROW 80 tab and LLC tabs added to my blog b4 the brave person stepping forward for Q1 above visits my blog.
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Hey, Gloria! LOVE the hair!!
1. We are all your sponsors – any sponsor is open game. We each have a number and we cheer on anyone who checks in and gets that number – we end up visiting everyone by the end of the round. Plus, you can ask us stuff like this at any time.
2. Here is the linky for this week (plus, they’re always in my post): http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=123386&type=basic
Here is the ROW80 blog in general: http://aroundofwordsin80days.wordpress.com/blog/
Does that help??
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Your exercise accountability partner idea sounds interesting. I hope the 4 of you meet your goals.
What’s “sprinting” that you talked about in this post?
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Sprinting is when you time your writing – it’s really fun to go on Twitter and line up a word sprint with whoever is available so you all are writing at the same time. Then everyone goes back and says 200 words, 600 words, 480, etc. It’s very exciting to see how many words you can get out. ROW80 is a good spot for this and #wordmongering does it at the top of every hour and at 30 minutes after all day long.
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Doing great, thanks for asking *grin*
So what times are you available for sprints. Not saying the timing will work out but I’d be happy to team up with you on those. I’m handling my writing goal basically in non-official sprints. Let me know. Kudos, by the way, on finding a few exercise partners. It makes all the difference.
Hope your coming week is a bit calmer on the job end so you can get some work done 🙂
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I’m medium on the job end but the next week is nuts because I’m getting my second eye surgery. I’ll be able to see afterward, but I’m going to be off anything requiring an eye for 24 hours. I’m missing my first Life List Friday…wah!!!
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You are an awesome sponsor!!! “Go Team”!!
I’m totally up for sprints this round, starting in Feb, when I’ll have lots of time to write and partner up 🙂
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Thanks, Claudia! Tag me in February…we want you in on sprinting. 🙂
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My very good week of progress is up, just have to go link it. You did really well despite your crazy week! Congrats!
Re the exercise, I have a # on Twitter for it. We can meet there at #2012healthchallenge. Sound good? Everyone interested is certainly welcome…the more the merrier!
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VERY COOL!! I’ve got to go check out that hashtag tonight and tell y’all about my walk! I’m going to try to walk every day this week until my surgery on Thursday. After that, there’s no sweating for two whole weeks…
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I love the idea of the exercise buddy accountability. That helps so much! My hubby and I are both trying to exercise more and eat better, so I’m thankful for his support. I would love to join the #2012healthchallenge, too. Great idea, Marcia.
And sprints sound great, just tell me when and where. Good luck this week, Jenny. Hopefully things slow down at work for you and you can settle into writing.
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Thanks, Stacy…you’re such a doll.
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well if someone who doesn’t do well in the exercise stakes due to bad ankles(damaged) knees, a lousy immune system, way too many ops and rapidly advancing years – whose highlights are managing the stairs without using hands and who thinks 15mins on a step machine and acheivement (oh I forgot is grossly overweight!!) would be allowed to join in I’d love to – prob wouldnt keep to exercise goals without a bit of prodding – a twitter tag maybe my help and salvation:)
well done on new mum bit and all the best for this coming week
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Alberta, 15 mins on a step machine is a notable achievement, no matter what the age. At least in my humble opinion. 🙂
Baby Girl is a toddler and she definitely keeps me busy. Thanks for dropping by for some encouragement – I appreciate it!!
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Hey, considering the EDJ priorities it sounds like you still had a good week 🙂 It was a pretty good first week for me. As for sprints, most weekday afternoons between 1:30 and 3:30 PT are good for me, drop me an email when you’re up for one.
Good luck for the upcoming week!
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Raelyn, if I open my email, it’s a HUGE time suck. But I will tweet you…how’s that? At the beginning of your timeframe, I’m still usually good for Baby Girl’s nap. (WOOT!)
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LOL, I hear you. I don’t have Twitter open all the time though and am more likely to see an email before a tweet. We’ll figure it out 🙂
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Super cool goals Jenny. What is an exercise buddy? That’s cool!
Okay I posted my check in on time. Miracles do happen. lol
And since you seem to be in the know, do I have a sponsor? Do I report to someone or am I posting my check ins to drive my subscribers crazy?
Someday I’ll get the hang of this Jenny. I hope I’m not driving you nuts. 🙂
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You never drive me nuts and read my answer to Gloria above…it’s got all the deets. 🙂 Be sure to check the ROW80 blog tomorrow when my motivational post is up!!
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I am a subscriber Jenny. I always get your posts. 🙂
How by the way do you do a pingback like Sheila?
I’m telling you Jenny, this techie stuff just doesn’t compute sometimes. There’s another techie Tuesday post for ya! lol
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You’re doing fine, Karen!
And as far as the pingback, here’s how you do it:
1. If you click on the title of a post you like and then go up to the address bar at the top (where all the http://jennyhansen business is) and click on that, it turns blue. You right click and choose Copy.
2. Go to your new Add Post screen and highlight the words you want to add a link to, Sheila probably did my name. (If you look at my post above, I linked to the ROW80 blog in the first paragraph, the Linky tool for this ROW80 check-in at the end of the 3rd paragraph and my Twitter profile at the end of the 4th paragraph.)
3. Once you’ve highlighted the words you want to link to, you click the icon in the Add Post toolbar that looks like a link in a chain. That will open the hyperlink window.
4. Right click and choose paste in that first line and be sure to check the box below that that says “open in new window” so the person doesn’t leave your post when they click the link.
When you post that blog, a pingback goes to the person you linked to. That adds what you see in my comments section from Sheila (once I approve it) and makes it easy for people to go from my blog to your blog. Voila!!
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Pingback: Sheila Seabrook » ROW80: Week 1 Checkin
I posted my Row80 check in. And I’m definitely joining the #2012healthchallenge. If you have read my check in blog, you’ll see why I need it. LOL!
Good luck on next week’s goals, Jenny!
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Sheila, I’m still in mourning for you because you can’t have chocolate. Waaaaahhhhhhhh!!!
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hi jenny,
time really does seem to FLY! best of luck next week on your WIP, and keep rocking the row! nice to hear you are a sponsor 🙂
cheers,
gina
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Thanks, Gina! It’s lots of fun. 🙂 Nice seeing you over here at More Cowbell!
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Having accountability partners is a great idea! Just getting this done is a great accomplishment for the week.
Thank you for being a sponsor. I imagine many of us first-timers get discouraged along the way. Your support is invaluable.
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Fabio, my writing chapter has a slogan that we all live by: “One hand reaching forward, one hand reaching back, in a continuous chain.”
I think it’s important to give back, and ROW80 has given a lot to me. 🙂
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Jenny, good luck with your goals. Looks like you got awesome exercise partners! I’m so jealous!
I will be watching out for the sprints as well – hope to join you at least once a week, possibly more 🙂
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Wednesdays are usually the best day for me, although they aren’t this week because of my rollout. But next Wednesday? You and me are ON, girlfriend!!
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Am plugging along. The word count barely makes it. Taking small bites instead of gulps. The story is at a point that I’ve got to be careful. If I follow my lizard brain the story may turn into a parody instead of a period piece. If the artist takes over we’ll be waiting months before anything happens. I learning that you can only throw so much crap at your main character. Don’t have anyone that writes so I’m going it alone.
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Tom, you don’t HAVE to go it alone with things like ROW80 on deck…that’s the point. Think about it. It sounds like you’re proceeding well on your own, but you might enjoy having a ROWBro or Sis.
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Great week Jenny especially given the huge workload you had going. It’s hard when work blows up to balance everything else so woot woot to you!
My week went great. Lots of progress and a great word count. Hubby and I also really nailed switching over to the healthier lifestyle with no eating out, working out, and adopting healthier food at home. I hope that I can maintain the momentum and motivation going forward. LOL!!
I’m all about exercise accountability if you want to add me to the list of partners, I’d love the additional check-in as well.
Happy week two!
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Nat, you are ON FIRE yourself. I saw your update earlier today!! I’m completely impressed with you. You rocked those goals like a hurricane. 🙂
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Hey, Jenny, good progress! Sorry I let you down with the word sprints. I’ll bet I can do a few sprints this week. (Exercise? maybe not yet). I’m free 10-2pm EST generally speaking. Give me a buzz ahead of time so we can set something up!
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Geesh. You’re SICK! You didn’t let me down. We’ll get after it next week. It sounds like your last hour is the beginning of my happy nap time and Raelyn’s hours fit into the end of them. We’re gonna have a good time together!!!
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Ooo, ooo, ooo! Do you see me jumping up and down, waving my hand for a word sprint? Would love to finally do one virtually. I’ve done some at workshops and it is amazing what can come out. Weekends usually work best for me. Hey, do I get exercise credit for the jumping? Heh. 🙂 Twitter works in terms of checking in with each other on exercise goals. And great job on your goals progress and sponsor work.
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The jumping up and down DEFINITELY counts as exercise! If it works for the rockstars (and aren’t we ALL rockstars?) it works for us. 🙂
Weekends are a fine sprinty time for me!
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Wow, good goals to strive for. I’m curious what you consider a ‘sprint’ but I’m sure I’ll figure it out eventually
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I am so glad exercise is on my goal list and with everyone knowing about it it is so much more likely to happen! Great idea to have exercise buddies. I hope to have a couple of ‘not online’ ones soon!
Have a great week!
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I joined ChangeWriteNow for exercise this year and having accountability partners is a big part of it. Very important and helps with the motivation. You are doing great. I’m in the midst of editing right now but missing that free flowing free writing. Brainstorming some ideas just so I can get some writing time in during the mornings.
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Hey, remind me again when you usually do the word sprints. I SO need to get in on this. I also enjoy wordmongering. There are probably word sprinters with the #ROW80 hashtag, I guess.
Loved your post for the ROW80 website. Great stuff, Jenny. Looking good on the goals. 🙂
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