Happy Sunday to all of you! I hope your writing week is going well.
This is an interesting update for me. I FEEL like I’ve accomplished a lot, but in looking at my Work in Progress, I haven’t done a single thing all week. Sort of.
You see, I’m writing a memoir on high-worry pregnancy and one of the things I do to trick myself is I write posts for my Saturday series on babies and pregnancy.
My Saturday posts are usually 750-1000 words long. Isn’t that like two or three times my daily goal? Hmmm… I’m feeling a bit tricky on accomplishing those writing goals!
I’ve also been asked to teach some courses on LinkedIn and Triberr. Guess what else I have posts on?! Are you spotting a trend here?
I’ve also been tricky with my exercise: I walked to a breakfast (2 miles round trip), a dinner (3 miles), a lunch (2 miles) and the Farmer’s Market (4 miles). That’s 11 miles by rewarding myself with something I like.
All I’m saying is that when you’re having trouble meeting your goals, shake things up a little by doing things differently.
- Write a blog
- Kick-box instead of run
- Do a piece of flash fiction
- Focus on what Kait Nolan calls the Test Mile
- Research a new character
- Interview your character
- Move your writing to a new venue
Just get out of your rut! Things will flow and you’ll feel better, even if you accomplish little.
You know what else cheers me up? Encouraging my other team members at ROW80! You’re sure to see me on Sundays and I try to hit the Wednesday crew too. If you want to encourage your teammates, go here and click on the Linky Tool.
You know what I’m most excited about this week? I read 4 books. Not a single one of them had anything to do with work or writing craft! I can’t think of the last time I allowed myself to wallow in fiction and it felt damn good.
I’m fired up for this next week. How about you?
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Triberr looks interesting. I’ll have to check that out…
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Audrey, it’s saved me a ton of time. If you look in the right sidebar, you’ll find one of my Triberr posts. FYI, commenting on any of those puts you into a drawing for the More Cowbell tribe I’m forming. 🙂
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Good for you Jen, reading 4 books just for fun! I try to get some fun reading in at least a 1/2 hour every night. Doesn’t always happen, but I try…it’s a nice reward for my loooooong days ;p
BTW – I’m getting the hang of Triberr, so you shouldn’t be receiving anymore repeat questions on THAT LOL…AND! I’ve decided to hike up my big girl pants and join ROW80!!! =) Time to face my fears, look through ’em, and get moving on this WIP!!
Missed you today…er, yesterday? I’m posting Saturday night…but this is technically Sunday’s post so… ;p
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Kait, that’s my normal M.O…about 30 mins per day. But I just couldn’t stop. I ate a lot of meals alone and read the entire hour, plus I read over breakfast and during Elmo. It rocked!!!
After the work week I had, I had today to get things done and caught up. I hated to miss the meeting but we’re in the church mode, etc. tomorrow and I didn’t want to miss out on “my chores.” I wish it was more exciting.
Speaking of exciting…I’m thrilled that you’re joining up with ROW80!! All you have to do is set your goals, make them measurable and jump in with a post on the next check-in day. *jumping up and down excited*
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Four books! I’m totally jealous there, hon!
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I know!! I ran through an entire series by Susan Mallery. It was just light, fluffy, make me happy romance. It totally rocked!
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We are on the wavelength somewhat this week. I felt like I “cheated” on my goals too. Although blogs are in my goals, I don’t count them towards my word count but I’m tempted to consider them this week. 🙂 here’s to a week dedicated to the WIP.
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Clinking WIP glasses with you, Nicole!! The output has got to be better next week, for both of us. 🙂
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Stop being creative *wink*. Fantastic week, Jen, you did indeed accomplish a lot. Maybe it just seems too easy? There is no “rule” that says pain and discomfort are a part of success, effort is all that is required and hey, you walked ELEVEN MILES – great effort!
Keep it up and have a great week 😀
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What do you mean, pain and discomfort is not required? I didn’t see that in the Life Rule Book, dude. 🙂
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Jenny, you amaze me with your energy. My slug-fest on the exercise front continues for another week. It’s cold outside and I am nursing a cold. Yes. I know. On the excuse scale, that one is right down there with “the dog poohed in my sneakers.” So, KUDOS on your decisions to walk to those locations that netted eleven miles this week. The most I’ve done is pass the closest parking spot at the store. Before you give me a “that’s a start,” I do NOT travel to the nether regions of the parking lot. I take the next spot — even if it’s a mere two slots over.
That wonderful, kind and gentle Sherry Isaac person [in case she follows me over here] is doing a mini-series on goals. Wednesday is Duh-Day. Row80 revisited. My most recent post technically included ROW80 and its lovely “adjust” criteria, so I’m going to add a ROW80 welcome and let anyone who hops there know why there will be a major shift in my 2012 Round One goals.
SNARK PARK — where anything goes! (just testing)
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I’m still madly in love with SNARK PARK, Gloria!! I can’t wait to see your new look. 🙂
I love your exercise stories – they make me laugh. I totally love to walk when it’s cold…just not when it’s TOO cold. Feel better!
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Oh fantastic. I feel fired up just reading your post. Good luck next week. 😀 X
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Thanks, Shah! You too. 🙂
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Four books? Wow, I’ve been reading the same for 2 weeks now lol
I’ve been slacking a lot and feel really bad about it, but it’s not something I can change in the near future.
11 miles walk? Another wow!
Have a great week!
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Juliana, to my credit, I read fun fiction really fast (80-100 pages/hour). I just talk myself out of gorging on “play” books all to often for something else I MUST do.
I used to read about 300 books a year but since I got a hubby and a baby, it’s stunning for me to read even a third of that.
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Isn’t it nice to have a roll on the reading side – re-invigorate our writing side – I’ve managed to get so many books under my belt since I included reading challenges into my goals loving it – I must say I have a fancy sometimes to interview my characters maybe I will try that one day
any way well done on this week and all the best for coming week
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That’s lovely, Alberta! I’m so glad you incorporated your reading. I did too – into my Life List. I vowed to read 2 hours a week and I’m delighted with it.
Thanks for stopping in!
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Ah yes, getting tricky, an important tool for the toolbox! *g* But hey, walking eleven miles in a week is serious exercise, lady, and not just getting tricky! Great going! And the only time I read four books in a week is when I’m on vacation.
Love your suggestions for mixing things up. I’ll have to try to add them to my repertoire. 🙂
Have a great week!
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Thanks, Ruth! I really need to get back to things that get my heart rate up more than walking. Slowly but surely, it will happen.
I’m a huge fan of “mixing it up.” Let me know how it works for you. 🙂
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This is great advice, Jenny. Thanks. Good luck with your goals this week.
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Thanks, Ali. Write on, girl!!
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Great week, Jenny! I can see the smile on your face–4 fun books and all that walking did you a lot of good!
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It was soooo exciting, Marcia. I’m glad that comes through. 🙂
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Oh! I’m so far behind on everything. But I love the idea of walking to breakfast, etc. I’m going to start walking to coffee with my paranormal freebies buddies. Or maybe walking to the library. If only the #@&* laptop weren’t so heavy! But I get the doubling up and getting tricky with it. You are so smart Jenny!
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Jessica, a rolling laptop bag will solve all your problems. 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_19?url=search-alias%3Doffice-products&field-keywords=rolling+laptop+case&sprefix=rolling+laptop+case%2Caps%2C119&x=0&y=0
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Love the ‘read 4 books’. That’s what I’ll do this evening – curl up and enjoy a good book. No thinking, no editing, just getting lost in a story. …Sweet mystery of life, at last I’ve found you…ha! Great post.
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Oooooh. Sounds delightful, Nadja!
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Jenny – four books.. for fun?! You crazy gal, you!;) I am about to read “The Reversal” by Michael Connelly..
Way to go… I read (and printed out) your Triberr posts and I am STILL confused on Triberr! I’ll figure it out, I know I will.
See you around this week…
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I haven’t read that yet. I’ll confess the last one of his I read was Concrete Blonde and it was AWESOME. I’ve got to get back to Michael Connelly. 🙂
You’re so going to get the Triberr thing. I’ve possibly got one more post in me but I think I’m going to schedule the webinar first. Keep the faith and relax and enjoy it.
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Hi Jenny! Way to go. You didn’t cheat or trick yourself. You did research for the next time you sit your derriere in that chair and begin to type. I also am a firm believer that reading refreshes a writer’s soul. Ahhh.
Happy mid-February! Here’s to every day feeling like Valentine’s Day. 😉
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Is that what it’s called? Well, I’ll take it! Thanks for encouraging me. I had a great time. 🙂
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You read FOUR books this week? Where do you find the time? I would love to read that much.
You’re doing a lot of things, so I think you’ve accomplished much. And some of what you’re doing is helpful to others, so that’s a win! 🙂 Sometimes your WIP isn’t going to be number one on your list. And sometimes it will be. Different weeks, different accomplishments. Good luck the rest of the week!
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I’m a fast reader, Lauralynn. I used to love to take a day every 3-4 months and just lay in bed with snacks and read ALL day. I could usually finish 2-3 books in a day, depending on how long they were.
I miss bed days!
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Wahooo! Great week Jenny! 4 books and 11 MILES?!?! Holy cow. That’s awesome.
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It was great fun. I’m behind on like 10 things but it was fun. 🙂
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You did accomplish a lot!! Thanks for the list. I have a feeling I’ll be pulling from it this week!!
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
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Sometimes that’s just what you need — time with a few good books. I think your way of counting is just killing two birds with one stone, which is smart. Keep the Technie Tuesdays coming. You are a great teacher!
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Thanks, Julie. I’ve been doing it almost 20 years so if I sucked I’d have to go hide in the corner and whine. 🙂
Loved my week of books! I probably won’t get another one for a while.
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Wahoo, you read 4 books this week? Nothing like letting go and just unwinding with a good book, I say. I made my way through one novel, and it felt so darn good.
Great list of tips on ways to switch things up and make the creative juices flow a bit better. I’m definitely feeling flash fiction at the moment — it feels so good to create an itty bitty piece of fiction that has a life all its own.
Have a great week, gal!
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I feel a great week coming on for moth of us, Lena!! Woot-woot!!
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Keep up that fiery spirit – it’s inspirational!
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Thanks, Carolyn!
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Four books, Jenny. Wow, that in itself is an amazing accomplishment. You are always such an inspiration. Here’s to another great ROW80 week!
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How sweet are you, Sheila! I was shocked to find out how little the people I work with read. (Like I read each month what some of them read in a year.) It was a bit sobering and it made me vow to keep my reading up, even when I feel like I need to “be responsible.” It energizes me.
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*high five*, Jenny!
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