Most of you know what ROW80 is – it’s the writing challenge that knows you have a life. Thank goodness, right? Because I haven’t been participating all that well this round.
Like I averaged approx ONE check-in every 2-3 weeks. Very unlike my usual M.O.
My original goals for Round 3:
- Complete Candace Havens’ July 7th Fast Draft course.
- Finish the first draft of my pregnancy memoir and submit it to my critique group.
- Write a minimum of 1K/day on my fiction and non-fiction WIPs the entire round.
- Learn how to make gluten-free bread.
- Read 1 craft book this round.
- Encourage at least 2 new ROW80 writers each Sunday.
So what have I been doing (my answers in pink)?
- Complete Candace Havens’ July 7th Fast Draft course.
I did this, but her course this particular round seemed very disjointed. She had to take a hiatus in the middle and it kind of tweaked my groove a bit. On the plus side, I have a very supportive group that I Fast Draft with and we get a lot done. - Finish the first draft of my pregnancy memoir and submit it to my critique group.
I did not finish this. BUT, I’ve done tons of mental work that will make this book better. I stumbled against a massive pocket of grief in my writing these last months and it knocked me on my ass. I’m getting up, it’s just slow. - Write a minimum of 1K/day on my fiction and non-fiction WIPs the entire round.
I have indeed written about 1K a day but sometimes it’s fiction, sometimes it’s non-fiction and sometimes it’s blogs. - Learn how to make gluten-free bread.
I’ll be pushing this one to the next round. I’ve bought all the flour, but I haven’t tried it yet. - Read 1 craft book this round.
I’m reading Steven Pressfield’s “The War of Art” on the recommendation of Gene Lempp and Ingrid Schaffenburg. It talks a lot about Resistance being the enemy of the artist. I can relate to that, so I jumped it ahead of Save the Cat. - Encourage at least 2 new ROW80 writers each Sunday.
Actually this goal I met. I always pop in to see several of my ROWpals, plus a few more. Click here to encourage your ROW80 teammates today.
What else have I been doing? Well, I’ve been writing. I’ve been reading. I’ve been just kind of quietly hanging out inside my mind, healing.
I’ve also been learning Scrivener and I can tell it’s going to be key in my writing process going forward. I’m in a month-long class with Gwen Hernandez right now and I LOVE it. I’ve learned so much already and we’re only in the first week. (Click that link above if you’d like to take her Spring courses.) 🙂
What are the rest of you up to? Is anyone else in the Scrivener class with me besides Julie Glover? How are your goals going? Are you feeling like you’re on track, or veering off-course, as we approach the end of this round? Enquiring minds always want to know these things here at More Cowbell!
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Hey Jenny – sorry you hit a dark wall – do hope you walked into the sunshine! 🙂 And yes, i do have dimples – my dad used to lift me onto the bar by them – Ouch! I missed a lot of checkin’s for the first time this round but I’ve been so busy so I’m not going to kick myself too much 😀 Best of luck with your scrivener course – I read a great book recently (be blowed if I can think of it off hand, but ask if you would like me to look it up) which shed a little light onto it…empasis on the word little – organisation and writing in chunks feels alien to me? X
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I am definitely emerging toward sunshine, Shah! And how cute that your daddy loved your dimples. They’re amazing. 🙂
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Gluten free bread is probably the easiest on your list… I’ve made it for my step-dad. He has a gluten allergy. In fact, if your grocery store carries Bob’s Red Mill products, they have the flour mixture and gluten free yeast.
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Kitt, I didn’t realize I needed to get gluten free yeast so you’ve helped me already! I’ve got all the Bob’s products already – I order them from Amazon. I’m soooo happy to know this goal is easy. I’ll be making all the bread for our Thanksgiving stuffing. 🙂
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If you get their bread mix, it comes with the yeast packet tucked in. Glad I could help!
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Oooooh. I’ll go look for that! Thank you. 🙂
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Good on you, Jenny. That piece about Niffie Poo was beautiful — but, boy could I tell you were grieving. Weird how these emotions creep up on us. Good for you for checking in. I’m still computer-less. *weep* But I’m writing the old-fashioned way. It’s going to take forever to transfer over all the content.
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Renee, have you considered an Alphasmart while you wait to get a computer so you can transfer it all up with the click of a button?
You can go to alphasmart.com or here is a sale for you:
http://www.neo-direct.com/default.aspx
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Sorry, the software trainer in me lost her head for a moment. THANK YOU for your kind words about that piece I wrote about my mama. She was a rockstar, and yes it’s hard not to have her. On the other hand, I’m grateful to have had her at all. 🙂
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For a lurker you did incredibly well this round, please pat yourself on the back. Don’t make me fly over there and do it – someday I’ll be able to visit my brother-in-law and then I hope to, but for now it’s your responsibility.
Scrivener, I haven’t gotten that, yet. I’ve gone back and forth on it. I’ll be starting a new WIP in the next month or so, I should probably jump in with both feet. I love figuring out new software, that used to be my evil day job, good times, lol
See you in Round 4 and as I lurk around between rounds. 🙂
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Thanks, sweet Sidney! I hope you do pop in to see us here in SoCal. I’d love it!
And I think you’d adore getting Scrivener. Our teacher, Gwen, just put out a book on the subject, which looks very comprehensive. There’s a huge discount on it for Prime members too. 🙂
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I haven’t read The War of Art yet, but you’re now the sixth person to recommend it, so I’ll have to add it to my Christmas list. My TBR list is honestly too long for me to grab it up right now even though I try to have a non-fiction book, a novel, and a craft book on the go at all times. Christmas would be about the right time for me to be able to start reading it.
I admire you for being able to talk about your grief and for bring brave enough to share your struggle with us. Keep fighting the good fight 🙂
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I understand about the TBR list, Marcy. Mine’s completely out of control too. 🙂
As far as the grief thing goes, it’s a pretty universal feeling and I’m finding that sharing it keeps it from growing too overwhelming. Plus, I’m too stubborn to give in. 🙂
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You did great with your goals, Jenny! One of these days, I’m going to Fast Draft with y’all.
I am also loving the Scrivener class. I had been using the software for a while, but there are a few features Gwen has already introduced us to that made me yell at my computer, “Shut the front door! How cool is that?!!!” I am never, ever, ever going back to drafting in Word.
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I know!! I keep thinking the same thing, “Where have you BEEN my whole writing life, Mr. Scrivener??!!”
I’m feeling another Fast Draft coming on in October so start revving your engines…
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Hey, Jenny – sounds like it wasn’t quite what you planned for this round, but you’re doing great stuff anyway! And I didn’t know there was a class for Scrivener! I’ve had it for several years, like it for a lot of stuff, but I know there’s TONS that I don’t use and would love if I did. So that’s going on my to-do list – thanks!
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Thanks, jennifer. I’m hanging in there. On the class front, Raelyn Barclay announced it on her blog a while back and I signed up. She’s taking sign-ups now for her course in March. 🙂
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I’d say you’ve done a LOT! Oh my! I’m learning Scrivener on my own and will definitely look at the link to the class! I did buy Scrivener for Dummies! LOL! My summer has been bat crap crazy. Teaching me yet again that I can plan and then Life Happens. Hoping for a quiet fall (after Sept, which isn’t exactly fall down here anyway) before holidays hit.
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Bat crap crazy, huh? I feel ya, Pauline! LOL…
Our teacher, Gwen Hernandez, wrote that Dummies guide so you’ll find alot of the same lessons in there. She’s extremely responsive to questions though. I’m really enjoying it.
Here’s wishing for a quiet Fall for the two of us. 🙂
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I realized that when I followed your link. Huge duh moment, which sort of reenforces my need of the “for dummies” version! LOL! I am hoping my brain will get better when Sept is over. Then I duck! Because Fate surely heard that! LOL!
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For a “lurker,” I’d say you’ve done a lot, especially given your setback. Good luck with the bread – my mom has made it and says it’s a lot harder to mix than bread made with traditional wheat flour, but very doable. Have fun in your workshop, and have a great week!
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LOL, Jennette. Thanks. I’m looking forward to the GF breadmaking. I’ll let y’all know how it turns out. 🙂
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*hug* You’re doing so well, especially for a lurker!
I so wanted to learn Scrivener. I did write a draft there once (and of course I didn’t really use half of the available tools there) but it frustrated me that I had to convert it to.doc in the end to send it for edits, and to use the track changes when they send the edits back. So, still I can’t get ridden of Word =( I’m glad you like it though.
I hope you’ll be joining us for the round of ROW80 😉
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Juliana, thanks for the hug!
I’m finding that you can use Scrivener all the way through for the e-book publishing. There’s just one final step at the end that gets done in Calibre. Keep in mind, I’m still learning, but it looks completely plausible.
I’m with Julie and I’d like to leave Word behind. I just get too spread out when I write in a bunch of places. And of course I’ll be in the the next round of ROW. I’m a lifer at this point. 🙂
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I’m with Juliana *hug* You lurk good, lady 🙂
You’ve been making huge progress and that is what counts. Not that we meet the actual goals but that they inspire us to strive for progress. And that – you have done wonderfully. Chin up. Mind calm. Fingers to the keyboard. Smile.
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LOL. I’ll take both your hugs and raise you one. 🙂
I do feel like I’m making progress even though the goals have been hit or miss. Thanks for the mantra. I’ll have to put that over my keyboard. I like the “Mind calm” part the best…
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Way to go Jenny! Doesn’t sound like you’ve been twiddling your thumbs while lurking. You got a lot done! Way to go! I’m so jealous of your word count, and even when you weren’t writing you were doing a lot of brainstorming and preparation for writing, which still counts.
And I’m totally getting that book now! Thanks for sharing!
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That book is amazing. Trust me, it will do things for you – we both specialize in Resistance. 🙂
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Jenny, you are already a rockstar writer, at least in my book! There is an energy and authenticity to your writing (and we’re talking just the blog stuff that I’ve read)…you’ll get there, don’t you worry.
I’ve been lurking around ROW80 big-time this round, as in – not participating. Just trying to get my feet under me, now that the boys are back in school (although we parents still pay the piper when it comes to the endless forms, back-to-school nights, and sessions as homework referee/cheerleader/human dictionary).
Scrivener sounds interesting, btw!
Good luck, and keep fighting the good fight. 🙂
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Sweet Kathy…thank you. I needed that compliment today. There’s nothing like compiling all the snippets of a WIP to feel like your writing’s in the crapper. 🙂
Back-to-school is sounding pretty miserable according to all you parents I’m listening to. Busy-busy-BUSY! Still, I’m looking forward to it in some weird masochistic way…
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thought you did well this round despite life:) missed that post about scrivner damn! will get the dummies book – I am useing it but haven’t really got to grips with all the bells – and still take it back to word which clutters dreadfully – files everywhere:( all best and look forward to next round
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You’ve aced the writing 1000 words a day goal and that’s important 🙂 When big turmoils hit, we need to change plans. And I echo Marcy: I really appreciate you sharing your experiences so bravely. You’re an inspiration.
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Love The War of Art. How are you liking it??? I’m finding that once I get something to anchor me down (i.e. meditation, some inspirational book, deeksha) I get into my writing groove and resistance is GONE. It’s all there for ya Jenny. You’ve done all the work. It’s just a matter of finding what it is that’ll help ground you down into that wealth of amazingness that will be your book. My favorite book for grounding and inspiration right now? Wayne Dyer’s Wishes Fulfilled. Ah-mazing.
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