Wow, I can’t believe this round is already over! It’s been a different kind of round for me. The last three rounds of 2011, I had a novella written and published by the time each round was over. The first round of 2011 was when I started my gnome story. My mom had a heart attack in the middle of the round, and I had to do a lot of things to take care of her before she got back to normal. I decided to put that work aside and do my three Libby Fox novellas for the next three rounds. In Round One of this year, I decided to take the gnome story back up and see what I could do with it. It’s pretty much finished except for the proofing and the tweaking. But is it good enough? It’s really different from the other things I’ve written. The first beta reader (the one that sees it before I edit) liked it. But the real tell will be when it goes to the others. Because each beta reader is different. I will get different points of view. So we’ll see. I still have to expand on that crazy fight scene at the end. I wish I was as good as Kait Nolan in writing fight scenes. 🙂
On the exercise front…most of this round has been a flop. However, for the past two days, I’ve gotten up at 5:30 and walked on the treadmill. This has more than health benefits. I’m habitually late for work. No one really cares here, but it bothers me. Since I’ve been exercising in the mornings, I’ve been early. I was here 20 minutes early this morning! And I feel soooo much better.
I can’t wait for Round Two. I hope I’m back to my old self, writing every day and getting things done! Maybe my full time job will slow down and things won’t be as crazy. So, how do the rest of you feel about Round One? Did you accomplish what you wanted to? Did you learn anything?
I hear you on the exercise front, Lauralynn. It’s my personal demon, although the warm weather we’re having is helpful. I love getting outside and walking or riding my bike. And good luck with the beta reads for the gnome story. Remember, different is good:)
I’ve learned a lot this round, even though I didn’t end up quite where I wanted to be. And that’s all right. Great job, and see you next round!
I fully intend to take charge of the exercise thing. So far, getting up at 5:30 hasn’t been too hard.
I need to get back to riding my bike now that the weather is nice. I spend enough on that thing…I need to ride it!
I think we learn a little more each round. One thing I learned is I’m not superwoman. LOL
We’ll be here rooting you on in round 2! Have you decided on a title for your gnome story? Love gnomes 🙂 Hope your week is a good one!
Thanks, Marie! No, I haven’t decided on a title. It’s driving me crazy. I’m not sure you would LOVE this gnome. LOL
Marie, I also wanted to let you know that your blog won’t let me comment. 😦
I so hear you on the exercise thing. I’ve been a slacker. My friend and I have set a date – we’re calling it the ‘No Excuses Healthy Kick-Off’ and it will commence next Wednesday.
* I’m out of time and the kids are hungry
* Chips are actually vegetables
* But reading DOES burn calories if it’s a suspense filled story!
…..these are banned excuses. Ha! Have any good ones to add?
If I eat standing up, the calories don’t count. Pizza has all the major food groups we need. LOL
I have felt SO good the past couple of days just from walking on the treadmill in the mornings. I had soup and salad for lunch today. And I haven’t touched the doughnuts someone brought in. And…I’ve lost eight lbs. in the last couple of weeks. 🙂
Mmmm, pizza. You know, I’ve heard writing is like pizza… even a bad piece is pretty good.
…
Yeah, writing. That’s how that saying goes. 😉
(Or, perhaps more seriously: sharing is a crucial ingredient to the creation process, even though it can be scary. Go-go gadget beta readers!)
See you in round 2!
Yeah, Matt, I’m sure that saying is about writing. Of course, that’s how I’ve heard it….. LOL
If I can just get it READY for beta readers. We’ve had a revival at church this week, and that has taken up a lot of my time, too. But it’s over now, so I should have time to work on the dreaded gnome tonight. 🙂
Ugh…exercise -.- I need to find more willpower somewhere, cause it just is not happening as much as I want it to! Great job on your success this round and your gnome story sounds fantastic (I love gnomes!) and good luck with your betas!
Hi Kat. That willpower is there…you just have to find it. That’s pretty much what I did. I said “I’ve had enough of not feeling and looking the way I want”. And once you start exercising and make it a habit, it gets easier. In fact, you miss it when you don’t do it.
My gnome is an EVIL gnome. Bwa ha ha.
I learnt a lot this round. I just didn’t learn it until the end.
My original goals were to finish editing my novel, and I did, and now for the second round my goals are to finish making the changes to it, as discussed with my trusted Beta reader, and all things being equal, publish it.
My other goal was to read more, and I have stuck to that religiously. I have read every day and feel so much better for it, it is quite remarkable.
I hope that your mother is feeling better and that your work quietens down for you. My work is also kind of crazy at the moment. Everybody grumpy and stressed. Not much fun 😦
See you next round. 🙂
Hey, just as long as you learned, right?
Congrats on getting things done. It sounds like you’re on the right track.
My mom is doing much better. The worst part was while she was in the hospital last year, she picked up a nasty staph infection. That was worse than the stents and the pacemaker. But she’s feeling pretty good now, trying to stay active.
The good thing is, I work with all men, so there’s no girl drama here. The guys get grumpy, but that’s all. Sorry for all you females that read this, but you know I’m right. When women work together, there’s usually drama. (I know this by experience!) And I have no patience for that. LOL
Good job and yay waking up early to exercise. I have to wake up at 5:30 just to get to work on time, so I exercise at night, but I’ve really committed to making exercise a priority this round and am proud of the writing I have done.
Thanks! I used to exercise at night, but I would find all kinds of excuses not to. Congrats on the writing! It’s always good when you can say you’re proud of what you’ve done.
I’ve also found that morning exercise really gets my day started well. It leaves me energized, ready to work, and better yet, means that I don’t have to find time to do it later on in the day.
I had hoped to have a complete draft of my WIP this round, but school and the day job got in the way. I also found all these plot holes that needed to be plugged up, so I spent a lot of time working on that as well. Still, I’m really looking forward to Round 2. I think I’ll be able to get a lot more done on the writing front.
Morning exercise is really working for me this time. I’ve had trouble wanting to get up that early in the past, but I can’t seem to sleep much after 5:30 anymore anyway. No sense in just lying there.
So many things get in the way. The day job is what’s killing me. But I’m hoping it will slow down soon. Maybe Round Two will be better for both of us.
Exercise is not my strong point. Well done on what you did manage. See you in Round 2. x
Exercise is not most people’s strong point. I’m just making myself do it and I feel much better.
Good luck in Round 2!
Lauralynn, you do such a great job of keeping right on moving forward on the writing front even when things are crazy. It makes me feel better that lots of my writing friends had life get in the way this round, because I sure did! Best of luck with your finishing touches on the gnome story. Go watch a couple of kick-ass Buffy scenes to get your brain moving on the fight scene. 🙂
Thanks, J.R.! Spring is always crazy around here, but hopefully I can get some things done tomorrow. Saturdays are great for catching up.
Hmmm, Buffy might be a good place to start. Also, someone mentioned watching the movie Practical Magic, so there must be a witch fight scene in there somewhere. 🙂