My Round Three goals were:
1. Start and finish the second Libby Fox novella by writing at least 500 words per day.
2. Finish a short story to offer on Smashwords for free.
3. Proofread (again), format, and publish Haunted Lake in print.
Accomplishments:
1. I finished Secrets of the Wolf early by writing much more than 500 words per day. And published it.
2. Massive fail. I LOOKED at the story. But I realized I can’t write two stories at the same time.
3. I published Haunted Lake with CreateSpace in August.
I was mostly pleased with what I accomplished this round. The only thing I regret is how lazy I’ve been since finishing these projects. I know that there was no reason I HAD to do anything else until Round 4. but I should have been doing SOMETHING. Anyway, I can’t wait until Round 4 where I’ll be working on the third and final novella in the Libby Fox series. After that, I think I’m done with series! LOL
Have to learn that ability to keep three or four stories going in your head at the same time. It is a sign of a warped mind; like mine! LOL
Hi Jon! Actually, I’m not sure I want that ability. That way, I stay focused on my WIP and make myself work on it. I still have a warped mind, though.
“I think I’m done with series” sounds like famous last words, Lauralynn. 😉
Wonderful work on this round, though! Even if you feel like you’ve been lazy since getting certain goals done, they’re still really great accomplishments. Maybe you just deserved being lazy after finishing them, right? Can’t wait to see what you come up with in Round 4! See you there!
Yeah, famous last words. LOL. I really do better with stand alone stories because I always want to be working on the “new, shiny thing”. It’s so hard to make sure you have enough back story so people know what the story is about in case the reader didn’t read the previous story. But you can’t have too much or it gets boring to the ones who have read the previous one.
Thanks for the encouraging words. You always have uplifting things to say when you stop by. 🙂
Congratulations on your accomplishments! Once you’ve gained a habit, it feels sort of lazy when you’re breaking it, but rest is important, too!
Thanks, Marji! I wish I could start feeling that way about exercise. Maybe, then, I would keep up the habit.
I think taking a break after completing something big is ok and often needed. That said I am going to try and do something in the ‘break’ until round 4 else I worry I will fall off the wagon!
Well done for a successful round and see you next time!
I know we do need breaks sometimes, but I think I let this one go too long.
I think maybe I’ll give myself some rewards when making certain goals this round. Maybe little rewards for certain milestones, then a big reward for a big one. That might keep me motivated. I’m so afraid that I won’t kick word count butt like I did last time. LOL
Any time you learn something about yourself… it’s not a massive failure. Only a minor one :-).
Good work in 3, and I’ll look forward to poking my head in here more for 4.
Thanks, Matt. It’s always good to learn more about yourself. Although, there might be some things you don’t WANT to know. LOL
Poke your head in anytime. 🙂
Hi Lauralyn…There must be a syndrome or something… lol. After finishing Claiming The Prize – the editing/formatting/uploading/ I’ve felt exhausted. I am still writing, but I plan to take full advantage of the break until round 4 begins to just ‘be’, as I’ll begin editing my novella after I finish the last two chapters over the next few weeks….What?? Edits again?? Ohhhh, boy! Maybe it’s just that we pour so much of ourselves into our projects that when we finally get them published, we need to ‘regroup & recharge’!
I’ll be looking forward to seeing you in the next round. ~ Nadja
Hi Nadja.
Recharge? I like that word. And I think you might be right. See you in Round 4!
Lauralynn, you accomplished quite a lot this round! You were also incredibly helpful to me in my first round of ROW80. Thanks for being a good buddy, I really appreciate your positive spirit.
About recharging, I felt the same way after I released my book. I had to drag myself into writing, had a really hard time finding my groove. I think next time I won’t force it. I plan to have my next book outlined before I finish writing this one, but if I’m not feeling it, I’ll pick up a good book to read instead. I need to be better about prioritizing…although I think in a funny way my procrastination on certain things is a form of prioritization.
Can’t wait to see what Libby’s up to next. Have a good break!
Thanks, J.R. I appreciate your help in beta reading. And I enjoyed beta reading Tribute. It’s nice how Row80 people help each other.
I think Libby will be up to a little “more” in this one, if you know what I mean. 😉
Lauralynn, there must be something in the water, because so many of the participants I’ve been visiting today have felt the same–I took a break and I was bad, and I should have kept working!
I’m going to say what I said on Kait’s blog–when you pour so much of yourself into something, it takes a while for the well to refill. Don’t be hard on yourself. I find that I am often simmering something on a back burner when I take a break. Then in the middle of the night, I wake up knowing how to fix a problem, or what the next scene should be, for example. I am willing to bet that the same is going on with you!
I’m looking forward to being in Round 4 with you!
Thanks for the encouraging words, Elizabeth. ROW80 people are so forgiving. 🙂
I’m really excited about Round 4. And I’m finally participating in some things like blog events and interviews, so I feel like I’m finally getting myself out there more. And there’s definitely something simmering in my brain. I just need to get it on the computer before it fizzles out! LOL.
Great job this round. I think you should be super proud of all you have achieved and there is nothing wrong with having a bit of time off when you worked hard to finish early 🙂 See you in Round 4
Thanks, Jody! All of you are making me not feel so guilty about taking time off. 🙂
I know EXACTLY what you mean about taking a break that’s too long. I haven’t written since the end of August, and I feel like I’ve been slacking like crazy. I’m excited for Round 4 to start: new goals, and a new surge of energy will hopefully strike. 😀
Hi Lena!
I’m excited about Round 4, too. It will wrap up my trilogy. I can almost feel the excitement brewing around everyone’s blogs! 🙂
Congratulations on your 2 published stories! 🙂 Best of luck with Round 4.
p.s. Breaks are good. 😉
Thanks, CM. I hope I’ll be seeing you in Round 4!
Sounds like you did great! I’m like you – can’t work on more than one story at a time. Meant to edit my short story but never looked at it either…
Hi Deniz. I can write one and edit another one. But I absolutely can’t write two things at once. My brain just doesn’t work that way. And I have a hard time doing MAJOR editing when I’m writing something else.