TTIN Challenge: Deadlines & Remembrance

As many of you know, my grandmother passed away last Wednesday. Though she'd broken her hip, and was in a rehab facility, her health began to decline. I don't think death is ever expected, even when the illness has been drawn out... I think there is still some shock there when someone passes, even though you've watched them be ill for a while. This was not the case with my grandmother. When she declined, she did so fast and went on to be with her maker very suddenly. I've gone through denial and I've been numb.

On Sunday, I decided to write. When I speak about writing, I'm not journaling, although I think that can be very helpful. No, when I write, I want to escape. My character's problems are much worse than my own and I know that I can put them through hell, but know that in the end, all will be happy.

The ACFW Genesis Contest has been looming since January. Although the deadline is March 4th, up until this very moment, I thought the deadline was today. Anywho... this is what I finalized on Sunday. I submitted my entry. It was a big accomplishment because despite everything else that has been going on, the Lord gave me some free time on Sunday and I chose to use it wisely. Normally, when life is awry, so is my writing. I hope this small accomplishment shows I'm growing up and beginning to use my writing as therapy and work through the hard times.

If you'd like to read more about my grandmother, Sue Russell White, here is a link to her obituary. The obit was written by my cousin who truly captured Sue's essence. I like to think I may have inherited some of Sue's ambition. She didn't let life get her down. She clung to life and raced toward the finish.

TTIN Challenge: Days 24 & 25

I'm becoming confused on the days of my challenge which is pretty bad since it's my challenge!

My grandmother was put in the hospital on Friday as she fell and broke her hip. She's had surgery and will be moved to a rehab facility for the next few weeks while she heals. I'm sharing this, because while I visited her on Sunday in the hospital, she was coming in and out of consciousness as she had not been out of the recovery room for very long. One of her friends was visiting and Granny began talking about her mother in law, Mrs. White. Granny said that Mrs. White was afraid of storms and many times my grandmother had to go and stay with her mother in law. Later, I asked Granny why Mrs. White was afraid of storms... my writer mind was going at that point, because I knew my great-grandmother would have been alive during the time of the tornado that hit my home town.  Granny agreed that Mrs. White had been in the storm and she thought that was why she was afraid of storms.

Now, my grandmother may have been in a drug-induced state, but I believe her account about my great-grandma... It makes me wonder if researching genealogy has some purpose. For those of you who are writing historical, have you gained anything for your stories by researching your own genealogy?

By the way, my word count is still the same... actually less. I edited a few words out. Other than that, this weekend has been a blur of hospitals and housecleaning.  I hope you all doing this challenge have had better days than this...

TTIN Challenge: Days 20-23 Link to the article: "Untangling the Waiting"

Hi all!  I've been quiet on the blog front, but I've been working... Today, I finally finished Chapter 1 of my historical. I reworked the scenes onemoretime to get them to a point where I think I can move on to the next chapter. I also had to begin working my 6-page synopsis down to a one page for future contest entries.  As I type this, I realize how slow this is going. But as we all know, life happens and just the mere accomplishment of writing anything, writing something, is better than nothing at all.

I ran across an article I thought would be very helpful for all of us still working toward publication.  
Untangling the Waiting by Ronie Kendig

My current total word count is 4,422.... That's only 75,578 words to go to reach completion!

TTIN Challenge: HD 19

Today, I spent my day on the phone. Alot. Although I can do two things at once, I can't talk on the phone and write(the book, that is). However, my phone calls were not a loss. They are never a loss. On one call I was able to catch up with a friend far away and the other call turned out to be a good brainstorming session.

So....Nada on the word count for me today.  However, there is much to be done. There are revisions to be made and emails to be sent with the manuscript attached.

Whatever you are working on, I welcome your progress here. You never know how your motivation and what you are working on could do to encourage someone else. So keep 'em coming!

Now, here's a question... How many of you send out query letters on a regular or random basis to editors and agents?  And, for those of you that do, are you finding you are getting good responses or just a lot of "No Thank you."

TTIN Challenge: HD 18

Sometime between Heyday 17 and 18, I managed to eek out about 200 more words. Yay! 

Your turn....

TTIN Challenge: HD 17

Checking in on this beautiful Sunday morning! 

I am barely over 4,000 words on my manuscript and am inching through Chapter Two.  I need to just write bad and worry about the rest later!!! Can I hear an AMEN?

And, today is my day to blog on FAITH.  Come check us out....

Now, it's your turn... how's everything going on the writing front?

TTIN Challenge: Heyday 15 & 16

If I followed my blog schedule, today would be the day I share a slice of my life.

Here it is:  My laptop died last night. This time, for good.  I'm waiting for the TV guy to come today because all of our favorite channels are acting up.  It's unfortunate, because when I watch TV, there are only about four channels I watch, out of the 200+ we have....

Okay, my slice of life is quite boring... let's move to writing! 

Heyday 15 was unproductive. And the sad fact is that I was at home all day... Today, #16, has begun and seems to be going somewhat productively...My current word count has increased to 4,110 words.

As you can see by another background change to this site, I had trouble getting the writing in gear. After I played with designs and formats for the website, I began Chapter Two. I wrote bad, I told the story, but the exercise worked.  I managed to write three pages this morning. 

I think this is the key to moving forward. Just write something. Just write your thoughts down to get the story moving along. If you wait for it to be perfect, it won't happen.  So, I have to continually remind myself that I must write something, anything.

When you sit down at the blank screen, or page, what helps you become productive?

TTIN Challenge: Heyday 14

Ladies, I'm on a roll!

After days and days of hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock, I FINALLY woke up at 4am this morning, got the coffee going while I started putting up clean dishes. The tasks helped wake me up, and I began updating the outline for my book with some super awesome ideas I'd brainstormed the night before with my critique partner, our very own regular visitor on this blog ~ Dianna Shuford.

Currently, my house smells of freshly baked muffins... No, I haven't purchased a new candle from Yankee Candle... I actually baked them this morning!!! 

I've been in a slump for a while, but when I finally dig deep and uncover the nuggets of the story, I run toward the goal like a mad woman. I'm thrilled at this progress and by my writing this morning, as I've reached the end of Chapter One. I'll be starting Chapter Two on my lunch break today, Lord willing.

My current word count is 3,107.

I'm gaining on you ladies that have reached and exceeded 5k and I'm thrilled!! Woo-Hoo!

Okay, it's your turn - are you as thrilled as I am or have you hit a deep slump? Share and let us encourage you to plow through the muck!

TTIN Challenge: Heydays 12 & 13

I've fallen behind on my blog posts, but not on my writing!  I've been working diligently and have a good solid Chapter One completed.  It needs tweaking, and possibly some filler, but I'm really pleased with my progress!  My word count: 2,797.  Woo-Hoo!  How are you doing?

TTIN Challenge: Heydays 10 & 11

Well..... as you can see by the new wallpaper at my home on the web, not much writing has been happening. Usually, wallpapering something gets me into trouble and my husband has to bail me out of it... Luckily, no drywall was damaged in this wallpapering venture.

Speaking of damage, I have been pondering my story... but that's about it. My characters are becoming more and more wounded the longer I ponder them. It's time to write, or they'll be too exhausted to perform.

I do want to say how proud I am of all of you... And I'm especially proud of Missy who is our current star!  She is keeping us all accountable by continuing to post regularly her own progress, whether I have posted something or not!

Way to Go Missy!!!

Keep up the good work and I'll have something nifty for you coming soon...




Okay gals, check in time. What is your goal for this week?

TTIN Challenge: Heyday 8 & 9

Tuesday night at our local ACFW WORD meeting, we had a great evening of fellowship and talked a lot about the craft of writing with Romantic Suspense Author Lynette Eason. I was so impressed by all she manages to do, that I invited her to be on this blog. We'll plan that for the near future and I'll give a book away as well.

Congratulations to Eva Maria who has already reached her 5k mark on her word count for her work in progress and she will receive a copy of Ronie Kendig's Digitalis. 

Yaaayyy Eva!

For the rest of us who are bringing up the caboose on our writing, we won't give up and will keep plugging along. Missy, I think, is a close second to the 5K mark.... I think we need an incentive to continue to reach our goals. I'll be brainstorming the next goal/word count to reach and what the gift will be for you in return.

As for me, I have my synopsis laid out for this historical, and have some tweaking to do. Then, I'll need to sit down and actually work on the scenes. I'm taking my laptop with me today, so hopefully, I can get some work done on a lunch break.  I'll check back in and let you all know.

So, how about you?

(And, Eva, send me your mailing address again...Thanks!)

TTIN Challenge: Heydays 6 & 7 *** AND A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE BOOK!

Over the weekend I managed to complete a synopsis for my historical. Now, I need to go back and write the chapters according to the synopsis. I ran out of time this morning.

Our newest goal and giveaway is this:  The person to reach 5,000 words by February 1 will win the book I just reviewed yesterday - Digitalis by Ronie Kendig. You'll get your very own, brand new copy - cause I'm not giving my copy away - it's too good to be without!

What this means is you need to keep checking in with me and letting me know of your progress! 5k is doable! We just have to stay focused and keep writing!

TTIN Challenge: Heyday 5

Today I've been at home nursing two sick kiddos. My youngest has an ear infection and fever. My oldest can't keep anything on her stomach and has been laying around with a fever. Before all of this began, my laptop crapped out and while it is operable, it runs slower than a nursing home-sponsored potato sack race and gives me the blue screen of death each time I power it on.

With meds for my dear little ones and with some convincing to hubby that I'll need a new laptop this year(or at least a new hard drive) all of this will work itself out.

My story however, will take much more effort from me to get it going. Right now, it's still stuck in the ice we had a couple of weeks back sliding back and forth.

But my critique partner and I did brainstorm tonight and before that, I'd actually pulled the document up on the computer to try and decipher some of what I'd written.

The problem with "story" is if you don't know where the story is going, you won't know the proper place to begin. I know where my historical set in 1936 will go and where it will end. It's the mechanics of that engine that I haven't mastered yet. And what I thought were pretty, shiny parts to put it in drive, I realized they may be shiny, but they are boring. My CP helped me grease up some of those joints.

If you could, please record your current word count. I'm thinking we need an incentive to keep us going toward our goal. You provide your word count, I'll work on that incentive. Thanks & keep pushing forward!

TTIN Challenge; Heydays 3 & 4

I'm so glad that Missy and Lindi have been pushing through these last couple of days and making lots of progress on their stories. Congratulations! And thanks for posting back on Heyday 2... I've gotten behind on my own posts.

I managed to reproduce another few pages of my historical... parts I had already written and tried to improve... to send to my critique partner for her review. Next Tuesday is a deadline for my local ACFW Chapter. The deal is you turn in 15 pages and a one page synopsis for the workshop, basically what you will turn in for Genesis. A published author will critique it and give you face to face feedback at the actual workshop in February. I don't know if I'll have 15 pages ready. It's okay if I don't, but it would be nice to have someone different look at the story and the writing and get the feedback.

How do you work? Do you write to target contests and look for that feedback, or do you write the whole book, then plan to submit?

The Time Is Now Challenge....

A.K.A. .... TTIN Challenge

So let us begin....

Fellow blogger, writers, readers, family and friends, I've been in a quandary for several months now. Since our last challenge ended, I've barely written. I've compiled character charts and written synopses. I've thought of story lines and tried to develop them, but...

Nothing happens. Instead of waking up with ideas for my plots, I wake up thinking about issues that surround me... things I can't change.  So, I need help to rev up my writing. I'll be working on giving my issues to God and studying His word more. I'm hoping with all of this working together, and tag on this new accoutability challenge, that I will make some headway in my new stories.

And, I really hope this challenge won't be a flop for me or for you!  But, hey, none of that talk. We're thinking positive here!

Here's the deal. There really aren't any set rules. To play, you just come to the blog regularly and give me an update on your writing progress. We'll go ahead and state our goals this week and start anew on Monday, January 17th.

We will have multiple deadlines. The First deadline is March 1. This is in place because ACFW's Genesis Contest deadline for entries is March 4. If you are actively participating in my accountability challenge, then this will give you a fair deadline and time to have the entry submitted. (Although the coordinator recommends you email the entry in the middle of February in case it gets lost in cyberspace. Very good point and do keep in mind. Bad things happen to good people, you know!)

Now, for anyone not writing Christian Fiction, but wanting to participate, I would love to have you. If you are working to submit to a contest, agent or editor, or just simply wanting to finish that book, you have a home here. Genesis Contest is simply my goal.

After March 1, we will reevaluate our goals and a new deadline will be set up. I plan to have this challenge on going as when I am not blogging about my progress, or lack there of, I find I seep into a void of non-writing and that starts to irritate me. The irritation turns into the form of me being ill and that trickles to my family who have to put up with my bad mood. Not fun for anyone...

I will state my goal in the comments section and whoever is interested can enter a comment. Today and the rest of the week, we're just setting goals. Monday, the challenge begins. If you get a head start writing this weekend, that's awesome! Come back and share, okay!