Well, my word count this week was once again, zero, but I'm okay with it. I had a ton of family obligations that made it impossible to write, but I was there to watch one son get his Life Scout Award, another his Bear Scout award, I went to parent/teacher conferences, took children to dental appointments, and helped a sick friend as well as doing two book signings. So, all in all, I feel okay with taking a little writing break. This week, however, I definitely want to nail it and I have a new way to make myself accountable.
You see, I got myself a critique partner. We plan to exchange chapters weekly on our work in progress and critique for each other. This will give me a deadline and some accountability which I need. She's also a mother and a writer and knows how difficult it can be sometimes to mesh those two worlds, so it seems like a perfect arrangement. Of course, I will also keep my beta readers and other things in place, but I think a critique partner is just what I need right now. I'll let you know how it goes.
How did you do this week? And what do you think of critique partners? Do you give yourself your own deadlines to keep yourself accountable?
I'm an award-winning romantic suspense novelist, but in my free time I love to review books and my fave TV shows, as well as pass along great book deals, and eat Canadian chocolate---not necessarily in that order.
8 comments:
I wish I had a critique partner. And/Or a beta reader.
I'm doing better on organizing my time and I got about three hundred words written this week -- just over one page. I'd taken such a long break from writing that it took me some time to get back into the story, but then I remembered what I'd wanted to do, and found I could work towards it.
Your word count isn't zero. You wrote a blog post. Congrats on getting a CP. Those are hard to find. Most people just want you to read their stuff. They don't want to take the time to read your stuff in return.
Getting a critque partner is exciting news. I hope you work well together. I've been working on my query and doing a final read through before submitting to agents. (Yikes!) So I don't have a word count either.
No, I don't have a critique partner, wished I did. Technically I'm in an online group, but I've never really felt a part of the ANWA group (its a shyness thing) and with having so many others in the group getting things actually critiqued is quite impossible in any expedient way.
I've started on a new romance--actually it was my novella submission that I changed my mind about entering. I think it deserves more than 90 pages worth of story. I've slowed down the pace and started to give the paragraphs "more meat" instead of just the bare bones. I'm excited about my decision. I'm not giving myself any word count deadlines since the last two weeks I wrote over 10K a week. That was doable, but really pushed a lot of other things I had planned on the back burner.
I applaude your son on earning his LIfe Scout Award, and you other son's Bear. Scouting is very important, I think. Earning the Eagle Scout Award had a huge impact on both of my son's lives, no doubt. I loved being pinned by them during the ceremonies. It felt better than receiving my college diploma.
Sounds like you had a busy week! I'm glad there were some fun things mixed in with the less great ones :-)
My word count was also 0. Life just gets in the way sometimes!
I have an online crit partner and I love it. When I'm not feeling motivated or taking too long, she'll email me to see what's going on. It really keeps me on track.
7,000. I bought myself a box of motivation chocolate and it's working really well. Maybe a little too well.
I got between 1000 and 2000 words this week, with my in-laws coming to town, my husband going out of town, me planning a last-minute revision on another book, and, you know, the 1000 little responsibilities of the rest of life. I'm at an all important pivotal scene and I have no momentum! I'll have to reread I guess.
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