Embracing My Inner Teen (AKA My ROW80 Goals)

One thing I didn’t mention in yesterday’s post talking about what I’d accomplished this year is that I’ve started a writing challenge.  I figured it didn’t belong on the 2010 list when it’s really starting January 3rd to kick off 2011.  I did it for the wholly self-serving purpose of surrounding myself with other writers slogging away at a slow but steady pace at a REASONABLE challenge–one that happens 4 times a year instead of 1 month because, let’s face it, real writers write year round, not just in November.  Anyway, whether you’re a NaNo devotee or detractor, check out A Round of Words in 80 Days and kick off your good writing habits for 2011.  /advertising

That having been said, I shall step down from my soapbox as the illustrious founder of ROW80 and tell you my goals as a writer for Round 1! 

My project for the challenge is Red, the YA paranormal I’ve been salivating to write since AUGUST.   My deck is (mostly) cleared to work on this book.  I’ve divested myself of as many responsibilities as I am able, and hope that this will be the start of an uber productive year.  For the last couple of years, my daily word count goal has been 500 words.  It’s conservative and something that I usually can make (when broken limbs do not derail my brain). 

I’m going to be a bit more ambitious for ROW80 and shoot for 750 words a day.  That puts me at 60k by the end of the challenge.  I’m starting the challenge with 5-7k already.  750 words a day will put me within spitting distance of the end of the first draft, which I should (hopefully) be able to knock out before the start of Round 2 in April. 

In conjunction with the 750 words a day, I am declaring an unplugged 30 minutes a day in which to write.  No multi-tasking, no internet, no TV.  No distractions.  I probably won’t get the full 750 words in that time, but it’ll be a good habit to establish.  I’ve gotten really bad over the last year about trying to write during our evening TV time or while talking to people online.  MUST IMPROVE FOCUS (which will thereby improve quality of first draft–ideally).

17 thoughts on “Embracing My Inner Teen (AKA My ROW80 Goals)

  1. I always seem to multi task with my writing. It is actually distraction but multitasking sounds better. Discovered a long time ago I can not write while watch tv. Sometimes I think I need my very own little sound proof room with padded walls where I can write without interuptions.

    1. Sound proof would be GREAT. That’s part of how I got to doing this in the first place. My office is next to the living room and I can hear the TV through the wall as clearly as if I were sitting in here.

  2. Right now, while my husband is out of a job, the TV is going constantly. I’m supposed to be getting a desk to put in another room, but that hasn’t happened yet. But one of my goals, besides writing the 500 words per day, is to take my laptop somewhere quiet for my writing time. Otherwise, I keep letting whatever’s on TV creep into my brain.

  3. The last one is something I really need to work on too. I’m locking myself in my room for an hour a day, I swear. 🙂 My home has to be the noisiest one in the world so it will be interesting to see how I do sans distractions.

    Good luck with your goals.

  4. It’s so nice to get a word from you today, Kait. I have planned the day to include only what presents itself in the regular routine of just taking care of my home and responding to those who have personal business to discuss. I say personal business because there are those I feel close to, like family to me, who I write to regularly and think of often.

    I appreciate your inclusion of me in your endeavors and will continue to support you like I would an adopted daughter. Believe me, I take care of my daughter(s). Melissa brought her three children this Christmas and we had a wonderful time. Now that Christmas is over, I am going to revise my website so that your work will again be featured for young writers to view and be inspired by. My openness to new followers and facebook friends will be limited, however, in 2011 as it is already now.

    I look forward to news of your increasing success. Perhaps we can teach the Christian pagans as well as the nature people a thing or two about what it means to prosper.

    With faith in your continued success
    Robert

  5. Setting those word goals per day can be great. Some people I know use an excel spreadsheet that sets a total number of words and then divides into it the number of days you have to hit your deadline. And so your daily word count varies depending on how many you did previously, etc. Pretty cool, I used it when writing one of my books and then stopped for no good reason…

  6. I’m excited for this challenge, Kait. My husband even talked to my daughter, and I get grandbaby time right after work until dinner, and then NO INTERRUPTIONS after dinner so I can do what I need to do. Interruptions have been my downfall this year & why my fourth novel isn’t completed. AND I’M DONE WITH SCHOOL! YAY!! There’s a lot of free time right there!

    So yep–excited!! 🙂

  7. Kait – thanks so much for starting this challenge. I thought about participating in NaNo this year, but it just wasn’t practical for a number of reasons. But I’ve set my goals for Round 1, and I’m excited for the Jan. 3rd start!

    I do like your goal of uninterrupted writing time. I need that, but as a single mom, it’s difficult to achieve, especially on a regular basis. But I’m a writer. I’m sure I can come up with a creative solution somehow…

  8. Unplugging is so wise. It’s almost 4:00 pm here and I’ve yet to unplugged. Not sure I’ve accomplished all too much. Maybe it’s time for me to unplug also… nah. 🙂

  9. Thank you for starting this challenge Kait – it should be fun! Best of luck with meeting your goals, and I look forward to watching your progress.

  10. I’m with you on the unplugged time. I plan and hopefully will stick to the plan of not even turning on the computer until my writing is done for the day. I know of several bloggers who do unplugged weeks the third week of the month. I may start having certain days becoming unplugged days. We’ll see how that goes. Thanks for starting this challenge.

  11. Sounds like you’ve got it all sorted out 🙂 I wish I could be disciplined enough to say “I’m going to write this many words per day” but I never stick to it (or if I do, it’s just rubbish filler for the sake of meeting word count). I’m hoping my “finish a chapter every two weeks” approach will get me through.
    Best of luck, everyone! 🙂

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