“Goin’ to a go go, everybody’s. Goin’ to a go go, come on now. Don’t you wanna go? Yeah. A one more time, ~ Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Doin’ our ROW goals, everybody’s. Doin’ our ROW goals, come on now. Don’t you wanna ROW? Whee! It is mid-week check-in time and yes the goals party is rocking on. I hope this week finds you all doing well.
Writing/Craft
- 1,500 words of new fiction a week either on novel WIP or short stories. Goal about 45% done. I’d asked on Sunday about how to balance multiple WIPs. Some peeps reached out with good feedback and I then realized that it is one of those process things where I need to determine what works best for me. Short stories for me are a love and cutting myself off from them for however long it takes to write my novel would break my heart.
So I’ve devised a plan to give at least 1000 of the words to the novel and the other 500 to any short fiction ideas that ping at me. Yesterday, I wrote a 700ish words flash piece to scratch the story itch. Plus keeping up with the 1000 to novel WIP goal will make sure I get the first draft done this year. 🙂
- Read at least one chapter a week of a craft book. Will do chapter two of “Plot and Structure” on Saturday when I have time to also complete the exercises. I’m also starting “Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go” on my Kindle (read mostly while walking on the treadmill).
- Read at least one chapter of a novel each week. Done. I’m now in chapter six of “Defensive Wounds.”
Social Media
- Blog three times a week. Three-fourths done, including ROW posts. I’ll be adding two more regular posts.
- Read, comment and share at least 10 blogs a week. Done for reading and commenting. I rocked out on visiting people’s ROW check-ins Sunday and have made several comments on other blogs in the days since. For sharing, I’ve done eight so far.
- Check Twitter and Facebook at least once daily. On track so far for the week.
Healthy Happy Living
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week. Did 40 minutes on Monday and will do an hour tonight. I plan to go to Zumba Friday night and then a two-hour restorative yoga class on Saturday. I’m feeling better than I did towards the end of last week. I’ve been lucky so far this season that early zinc and rest has helped to catch and stop bugs before they set in.
- Finish my poncho project via crocheting one hour a week. I plan to do this Saturday morning while sitting in bed enjoying coffee. I keep thinking it would be great to do while watching a movie, but I’m not supposed to be multitasking (see below). Heh.
- Enjoy watching one movie a week without multitasking. Will be watching Inception Friday night.
That’s where I am. How are you doing?
Barbara McDowell 
Brava! You are doing FANTASTICALLY!! I also have issues with multitasking. I have to slap myself sometimes, which is why I love #wordmongering & #wordsprint to raise my wordcounts because I FOCUS completely.
Love seeing you ZZOOOOOM along with #row80!
Thanks, Julie! I so need to check out some sprints this round to help crank up the writing sessions. I see people’s check-ins after a sprint and they rock!
I multitask a lot while watching movies — in particular, I love to set up my laptop in the kitchen and watch movies (or TV shows) while cooking and eating. The only problem is that this limits me to sound movies, so I’ve got a stack of silents (and foreign language flicks) waiting to be watched.
As for managing multiple projects — yeah, that’s something you have to work out for yourself. The key thing I’ve found that helps, though, is to name a particular project as the Prime Directive at any particular time. I get a certain amount done on that, and then I’m free to mess with other things. If I don’t put the priority on something, though, I lose momentum and nothing gets finished.
I love your advice on designating a “prime directive,” Camille! That makes so much sense in tailoring how I manage work on my novel and then other projects. The other projects become the treat once the main work is put in.
I probably shouldn’t have bought more yarn. But my new coat gapes at the neck, and I thought it would be so much nicer to crochet myself a scarf instead of trying to find one that’s “just right” for a decent price at the store. Never mind that baby blanket I never finished… and my friend’s baby is about four months old now!
Same with stories. I keep wanting to start more! I like juggling the short stories with the novels… but the novel is admittedly more difficult.
I so hear you on the baby blanket, AmyBeth. That is why I haven’t allowed myself to start any baby items as gifts projects. I know I’ll have the same issue of working on a baby item that becomes outdated. If I ever do try one, it will be something useful for an older child, like a larger blanket.
And yes, I’m quickly finding that the novel is more difficult. It is a longer form with each chapter being its own mini-scene in the story. The payoff for me with still balancing in short stories is the quicker endings. They will be a nice break once my word count is on the novel is done each week.
I’m a queen of multi-tasking. That’s why I find myself often rewinding movies and TV shows. Thank you, DVR! I have trouble just sitting there watching TV and doing nothing else. Unless it’s The Vampire Diaries. Then I’m glued to the TV.
It sounds like you’ve done really good so far. You’ll eventually find out what will work for you with the writing. I think you have a pretty good plan already. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Lauralynn! Yes, the fun of ROW is making the goals and then seeing what is working or needs tweaking. Being able to customize my goals is fantastic. As for multitasking, oh yeah, I always had to rewind movies. I’d be typing away on my laptop or reading on the Internet and supposedly be watching a movie. Then I’d look up and be lost from an important scene or dialogue I’d missed.
FANTASTIC Barbara – you are having a KILLER week so far. Love it. That momentum is going to carry you through the weekend. Woot woot on the exercise front – wowzers! Just inspired me to step it up tonight myself!
LOVED Inception!!! Different but good!!!
Thanks, Natalie! I’m so glad I have the no multitasking during the movie goal. Inception is one of those where if you look away, all is lost. Now for exercise, I can multitask (read) all through my cardio if done on the treadmill. I just got the novel I’m reading on library loan for Kindle so I can more reading done anywhere. Beats lugging a book in my work bag to read at lunch.
Great week, Barbara! I just finished 2 short stories when I was in between book projects. It’s a great way to focus and amp up the skills. Don’t know if I could do it while writing a longer project, so I admire you for doing that. Good luck with the rest of your week. 🙂
I’m toying with the balance and get the pulls of focus and how that could be hard on the novel work. I think limiting the short story time will help. Writing the flash piece was fun and it didn’t bother my focus. Maybe I’ll use the writing exercises from the craft book to spur ideas for stories and then see where they go. Thanks for the support, Bridgette!
You’re doing really well, Barabara, especially considering the number of goals you have. Be proud!
I love Inception. A great movie to watch while not multitasking 🙂
Thanks, Fabio! It is a group of several goals and I find they build off each other. Like the healthy living part (slowing down the multitasking, exercising) will get me to better balancing the social media time, which will give me more writing time.
Thanks for the Smokey Robinson reminder! I just had to go and watch “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” – great choreography from the backup singers.
I’m really impressed with how many balls you’re keeping in the air. It’s inspiring! Good job.
Judith
Ooo, I’ve got to go watch that video now, Judith! I was lucky enough to see Smokey in concert last year. The man is perfection and still looks good. Thanks for stopping by!
you’re doing well. keep it up
Thanks, Louise. I appreciate your support.