Monday, August 21, 2006

Tally Ho! The Writing Challenge Continues...

So, how'd you do this week? List your progress here.

If you're just tuning in, please feel free to join us. Here's the deal: each week, we publicly commit to a writing goal for the next seven days. On Monday, we report.

I added another 5k - more or less - this week. My goal for the next week is to get to a break in the action (one that I already have mapped out in my mind), at which point, I'll be sending the ms to my agent for a quick review. I imagine this will take me less than 5k words, but I dunno. We'll see.

So how'd you do?

15 comments:

xxxx said...

Ughh. I didn't do so hot. But this week is a new week! :)

Alyssa Goodnight said...

I'm still trying to finesse my first chapter: tighten the writing while expanding the character portrayal. I'm hoping to get comfortable with this 'new writing style' before jumping into the rest. This week, I plan on targeting the next few chapters. Maybe finish up the rewrite on Chapter 4. (They're already written so this will be more revision).

Trish Ryan said...

Okay, I was lurking but need to come out for some motivation. I probably wrote 1,000 words a day last week...but the quality of those words is the issue :) I need to keep reminding myself that no one will ever read my first drafts!

Trish (who is getting back to work, right this very minute)
http://trishryanonline.blogspot.com

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Ooooh, it's Monday! I think I need to commit to something other than procrastination.

So, 3,000? Can I do it? Will I succeed? Tune in to find out if Writing will make the list as a top priority now that the kids are back in school!!!

Shit, now that I publicly committed, I might actually have to do it, huh?

OH, and did you read this Allison:
http://bloggasm.com/interview-with-cindy-from-conversations-with-famous-writers

Cindy's a cyber-friend of mine; obviously you are sending her your book when it comes out?

Steph

Anonymous said...

Well last week I (finally) set up my website with my portfolio on it. This week, I plan to finish it and begin sending out queries. So, I hadn't actually written anything last week but I am getting my "business" up and running. Woo hoo!

Larramie said...

Having accomplished my goal of multi-layering the plot, I have so MUCH "stuff." ;o) This week I'll continue to forge ahead (hoping not to get lost). My personal mini-break begins next week and runs through Labor Day: A well-deserved, end of summer reward, imho.

As you're probably aware, Allison, this Sunday night are the Emmys. Any chance we could go OT next Monday and have a post rant or rave session? *g*

Allison Winn Scotch said...

So glad that the progress is continuing! (Swish - get your arse in gear, girl!) :)

Larr-
Excellent suggestion! In fact, I'd meant to post a reminder that PRISON BREAK kicks off tonight. NEW TV!!! It's my favorite time of year. Yahoo!

Jocelyn said...

Allison,

They say that there are only a handful of plots and that everything is in some way a variation of another, but did you ever worry while you were working on DEPARTMENT that someone would come out with a similiar plot? Have you ever been working on a story idea only to find that someone else is working on something very similiar? Is it the plot that sells the story or the writing?

Best,
jocelyn

Larramie said...

Jocelyn, that's exactly what happened to me. After finally completing my first novel -- through years of aborted attempts --, I was revising the ms and doing some "overdue" reading. One of the books in my stack had a similar plot, but it was the distinctive details that nailed me. Changing what had seemed to be unique to my writing would have destroyed the entire story, rendering it worthless.

Being philosophical, I can claim the experience of having written a novel and learning how to improve upon the next one...a much more personalized work.

And, Allison, tonight I'm going to sample the debut of "Vanished." LOVE the fall season for many reasons!

Trish said...

Here is trishwired checking in:

Got about 2400 words down. Feeling good. I'm giving myself an hour a day to forget everything else and to write.

Hope you get your draft done for the agent, AWS!

Allison Winn Scotch said...

Manic-I DID see that, and I almost died! So kind of Cindy to mention it. I love both her and her blog!

Sara Hantz said...

Three pages a day to Wednesday, then at the NZ conference. Started 3 pages a day again this week!

Amie Stuart said...

I managed about 9 or 10 pages (approx 2500 words) but 2 of those were one-page synopsis...

Amie Stuart said...

And Prison Break ROCKED!!!!!!!!!

Allison Winn Scotch said...

Didn't it, Amie??? I've wasted the entire morning on TWoP reading the forums. ARGH!!!