October Goals

This has been a random month. Writing the end to Decoy was both exciting, and like pulling teeth. I’ve been kind of bouncing around, not really steady, so in a large part this month has been frustrating. I wanted to get more done than I did, but I did what I set out to do. I knew heading into September that I needed a breather. I needed to focus on fewer projects and get other, non-writing things taken care of, like finding a new place to live! And work!

Overall, September was a great month that went by far too quickly. I’ve been looking forward to it for a while because of FenCon, and it didn’t disappoint in being an eventful month!

September Goals!

• FenCon critiques.  There are 18 of them to do. Very time consuming.
• Finish the additions to Decoy and set aside for at least a week.

What I did…

• FenCon critiques – all of them.
• Decoy’s ending is done, but now I want to write a new beginning!
• Finished writing a novella I haven’t mentioned.

Yes, I randomly wrote a new novella/short novel! The workshop was an interesting experience. It was good, but I think I need to focus my feedback on my audience instead of settling for feedback, period.

Okay, October! October is an unfortunate month. It’s right before NaNo, which is always a drain, so I like to take October easy, at least as far as writing goes. I hope to get revisions on at least one project done and loads of reading. I’ve seriously been slacking on my Book Addicts duties and I need to step it up.

I don’t quite know what I want to write for NaNoWriMo, but I hope to get the project ironed out over the next month so I can work on it during November.

October Goals!

• Write new beginning for Decoy.
• Revise on Decoy.
• Plan for NaNoWriMo.
• Read. Lots.

Well, that’s what I have going on. How about you?

Fun Times at FenCon

I’ve been talking about going to FenCon for a while. This was a bit more involved than just showing up to the conference and going to a few panels. I had signed up for the Writer’s Workshop which would be moderated by Hugo award winning editor Lou Anders. I don’t write in the genres that Lou Anders publishes, but his feedback is still enviable. Now, because there were 20 other participants, this was a very involved workshop. We had to critique the other ten page submissions. The partials ranged all across the genre board and had a lot to offer. It was cool, and nuts, and very valuable.

Though FenCon officially started on Friday, the first session for the Writer’s Workshop was on Thursday evening. It was also the session when my submission was passed around the group. Now, it’s a little intimidating to have to sit there and hear what all these other writers have to say about your work and not be allowed to respond. Okay, you can, but it doesn’t serve a purpose because the point is to hear about how your writing went across. I heard a lot of positive feedback and found out I was doing a lot of things write and a few things I knew I needed to do differently were highlighted. It was super exciting. It also lasted super late.

Friday morning was another Writer’s Workshop session, but I had to work. I did pop in later that evening for a few sessions and to hang out with Michele Bardsley and do the Fresh Fiction happy hour. I rocked my new blood splattered heels. I think I attended three panels, one on a show called Sanctuary, simply because my friend Michele was on the panel. And then one on YA and the scary factor. And lastly, a comedy writing workshop with the guest of honor, Gail Carriger.

Saturday morning came way too soon. Since the convention was so close to my apartment, I decided to not stay there, which meant I had to drive back and forth. Ug. I should have stayed there for the simple fact that it’s nice to just shuffle off to your room instead of driving.

Oh well! I rocked my new blue pokadot dress. What was funny was a number of people approached me and commented about how they loved my costume… it wasn’t a costume. It was just my dress. There were a lot of really awesome costumes, and like an idiot I didn’t take many pictures. I totally failed!

The sessions on Saturday were really good. I kicked it off with the last Writer’s Workshop session. We ran a little long, and had to kind of revamp the process, but everyone got to hear what Lou had to say.

I went to a smattering of other sessions, Business of Writing, a Dr Who panel, a panel on horror, and I shopped! There were some great vendors selling some cool stuff. I got t-shirts. When I went to London I really wanted to find a Dr Who shirt, but I didn’t find one. It made me super sad! I found several at the conference but only bought one, and a Zombie Survival Kit shirt.

Saturday night was the obligatory party night. I took one for the team and made the rounds with some of the other girls. Okay, so we might have been That Group of girls people remember. We had lots of fun.

Sunday. It was so tempting to not go. Though panels started a little later, I was still dragging! It was really a good thing that I did because I went to two very good panels on wrecking a writer’s group and publishing scams. They didn’t say anything I wasn’t already aware of, but it was good to hear it from people who have been through things I haven’t.

All in all, FenCon was very enjoyable. It’s a good convention for the price, even better if you’re local.

Weekly Check-In

This was a good week. A welcome change to how things have been going. I found a place to move to. I’m not buying a house, which is a disappointment but in the long run I think that not buying is a wiser choice in the current economy. Plus, I don’t like yard work! I’ll be moving the first week of November, which really stinks but that’s how it goes I guess. I’m really looking forward to the move and redecorating with a new color scheme.

This coming weekend is FenCon! I’m super excited and I kind of forgot about it at times and it snuck up on me. I’m messing with my critiques for the workshop and putting together what I want to go and see during the convention. So from Thursday to Sunday I’ll be very busy and offline.

Blogging.

This week I took on a new blog mem, Salon Sundays. The idea is to discuss something about what you’re currently reading about. This last week I talked about whitewashing covers and how frustrating I think it is. There was some nice discussion and I’m appreciative to everyone who stopped by. Hopefully I’ll get to more blogs in the following weeks. I’m thinking this next week I’ll talk about reading unpublished works.

Critiquing.

I’m all done with my critiques! I think after this workshop I’m not going to sign up for another one that’s not geared for unpublished writers. Maybe it’s arrogant to feel that way but that’s how it is.

Plotting.

I’ve begun plotting out my NaNo project, which is a project for my pen name. Maybe someday I’ll be able to get back to writing stuff as Cid! The NaNo project is going to be an interesting one to do because it’s contemporary romance and deals with post-traumatic and cancer.

Writing.

I’ve managed a few thousand words a day over the last week.It’s been nice to have such steady progress.

Overall it’s been a good writing week. I’m still busy and scatter brained, but things are getting done and I like where I’m headed with my writing.

Reading.

• Loves Portrait by Monica Burns

How has your writing been going?

Weekly Check-In

This was a good week, even if I didn’t write tons and tons.  There were a lot of life things I had to take care of, like, where the heck am I going to live?  I need to move and since the house drama fell through I need to look for a new place and I really don’t want to!  I looked at a bazillion houses and I don’t want to look at anything else!  But, I’ve found a great place that will give me room for an office area and a big living area, so it’s all good!

Blogging.

I’m being a terrible blogger.  I had a series idea that I was going to do, and never wrote it.  I’m thinking about including another blog mem with my weeks blogging.  Any suggestions or thoughts?

Okay, updating this.  I’m going to start blogging on Sundays, doing the Sunday Salon where I discuss or talk about a book I’m reading.

Critiquing.

I’m almost done with my FenCon critiques!  I’m super excited about this.  The workshop submissions have been all over the place.  It’s a good experience critiquing a wide variety of manuscripts.  I’d suggest doing a workshop that involves a lot of critiquing at least once.  It might not be your thing, but it’s a good learning experience.

Revising.

This week I’m starting another revising project.  It’s been written, I’ve gone over it a little but I haven’t really dug into it.  That starts this week.  Thankfully it’s a short project so it won’t take too long, maybe a week or two depending on how long I have to focus on it, and then I’m off to critique partners and stuff.

Writing.

This last week I finished my zombie story!  Decoy is officially done, and a full length novel.  I’m super jazzed about this and I hope everyone else loves it as much as I do.  It’s a heck of a long way from being done-done, but having the rough draft completed is a big step.  I know some things need to be changed and I want to weave in a few things I tossed in at the end.  I’m super hopeful!

What I read.

• Dark Sins by Stephanie Draven
• Cindra’s Bounty Hunter by Paige Tyler

September Goals

So I knew that August was going to be a tricky month.  Because of PBP I was going to lost two weeks, add in the family stuff with my grandmother passing away and both my drive to write and the time was sapped.  I had hoped to do some writing in cafes while in Paris but the logistics of carrying the netbook into the city and the general disbelief of having outlets available worked against me.  So writing wise, August was disappointing, but experience wise it was super rich.

August Goals!

• Revise Decoy

What I did…

• Wrote a new ending for Decoy

So I had a really sad discovery about my zombie story.  I only wrote half of it.  Yeah.  How much does that suck?  After throwing myself a pity party, I figured out the new ending and I’m still kind of writing it.  Yeah.  I didn’t get as much of it written as I thought I would be able to before or even during my trip so I’m in a really bad flux place with it that I hate, but I love the direction of where the story is going.  I got to add two characters that will need to be interwoven in the beginning of the story, but I’m glad for this chance because one of them will get a spinoff novella.

September is going to be a busy month.  With FenCon coming up, I have a lot of critiques to do and I really want to finish Decoy and get it to submission readiness before NaNoWriMo, which I also have to start planning for.  All of this has to work into my goals.

September Goals!

• FenCon critiques.  There are 18 of them to do. Very time consuming.
• Finish the additions to Decoy and set aside for at least a week.

So there you go.  I’m keeping my goals simple since FenCon will probably sap me for a whole week and there’s so much involved with that process and what goes with it.  I’m sticking with keeping my focus on Decoy because I think it’s a good direction for me to flex my writing muscles.  So yeah.

What do you want to do over the next month?