On that note, we had a fantastic WIBIJ game! For those of you who don't know, WIBIJ is a scavenger hunt game designed to get new traffic to deserving blogs, and to relieve some stress by HAVING FUN. I have to say, that for me, WIBIJ has been super rewarding. I love having something concrete to work on that actually has an endpoint. You know, as apposed to the revisions that I've been working on. And I have tons of fun watching the game unfold. The next WIBIJ game starts on Wednesday May 5th at 1:00 PM EST and runs for a full 24 hours. And there will be prizes for the winners. PRIZES! Isn't that refreshing? A contest where you have to perform to win!! So mark your calendars, and take a look at the previous races--even try one or two, and see if it's something that would be fun for you. Join in! It can't hurt to try!
Last week there was a fabulous Friday Feature, with Shannon O'Donnell, a truly lovely writer! Check it out, if you missed it! And, thanks to everyone who left comments and questions for Shannon--what a fun day. And welcome to all the new followers! I'm still trying to catch up on blog commenting, but I'll be by when I can! This Friday, I'm welcome the fantastic Larissa to my Friday Feature. It'll be a blast--be sure to stop by here and ask her a question!
Last week, I also tried Geocaching with my family--and what FUN!! We romped around our town forest, GPS in hand, calling out to each other. Talk about many alpha dogs trying to lead the way! :) Organized chaos! And when we arrived on scene, we had to really hunt for the container of prizes, since our GPS wasn't exact. It even led us away from the cache at one point. We had to use our gut to tell us where that cache was. It reminded me of this revision. I know I'm in the proximity, I just need to zero in on how to get there. Use my gut. Listen to my GPS (my crit partners) and trust what they tell me. Keep at it until I find the cache, no matter how frustratingly long it takes. And, mostly, listen to and trust my gut. I'm geocaching until this revision is done. And getting out my compass this week to make sure I'm getting back on track.
So, goal for the week:
To come up from my hibernation--prompted by trying to process feedback, and vacation with my kids--and to look at the revision with a fresh eye. To jump in yet again!
What are your goals for the week? Have you geocached? How do you come out of writing hibernation?
And, if you want some coworkers to help you get your goals accomplished this week, check out Tina's unplugging schedule. Connect with another writer at Tina's 'office'!
We've done letterboxing, not geocaching. I think it's similar. Frustrating when you can't find the box, though.
ReplyDeleteMy goals is to revise my last two chapters, print out entire WIP and read it out loud! Trying to have it ready for the NESCBWI conference in May!
Glad you had fun on your vacation week!
My husband was telling me about geocaching once - it sounds like a lot of fun! It's the last week of classes so my goal for the week is to not get overwhelmed; if I don't get any writing in, I don't have to feel guilty. (We'll see how well that works.)
ReplyDeleteGeochaching sounds like fun. But I would need a gps to do it. Someday!
ReplyDeleteMy kids had vacation last week to, so I didn't get as much writing done. I just have to jump into writing with both feet and then it's fine. Good luck!
I've heard of geocaching but you're the first to speak/write about it. Sounds like fun. And, since Yours Truly has no sense of direction, anything with a GPS is definitely progress. Enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteI know about that hibernation feeling and yet I have no excuse. I am going to jump in as Laura says, see how that works. And try to not feel guilty as Anna says. And Kris, I totally want to do that too, read my manuscript out loud. Have you ever considered taping it? Because it sounds even more fun to listen to it back!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Heather and everyone!
Fun post! I'm going to have to try geocaching one of these days!
ReplyDeleteNever tried geocaching, but it sounds like fun for the whole fam!
ReplyDeleteI'm plugging along adding to my mg this week...
Kris--I think that one of the caches we found was a letterbox--it had a stamp and ink pad in it. Good luck getting the ms in ship shape for the conference. Should we meet up?
ReplyDeleteAnna--sometimes it's good to know ahead of time that it's a week off from writing. I hope that school isn't too hectic this week!
Laura--I bet there are some well hidden caches your way. Good luck jumping back in to your writing this week!
Kittie--Welcome! I wish I had a picture to show of us discovering the cache, but with kids going in every direction at once, we were lucky to all leave the forest together! :) It was super fun, though. And, I have a pretty good sense of direction, so a couple of times my husband asked 'which way is north', and I would point, then reassess and point somewhere else. So funny.
Tina--good luck, we'll jump in together. And you can tape yourself on one of those playback players that Anne Marie talks about...
B. Miller--I have to say, we're hooked. We like to hike and play games, so it's right up our alley!! Welcome to the blog!!
Geocoaching sounds like fun, Heather!
ReplyDeleteI will finish this @%#$*^ story! You read the first chapter for me a couple of months ago, but I NEED to finish it. I wrote 3,000 words today and think I'll finish it in the next couple days. I'm happy with this downhill slide to THE END, but then the work will really begin--after a much needed rest. :-)
Kelly--Plugging along sounds great. And, geocaching was especially fun for the older kids. The youngest child, we bribed with ice cream in the end...
ReplyDeleteI think we're going to go back to leave something and take one of the small toys that was in the cache. There were baseball cards and a slinky and other assorted toys, but we hadn't brought anything to trade, so we didn't take anything. I stopped at the dollar store today...
Margaret--Sounds like you are on your way to the end--nice job. And no need to look forward at the work ahead. Just enjoy getting there! I'm glad you'll take a break! Good luck with the slide to THE END!! And let me know when I can check out the story in its entirety.
ReplyDeleteHappy spring to you, Heather! Good luck waking up from hibernation and stretching those writer legs again. I hope it's a very productive week for you. My goal is to get 5K new words, so I feel like I'll be in my own little writing cave this week.
ReplyDeleteMy dad loves to geocache. When I was younger, he would drag me all over the place to find them or set them up. It's quite fun =)
ReplyDeleteGot a spanking new GPS and lots of forests around here...now what if I send my kids off into the forests without batteries in the gps...that would certainly gain me a few hours...maybe even days of peace. Glad you had a break Heather - we missed you!
ReplyDeleteI can't find anything IN my house on second thoughts...my youngest son is constantly asking where his shoes are! Maybe I should buy loads of mini tracking devices and place them in all the kids footwear?!?
HUGS Heather!
Years ago I when I led backpacking trips for teens we had to use a compass to get from one point to another. It was a mile bushwhack thru some flat forest in North Central PA--it was a blast. I bet geocoaching is fun. You are the second person this week to mention it.
ReplyDeleteAs for coming out of writing hibernation, I think it just depends on the internal weather. I've experienced fast and slow wake-ups but so far I've always woken up.
My writing goal for the week is to get my WIP in shape to send to my agent. I'm guessing I'll get there early next week.
Paul, that is so thrilling!! You have been working so hard. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteI get out of hibernation when Husband has several consecutive days at home. It's like, "OK, the kids are yours, good luck, I'm outta here." Then I write.
ReplyDeleteLori--sounds like it will be a productive week for you--lots of good words! I miss drafting!! And thanks for the spring wake-up call. I'm hoping it will be a quick wake up!
ReplyDeleteNatalie--I think we're all hooked. Such fun!
Ann Marie--*HUGS* right back to you! One year my husband did attach a bunch of 'finders' on all of the stuff that I was losing on a daily basis (when my kids were tiny and nobody was sleeping, and I couldn't find a thing from sleep deprivation. It worked until the battery ran down, or we lost the seeker part of it. But, your kids would love the geocaching!
Paul--I thought that I wouldn't enjoy the GPS aspect--I thought a compass would be more fun--but the GPS doesn't do all the work for you, so it's a ton of fun!! It's good that you've always come out the deep sleep. I'm hoping this will be a quick one, but if I need to keep mulling over the feedback, then I'm sure I'll stay in hibernation as long as I need! Some things you can't force. That will feel great, to send things off to your agent--congrats, when you get there!!
Tina-- :)
Anita--Oh, that would be wonderful! I need some more kid-free time! I'm glad you take advantage of it!
Oh, and Kris and H. and Ann Marie: I just realized that my husband has this handy dandy attachment for an ipod that records digitally. I am going to start using that to take notes and tape my whole manuscript when it is finally ready...
ReplyDeleteI forgot about that--that iPods could do that. I don't have the attachment, but they seem pretty nifty! Thanks, T!
ReplyDeleteYay for hibernating! And of course you're doing the supercool geocaching. When we will see the first draft of that book?
ReplyDeleteHi Robert!! The book involving geocaching? I think that Jon is writing that book. Right J?
ReplyDeleteYou KNOW - when I read this and Tina's blog - I get all these warm and fuzzy little feelings of warmth and super-lovely vibes just rolling around all over the place....
ReplyDeleteHOW DO YOU TWO BLOG QUEENS DO THAT?!?
NO - TINA - haven't touched a drop of alcohol for a few days....need to get rid of the excess baggage which has been sneaking up on me this year!
Ann Marie--awww shucks!! That made my day!! I'm raising my hard lemonade to you! (Then I checked your lemon clock, and realized that it's probably 1:30 in the morning there, and you are hopefully in bed!!--or writing!!)
ReplyDeleteHoly chipotle! It's so different here now. Whoa. Okay, this'll take a lot to get used to it. Yay.
ReplyDeleteThat sentence makes little sense, yet it is so me. Anyway, about your post: I like the goals and I especially like the fresh eyes idea. I need to look at my plot with fresh eyes. It's like the story is so old and dusty in my head and when I sit down to write it I am bored, but I need to be excited about it. Like I am thinking of the scene for the first time. How can I do this?
ReplyDeleteI had off last week too. Although I didn't have to work, with the kids home, I got very little writing and editing done. Hope you're having a more productive week.
ReplyDeleteJon--hopefully the change is good.
ReplyDeleteAnd, about the writing--I guess that you have to be exciting about telling your story to an audience. You've been whirling it around in your brain for a long time, but nobody else has heard or seen it. Maybe that will help with a fresh eyes perspective.
Welcome, Theresa! I'm trying to dig in and get some things done. I hope you have a productive week as well--thanks!
Totally missed my name in the comments above. Yes, I am, indeed working on a geocaching story, but it's at least two years away.
ReplyDeleteGood point about the presentation to a new audience. I like it.
Jon--I'll email you after we go each time, and you can keep it for research. LOL! Or, you can just follow our log! It's so funny that I'm addicted to it after just a few times. And it reminds me of WIBIJ in some odd way.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked that point. It helps me to think of my audience. And it helps when I know that my audience is demanding.