Monday Meeting

Hello all!  Welcome to another Monday Meeting!

Last week, I didn't even come close to revising all that I wanted to.  And instead of packing on the pressure to get it done this week, I'm just going with the flow (thanks, R, for the inspiration!).  And continue forward momentum. Not that I'm in the writing mind frame--spring weather has hit here, and the outside is calling.  But I have my secret weapon--unplugging.  And, Tina was awesome enough to create a room in which to do it!  That's what I love about Tina.  She found this great tool which helped her (and me!) make forward progress in writing, and she wants to share it with everyone.

Here's how it works:

This morning, at 11:45ish EST, click over to Tina's Practice Room, and say hello.  In the comments of her post, tell us what writing or writing-type behavior you are going to indulge in for one hour.  It can be anything at all.  The only thing that we ask is that you commit to an hour without the internet, or other distractions.  Grab your coffee or tea, a snack, open up your word document, set up the online stopwatch that Tina provides for us there on the practice room, and get ready to write.  At 12:00, close down internet applications, and write.  For one hour.  That's it.  And then at 1PM EST come back and tell us about how the hour went in the comments of the practice room.  You don't have to share details of your writing--but you can if you want.  Generally I talk about forward progress, what chapter I'm on, whether I was reluctant to write, and how the writing went during the hour.

Unplugging in small chunks works for me.  I can always make progress in an hour. And I'm always surprised when I start the hour, reluctant to write, and then get into the writing groove, just because I have committed to one hour of writing.   Because I am accountable to someone, other than myself.  And, it's a great excuse to have a real time conversation with other writers.  Consider yourself invited.  I hope you will join us today!

That's how I'm planning on reaching my writing goals this week--one hour at a time.  My goals?  To make forward progress on the revision.  To balance out playing outside with writing inside.  To add some songs to my novel's soundtrack, and to energize myself enough to finish this revision this month.

Other great stuff: Anna is doing a book giveaway on her wonderful blog--check it out!  And the Friday interview this week features Margaret--a wonderful writer focusing on Middle Grade.  I'd love it if you stopped by here Friday, and asked her some fantastic questions.

What goals are you setting for the week?  How do you balance out the draw of nice weather with the desire to write?  Do you ever write outside?  And, if you want to chat more, you know where I'll be at 11:45 AM EST.  Stop by.  It should be a productive hour!