Hey you!! Get back to writing in there!!
I've had a few intense weeks as my kids finished school, and am so excited for the summer schedule. My kids have already fallen into the rhythm of playing together, swimming at the lake, and just hanging out. They were made for summer, I think.
Now, I am trying to fall into a writing rhythm. A before and after type deal. Before the kids wake up and the frenzied activity begins, and after the kids fall asleep exhausted. Bookending my day with writing. That's what this week is all about--pounding out the writing time. I'm hoping that soon I'll have some really awesome goals to report, but right now, it's still just about finding the rhythm to summer write.
In case you've been as unplugged as I have been, here are some updates:
WIBIJ, or Where In the Blogosphere is Jon?!, is undergoing construction. We'll let you know when we are up and running again. We thought that the beginning of summer was an excellent time to make improvements on the blog format. Feel free to stop by and chat, it's always a party over there!
Paul is giving away books, and starting a discussion around titles for reluctant boy readers. Definitely worth stopping by.
Adventures in Children's Publishing is giving away books (ending today, so throw your hat in the ring!), and talking about...
...WriteOnCon--the free kidlit writer's conference taking the internet by storm in August. Make sure to go register July 1st! Woo-hoo!!
And, be sure to stop by here on Friday, and give Steve Brezenoff some love. We're kicking off the Summer series of Journeys Toward Publication and Beyond with a discussion of his book, the Absolute Value of -1, due out in the fall.
So, tell me, what goals do you have this week? Will I see you in The Practice Room?
Ah Summer. It means my kids are home and it is hard to find time to write. But, I'm going to try. Lets say my goal is to have the ability to balance family and work so that I feel no guilt on either side. That's definitely a tough one!
ReplyDeletemy goals are to cut as much as possible from my bloated 161,000 fantasy, trim a little more from my 102,000 fantasy, and a chapter a week on my new WIP. I definitely have my work cut out for me but I think you have it harder. good luck!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lisa!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are fighting who's going to use my laptop so they can go online. We don't let them when they have school so now it's a mad rush!
At least I still remember how to use a pen and paper....sometimes old fashioned ways come in useful!
Will disappear at the end of this week for a fortnight so I haven't forgotten you - just trying to relax at KIDDY CAMP...with 180 KIDDIES - YAY!!!
My life is the opposite of the norm right now. I don't have kids yet, so there isn't the kids out of school change to my schedule. I just got back from a 3 week vacation, which was super fun but involved no writing. Before that I was home for 3 weeks during which time I wrote the first 75 pages to a new WIP.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm back from vacation, back at work full time, and struggling to remember what that story I was obsessed with a month ago was all about. I wrote my last book while working full time, so I'm sure I'll get back into this one. But it's taking me a little while to wrap my head around being at home again.
Oh and I'm having a contest too. Heather didn't link to it, but you should all come over to my blog and win a free book:)
My kids finish school this Friday. Then I'm going to have to figure out how to fit blogging and writing in. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck in reaching your summer goals. :D
Heather, thanks so much for the mention above. Paul Volponi is a fantastic writer.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find the rhythm that allows to do some writing this summer. I'm familiar with bookending--that's what I did when I was teaching full-time.
My goals for the week. Keep working on my WIP and also incorporate more stretching and yoga into my day.
Finding the balance is always a struggle. This week it's more challenging for me because I've got to get my daughter to an awesome science camp in the opposite direction of work. I guess we just have to go with the flow sometimes so our families get what they need from us.
ReplyDeleteI am uber-pumped for Steve's FF!
ReplyDeleteLOVE that picture! Too cute!
ReplyDeleteWe're adjusting to summer life too. It's so nice not to have to be up and out of the house at a specific time of the day. We're being lazy and loving every second of it! Enjoy!
P.S.
Thanks for the WriteOnCon shout out!
I actually got some writing today while the kids were awake! Woo-hoo! Good luck finding your writing rhythm.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Steve on Friday! Cool. Yes, summer is going to have it's own flow...
ReplyDeleteaw yay for summertime! i must say, i am jealous of the freedom of little kids in the summer.
ReplyDeletesigh.
hehe can't wait for WIBIJ to be up again!
best of luck with everything :D
LOVE the photo! You're a lucky mom!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links - so much good stuff out there.
Oh, goal for the week... get back in the swing of things. New apartment, new writing desk, new cafe on my morning walk, new free time after the final 2 of 14 guests the past 5 weeks, new balancing act of projects. New enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteI've been adjusting to having my new furry muse around, so I can't imagine adjusting to having three un-furry children at home! My goal for this week is to stop second-guessing myself and to just write!
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this on Monday? Must be summer.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to set some goals for summer. All my work gets done at night and maybe during a few stolen moments during the day. Not easy. But my kids come first!
I really enjoyed your blog. Thanks for posting. I enjoy finding new blogs and making new bloggy friends. :-D
ReplyDeleteSo just wanted to leave a note saying that I liked your blog. I'm now a follower. And I will be back more for updates
Lisa--Oh, what a great goal. I wish you lots of guilt free writing this summer!
ReplyDeleteMarcy--Those are some huge goals! I'm impressed. Let me know how the week progresses!
Ann Marie--hmm. Pen and paper, huh? Awesome going old-school. I seem to have different ideas when I use a pen and paper. Maybe I'll join you this week. :) Good luck getting any writing done at all!
Kate--your contest is wonderful. I only remembered it after I wrote this post, and it is my bad for not linking to it! I am still blogging by the seat of my pants, in between kid activities, so I sacrifice some quality!! I am still trying to come up with a good joke...
Stina--It's so hard to change schedules and keep all the pieces in place. I always lose something, whether it's exercising or writing... Good luck finding your time!
Paul--It's a great discussion that you had at your blog! Next week maybe I'll try to add more stretching and yoga into my week--you'll have to let me know how it goes!
ReplyDeleteNatalie--Being a parent is about constant schedule change, I think. As soon as I fit everything in, something changes! Good luck getting your daughter to science camp--that sounds wonderful. I hope you find the time to write!
Jon--I'm glad! :)
LiLa-- :) I love not having to rush out in the mornings, too. I haven't gotten there quite yet, as my daughter had beach camp all this past week. Soon, soon, I'll let the kids lounge in bed. (so often it's my bed...)
I'm pumped up for the WriteOnCon--thanks for doing it!
Solvang--Woo-hoo for writing time! I bet that felt good. I'm crossing my fingers for more of that coming your way!
Tina--I love your positive spin--the flow of summer. Let's hope it's a flow of words... :)
Tahereh--oh, to be a kid in summer again... I guess we'll just have to write about it... I'm looking forward to WIBIJ again, too!
Robert--yay! I am such a lucky mom! And, I'm glad that you had such a nice time with visitors, and I'm glad that you're moved in and setting up your new place. New beginnings abound!
Anna--I can't wait to meet your new furry muse!!
Laura--I hear you. Summer is all about the kids here too. Good luck squeezing out your writing time!
Melissa--welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by. I love new bloggy friends too. It's such a supportive atmosphere!