Writer Check-In

[EnchantedSoul]

I'm back! I see that lots of you have joined Camp NaNo, awesome work. I'm working my way through all the posts that I've missed but wanted to do a check in to see how folks are doing or ask if anyone needs support/encouragement.

1. On what are you working?
2. How are you feeling in regards to your work/progress?
3. Do you need any support or words of encouragement?
4. What are you hoping to get out of this board?
5. Anything at all you'd like to ask/share.

anastasia517 kangaroo11 mousemelon @writererin gardengal fatamy lilibet incogneato

[EnchantedSoul]

1. I'm working on an article I started a few months ago, regarding stress and anxiety.
2. I'm feeling rather stunted. Until yesterday, I hadn't picked up a pen in weeks. I was feeling pretty bad about not writing but also telling myself, "I'm not good enough" so it was a vicious cycle.
3. I could always use some encouragement and I'd like to locate some motivation as well.
4. I hope to be inspired and encouraged to try new styles of writing. I enjoy reading other folk's progress. I've been exposed to other genres and writing styles. I enjoy the diversity here.
5. Just adding that I love that this board is here and moving

[Deleted]

I'm really glad we're still doing these check-ins! Largely because one day they might actually help motivate me to be more productive.

1. In theory, I'm working on a couple of novellas that are related to my dystopian trilogy. The "in theory" is because I haven't written much over the last few days, and have made next to no progress.

2. Kinda crappy right now. On the bright side, part of this is because I was at a writers conference last weekend, so I was busy and couldn't get anything written. On the other bright side, it's also because we're closing on our first house in a week and my mind has been elsewhere, worrying about moving. But I really do wish life would throw me a bone and give me the energy and motivation to make some progress, rather than having to deal with a bunch of stuff all at once (because, of course, the week before the writers conference, an acquaintance/friend passed away, so that didn't help my mood either).

3. Words of encouragement are always a benefit! In particular, anyone who has any advice to juggling writing with doing a giant move, because at the rate I'm going, I'm not going to get back to it until May.

4. I always love having more writing friends!

5. Oh, just pray I keep my sanity over the next couple of weeks. I'm excited that we'll finally have a house of our own, but I hate packing and moving with every fiber of my being.

[lilibet]

Apr 11, 2016 19:14:40 GMT -5 EnchantedSoul said:

1. On what are you working? I'm back to reworking my 2014 nano
2. How are you feeling in regards to your work/progress? It's slow going and I'm frustrated with myself for not working on it more
3. Do you need any support or words of encouragement? I need someone to tell me to just sit down and write already lol
4. What are you hoping to get out of this board? A reminder that I'm not the only one crazy enough to embrace this writing thing
5. Anything at all you'd like to ask/share.

[lilibet]

Apr 12, 2016 6:39:30 GMT -5 EnchantedSoul said:

1. I'm working on an article I started a few months ago, regarding stress and anxiety.

I definitely need/want to read this when you're done!

[lilibet]

Apr 14, 2016 11:52:42 GMT -5 @writererin said:

5. Oh, just pray I keep my sanity over the next couple of weeks. I'm excited that we'll finally have a house of our own, but I hate packing and moving with every fiber of my being.

Congrats on the new house! I'd totally come help you unpack, because to me it's way more fun unpacking/organizing someone else's stuff, just don't make me do my own.

I'm jealous you went to a writer's conference!

[lilibet]

Apr 14, 2016 14:54:53 GMT -5 incogneato said:

5. I'm two weeks into my advanced fiction writing course and next week I have to sit quietly while 6 writers give me feedback on my first two chapter. EEEEEK!

Also... I'm struggling with POV. I can't decide whether it's crazy to write a novel with mutliple story lines and have one main character telling her story in first person present tense while the others are in third person past tense, but I think having 5 or 6 characters speaking in first person would get beyond confusing...

I think changing the POV between characters would be ok as long as it's very clear when you are switching between them and the reader will easily know who is talking.

I think multi character stories can be challenging but they can work; whether sticking to the same pov or not. For example, I've read a number of romance novels lately that switch back and forth between the female and male leads and both are in first person and it's totally clear who is talking and I've had no problem following it. But the same thing is done in Allegiant and I was so freaking confused reading that book, I never knew who was talking. So whichever you pick just commit to it and do it well.


I think it's so exciting that you're taking a fiction writing course, that's awesome. But the feedback thing sounds sort of terrible, lol.

[fatamy]

Apr 16, 2016 19:10:54 GMT -5 incogneato said:

lilibet Yeah, the feedback park is the best and worst part, LOL. I know it will be good for me but it's stressful. I think a two-person POV switch can be done well but I'm not convinced that 4+ story lines can work that way. I've been re-reading the 5th Wave books religiously as Yancey beautifully weaves 3-5 character story lines together in varying tenses/perspectives. It's intimidating!

I can't wait for the 3rd book in the series to come out! I just read the 5th Wave and The Infinite Sea in January or February so I'm not having to wait too long for the last one... but I'm impatient!

[fatamy]

1. On what are you working? Editing my 2015 NaNo, also plotting my Camp NaNo. Got to 5k with no plot, but it's too hard for me to write with no direction.
2. How are you feeling in regards to your work/progress? I love love love my 2015 NaNo (Grand Prismatic is the title) - I created a blog and FB page for the blog, so it's been nice having my friends read a chapter at a time and give me some feedback (ashleewrites.blogspot.com)
3. Do you need any support or words of encouragement? I'm pretty motivated rightn ow!
4. What are you hoping to get out of this board? Encouragement when I peter out, ideas/help with plots when I'm stuck, and some material to read from you all!
5. Anything at all you'd like to ask/share. What are you reading? I just finished "Replay" and really liked it! I'm on the wait list for 5 books and have nothing to read except Mindy Kaling's second memoir.

[fatamy]

Apr 14, 2016 14:54:53 GMT -5 incogneato said:

1. I'm working on my camp NaNo project which is my second novel (first one is still being edited) and the book I've always wanted to write. It's a dystopian YA novel about a world after a plague wipes out all the men.
2. Daunted? Unlike my first novel I'm actually emotionally invested in this one. It's my "big idea" novel and I think that's holding me back creatively.
3. Yes please! LOL! I just need to get out of my head and WRITE

 This sounds fascinating, I'd love to read it when you're ready  

Just keep going! You can do it! 

[mousemelon]

Okay. I've ignored the tag long enough. LOL. I've had a really rough April so far and haven't been writing like I wanted to but here we gooo


1. On what are you working?
I'm supposed to be working on my Camp NaNo project, which is a second draft from my NaNo project from this past November. But, like I said, I've had a really rough April personally, and have barely written a thing. 

2. How are you feeling in regards to your work/progress?
ugh. Not good. 

3. Do you need any support or words of encouragement?
How do you get writing when you don't feel like it/are too tired/don't feel inspired. Like, when I can't be writing (like when I'm with my kid or doing something) I want to write but then I sit down at the end of the night and just mess around on GBCN, watch netflix, and do anythign BUT write. ETA: ALSO. How do you get the motivation to write those 'filler' scenes. The ones that get you from one major event in your story to another. I hate writing them because I get so bored. lol. 

4. What are you hoping to get out of this board?
Encouragement and to see how other's write and get inspired. 

5. Anything at all you'd like to ask/share.
TELL ME TO GET WRITNG PLEASE. lol. 

[fatamy]

Apr 17, 2016 20:57:22 GMT -5 mousemelon said:

3. Do you need any support or words of encouragement?
How do you get writing when you don't feel like it/are too tired/don't feel inspired. Like, when I can't be writing (like when I'm with my kid or doing something) I want to write but then I sit down at the end of the night and just mess around on GBCN, watch netflix, and do anythign BUT write. ETA: ALSO. How do you get the motivation to write those 'filler' scenes. The ones that get you from one major event in your story to another. I hate writing them because I get so bored. lol. 

4. What are you hoping to get out of this board?
Encouragement and to see how other's write and get inspired. 

5. Anything at all you'd like to ask/share.
TELL ME TO GET WRITNG PLEASE. lol. 

3 - I feel like the only time I'm "good" at writing is during NaNo, then editing is the rest of the year. It's hard to JUST WRITE for me, so I have to have the motivation of a group of people and my family has the understanding that it's my month. Also, leaving the house helps, sitting at a coffee shop with my laptop is ideal for non-NaNo writing. I love write-ins during November! 

4 - YOU CAN DO IT! Maybe set aside 1-2 hours, 1-2x/week as dedicated writing time? Get your family on board so they don't bother you? 

5 - GO WRITE! NOW!  

[EnchantedSoul]

mousemelon
I have to physically leave my house. My boys have karate several times a week and I run across the street to Panera. Some days I write or research, other days, I stare out the window.
I recently went through a point where I literally didn't write for weeks. It just didn't feel right to force it, so I didn't. I think the break was needed as I'm back to writing and researching.
I'm with incogneato in that I can't write at the end of the day.

Perhaps you can reward yourself with something small if you've written a certain number of words?

[mousemelon]

EnchantedSoul, incogneato, fatamy thank you for all of the suggestions!! DS is in daycare 2 days a week so I have some time to myself then. I think I'll carve out some time to take my laptop somewhere and just write.

I love this place